President Haws!

Hello Family,                                         (Note from Mary:  this is from 7/25/16)

How are you all doing? I hope that everything is amazing and that you all had a wonderful week!! I miss and love you all. Sounds like your Sunday was really busy, but super cool as well. It's amazing everything that you can get done in one day....right. You'll have to send a hug from my part for Kelton.

So...this week was pretty sweet. On Tuesday Laura and Roldolfo got married!!! We helped setup and decorate for their reception. I was put in charge of the sound system and DJing. It was a lot of fun. It reminded me a lot of Jessica's wedding (it wasn't anything like it) just the wedding part made me think about her. My companion was put in charge of serving food. It was a great reception...Mexican's know how to party. Their dances are so cool and look so fun. It was hard not to jump up and dance with them. It was great.

On Wednesday we had interviews with President Haws. That was such an amazing experience for me. He is so inspired and he listens to every prompting that he recieves from God for everyone of us. I went in with him and felt the Spirit instantly. He told me ''Elder Cavenee, when I was set apart by an apostle, he promised me that I would recieve specific revelation for every missionary. Elder Cavenee, this is the first time that I have met you formally, but I have been thinking about you for several weeks now. The Lord is aware of you and your needs, and he gave me a message for you.'' He then shared a scripture with me. It was the answer that I have been praying for. We had a very wonderful interview. I felt all of his love and the Spirit that he has with him. He is amazing. (Mom, I'll send you some more details that are a little more personal).

After the interviews I went on divisions with Elder Roque. He is a new missionary, but full of fire. We had an awesome day together. He has so much energy, and it was nice to get a recharge from him. While we were out, it started to rain super hard out of nowhere! We didn't have anything for the rain, so we got soaked. It was great though because it has been so hot!!!

While I was on divisions my companion went and visited Lady and her family and they told them the great news. They are ready to be BAPTIZED!!!!! After three months of teaching them, they decided that it is the time!!! We are planning on having their baptism on Saturday. Pray that everything goes acoording to plan and that they can make this convenant.

On Thursday we found a new family. They are super cool. It's a mom and her three kids. The father wasn't home, but we taught them lesson one, and they loved it and felt the Spirit. They accepted baptism, but they couldn't come to church on Sunday because they went to visit her mom that lives in Cardenas. We will see if we can get them to come this week.

On Friday I woke up super sick, with a spider bite on my foot. So....we stayed at home all day while I was dying:( A sister in the ward brought me some medicine and brought us food. I slept pretty much the whole day. I had a fever and my whole body ached. It wasn't fun:(

On Saturday I was fine again. And we worked like crazy. Elder Mendez is leaving in three weeks, so we are trying to get in every moment of teaching that we can. We taught a total of 58 lessons last week. Not wasting a single second, because the time is ending fast!!!! It's hard not to think about home, because my companion is thinking and talking about being home every second of everyday now. I miss and love you all!!

On Sunday my companion got to video call his family because his brother left for the mission today. They are not going to see each other for four years!!! Seeing him talking to his family made me miss you all even more!!! But no worries. Before we know it, I'll be heading home to the best family in the world.

Today I recieved good news. One of my investigators from Frontera is going to get baptized and she wants me to go and baptize her. It's William's mom....my good friend from Frontera. I am going to see if I can get permission from president to be there. I hope so.

I am doing super right now. It is really hot. It's so hot that I think a part of my camera melted. The pictures now come out really wierd. I'll send you an example.

I Love you all so much!!!! Have a wonderful week!!!

Love,

Elder Cavenee

Crazy Week!

Hey Family,                          (Note from Mary:   this is from July 18th, 2016)

So....July is already half way over!!!! WHAT?!?!?! Time is just flying by. It's great to hear all of the wonderful things that you guys are up to. I know that sometimes it can be stressful to be busy, but just look for the best moments in everything. Congratulations mom on your new job!!! I hope that you enjoy it. Just a question.....school starts in the middle of July? That is horrible. What happened to summer? Jackson and Vanessa are going to start high school. That is is insane. You guys are growing up. Jackson looks super tall in the picture at the Temple. Is he growing? Keep working hard you two. Study hard and do your homework;) Vanessa will be a great lifeguard. I want to work as a lifeguard as well coming home...maybe I'll do that with Vanessa!!!

