Jake's first letter from Mexico!

This last week had definitely been interesting. In a good way of course! There are too many things to write about, so I´ll write the best things pertaining to each topic.

Interesting: They only drink Coke in México, myth. They actually drink a load of things! I drank some type of fruit juice about every day. Usually mango. Earlier today I bought 3.5 liters of apple juice for only $14 or $15. Which reminds me, $12 pesos = $1 USD. I spent around $250 on groceries for the week. It was great.

Changing topic now. When all of the Elder`s and I got to Mexico we boarded a bus taxi. After being in it for about two minutes we got into a minor accident. Again, it was great. Just a got clipped by a car. Surprisingly I haven´t seen any accidents other than that! It really reminds me of Harry Potter when these buses here squeeze through such tight places.

I made a new friend, his name´s Max the caterpillar.

Spiritual: While my companion and I were knocking doors we found a girl who has been waiting to be baptized, but was kind of forgotten, She´s 20 years old and has been married for 6 years. Yep, at the age of 14. Anyways, I was given the pleasure to baptize her, but it didn´t work out—any of it. Because she had never told her husband about her choice and is nervous about telling him. It was a bit frustrating since we spend 3 hours of the day getting the baptismal font filled, people called and talked with her. But anywho, we will see! Hopefully this week!

My mission president told us that each ward deserves at least one new member a week. The bar is set pretty high, but I believe we can do it! It´s so cool to see how fast the light of Christ can enter into somebody. Just from the time they open the door to the time they close it it´s amazing to see the light of Christ in their eyes. Sad (Triste): It´s always sad to see people have the light of Christ in their eyes and you feel that they know it´s true, and then they deny the truth and ask you to leave.

Yesterday my companion and I walked a good distance to some houses. We were able to go into a house and the people were listening to my companion as he taught (I`ve been working on understanding what is being said, which is coming along great!), well anyways, their family member was sick and they had been trying to get a doctor over to help them, but no doctor was coming. They were happy we were there. We started by singing, “Nearer my God to thee” and were going to give the sick person a blessing, but some guy from the family came inside and kicked us out in the middle of the song. It was sad because he had felt the spirit and was afraid and didn´t like the joyous feeling. Strange, but oh well, we plan on going back over there tomorrow, when the guy´s not there.

I don´t have much time to add all of my pictures, so I´ll just add two. I have a testimony, don´t worry! I just don´t have time to share it today, stay tuned until next week folks!

Sierra Vertientes 310
Col. Lomas de Chapultepec

Del. Miguel Hidalgo
Districto Federal, Mèxico C.P. 11010

Week 3

This week we got a new investigator. His name’s Mario. We were teaching him and when my companion and I had him read Joseph Smith’s first prayer (Jsh 1: 16-17) I really started feeling the spirit! That was pretty cool! On the 20^th we had our first service day. We took out the trash. Not so bad after all: p

I really have a testimony for this gospel. I wouldn’t change being here for anything. Even on the hard days I’m able to learn something new that I should apply to myself to become more Christlike. I love how at even the most random times I can feel the spirit so strongly!

Week 2

First of all, I’m just going to emphasize that Missionary Companions are really inspired! Elder McKell has been teaching me some things. While on the other hand, I’m teaching (hopefully) teaching him some things. After each of our lessons we go on a “walk and talk” that’s where we can talk about either something that has been bothering us or talk about the lesson we just gave; what we did right/wrong and what we can improve for next time.

On the 13^th, I was having a tough time with the language. My mind had turned off and stopped allowing me to pile in more information for a part of the day.  My faith towards the gift of tongues was wavering a little bit, but I got back on track after I reminded myself of a few things (Ether 12:6) First, it had only been one week! And I needed to be grateful for the large amount I have already learned. Second, I needed to remember that the language won’t come all at once. There will be some good days and some bad days, and that day just happened to be one of the bad ones. Third, which helped me the most, was to remember that Heavenly Father sent me here for a reason, which is for me to teach in Spanish. And He wouldn’t send me to Mexico City, of all places, if I wasn’t capable of learning the language.

After I thought of these things, my faith was restored, as was my happiness. I know that Heavenly Father has a reason for all things He does. And the reason for me being here at the MTC, is so that I may learn Spanish so that I may teach those people in Mexico, who have been searching for the truth & the gospel their whole life.

Week 1

My class room has a great view of the Provo Temple. My companion is from Eagle, Idaho and his name is Elder McKell; I know his cousin, which is pretty cool to have a connection right off the bat. I’m glad I was spiritually prepared enough to understand that there is no time to waste, especially in the MTC, because that’s where you’re supposed to learn everything before you’re thrown out into the real world.

Jakes Testimony in Spanish

yo se que dios es nuestro padre celestial. yo se que familias son eternos. yo se que el libro de mormon es verdadero. yo se que dios y jesucristo son amorosa. yo amor el espiritu santo. en el nombre de jesucristo, amen.

(Translation)

I know that God is our Heavenly Father; I know that families are eternal. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that God and Jesus Christ are loving. I love the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.