Happy/Busy in the Work!

Dear Family,                (Note from Mary:  This is from Monday, Oct. 24th, 2016)

It is great to hear what you are all up to right now. Sounds like you are all as busy as ever!!!! I really miss you all and can't wait to see you in 2 months!!!!!

As far as Easter pageant goes....I would love to be in it...but I don't know where I'm going to be working or what my schedule is going to be....so I think if I do it, I should just be multitude with the family. I would love to be an angel---but I don't know how scheduling is going to work out. Plus I'll get to be more time with you guys!!!!

Weather update....on Tuesday it started raining....and has not stopped!!!!!! So...yeah....it's getting colder, and everything is always wet. Welcome to Veracruz!!!! Its a nice change from always super hot in Tabasco:)

This week flew by although every day in itself was very long. As zone leaders, we have to be the example for all of the other Elders in the zone. We are working super hard so that the numbers of our key indicators can set that example. We have two areas in the zone that are struggling more than the others. One of them is my first area...so tomorrow I am going over there to do divisions and help them find new investigators that have the potential to progress. I also am planing to take them to visit several investigators that I was teaching when I was there to see if they have potential to progress. We'll see how it goes...but the goal is to help the Elders become excited again about the work in their area (the last time we saw them they were very disanimated.)

On Tuesday we worked in the other ward that we cover called Paquetal. The ward mission leader came out with us all afternoon to visit. We found a great investigator. He s a young man that listened to the missionaries when the sister were here....like a year ago. We had a great lesson with him, nad he accepted baptism. He told us that he was going to get baptized before, but they took the missionaries out before he could be baptized. His name is Jonathan, and we are preparing his baptism for this Saturday!!!

Me and my compaion

We are also working with a part-member family. Erwin is a young man that is the only member of hie family. We are teaching his mom, Dalia, and his sister Karime. Karime now wants to be baptized, but her mom didn't want to giver her permission. On Friday we had a great lesson with Dalia, where she really felt the Spirit. We talked about the atonement of Jesus Christ and how we can be forgiven of our sins. She started to cry, and told us that she would think about letting her daughter get baptized, but for now...she still doesn't want to. On Sunday morning we were surprised to see that Karime and Erwin were at church. Their mom gave them permission to come to church!!!! Tomorrow we have an appointment with them to see how Dalia is feeling. We are praying that she will give her permission to baptize Karime.

We are also teaching a young adult named Elyew. He is 22 and w
e met him while he was chopping down a tree. We stopped to help him, and after taught him lesson 1. It was a great lesson and he invited us to come back to his house. In our second lesson with him, we taught lesson 3 and invited him to baptism on November 5th. He accepted very enthusiaticly..and told us that he would come to church on Sunday. On Saturday though...while he was working, he hit his leg with the axe, and so on Sunday he wasn't able to go to church. When we passed by in the morning to take him to church he told us what happend. He didn't cut himself, but his leg was all swollen and he could barely walk. But he promised to come next week.

We found a family of six last week. On Friday we had a Family Home Evening with them, and with a family in the ward. We talked about the atonement of Jesus Christ, and about repentance. We invited the family to prepare to be baptized on November 5th as well, and they all accepted!!! They came to church!!!! And so their progression keeps moving forward.

We are teaching another family of 5. The dads name is Elvis...and they are very interested. The only problem with them is that Elvis and his wife are not married. So we are working with them to get all of their papers together so that they can get married. They have plans now to get married in November. They have two daughters and their neice lives with them. On Saturday they invited us to eat carnes asadas....steaks and sausages. It was super good!!!

On Thursday I went to the area Obrera to do divisions with the Elders there and to do their baptismal interviews. It was a great day...their investigators were super prepared and very nice. We helped a sister in the ward move....in pouring rain, because no one else in the ward showed up. We loaded a refrigerator, stove, kitchen table and chairs, and a couch just my companion and I all while it was pouring rain. The sister lives alone....her children abandoned her....and she can't use half of her body at 100%. It was very sad to see, but although she has all of these trials, her faith and love were amazing. We had a great time getting soaked helping her.

