Rains, Big Bugs And a Birthday Celebration

Dear Mom,

This month I have a killer plan. I have a good little budget going on. I was given advice to buy the toiletries I would need for the month and from there, only buy the basic food I would need for the month. I have nicely planned out how my money will be distributed for different things during the month. I have a new drive and plan to make a legit shopping list and stick to it. Which helped me out today a lot. I have gotten some food. And I am holding up just fine. We cleaned hardcore the house today to make it look good for the upcoming change meeting this week (dum dum dummmm). I feel like I am going to leave and Elder Custodio is going to leave the area. I love this guy. He's helped me a lot to know what to do in different situations. My companion and I have had a really tough time getting our investigators to hold down appointment times. But we are working through it with a smile. Smiling when your frustrated really helps by the way. Sometimes we get some food at meetings with the President. Depends on what we're doing. I'll give Tori a good pump up on getting her call. My "mom" started to cry a little the other day, she doesn't want either of us to leave. I was a bit touching. I am, however, excited to see how this meeting will go. I hope that it will be good. Keep being the best family in the world! I love you guys with all of my heart!  Oh yeah, a car crashed into the house down the street from us today. Me and Elder Custodio wanted to have a little fun with the damaged car. I'll admit I felt a little cool with this picture. And the pictures with the two kids, the little boy wants me to tell you that I'm serving in Africa. Because he's so skinny.

We helped buy a birthday cake for the boy in this picture. It cost $14. Our "Mom" payed $7 and we payed $7. He is an investigator and has been doing really well. It would be great to have another umbrella. Mine was stolen and it is pouring down rain now. I should have enough money in my account to get one. The bug in the picture is super scary. It is called a "chicharra" We have also been teaching a family to read (those are the pictures of the family at the table with workbooks).

I'm so happy for Tori! She is going to be great in Alabama!

I love you too mom. I'm always praying for you. If you need anything at all. Let me know. I'm still here to help you. I will talk to you next week.

Sincerely,

Elder Medina

                                                  "chicharra"

              I'm never really sure what I am eating. I just gladly accept.

Broke As a Joke, Papusa Fail and Haunted House

Dear Mom,

I do now understand the whole being serious thing. This week was a bit tough. I humbled myself and me and my companion had a man to man moment to find out the things that weren't working out. I am now being more calm. Him as well. We, still, are having each and every one of our appointments fall. And on top of it. We are literally down to two bucks. But, our constant effort to humble ourselves is working out really well. As a zone, we are working to have at least 21 people we have talked to in one day. Which is really tough. But, it is really rewarding. Not too much room to goof around in. We had a few people give us the hand and completely ignored us or just flat out told us we were wrong. But we had a whole lot of people want for us to pass by this week. Even then, sometimes they aren't home. But we're working our tails off everyday. A lot of walking and talking to others. My companion is a lot like me, really energetic and loves fun stuff and is there always to lift me up. Our life is crazy. But we're working it out day after day. I now have started to develop stress pains in my back. Which doesn't feel awesome. But, ibuprofen and acetaminophen are great helps. On another positive note, the members and Elders Quorum are starting to help us out more and trust us as well. We are anticipating the change meeting next week and I'll admit, I'm a bit scared. I hope that everything goes fine. Thank you for your love mom. And last thing. Right now, I am really not eating. I have ran out of money and my funds don't go through until next Monday. Do you have $10 you can put in my account? We are trying to budget better. It is just hard because the members don't hardly ever feed us.We are left to buy every meal and the money we are given does not go far at all. This is such a poor country. I got a new budgeting sheet and am going to try harder to do better next month.

We also found out that our house is haunted. The neighbors say that at 12am you can hear desks banging around, but we don't ever notice, because we are asleep. My companion and I are going to bless our house. I also tried to make Papusas, but failed miserably.

I love you all and promise to try harder to make my money stretch farther.

Love,
Broke Elder Medina

In a Rut, Spiders and Service

Dear Mom,

This week has been a little crazy. We have done service with one of our investigators, in our shirts and ties. Not exactly what I wanted to do. But they are progressing really well. We are now finding out more people who are readily getting more and more prepared to get baptized. But it's super hard when they don't go to church. Our conference was a special one, Elder Oaks, and Elder Scott and a few other general authorities spoke. I did not know that Elder Scott could speak Spanish. It was really great. I am glad that you got some good information. I am quite pleased that you helped out the track team. Thank you for doing that. I miss helping them out. They're good kids. Thanks for the up to date information on my buddies. I hope that they will be happy. I would like to grow up too. Give everyone a hug for me mom! I love you and take care.

Sincerely,

Elder Medina

6 Months!!!

                            Ethan, the bird we probably shouldn't have.

Dear Mom,

The thing you should know is, my companion is exactly the same as I am, which causes problems at times, but as always, he pressured me to do the joke and I fell for it. I felt all like, ah, this is going to be hilarious for twenty minutes. Then after that, I felt terrible. I looked at him and said, por que me dijo para hacer esto? yo tal vez no voy a tener mi novia la proxima lunes. He just told me, no me importa, mi novia me dejo, usted puede sufrir tambien. I wanted to scream, but withheld from doing so. I am now getting steadly more and more tried. All of our baptismal dates fell through, the only thing that is holding them back is going to church. We found a new family that we feel  are going to be great. But, we're also dealing with people who just won't progress or won't listen. We are constantly looking for new ways to find new people. He's frustrated, (my companion) because all of his areas beforehand were pretty cake. Now he's losing his nerves. But we're still doing pretty ok. I miss you guys and I hope that you all are going to be ok. 

 Oh yeah, we rescued a bird with a broken foot. His name is Ethan. He isn't too friendly. And I'm getting a haircut today!

Love,

Elder Medina

"When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." Mosiah 2:1

I asked Victor a few questions in his last email. These are his answers.

#1 Who is the most interesting person you have met so far?

#2 Who has changed your life for the best so far?

#3 If you could change any part of your mission what would it be?

#4 What area have you improved the most in?

 

 

I asked Victor a few questions in his last email. These are his answers.

#1 Who is the most interesting person you have met so far?

#2 Who has changed your life for the best so far?

#3 If you could change any part of your mission what would it be?

#4 What area have you improved the most in? 

 

Dear Mom,

Answers to the questions

 

 1) Elder Llamapona, he's crazy awesome. 2)  Elder Granillo.  3) Learning how to listen better and how to let others talk more. 4) I have had to constantly search for new ways to be more Christlike and to help those who need it and forget about me. I feel that I've gotten super better.  I am glad that my letter got to you. I am still a little energetic, but now I channel that energy for my investigators. Way to to go working with the missionaries. i am so glad that you are working with them to progress the work. Don't worry about your tests. It will all work out. Relax and breathe.  I am getting a little sad with one of our investigators, he relapsed and drank so hardcore a few days ago. I really want to help him. But I'm running out of ideas. Got any mom? Oh yeah, we shaved an elderly man's beard, he couldn't do it himself and he lives alone, so we got together some stuff and got it done, after and hour and a half..... Well, next week! Love you!

 

Sincerely,

 

Elder Medina