Week 84

What a blessing it is to have Abby in the family, I bet she always keeps things interesting!  wow that makes me happy to hear that you are going to pave the road.  That will be very big change when I come back.  I approve! hahah.  Say bye to Quinn for me!  He is going to be great!  This week has been an exciting week!  It is the week before transfers and we are going to be really busy until the next week and then zone conferences start next transfer so we are going to be even more busy!  

So this week we had a cool adventure 2 days ago.  On tuesday night I was finsihing exchanges with a Elder Canalizo, one of the Zone leaders.  We were in my area and we called a taxi because we had to go all the way back to their house to swtich back to our companion.  It is usually a 45 minute taxi ride.  So the taxi got there and we got on the freeway!  Everything was normal and suddenly the hood of the taxi un-clipped and smashed into the windshild.  The taxi driver slams on his breaks and weaves through the traffic to get to the slow lane. We slowly came to a stop as semi-trucks were flying by.  We could only see through a little crack where the hood wasn't  blocking our view!  So we sat there in a complete stop in the slow lane due to the fact that there was no shoulder on the freeway, just a cliff and a river down below.  We got out of the taxi and made sure that the cars coming could see us.  We tied the hood of the car down just enough that we could get to the next pull off to be able to safely call another taxi.  We got there and payed the taxi driver.  We were waiting there for a few minutes and not one of the taxis stopped.  They usually don't stop on the freeway.  We had our hand out so a fuerza civil truck(that is like a federal police car) pulled to a stop.  They rolled down the window and asked us where we were going.  They told us to get in.  My companion looked at me and said "should we do it"  I got the impression that we shouldn't say no because I didn't want to deny the police! So we get in the back seat of the police car and just sat there in silence.  A feeling of fear came over me when I remembered all the stories of the mexican police turned bad. All the worst thoughts came to my mind but I won't mention them to not scare you mom! haha.  After a few minutes of silence the police man driving said,  and what were you doing on the the side of the freeway Elders.  I breathed a sigh of relief as he told us that he was a member from a ward in the west mission!  hahah.  So he took us all the way to the house and we had a nice personalized free ride.  The best part is that as we sat there on the side of the mexican freeway I was praying that we would make it back safe and find a safe taxi, that was the same moment when the fuerza civil stopped and picked us up!  I know that it was an answer to my prayers!  Who knows what could have happened with two missionaries on the side of the freeway but the Lord protected us!

We got to the zone leaders house safe and pulled up in a sweet new ride.  My companion and the other zone leader looked out the window and saw the truck and said "oh what did we do this time?"  then they saw us get out and were shocked! hahah

I love you all so much!  I am safe now!  don't worry!  Talk to you in a couple weeks!

Elder Quist

Week 83

Mom and Dad,  just so you know that was not really in n out last week but the picture completed its purpose!  haha.  They wrap the hamburgers in what ever leftover paper and plastic there is!  and I guess they got the plastic that the ketchup is made of from in n out!  You asked about I was reproved for. Well President really didn't reprove me on anything big but just little things that are going to help me become more effective and disciplined as leader.  He is very direct about what we need to do better but it really helps!  

Well it makes me happy to hear that you are still having good fun back at home with the McCays.  I was worried when I left that you would get old too fast! hahah just kidding.  I know that Abby is keeping the family young!  I am definitely myself around my companions but you know me,  it takes me a little time to get comfortable around people I dont know but the mission is changing me!  Hey, tell Truly that I say congratulations.  I had not remembered that she was already engaged but I do'nt know if it is because I forgot or if nobody told me!  I think that I forget things really easily about things going on back home.  

This week has been a very busy week!  when we have consejo de liderazgo we are here in the offices a lot more, it is a little sad not to be in the area that much but I am so happy with the people that we are teaching in our area! They are awesome!  Also my companion from my last area told me that 3 of the investigators that were preparing to get baptized when I left valle hermoso already have gotten baptized.  My one transfer there paid off although I have not been able to be there for the baptisms but that doesn't' mater!  

We are teaching an investigators that is a mix between grandma Dorthy and grandma Cathy( athough no one can get up to there level and replace them for me but she gets pretty close;))  haha  she is 80 years old and she is the most choosen investigator that I have ever taught!  It is amazing how receptive she is to the spirit!  I love her so much!  There are few lesson in my whole mission that I have felt the spirit so strong as I have felt with her!  I will tell you about her next week but I feel so blessed!  

This transfer has gone by so fast and I feel great about it!  time is flying by and it makes me want to make the best of everyday!  

Have a great week family!  Talk to you next week!  Love you all.

Elder Quist

Week 82

Time seems to be flying by.  Like I have said from the beginning of my mission it is like a time warp.  But it is a great time warp.  It was good to hear about how the family is doing!  Mom, that is awesome that you are going to be a english teacher.  I could have never imagined that for me but I am jealous of Alex because he is going to have the best teacher!  I love the videos and pictures that you sent this week!  They were great.  Abby is so adorable.  Sometimes I tell people about by family  and about have a sister the is 19 months old.  They are usually pretty shocked! 

This week we had some awesome experiences again!  Two days ago we were having a rough morning and we could not find anyone.  At 6:00 we went to an appointment that we had set a couple hours before with a young adult that invited us to come back!  At about 4:00 we talked to him for the first time and he looked like a fresa kid but we contacted him and he said that he didn't have time to talk just then because he was eating with his girlfriend.  He was surprisingly very interested and I learned something very important in that moment, the character of someone is easily shown in the way that that treat other that they don't know in front of the people they love(family or friends).  When we taught him he was being taught by the spirit.  I also learned that the light of Christ is something really.  Although all his life he had been taught other ways of believing, within 15 minute of the influence of the Spirit, he started to recognize eternal spiritual truths.  That is our job as missionaries.  Help people feel and learn by the spirit so that the spirit can remind them of all things that they have know, truths from this life and truths from the life before.  

I went on exchanges to my old area, Sada Vidro and saw a lot of beloved members.  What a blessing was that for me!

My area is pretty much like my area sada vidro( my area when I was with Elder Juarez).  They are right next to each other.  It is 26 year old colonia(that is old for Monterrey)  so that means that most of the people there are older and have their traditions very rooted!(d&c 93:39)  but we are seeing mircales and the Lord has prepared many people!  My companion is sick!  He is from Idaho and he loves football, wakeboarding and basketball!  so I guess you could say we get along well!  President is awesome and with more responsiblities I feel like I make more mistakes.  It is very humbling and makes me realize how much I need the Lords help.  President Bird is so great, and is really great at leading.  He understands what Joseph Smith meant when he said "  Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved"   

That reproving really stings sometimes but without a doubt he shows me an increase of love after!  The baptism by fire sometimes feels like a real fire within but then the Holy Ghost comes and soothes that burning sensation after the needed effect takes place!  

Love you family!  have a great week!  

Elder Quist

P.S.  Mom although there is a lot of stress and hard times as a missionary, I am  actually surprised myself that I am not lying when I say that I am in peace and happiness always!