This is the Beach!!!

Well on Monday we went with some members to a river before Sister Brenda opened her mission call. Well she is going to Tijuana on the 14 of June. She is so happy she is going after all the problems she had to send in her papers. How awesome.

 Well on Tuesday my comp had to go down to Tuxtla to get his new green card, so I was in exchanges with a zone leader name Portlock from Utah. It was fun with him. We visited the river to see Guatemala y we visited Juan Carlos.  We taught about prayer y faith.

 Well yesterday we only had investigators Norma y Rosalina. We taught Rosalina y Manuel was with them again. So we were happy y surprised. We talked about prayer.

Well, on Thursday we had interviews with the mission president. He asked about my family y about me y about the district y my comp y then he asked me when do I go home? I said September y then asked where has my areas been y he said oh, okay he told me that the spirit told him I should go to an area in Oaxaca, so that is the big news!

Well on Friday the ward went off to the templo. I helped pay for 4 people. Some were missing more y others didn’t have any to pay y I can see their faith. There is a scriptue that I’m using a lot on my mission. It is in Proverbs 28:27.  I just love it. “He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.”

So not a lot going on. Love you. So please keep praying for us. I send my prayers y love.

 Love Elder VanBuskirk.

ADIOOOOOOOISSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Xoxox

Hi Mom. I’m on. Love you.

Love you. Happy Monday. How are you? That’s great that you talked to Franky this morning. So what are you doing today? Can’t wait to see you in 2 weeks!!!

What package? I never sent one. Haha. Is everything there?

Sorry about your ripped letters. At least you can still read it right?

My comp says thanks. I wrote in a letter which gift is for who. Did you read your letter yet? I wanted to surprise you to a package for Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day. Love you! So the apron y the white cloth is for you for Mother’s Day.

What day do you want to skype? Hey mom, mother day is on a tuesday?

Yes, we have part of Oaxaca in are mission The transfers are next week. Every transfer is 6 weeks. After this transfer I’m in, I will have 3 more in Oaxaca. Yes, I will finish there y it is only about 3 to 4 hours away.

I told the mission president about the problems with our branch president and he said just to have patience y faith.

If Dad asks why I’m missing money, tell him it was because I helped people to go to the templo.

Hey, I still didn’t get my Easter package, or the other package you sent. No, don’t send me another one because I have two on the way y I don’t want you guys to spend more money.  It is fine they will come when they come.

 Hey did you call the mission office? It is fine, but you did call Utah right? Because they make the airplane flights you need to tell them first because the president knows, but they don’t. Do it soon before they buy my airplane tickets.

Today we went to the beach!  Finally after 2 years! It was about 30 min in the car. Then we had to cross a swinging bridge and we had to cross the river on a canoe to go the beach. We went this morning. Yes we went in knee deep. It felt so good.

Yes, I did go in barefoot y then when we were leaving I put my shoes on.

So all is good with you? How is your Spanish coming?

I bet you do. People don’t understand me, but I can understand them when they try to talk about me behind my back.

You’re welcome. Feliz dia de madre mama. Yo amo usted con todo mi corozon.

Okay. Love you. I need to go. Bye. Love you xoxoxo Give all my love.

have the boys watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aKU2rkvFQU

love you

its called: 

The Value of a Full-time Mormon Mission

love you

Just Helping People Come Unto Christ

Well, what a week. We went to visit investigators Manuel y Rosa, but Rosa wasn’t home y Manuel was lying drunk on the floor. So we sang “I’m a Child of God” y we left. Well, we visited a few days after y Rosa told us she was so mad y sad that he drank again, so she kicked him out. He is living with his mom y they want to talk about their plans of either getting married or divorce. Well Manuel called me on Saturday y he said he wants to go to church y he did. Y he wants to change y talk to us. So we are trying to help him not to follow his friends’ invitations to drink. So please pray for him. Thanks.

Well on Wednesday I taught my district about contacting people better y then I went on exchanges with an elder from Arizona. His named is Elder Donaldson. We have two people who will get baptized, Jesus, for 14 May, y his younger brother Juan Carlos on 4 June. They are sons of a member y they both went to church y they like it. Well not a lot is going on. We are just helping people come unto Chirst, like elders do.

