Week 102

 I too am more then grateful for a Father in Heaven that has taken care of you and the rest of the family while I have been gone!  There are many missionaries that have lost family members while on the mission, their faith strengthens mine!  In 4 days I will be ready for the next phase of my life but how grateful I am for these last 4 days I have to get ready...;)  

This mission was the mission for me!  I love the people so much!  I can not imagine my life without the experiences that I have had here in Mexico.  It has shaped who I am and what I will become!  I have made eternal friends and will never forget the people that I have gotten to know.  Every day I realize more and more how much the Lords hand has been in my life since birth.  It is hard to see the changes that I have made in my life because I am still so weak but there is one thing that has changed, I now know that I am nothing without my Father in Heaven and a loving family. 

 Abby thanks for being the one that has pulled our family into even more unity.  Alex, you are the life of the family and have taught me to love life.  Shelby, thank you for your brave example being the first missionary.  Mom, I know that there is nothing more that you want then for others to be happy!  That is true love.  Dad, thanks for being the man that you are and your humble example!  

I don't know what else to say because I feel like it is any other Pday, but see you soon!  I will tell you more stories and about my last week when I get home.  It will be better in person!  

Love Elder Quist (for the last time)

Week 101

It is true!  Teaching families is the best!  The Ayala family is doing great this week!  They came to Church on Sunday and they were very nervous but it was one of the most spiritual sacrament meetings that I have been in.  It was fast and testimony meeting.  I was able to share my testimony for the last time in Church on my mission!  As I looked out into the congregation I felt so grateful for the members this ward.  They have taught me so much with their examples.  Some other members shared their testimonies and my testimony was strengthened!  As we were teaching Familia Ayala Sunday night as we taught the plan of Salvation, Cielo the 12 year old daughter caught on and with a smile on her face asked a question to confirm what she felt.  "Are we going to be able to see each other after this life?   The joy that I saw in her eyes as she realized that she could have an eternal family touched my heart!  I will always remember that smile.  

That was the highlight of the week!  

Yes it is a bitter sweet time for me!  This is going to be the best week of my mission!  I am excited to enjoy it till the end!  I am also very grateful and happy for the blessing and the amazing mission that I am serving!  I am looking forward to seeing you all too.  but you know me! Just like dad...I dont like big parties and lots of people;) hahah.  I dont know if I am ready for that part but we will see how it goes!  It will be good for me.  

I will send you one more email next saturday.  

Love you all!  

Elder Quist

Week 100

Family,  

I only have a few more opportunities to write home.  Every preparation day has been strengthening for me and has helped me become the person that I am becoming.  Being my last transfer I get a lot of comments from missionaries about how soon I am going home.  Thanks for the advice Mom, I needed it!  I try not to think about how soon I am going to be home but instead I try to look at it from another point of veiw, I have 3 weeks to keep developing Christlike attributes in such an amazing environment. A lot of people have asked me "Are you ready to go home yet?"  My response is "No, not yet but in three weeks I will be!"  (or at least I hope I will be) hahah;)

This has been a great week.  The Ayala Family is progressing really well.  We feel so blessed.  They tell us about how their conversion is going every time that we teach them.  Each time it is another member of the family that steps up and takes the responsablity to remind and get the family together for scripture study and prayer.  The other night it was the Father of the family.. everyone was watching tv and he stood up and turned it off and asked them if they wanted to read the book of mormon!  They sat down and read what we had invited them to ready 3 times until they could understand.  When we arrived they asked great questions especially the daughter, Cielo of 12 year.  After we taught more about the Book of Mormon and she asked "Hermanos, how am I going to know when God answers my prayer to know if the book of Mormon is true and divine?"  I love how humble and receptive Children are:)  They gave us tamales with the same pork that they cooked on Christmas eve.  They are the best...I am learning so much from them.  It stuns me to know that a family after such a short amount of time have changed so much.  It has only been 2 weeks!

We are also teaching a young woman is part of a member family.  Only her brother is member but she also has changed so much is such little time:)  A month ago we vistited her for the second time when she told us that she believed in the Santa Muerte.  She realized that she was wrong and being confused.  She has been praying and told us that she knows that God lives.  She realizes now that Christ is her only Lord and asked us a few days ago "How can I be a missionary like you one day?"  

