On Trials and Tender Mercies

Well this week has been really a trial of my faith y Elder Estrada’s. On Monday we taught investigator Hernan age 15 y his younger brother Arturo age 13.  We taught them about tithing because they had questions on it y everything was good. Then on Thursday we had an appointment with them at 7 but when we knocked at the door their mom Nancy came out y she said she read the Book of Mormon, but she said it can’t be true because nobody can talk to God by revelation. Y then she asked us if we knew the member who gave them the Book of Mormon y we said no. Then she said so “you guys are fake missionaries for the Mormons” because he is an active member, but we didn’t know him because he is in the other ward.  She told us she has no trust in letting her kids go to church. She said you can teach them but for now no church. So we were a bit sad but one of her neighbors is a member y so we took to her y the next day we visited but they were sick so only the dad was there. But the member said I’m willing to take them to church y home again. We just want the member to talk to Hna. Nancy.  They are friends, but not to good friends, so lets see what happens.

Then on Tuesday we were in the church for a meeting, then investigator Roberto’s son David’s wife told us some very, very sad news. Investigator Roberto is not married after about 20 years. He was to afraid to tell us. So we visited him at night y he told us that his wife y her husband got separated, but not divorced. Then her y Roberto were living together for about 20 years. He said thanks for the lessons, I learned a lot y we told him we will continue to visit him y he needs to read the pamphlets y the Book of Mormon y pray to see what God wants you to do. Then he said he will talk to his wife y see what they can do. So we were so sad.

 Then we tried to visit Roscio, but was not there all week.  We are going to find new investigators y continue having faith in God.

The white hankie they gave us for the dedication.
This is the second rededication I got to see while
on my mission!

 But on Saturday we watched the cultural event in Mexico MTC.  It was about the Book of Mormon y the church in Mexico where it all started out like a seed of faith. Now it has 13 temples y a lot of members. Then yesterday we were able to go to two sessions of the rededication of the Mexico City Temple. It was so great y beautiful y the spirit was there. Henry B. Eyring was there y Jeffery R Holland was there y he gave such a great talk on the spirit of Elijah.

So that was our week. We know that God gives us hard weeks for a reason. I hope we can see some good things this week. I will have 1 year on Thursday since I walked into the MTC. Love you all y thanks for the prayers y love.

ADIOSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hola mom. How are you?

The temple dedication was the only good of our week. Well Roberto is no more y problems with Hern y Arturo.  But the temple dedication did help a lot. You know that song you sang to me all the time when I was small, “Heavenly Father Loves Me”? When I sat down y waited for it to start they played it y I felt the spirit y more importantly I felt your love for me! I love you Mom.  I know it was a tender mercy. Don’t cry.

Did you ever watch that video of the “missionary work and the atonement”? It is about how missionary work has to be hard to because the Atonement was hard.‬ It is a 5 minute video.

Hey, it’s been more than two weeks y no package.  I wanted it for my one year.  Did caleb gave Ms. Cercone my email address?  How’s Nathan?  Wow, Adam is going in the army? Wow!

‪Hey, did you ever tell my old scout leader thanks for the letter y that I love her?

Do you hear anything from Joy? I hope she will let you in. I pray for her all the time.  I hope all is well with Joy.‬

Hey, tell Nate I want him to think of and give me a gift a special gift for you to give to me when I get home, okay?  No say what.  I want Nathan to think of something.

I’m almost out of time. Hey tell Dad that I’m going to take out 20 dollars for pizza for my one year!  

‪Okay thanks. Tell Dad I will take out money for something special for my one year anniversary.

I love you so y give everybody my love y I miss them y they are always in my prayers and heart! Xoxoxo

More cows in our area

Me and my companion playing the marimba.

Elder Estrada playing the marimba

Ivan, a new member here

It was Great to Go to the Templo!

I put that thing on my head for you, Mom, to be the girl you always wanted. haha

Well it will be 10 days from today when I entered the MTC. That is so crazy. Time does really fly by.

Well, we started the week teaching two new investigators, Arturo (15) and his brother Hernan (14) who didn’t visit church because they had a family thing. But we taught them on Monday about the first lesson y then on Saturday y finished the first lesson. Then they had a lot of questions for us. They are so good. They want to visit church but they are having a hard time praying to see it is true because they fall asleep. But they are very good investigators. Well, yesterday at church we had Roscio in church who her y her husband. They are waiting for the divorce papers y then they can get married y then baptized. Then we had Karina. Her daughters are members but her y her husband no, because the husband doesn’t want to get married y he doesn’t like the church. Then we have one investigator named Robert who visited church 2 or 3 times. He lives in another stake but wants to visit our ward with his friend.  Then there is a member who has a girlfriend that studies in the other stake but lives with him y his family on Saturday y Sunday y both of them want to be baptized so we are working on what we can do.

Well on Thursday we visit the templo y had a meeting from 9 am to 3 pm about using the Book of Mormon with our investigators y using it more in are lessons.  It was also about teaching the day of rest y reading D&C 59:9-10 y then ask them what is there job? Like some will say school or being a teacher, so it means no homework y no teaching or whatever is your work. Then we went to the templo y we were able to ask special questions to the templo president y we sang a himno. The spirit was so strong. It was great to go to the templo y feel the spirit y love y peace in there.

