Eat fresh!

Helloooo Family!

Mom, thank you so much for sending David and Janna's emails to me. I'll have you know that it was the first time I received their weekly emails...very enjoyable. It seems like David is experiencing the same changes in his mission as we are in mine (could it be because the Gospel is the same in Japan and in Mexico...?). I think so. I love hearing about my cousins and their missions...the only one I really haven't heard from is Derek...flojo. And David, just so you know, "dulce" probably wouldn't work too well in that context...try again next time. Use the word "Chido" instead. It's way more Chido than dulce..

Anywho, sounds like my buddy Braden David Crump, now ex-missionary, made it home safe and sound. I still can't believe that time has gone by so quickly. It's weird. And grandma and grandpa, thanks for the update! It's definitely good to hear all the news from your point of view. My dad didn't tell me about the golf ball story while you were in Europe.

This was a really interesting week for my hijo (son) and I... we experienced some major disappointments, but we both feel really satisfied with the work we were able to do. Last P-Day we went to visit some people we had previously contacted in the street, and, surprise! False address! Haha I really wish that wasn't normal for me. I told my companion a few days before that when things like that happen, we need to find someone to talk to immediately, because the Lord knows exactly where we are. And yes, that is precisely what we did. We contacted a woman (her name is Azucena) who was walking in the street towards us, and I asked if her if it was ok if we went to her house to teach the Gospel. She said "Si!" so we went. After talking with her for a few minutes, she told us that she had already been baptized when she was little, but after her baptism her family never went to Church again. I thought things seemed a little fishy...so I asked her for her info and called the Records Secretary to ask about her. Turns out that neither she nor her family exist in the records of the Church! She has no living witnesses to her baptism so...she's just going to have to get baptized again. She'll be baptized the 1st of August.

Azucena lives here in Mexico but originally is from Veracruz; right now she's living with her Daughter and her Son-in-law, both Catholics. We were teaching her the lessons in a near-by park because her daughter wouldn't let us into her house. Azucena started talking to her neighbors to see if anyone else wanted to listen to us so we would have a place to teach, and after doing some tracting she found a super-receptive family of four who loves hearing the Gospel. There names are Sonya, Carlos, Maira, and Jesus--they have their baptismal date set up for the 8th of August, one week after Azucena. I'm sure my cousins will agree with me when I say that teaching the truly elect people prepared by the Lord is 100 times easier than teaching people who simply aren't prepared to receive the Restored Gospel. So that was really satisfying for us.

Dulce wasn't baptized this past week...everything was going fine, there were butterflies and roses all around--until her baptismal interview. She passed her interview, but the day after told us that she wanted another month in order to get baptized. She really wouldn't give us a solid reason why--she kept blaming her mom, saying that her mom would kick her out of the house if she got baptized. We talked to hear about fearing God more than fearing Man, but she wouldn't listen to us. Every time we resolved her doubts, she would return to old ones. She told us that after a month she would have everything in order so that she can get baptized. We had to drop her. Bummer...

On the bright side, Nayeli, after a very long fight, is going to get baptized this Sunday! WOOO!! So we're definitely looking forward to that. She had to take care of some personal affairs, and now that all that is out of the way, there is nothing stopping her from getting baptized this Sunday. I love the victory over Satan. When will he learn that he just can't win?

Love you all, have a great week, head to the Temple! You're so lucky you can go whenever you want!!!

Elder Budge

This is life Eternal.

Hello family!

I'm sorry to hear about Uncle Larry's passing away this past week. I've been able to meet a lot of people here that have experienced many deaths in their families, and it always helps to remember the blessings and promises of Eternal Life that come after this life. Every time I teach the Plan of Salvation I feel its truthfulness; especially as the Spirit testifies in others and I get to see their faces light up. Usually it's the first time that they've received real, edifying answers about the purpose of this lfie and the reality of the next. I love the truth.

My companinon and I had a pretty normal week. We did a lot of proselyting, were given lots of fake addresses, and were rained on like crazy all week. I love the qualifier weeks. It just means that the Lord has more and more blessings waiting for us just around the corner.

There's really not much news on my end...we had a special interview for Nayeli last week; we were in the Visitor's Center of the temple for a goooood amount of time and didn't get home till around 8 o clock so we weren't able to get much done. President Parra (the second counselor of the Mission Presidency) let us know that we need to wait another two weeks to be able to baptize her while she arranges some things. So I'll keep you posted on that. She is very very anxiously waiting to be baptized. Bro. Sanchez didn't go to Church on Sunday for his confirmation because he went to visit family to remember the Anniversary of his mother's death, so we have his confirmation planned for this coming Sunday.