One Monday we were doing a weekly calls to the zone leaders and the sister leaders and the sister from Andalucia,  where I was serving 1 year ago told me that the Sanchez family sent their greetings!  I asked them when the Sanchezs are going to bet sealed,  they said that they are planing on getting sealed in april.  Jonathan is going to send his papers soon...pray for him so that he can get his call to Claifornia;)  He already has citizenship in the United States becuase he was born there soooo there is a chance that he gets called there.  That was a tender mercy to hear about the Sanchezs, what a blessing it is to know that family and to know that everything is going great with them!  

Love you all,

Elder Quist

Week 99

Merry Christmas! 

Thank you for making Christmas so great for me.  Just seeing your smiling faces made my day.  The family seems like it is just the same as I left it but obviously better.  It was good to see everyone in the house and get a tour.  Grandma, I hope you are feeling better today.  I love you and your few words meant a lot to me yesterday!  I couldn´t tell too many stories yesterday but it will be better in person.  Today was a good PDay.  We went with the missionary couple in the offices to clean a house that we are not going to rent anymore.  It was a good experience.  It made me remember how much I miss Saturday work days.  I am ready for when I get home Mom and Dad:)  I know that there are never ending projects.  After cleaning the house and the yard and taking out a tree we went to Taco La Bajada.  I am going to miss tacos de Carne Asada.  But I already have the best tacos and elotes locales to visit when I come back to visit the mission.  

Gerardo Sanchez was the second convert that I was able to help get ready for baptism.  I got the news that he and his family got sealed in the temple within the last few weeks!  It makes me so happy to see the impact of the Lords work, grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it!  

I have been able to study repentance more profoundly then ever before these last few weeks.  I feel as if I have received revelation for the future but at the same time I am realizing that as I deepen my knowledge of the gospel principles I realize how I have changed and have been able to live these principle without understanding fulling.  That is a testimony that the Holy Spirit and carries us until fully understanding a principle.  

I feel very blessed right now on the mission... I love the people with whom I am with.  

I love you so much Family!  Pray for me!  and I will pray for you. 

Have a great week!

Elder Quist    

Week 98

Things went well this week!  I don't really have much to say right now, I will just tell you everything that I want to tell you on Christmas day!  Alex, I am looking forward for when I come back too!  It is going to be awesome.  

I feel so much love for the people here in Mexico.  I feel as if they are my family!  Last week was the dedication of the Tijuana temple!  It was awesome!  that temple is so beautiful!  I learned some amazing new things.  

See you all soon in Skype!  Have a good week leading up to Christmas and remember what the true meaning of Christmas is!  Love you Mom and Dad.  

Elder Quist

Week 97

It seems like forever ago that I had my last P-day but it is refreshing being able to relax for a moment!  Christmas has come faster then ever this year!  Transfers went really well!  It was not easy at all but I am glad that I can say that I am alive!  I love transfers because all the missionaries that go home share powerful testimonies that motivate me to keep working hard!  A lot a good friends went home.  I will miss them but at least it won't be too long!  Tell Shelby to send me pictures because it seems as if Carter is a little busy right now;) hahah just kidding Carter (solo para hacerte sentir un poco culpable).   

We had an awesome experience this week.  We were really busy in the offices so we had only worked in the area for 3 or 4 hours all week and it was already Thursday!  So we decided to get out and let our minds rest and let the stress out and work!  I really treasure the time that I have in our area.  There is nothing that I enjoy more then sharing the gospel and teaching and serving.  So on Thursday we were really hoping to have a lot of success.  We went out to do some visits with our Ward mission leader, Hno Robles.  We went to all the appointments and all 3 appointment fell through.  I was a little discouraged but then we had the impression to ask Hno Robles if he knew anyone near by that we could visit.  He told us that there was a part member family that he used to visit when he was Bishop.  We got to the house and they were there and let us come in.  It turned out that the members that lived there moved to Metroplex and I had met them in my first Area!  We taught them about baptism and they accepted a baptismal date.  Hno Robles was so happy and he felt great to get together with old friends that are ready to accept the gospel.  It was an awesome experience.  

Thanks for the Package!  It got here this time!  I did not open it...all the way.  I has having a stressful day on Wednesday and I just pulled the letter out to read it!  Thanks Mom and Dad.  Your words helped me more then you know!