 Love you all y thanks for your love y support.

Adioss!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 love Alex

Hi Mom. Love you. I’m good. Working hard. How are you?

It is very hard to work here with our branch president.

The stake president says they can’t change him because no one is paying tithing, so we are stuck with him.  It is a little hard when he lies to my face. Sometimes I want to change to another area, but I know I’m here for a reason.

A member called us y asked about the soccer activity at the church at 9. So we had the keys to the church y we gave the keys back to the preisdent y I said a member called about the soccer,y he said he already talked to him y nothing is going on. He invites everybody to the soccer, even our investigators, where they play at 9 because that is when we missionaries have to go home. So he lied in my face. He invites people without telling us until people ask us about it. It is weird. He even goes to the church at 5am on Sunday to work on church things y the rule is he can’t do those things solo, but he does.

I know, it is very fishy y he is not even going to the temple with the branch on Friday because for him his work goes first, like always. We think he is up to no good y he says even with his debts we know he has that he is saving money to buy a car to move to Mexico City next year. These are just some problems we face here. We have interviews with the mission president this week so me y my comp will tell him everything that is going on.

 So why did you go to the beach? That seafood looks so good. That sounds fun y I know how much you hate traffic.  But worth it.

Wow that sucks that your Disney passes expired. You better get new passes soon, right? That is fine to wait for after summer, I guess. There is no time to go during the summer anyway, it will be too busy. Then you can get me a pass too.

Is there anything else you want to tell me before I leave?

I’ve got to go. Give everyone my love y tell them I said hi.

Bye. Love you. adioss xozxoxo

Thanks Mom. Love you.

Elder Donaldson when we were in exchanges y the member is Rene.

The bridge to go to Guatemala, but you don't need it because it is so dry you could almost walk over there yourself

Little by Little

Well yesterday we had 4 investigators in church: a less active brought his son named Jesus so he is a new one, y we had Sister Norma, y Rosalina but Manuel no, because he was drinking with his friends after work y the police found him y put him in jail. We had a member named Yanet bring her non-member husband named Erick. They have some problems as a family, so on Saturday for the first time they did a fast for them y their two kids. That was so awesome that they turned to God for help. I love it.

We are doing an activity with all the leaders about us working with the leaders of the ward. It was fun. I like being a leader.
I always say here little by little.

Well on Wednesday I went on a 5 hour van ride to Ariaga for a meeting only for leaders. It was fun to see everyone y learn a lot to help me be a better leader for my comp y district. I really loved it.

So this week we just visited a lot of less actives y helped them have more faith. We visited a less active where her husband is named Juan Angel y he is not a member. We were so happy to find him.

It was just a week of helping people to get closer to God. Love you all. Have a good week. All of you are in my prayers. Love you so. Love Alex. ADIOSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How cute.  I love the pictures of Luke’s fort. I want to be there to see it. Tell him his fort is awesome y that I love him y miss him. I love him so.

I can see Luke is missing my cookies in that pic. He looks so sad. I’m glad you miss my cookies.

Did you send my package? Thanks for my last package. I have a lot to make up for you. Hey mom I think I’m fine if you don’t send any more packages. I only have 5 months left. Okay? Love you. I just think you guys will be wasting money sending me more packages. I know you send them to send your love, but I can feel your love. What do you think? This is what I think. You guys if you want can put little money in my account each month so I can buy things before I go home. Just a thought. Love you. It is easy. Just put in a little money in each month so I can buy things for my wonderful family y it is a lot easier.

I’m great like always. The work is going on little by little. We have no one to get baptized, but we are still working hard together, me and my comp, with love y a lot of work.

You can walk over to Guatamela right now because there is no rain. You can just walk across the river.

A pic from my camera in the river.