The primary president asked me to play the piano for the primary program that is this Sunday, so on top of everything...I have to learn 8 primary hymns this week!!! But I'll get it done.

I know that the Lord helps us to bring to pass his work. Altough my companion and I have so much to do, we always find the time to get it all done. As we are close to the Spirit, He guides us to be in the right place at the right time. And when we are obedient to His commandments (and mission rules) He blesses us with everything that we need. God is great, and He loves us so much. Always remember that.

I Love you all!!!!!

Love,
Elder Cavenee

Refinery by our house (that makes a lot of noise).

Refinery at night

Super Powers (Ha!)

Change to Minatitlan!

Hello Family,                 (Note from Mary:  This is from Monday, Oct. 11th, 2016)

It was great to hear from you all again. Sounds like you all had a great time in California last week. I am glad to hear that you enjoyed that trip. Thanks for sharing those tender mercies. It is great to hear how the Spirit is touching your lives.

So....I don't have a ton of time....so much to do....but I'll write as much as I can. I am now in my new area in Minatítlan. My area covers two wards and a small branch....basically it is huge. Over the past two years they have closed a lot of areas in Mina so all of us here are in charge of several wards. My companion is Elder Gomez and he is from México City. He has 20 months in the mission and is going home just a couple weeks after I am. He is a great Elder, and I feel that we are going to have a lot of success together. We are zone leaders in charge of 10 Elders and 4 Sisters. There used to be two zones here in Mina, but now it is just one zone.

Normally Veracruz is cooler than Tabasco...but right now it is very hot here. It rains every night, but during the day the sun comes out and is very hot. I got sunburned for the first time in a very long time. It is very humid here....but that's okay. I'm pretty much used to it now.

The bad news of this week is I have some kind of infection. I have had a fever for five days now....with some other side affects. I've been to the doctor twice, and they have given me several different medications...but I'm not getting better. The only thing that helps is a fever reducer and painkiller that I take during the day. With that I feel fine, but at night it all comes back. Today the doctor said that it is an infection that is going to take about another week to get rid of...so we'll see what goes down.

Last week before I left to my new area we baptized Aldo and Alondra!!! On Tuesday Aldo's girlfriend told us that she also wanted to be baptized. It was a wonderful service. Alondra's sisters and Mom came (they are seventh-day Adventists). After their baptism....our landlord invited us to dinner with his family. It was a farewell Elder Cavenee/Congratulations Aldo y Alo dinner. It was super good. We ate tostadas, fluatas, empenadas, salbutes, and memelas. Super good!!!!

It was really hard to say goodbye to that ward. After seven months there, I really came to love everyone there. After the baptism I got to say goodbye to a lot of members that were there. In tears with several of them....it was hard...especially with my converts. But the Lord called me to another place, and I have to go where he called me.

Elder Gonzalez and I have found a lot of new investigators this week that are really great. There is a lot of work to do here. We taught a young women named Genesis who has leukemia. She is so sweet. We had a wonderful lesson with her and she accepted baptism....only she didn't come to church on Sunday:( We are going to keep working with her. We found several others, but no one came to church....so that is the goal this week. Get our investigators to church.

Anyways....I don't have any more time....sorry, but I hope you all have a wonderful week!!!! I love you all!!!!

Elder Cavenee

Transfers!!

Hello Family,                                                        Monday, Oct. 10th, 2016

Thanks for the wonderful letters this week. My favorite parts are the spiritual experiences that you are all having. Personal revelation, and growing more and more closer to God. Remember to always be worthy to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost, and to always listen and obey as to what he tells you to do.