I love the tree!  It is awesome!  Just like always, something different! Where did we have generations Christmas party?  was it at the Hatches?  I dont really know what bouldering is but it sounds cool! Maybe I will be able to help Alex know how to work and he can show me how to have fun with bouldering, slack lining and what ever else he does!  I am excited to come home and help around the house!  You should see our house down here!  It is really nice and we have fixed it up.  We have a small gym in the back porch with weights!  Just need to have time to use it!  

Maybe you are thinking that I forgot but I would never.............HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!  hope that on Monday you can have a great day!   I will be thinking about you!  I am so blessed to have such a great Dad.  You are such a great example for me.  I have a lot of weaknesses and I know that the Lord sent me a Dad that has a lot strengths in the things that I am weak to give be an example on how I should be.  I appreciate your hard work.  I respect you for your humility.  I learn from the way that you treat Mom.  I hope to be a great husband to my future wife like you are to Mom.  I am excited to come home and spend more time with you and learn how to be a better man!  

I love this talk!  look it up on LDS.ORG and you can listen to it.

Fathers and Sons: A Remarkable Relationship

I want to let you know that I trust you!    And I want you to know that I am looking forward to your advice when I get home.  But right now I want to know what I can do to have a successful last transfer?  What did you do to finish your mission strong?  What can I do to prepare to come home and keep become a better man?    

Thanks for making our relationship remarkable!  You have helped me so much!  

Love your son,

Elder Quist

Week 96

Mom and Family,

Thanks for sending my that qoute from Camerons letter, it really helped me! "the secret to happiness is letting every situation be what it is and not what you think it should be." This has been another good week!  This is transfers week so we are about to get really busy!  Wish me luck and sleep a little extra for me!  hahah.  

Yesterday we had exchanges in our area with our zone leaders and it was awesome.  We had an awesome lesson with Elisa and her cousin!  When we got there her cousin, who is 100% catholic as they say here, started asking a bunch of questions like if we could listen to music or dance or if we believed in Jesus Christ.  Sometimes after 2 years of listening to people ask questions like that it can get on the nerves because some people ask questions like that out of spite but we were able respond with love and patience.  Then we showed them the new video "A Savior is born"  and she completely changed.  We taught about the premortal life and the spirit was really strong!  When she had to leave she said that she was leaving with her jaw dropped.  She said that she was going to talked to Elisa later to talk about how good she felt!  We felt really blessed because Elisa doesn't have much support from her family. It was a blessing for her!  

Have a great week!  let me know about Carter and send my support and love to Willy.  Talk to you not this Saturday but the next!

Elder Quist

Week 95

Family,

  It sounds like you have had a great week.  What is better then being with family all week?...just one thing...being a missionary!  hahah.  Not to make you jealous or anything!  Thanksgiving was great, the food was really good and it reminded me of the united states but, nothing measures up the the Quist thanksgiving dinner.  After eating we followed with the same tradition that we have in the family and we all shared one thing that we were grateful for.  I said that I was grateful for my baby sister Abby.  Truthfully she is an amazing blessing.  These last 3 years have been full of suprises and blessing.  Although we have been far apart we have never been closer.  I think that we have been gifted with the two most powerful unifying experiences. 1. a New baby in the family 2. two missionaries serving missions and one preparing.  I think that we are more united then ever. and besides that Abby is cute...so that is why.  

That is awesome that you could be with Shelby for her Birthday!  I really liked the videos where Abby said Shelbys name!  Alex, you look so tall.  I like the Generations sweat shirts.  

I thought about it a little more and I am not interested in the block classes but I would like to talk a insitute class back at home.  But I will look into that.  

The mission has taught me to deal with and enjoy the ups and downs in life.  I am learning that we need the be grateful for the good times and the hard time.  For the ups, because we can enjoy the blessing of feeling the pure love the our Savior manisfested. And the downs, because they help us develop Christlike attributes.  James 1:5 is the very well know verse in the Christian community and even more so in the members of the Church of Jesus Christ but a verse less recognized but that has found a place in my heart as I have studied it and lived it is James 1:3-5.  Truthfully in english it is hard to understand but in spanish it is clearer to me!  2 Hermanos míos, tened por sumo gozo cuando os halléis en diversas pruebas,

 3 sabiendo que la prueba de vuestra fe produce paciencia..

