Hello familia!
This week has been a pretty interesting week, to say the least. Elder Cab and I have been having a tough time building the Kingdom of God on the earth. But sometimes, we just need to plow through days like these with all of the energy of our hearts, and if we endure it well, God will bless us beyond our imagination! (see D&C 121:7-9).
We did have one pretty exceptionally awesome experience this week. These past few weeks, we have been teaching a lady named Sandra, who is the Ward Missionary Leader´s daughter. She is a really closed, private person, and we have a hard time figuring out exactly what she needs to hear. But this week, Elder Cab and I decided to have the Charla Franca (the frank discussion) with her, and tell her that we would no longer be able to visit with her if she couldn´t complete with her commitments. Elder Cab talked about how really, there are only two Churches in this world: The Church of Jesus Christ and the Church of Satan. I then explained to her why we work so hard toward baptism, because we know of its importance, especially when the Lord told us in Doctrine and Covenants that with greater knowledge comes greater condemnation. As I was speaking, she started to cry and cry, and after I finished, I asked her to share what she was feeling. After a few very long minutes of silence, she explained to us that earlier that morning, she had had a dream in which she saw Jesus Christ. She saw a big drop of blood fall from His body, and then saw two churches: The Church of Jesus Christ and the Church of Satan. We then spoke of baptism a little more—she´s going to be baptized this week. I cannot tell you how incredible and unbelievable that lesson was. Truly, this is the Lord´s Church. His only one.
I love you all, and hope you are praying and reading every day. Remember, those who have scriptures that are falling apart, usually have lives that aren´t. I know that that is true. There is Prophet of God Himself living on this earth—a man that receives revelation to guide the Living Church of Christ! How great are our blessings from our loving Heavenly Father.
I´ve attached some pictures—some cool graffiti, my new Pumas (cougars) jersey, and some others. Zion is growing!
Love, Elder Budge
Hello everyone!
I hope everyone is doing great this week. I can’t believe the way time flies here. P days come so fast. This week I had a really good experience that I want to share with you. Ok? Ok.
So the other day, Elder Cab and I were knocking doors, and having little/no really awesome super success, and it was very hot. I was getting a little impatient with knocking doors, because I feel like it’s the very least effective thing we can do as missionaries. I walked up to a door with Elder Cab, and heard people talking on the other side of the gate. I knocked the usual knock and they continued to talk without answering the door. I knocked again and said “buenas tardes!” but yet again to no avail. Elder Cab turned to me and asked me “Do you think they’re going to be cool?” I thought for a moment and then replied: “No…I don’t think so. Let’s go to the next house.” As we were turning to go to the next door, a thought came to my mind (in Spanish…heh heh) and said “No vamos a saber si seran chidos a menos que hablemos con ellos”. That being, roughly translated: “We aren’t going to know if they’ll be cool unless we speak to them.” I stopped, knocked on the gate again and said, almost shouting, “BUENAS TARDES!” A woman answered the door, and I introduced my companion and myself, explained why we were there, and asked if we could come in to share our message with them. She looked back at her husband, and then at her Dad, and there was a moment of awkward silence. Then, almost simultaneously, the three of them said “Yes, come in!” We had a really good lesson with them, and they’re going to come to Church with us this coming Sunday. I will never forget that simple phrase that came to my mind; and from now on it will be my motto. God has thousands of His children prepared to listen to the Restored Gospel RIGHT NOW; we only have to do our part to find out who they are. And how will we know who they are unless we talk to them?
I’m sending a bunch of pictures today, including one of the package Elder Cab received earlier today—his mom sent me American Candies and a sweeeeet tie!
Love you all.
Elder Budge
Happy Third day of the dead everyone!
Yes, here in Mexico City there 3 days of the dead: the 31st, the 1st, and the 2nd. They remember their dead in categories: one day for those who died naturally, one day for those who died before their time, and one day for unbaptized babies. I'm pretty sure those are the categories..but I could have understood incorrectly. And also, while the kids are trick or treating, they yell SKULLS! and you have to give them candy...and if you don't have candy at hand, they accept money as well! It's funny...and cost us a few pesos. But all is well here in Mexico State. And no Mom, I haven't been sick ni una vez!
Sofia was baptized yesterday, and I had the privelege of performing the ordinance. She's going to be such a great member--she's always reading the Book of Mormon and always asking questions. My District Leader, Elder Acuna, told me that Sofia and I look like brother and sister. I strongly disagree, and unfortunately I do not have my camera with me to send photos.
I hope everyone is looking forward to this week, because I am! Thank you for your prayers and everything else that you've done to help us here in the Mexico East Mission. Love you all.
Be safe and be good!
Elder Budge
PS sorry this letter is kind of short...I spent most of time sending individual replies. Manos a la obra!
Family, Friends, and my other spiritual brothers and sisters:
Hi!
It´s me, Elder Budge. This week has gone by fast, I can´t believe it. Tomorrow I´ll have 5 months in the mission. El tiempo pasa volando! As I said last week, I had Changes last tuesday and I received my new Companion, Elder Cab!
So a little about Elder Cab: He´s 20 years old and has 17 months here in the mish. Needless to say, I´ve been learning a lot from him and his plethora of experiences. He´s from Merida, Yucatan. He loves to try to speak english, and I laugh so so hard at night when he tries to tell me something in english. We have been having just a really good time together, we get along really really well. He´s always happy and laughing, which makes the harder times a little easier to get through. I´m sure we´ll have even more success as time comes and goes!