Jenna....I'm sorry for what you had to go through last Tuesday. It's hard to say goodbye to people that you love....especially when you are not going to see them for a really long time. Stay in touch with him....write him, but help him stay focused. Share with him your spiritual highlights every week. He will be spending the next two years walking side-by-side the Spirit. Prepare yourself for the change that will happen in him, and rise to that level as well. Especially because you are preparing for a mission. Just have faith and everything will work out. Besides....I'll be home in 12 weeks, and we'll have such an awesome time together that it won't be as hard.

Have fun in the redwoods!!!! I Love that place. It is so beautiful out there. I miss the forests. Here is just jungle....which is cool, but i'm missing back there. Mom, didn't you see Cavalia a couple years ago? I remember a dvd or disc in the house about that. That should be super cool.

Congrats Vanessa on swim team....are you going to lifeguard next summer? Maybe i'll do it with you. We'll see....I need to work a ton. It would be fun!!! Congrats Jackson and Vanessa on your first concerts. I'll be at those supporting you guys really soon!!! And we will do a ton of crazy outdoor things together. I really miss that!!!!

Dad....like always super busy doing good for everyone. How is work going? You mentioned a while ago that you were looking for a new job....you still doing that? How is Institute? How many students do you have, average age? I always hope that one day I can get to be able to teach like you:) You have always given me that example:)

So....today I received some bad news and some good news. I'm getting transferred on Thursday and heading back to Minatitlan (where I started my mission). I have been assigned as a zone leader again. I'll be finishing as a zone leader!!!!! I am very sad though to leave Las Mercedes. I have been here for seven months now, and have a lot of memories. I also have to leave behind the branch we opened in Teapa...which means no more baptisms in the river:( But I'm excited. We'll see what is in store for me for my last two transfers!!!!

Last week was a wonderful week full of miracles and surprises. Also of remodeling:) Our landlord got payed a ton of money and decided to do some major remodeling in our house. So....this week we have been moving all of our stuff from room to room, and sleeping in different rooms every night. We spent en entire day and a half painting. All of the walls we painted green and the ceilings white. A brother in the ward made doors for every room, and they are a dark brown. The house is super nice now.....it feels like a completely new house. We have been working like crazy, but it's be fun to give service (although it was partly service to ourselves).

We had two baptisms that were really miracles. Encarnacion is an older lady who is super Catholic. We have been teaching her for some time now, but Tuesday we had a great lesson with her. She finally accepted to be baptized!!!! We were teaching her, answering her questions and everything....very fun, but difficult, when all of a sudden she said to us ''So....I need to get baptized....right?'' and we were like ''well....since you said it....yeah you do. How does Friday sound?'' and she was like ''sure....let me pray about it, but I think it's a great idea.'' On Thursday we went again with her and she told us that she wasn't going to get baptized. We asked her why, and she shared with us her doubts that her pastor put into her head. After a very wonderful lesson, she felt so much better and was ready for Friday. As soon as she accepted her baptism, she started to cry. She started asking forgiveness for being so difficult with us all this time. It was so sweet to see her filled with the Spirit. We told her not to worry, that it came with the job, and that we loved her a ton. It was a great night. She was baptized on Friday.

We also baptized Alejandro!!!!!! After leaving him alone for a week, we called him on Monday night, and the first thing he said to us is '' when can we plan my baptism?'' We told him that Friday we had a baptismal service planed and he was all for it. He was working all week in Macuspana so we could only talk to him by calling him. One night he shared with me that he has been praying to get rid of his alcohol addiction, and that it doesn't even tempt him anymore. That was awesome to hear. He was baptized on Friday, and the Elders quorum president already has him doing his visiting teaching. It's great!!

We are also teaching an investigator named Leonardo who is basically a member....he just can't get baptized until he stops smoking. But he comes to church every week and has his own visiting teaching assignments. He is super cool. Last week we put pictures of Christ on all of the things that he uses to smoke, so that we he goes for them, he sees Christ, and loses the temptation. It's working!!!

We are teaching the son-in-law of our landlord and his wife. Yesterday we went and ate dinner with a family in the ward 

Conference Week!