The Literal translation or at least how it has been written in my heart is something like this.  "Brothers and Sisters, be joyful when you find yourself going through different trials, knowing that the trial of your faith produces patience."

I experienced this scripture just yesterday.  We were having a hard morning and I was in exchanges with Elder Monroy.  No one had let us in their house.  We got to the house of one of the most humble families that I have taught on my mission.  Family Suarez, Mario and Felipe are about 75 years old.  It is an older couple that lives in a very humble house.  Their front door is 2/3 my height..and yes, although slouching over, I still hit my head leaving the first night from the lesson.  They are very loving and grateful for our visits.  Yesterday morning we went by and saw the brother in his old, stained, white shirt and ragged jeans with fresh paint on his hands.  We asked us if he needed help and he humbly accepted our service.  We were lead to the back room and helped paint for 1 hour.  It was an amazing experience and a drastic change.  That room looked as if it hadn't been cleaned in 20 years.  There were 1000 year old daddy long legs that we cleaned out.  We finish and shook the Brothers hand before leaving.  As I shook his hand he didn't let go...I looked him as tears swelled up in his eyes.  In a broken voice he struggled to say the most sincere words that anyone has ever told me.."Thank you!".  That moment was one of the "ups" that I mentioned and oh how full my soul felt.  Two hours later we passed by their house heading to a members house.  Brother Suarez came running out of his house...what he said was both un-expected and saddening.  I ask him, "what happened?".  He looked at us with sadness in his eyes too and "you or your companion stole 1000 pesos from the room where you were painting."  Guided by the spirit, we calmly told him that it wasn't us and asked him what had happened."  He seemed nervous and unsure.  Quickly we realized that what they were saying was a scam that there daughter was trying to do. She had arrived just before be finished painting, and motivated by needs and dishonesty told her parents that she had a 1000 pesos that went missing trying to trick us into giving her 1000 pesos we don't have.  Her parents, do to their humility believed this lie and asked us if we had stolen it.  We went away, sadden by the effects this lie would have on Mario and Felipa. Later that night we saw Mario on the way to the house and asked him a few questions.  He admitted that he never knew that those 1000 pesos existed and by then had realized that his daughter had lied.  That experience is one of the "downs" that sometimes capture and limit our happiness.  But it doesn´t have to be that way.  We can be joyful in whichever different trail that we are going through is my testimony.  I give thanks for the opportunity to develop patience and love that the trial yesterday gave me.

Have a great week Family.  Enjoy the Christmas season because I am!:)

Elder Quist 

Week 94

Family and Friends,

So this week I am going to have a little more time to write so don't worry.  The next transfers are in 2 weeks.  Things are going smooth this transfer and I am feeling great!  It is awesome because we have been able to stay in our house a lot more because of the intercambios that we have in our area.  It is a blessing for me because we get to work in our area everyday.  And we are sleeping on our house 6 days a week.  Our house is 10 min in taxi from the mission offices and 30 minutes from the presidents house.  We don't go to the offices everyday,  we just have meetings on Monday but then we go in occasionally as needed.   President lives in the other mission, right next to the other mission Presidents house, we are actually going to eat Thanksgiving dinner in Presidents house, so that will be fun.  I am sure that it will remind me of home a lot.  My companion is really good.  He is more serious then Elder Cook but we are feeling good and we are very similar in Character.   

The other day we were able to have some amazing lessons with members.  I think that I have already told you but there are 2 members that are so great in our area. Hermano Robles and Hna Estefania.  They are like Alma and Amulek in the lessons. Remember Elisa and Elizabeth?  they are doing great and we have seen a lot of progress in them.  We had a lesson with Hermano Robles and Hna Estefania; Elizabeth started to cry.  It has been hard for her because her friends and extended family don't support her.  

Last night we were in a lesson and an investigator started to talk bad about Hno Robles. It made me really sad and to be honest it made me mad. It was the first time in my mission that I actually felt mad in a lesson.  I offended the investigator with some things that I said and right after I felt horrible and knew that I didn't listen to the spirit that told me to not say what I said.  I felt the desire to repent as quick as possible and asked forgiveness as soon as I could.  Thinking about it after it made me sad that, still, after so much time being a misisonary I could get mad.  but I am grateful for things like this because it helps be see how much I depend on the Lord and the spirit.  After getting mad I could hardly talk...there is a huge difference of teaching with the spirit, and without the spirit.  It was very obvious and I never want to let that happen again.

