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