5 Baptisms! Shortest email ever!

Dear Mom,

We're all good here. And Sean in Germany. That's crazy. And Dahlin, I'm so glad he's going there, I know that he'll do great. I have gotten a lot of grief from my companion about Tori, he always bothers me that she's going to leave me. (probably because his girlfriend did) I know she isn't going to. I'm not going to either. This past week has been pretty nice. We ate a whole lot of mangos fresh from the trees. I am going to send you some pictures of them. I hope and pray that everything is good for you guys. We have 5 new baptism dates this week. We're so pumped! Take care, I love you all.

P.S. my companion removed his own ingrown toenail. He's experienced in life like that!

Sincerely,

Elder Medina

No Easter For Us, a Few Roadblocks and Everyday Insects

I am glad that little Luis is going to church with you guys. It is great to start them out young. Give him a hug for me and tell him I love him. That goes to Johnny and Claudia and Daisy too. Yes, Elder Hunt and I are back at it. He's doing good. We have both gained fat on our bodies that we aren't very happy about. One family that we are teaching have lost interest a bit and don't feel like baptism is necessary. They still like going to church and listening to us. The big problem with them is that they don't pray, we've stressed it so much and reading as well. It is tough I have been tried on my patience by them. I have been doing a lot of praying for them. However, we have had some good signs with the less actives here. We visited one certain man named Alejandro, we know that he has some problems and needs to change, he just clams up and doesn't tell anything or just tells a random story. But, he came to church this week and on the first invitation, he wants to come back he just needs some major help. And there's some creepy lady that checks out me and my companion. She gives us a hand shake and likes to hold onto our hands. We have to tug on our hands to pull it away! The relief society president has talked to her about this and she say ok all of the time but doesn't change. And she pulls on our ties, which causes us to leave and feel quite scared, long story short, we really don't visit them often. It's tough because they want help going to the temple and often ask us to help them out. So, we are in a bit of a hard spot here. But on a positive, we were not able to celebrate Easter, but our #2 mom, who lived in the US gave us burritos and a whole lot of chocolate. Which made us happy, and she has allowed me to borrow her English hymn book. Which is so awesome! I love you guys! Keep up on the good work.

Sincerely,

Elder Medina

Hard at Work!

Dear Mom,

I have reconsidered the comb over look. I have decided, even though mastered, it don't roll for me. Busy, busy, busy. That's life.... Sorry about that. You're strong you can do it. I cant wait to tell you what has happened this week. For starters, I got super sick and still went on divisions with our district leader, Elder Arrayan. Which was by far the best thing in the world. We were able to teach with a spirit that was so strong. We did a great service project saturday that was cleaning up a neighborhood with all the missionaries in the zone and a whole lot of members. We fought a fire, which was super awesome. Apart from the smokey smell going on. My facial hair is coming faster, which I really hate. But my studies, the lessons, and my attitude is growing much much better. Thank you for the package, it was really nice. I was able to give out a majority of those rings. A kid that had a birthday got one, an investigator and another young child who we are helping all got one. And I have a couple more to still give. My companion has liked what you sent as well. He says hi. I love all of you. Thank you for sending me the pictures too, they're really nice. Keep being amazing.

Sincerely,

Elder Medina

                                  Elder Custudio, mi companero

                                               Elder Hunt

                                             We like to match!

So Many Marriges? Transfers and New Investigators

Dear Mom,

Hmm, people getting married left and right? I have to say, that is a little crazy. I am super glad and happy that Tori hasn't got married. And Chadley, my friend since kindergarten. On his mission. Whoa, I know that he'll grow to be something amazing. Our transfers just past. Both, Elder Custodio and I have stayed in the area. We are now doing everything to find new people to teach. We found an amazing family to teach. They went to church the first invitation given! They went to conference with us this week and they told us that they really liked the message given. Amen to stress pains, they don't ever leave. And everyone with enfermities and ailments in the house. Sorry about that. I have to say though, this conference was amazing. I learned so much of things that I need to do to be a better missionary and future father. We gave some hardcore service this week. We climbed a mountain to chop some firewood for a family. It was actually quite fun. I was able to carry a trunk through crazy terrain and Elder Custodio carried some good branches as well. I was able to be a part of cutting down a tree. The neon sweat band is now my best friend. I have a monstrous sweating problem, and that small piece of cloth helps keep the sweat out of my eyes. In other news, I have now started to master the comb over look, shudder. I don't really like it, but it looks more formal. I hope that everything is going great. Blessings and happiness for all of you!

Sincerely,

Elder Medina

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