Well I think that is all for this week.  Thanks for everything Family.  You mean a lot to me.  Talk to you next week.  Have a good thanksgiving.  Say hi to the Quists for me.

Elder Quist  

Week 93

Family,

I was really bad at writing last week but I am sorry, I am going to be even worse today!  I am doing great and have been able to feel the spirit really strong lately!   Love you you mom, dad, alex and shelby.  I promise I will write more next week but I really do apricate your letters and the time that you take.  You are the best.  

Elder Quist

Alex- be careful driving

Week 92

This has been a busy week for us.  We are writting a little late today because we were busy all morning in some training meetings.  

Things went well this week!  I am happy and getting used to my new companion.  I am happy and we love our area!  I will write more next week.  but I love you all.  I am learning a lot and am very grateful lately.  One of the biggest things I am grateful for is the friends that I am making on the mission.  

Have a great week everyone.

Elder Quist

Week 91

Hello,

Well on Wednesday Elder Cook went home.  I was sad because he was truly a great companion!  We had an amazing 3 months working together and reflecting back on it I am so grateful.  

We have been sooo busy these last 7 days.  I have barely had a chance to stop and catch my breath but today is a great day to rest a little bit.  

So there are two stories that I would like to tell this week.  

#1.  Remember the story that I told about the family that we are teaching, the mom that had a kidney problem.  Yeah, so after I wrote about that story last week we were able to return and talk more about the experience.  She told us that when the doctor told her that she didn't have a defect in her kidney anymore she was so happy and told the doctor, "it must be the young men that are praying for me".  The doctor asked "which young men?" and she explain that she was listening to the LDS missionaries.  He proceded to tell her that he was LDS also and that she should keep listening.  So a few days later after praying for more direction in her life, she got a call from the Doctor. He had recieved the impression to call her but he didn't know why.  She took that as an answer:)

#2.  On Saturaday night the first counselor in the bishopric let us know that we were going to be asked to speak the next day, so I started to pray to know what the Lord wanted me to speak on.  In the morning I planned out that I was going to speak on following to spiritual impression to build faith and become aninstrument  in the hands of the Lord.  I thought about some of the many experiences that I have had in my life related to this theme, but then I started to think,  it does't matter what I have done in the past, It matters what I am doing now.  So I stopped thinking and started listen....only an hour before church started we were farther away from our church building because we had to stay in the offices the night before,  in that moment the impression came "don't take public transportation, walk to the church."  We didn't know why but we followed the impression and started what is at least a 45 min walk.  Not even 5 minute into the walk we saw a lady that looked lost.  She came up to us and asked us what church we were from, we responded and she said " I am looking for a church here close by that some handsome young men invited me to and gave me a beautiful book.  So, as she told us why she loved the Book of Mormon that the missionaries had given her, we walked back to the mission office with her which is the church building where the other missionaries go.  If we hadn't  listened to the spirit she would have given up, having already looked for 20-30 minutes. She was about to go home when we should up. just 40 minutes later I was able to share the experience with the ward in my talk and testify, that we are nothing but instruments in the hands of the Lord!  (1 Nefi 9:6)

My new companion is Elder Romero from ciudad de juarez chihuahua.  I am really excited for these next couple months.  I really am going to miss my old companion Elder Cook because we got along really well and he was a really fun missionary! Today we are not doing much because the past 7 days have been packed.  We are just cleaning our bedroom in the offices and then we are going to go back and clean up our house. To answer your questions, Monterrey barley got hit by the hurricane but it was rainny for a few days. 

 So this transfer the area presidency changed the way all the assistants in Mexico are going to do the intercambios with the zone leaders.  Instead of one of us going to their area and one of us staying in our area we are going to both work in our area.   That has the purpose of our area being the example area of the mission!  I feel really excited because we are going to see a lot more time in our area and help the people there more. We are going to have some baptsims coming up pretty soon.  I will let you know more as they get closer!

Love you family! hope you are doing as well as you sound!   

Elder Quist

Week 90

Hello, 

It's been a short time since I have written you but I am doing great as always. These last few days have been packed with good experiences.