Everyone is leaving on missions!!! That´s amazing. Where is Dane going? And who is Samantha marrying? And Beth? Mom and Dad, I think you guys will love teaching that Eternal Families Course. I love teaching and talking about eternal families. It is amazing to see the eyes of those that we are teaching light up when we talk about eternal families. I love sharing our story of how it is possible for our family to be together forever. It is an amazing blessing.

On Wednesday we had our ward activity that my companion and I planned. We did a ward talent show. It turned out amazing. A ton of members participated, and was a huge success. We had 9 investigators that showed up, and got 5 references. It was a great activity. One of our investigators is a really good singer. She was on ''The Voice Mexico'' and in ''The Academy Mexico''. Those are like American Idol. She came and sang several songs. The ward loved her, and she really enjoyed the activity. The young men and young women did a cultural dance from Monterrey. That was really cool. The Bishop´s son did origami....others sang....played the flute....and danced. It was I awesome. I sang ''You Raise me Up'' in Spanish and in English. It was fun.

Singing at the ward talent show

The youth in our ward have youth conference this week. Then dance that they did in the talent show, they are going to perform in their conference...so the two sisters have been working like crazy to make the cultural costumes for them. On Thursday and Friday, my companion and I went and helped them out for a while. I jumped on a sewing machine (thanks mom for teaching me) and made five skirts! It was a ton of fun. I'm sending pictures, but when the whole costume is finished I'll send the full picture. That was fun to be able to help them out. Turns out that they were way behind, and have been working until super late every night. And one of the sisters is getting married this week!!!! So, they were very grateful that we helped them out:)

Costumes we helped sew!!!

The Bishop's son also had his birthday party on Saturday. There was a ton of people there...but it was awesome. We received a ton of references there as well. The bishop introduced us to everyone that weren't members there. It was awesome. My companion and I did magic tricks for the little kids, and they loved it (We've been learning some magic on P-days).

We also helped in the preparation for Yajaira's graduation party. It's a big thing when they graduate from elementary school here....so we helped them with the party preparation. I made about a hundred jellos, and we made fifty candied apples (With tamarindo (it's a fruit) and Chamoy (chile)). There party was on Sunday night. We showed up at the end to congratulate her, and help clean up afterwards.

On Tuesday we had a wonderful district class. Again we focused on the points of Obedience, Work and Love brings the Spirit. It was really awesome, and I found some new scriptures that go along with each topic. You guys should look them up. Obedience Alma 3:236-27. Work D&C 75:2-5. The Spirit 3Nephi 32:5, 33:1. They are all wonderful scriptures. We talked about everything that we are doing for our investigators, and what we are not doing. One Elder said something that struck me ''We are fighting for the Salvation of their souls, so fight for their Salvation''. We should be doing everything possible to help them reach that salvation. That is where Love enters in. We really have to love them to be able to fight through with them. It doesn't matter what they say, or what excuses they give us....if they don't tell us straight up NO, we keep fighting.

On Sunday, while I was studying I came across a scripture that I really like now. It's D&C 138:56. ''Even before they were born, they, with many others, recieved their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in His vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.'' We were prepared to come forth in this due time of the Lord to preach the gospel, and to WORK for the salvation of souls. I was prepared in the life before this...to be here now doing what I am doing. It gave me strength to know that I already learned what I need to do, I just need to study and ask for revelation in order to remember it all. And this applies to all of us. We can recieve this revelation if we just ask. The Lord has told us ''ask, and ye shall recieve, knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Amen''. It's true!!!

This week we got hit with some really sad and bad news. Lady....our investigator has cancer. She doesn't want anyone to know. She hasn't even told her daughters. My companion and I are the only people that know. It came as a complete shocker. We are praying super hard for this family. We have hit a wall....and right now we don't know what else to teach or share. It's really hard, but we are not going to give up. We are just going to keep praying, fasting and studying for the help we need.

Right now it is super hot!!! and hasn't rained....but that's okay. We'll live!!

Anyways, I Love you all. Hope that you have an amazing week!!!!

Love,

Elder Cavenee

Singing in the talent show

Baptism!!!!!

