23 Months Down, One to Go!

Hi to all out there. Well, remember Sebastion, the kid who I gave a blessing to? He passed away on Wednesday.  They had his funeral at 8 that night but there were about 200 people there y a lot of teens who were at EFY with him last week. So that was the saddest thing that happened. But the good thing was his non-member mom came to church but left half way because she was crying, but she came back in. We are going to visit her this week. Well, because he died nobody wanted to go y teach with us. Oh well.

So we visited investigator Carlos, but he has a lot of doubts about the Church y Book of Mormon because he was looking at anti-Mormon stuff on the internet. So we told him to keep reading y praying to see if it was true y he said he whould.  We made an appointment, but he wasn’t there y he said he will go to church y he wasn’t there either, so please pray for him thanks.

Well we visited investigator Peniel. We taught her on the BofM y we gave her Mosiah 2 to read because she wanted to know how she can have peace in her life, then on Thursday we read the rest of Mosiah 2 with her y explained how when we do service for others we are doing service for God. Y we invited her to get baptized on the 10 of September. She went to all 3 hours yesterday of church. We can’t teach her until Thursday because she is out of town.

Well we have a new investigator named Rodolfo who was a referred to us. But our first lesson we just talked to see what he knows y then later on we gave him a BofM to read y we talk about it. Y he said he will go to church y guess what? He did y he really liked it. So we are going to visit him at 7 today y we are going to teach the Word of Wisdom because he had a question about it. His problem is he works one sunday on y one off.

So a less active has a wife named Cynthia who we taught about why we need the BofM y about having faith y repenting. She went to church yesterday y we are going to visit her today at 6. Y we are going to invite her to get baptized.

Well investigator Rosario went to church y she says she is getting herself ready to get baptized. So we talked about the Word of Wisdom y we watch the Jose Smith video y she really likes it y wants to watch it again at her house y really ponder it.

So that was our week. Love you all. Remember each of you is a child of God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

love Alex or Elder VanBuskirk. ADIOSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi mom, I’m on. Love you.

No, I’m not bringing those old shoes home because there is no room in my bags. But I still have my over brown shoes from before.  That is why I took pictures.

No.  I’m not cutting my hair. Too much money.

Noo, last time I cut it was when I left Tapachula.

No Derek looks to weird. Cut his first then I will cut mine.

Not until you cut theirs y you should do it soon before the exchange student comes on Saturday.

I told you I won’t until you cut their’s first y that’s it.

No one says anything about it, just you.

So how are the USA elections? Because that is what people ask us all the time y that say USA is getting closer to Satan y that we are a lost hope y that Trump y Hillary are both very bad.

I know it. I’m just telling what people tell us here, that’s all. That’s we say: it is in God’s hands. I know the USA is the choice land of God. That’s right mom. You are smart. That is how you do it.  Just share the gospel. Go on mom!  Little by little, like I always say here in the mission.  Everything will be all right.

You’re welcome y thanks for what you are doing for me. I’ve got to go

‪Sign me up for the 50 mile ride. It will be fine. I just need to practice a bit but I need you to get my bike all ready. Thanks. That will be so much fun to ride with you.

I think it is good that I get a job because I want to buy the new quad in Spanish when I get home. Thanks for applying for me.

Did you ask the bishop about my talk topic?

Okay. so how is dad?

What are the boys up to today?

Don’t you need to move the beds around to make room for me and the exchange student? It’s fine if not. I’m a guest. ha ha.

Hey what should I do with my bed sheets in the mission? they are clean and still good? Just give them away?

Thanks Mom. Love you so. Have a good week y say hi to the exchange student for me. Bye. Love you y thanks for everything. Give all the boys my love for me.

I know. The same to you. Y keep working it out about byu. Thanks. Love you xoxo

love Alex xoxoxo

p.s. I will get a hair cut, don’t worry. ;)

To Do A Thing Like Christ

Well, we are planning to baptize 3 on September 3rd. We are happy but we need to work hard y trust in the Lord because it is His work, not ours. Well there is a women named Rosario who is family with some members in our ward y she wants to get baptized here with her family, so because she doesn’t live in our area, I had to pull some strings with the mission president y he said it is fine. So we are happy for her. She used to go to other churches, but fells better here in our church. We taught her the first lesson. Well we can only teach her here on Sundays y the other days the other elders can teach her where she lives but the baptism is for us, so we are so happy for her.

Well my companion, Elder Oakeson contacted a women on Saturday night named Concepcion who has some mind problems, but went to church yesterday y wants to get baptized on the 3^rd. We taught her about baptism, so we will see how it goes with her.

