Happy Birthday, Jake!!!

Today is Jake's 20th birthday!

Take a minute and send him a birthday message if you get a chance.

20th B-day

I keep forgetting that my birthday is close. It really doesn't feel any different. This week the big news is transfers. We find out tonight where we will be going and all so you guys will have to wait until next Monday. I am going to send my letter of stories in the mail today so it should come in the next month or so. I hope is sooner than later. We really haven't had much happen this week. We didn't have any baptisms but we have a couple of families that are progressing well so we are hoping that means some baptisms now and then a temple visit in a year. Still haven't gotten any packages but I am sure they will get here. I really hope no one takes the pants because I need them.Thanks for everything I love you all. Happy Father's Day yesterday dad.

Elder K

Baptisms and Butt(on)s

Well this transfer has flown by. We have changes on Tuesday. We have had a lot of blessings this transfer. We have three weeks of baptizing and we are going to try and make it four this Sunday. I put the pictures of our two latest baptisms and also of the river that runs through the super poor part of our area. I didn't even know this part was like this until a couple weeks ago. One side of the river is the big city and the other side is house made of cardboard and tin. Not joking at all. It's another world. The other picture is one that another missionary took of me sleeping on the metro. He thought it was funny so I thought I would send it. I think I have developed the button on the butt like dad has--I fall asleep every time I sit down.

Things are super hot here as usual. I am getting pretty used to it though. It doesn't really affect me as much as before. Everyone is worried that the hurricanes are going to start hitting like last year. It will be interesting to see what happens. You will have to let me know if anything is coming our way. I have no idea of any holidays coming up any time soon here. I think the kids here get out of school in a couple weeks. The school systems here are really wierd--the kids hardly go as it is.

 

Everything is going good here we will see what changes come in the next week. I kinda think I will be going to a new area. It's wierd to think that I will be turning 20 soon. I still feel like a little kid. It also feels like time is on hold in the mission. It feels like you are in a different world and the old world you left behind is just paused till you get back, so I don't really feel older or anything.

 

Ben [Jake's good friend who is on a mission in Brazil] is doing really good from what I know. We try to write every week but it doesn't always happen. Last I heard he has a cast on his hand because he busted it playing soccor. But you know Ben, that doesn't stop him from playing again.

 

I love you all and thank you very much for all you do for me.

 

Elder K

 

 

Hot weather, mission updates and beef jerky

Well, we had another baptism yesterday but I don't have my camera at the moment so pictures will come next week. We also have a couple baptisms that will happen in this coming week. We are really starting to have a lot of success here. The heat isn't as bad as before. It's still just as hot but I feel like I am getting use to it. It doesn't really bother me much. All the missionaries have little sweat rags. Mine started out white...now it's more of a grayish-brown. We have a small swamp cooler that pours right into our bedroom but we are only aloud to turn it on at night to save money. So sleeping is good but the rest of the house is super hot. The houses here are made of 100% concrete and cinder blocks so it's like an oven of a house.

I can't really think of any crazy stories to tell you right now. I think that what I am going to do is hand write all the stories from my journal and mail them. That way I have more time and I have the stories already there to remind me.

Thanks for the boost. The mission is not easy in any way but it is worth it. Some days I might not say that, but things always work out and I realize that things arent as bad as they seem. We always need to remember to take a step back and remember the big picture and where we are at in the plan.

 

Well the focus of the mission has changed a lot the last couple months. We still focus on baptism but it's a lost different than before. We have a lot of new mission goals having to do with less actives, members, and refrences. We also don't have number goals for baptisms. The goal is to see how many weeks you can baptize in a row. It's tough but I like all the changes.

As for the beef jerky, it should be fine. [Mom sent beef jerky in Jake's birthday package, then found out that they might not let it into Mexico because it's a beef product.] Other elders have gotten it from their families but then again who knows. All kinds of things go missing in packages. [Mom also sent two new pairs of pants. She thought about including a note that said, "Please do not steal these. They would be too long for you anyway!" Jake is about 6'4" and weighs about 145lbs. so we don't think his clothes would fit many Mexicans!]

