Week 71

A stranger bought us cupcakes when we went into one of the most expensive bakeries here in Monterrey.

I just wanted to show Elder Gayosso how cool the cakes are, but a guy practically forced us to
choose something when he saw we were going to leave empty handed, what a nice act of kindness:)

Well, another amazing week has ended on the mission and an even better one begins! Our new President and his family are amazing! All of their kids, except for the youngest who`s 17 and is with them here on the mission, have served missions and it`s no surprise because President Maucotel is an outstanding father, leader, and now mission president. We met with him on Thursday and he and his wife told us about themselves and told a few stories. I was very impressed with his Spanish abilities. He hasn't forgotten much since his mission in Argentina. Sister Maucotel is just starting to learn, but made an effort to talk in Spanish and did very well:) Their son, Christian, is pretty cool too, I talked with him for a bit and he loves music and wants to study it in college, his primary instrument being the violin.

I am so bummed I missed out on the Lightheart Family reunion, it looks like it was a blast! I`m super happy for those who were able to go and hope you enjoyed yourselves, hopefully I can see lots of you next year if we plan another one! I can`t believe how much everyone has changed...especially Kasey, Carter and Brian, holy cow they are full on teenagers now! :P Also I`m glad Kasey could go on the Trek, I bet it was super fun, I still remember when I went, the best!

Anyways, our Zone hardly changed at all this transfer, but the biggest change was in our Ward La Pastora because the mission closed the area of the other two missionaries here. So that means Elder Gayosso and I have the whole wards boundaries to cover! Our area was already huge, but now it`s enormous!! The good new though is that it`s more area to find new people to teach and also the other missionaries have some promising investigators we will start teaching now. Only them two, and two other missionaries are leaving the Zone. The only question now is who`s going to be the new ones to arrive and if the Zone will stay the same as far as its areas. If so, we`ll have only 14 missionaries in the entire Zone. Crazy! I`m staying here of course, if you didn't gather that, which means I`ll make it to at least 6 months here in my 3rd area, which I`m happy about because I love it here.

Good News! I visited my Doctor on Thursday and he says I`m doing much better! I do honestly feel a lot better overall and I`m super grateful to have had all the help given to be able to overcome these health challenges.

Like how they spelled my name?! Ha ha ha!

This week my favorite experience was yesterday, during the fast and testimony meeting. On Saturday, the ward had a primary activity to visit the temple and so many of the kids came up to share how they felt, which was amazing. Little children are so pure and precious, it`s easy to see why Christ exhorts us to humble ourselves and become more like them:) Then, the Primary President came up and she gave the most sincere and heartfelt testimony that the whole room filled with the spirit and tears. The best part was when the 10-year-old daughter of the Bishop, Scarlet, seeing her Primary Teacher in tears ran up and gave her a big hug while she spoke:,) 

The spirit of the testimony meeting carried through the rest of the classes too as we were instructed on the sacrament and its significance. I am so grateful for the sacrament and the opportunity it brings us to remember our Savior, repent or our sins and renew our covenants with God. Also I am super grateful to have had the opportunity to pass, prepare and bless it for many years, I don`t think I understood or appreciated it as well back then, but looking back I now know how great of a privilege it was and thank my parents and church leaders for encouraging me to participate:D

It`s going to be another hot week (97-100 every day) and loaded with activities, so I`m sure it`ll fly by, love you all and I`ll talk to you next week!!

A slice of a hamburger, that`s right it`s only an 8th slice of the gigantic hamburger
a sister bought for us. We couldn't finish it so we took some home!

Happy Fourth of July!!! Had a few minutes to spare so I went crazy
with my planning for today last night:P