Fasting brings miracles

Hello to all!
Well, the big news for this week is that my companion is going home. He just had his final interview today, and is heading out this week. It has been a different experience when someone goes home, and when you are the missionaries last companion before they go home, but it has been a good learning experience.
Our mission is focusing a lot on having more baptisms. I know, that seems like a pretty normal and obvious focus, but President is really trying to get our mission to be more dedicated, using all our tools, and consecrating ourselves to the work. He called me on the phone saying that our zone needed to pray and fast to find another baptism for this month of April. Right after that phone call, we hear the news that a couple in one of the areas in our zone decided to be married and baptized! So, that was exciting, and an answer to our prayers.
In accordance to President´s request, we fasted this week to soften the heart of a mother of a young man in our ward. Most of his family are members and he really likes it, but his mom does not like the church. She has not gave him permission to be baptized, mostly because the whole baptism situation was presented badly to her. But anyways, we, along with him and his uncle, did a fast. After the fast, we went to the uncle´s house  to figure out a plan of how we can help her understand everything and eventually let him get baptized. So, on Saturday night they went, and she received them well, and said that he has permission to attend church for now, which was progress! She also seemed more interested in the church and sounded more positive about the whole situation. It was great to see the answers to our prayers. It has not came yet as permission for baptism, but her heart is being softened and we are keeping the faith!
This week was a fun one. President wants us doing more contacts, so the mission goal is 75 contacts each missionary each week. The promise he left us was that if we get 75 per week, we will find at least 1 golden investigator....great promise right! We worked very diligently, and we found so many new, great people. I am really loving the mission, and the privilege it is to just find, teach, and see people make and keep covenants. I love it so much. It is something that you cant describe without experiencing it. So, experience it! Be a missionary, whether that means sending in those papers, giving a Book of Mormon to a friend, sharing a testimony to a co-worker, or loving a neighbor. It will bring forth the blessings of heaven as you participate and being to harvest in the field that is already white and ready.
Love you all. Keep us in your prayers.
Elder Babcock

Temple Trip

Hello to all!
This week had a big event that only comes around every 6 months: Temple Trip! We attended the temple this last Thursday, and it was a special experience. We fasted going into it, and I was able to expound on new revelation and knowledge while inside the temple. I am starting to really come to know more about the Atonement daily, and it has become so much more meaningful, relevant, and personal. It was great to see the temple, and to actually take part in so many sacred ordinances. I was contemplating quite a bit on my calling as a missionary, and re-read D&C 4. What a chapter, go ahead and read it prayerfully, and you will see it come to life, whatever may be your position in life!
My companion is heading home next week, and so we have been trying to work better as a companionship. I am learning by experience that communication is key to a good companionship. We had been struggling to communicate well in basically everything, be it about investigators, zone events, ward ideas, mission life, etc. We had a big talk and were able to figure out ways to be in touch better, and to really take advantage of our last 2 weeks together. We both felt a lot better after talking, and went out and saw great things happen over the weekend.
So we are in a drought here in our area, it is looking like our investigator pool has basically dropped. We had some great people that showed great desires, but when Sunday comes around, or when we follow up on commitments, or when we teach them, something has been lacking, and they just haven't done what they promised us they would do so many times! I have learned that on the mission, if you don't watch yourself, it is SO easy to get down and discouraged. But I am trying to stay positive, and open my mouth more, and spread the great news of the Restoration of the Gospel to everyone! We had interviews with the Mission President last week, and he left me a pretty big promise that if I contact, or talk to, 75 people every week, I will find at least 1 golden investigator (or family). And, knowing that he receives the revelation for our mission, following that promise, I will be able to find those who are ready to embrace the truth and follow it!
At church yesterday we were praying hard for a miracle. We had been teaching a less-active family, whose granddaughter is not a member. We had been working hard, trying to get her to go to church, progress, etc. really hard, but we hadn't found a way to "open the door" to her heart. Her birthday was last Sunday, so we decided to bake a cake and give it to her. Her family was happy and expressed their gratitude. We taught her, and committed her for church. She seemed kind of shaky to go, but said she would. We were sitting there with no investigators in church (which by the way is the worst feeling ever), when I was playing prelude music. I looked up to see her and her grandma walk in and sit down. It was, for lack of better words, a tender mercy of the Lord. I am thankful for the power of prayer, and I will keep you update with her status!
The mission has been such a great blessing for me. Like I began by saying, I have received so much light on so many incredible thoughts and feelings, and I am forever grateful for this opportunity to serve. May the Lord bless each of you in this coming week. Keep us here in your prayers.
Until next week,
Elder Babcock

Another week and a new outlook from Brazil.

Eu esto muito bem e tivi uma semana muito bom.

         

      I have been on my mission for 203 days and learned a lot but I think every day I had at least one complaint if not a hundred everyday. I started out happy and just ready to jump into it but as time went on things were not what I expected and I thought I knew better. I thought for some reason that complaining and being negative and angry would help. I didn't know how to deal with those problems I ran into, but the Lord knew that and that is exactly why he gave me those problems and he has been teaching me everyday. I got to a point where day to day I did what I could and would watch and learn keeping the problems inside until I had someone to talk to and then I would unload the negative things in my head. This is why email got to be so problem centered. I started to be better day to day and learn more but I was still letting the negative things in and unloading them on people complaining every chance I had. It's so important to be positive and not complain. Life is so short and there is so much good with so little bad. Just know I'm going forward and trying to take another step towards be positive. Maybe if I learn my lesson the Lord will stop trying to teach me and I can get the perfect comp haha. Anyways, emails for now on are going to be positive because really my mission is good and I'm having fun most of the time, learning and growing and seeing others change.

