Monday, January 18, 2010
Hi.
I just got finished writing a big long email explaining this week. But the power went out and erased everything. I had also attached a bunch of pictures. Sorry. Elder Budge
Monday, January 11, 2010
Good week!
Hello familia!
This week has been awesome! I've had a lot of good experiences and first-timers. This week I ate cow stomach (no bueno - not good), Ritz crackers with a pig liver spread (pretty good), and soy tacos al pastor (more or less...).
So this week we've had some pretty sweet victories as far as the work of the Lord is concerned. We found a really awesome, inactive family that has some un-baptized members, so we've been spending a lot of time with them, answering questions, teaching, etc. They're muy buena onda (really cool) and we have had a really good time teaching them. The names of the family members that haven't been baptized are Beatriz and Rebeca. Please keep them in your prayers as well! They came to church with us for the first time in years this past Sunday, and we have an appointment with them for later today. I'm sure all will go well!
We also found another very cool family knocking doors on Friday night, and we had an awesome, awesome lesson with them. I always seem to forget the huge difference there is between teaching a truly elect person and someone who really isn't interested in what we have to say. Anywho, they weren't able to come with us to Church this week because they went to Veracruz on vacation, but they will be joining us this coming Sunday.
Other than that, I really don't have much else to report. My companion, Elder Cardenas, has transfers tomorrow (actually...everyone in my District has transfers tomorrow, so I have to bring all the new Elders to their houses tomorrow!) so I'll be receiving a new companion. Crazy!
I love all of you. Keep it up. And write me!
Elder Budge
This week has been awesome! I've had a lot of good experiences and first-timers. This week I ate cow stomach (no bueno - not good), Ritz crackers with a pig liver spread (pretty good), and soy tacos al pastor (more or less...).
So this week we've had some pretty sweet victories as far as the work of the Lord is concerned. We found a really awesome, inactive family that has some un-baptized members, so we've been spending a lot of time with them, answering questions, teaching, etc. They're muy buena onda (really cool) and we have had a really good time teaching them. The names of the family members that haven't been baptized are Beatriz and Rebeca. Please keep them in your prayers as well! They came to church with us for the first time in years this past Sunday, and we have an appointment with them for later today. I'm sure all will go well!
We also found another very cool family knocking doors on Friday night, and we had an awesome, awesome lesson with them. I always seem to forget the huge difference there is between teaching a truly elect person and someone who really isn't interested in what we have to say. Anywho, they weren't able to come with us to Church this week because they went to Veracruz on vacation, but they will be joining us this coming Sunday.
Other than that, I really don't have much else to report. My companion, Elder Cardenas, has transfers tomorrow (actually...everyone in my District has transfers tomorrow, so I have to bring all the new Elders to their houses tomorrow!) so I'll be receiving a new companion. Crazy!
I love all of you. Keep it up. And write me!
Elder Budge
Monday, January 4, 2010
Prospero Año y Felicidad! I don't remember if that's what I titled my last email.
Happy new year all!
Elder Cardenas and I had a very tranquil New Year's Eve this past year, and a very productive one as well. We had to be in our house at 6 in the afternoon (because all the crazy's come out at night and get "happy"), and our mission president provided us with a really cool, three and a half hour companionship activity to pass the time. We were able to sing some hymns, reflect on the success we had in December, and set goals for the month, and the rest of the time that is left in our missions. It was a really good opporrunity for us to grow a little closer together and set some good, challenging goals for us. The best part was that we could truly feel that the Lord had confirmed the plans and goals we made, and I know this year will be a year of great success. That night, I slept like a baby, inspite of all the very loud music from the "Pachangas". My companion wasn't as fortunate.
I would like to share a very small, very awesome experience with you. This week has been a week of rejection and we have been stood up several times. But, we dedicated most of our time on Friday doing street contacts in a very simple way: bearing testimony and asking for an appointment (this is the new way that has been established in this mission by the President of the Area of Mexico). We made several appointments--many of which fell through. But, we arrived to an appointment we had made with a young(ish) girl, but ended up talking to her mother instead, because the girl had "gone to the market" (along with everyone else in Mexico City). But we introduced ourselves anyway, told her about the Restoration of the Gospel, and she said something to us that entered into my heart so profoundly. She said, very simply, "Oh, that sounds interesting. I would have a lot of questions about that." How true that is! The message of the Restoration of the Church IS interesting! How could someone not be interested to hear that the Heavens have opened again, and there is a living prophet like Moses or Abraham again on the Earth! Our message is worth a few minutes of listening to. The only difference between this kind lady and everyone we had talked to was that she truly listened to what we had to say.
But apart from being interesting, the message of the Restoration and Joseph Smith also has the benefit of being true. God's authority is once again on earth so that we no longer have to walk in darkness. Isn't that great? I think so.
I know this work is the work of Angels.
Elder Budge
Elder Cardenas and I had a very tranquil New Year's Eve this past year, and a very productive one as well. We had to be in our house at 6 in the afternoon (because all the crazy's come out at night and get "happy"), and our mission president provided us with a really cool, three and a half hour companionship activity to pass the time. We were able to sing some hymns, reflect on the success we had in December, and set goals for the month, and the rest of the time that is left in our missions. It was a really good opporrunity for us to grow a little closer together and set some good, challenging goals for us. The best part was that we could truly feel that the Lord had confirmed the plans and goals we made, and I know this year will be a year of great success. That night, I slept like a baby, inspite of all the very loud music from the "Pachangas". My companion wasn't as fortunate.
I would like to share a very small, very awesome experience with you. This week has been a week of rejection and we have been stood up several times. But, we dedicated most of our time on Friday doing street contacts in a very simple way: bearing testimony and asking for an appointment (this is the new way that has been established in this mission by the President of the Area of Mexico). We made several appointments--many of which fell through. But, we arrived to an appointment we had made with a young(ish) girl, but ended up talking to her mother instead, because the girl had "gone to the market" (along with everyone else in Mexico City). But we introduced ourselves anyway, told her about the Restoration of the Gospel, and she said something to us that entered into my heart so profoundly. She said, very simply, "Oh, that sounds interesting. I would have a lot of questions about that." How true that is! The message of the Restoration of the Church IS interesting! How could someone not be interested to hear that the Heavens have opened again, and there is a living prophet like Moses or Abraham again on the Earth! Our message is worth a few minutes of listening to. The only difference between this kind lady and everyone we had talked to was that she truly listened to what we had to say.
But apart from being interesting, the message of the Restoration and Joseph Smith also has the benefit of being true. God's authority is once again on earth so that we no longer have to walk in darkness. Isn't that great? I think so.
I know this work is the work of Angels.
Elder Budge
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
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
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
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
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
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