Monday, December 28, 2009

Prospero Año y Felicidad!

Hey family!

There really is not much to report this week. Seems like it was just a pretty normal one. So that´s why I think I will just focus on responding individually this week!

Elder Cardenas and I had a pretty great Christmas. We had a Zone Activity in the Zone Leader´s area; we went to the Metro and sang in the cars, and contacted. It was pretty awesome. I was able to contact a really cool guy, and gave him a Book of Mormon with my testimony written inside. Then, of course, I was able to talk with my family, which was really really really awesome.

I love you all so much, and I hope you set some good, challenging goals this new year. Make one of your goals be to read the Book of Mormon. I am pretty sure that last sentence has some pretty terrible grammar, but I cannot think of how else to say it. Sorry!

Elder Budge

Monday, December 21, 2009

My first baptism with warm water!

Hey family!

I just want to start off by saying that we had an awesome game of soccer this morning, and I'm looking more and more Mexican every time we play. I scored 2 goals.

This week has been packed with cool stuff to tell. Basically, we just had a really really good week here in Xochitenco. I had the opportunity to do Divisions with our District Leader, Elder Renteria, on Wednesday, and we had a really good time together. We found some really cool investigators--one of which speaks English! Usually when people in Mexico say they speak english, they really don't, they only know how to say 'hi' and 'how are you', but Angelica really knows how to speak fluently. It's a first for me.

Then on Friday, Elder Cardenas and I headed to the Zone Leaders' area so I could have my interview with the President. He's one of the most amazingly spiritually receptive people I have ever met. Mom, Dad, I'm going to invite him to dinner with you guys when he heads back to Utah in June so you can meet him. Anyway, the interview was a good re-fresher for me.

We also had an awesome ward Christmas dinner, and we were able to bring investigators and some inactive members with us. Elder Cardenas, the other companionship from our ward, and I were asked to join the Relief Society in singing some hymns before the dinner. We sang like a 1000 songs, and every time, the lady who was 'directing' us sad that it was going to be the last time. I have some sweet photos...but I forgot to bring my camera with me. I'll try to send them next week.

And, to top off the week, we had a baptismal service held for Elizabeth yesterday. It was so great. She's 13 years old, and has experienced a lot of junk in her life that's forced her to grow up faster than normal. I had the privelege of baptizing her, and when she came up out of the water, she had the biggest smile on her face (she never smiles), and asked me if we could do it again. I felt and feel very very content, and I'm sure our Heavenly Father is as well.

Merry Christmas everyone! Be sure to ask for gifts from Santa, because apparently if you ask for gifts from the Wise Men, they don't come until the 6th of January. Bummer! Mexico makes me laugh often.

Elder Budge

Monday, December 14, 2009

The Temple, Soccer, and Pool. Good week.

Hey Fam!

How's it going? I'll pretend that I heard you all say "really well, Elder Budge!"--Oh that's good to hear. I'm glad to know that you're all doing well, and I hope you know how much the Lord is watching over each and every one of you--if you don't believe me, read DyC 101:1. It's a good one.

This week has been pretty awesome. Elder Cardenas had the privelege of visiting the House of the Lord last Tuesday--and can I tell you, it was so refreshing. It had been months since I'd been to the Temple last, and it was so amazing to participate in that hugely important part of the Lord's work in these last days. Like I said last week, GO TO THE TEMPLE! It was especially sweet because I got to see my companion from the MTC, Elder Walk, and we were able to talk a little bit in the Celestial Room. I also got to see my Dad, my Grandpa, and my Great-Grandpa, and we took a family picture. I'll send it when I find the time.

Grandma and Grandpa! I received your package on Tuesday as well! It's awesome, thank you so much! I have my stocking hanging above my bed in our apartment...and I've already opened all the presents inside haha. Mom and Dad weren't here to stop me. And yes, I read every scripture before opening them, and I got a really good lauch out of it. Very clever. Thanks again so much, I love you both like crazy. I'll be sending a letter as soon as I get my hands on some American Postage stamps. Mom, I still haven't received the package you said you sent me! Looks like I won't get it until January. Bummer.

This week was a pretty normal week; my companion and I are learning a lot about each other. We have a mountain of work to get done, and it always seems like there is never enough time to do it.

So there's not much more to report this week...although I must say I was rockin it pretty hard when we played Fast Soccer today...and yes, I scored a goal. I felt like a pretty big hot shot. After playing soccer we headed to the local pool hall and spent a couple hours playing some 8 and 9 ball. I love Preparation Days.

But not as much as I love you! Thank you for the emails, letters, all that good stuff. We'll see each other pretty soon.

Elder Budge

Monday, December 7, 2009

Xochitenco, La Perla!

Hello from very dusty Chimalhuacan!

As I said before, I had changes last Tuesday, and I've been transferred to La Perla Stake, in the Xochitenco Ward--I wrote from Chimalhuacan because that is what the city is called. And there are maybe a total of 5 paved roads in my area, which always makes walking in windy weather an adventure. My new companion's name is Elder Cardenas (accent on the a), and he's got two more cycles left before he heads home to San Luis, Mexico. We're having a good time.

We had a baptism yesterday, a lady named Nancy, who has been attending church here for about 6 years. She hadn't been able to be baptized because she wasn't married, but she finally convinced her husband to tie the knot and they were married on Saturday. Although I don't know her very well, I absolutely loved being able to watch her be baptized by my companion after so many years of waiting.

We have some pretty cool investigators--Adrian, Maria (who need to get married); Berenice (who also needs to get married); and Mauri, who is really really really awesome. Please pray for them so that they may have the means necessary in order to be able to be baptized. I can't tell you how important your prayers are to the work we do here!

There's not much more news from my end. We're headed to the Temple to have a session, eat dinner, and have Zone Conference tomorrow, and I'm really really really excited, I haven't been able to go to the temple in 4 months! Take advantage of the many opportunities you have to attend the temple--to do sessions and to do baptisms and confirmacions for the dead! I can assure you, there are thousands and thousands of people anxiously waiting to be able to receive a Remission of their sins and other saving ordinances on the other side of the veil. Remember, our dead cannot be saved without us, and we cannot be saved withouth them.

Love you all, and I hope you're listening to Christmas music every day.

Elder Budge