 Roberto didn’t visit church because he cant leave his house y get his screws in his arm dirty, but we taught him about the law of chastity.

Next Sunday there is no church for all of Mexico because the re-dedication of the Mexico City Templo.  It is only is for members, so that will be cool. That will be my second one on my mission.

I cant wait. So that was my week. I love you all y thanks for everything. ADIOSS!!!!!!!!

Hola mom. So is the LA fair is it free again this year? Say hi to all!  So are you in the car or are you there?

So how was the baptism? Grandma said you gave a good talk like always.

That is crazy about Schryver’s mission call!  He wrote me and he also send a video but it didn’t work.

It is just hard. Our investigators are not progressing, but we are working hard.  Yes, I’m happy.

It is cloudy here.

The thing over my bed is a hammock. This was hand made. It is so big, but awesome.  The hammock is a king size but there is no where to put it here in our house so I put it away. It holds two people‬. What doe you think of it? Does dad like it?  Guess how much money in dollars?   It was $58.  Did you know that the dollar is 17 pesos, the most ever, y they say it keeps going higher.  It is not good for them, but it is good for us. If I bought a camera for 3million pesos it is only 178 dollars. That is good.

 Well, my comp is pretty serious like my president says, y not very loving, but the president said I need to help him be more loving. We have some hard days, but we are working on it‬.  I tell him I love him every night. Thanks for the prayers. I can feel them.

Thanks mom. I will. I got to go. Love you. Say hi to all.

I think my hour is up. Love you all y have a great week.

So I’m leaving. Say hi to all y give them my love. Thanks xoxoxo

Love you more. haha I will pray for all of you. Adioss y thankssssssss

One Year Left!!!

Well, this week we visited investigator Roberto. We taught him about the word of wisdom y he said it will be hard, but he says it makes sense y he knows it came from God.  He had an operation on Thursday y they put screws in his arm y we ate at his house on Friday.  He said “I think we need to change my date for baptism to 2 to 3 months” y he didn’t visit church because he was in a lot of pain. Well, we have an investigator named Flor who works on Sunday y she dosen’t like to pray.  Her brother Evan is a member y he his helping us out. We taught her about the plan of happiness. Well Roscio y her husband, with the help of the bishop, found a way to help them get money to get married y divorced y if everything works out they will be baptized in a month or so. Well there is a women named Karina who is not married because her husband dosen’t like the church so we are doing a lot of visits y she always visits church. We are trying to work with a teenager named Jordy were only he is a member y his mom y dad aren’t. So last night we had a family home evening with them y another active family. It was so great. We taught Maria, an investigator who just wants to listen, but we are working on it.

In this area it is very hard to find new people to teach y our investigators are not progressing so our numbers are going down, but we are working hard.

Well I understand if people pay attention to my Spanish they will understand y if they don’t they think I’m speaking English. But little by little my English accent will go away y I will speak better.

Love you all y thanks for everything!!!!!

ADIOSS!!!!!!

This is the news in comitan:

the investigators are good. Gina, David, Kenya, Samantha, and Maria Antonieta came to church! it was pretty awesome. Kenya and Samantha want to get baptized, they just need to talk to their dad for permission but they’re scared.. David is more excited and he's going to talk to his dad again about the permission. Maria is great, but she still doesn't know what to do.. but we've seen a few miracles too :)

My week was all right - a lot of our setas (appointments) were not home so are numbers went down.

Last Saturday was August 29, so that means I have one year left!

Hey did you send my package?  How was it talking about me in church?  I’m going to the temple on Thursday.  Do you have names for me?‬

Did you send the letters to Joy?  Mr Burns emailed me.  Can you give my email and some photos to Caleb for Ms. Cercone y tell Caleb to tell her these exact words “I love her from her science fair king.”

Did you find the church on google earth? Our area starts at the boulevard two streets before the church and everything from three to the air base is all ours. We live in a house in an area called the presedentes number 21.

I will write in a few. We’ve got to buy our food. Talk to you later.

Hi mom. I don’t have a lot of time. Sorry. There is a big thunder storm so we couldn’t leave.

I love you. No, I love you more than you know!

It is 6pm y it is time to get back to work. Give all my love to my brothers y dad y tell them I said hi y I love them a lot y miss them too.  Wish them luck in water polo y school. You guys are always in my prayers. Love you mom y thanks for everything you do for me.  You guys will be blessed a lot, you don’t even know it! Adiosss!!!!!

The airport where our area ends but is for the military now.

Muy caliente!

The avocado that big is only found here in Chiapas.  

I Can See the Temple Everyday!

Well, hi everybody. This was my first week here in the Airport area of Tuxtla.  It is where the old airport was. Well, it is big with a lot more houses y people y cars y a lot of hills again.  This area is very very big y beautiful.