There is a family where not all are members, so with a teen yesterday we visited them.  The mom y her daughters are members y the husband is named Luis.  He had a lot of questions y he wants to get baptized, but wants answers to his questions, so I said we can’t answer your questions, only God can. Please read this pamphlet of lesson 1 y pray to God too see if this church is true. Y he said he will y we put a date for him on the 3rd. He knows a lot about the church, but he has never asked God. So please pray for him too. Thanks.

Well we taught Carlos on lesson 3 y we brought a member with us who told Carlos about his story when he got baptized because he was like Carlos, doing drugs, but he changed. The spirit was strong in that lesson. He didn’t come to church because he was out of town.

Well on Friday we had an awesome experience. We helped teach the teens here of Tuxtla at EFY where we taught them to be like a missionary y shared the gospel with your friends. So that was cool. 

Well yesterday when I was with Danny, his best friend that was in a wheel chair, was in the hospital. So I went with Danny y his brother to give him a blessing. But the rules was only one can go inside, but because I was an elder, I couldn’t, so a member went in y talked to the boss y he let me in with Danny’s brother to see Sebastion. Well, we gave him a blessing the spirit was strong y was there. Y after we gave him a blessing a man next door wanted us to give a blessing to his wife who was sick. That was awesome being like Christ y giving people blessings, even more when they ask for them. Well, the hospital was the saddest thing I saw. First everybody was cramped in there y there were just a certain amount of beds. There were old people laying on benches y sitting on seats. It was so sad. But after we left we felt the spirit there y I felt good that I was able to do a thing like Christ. Well we heard after the blessing the teen was felling better. So I felt good about that.

Well that is it. Love you all. Thanks for everything.

Love ELDER VANBUSKIRK OR ALEX ADIOSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi mom. I’m on. Love you.

The baptism of Sister Rosario y her husband Manuel, the one who was drunk. How cool right? Love you. I know, I’m so happy!

Thanks. I know Aaron is going home today. It is weird. I will be home soon y you will be here a month this Friday. Crazy! Thanks. I feel the same old, but the members are always talking about it. They are both sad and excited for me y they keep reminding me I am leaving. I try not to think about it and just get to work. I’m doing both. I just think it is funny that is what I’m doing, taking it all in. Y I’m writing in my journal, Mom. Don’t worry mom.

What are you doing there in Oceanside? Going to the beach? With the family, Dad is there too? So how are you? Okay that sounds great.

I got to go. Bye. Love you. Have a good week at the beach. Bye love you. xoxoxo

Oh when you do come down you don’t need to bring my white tie. I can borrow one at the temple. But my camera charger, yes.

Thanks mom, I don’t have more time, but thanks for everything. You guys are always in my prayers. Give all the boys y dad my love. Bye, love you. xoxoxo I’ll make the most of every minute here, like always. Thanks,  love you too.  Bye xoxoxoxo

Last Transfer Here On My Mission

Well, hi family. My companion Elder Lara is leaving to the other side of Tuxtla to be a zone leader. So here in the Palmas will be me y Elder Oakeson. Well this is my last transfer here in the mission y in Palmas. Well I’m a bit sad I’m leaving this great mission y this great time I had these two years. Just in 6 weeks more. Well, I’ve just got too work hard y love the people y have a lot of faith in God this last transfer.

Well Carlos y his wife who doesn’t like the church was there on Sunday. They both loved it. We were so surprised to see his wife there because she dosen’t like to be part of the Mormon church. So we are going to visit them next week y ask them both about how they liked Sunday, so please pray for them y that she wants to get married with him y not in the Catholic church, thanks.

 Well we taught investigator Penal this week about the day of rest y why we do it on Sunday. Well she ask us to pass for her on Sunday to go to church so we did but wasn’t home so we went to church y she was there at the last two hours y at the end she told us she liked it, so we are planning on visiting her this week y see how it went.

Well we visited a less active family named Solis y we sang a song y we talked about our light that we have as members. Y they went to church on Sunday so were happy. We have been busy working with the less actives y finding new people to teach so please pray for that to. Well not a lot of things going on. I invite you guys to find all the blessings God has given you like the song that we sing in church “Count your many blessings,” because I know that there are a lot of them for each one of us. Love you all hugs y kisses to all.

Love ELDER VANBUSKIRK OR ALEX!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ADIOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Mom. I’m on.

Hey, for my phone number the 1 is important? People try to send messages to my phone y says it doesn’t work.

y can you take a pic of it y send it for me? It has unlimited text y calling right? Awesome

Thanks. Love you all.