Mom, you have no idea how hot it is. We can’t even sleep with the AC on y it is still hot. All the members say it is like walking in a oven all day. I hate it. I’m always red y sweating. I just love being a elder. It is hot now, but they say in May is the rain season y that will be fun because it is so dirty here from all the dirt from all the semis. We are all clean when we leave the house y come home covered in dust y dirt. But I heard when it rains here the streets are knee-deep. Let’s see. I’m so happy to see Mexico y Guatmala everyday. Love it.

Love you. So all is good with you? It is sad grandpa has cancer again. How sad. He is always in my prayers.

Hey, tell grandma VanBuskirk I got her letter y tell her I’m sorry for not sending her a letter.

Did dad ever call the mission office? The elder said you need to put a 52 y then the number, okay?

That makes me feel good that you love reading the scriptures y that makes you remember me. That is so true. Moms never forget their kids. I can’t wait to go home y give you a big hug y kiss.

Yes, I know, but little by little. I got to go. Love you Mom. Say hi to everyone y give them my prayers y love xoxoxo

Thanks mom. Have fun in the nice weather. I will give my comp your love. Bye. Love you.

Adiós mama. Te amo con todo de mi corozon.

We finished the banana maze! 

Conference, My Mission, and Life

Well, what a great weekend listening to the words of the Lord by the mouths of the prophets. I hope you all watched it y afterwards meditated on the things you heard y write what comes to you. I know the words spoken can help each one of us with problems that we have in life. So please watch or listen to it again so you will be able to feel the love God has for each one of us. That is my invitation for all of you this week.

The Center of Tapachula

 Well on Wednesday we were heading off to Tapacula for an meeting because our area is an hour away y on the way the immigration stopped us y asked for our green cards.  Because my companion’s card was about to expire, the mission office had taken it away to have it processed to get a new one y he only had a copy so they took him away from me from 8am to 4pm that day. So I went to Tapachula with the zone leaders y then they let my comp out.  So that was the crazy story this week.

Well we taught investigator Martha lesson 1 y we sang to her she wants to get babtized on May 10, but because she is a mom with 5 kids she is always busy, so she didn’t go to church. We also visted a new person named Star. She is a friend of a member y we sang y taught lesson 1. She wants to go to church but her mom says no. We also taught Manuel y Rosa. We talked about conference y prophets.

Our ward mission leader’s birthday was on Friday y so I bought him a chocolate cake in a cup with a cherry on top. He was so happy he was just keep on saying thank you y how much he loved us. Now he is 80 years old. I sure do love that old guy, who always sleeps in church ja ja.

Okay, so did you do everything you wanted with Franky and his family on your trip? I’m glad. I was praying for you y for the spirit to guide your words. 

So what are your plans this week?  My plans is we are heading to a town 4 hours away and go to a meeting for the zone leaders y district leaders only y keep working in the work of the Lord like I do.

‪My comp is great. We work hard together y we both have love.  Being leader is fun – to be able to help them progress as missionaries. It is awesome.‬

Wow. Japan and Indonesia! I thought the Smith twins were the same age as the twins. I’m so happy for them. How awesome. Can’t wait to see where Derek y Dylan go. But first Derek needs to cut his hair. He looks so weird y they both need to get their Eagle. Are they just waiting until I go home to do it in 5 months?

What is it they need to start planning? 

I will be home about 5 months. 5th of September.  It will be awsome to see you guys!

Hey mom, I need to go. Love you y give everyone my love. xoxo okay, thanks Mom. Love you. so bye xoxo

Well, conference was awesome y the spirit was so strong.  It helped me a lot with my mission y life. Well love you all. Have a good week. All of you are in my prayers y love each one of you. ADIOSS!!!!!!!!!!!

Love Elder VanBuskirk

I invite you all to watch conference!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi mom. Yes, it was just us y 5 members that came to watch conference.  The president didn’t want to open the church, so we did. It was great! We don’t know when they are getting a new branch president, but we hope soon. You need to watch it. A lot was about families y marriage. It was so awesome y 4 new temples!

 Hey Elder Murdock called y said you never called him y my package is not here yet ether. Hey did you send out the other package yet? It will be nice to get a new short sleve shirt 17 y just your love.

So how are the boys back in school? y dad? So all is good there at home there is no problems in the ward or the family?