I think one of the most important lessons I've learned these past few weeks is that wickedness never was happiness. I had said the phrase several times before, but after visiting with a few less-active members and some other people I've really been able to engrave that phrase on my heart. After meeting so many people who, though unknowlingly, live in such a manner, it's really had a great impact on me. I have met dozens upon dozens of less-active members that say "well...I have my house, I have my family, I have a good job, and I don't even go to Church. What's the problem?" God's love for us doesn't change according to our Church attendance or how well we keep the commandments. Nevertheless, the greatest blessings of all are reserved for those who strive to keep the commandments diligently. I'm always reminded that temporal happiness or pleasure--the kind that we may experience as we disregard and disobey the commandments--is not the goal we should have in mind. And, a good house, good job, and a healthy family do not give us free entrance into the Celestial Kingdom. The goal is to have Eternal Families--and we can only get there through obedience to ALL the commandments that our Heavenly Father has given us.

Anyway, just thought I'd share that with you.

Love you all.

Elder Budge

First week of training!

Hellooooo family!!

How´s everyone doing?! Sounds like the 4th of July was a blast! I was thinking about Malad this morning...and I was craving some home-made root beer out behind Ken's farm! DAAAANG! But that's Ok, my kid and I had a pretty cool 4th of July too!

Yes, Grandma and Grandpa, I received the CAMERA! THANK YOU! And I also received the letter you wrote me. I'm in the process of writing you back! I just need to buy some envelopes. Also! Mom, I imagine that the former Elder Hunter (now known as Jared Hunter) left all that stuff on our porch! Ha! He went home in April, and he's from our Stake and lives really close to us (over by Deerfield) and I sent a bunch of stuff home with him. Miranda, the New Moon thing is for you (obviously), and Josh, that is a real-deal REY MISTERIO luchador mask. ENJOY!!

So anyway, last Tuesday I went to the Changes meeting to pick up my new greenie! His name is Elder Montoya (no...we still don't know if we're related...I don't have my pedigree chart and neither does he). But he's a baller for sure! He's a 25-year-old convert from Mexicali, Baja California. We get along really well; and he's got an incredibly huge enthusiasm for missionary work! My job is to turn him into a missionary of SUCCESS! And speaking of success...

This week went really well for us, inspite of the really short time we had for proselyting. On Tuesday I went to pick up Elder Montoya in the Federal District, on Wednesday we had District Classes, Thursday was a normal work day, Friday we went up to a place called Pachuca to meet the new Mission President (that took up 8 hours of our day), Saturday we did our weekly planning and Sunday we had Church and a baptismal service. Yikes...busy week.

Nevertheless, we had an awesome week. We were working hard with Ricardo Sanchez (he had a smoking problem) all week, and on Thursday morning we finally had his baptismal interview! It was sweet! He passed, of course, and we had his baptismal service on Sunday afternoon. He came to the baptism late and my companion was worried out of his mind! I kept telling him, "Elder, the Lord's elect always show up. There's always one final trial, so just don't worry about it!" Ricardo's one final trial was a ridiculous amount of traffic due to a crazy accident on the bridge close to the Church. My companion's first baptism was sweet!

We're continuing to work with Nayeli...she has yet another interview tomorrow in the afternoon. I know that all will go well with her! And we've been working with a new investigator named Dulce, she's sweet! Ha...bad joke. (For those of you who don't know..."Dulce" means "Sweet"). She accepted her baptismal date for the 18th of July, has been reading the Book of Mormon and told us she believes the Book of Mormon is true. What more could we ask?

I think that's all the news from my end. I'm sending some photos of...

1. Baptism of Leticia and Ricardo (Leticia's son)

2. Elder Tanner and I a few days before he went home

3. My last picture with President Bulloch before he went home

4. My trainer, me, and my trainee

5. Our ride in the Combi up to Pachuca for the Conference on Friday

6. Ricardo Sanchez's baptism

7. Me reporting last night...in the pouring rain.

Love you all!

Elder Budge

Elder Budge is PREGNANT?!

Hey Parents! Brother! Sisters! Aunts! Uncles! Cousins! Cousin-in-laws (including the new one!) and friends!