1.  Sunday morning was great...as we were walking to church a car passed by and stopped right next to us.  They rolled down the window and told us that they are a young couple from another stake and wanted us to visit the wife's sister.  That was a little miracle that we saw!  It was pretty awesome because they called us last night to set an appointment for saturday to go visit her with them(that almost never happens!)  we are excited to see what happens

2.  Remember I told you about the lady that we were teaching named Dora that was like my grandma here in Mexico!  yeah we are teaching her again!  I never wrote you again about her because she fell off the charts!  It was really sad actually because at first she wanted to be baptized and then her children from a different religion started talking bad about us and making her feel bad about listen to us so she backed out.  A week ago we found her in the park next to her house and put an appointment to teach again.  On the day of the appointment she told us that she doesn't doubt that what we share is true and she is now willing to do what she knows is the will of the Lord and put off her fears!  She told us that she just needed some time.  I´ll keep you updated about her.

3. One of the families that we are teaching is great, family Montemayor.  The mother of the Family had a some sort of disorder in her kidney a few years ago they did an operation  and put some sort of metal apparatus in her kidney but supposedly she still had the defect and she was going to have to go get an operation to get the apparatus out and fix the defect in her kidney...she was really scared and had a constant pain side.  We decided to pray and fast for her last sunday and two days later when went to her house she told us that a miracle had happened.  When she went to get her final check-up before the surgery and the doctor told her that he didn't know how but she didn't have the defect any more!  The was just going to have to have a small surgery to get the apparatus out.  She was so happy!  The power of fasting and prayer is real, try it.  

4. I went on intercambios to andalucia( my second area) .  I got to see the Sanchez family.  They are doing so great and passing through a lot a trials. Jonathan the oldest son( who works for Melisa and Pablo)  is doing amazing and talked to the bishop last week to see about his mission papers.  How grateful I am to be a part of this families life!  I love them so much and have formed an eternal friendship.  

5. Someone told me that I look like the little kid from "back to the future"

Love you friends and family. Tell Alex I love him and Abby too.  Have fun back in Idaho Shelby. 

Elder Quist

Week 88

Mom and Dad,  

I really loved conference too and my ponderizing scripture last week was Timothy 4:12 because that is the one that the prophet shared, and I am not sure what my new one is going to be.  

So just to answer you question really quick, I am going to come home 20th of January but I do not know what time yet.    Yeah I have thought a little about how I am going to miss the whole semester and honestly there is a reason why.  I think that I am going to just wait and not go until spring.  I don't think that I am going to sign up for an online class but I will think about it.  I was just planning on coming home and working and serving and being with the family for a few months.  I think that will give me a good preparation for college.  

That is awesome for Alex about his birthday!  He must be really happy.  You are a great mom!  He and I are so lucky.  When I was reading your email I thought " WOW I am suprised that Mom didn't say, ´my little baby just turned 16, what am I going to do´"  But then I remember that your little baby has 15 years before she turns 16 so you and dad have a lot of time left!  I am sure that makes you feel happy and young like you are!  

This week has been great.  We have found a lot a new families. We are working with some amazing members lately.  There are 2 members that are helping especially.  One is Hno Robles, he is our ward mission leader!  He is an experienced, humble priesthood holder and has a lot of experience in life also.  We also have been working with a recent convert named Estefania.  I don't know if I told you the story with her but about 6 months ago I was in intercambios with Elder Fry, who was in this area before me.  Well we got an impression to knock a door and a 25 year old guy came out and said that he was about to eat dinner that he had prepared with his fiance.  So we asked him if we could come in and say a prayer for their food.  They were really kind and said that we could come back later.  I went back to by area and then heard nothing about them for 4 months until I talked to Elder Aguila who asked me if I remembered them because the guy´s sister got baptized.  She is Estefania.  Both of her parents passed away in the last 5 years.  She has so much faith!  She is the most converted recent convert that I have met in my mission!  Yeah, so when I came to this area I was really happy to see that through small and simple things great things come to pass.  So last night in exchanges we went and worked with Hno Robles and Estefania and the lessons were sooo powerful!  It was great because we had the experience and trust of hno Robles and the excitement and powerful testimony of the recent convert.  My companion and I felt like we were a powerful team.  We found a new family of 5 to teach last night because we follow an impression of the spirit to go to the house of an old contact we had!  The Mother of the Family broke down cry because she felt like we were sent from God to visit them.  They had been passing through hard times and need the gospel.  The love that I feel for the Families makes everything worth it!