So this week was a pretty normal week, like the last. Sofia wasn´t able to baptized yesterday because she couldn´t get work off--we had kind of a frank discussion and I challenged her to stop working on Sundays entirely--so we´ll meet with her tonight to see what´s up. I explained to her that feelings of apprehension to do what´s right can only come from one source--yep, that old serpent Satan. The Lord ALWAYS provides us a way to accomplish what is necessary in our lives, but that doesn´t mean that the way He´ll provide will be easy. We just have to trust Him--He is perfect, after all.
Jessica, the girlfriend of a member here, was baptized yesterday, which was really really sweet. Miguel (the member) was able to baptize her, which made the baptism extra special. She´ll be confirmed next week!
I hope every one is doing unbelievably well. Love love love you.
Elder Budge
Hi family!
Honestly, this week I don't have much to report. We had a pretty normal week--we taught a bunch of lessons, had some investigators come to church, and we spent a lot of time looking up records of inactive members. Juan, who was baptized last week, was confirmed yesterday. That means a completed family--and they can start preparing to enter the Temple. In a year, Elder Pastrana and I can enter with them. Sweet! Those are the only opportunities we have to go to the Temple in the mission--so I plan on going a lot after I hit my year mark. All is well.
This cycle has ended, and I can't believe it. For those of you who don't know, a Cycle is a period of 6 weeks--and at the end of each cycle, we find out if we're being transferred or not. Elder Pastrana has Changes tomorrow, which means we get to head to Temple Grounds for our Changes Meeting! We've been together for 2 cycles already, and I'll be receiving a new companion tomorrow. I'm really excited, and at the same time a little sad that he'll be leaving me. The Lord know what He's doing.
That's about it, really...Sofia will be baptized this coming Sunday, which is sweeeeet. She has been reading the BOM like crazy and asked me for a copy of Doctrine and Covenants. Golden!
Love you all!
\
Elder Budge
Hi!
Just want to answer a couple of questions that have been made. Yes, Mom, the food is very different (yours is WAY better). Mandy, just teach your kids how to roll their r's (just make the sound whil they're babies and toddlers) and they'll be good to go. And a challenge to all: Give refferrals to your local missionaries! I know you know someone who needs to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Read DyC 88:81.
This week has been utterly amazing. The best week of my mission so far. We have two of the most amazing investigators in the world. One, named Sofia, is particularly unusual (in a very good way). Since we first visited her, she has read every pamphlet we have left with her, and done the additional study found in the back. She has been reading the Book of Mormon like no other, and knows almost all of the Testimony of Joseph Smith (where it explains how Joseph Smith received the plates), and best of all, knows it is true. I went with one of our Ward Missionaries to pick her up for Church yesterday, and she told me everything that she has read so far. When we got to the Chapel, she took a deep breath, let out a huge sigh, and called it "her other house". She has been a blessing to us this week.
Our other really cool investigator is Paty, who lives really close to Sofia in the same colony (San Jose Las Palmas). After teaching the first lesson, explaining the Restoration, and answering a few questions about what we believe about music, dancing, parties, etc.; we invited her to read the Book of Mormon and come to Church. She promptly replied: I'm going to do what you've asked me to do. But you've already convinced me. Needless to say, she is a blessing as well.
The Book Of Mormon is true. It is a witness that God still speaks to us today, through his chosen Prophets, as stated in Amos 3:7--that God will do nothing save he revealeth his secret to His servants, the Prophets. What a blessing we have to know that God hasn't (and will never) change.
Love,
Elder Budge
PS- We baptized Juan yesterday! After his confirmation, he and his wife, Angelica, can prepare for the Temple and go after a year. Sweet!
Hello once again my family and other loved ones!
This week has been just incredible. I´m continuing to learn and grow every day; the Lord has blessed me in many ways.
Elder Pastrana and I had another successful week--Claudia was able to be baptized yesterday between the morning and afternoon sessions of General Conference. It was awesome, even though the water was really cold and I messed up the Baptismal Prayer for the first time! But I nailed it the second time, and all went well. I´m grateful that I´m able to feel a small fraction of the joy that our Heavenly Father feels when one soul is brought unto him. Next week, if Claudia´s dad doesn´t work on Sunday, he´ll be baptized as well--which means a family completed and working towards going to the Temple. We had a really sweet lesson about temples and eternal families last night. What a blessing. It reminded me of when I entered the temple with my family. I can´t imagine Heaven without my family.
I was able to learn a lot this past week--I had Exchanges with our American District Leader, Elder Winters, and we had a blast. It´s no wonder he´s one of our leaders; he´s a great example. We knocked the entire day, and yet another drunkard in the street tried to talk me (my companion says i´m a drunkard magnet). It was a really good experience. I´m grateful for my leaders here.
Ok, so Conference was just amazing. Yes Mom, I was able to watch it--all 5 sessions. It was incredible. I especially liked the Saturday sessions; everyone seemed to talk, one way or another, about the nature of our Heavenly Father. We truly have a Father in Heaven that loves us more than we can understand, and we have the commandments He has given us because He knows it´s the best way for us to progress. Elder Oaks explained the difference that exists between mercy and justice, as it pertains to the love of God. He said something to this effect: "If one thinks that having God´s love is like having a license to disobey, that person neither understands love nor obedience". And it is absolutely true--He asks us to obey because He loves us. Mercy cannot rob justice--He knows that only through obedience can we become perfect like Him. In Elder Jorge F. Zeballo´s talk, he explained that the Lord does not expect of us that which we cannot achieve--and He commands us to be perfect. He does not require more than our best; neither does he accept any less--for both would be unjust. Elder Uchtdorf explained that He has promised us all that He has; and if that isn´t enough of a reason to love Him, we must love Him because He loved us first.
I am truly and eternally grateful for my Heaveny and Earthly parents, who show me the greatest love I could ever receive. Thank you.
Love, Elder Budgefference that exists between mercy and justice, as it pertains to the love of God. He said something to this effect
