21!!...[Sept 28, 2015]

Hola,
Well, this week we had 3 baptisms. It was interesting to me because I just got here... that has never happened to me in my entire mission. I have felt a bit this week to be grateful to be a missionary. It is an opportunity to learn and grow so that I can help others. As a missionary, you learn in great detail about all your weaknesses and it can be difficult at times, but all the good moments make up for it. If you feel the Spirit in your life, it doesn't matter much what opinions others may have about you. All the criticism in the world cannot take away the peace that you feel.

I have thought a lot about the legacy that I want to leave behind when my mission finishes and for me, the most important thing is to love others. I could have a lot of errors, and I do, but if I can say that I honestly loved everyone, I will not feel bad at the end of my mission.

I thank everyone who gave me birthday wishes; it is nice to know that you still care even though I am so far away.

Anyways, as far as the baptisms go, it was a bit of a rush near the end. We had a baptismal service at 11am and another one at 5pm. We had to make copies of the program, fill the baptismal font that still had water in it from the last time. It seems like every time there is so much to do, perhaps it has taught me a lot about planning. Who would have thought a mission teaches so much about event planning.

 

Anyways, I hope you have a great week!

élder Seymour.

 

The baptism of Alex and Elías.
I am not sure what I am looking at.

Angélica's baptism. Her uncle baptized her.

Bird pooped on my shoulder

Cat hiding in plant pot

The drawing I did for the second baptism.
I sortof didn't have time to draw the other
 niños, so this is what I ended up with.

So Long Puebla...[Sept. 21, 2015]

Hola,
So I had transfers that ended up sending me pretty far. I am actually in another state right now. Before I was in the state of Puebla, but now I am in the state of Tlaxcala. Actually, I am in the city of Tlaxcala as well. Our area covers all downtown, so there is quite a bit here. There is also quite a bit of people in the streets. I guess one of the interesting things of our area is that it is pretty big. It would take us about an hour and a half to walk from one end to the other and we try to not take the combis (those vans that they use as buses) as much as we can because we don't have a whole lot of money. I guess one of the nice things about the area would also be the members. The ones that I have met so far are very kind and willing to help if asked.

There is also more vegetation here than in Puebla where I was at. It is a little more like home, I guess.

We are going to have 3 baptisms this week which is a good welcome for me because that has never happened before in my mission. I just hope we can keep up the rhythm, because it will be not all that easy.

I also forgot to mention the temple rededication that we had last week. It was a very special experience... one that I won't forget. It felt even more special for the Pueblans here.

Hope you have a great week!
élder Seymour.

My companion and I helped bail out the house of the family
in Tepatlaxco because it was in danger of flooding and there wasn't
any other way to keep it out of harms way.

Chile en nogada

Elder Armenta and I with the Cardona family.
They were converts of the sister missionaries
and the father helped us a lot with visits.

A photo with Elder Suárez and I with Josefina,
her mother, and Arlett.

Julián (from the family in Tepatlaxco) had his birthday
and we celebrated it with a cake.

A photo with Mayra, her father and children

This was a photo I took in San Martín,
but it is actually true now.

I found strawberry lemonade for the first time here in México

Chiles en nogada round 2...[Sept. 14, 2015]

This Saturday I got some terrible news, I have transfers.


It has been a bit hard on me because we have been working so hard here and are now starting to see the results of it. The family we have in Tepatlaxco is going to get baptized a week and a half after I leave and I have been there every step of the way. There was a powerful/sad moment when I told the family that I was going to be having transfers this Tuesday. Most of the family just broke into tears at this moment and I almost did as well... it´s going to be really hard to leave them.


The one thing that gives me a bit of comfort is that I know that they will be strong in the church and that they will be the strong pillars of Tepatlaxco. I guess the main message from all this is that we just have to answer the call when the calling comes. Perhaps it won't be what you want or think is best, but it will be what you need in that moment. The only smart thing to do is answer the call and keep moving on.


On a lighter note, this week was the first time I have eaten chiles en nogada this year (I don't remember if I explained before, but chiles en nogada is a typical dish from puebla that we can only eat about 2 and a half months out of the year.) I wish I could put photos, but the computer still won't let me do it. I assume that I will have more chances next week as I will be in a different area.


Hope you have a great week!
élder Seymour.

A Special Visit...[Sept. 7, 2015]

Sorry I didn't really write last Monday.


This Saturday before last we had a baptism. It was with a 10 year old investigator that we have had for a long time. Her name is Estrella and her brother, who is a member, baptized her. Her brother is actually a convert of one of my past companions, Elder Compean. We have been teaching her for almost 3 months and it was a little slow because we could only teach her on Sundays. She has been to church a lot and was really excited for her baptism which helped a lot.


Monday we didn't have much time because we went to African Safari. It was great the second time and I liked it a lot because it was just my companion and I with the elders in my district. I took photos, but I can't upload them because this computer won't let me. Oh well, next week!


The family we have in Tepatlaxco is going to get baptized the 26th, but I have no clue if I will still be here because it is after changes and I have been here like 6 months... keep your fingers crossed.


Today I had the chance to visit my first area in Roma with Elder Suárez who trained me. He is going home in 10 days and knowing it would be the last chance to do it, we went together. It was super weird walking into these homes that I remember so well and now that I can 100% understand what they are saying when a little over a year ago, I didn't understand more than half. It honestly made me super happy though.


Have a great week!
élder Seymour.