I love you family!  

Elder Quist

Week 87

Happy revelation day,

I am touched in this moment for a few reasons!  First, a profound feeling of comfort given by the Holy Spirit has swept over me giving me a confirmation that the three new apostles are men called of God.  What a blessing.  Second and even more touching because of the spirit I felt in the talk of Elder Holland and Elder Bradly Foster who both talked about first the importance of Mothers and Second of Fathers. Elder Holland said To all of our mothers everywhere, past, present, or future, I say, “Thank you for giving birth, for shaping souls, for forming character, and for demonstrating the pure love of Christ."  I not only want to thank all mothers but especially I want to thank you Mom.  The spirit of gratitude that filled my heart as I listened to the words of an apostle of Christ will be something that I will never forget!  Mom and Dad, you have shaped my soul, formed my character and with out a doubt showed the pure love of Christ.  But more important then what you have done is what you are doing every week with your letters, and every day with your prayers to bless my life.  I love you both!  Thank you.  

That was a cute video of abby! She is so cute. It was a good week!  We were really busy and on Wednesday I got really sick with a fever.  I got a blessing from my companion and all I can say is that every time my testimony of the power of the Priesthood becomes more and more firm.  So, I am doing better now and Sister Bird took good care of making sure I got better fast!  

I love you all so much,  I´ll be looking out for the family on the TV in the conference center tomorrow! 

Elder Quist   

Week 86

Hey Family,

Well here I am again.  It was great to read your letters again!  It always makes me happy to hear about all the great things that are happening back to home.  Especially Quinn going on a mission!  That is sick! You are right, he is going to be great missionary.  Good luck to the McCay family, because it is hard to let such a good kid go! hahha but don't get too sad when he goes.  

So this week I have been feeling very blessed!  We had 2 zone conferences this week and things are going really smooth.  It is nice being able to teach the same subject every time because we have been able to get the kinks out  and focus on what the spirit want us to change each time according to the missionaries needs.  So I don't know if I told you yet (I think I did)  but in my last area, valle hermoso,  the three investigators that were progressing got baptized within the next couple weeks.  Brandon, the 20 year old young that had aspergers,  he is now preparing to get the priesthood and progressing significantly.  Diana, the super chosen investigator that is the sister of another recent convert. And Jasmine,  a reference from a member that lived in the same street.  When Elder Fife went home I got to talk to him for a bit of time and he told me all about how everything went because I wasn't able to got back to see the baptismal services.  He said that everything was amazing.  I also recently talked to the sister missionaries in valle hermoso and they told me that Diana and Jasmine have been going out to do visits with them!  They did divisions the other day.  That made me so happy.  Diana said that she wants to serve a mission!  She is only 26 and I think that's still in the age range for sister missionaries!  That is such a miracle.  Moments when I hear about the progress that convert are still having that I have been able to be part of their conversion process, makes me so happy!  I recongize whose work this is.  He is all powerful and how grateful I am to be an instrument in His hands! #bestday.  Oh and and by the way Jonathan from the Family Sanchez is going to serve a mission!  He is an American citizen because he was born over there, so it is very probable that he gets called to a state side mission!  That would be sick so that he can learn English!  

But as for the investigators that we have right now, everything is going great!  We are teaching about 5 people that have a lot of potential to get baptized. 3 of them are members references, and the other 2 are contacts.  

One of the member references   His name is Roberto Quiñones.  He as been going to church on and off with his girlfriend who is a member with 2 kids (she got divorced).  He is about 30 years old and has never been married but they are soon going to get married. He seems like a very shy person but we have been trying to get him to open up to us by sharing our personal experiences with him and letting him express what he is feeling.  We have been able to tell recently that he was not totally open with us.  So a few days ago when we were talking about how he was feeling with his relationship with his Heavenly Father he told us that he felt good but confused.  We asked him why.  Though it was hard for him to express, he responded with another question "Elders,¿why do I feel peace and comfort when I pray sometimes and feel a huge emptiness in my soul in other times?  We asked him to explain what he thought, and he told us EVERYTHING.  In short he never felt the love and support from his parents.  Due to this, he has formed a dis-confidence in himself!  He feels like he is NEVER good enough.  As he talked about his past he broke down.  The spirit filled the room as a this child of God, bore the most deep feeling from his soul as a sacrifice surely worthy to the Lord of his repent soul. Many tears were shed.  He told us that never in his life had he felt full or good enough.  I tried to relate to him because I have felt some of the those same feelings but that is not good enough.  We bore our testimonies of the power of the atonement.  It is what filled me, and I know that it is going to fill that empty space in his soul.  The Power of the spirit is un-real.  