 My companion is Elder Estrada.  He is from Guatmala y today is his birthday.  He is 25.  He has been here in this area for only one transfer so like me he doesn’t know a lot but we are working through it. Everybody who gives us food always gives us some type of dessert. That is what I like here. ha ha ha.

Well yesterday we had 3 investigators in church. One is Roberto who a few weeks ago fell down some stairs y broke his arm.  He already visited the church once before and we gave him a date for 15 of September to get baptized.  He is a very good investigator and his son is a member so he helps us with his dad. Then there is Roscio who has no money to get divorced and to get married because it is a lot of money. Well the members don’t really help us here but the mission leader y the bishop are very good y want to help us. Well yesterday also we had 180 people in the church. So we have a lot of investigators but they are not progressing. But this week we are going to work with the members on that.

Love you all y thanks for everything.

Love Elder vanBuskirk

ADIOSS!!!!!!!!

Hi mom. I don’t know what you should say to the ward. Say what you want. I just say hi to all!

Well it is great here. Very big y very hot. It rains every afternoon It was a hard exchange for me but I’m getting used to it.  My comp is good. He still tells me what to do, but we are working great together in the lessons y everything.  The ward is big. We are having ward conference next week y yesterday we had 180 people in church for the first time in a long time.  The only problem the members don’t help us in the work, but our bishop is good y our leader missional too. I can see the temple everyday, so that is a blessing.

 If you didn’t send my package I need 1 or two backs of a tie pin. 

So when is school for the boys?  Love you Mom

I got to go. I love you. Say hi to all for me. Give all my love on Sunday. Thanks for everything mom.

 I know the gospel is true and the work is worth it. Love you mom so so much. Thanks. xoxoxo

Love you

Just as Alex was enameling I got a sweet email from his last companion that Alex just loved:

I hope I got the email right. This is Elder Merrill, Elder VanBuskirk's last companion. He got transferred last week, so he's not with me anymore. But I just wanted to say I had a great time with your son. He's had some hard companions, but he just keeps going and he's ALWAYS so happy and loving. He's had some hard times with self confidence, but I tried to help him feel loved. He has some amazing gifts, and I hope he realizes that. I just wanted to thank you for raising a great son. It was a great time, and I learned a lot from him. He has a great spirit about him, and wow, when he gives blessings it comes directly from heaven :)

So thank you. Hopefully he's doing well now. 

I hope he keeps up the good work. He'll get to go to the temple 1 time each transfer so that'll be nice :) 

With love,

Elder Merrill

This is our whole mission when we met with Elder Oaks y when you zoom my head is down y I’m next to Elder Lyons near the back right. Lyons is the first one in the row then there is me with my head down so you can’t see me.  ha ha I don’t know why.

I Left Comitan Very Good

Well today is my 11 months y I’m in a new area. I’m now in Tuxtla Airport area y my companion is Elder Estrada. He is from Guatemala y he has almost one year on his mission.

Well I left Comitan very good for Elder Merrill y his new companion. We have 4 investigators con baptism dates. Carlos Flores, who on Tuesday we were walking right in front of his house y he walked right out y so we contacted him y he invited us in.  He said he was ready to get baptized 4 years ago but he had to move y he couldn’t find the church so we put a date for 5 September y he visited church yesterday also. We are so so happy.

Then Pablo y Ester are new investigators who we visit the last Sunday y they visited church also y they liked it. Their date to get baptized is on the 19th of September y David has a dater for the 29th of this month. We are trying to work on his mom to give us permission. So we had 4 in church yesterday y 4 with dates.

Iguanas at Chiflon

 On Thursday we went with the president y like 46 missionaries  to visit Chiflon waterfall.  It was hot y beautiful y I saw Elder Mena y Laural, my companions, again.

Then on Saturday we had a talent show where members did different acts.  It was so cool y everybody loved it.  We even had less actives y investigators there.

Well yesterday I said bye to a lot of members y a lot gave me candy y gave me luck. I left Comitan at 10 y got here at 2. It was a long bus ride y Antonio gave us a ride to the bus station. I’m sad that I’m no more in Comitan. I loved the members y the area y the weather. But now I’m on a new adventure.

 Love you all y thanks for total. 

Elder VanBuskirk!!!!!!!

Hi Mom. Sorry it is so late. I got exchanged to Tuxtla. My new area is Tuxtla Airport. I love you. It is about 10 min away from the temple and mission home, but it is hot.  I’m sweating like crazy here. It is a little sad. My new companion has the same time out as I do y I’m still the little (junior) companion. Still I’m bit sad about that.  He thinks I don’t understand anything so he repeats everything, but he is good. But our house is dirty y smelly y not beautiful like the one in Comitan. But it is the mission, so it is fine. I know it is just hard to change areas.

Can you send me just some ties so I can give them to my companions when they leave or when I do? That is it. Love you.

Thanks Mom. Love you. I’m happy you found the snake. Hey can you print off my recent letters y some photos y send it in the post office to Joy y write I love her y miss her y pray for her?  Thanks.

I’ve got to go. I love you. Say hi to all!

Thanks Mom for everything.

Saying goodbye to Elder Merrill