Hello Family,                       (Note from Mary:  This is from Monday, Oct. 3rd, 2016)

It was great to hear from you this week.

Wasn't Conference amazing?!?!?! I Love Conference. This time I watched all of the sessions in Spanish. It was great....and on Sunday we got a bunch of members and investigators from Teapa to come!!! I loved the talks of Elder Oaks and Elder Anderson about missionary work. They both talked about members should pray specifically to receive inspiration as to whom they need to talk to during their day and invite them to learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Here in the mission we have been teaching this to members for about a month now. President Haws asked us to invite members to pray specifically for this help. He was in a breakfast with Elder Oaks when Elder Oaks told him the same thing. Really the Lord will guide you to the people that are prepared to receive the Gospel. They are just waiting for you to talk to them.

One of my favorite quotes from conference was said by K. Brett Nattress on Sunday afternoon ''Be patient with Brett''. Jajajaja that is something I need a lot.

In the priesthood session we had an investigator come who is struggling with the Word of Wisdom. My companion and I have been praying to know what more we could do for him and the only thing we could think of was if he were to come to the Priesthood session. He showed up, and listened to President Monson's talk. It was exactly what he needed to hear. Direct and to the point. It really touched our investigator as well. After the conference he told us that he wanted to get baptized and that he knew he could leave behind his addictions. We are very excited for him!

This week went very well. We found 14 new investigators all of which are now preparing for baptism. In Teapa one of the sisters took us to visit one of her friends who's brother is in the hospital from a motorcylce accident. We went and visited hermana Norma, and also met her family. A family of 5!!! We had a wonderful lesson with them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When Norma was younger, she would go to church with her Grandma (her grandma was a member) but she was never baptized. She had lots of questions and we were able to help her and her daughters to understand more about the commandments. We invited them to baptism and they all accepted. We now are working with them to have their baptismal service later this month. More baptisms in the river!!!

Our landlord's daughter is getting married in December. She doesn't go to church with her family....and we felt that we should invite her. On thursday we invited her and her future husband to come to conference...and they accepted. They came on Sunday afternoon and we have an appoinment to teach them tomorrow. They really liked the conference.

On Thursday we had a conference with President Haws. He talked to us about mission rules, and obedience. It was a great conference. We talked about three great gifts the God has given us. Free agency, the Atonement, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. He shared with us that we have this gifts, and we need to use them to better ourselves not only as missionaries, but also as men. He also told us....''in this mission you have your agency to choose between two things. Be obedient, receive the Spirit and be happy during your mission...or go home''. ''We will not have missionaries that disobey in this mission''. It was very direct...but great. My companion and I have made goals to get better in certain things in order to be perfectly obedient. We only have three months left, and we want all the help of the Spirit that we can get. I know that obedience brings blessings from the Lord.

Today we went to Frontera to visit members and converts. Elder Gonzalez started his mission there and I was there a year ago. We got permission and got to visit today. It was great to see so many people again.

I Love being a missionary. I can't believe that I have very little time left...but it is still time to make a difference. So....I will make a difference.

I Love you all,

Love,

Elder Cavenee

Elder Cavenee

River Baptism in Teapa!

Hello Family,                   (Note from Mary: this is from Monday, Sept. 26th, 2016)

I hope that you all had an amazing week this week. I sure did. Well.....it was alright. Not the best week, but not the worst, so that´s good.

Transfers were today and Elder Gonzalez and I are staying together for another transfer!!! We're pretty excited for that. I now have six months in this area. I love it here!!!!

First off, it is raining almost every day here....and at night the thunder is so loud that it wakes us up. It is crazy the storms that come up here. Right now it is very wet....but that´s better than dying of heat!!! It's awesome.....my last Tabasco rain season:( Gotta enjoy it while it lasts.

We had a great week in Teapa. We were out there again on Wednesday and Thursday. Angel is doing great. He is progressing and applying everything that we teach him. The only thing is he is still scared of committing to baptism, and he hasn't come to church yet. That is the goal this week, that he comes to church. I think we can get it done because he has been wanting to come, just keeps having things come up. So....

we´re going to help him in that. I know that once he has the opportunity to participate in the sacrament he will start progressing at an even faster rate. We're pretty excited for him.