I am so grateful for the mission because it really allows me to keep my baptismal convent "to mourn with those that mourn,  to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort."  There is nothing more satisfying.  

I love you some much Family!  Have another great week!  

Love Elder Quist fbd

Week 85

Good afternoon family,  

Mom make sure that you are letting Abby get enough sleep, I am learning that it is really important, hahahah.  I am SO tired!  but don't worry mom,  I know that you are the best mother ever.  This week has gone great for my companion and I.  Last Sunday we had the opportunity to see the re-dedication of the temple in Mexico City.  It was such a spiritual experience. President Eyring and Elder Holland both were there (My two favorites).  So how is everyone doing this week?  How is Shelby doing?  What is she up to?  and Alex?  I want to hear from you Alex when you get a chance. 

Well things in our area have been pretty normal.  We are finding really good people and the members are really helping us.  I feel tired but great!  I have learned this week that our desires really determine what our success will be!  

Transfers went very smooth!  It was the first time that I participated with president in the transfers.  It was an awesome experience to see and learn from the revelation that he receives!  He really trust in the impressions of the spirit and does not doubt.  This was probably one of the most stressful weeks of my life!  It really was crazy and we had so much to get ready for the transfers.  On Tuesday morning there is a huge transfers meeting and all the missionaries that have transfers and their companion come to the offices with all their suitcases and we have to organize all of them!  Then we all go into the sacrament hall and the companions give their testimonies.  Then my companion and I announce the transfers in the whole mission and as we call them out they go and sit next to their new companions.  After that meeting we go straight into a training meeting for the new district leaders. Right after that we start another meeting for the new elders and sister that are going to be trainers.  So basically that whole day is just packed.  We then go into presidents office and update his board that has the organization of the whole mission with magnets.  That takes about 2 or 3 hours and then we head over to presidents house which is in the other mission to update his board in his office in his house.  By that time it is about 8:00pm and we start eating.  At that point we can start to relax!  It was pretty nice because we get to be with all missionaries that are finishing their missions the next day.  We were all sharing the funniest experiences that we have had in the mission!  I haven't  laughed so hard in a year and a half.  It was even better because a lot of them are good friends and I had 2 of my ex-companions their! Elder Astacio(la republica dominicana) who was my trainer.  I love him so much!  That was one of the hardest times of my mission but we took some time to remember together the good times and bad times!  I can tell that we have changed so much since then!  It was such a spiritual experience!  I also got the opportunity to talk with Elder Fife, who was my companion right before Elder Cook.  As I talked to him I noticed a change in my self.  I noticed that I loved him when just 6 months ago before I was his companion he was one of the missionaries that I wasn't to sure about.  That just goes to show that one can come to love anyone with enough prayer and service!  After dinner president takes the time to have a really spiritual devotional where all the missionaries that  go home share the most spiritual experiences that they had in the mission.  We get back to the offices at like 11:30 or 12:00  and have to get all the suitcases ready because the next morning we get up to go to the airport at 4:30am.  Then 2 days latter we had first zone conference, so we had to plan what we were going to train to the whole mission.  One down and 9 more to go.  haha Yep I feel pretty good but yes that week was hard and stressful but I am learning a lot!  but I do notice that I have grown. At least I am not scared to speak in front of 100 people anymore!

hahahhah dad That is funny about Trump!  and yes it is a very common occurance that we contact someone that asks us if we are Americans followed by the question...."yeah and what is up with the Trump guy, why does he hate Mexicans?"  They are all pretty upset.  So we just tell them that  we know nothing about that but that we do love Mexicans! haha

Love you dad and mom! Keep being the best! 

Elder Quist

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!