May 26, 2018

Mom and Dad,

It's great to hear from you as always! It sounds like it was an eventful one. I'm glad Kel had a great birthday and that you have all been able to enjoy Memorial day.

It's really hard to see that Adam is going through a very difficult time in his life and to be in a different country, surprisingly close but still very far away. I will keep trying to email and encourage him as much as I can from here and of course, he will be in my prayers.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes! We didn't do much on my actual birthday but today my trainer Elder Trejo invited us out to a great seafood place and then took us to a members house where they had baked a whole host of things. It was really fantastic. I really felt the love from the time and effort he put into everything and it was awesome to see him again and hear how he is doing.

Dad, when I read about the symphony I laughed out loud. I remember the last commissioned piece that we went to and it was disappointing as well. What a relief that they will never be able to forget the greats. Rachmaninoff's story really is a motivational one.

Unfortunately, that's all I have time for this week. I will never look at time the same again, the hours fly by here.

I hope everyone is doing well and I look forward to hearing from you next week.

Love,

Isaac

May 7, 2018

Mom and dad,

I don't have a ton of time but thank you so much for your emails. This Sunday at 4 (PST) we are going to try to set up our mothers day video calls. If that doesn't work out I'll try to let you know of any changes.

Today we had transfers and I have a new companion elder Falslev. He has one transfer more than me and will be our new district leader. He is also going to be my first non-latin companion and I his. We both want to improve our Spanish so I think we will speak almost exclusively in Spanish if we can over these next six weeks. This last transfer with Elder Rodriguez was a little difficult but I'm excited for this transfer and think that the two of us will be able to do a lot of good work. We are both excited, optimistic, and ready to work hard and with that, we can do anything.

Today it was awesome to be able to see a handful of people that I know when we had interchanges. I saw elder mora and elder James who is now training and a district leader! I also got to see a handful of the missionaries from my old area and it was awesome to be able to touch base and see how we are doing. I always leave these meetings feeling excited to be working alongside so many other elders and sisters to preach the gospel here in Mexico!

That's about all I have time for this week but I love you all and can't wait to talk to you this Sunday!

Love

Isaac

Ps. I bought the wood from national wood products in salt lake

Also, offer john miller whatever it is that I have. I liked your suggestion. I just received my card this week but it looks like I won't be needing it. If I can come home debt free, however, I'll be ecstatic even if I don't have a penny to my name. Just make sure that once my accounts are empty that they don't begin to incur fees. Thank you so much for taking care of all of that for me!!!!

April 30, 2018

Mom and Dad,

Wow, lots of news from home this week. It's exciting to hear that Adam is now fully independent, still clean, happy, and making his own way in the world. Every once in a while he sends me a short email and they are some of my favorites to read. Oh how I wish that I'd appreciate what great friends I have in my brothers before I left. It's also super exciting to hear about Kaia and Addie! I was able to meet Sam over the summer living in California and he is really one of a kind. I really like him. I'm sorry to hear that Coulson is not a fan but hopefully, he'll warm to the idea.

Dad, I'm glad to hear that the garden is going strong. It's the simplest things that I miss the most. If Aaron and Kel get used to those hot peppers then I can make some spicy Mexican food for everyone when I get back. This morning I ate fresh serrano chiles with breakfast and have generally come to love super spicy food. We meet a lot of people who plan on crossing the border but I've not seen any sort of line here. Today we met a man who got deported, hates Mexico, and plans on crossing illegally as soon as possible. He also happens to be interested in the Jehovah's witnesses and mistook us for them starting a conversation with, "hey, my uncles a Jehovah witness too and he has always tried to get me to join but I'm only just investigating." we quickly cleared up the confusion but he was still super friendly. You meet all sorts in Tijuana. I'm glad to hear that things are going well at auseon too! I hope everything works out. It's very encouraging to hear that you're really seeing the blessings at home.

Mom, Thanks for all the updates. With the same family news, you and dad always have different takes which I love. Also, thank you for the suggestion. There are 700 members in our ward with a weekly assistance of about 120 so there are certainly lots of less active families. We haven't been able to see Uriel which has been frustrating but we have a lot of hope that he'll keep progressing. Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement. Patience with myself has been hard because its hard for me to find the line. I always feel like I'm not working sufficiently hard and that's where I get down on myself. Hopefully, I can learn to find a better balance there. If you could send a box of graham crackers (3 packages) so that I can make 7 layer bars that would be awesome. Also, I gave away my flash drive so if you could send me one that's decently durable that would be awesome. Thank you so much!

In general things are going well here in Tijuana. We have had a little bit of difficulty but it's more in us than in the area. We were introduced to the niece of the bishop in our ward the other week. Her name is Michelle and she is not a member but her dad is less active and she has been coming to church. We started teaching her and she has learned everything very well and very quickly. She really understands everything we teach and has a desire to change her life. Unfortunately this week her dad said that he wouldn't give her permission to be baptized or to keep going to church so that was a little setback this week but we are moving forward doing what we can to help her and acting with faith.

I love you tons, thanks so much for your emails! I hope you're all doing well

Love,

Isaac

April 23, 2018

Mom and Dad,

This week we worked hard and began to see some results of our work. It's been hard for me because we have barely taught anyone over this last month but we are finally finding more and more people. Also, this Saturday one of our investigators, Uriel, is going to be baptized! His friend originally just invited him to church and from there he wanted to learn more. This same friend has invited other friends to church in the past and one other has been baptized as well. Sometimes seemingly small invitations can end up making a big difference.

The part of last week and really the last several months that was hardest for me was feeling inadequate. Feeling that I'm not spiritual enough, prepared enough, that I don't have enough knowledge of the scriptures and that I don't do enough. Yesterday morning in church I was feeling this especially acutely but in the afternoon when we started working I felt much better and really enjoyed the rest of our day. I have often run into the council to forget myself and go to work as a missionary but this had proven hard to apply. My current focus is going to be trying to apply this council and work hard enough to qualify for God's help.

Dad, your idea of teaching English is a good one. We are the only missionaries in our area and my companion doesn't speak English so it would be all up to me. This week I'll look into it and see if we can't possibly put something together. I've never taught English before but where there's a will there's a way.

I was excited to hear about your week and see the pictures that you sent. I loved your backpacking story. It sounds like Hamilton was fantastic and I can't wait to see it when I get back. In the picture, you all look great! Aarons' hair is really something. Your impressions from his life remind me of a scripture that I read yesterday in doctrine and covenants

26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

I love the idea of being anxiously engaged, it sounds to me like this was something that Hamilton did well. I also love that we are agents unto ourselves, we have the power and ability to do an immense amount of good and often we are the only thing stopping us.

I love you guys so much and hope you have a fantastic week!!

Love,

Isaac