      This week we had Elder Holland come and speak to us and it was awesome/ in English. He talked about really learning and remembering what we learn on the mission for afterwards and also about being converted during your mission. We are the Lord's investigators and everything we want for our investigators he wants for us. Now every time I say something in a lesson I think about it for myself and question if I've really done it in my life. He was awesome but dad,one of the Seventy at your stake Conference I'm sure was cool too haha.

     I'm learning so much in my time here. Mom and dad you wouldn't believe it but I'm all about getting up in the morning and my body doesn't even let me sleep in anymore. The other week I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time on the mission but didn't tell yall because I forgot. It was good but I didn't get that answer that 'BAM' it's true. I got more of a stop asking me you already know just look at your life and think about what you have learned.

   I wish every missionary could live in our house with mom for a month before being my comp or that she could teach every investigator a little before we got there. There are so many things she used to say that I want to yell at people. For example, we have Hosana, the crazy cat lady and she loves to listen and pick one word to twist and argue. I remember doing this to mom and her just telling me to shut up and tell her the important part of what she said. Or how about just keeping stuff clean or thinking about others haha. Thanks mom for all you taught me. I see other people that didn't have someone like you and its black and white.

    We had one more baptism yesterday. It was Marcos' sister Sara. We are teaching everyone in the family but for some reason can't baptise them all to gether haha. I think their mom and sister will be baptised this next Sunday. They are a really cool family and already stopped drinking café and try everything we say. Only problem with the mom is she has a boy friend but he lives super far away and they only see each other like twice a year. In other words booty call haha but she knows she needs to change her life and is changing so its really cool. We also have Fransico and Ivonete still and no they didn't go to church but will this week. We have a new family that's really cool as well Hemilly and Nina. Nina is already a member but has not been to church for like 15 years but wants to come back, left her boyfriend and wants her daughter baptized. They are going thru a really hard time right now but I think we are to see some real blessings come into their lives. The work is good.

     I love yall and miss you. Hope it is all good and you're enjoying some warm weather as much as I'm enjoying some cooler weather. As always keep doing what your doing, being better everyday and rockin on.

                                         Elder Schmidt

 

ps: I worked out the other day just a little and I'm so freaking sore haha you change a lot on a mission.

Mexican Cowboys

Hola from Zapandu!

Hello from Zapandu! Yeah, Im back in the isthmo just as I suspected. I left the city today at 12 30 after eating my last dominos pizza for breakfast (they only have it in the city) and got here around 6. My companions name is elder Tovar he is mexican which I am happy about to be able to improve my spanish. I am really excited to be here. The city was good, but I was starting to miss the street drunks and jacked up taxis. I love Oaxaca. The week was good, we left the area with some good investigadors and the area I just arrived to has lots of work to be done. Its a good ward and has a really nice chapel and we live in a comfy house with just the 2 of us (in my last area we were 4 and it was a bit crowded). So im happy about that. Our shower is missing the shower head and so its just a little hole in the wall. My companion described it as a manantial (spring) haha. How was the DR? Thats funny hearing about the language thing. It was for sure hard getting to mexico and not understanding much, but I consider it a huge blessing being able to learn the language and feel blessed that it didnt take too long for me to start understanding. With the mothers day call... Mothers day here is the 10th of May, however I believe that the president has authorized us to call on any day from the 10th to the 13th. I will confirm everything with you next monday but right now I think the best plan is that I will call you on skype on Sunday the 13th around 4 pm our time. But this week I will check everything and on Monday get you some more solid info. Could you send me my skype information again? I forgot my username and password... The mission is going really well, I am content to say the least. I like the quote from George Washington dad. Really the key to success in the mission boils down to 2 things... Obedience and diligence. Like was said in the past conference (By Thomas Monson I think) Do your duty is the best, leave to the Lord all the rest. I love you guys. I love this Gospel and this opportunity to serve. I thank you all for guiding me here. Stay strong in the gospel and nourish your testimonies. Hasta luego. Love Elder Millet

Oaxaca es bueno

Hello family, This week we continued to enjoy the chocolates from the package and last night had pancakes and watery root beer with the mix you sent (we couldnt find dry ice so we just made it with normal ice haha). But this friday we are going to make it again with carbonated water and hopefully it will turn out better. Oaxaca is good. The coming week is the last week of the change, its gone by super fast and we feel good about what we have been able to do this change. THis week was really good. The work had been slowing down a bit but this week went really well and we found lots of people that listened to us. We invited a few people to be baptized the 6th of May and they all accepted. The bad news is that I will most likely not be here any more. One of the Elders that lived in our house got special changed this week and went to another area, and Elder Carrasco moved into the house on Tuesday. It is a lot more calm now because the Elder who lived here before was loco. I am trying to write lots of letters by hand today so Im a bit short on time. But basically that was the week haha it was really good and the work is progressing well. We will see what happens next week with changes... wish me luck. I have a feeling that im going back to the Isthmo where I started the mission. I love you all. I love this gospel. I know that God lives and that Christ is His living Son. We are all in a continual process of learning, and building our testimonies. I love the principle of faith and know that if we have and show faith in Christ, everything will work out well. One of the most helpful councils that I have received in the mission was from the Liahona from last october. It had a quote from one of the prophets of these days and said something like... do not trust yourselves, but study the best books, the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Then cleanse yourselves from all unrighteousness and all will work out... I believe those words and am sure of where that path will take us. I am grateful to be on the mission and for the support that you give to me. Thank you for everything familia. I love you. Elder Millet