It's good to hear from so many of you today. I love hearing about all your awesome spiritual experiences you've had during the week. What a blessing it is to have the Restored Gospel in our lives! Yeah!!

I can't believe John's married! That's crazy! He didn't even wait for me. Lastima. I received some emails about how "Kristen went through the temple" and "we went to Kristen's endowment" and things like that...and I thought..."Who on earth is Kristen?!" And then I read mom's email and she was the only one that explained that it was John's wife. But anyway, Muchas felicidades!! Congratulations! I love eternal families. I am so proud of all of my loved ones that choose the path that our Savior has taught us...now matter how narrow and strait that path may be. It's tough but I'm so sure that it's worth it.

This past week has been a blast. On Tuesday night Elder Tanner and Elder Ramos (from the next area over) came and stayed at our house because we had Zone Conference really far away and really early in the morning on Wednesday. We had a pretty sweet PJ party. Elder Tanner finished his mission last week, so it was a good opportunity to ask him a bunch of questions and talk about the mission in general. He was and is a way good example to follow.

So on Wednesday we had our last Zone Conference with President Bulloch. His parting advice was simple but a lot more profound than I had thought initially: Be like Christ. I really think that's all that needs to be said. God doesn't give us commandments that we can't fulfill...and He has commanded to be perfect. So work at it! And I will too.

So my companion headed home on Friday, and they put Elder Ramos and I together while we wait to get our new companions tomorrow at the Changes Meeting. We had a crazy time trying to cover his appointments and my appointments on Friday and Saturday...but we got it done and we've gotten along really well. On Sunday, we baptized a young man named Alan, one of Elder Ramos' investigators. It was a really sweet baptismal service.

On Sunday night I reported to my District leader like normal, and he asks me, "So Elder Budge, I hear you're having a baby!" I started to laugh and tried to act like I didn't know what he was talking about (my Zone Leader had already told me that I will be training this Cycle). He started to laugh too. So yep, starting tomorrow I'm going to be a Daddy! I'm pretty sure my kid will be from Peru; they said that the majority of the Elders that are coming in are from Peru, and 8 more americans will be coming later on in the cycle. I'm way grateful for the trust the Lord has put in me.

So that's pretty much all the news I have for you! Have a great week and go to the Temple often.

Elder Budge

I love to look for rainbows...

...whenever there is rain. And ponder on the beauty of our investigators made clean again.

Hello family and friends!

I've got some good news and some good news: Leticia and Ricardo got baptized yesterday!! Woo hoo!!!! It was sweet, although Ricardo got some water up his nose (I told him to close his nose WELL!!). It always feels really rewarding to be able to participate in the saving ordinance of baptism, I really Love it. It really is just amazing to see what miracles the Lord can work among his children if we can excercise just a tiny bit of faith. Obedience + Worthiness = Miracles. That's a promise from an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sounds like the wedding reception thing was a blast, and that's sweet that Tanner Renshaw just got back from Chile. I wonder if he was in Cory or Jordan's mission...man spanish is such a beautiful language. I love it. I can't believe it's still snowing down in Cedar City! That's NUTS! It's been raining here a ton, and when it rains, it pours! I said "it's raining cats and dogs" one time to my companion and he didn't understand me...guess it's not really an expression in Spanish like it in english. Oh well.

So I was reading some of the teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith this past week (what an amazing person!) and one phrase really stuck out to me. He said (roughly translated from spanish): "We should gather up all good and true principles that there are in the world, or we will not become true Mormons". We should alwas remember that we live in the world, we are not of the world. The world offers us some things that are true and worthwhile; but at the same time we need to avoid things that waste our time and deterr (sp?) us in our eternal progression.

We're continuing to work with Ricardo Sanchez, but his smoking problem is really strong. But, he's progressed a lot since we first met him; he's gone from smoking two packs a day to one cigarrette a day. But it's still not enough for him to be able to be baptized. We're trying to help him to stop completely, but it seems like he's struggling. Other than that, he's doing really awesome. He always goes to Church by himself, and is always willing to listen to us, any time any day. Please pray for him so that he can do what he needs to do in order to stop smoking. I know their is strength and power in a sincere prayer.

More good news: Nayeli finally came to churhc with us! It was sweeeeet! We're preparing things so that she can be baptized in 2 weeks. It will be awesome to get the whole household baptized. And really her mom, Leticia, is setting an awesome example for her. They're both reading the Book of Mormon a lot, and really enjoying it. In every one of our visits they re-cap what they've read, and it's awesome how much they're learning. Any of ye who shall do my will shall know of my doctrine.

