1/19/2009

Hello World!
I got some really great mail this week. Thanks everyone for writing.
Well…. They left me in Parras for at least another month and a half. They also decided to keep the same companionship here. Im not sad. Im really starting to build relationships with a lot of the members. On Saturday, we have a game night at the building with the members. This past Saturday, they practically forced me to play basketball with them. Elder De La Cruz gave me the OK so i went and played with everyone. Its rediculously funny how competitive everyone is. Its all in good fun, but a Little rough. The women more so. It felt like i was playing a game of smear the queer. We played Priesthood vs Relief Society + Elders, and I shined of course. Basically because im a foot taller than everyone else. All in all, it was great, and through stuff like that, I can build friendships easier, because i dont have to talk so much.
Ok back to the work. Thats why Im here right?
This week was the worst week of the transfer in numbers, but we did have 1 lesson that made the cake. We visited Sergio and Lucy one night, and read a Little in the scriptures. We gave Sergio a Book of Mormon of his own, and overall were just excited that he was there. We left them a chapter to read and set an appointment for 2 days later, to give them time to read. The night of our appointment, they both were home, and what more, Sergio had read the chapter. He not only read the chapter, he practically repeated it verbatum. Im not sure how many times he read it, but I almost started laughing when he told everything about it. We said, “Sergio, what do you remember about the Chapter” He related the whole story of Ammon teaching Lamoni, he even remember their names. To be honest it really surprised me. Ill goa head and give all the credit to the Lord on that one. We taught them the Plan of Salvation and that went great. We were also planning on teaching them 2 nights ago, but when we got there, we Heard them fighting, so we will prolly go back tomorrow night and teach them the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
So yeah, overall, numbers were bad, but that lesson went well.
What else. I wish i had a lint roller. Im teaching a lot of english, but just to individual members. No one showed up to my english class on Thursday.
Yesterday was District Conference. We went to a Rancho called Chavez and watched a Broadcast. It was really great. Elder Clate W. Mask, of the Seventy, who also spoke at the MTC, basically related the same story of his Grandpa being the first mexican missionary. The only difference is that he spoke in Spanish. Next, Sylvia Allred, a counselor in the Relief Society Presidency spoke. I didnt understand a Word. Then, Elder Richard G. Scott spoke. He speaks spanish, and its a lot easier to understand a White man speak spanish than a native, so i understood most of it. He talked to the Teenagers about chastity, and what we can do to stay clean before marriage. It was a good talk, doesnt really apply to me right now, but it was a good talk. And no mom i cant apply it to the work, because the President doesnt want us looking out Teenagers for baptisms. He wants us to focus on families. After Elder Scott came President Monson, but with a spanish Translator. He talked about the home, and what we need to make it. I cant say i understood a ton. I did understand a simple, powerful testimony that he bore at the end.
Questions
I havent been able to go on a ride yet, but we will prolly go next Monday. I really want to get out and do some exercising. Theres this Church called Santo Madero. It has literally like a 26% grade. I climbed it with my dinker bike. Ill send a picture of Santo Madero.
They call hitch hiking getting a ride. You can sit in the back of trucks all you want. Whats more is that its free. Also, apparantly if someone has a car, you can trust that they will go where they say they are going.
Shout out to Kimmy. Ive lost count on how many. Keep it up. I loved how you added a Little more depth in this last one.
Aunt Leslie and Aunt Laurie get shout outs. But Aunt Leslie needs to stop signing her letters “Your favorite Aunt”.
Bud hit me up too, and thats always good.

All in all, Im happy to stay in Parras, even though its in the Booneys. Im going to push my companion really hard. I let off a Little this week, and it took toll on our numbers. We are chugging a long with some investigators, so who knows what will happen in these six weeks.
I love you all. Have a great week and remember to smile!
Con amor, Elder Turley