Veggie Straws!

Dear Mom,

Hey guess what? I found veggie straws and I found APPLE STRAWS with CINNAMON! I am eating them at the moment. Super yummy! They were $1.63 for a huge bag. I have been waiting for them to go on sale for over a month. 

We have a mission thing to try to focus on service as well. We have been putting a huge focus on it. If you want there is a new Facebook page for the mission, it is called Al Servicio De Los Hombres, Al Servicio De Dios. It has a bunch of pictures of service and baptisms and whatnot. I think you guys would like it.

This week was great for work we found people still. We focused more on members this week. It was hard working too, we had interviews with the President and we had a huge meeting yesterday and we lost pretty much the whole day of work. We got home around 7 pm. The meeting was in Los Alpes (old area). I was able to see my "mommy" her name is Veronica Vasquez. She gave me a PB&J sandwich and I saw the old bishop too. The chapel was remodeled. We have a man named Fransisco Efrain. He is literally the most amazing man in the world. From a month of fighting hand to hand combat with people we have been able to find a man super prepared. He is going to be baptized on the 21st of March. He might be baptized sooner. We'll have to see. We now have 10 progressing and we had 27 lessons and a whole lot of love going around. We are getting work done. And I can't be any happier.

I love you guys. I hope that you all can have a great week. You are such great examples for me. I love you all. }

Sincerely,

Elder Medina

PS- I can still run, I outran everyone in my district running for a bus yesterday. And guess who did 60 pushups in a row?!

Elder Flake's Homecoming

The kids and I were able to attend Elder Flakes homecoming in St. George on February 8th. It was such a great experience to talk to someone who had seen my son, more recently than I had. When Victor was called to El Salvador, Elder Flake's blog was the first one we found. It helped us prepare for what was lying ahead for our son. We were thrilled when we found out that he lived so close! Elder Flake is super kind, along with his family and way taller than I expected :) I'm so glad we got to hear him speak. Well done Elder and welcome home!

Dear Mom,

This week was darn sweet. For the first time in a really long time we had 31 lessons in the week. We have been super busy. We have been going crazy with new investigators too! We got 18 this week. We have a man who has a baptismal date on March 21st.  We had to move his date because he doesn't have enough church attendances. He wants to be baptized now!

Guess who solved a rubiks cube 4 times these past 3 days! I have been trying to relieve my stress lately, Elder Arias left a rubiks cube for me. And I have been working on it ever since. I finally got it! I solved it this morning too. I just get stuck on a few spots. 

As souveniers go. I saw a jersey that I wanted that the bishop makes from soccer teams and puts names on it. I already have a couple of slingshots for me and dad. I saw one for Liverpool that I liked and one for El Salvador for Olivia that I think she would like. It costs about $30 for both together. Supposedly there is a spot in Ilobasco here that sells some cool stuff. I don't know how much it costs. Basically that for right now. That's pretty much it. If you could that would be nice if not, I understand.

Spanish wise, Mom, just go crazy speaking with dad. Don't speak anything else. Even send texts like that. Watch movies with spanish subtitles, learn a song in spanish (hymns). Label stuff. Use it like you need it to live. I wish the members here gave us more food to eat. We don't get too much at times. My diet is granola, frosted flakes, water and sometimes juice, but oh well.

The wedding pictures kind of wigged me out a bit. But that's good for them. Tell them that I wish them lots of happiness. I know that Storland will be a good man. And Mrs. Storland of course. Wow, that sounds weird. Braxton that stud. They should be a good happy couple for each other. I remember that in high school Kaitlyn had a huge crush on him. I guess that worked out good for her. 

I love you all. Keep up on the hard work!!!!

Sincerely,

Elder Medina

A Changed Man

We received a letter from Elder Medina in the mail today. I wanted to remember the feelings I had while it read it, so I decided to jot it down here. I was overcome by a spirit of peace. I could feel in his words, the change that was happening or that has happened while on his mission. You always hear that you send them away as a boy and they come back as a Man. Today I truly felt that. He has changed and is changing in ways that I never could have prepared him for, this was and is the Lord's work in action. I'm proud of the "changed man" that he has become.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I am writing this letter for two purposes. 1- I am the worst son in the world and haven't bothered to send you a letter and 2- to apologize.