We've got our last Zone Conference with President Bulloch this Wednesday, and my companion is headed home on Friday. All in all, life is good. Missionary work is so difficult, but so worth it. I would not rather be anywhere else than here, in Mexico, among the Lamanites. Remember that doing what right is always worth it; there will always be nay-sayers, negative Nancy's, doubting Thomas's, and everything else, but we can have the confidence in that the Lord is pleased with what we are doing. The Church is true.

Love, Elder Budge

FIFA MADNESS!!

Hey there family!

As you can guess, all of Mexico is going crazy about the World Cup down in South Africa. It's nuts. When Mexico played against South Africa on Friday, they even put the game on in the Schools so kids wouldn't skip school to see the game! HAHA! And all through our studies on Friday our neighbors were screaming like crazy. Ha it was funny.

Thanks for writing me all of you--you know who you are--so now I will respond to your emails, maybe throw in a funny comment here and there, and then I'll let you know about my week. Dad, sounds like you guys had an EXCELLENT time on Memorial Day...I really am super grateful for our amazing heritage. I can't wait to dig in to geneology work when I get back. And where in Salt Lake is the Red Iguana? My comp always tell me that Iguana meat is really really good...but I doubt that's what you guys ate. JOSH, head out on the mission as soon as you can. Don't worry about seeing me! We'll have an eternity to hang out afterward, the mission should be your very first priority. Do whatcha gotsta do. And that's awesome that Olimpo is alistandose to go on the mission as well. We will be an awesome unstoppable Montoya missionary force! At least, for a few months. And Mom, I think our only option would be to send the new card to the mission offices (for those of you who don't know...I left my debit card at Walmart and lost it...I'm dumb) but just make sure that it's secure and FAST...si me hace mucha falta.

Sounds like Panders had a killer time at Girls' Camp...it's funny working with Young Women's leaders out here sometimes...the Young Women's Program of the Church is awesome but it's totally foreign to me...are girls aliens? And it's good Panda took some newbies snipe hunting. Haha like father and and older brother...like daughter. Not that catchy of a phrase...haha. MANDY, that sounds like a sick dream! We'll definitely be hitting up all the NFG concerts we can. I just have so little time left I can't believe how fast it's going by. And thanks for the 'autographs'. It's the thought that counts right? Oh and Mandy...letters are always welcome here in Mexico. Feel free to give them my address...especially if any are entering into the Young Single Adult Program here soon...haha it's a joke. Kinda.

John, sounds like you're tearing it up in Dallas, as always, soon you'll be the Boss of that whole company, and you'll have to hook me up with a job as your translator so you can talk to the workers. Haha. Just to let you know, i'm in Los Heroes Tecamac, in the State of Mexico (El Estado de Mexico). If they're chilangos they'll know whats up.

So the follow up on the cliffhanger I left you with last week...

Ricardo Sanchez is awesome. He's the guy that contacted us last week, and we've had a few lessons with him. He is just super elect. He fulfills with all his commitments, he's got a baptismal date for the 30th of June (2 more weeks); he just needs to quit smoking and he'll be good. And I'm sure he'll do it. Leticia and her son Ricardo are doing awesome, we just had to postpone their baptism for this coming Sunday because Leticia had an Interview with President Torres, a counselor in the Mission Presidency, and they decided that another week was necessary so that she could invite all her family to attend her baptism. Therefore, it shall come to pass shortly. Her daughter Nayeli (the one who cut off her 'arm'), wasn't able to come to Church with us because of her work...so she's looking to cut off that arm too and get a new one (AKA find a new job) so that she can come to Church with us. So that will be awesome.

So on Tuesday Elder Tadeo and I stopped at a store on the way home to buy more milk (you know how I love milk...and I'm famous for it in our Ward haha) when we walked by a taco stand and I saw a gigantic herd of GRINGOS!! We didn't stop to talk to them but I was left with the curiousity. By the way, gringos are americans, for those of you who haven't heard the term. Anyway, so we were walking on Saturday when I saw three of them walking down the street towards us, and I turned to my companion and said that I was going to contact them, and he told me not to, but I said yes! so I did. Haha. Turns out two of them are RM's and they're here as Exchange Students finishing out Chiropractor school (AWESOME), but they didn't know how to get to the Church. We told them we would pick them up for Church if they would help us do splits to pick up investigators, and they accepted. It was sweet. Their names are Tyler and Josh; Tyler served in the Moscow Russia mission and Josh in the Cebu Phillipines mission (no...he doesn't know John Crespo). Both of them are good guys and they offered us free treatment for our backs. No room for complaint there.

