11-2-09 "Happy Halloween"

Hey!

Well we have now entered November. The time really does fly. It seems like it goes by faster every day. It sounds like you all had a pretty good Halloween. Next year ill be sure that Taylor and I wear costumes so that we can give Cooper some company. Maybe we will go as the evil witches like we did one year. I can never take the image of Taylor wearing the dress out of my mind.

We had a pretty good week. A lot of finding and not a whole ton of teaching, but someones gotta do it. We found 7 new people this week and are just praying that a few progress. Elsa´s Mom kinda died on us when we taught tithing. We are gonna give her some time and go back in a few weeks. Sister Figueroa is really sick, which definitely sounds like satan making his last stand on her. She hasn’t called us for about 5 days, so we are getting worried about the time gap. Hopefully she gets better soon so that she can progress.

On Halloween, we tried to work hard, but it was a little difficult in the evening when everyone was drinking and stuff, so in the end we went over to the building and sat with one of our recent converts, Hugo. The Stake President here is just a great man and he gives some really powerful talks. I sat there the whole evening just thinking about the family and about what you were all doing.

The next day, we had stake conference and it went pretty well too. Jorge, the boyfriend of one of the members went to the Investigators/Recent Converts meeting with President Clark and his wife, and then stayed for about half of stake conference. I don’t blame him. A lot of the talks felt really dry and that they lacked something. President Jimenez, the stake President, saved the day at the end with a really spiritual talk about the Mission Work and how all the members need to step it up. The goal for this stake is for every ward to have 15 missionaries in the field at all times. It’s a stretch, especially for some of the wards here, but it’s a great goal. The Area President also called 3 fasts for northern mexico. We will do one this next Sunday, another in December, and the last one in January. There is a lot of opposition in Northern Mexico right now. The Modern-day Gadianton Robbers, here known as the Zetas. To attack the opposition, we are going to God. The fasts are for us as members in the church, and so that the Leaders in the Government have the capacity to protect the people here. Ive already seen so many Miracles from fasts. If you want to know some of them, just look at stephs belly. She can tell you all about that one. I know that if the members here fast as a team, united in the cause, that God will bless us. We wont only prosper as members, but the Missionary work will also prosper. These months should be some interesting ones.

The Last, and maybe the most exciting, bit of news that ive got for this week, is what happened yesterday. Brother Pedroza and his son Angel received the Melchisedec Priesthood. Brother Pedroza and I were talking the other night, and we were talking about receiving the priesthood. I told him that I would just love to stand in the circle to have the privelege of giving him the priesthood. So after the meeting, we went together and sat down. President Clark gave the priesthood to another recent convert, but then had to go. They called Brother Pedroza and he asked if I could stand in. I thought I was just going to place my hands, but before I knew it I was the lead man. It was an experience Ill never forget. I never even imagined giving someone the Melchisidec Priesthood. Less to the Head of one of the Families that ive grown to love so much here. It was a beautiful blessing, and it felt great to be worthy to give that blessing. I know the Lord was able to bless one of his children through me, but wouldn’t have been able to had I not been worthy.

Later in the day, we went to eat lunch with the Pedrozas. Angel couldn’t go to conference because he had to show up for a draft pick for the military. The Bishop came over in the afternoon to tell him that he could still receive the Priesthood. Angel was grumpy, but after a little convincing from his good ole friend Elder Turley, him and I went down to the church. Again I was offered the opportunity to give the Melchisidec Priesthood, and it felt great. Those two are going to have a great line of authority with some strong members. Im proud of them and how far they have come as a family. Angel plans to leave on his mission in 3 months. If you would have asked him that 10 weeks ago he would have laughed in your face. Its amazing what the gospel and united parents can do for a family.

Well that’s all my news. Thanks for all the letters. I love you all. Have a great week!

Con amor, Elder Turley