Hello Family,                                      (This is from Monday, July 11th, 2016)

So.....I am three fourths done now!!!! On Thursday I completed 18 months!!!! Time has just flown by. The crazy thing is my companion is going home in five weeks!!! Time is flying by so fast. Before we know it, I'm going to have to leave this wonderful place, but I'll be coming home to you guys. I love you all!!! In order to give my all these last couple months, I have set some really high goals that I know with the help of the Lord, I will be able to accomplish. All with the final goal of coming home a different person. More consecrated and dedicated.

Anyways...this week was another amazing week. We had a baptism!!!!! It was unexpected and really a miracle. So, remember Leidi and her family...well, on Wednesday we went to visit them, and had a nice lesson with them. Afterwards, as we were leaving, Yajaira came running out and told us that she finally felt ready to be baptized, but her mom had told her that she needed to wait until she was older (she's 12). She asked us if we could come by the next day and talk to her mom about it. Of course we said yes. I prayed so hard that night. Leidi is a great mom, but she is very strict and sticks to a decision when she makes it. On Thursday, we were very nervous for the lesson with her. We taught a very cool lesson about baptism and how it cleans aways our sins. We used food coloring and bleach to as a visual aid. It was really cool. When we finished, Laidi looked at us, and all she said was ''No. I talked to Yajaira and I told her she needs to wait.'' Then she just looked at us. I didn't know what to say, so I just started praying in my head. Then she smiled, and told us that she was kidding. She told us that the night before, she was thinking about her daughter, and about the choice that she had made. She decided to pray (first time in a while) and ask if it was okay. ''I felt so sure that it was something very important for my daughter to do. So, I say yes.''!!!!! We were all so excited!!! Yajaira was crying, which made her mom cry, so I started crying. It felt so amazing. When we finally calmed down, Laidi looked at us very seriously and said ''how much money do you need for her baptism?''. We started laughing and told her that she didn't have to pay anything....she just had to come to the baptism. She agreed, and Yajaira was baptized on Saturday!!! She was so happy!!! After her baptism, Suari (her sister) told us that she wants to be baptized too, just not sure when. We are going to work with her this week, to see if she'll get baptized this weekend. Pray for them...please.

On Friday the zone leaders did divisions with us. I got to be with Elder Engaman!!! I was his zone leader in Cuatza a couple months ago. It was nice to see him again before he leaves (he goes home in August). We had an awesome day. We went to visit Roque because he hasn't come to church in a couple weeks. While we were there, one of his friends came over...so he invited him in. Guadalupe sat and listened to us. We taught him lesson 1 and he accepted baptism. He also told us that he wants us to visit his family as well. We have an appointment with them this week.

On Wednesday we had zone class, and it was all on learning to love our investigators. There are a lot of Elders that look at the people they are teaching as numbers, or just people that they need to teach. Really though, we need to love them, and show that we care about them. As we do that, they will be able to feel the Spirit when we are there. It really does work!!!! I love the people here. We also talked about working with obedience and diligence Jacob 5:72-74. As we do this, we bring forth good fruit in the vineyard of the Lord.

So, because I completed 18 months on Thursday, we did the traditional burn pants!!! I don't have the pictures today, but I'll send them next week. (6 months is a tie, one year is a shirt, and 18 months is a pair of pants).

That's about all the time that I have this week. We are really busy putting together the last details of our ward talent show on Wednesday. My companion and I are in charge of the activity, and we are going crazy trying to get everything ready, but it's going to be great. I'm going to sing, but I don't know what yet. We'll see what I can get ready.

Anyways, I Love you all soooo much. I hope you have an amazing week, and look for an opportunity out of the ordinary to serve someone. It will make their day!!!

Love you all,

Elder Cavenee

Obedience/Work/Love

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!!!!!!                                                       6/4/16

I hope that you are all celebrating and enjoying this day....because it´s just another normal day here:) This morning our landlord called me, and wished me a Happy Fourth of July! That was cool. He told me to hang my flag outside on the balcony so....after reassuring my companion that no one was going to kill us...I did. When I told him I was going to hang it up he was like ''No Elder....someone is going to throw a bomb at us!!!'' It was really funny. But it's hanging up right now....and nothing has happened:) I also wore my Captain America shirt in honor of the great country of where I was born (and because he is pretty cool). Anyways.....remember the great country that you all live in and all of the freedoms that we have!!!!