Family and friends, the Church is most true. I cannot express to you how grateful I am for the service I have been able to offer the Lord. My family already knows that they have received many, many blessings, as well as I have. We should all stand a little taller. Be a little more grateful. Our Heavenly Father has given us the amazing gift of immortality...we simply cannot waste one minute on things that just don't matter. Spend more time with your family. Mom, Dad, I love you, and I've felt that more than I ever have before. We're all eternal best friends.

Be safe, be smart, and remember to go to the Temple.

Elder Budge

I want to belong to your Church!

Hello family!

If you´re wondering about the subject of this email...let me fill you in. On our way to the internet café a guy named Ricardo came up to us, threw his cigarette on to the ground and told us ¨Hey, I want to belong to your Church! When can we meet together?¨ Ha it was awesome. He told us he´s already been reading the Book of Mormon and wants to be a member of the Church, but that we have to have our visits ¨in secret¨ because his daughters don´t want him to be a Mormon. Haha so we have an appointment on Wednesday at a park by his house.

Mandy, thanks for the update! Sounds like everything´s going pretty well. Before I forget, Mom and Dad, has an RM named Jared Hunter given you a package yet? He´s from our stake and he just went home at the end of april and I sent a bunch of stuff with him to take to you guys. Just wondering. Anywho, back to Mandy, you and I are definitely going to do a TON of genealogy work together, I´m really just craving to do it. It will be sweet to get all the Temple work started for Mom´s side of the family. And what the guy said from your ward is true...you need to head out to MEXICO! Where the Coca-Cola´s cold and the salsa is spicy. Love Mexico. But we don´t drink Coke...don´t worry. And what´s this about Caitlyn Renshaw getting married?! That´s crazy! And awesome. It´s funny how I always think that everything back home is in ¨pause¨ mode while I´m out here serving. Nuts. And I´m sure John´s wedding is going to be bomb. Ah you´re all growing up so fast...

So anyway, Elder Tadeo and I had a pretty awesome-rough week. Just working like ¨bueyes¨ (oxen..) and qualifying for the Miracles. We found an AWESOME family last week, they were all down with coming to Church with us and everything...but, we found out that a few years ago they got in a fight with their next-door neighbors (members) and told us they didn´t want to go to Church if their neighbors were going to be there. So we told the members to go and apologize, but our investigator family didn´t accept their apology. So...yeah. Moral of this story: always be a good example to everyone, non-members and members alike. We also received a reference and taught a sweet family of five, but they had already made plans for Sunday and couldn´t go to Church. As difficult as it is, a lot of times, after we do all that we can do and don´t receive the result we desire, we have to accept the Lord´s will. It´s part of keeping your eye single to His glory. But man it´s hard...

So on the flipside, Leticia, Ricardo, and Raymundo did come to Church with us. Raymundo got confirmed (that was awesome....) and Leticia and Ricardo are very very anxious to be baptized this coming Sunday. We took Leticia and two of her kids Ricardo (11 years old) and Nayeli (27 years old) to the Visitor´s Center last night, and it was sweet. One of the Sister Missionaries at the Visitor´s Center asked Leticia, ¨What is it that would keep you from being baptized?¨ And she said, ¨Nothing! I just have to wait till next week!¨ Ha it was awesome. We´ve also been working with her daughter Nayeli, who was lives with her mom and three kids, and she just barely gave us some good news. She had been living with her boyfriend for two months, and we had been talking about the Law of Chastity with her, and of course, about what she needed to do in order to follow that commandment. Yesterday, she told us very excitedly that she kicked that guy to the curb! She told us ¨He was my right hand that was offending me...So I had to cut it off!¨ The only problem is that she hasn´t come to Church with us yet. But this week! This is where prayers are needed.

That´s pretty much all the news I have. President Bulloch is headed home in three weeks and we´ll be receiving a new Mission President--lots and lots of changes! I´m excited for what the Lord has waiting for me in the future.

Love you all, be safe, be smart, be clean, be humble, pray a lot, remember your covenants, and remember that the Dead cannot be saved without us and we can´t be saved without our Dead! So.....Head to your nearest TEMPLE!!!

Elder Budge