On Wednesday we had a little time so we went (tracting you could say) looking for people in their houses. After being rejected like 15 times, we found Carlos. Carlos is 17 and is an awesome investigator. As we were passing his house, he was watching TV. We stopped at his door, and asked if we could come in. He said yes, and we taught him. He accepted baptism, and was very enthusiastic about it. At first I thought that he wasn't going to take us seriously, but he did, and now he is preparing for baptism. We talked to him last night over the phone and he is still very excited.

On Thursday we went to visit an inactive family to invite them and explain when and where church services were. We went to a ranch outside of Teapa....walking. It took us about an hour and a half to get there, but it was a beautiful walk. A small road in the middle of the jungle. Everything super green!!! It was cool. We had a nice lesson with them, and they came to church on Sunday. We also met the members' sister who is not a member....Esperanza. We invited her as well, and she came. This week we are going to visit her and see how she feels about baptism. I think she is going to be a golden investigator.

On Sunday we had our first baptism in Teapa!!!!! Hector.... an 8 year old boy. We have been teaching him and his Dad, Daniel. His dad isn't ready for baptism yet but Hector was. I got to baptize in the river. It was super cool....and harder than I expected. Because of all of the rain lately, the water was deep and the current was stronger than expected. I was literally holding Hector in place so that the current wouldn't sweep him away. It was super cool!!!!! Almost fell over a couple times getting to the spot, but it all went well....and was an amazing experience. We are hoping to get some more in that river soon.

Last Monday we had family home evening with Edgar, Angie and their family. We had a great lesson with them about the trials in our lives. It doesn't matter what is happening, we will always have the help that we need....if we ask for it. We showed a video with Russel M. Nelson called "Men's Hearts Shall Fail Them." Here is a quote from that video that I like a ton. He said ''Be patient with yourself. Perfection comes not in this life, but in the next life. Don't demand  things that are unreasonable but demand of yourself improvement. As you let the Lord help you, through that He will make the difference''. Such a powerful message for all of us. This family has been passing through various problems lately so we shared that message with them. It goes really well with Ether 12:27.

Afterwards we were talking with them, and Brother Edgar began to speak very seriously with us. He shared with us that he has a special spiritual gift from Heavenly Father. He told us that the Lord called us to Teapa for a specific family. That this family is waiting eagerly for us to find them. He then told us....''work as hard as you can there. This family is very special. The Lord chose and sent you two for them. Find them and help them.'' We were super shocked, but the Spirit testified to us both that it was true. It was a really neat experience. Now we are looking high and low for this family, praying that the Lord will lead us to them. I just hope we find them soon!!!

Alejandro's baptism fell through on Saturday....that was kind of disappointing. It was the second time that it has fallen through. But that's okay...we just keep working with him.

On Sunday I gave another talk in church about the blessings of keeping the commandments. There is a scripture in D&C that I love...D&C 130:20-21. We always receive the Lords blessings when we keep his commandments. It was a good talk:)

Anyways....another week down...and another transfer down. Only two and a half transfers left!!!! It's crazy how fast time is flying, but I'm making the most of every moment.

I Love you all and help you have another amazing week.

Love,

Elder Cavenee

Elder Cavenee

Mexican Independence Day!!!!

Hello Family,             (Note from Mary: this is from Monday Sept. 19th, 2016)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you and will give you a big hug and kiss when I get home.

I hope that all of you enjoyed your week this week. Happy Mexican Independance Day!!!! I know you guys probably didn't even know that that was last week. But it was :)

So....this last week was a great week. Filled with a couple of great surprises..... those that make it interesting and happy.