Today is also Tony´s birthday. The bishop's son....he is turning three today!!! He is the coolest. We saw him today and he came running up to us and gave us his birthday candy!!!! And then he asked for it back:( It's alright though because he still gave us a piece!!!

So...on Tuesday this week we had district class. It was a pretty good class, and we all set a goal to find a new family to teach this week. As companions we decided what we were going to do in order to find them. My companion and I decided to fast and pray, that we could find this family and that they would contact us. So we did it. We decided to fast on from Thursday to Friday with that specific purpose. On Friday....as we were taking food to Sebastian we passed by an apartment that is below his. Standing there in the door was a little boy, who waved at us energetically and gave us the biggest smile. We waved back, and went up the stairs to feed Sebastian. On they way back down, he was still at the door, but he was with his mom. She called us over and asked us who we were. She see's us everyday taking food to Sebastian, and so she asked us what we were doing. We explained that we were missionaries, and that we take care of feeding S
ebastian. THEN........She asked us if we could share something with her kids!!!!! She invited us in and we taught them about the Restoration. The mom's name is Maria, and she has four kids. Juliana who is 12, Jesus who is 9, Carla who is 8, and Bryan who is 2. They are a great family, and the lesson went very well. They accepted baptism, but they weren't able to come to church this week, so that is the next goal with them. But our prayer was answered!!! Fasting and prayer really works.

On Wednesday we had a conference with our new President. President Haws!!! He is from California, and he is amazing. The spirit he has is so powerful. I was talking to my companion, and we both feel that he is going to take this mission to another level. He shared with us his three favorite word from Preach My Gospel. Obedience, Work and Love. He shared witht us the importance of each of these in order to have/feel the Spirit. And that is how this work is done....with and by the power of the Spirit. He talked about our calling as missionaries. Our goals is to be and instrument in the hands of God.

41 And you must preach unto the world, saying: You must repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ;

42 For all men must repent and be baptized, and not only men, but women, and children who have arrived at the years of accountability.

43 And now, after that you have received this, you must keep my commandments in all things;

44 And by your hands I will work a marvelous work among the children of men, unto the convincing of many of their sins, that they may come unto repentance, and that they may come unto the kingdom of my Father.

45 Wherefore, the blessings which I give unto you are above ALL things. D&C 18:41-45

When we are able to become that instrument and literally save people...the Lord promises us His blessings which are greater than anything else that we can recieve. I really believe this. I have recieved so many blessings that top anything else that I can get in this world. ''These two years are not the best two years of my life, they are two years to better my life.'' Anyways....President Haws is amazing.

On Thursday, I had one of the most Spiritual experiences in my life. We went to visit Hermana Ladie and her daughters. Together we watched ''Meet the Mormons''. It was awesome because all three of them laughed, and cried. Afterwards, we talked with them about the movie and they all shared there favorite parts. Ladie then shared with us how much she loves when we come to visit because of what she feels every time we are in their house. It's different than any other time. We had the amazing opportunity to talk with them in detail about the gift of the Holy Ghost, and how it has blessed and changed our lives. For the first time in a while, as I was bearing my simple testimony of this to them, I started crying. I felt like someone was sitting beside me, and that he put his hand on my shoulder and told me that what I was saying was real and true. I was filled with a ton of happiness and love. I felt sooo good. In that moment we invited them to be baptized. Suari and Yaharia accepted right away! Ladie told us that she is almost ready....that it will be sooner than we think. That was amazing. I can't really describe everything that I felt in those moments, but it was one of the most tender moments in my mission. It was wonderful.

We also found two other new investigators that accepted baptism. Marco Antonio and Conception. Neither of them were able to come to church:( But we are going to work with them this week to get them to church.

So...that was my week. I love you all and hope that you all have an amazing week.

Love,

Elder Cavenee

P.S. We stopped by the Temple when we were in Villa

Follow the Spirit

Hello my traveling Family,                                       (Note from Mary:  this is from Monday 6/27/16)

I hope that everything is going amazing for all of you in your travels around the United States. It looks like a ton of fun!!! I miss you all.

