Two Types of Coke

Now that I've kind of gotten used to this mission thing, I wanted to let you all know a little bit about what life is like here on the border. (Well, as a missionary.)

Everything is hot. All the time. Sometimes we are blessed with wind and that's the best. We walk around 8 miles a day, through sand, dirt, and garbage. We're in and out of poor rundown homes (definitely no air conditioning) but filled with the warmest, nicest people you'd ever meet. We stop people on the streets every time we see them and invite them to pray. Sometimes, well most of the time, we get to talk to them about their religion and if they've ever prayed to know that it's true. This is really the life and I love it. (Well, minus the part where we shower in freezing cold water.)

The streets of Juarez are an interesting site. I've seen lots of trash, but that's typical. One time as we were tracking there was a funeral being held in the streets outside a little tienda (store), with everyone singing. Hadn't seen that before. My companion then told me it was a little viejita (little old woman) who they used to teach.

Most of the time as we're out walking we can hear Mexican music being blared from at least two houses on every street, and the streets are pretty tiny. Sometimes, if I'm lucky it's American music. I've learned that they have raspas, which are basically snocones, and bolis, which are like otter pops but way better. The food down here is real and it's amazing. I've seen extremes in just about everything down here. With the weather, the homes, the jobs, daily life, beliefs, just about everything.

One day, we spent an hour walking to a members house for lunch. Once we got there, I was shocked. It was so different from our area. The home was small but very nice. It was apparent that the family had a substantial amount of money. A small, white, baby grand piano stood in a corner. The food was tasty and we were offered strawberry ice cream for dessert.

In another instant, I sat down to lunch one day in the small home of a recent convert. She had a warm and welcoming disposition and I could feel the love in the small dining room. She proceeded to hand us delicately handmade tamales with a smile on her face. As I ate, I saw four mice running around on the stove behind her. However, those tamales still remain my favorite meal here. The atmosphere of that kitchen was something I'll never forget as we talked about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and how it changed her life.

These are the moments I live for. These are the reasons I am here.

I've also learned there are no rules here when it comes to cars. Since we don't have one, we get to cross busy roads by foot. Sometimes there have been close calls but hey, I'm learning courage.

La Ruta here is pretty fun too. It's kind of like their public transportation. It's a bunch of old American school buses that have literally been pimped out. We're talking pipes, bass boosted speakers, spray painted designs and there's always a Virgin Mary somewhere. We get to listen to music as we roll around. It's kinda fun.

I feel good here and enjoy teaching the people. I've learned a lot from this work. This week we had to drop one of our personas en ensenanza (investigators). He expressed that he didn't want to come to church anymore or quit drinking coffee and he was only keeping los compromisos because he said he would. He truly has hardened his heart and that's really sad to see. He was so close to baptism too.

It reminded me how important is to always strive to be better. NEVER SETTLE. When you relax and become complacent, that's when Satan starts to settle in. We should always be striving to be better. As Elder Bednar says: Do good and become better. One way we can do this is to reread and study Conference talks until the next one rolls around. I know that as we do this, we will receive blessing without number and will be able to resist the temptations of the devil and become better. We will be able to do good and become better!

During the Women's Session, the prophet invited us to mark references to the Savior. I know that this is an invitation for everyone and that, as promised by the prophet of the restored church of Jesus Christ, that you will receive blessings and, as the introduction to the book says, a testimony that Jesus is the Christ. 

I began this effort Saturday night, marking references to the Savior in red. Let me tell you, these blessings are real and will come. There is not a page so far that does not have red, testifying of Christ. The book is covered and full because it really is another testament of Jesus Christ.

I invite all of you to read the conference talks from this month continually and to read the Book of Mormon. We will be blessed.

I love and miss you all, I appreciate your love and support and can always feel it as I walk and teach.

Disfruta su tiempo aqui en la tierra! (Enjoy your time here on earth!)