Teapa is going great. We had twenty-five people at church on Sunday!!!! We are slowly but steadly growing. The members are on fire....they are visiting our investigators on the days that we are not there, and they call us at night to give us a report on what they did or taught. Who they found and invited. It is amazing how easy the work is when the members are right by your side hands deep in the work. the Lord is growing his vineyard out there. There is a scripture in Alma that talks about missionary work and the blessings that come with working together members and missionaries. Its in Alma 16:14-17. Read it....it promises that when members and missionaries work together, the Lord will prepare the hearts of the people through the Spirit. And with that, the church will be established and grow in all of the land round about. It's great to be able to see these blessings in action!!!

I gave a talk in church on Sunday again, this week it was on the reactivation of members. I used Alma's example again. In Alma 8....Alma meets and reactivates Amulek. They then head out as companions and convert hundreds of people, and establish the church in the land where they are. I was able to excite the members to head out and look for their friends that had slipped away and bring them back. Not level Dad...but I think it went okay. Dad....I miss your talks. You'll have to give me some lessons when I get home. That was in Teapa.

On Sunday, President came and visited us in Mercedes and spoke to our ward. It is always so good to hear him speak, He is absolutely inspired by God!!! He shared with the ward about how he recieved revelation for my companion and I to be where we are in this moment. It was really cool to hear the story again. It helped the members understand really why we are here. He also mentioned that we were the second best companionship in the entire mission!!!! We're not first.....and it's not a competition....but we'll get there. I didn't know that....he just came out and said it in front of the entire ward. This is how it went. ''These Elders have been called by God to be here, and it's obvious why. They are successful missionaries. These two Elders that you have here in your ward, are the best companionship I have in the mission. Wait....no...sorry...Elder Carnero is beating them by a little....but you have the second best companionship in the mission. Brothers and Sisters....take advantage of that!!!! Trust them, love them, and help them. Please.'' He then went on to explain our baptism numbers to them. It put my companion and I a little uncomfortable...but it was cool to know. Now we are set on becoming the best:)

On Wednesday we had our Noche Mexicana. Hence the wierd tie. It's traditional here in Mexico. We couldn't get the full out suits, they were very expensive, but we found some super cheap t-shirts that we bought that had the suit printed on it. We used those to serve the food. It was a great night. I sang a super Mexican song called Cien Años. My companion picked it and the ward loved it. Not really my style, but, I sang it for them.... not for my attention, and they enjoyed it...so that's good. We served a Mexican version of Chile and taquitos and empenadas. It was super fun. Everyone had a great time, and we had like 12 investigators there. So they got a chance to meet members and see that Mormons know how to party. When we left at 9:00 the party was still going strong!

Oh...Dad....to answer your question....we live about 45 min from the mission offices and yes President has visited us several times. We are planning on having him come out to Teapa with us in a couple weeks once we get a good baptismal service planned. It's been a little harder than we thought it would be. Teapa is about and hour and fifteen minutes from our house in a bus. The bus makes stops all along the way to pick up and drop off people so that is why it takes so long. But it is so beautiful. We are in Teapa all day on Wednesday and Thursday...and then for services on Sunday. I would like to stay on Sundays to get another day out there, but we have to bring back the tithing to the building in Mercedes.

Alejandro did not get baptized this week. He had a couple problems that came up. We talked it over with President and decided to wait another week. He is still really excited and right now we have his baptism planned for Friday or Saturday. Please pray that it will go through. He is so ready and excited...I would hate for something to happen and have him get discouraged. I know that everything will go well.

Jorge Luis also has a date for this Saturday. He went to Carmen to work, but it looks like he'll be back this weekend for his baptism. He is also very excited. His family are all members and he is going to surprise them with his baptism. It is going to be great. Right now, none of them know!!! We are super excited.

Elder Gonzalez and I are getting along great. He is quickly becoming my best companion. He is from the north...they are known for their pride....but we are doing pretty well together. We haven't had a single problem!!! It's great to be best friends with your companion. He invited me to breakfast today. Took me to a restaurant named VIPS. It's like iHop, only with Mexican breakfast food as well. It was super good!! It was very nice of him. Now I got to think of a way to one-up him in kind acts of friendship. If you've got ideas, let me know.