So this week was spectacular. I thoroughly enjoyed it. (Normally every week is like that). We had the coolest experience with a family. So...last week we were traveling in a combie (taxi van) when out of nowhere a little boy named Erick started talking to me. He asked if I was a missionary...and of course I told him yes. He got super excited and told his dad (who was sitting on the other side of the combie) that he found missionaries. When we got off the combie, Ruben (the Dad) told us that he and is family were members, and that they had just moved from Merida. They asked us to come and visit them later that week, but they didn't know there direction. They kind-of explained to us where they live...giving us directions that didn't really make sense, and we set an appointment to visit them. On Tuesday we had that appointment, but we couldn't find there house. We looked for about an hour, but could not find them. We felt really bad, but we couldn't do anything about it.

On Thursday we were in that neighborhood again, we were just passing through on the bus to go to another area for an appointment. Elder Mendez and I both felt really strongly that we needed to get off the bus....so we did. Getting off we started trying to figure out who we were supposed to visit. We decided to pray and ask the Lord who we are supposed to find/visit. In that moment we both felt that it was this family....so we headed out to find there house. After looking for like twenty minutes, we could not find it...and we were about to give up again. We decided to pray again and ask for help to find this family. The moment we finished the pray...Erick came running down the street yelling for us. When he got to us he gave us a huge hug, and then took us to his house. His whole family was there and we had an amazing lesson with them. They were all so excited to see us and wanted more than anything to come to church on Sunday. They told us that they had been praying for several weeks that the missionaries would show up in order to help them get to church (know when and where). Then we showed up. On Friday we went back with the Bishop so that he could get to know them. We had another amazing lesson with them. In just two visits they feel like family, and I love them. They are a family of five. Mom, Dad, two girls that are 11 and 9, and Erick who is turning 8 in September. Ruben, the dad, is a musician. He performs on buses and in restaurants playing his guitar and singing. Everyone of them love to sing and have amazing voices. We had fun singing together. They are amazing. They came to church on Sunday and were so happy.

I know that the Lord always inspires us and always answers our prayers. We need to be ready in every moment to receive directions from the Holy Ghost. Once we receive those instructions, we need to act in the moment. I have learned that here. When the Spirit speaks, we need to obey in the moment because it is really God speaking to us. When we do, we receive blessings, and when we don't....well, it's better if we do. I know that He is aware of everyone of us and our needs. If we ask, He will answer.

On Thursday we had our farewell with President Morales. That was really hard saying goodbye. He leaves on Wednesday:( During the meeting, all of the missionaries were given the opportunity to speak and share something about President and his family. Express love and gratitude for them and all that they have done. I didn´t realize how much I really love President Morales until that moment. As I spoke, I turned around and looked him in the eyes, and once again just felt the overwhelming love that he has for me, and all of the missionaries. Of course I was crying. I am really going to miss him and his family. They are amazing!!!!

It has been raining a ton here. I Love it. The storms roll in so quick and it is really cool to see. I'll send you pictures.

My companion got really sick this week, with a fever and strep throat.

He was out for about two days, so I got to play nurse and take care of him. He caught it from the bishopwho has also been sick. I got to do a lot of injections this week. Every morning and night I gave my companion and the bishop injections!!!! That was super fun. I'm surprised I remembered how to do it, but everyone is okay now so I guess I didn't forget. That was fun.

On Sunday I took pictures with several families here in the ward. I'll send them too.

Sorry it's a little short today....the internet is really slow right now.

Anyways, I love you all and hope that you are all safe and enjoy the rest of your trip!!!!

Love,

Elder Cavenee

Pics:

Storms

I found Ragu Sauce!!!!

Baptism of Maria

Hello Family,                                                           (Note from Mary: this is from Monday 6/20/16)

I´m sorry if my letter is short today because It is pouring rain, and the cibers are all losing internet!!!!