I know I'm not the best kid. Something that I would like to thank you for is for the outstanding love you have always given to me, even though I have done things to grind your gears. Second, the support. Mom, I have never had a better offense and defensive cheerleader in my whole life. You give off so much energy that I can't explain it. Dad, you have always been my trainer, on and off the field, mat or track. And you both keep doing it and I am grateful for it.

My mission up until this point has been pretty tough actually. I'm just now starting to learn how to budget and how to keep one. Not easy at all, but totally worth it. Mom, you're my hero for giving me the example on doing that with 5 kids. Do you remember the envelope system that you taught me before I left (that I hated?) I use that now. It works so well.

Dad, working like a man! Not worrying about people trashing or hating you. Everyday I have people, even kids yelling derogative Mormon slurs and openly disrespecting my companion and I. I have had to learn how to be an example and contain myself and turn my anger to love and compassion towards them. Not a lot of the world loves you for the profession that you have Dad, but you don't let it get you down.

These are only a few of the million things that you both have taught me. What I've been trying to do is magnify your love that you have for me to others. My investigators don't complete a lot of the commitments we leave with them and it hurts to see them not progressing. I'm sure that's how you and Dad feel when I don't progress, you are so sad and I'm sure a bit disappointed. I am sorry for any inconvenience I have caused you guys. I love you both no matter what in the world. I'm trying so hard to be a better person.

Sincerely,

Elder Medina

P.S thank you for doing family prayer, scriptures and FHE. You will all have more blessings than you ever know.

He also wrote Diego a really nice 2 page letter. He told him about eating Iguana and about eating "Nacho Libre" corn. He promised to teach him how to make it when he comes home in August.6 months can't come soon enough.!

Busy Week, Lots of Contacts

Dear Mom, 

This week was crazy. The gangs had a tight hold on the people here and the missionaries. Almost my whole area was shut down. However, Sunday and Saturday was amazing. The whole week we had curfew and couldn't leave the house. But I had 13 lessons in two days and talked to 25 people by myself. My companion has been sick these past 4 days with swollen glands. I had to work by myself with a member. I have been a horrible son and haven't sent any pictures to you guys. Here is a whole bunch of them.

This week I would like to give you all 3 Nephi 11 to read for the week. 

I hope all of you guys can have a great week. And I hope you guys can be happy. I have so happy this past week with my work. The Lord really was with me and I was able to teach better lessons than normal. My relationship with my companion is so much better. We are happier and a lot more unified.

I love you all no matter what.

Sincerely,

Elder Medina

Feliz Navidad!

Dear Mom,

I will get you a nativity scene, I just talked to a member right now. The whole nativity scene with the building is about $40. That is with the house thingy with it all pretty. I am so jealous that you guys went to the temple to do that. I haven't been able to lately. Diego and his cuteness. I am cute happy he is my brother. Darn it, Emilio is still having problems. I will include him in my prayers. 

I am still wearing the same size of clothes. Thank you for that mom, that will help out a ton. I thought that I was going to have to jump Emilio for my clothes back, tell him I like his snapback. I need one like that :). Ok, I don't understand time zone limits, but, here we will be calling at 4 pm at this time here in El Salvador. You guys, I don't know what time that will be. I am assuming 3 pm. I will see you guys Dec. 25 in the afternoon! Keep going on reading it is hard but it works. 

This week, I would like you guys to read in 2 Nephi 5. And focus on these questions: How to fortify our testimonies? What happens when we disobey God's commandments? Also I would like that you guys would focus on Nephi's example of exact obedience. It has helped me this week a whole lot.  I have been trying hard to be obedient. That is what is the hardest thing. That's my goal, to be more obedient and love my companion more this week. God knows that I need to be better at that.

I love you guys. Keep it up and kill it out there.

Sincerely,

Elder Medina

I've Been Transferred!

I will do everything I can to send Diego a letter. Way to be on your studies and your FHE's. Sorry that this is so short. My time is limited. My companion's name is Elder Arias. He is from Ecuador. He is very new. His area has only 8 investigators. We put down a plan to get some more. I really could use some help. Please pray for us.Thank you all. This week I would like to give you all 2 Nephi chapter 2 this week. I found this and I have been doing a lot of teaching the atonement lately being Christmas. I have a couple of questions that go with it that I would like to have you Mom and Dad answer to me and the little guys tell you all. Why was the fall of Adam necessary? What can we do as a family to fight opposition stronger? My new area is named Zacatecaluca, check it out online to get a feel for it. I love you all. 

Sincerely,

Elder Medina.