So, I got some really good news this week. A couple weeks ago I had my blood tested because I wasn't feeling very well. Results came back and it tuns out that I had anemia. If you don't know what that is, it's when there are not enough red blood cells in your body. Because of that, your body does not get the oxygen that it needs. They told me that if it got worse, it leads to cancer!! So....the doctor put me on a diet high in iron so bring up my red bloodcell count. This week I got checked again, and I am back to normal!!!! That was a wonderful surprise. Sorry I didn't tell you before, it's just I didn't want you worrying...but now I'm all good....so no worries. I just keep my diet high in iron and I great:)

It's raining like crazy right now. Cooling down a bit, but tomorrow if it stops raining, it is going to be super hot again.

I am doing great. Super happy. I love being a missionary!!! It is so amazing!

I am excited for another amazing week.

I Love you all!!!!

Elder Cavenee

Rocking It in Teapa

Hello Dear Family,               (Note from Mary:  This is from Monday, Sept. 12th, 2016)

I hope that you all had an amazing week this week. Sounds like you are all keeping busy. That's good because it keeps you out of trouble.

This week was pretty awesome for me. We are just rocking it in Teapa. Everyting is going good. Not exactly as we planned....but it's working out. We had a hard weekend with the members. Our baptisms fell through in Teapa, and several of the members got very discouraged. They got mad at us as well because the baptisms fell through. We didn't baptize because Panchita's son had an accident and they were in the hospital and couldn't come....but they're set up for next week. Jose Miguel was not baptized because he had a problem with alchohol and we decided it would be good to wait a little longer. The members got frusturated and complained that it was because we were not spending enough time out there. We had nice talk with them. We are doing the best that we can. It is very hard to work in two areas at the same time...especially when they are and hour away from one another. The good thing is that coming out of that, we commited the members to help us, so that we can have some baptisms in Teapa very soon. Some of the sisters started planning to go visit our investigators during the week while we are not there. So we gave them a list. That should help us a lot. Now....everything is going good in Teapa, and everyone is animated.

I know that it is by revelation that we were sent to Teapa. Although it is hard, we have had several experiances that witness to us that the Lord called my companion and I there. On Wednesday Elder Gonzalez and I were walking through Teapa contacting (starting from scratch). We were having a great time....everyone is very nice in Teapa and very accepting. We were going to eat lunch with a sister that lives just outside of Teapa, and we have to take a bus to her house. It was time to go, so...we were waiting for the bus when we both had the feeling we needed to go down the road a little more to wait for it. Because we both thought the same thing, we obviously did it. As we were walking down the road, we passed by a photo studio. As we passed, a man walked out and whistled at us. We turned around and he motioned to us that we come back and talk to him. He said to us ''you guys are mormons...right.'' We told him that yes we are and he told us ''Two years ago I met with mormons. But one day they just disappeared. But today.....I saw that you guys are back. Can you guys come in and talk to me?'' We of course went in with him and started talking to him about his life, and the struggles he is going through right now. He told us he wanted to go to church and asked us where it was. It was amazing!!! He and his son came to church!!!! They loved it and felt the Spirit. We are going to be working with them very closely. It ws super cool how the Spirit put us in the right place at the right time.

Things like that are happening all the time here. It's great!!!

On Saturday we had a great lesson with Alejandro. He has been reading the Book of Mormon and is super excited about what he feels. He is getting baptized this Saturday at 10:00am. Also Jorge Luis is going to get baptized on Saturday. He is an investigator that was living here in Mercedes, but went to Ciudad de Carmen for several weeks. He is coming back this week and will get baptized on Saturday!!!

We are teaching several others that are progressing very well. We continue to see success and to feel the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Elder Gonzalez and I get along very well. I am having a wonderful time as a missionary.