 

Thank you so much for sending all that. I am very greatful for all that you and everyone does for me. I love you all and I will be sure to send a big stash of stories soon.

Elder K

It's been a while...

Well, it's been a pretty good week. We had two baptisms on Friday. It was a mom (Nancy) and her daughter (Ariana). The mom was dead scared of the water so it was a bit of an odd baptism. It took a few atempts and a lot of talking. I was baptizing her but there ended up being two other people in the water to help out. It was kinda long and stressful but in the end we got things done and that's what counts. We have a couple possibles for this weekend as well. They are all 10 and 11 year old boys. I really don't know how that happened, but hey they are the ones that want to listen to us.

Man I can't believe school is out. That means Jenni will be a Senior. Freak, time is flying. It's starting to hit me that I have to be a big kid now. There is no more "When I grow up I am going to do this". It's more of a, "Oh crap I grew up. What am I going to do?" haha! Lucky for me I still have some time in Mexico :)

As for food I love campichanas. The worst food would have to be menudo. It is the nastiest thing ever. Its a soup with cow stomach and all kinds of goodness. I wouldn't recomend it. The crickets taste better.

The good part about having a native companion is that you learn Spanish a lot faster and better. Also it helps you to learn the culture and things like that. The hardest part also has to do with the culture. Their way of thinking is very different so at times it is a problem. Also with the language there can be problems with comunication. It's a little hard to explain how the relationship is but I hope that gives you an idea.

I am getting better at picking out where people are from by how they talk. Actually you can tell the difference in how they act as well. Its amazing to me how much where you grow up changes your personality and so much about you.

Things are going really good. I am pretty sure I will be changed [to a new location] in 3 weeks but you really never know.

Thanks for all you guys do for me I love you all.

Elder K

 

 

Pictures from Monterrey

Well, Jake is really becoming immersed in missionary life and his updates have been short the past couple of weeks, but he did send some more pictures. It looks like he's doing well!

April 25, 2011
Still no investigators but we have a lot of good things going for this week so I am hoping we can finish out this transfer strong. We only have two more weeks left in the transfer. It's still super hot here--not much new about the weather. I don't have a ton to report since I wrote you a few days ago but things are still truckin' along. Here are a few pictures to make up for my slacking.

May 2, 2011
Most of his message was about setting up a phone call for Mother's day, but there were a few updates.

Things have really cooled down here. We are in the 80's right now and overcast. I have been loving it. I have had a pretty bad case of heat rash on my shoulders from my backpack so this cooler weather has helped and goldbond powder is my new best friend. I shower in the morning then bathe myself in powder. It makes the day much better. :) This is my comp's last week in the field then he is done. So I am trying to keep things focused and the area moving along. It's slowly getting harder and harder to do so but I think we will make it through. Well, that's about it. Can't wait to talk to everyone this weekend. Love you guys thanks for everything.

Elder K

The pics are of the mountains bruning all around us. It was so hot that three were burning at the same time all around us. It made the air super bad.

Too busy to write much...

It's been a good but long week. We have been in a slump, but I think things will pick up soon. It's super super hot here and they say it will get hotter. I don't even want to know how hot its going to get when we are already over 100 easy.


Most of the people that let us in are women. They are more willing to listen. Who knows why. Also it helps when you are tall, white, with colored eyes. Some people you just have to smile real big and ask nicely and they will let you in just for your colored eyes, haha. The ward is pretty good when it comes to priesthood but lots of room to grow. The mettings are run almost identical just in Spanish and every once in a while things are a little different, but its expected when youre in Mexico.

I think I started with the "can't find my way" gene, but it went away. I can use all the public transportation and stuff here pretty easy now. It's just a matter of learning the system.

I did get the package, thank you very very much. Here Easter is very different. It is very Catholic. They celebrate the Holy Week (last week of Christ's life) and they focus a lot on his death, which I'm not a big fan of. To make it even worse, no peeps.

Well, I have almost no time at all. We just got back form the temple and I still have to do laundry and stuff. I love all of you and am grateful for all the support and everything that everyone is doing to help me out. Have a good week. I will tty on Monday.

Elder K