I was very happy to hear about the proceedings of this week, and to see all
of the pictures and videos. Seems like you guys are really enjoying life:) Life
is so sweet, and really it is something that we can enjoy fully when we apply
the principles of the gospel to our lives. Many people in the world try to make
you believe that you have to sin in order to enjoy and experience fully life. It
is not like that. We can come to find more joy when living the gospel and
dedicating our lives to serving God and others.
So this week has been another crazy week filled with awesome experiences.
In the scriptures God promises us that if we obey him, he will bless us
physically and spiritually. After two weeks of spiritual blessings, this week
was of physical blessings. For me they are spiritual as well.
Starting Monday after I wrote home. The whole day on Monday William was
with us because he was set apart as a missionary so he couldn't do anything
else. After writing we went to eat dinner with his family. We ate pancakes for
dinner!!!!!! I love pancakes!! We then had a really nice lesson with them, and
then headed out. As we were leaving, I got a call from President Morales. When
President Morales calls you, it's either really good news, or your in trouble,
so it surprised me that he was calling. I answered it and he told me why we
needed to be in Villahermosa the next day. My companion had transfers. So we
went home, and Elder Reyes packed up all his stuff. The next morning, we said
goodbye to William, then went into Villahermosa. I ended up staying in
Villahermosa for the rest of the day waiting for my new companion, but that was
super cool. I got to be with all of the new Elders and Sisters. The ones
straight from the MTC. I got to practice teaching with them and share advice on
how to be an awesome missionary.
I then got to be present in the trainer meeting. President had me translate
for the new missionaries. I CAN TRANSLATE!!!! Let me tell you that translating
is super hard. You hear what is being said in Spanish, then you have to
translate into English in your head, and then you have to say it in English. All
three steps happen at the same time because the speaker doesn't stop talking. it
was way cool, but my brain hurt afterwards. That meeting is when the new
missionaries get put with their trainers. It is so Spirit filled and it caused
me to remember when I was in that same meeting nine months ago. President and
Sister Morales give talks about missionary work and obedience. Then the new
missionaries pass in front to read the letters they wrote to their trainers.
Things that they expect, things that they need help with, and express their love
for their trainer. The trainers all listen, then by the Spirit, one stands up.
With the confirmation of President, they the receive their new missionary. This
is done one at a time. It is so amazing to see the Spirit speak to these
trainers and tell them who they are going to train. All of them make perfect
sense too. I want to train!! I know I have a lot to do before that, but I hope I
can have that blessing during my mission.
After that meeting I got my new companion. His name is Elder Lopez, and he
is from Columbia. He has been in the mission for 15 months. He is super awesome
and we get along super well. President also called me over to talk to him. He
asked me how my area is doing, and what baptisms we have planned. I told him
that we are looking at baptizing every week in November, as is the standard in
this mission. He then told me ''Elder, we have very little missionaries, so you
have three weeks.'' I thought three weeks for what? I thought that maybe they
are going to close one area in Frontera, so I have three weeks to prove I want
to stay, or something like that. Anyways, I was called a district leader in
Frontera, and then Elder Lopez and I were sent out to our area.
On Wednesday, I got a call from President. He gave me a special invite to
the mission leadership council on Thursday. This is the meeting once a month
where all the zone leaders and the assistants gather with President to have a
council about the mission...and I got invited. That was super cool. Thursday
morning I traveled to Villahermosa, again.
For this council, we started in the Temple. That was so amazing to be in
the Temple again. I haven't been since April. The Temple is so peaceful and is
an amazing place to receive revelation. I sat in the Celestial room for half an
hour just being filled with the feelings of the Spirit. It was amazing. Then we
had the council. We talked about how our vision as a mission is to baptize. How
everything we do as missionaries, is to help people make this covenant with our
Heavenly Father. We discussed about the ways we can help all the members of our
zones (I applied all of this at a district level because I am not a zone
leader) baptize every week. It was super cool to be a part of this council.
President at the beginning introduced me and said ''Elder Cavenee is here so
that we can see if he is ready to be a zone leader''. So....we'll see what
happens with all of that. To be honest though...I would rather stay in Frontera
working as a normal missionary. I don't feel ready for more responsibility yet.
But, it is all up to the Lord. I'll go and do what the Lord asks of me and he
will help me with my weakness. President also told us that our mission is #3
(unofficially) in all of México. He also challenged us to be #1. ''It's not a
competition Elders and Sisters, but can we be number one?'' We all answered yes,
of course. At the end of the council, we had a BBQ!!!! That food was so
good!
On Friday we traveled to Villahermosa again for Zone class. It was really
awesome too. We have a new zone leader named Elder Alverado. He is very powerful
and teaches very well. We learned the same things that were discussed during the
leadership council, but I learned even more because our zone leaders teach in a
different way then President. I learned different things.
Saturday and Sunday we had Stake Conference, so we had to travel too and
from Villahermosa those days too. The Conference was really good, and I was
invited to sing in the stake choir. That was really fun, to sing with a
choir...sing in parts. I've really missed that. Sister Morales gave a really
good talk about working hand in hand. Missionaries and members for the work of
salvation. Sunday night, a sister (inspired by that talk) called me up and we
planned for the whole month to have a member accompany us every day, and to have
set aside a few hours to visit references of those members. It is really cool to
see how much a ward really can help in missionary work.
Sunday was the first day that I saw a lot of members this week because we
were in Villa so much. But everyone, when they saw me told me ''It's good that
you're still here'' or ''We are so happy that you didn't leave.''. It is so
awesome to have the support of ward members. Whenever I need something, the ward
members are so willing to help. I am so grateful for every single one of
them.
This week we have a baptism planned for Norma's family, but they are a
little hesitant right now. We are meeting with them tomorrow to try to help them
overcome their doubts and fears. They are an awesome family.
Yesterday and today is Dia de los Muertos. Tonight we are going to the
cemetery to contact, sing hymns for the dead, and teach about the Plan of Salvation. Everyone goes to the cemetery on this holiday to visit their loved
ones that have died. That should be super fun. For Halloween (they don't really
celebrate that here) Elder Lopez and I changed nametags!!!
So...I am doing super well and just enjoying life as it is. Working like
crazy, and sleeping like a rock every night. Being a missionary is the best
thing I have ever done my entire life!!!!
Sorry my letter is a little short this week. I sent a huge letter to
President with the progress of all my investigators and less active members, so
I didn't have a lot of time.
I Love you all so much and I wish you the best week ever!!!!!!
Love,
Elder Cavenee
P.S. Ward Family
Little Kids are the best!!! They all want to come back to the United States
with me.
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