Pday on 9/5/16

I Love you all and want you all to know that I know that everything I am teaching here is real and true. I have no doubt. The Lord is a part of or lives and He is always guiding us to do the right thing. Just ask for His help, and listen.

I hope you all have a wonderful week. I Love you all!!!!

Love,

Elder Cavenee

Branch in Teapa

Hello Family,                               (Note from Mary: this is from Mon. Sept. 5th, 2016)

I am so happy to hear how everyone is doing. Thanks for the pictures!!! That's great that you guys were able to go California!!! And enjoy the beach for a couple days. I don't think I've ever been inside the San Diego Temple...but it looks super beautiful. Dad....did you know that hotels here are like $10 a night. The more expensive ones are like $70 a night.....super cheap!!!

I completely forgot about Labor Day :/ I guess it's easy to forget about those holidays when you're living in Mexico. Here we are getting ready for September 16 Mexico's Independance Day. We are going to have a Ward Mexico Night. My companion and I are preparing a sketch ''How to be Mexican'' is what we are calling it. Basically we are going to turn me into a Mexican. My companion is going to teach me to dance, sing, and eat Chile. It should be super funny.....but we'll see how it goes.

My feet are way better now. They are still tired, but the cracking has stopped for the most part. And I can walk again without problems. That's good news.

On Sunday we had our first sacrament meeting in Teapa!!!! It was super great. We had 21 people that came!!! My companion and I felt super amazing. It felt so cool to be sitting there in someones house that was dedicated for that purpose and see these people be able to participate in the Sacrament. And my companion and I were the ones assigned to make it happen. It happened!!!! We had a great week in Teapa. We had a total of 11 new investigators in just two days. We are teaching a Señora named Panchita and her two kids. We had a great lesson with them on Thursday last week. She is passing for a really difficult time with her husband who is alcoholic. We talked for awhile with her about the Gospel and the Holy Ghost and about repentance and baptism. She really felt the Spirit. Her and her kids are getting baptized this Sunday!!! First baptisms in Teapa!!! We are so excited. We are going to baptize them in a river!!!! WOOOOHOOOO!!!

Sacrament Meeting in Teapa!!

We are teaching various others here that are progressing. They should make it to baptism in a couple more weeks. It's a little hard with scheduling because we are only here on Wednesday and Thursday, but we are making it work.

Back in Mercedes...we had another baptism!!! Victoria was baptized. It was a great service. Her daughter Christina has been a member for like 6 years now, and has been waiting all of this time for her mom to be baptized. On Saturday I've never seen Christina happier. She shared her testimony in the baptismal service. It was so sweet, and once again I was reminded of the miracle of eternal families.

Baptism of Vicki

On Friday we had a special conference with President Haws. It was great. We talked about the Plan de Area....don't know what they call it in English. It is basically the plan that the members of the seventy in charge of this area of Mexico made for missionary work between members and missionaries. We talked a lot about retention of members. Keeping new converts active in the church and how we can help our bishops reactivate the less, and in-actives. It was a really good conference. We also talked about how we can improve our relationship with the leaders of the wards where we are serving, President told us that we will be in our areas for at least 6 months so that we can establish a great relationship with the ward. President used me as an example. He said...in front of everyone....that I now have five months in my area and I would be finishing my mission in Las Mercedes!!!! WOOOOHOOO!!! I love this area...it would be a great place to finish.

We are working with an investigator named Alejandro. He has a baptismal date for this Saturday, but we are not sure if he'll be ready. We are focusing on him a lot this week, and hopefully he can be ready on Saturday. He is progressing very well, and is very interested in everything.

My companion and I get along super well. We teach like one person. I don't think I have been so synchronized with a companion before. In our lessons we are always thinking the same things, and are right behind one another. It's great!!! And we are having a lot of success together.

Anyways.....it was a great week, and we have another great week in front of us. I am doing super well. I miss you all a ton and I Love you all.

Have a great week!!!!

Elder Cavenee

1. Sacrament Meeting in Teapa