Just a question, I’m sorry, but you should be more focused on the twins getting their Eagle scout y not being on my phone. You should take it away. I thought you said they are grounded - no parties until Eagle, right? I know I shouldn’t tell you how to parent but I’m just helping you fulfill your words, that is it.

How is Franky? Tell him I said “hi” y invite him to my homecoming party.

Why do you always lose your things mom?

So what’s new? I bet you are happy to be with Francisco and happy I will be home soon right? Hey so what are you up to?

So how are the boys doing?

I bet. So when are you heading home?

Two days more? What are your plans]?

I Aunt Natalee is still there? Wow, how fun.  I want to come to the beach with you.

So mom, you guys have hotel here in Tuxtla until the 8th y what other day? Y do we have a hotel room in Mexico City?

But what is the date of our last hotel in Tuxtla?

I think wednesday night y then on thursday y part of friday in Mexico y then home on 16 at the afternoon?

I have got it planned that’s why I need to know the dates. 

Thanks. I’ve got to go. Is there anything you want to tell me?

The boys just want me to stay here longer so they can have my phone, haha, but sorry. I will be home soon y you better watch out boys!

Bye mom. I’ve got to go. Have a good week. Love you so. Say hi to dad y give him my love y prayers.

Love your son, Alex xoxoxo

It’s fine. Bye. love you xoxoxo

Working for God here in Mexico!

Well hi guys. This morning were went y visited some ruins called Chaipa de Corzco. They were big y awesome.  I loved it a lot.

Well we only had one person come to church named Carlos. He has a lot of questions y before we visit him he tells us what to teach him next time. So this week he wanted us to teach about the gifts of the spirit. Well he needs to get married but he is waiting for his residence card next month y then he can get married y get baptized. The biggest problem is that he is trying to stop his smoking.  He was trying to for 3 to 4 years but it has been very hard for him. But on Saturday with us, he fasted for the first time in his life, he told us it was hard to not drink but he said he felt good about it y he thinks it will help him a lot. When we were walking to the church he didn’t have a tie so we went home y gave him one to wear y he said “now I’m a member”. We are so happy for him y his awesome things he wants to learn.

Well we finally got 21 lessons done with the members last week. One thing we do every Sunday each one of us goes with a teen to work in one part of our area y contact y help them be ready for the mission. My friend or my companion is named Danny. He asked in the church yesterday if he y I are going to teach again together y I said yes y he was so happy. Well yesterday when I was with Danny we visited a less active that I didn’t know y I asked if there is anything I can do to help y he said yes. He asked if I can give him a blessing of comfort, y when I finished, he started crying y the spirit was so strong. So that was cool.

Well yesterday I gave a talk about how we y the members need to work together.  I wrote my talk but when I went up there I thought the scripture which I needed to read was in the Bible but was not there soo I read it y I just let the spirit fill my words y I talked for 10 min. But then I heard everyone saying I was burning them very bad, but it worked. We have a lot of them coming to visit us y everybody was so surprised.

Well love you all y I’m happy I’m a missionary working for God here in Mexico!!!! Love you all. Thanks for all your prayers y love.

Love Alex or Elder VanBuskirk. ADIOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Mom. I’m on. Love you. Did you find any thing out about BYUI?

So what iphone did dad get? Tell the boys not to break it! What color is my phone? Okay great. Tell dad thanks for my phone y tell the boys to be careful. Hey, tell the boys to download the church app on my phone thanks thanks I bet the phone was a lot of cash. You guys must really love me or that I’m working good y hard in the mission. Thanks Mom y I love you so.

Hey look at the pics. We went some where awesome today!

They are the ruins of ancient Chaipa de Corzco.

It was only 10 to 15 min in the car. And we ate fried ants.

The bowl was pozol, the famous drink here. Cold y good.

You guys are doing the project of the day, huh? Ha! While the boys were cleaning, I went to the ruins ha ha

Hey Mom can you buy me a new white tie? I lost mine y also I sent you a pic of my camara charger. It broke. I’m wondering if you can buy a new one? The camera is nikon coolpix aw130 thanks.

Mom, so what is new? Wow tell Aunt Natalee I said hi. 

They have crunch bars here that are white, coco y peanut y carmel. They are new.  Y the jello is pistachio. Yes it is very cheap. You should put sweetened condensed milk in jello. That is what they do here in Mexico. Hey mom, you need to try that. It is good.

Hey, I got to go. Is there anything else you want to tell me? Thanks Mom. You are the best. Love you.

Well mom I got to go love you so much say hi to everyone ADIOSS xoxoxo bye love you xoxo

FriedAnts