When I say that it is pouring rain, I mean that there is a waterfall falling out of the sky, and all the streets have turned into rivers!!!! It is awesome. I love rain. Last night we woke up in the middle of the night, soaked from the rain that was blown into our window. It was a really weird feeling to wake up with water falling down your face, but it was cool. It seems like the earth can´t decide what weather it wants to have right now. During the day it is burning hot, and then it rains like crazy for an hour or two, then the sun comes out again and vaporizes all of the water making it even hotter (seriously, it is a natural sauna!). Then at night it is pouring rain, and freezing again. It's crazy, but I like it....adds a little variety!!

It´s awesome to hear what you´ll all be up to for the next two weeks!!! DC, NYC, and Nauvoo. That is going to be a blast. I miss Nauvoo. It still has a part of my heart. Yes, I did go to New York for the Scout Jamboree. I don´t remember how many days we were there for, but I remember in NYC the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Central Park. Also we went to Gound Zero (Twin Tower Site) and did some other stuff....I don´t remember a whole lot. We went to a bunch of Church and American History sites. It was a lot of fun. I hope that you all enjoy it!!!!!

This week was fantastic. We had a Baptism!!!!! Maria Ofelia got Baptized!!!!!! She is so animated now. Walking her home from her baptism she asked us ''What chapters in the Book of Mormon do I have to read before church tomorrow?'' It was awesome. She brought her grandson Hector and her really liked seeing her baptism, and her confirmation on Sunday. The young men in the ward welcomed him very well, and he loved church. We are planning to start teaching him, and use that as a opening into the rest of his family. Ofelia told us that her son Hector (young Hector´s dad) almost came to church. Ofelia told us that he was going to come, but he was wearing tennis shoes. So...she told him that he couldn´t go to church in tennis shoes, he got upset, and decided not to go. When she told us that, we explained to her that it was okay....just as long as he came. She told us that she thought he couldn't because of the way that we dress. Hahahah!!!! So we explained to her that the Lord just wants us to wear our best when we go to church...she understood and is going to invite him for next week.

We had a really amazing experience with Maria Ofelia this week. She shared with us a dream that she had...about a month ago. In this dream, she saw Jesus moving and changing the earth. She said He was doing it with ease. Creating mountains, sinking cities, changing everything. Then, she saw Him come down from Heaven. He blessed and taught the people that were there. And then, with hand movements, built a church with three pillars. After it was built, many people entered, but they were all children. Jesus then sat with all of them and blessed them. Then He went back up to Heaven. After that she woke up. My companion had chills all over his arms, and I was crying. I felt the Spirit so strong in that moment. It was amazing. She then asked us what it meant, and we both opened the Book of Mormon to 3 Nephi 11. We read the chapter with her, and she told us that that was what she saw. Then she asked us about the Church with three pillars. We read in Ephesians about the church that Jesus Christ established and how it had three fundamentals...Prophets, Apostles, and the Authority of God (priesthood). We talked about how Christ established his church with these fundamentals....which the pillars represent. Then she asked about why only children were in the church. We read again in 3 Nephi 11 when Christ teaches us that we need to be as little children. It was so amazing. Everything that we said or read was given to us by the Spirit. My companion, Ofelia, and I felt the Spirit so strong that afternoon. Elder Mendez and I left that appointment in awe. She dreamed what happened in the Book of Mormon, and the Spirit led us to be able to interpret that dream. It was amazing!!!

On Saturday night, Anuar called us and asked if he could take us to church on Sunday. We thought that he was talking about his old church because all week he was trying to get us to go with him. But he explained that he wanted to take us to our church. We were so surprised!!! He was progressing so well until about three weeks ago when he just stopped completing with the things that we left him and started contending with us. It really surprised us...but we said of course he could. He came and picked us up on Sunday morning in his truck, and went to church with us. It was awesome!!!

Lady wasn´t able to go to church this week because she had to work, but both of her daughters showed up...on their own!!! Also, on Wednesday, we went to the church to meet with our ward mission leader, and they were there with the young women at mutual!!!! It was really funny....we were talking with our mission leader about their family, and he told us ''did you guys not know that they are here right now?'' Sure enough, they were there. That was awesome. We are planning on setting a baptismal date with them this week.

On Tuesday we had our last conference with President. It was really awesome and really sad at the same time. President and Sister Morales talked to us about how we can become better than we are, and how we could do it. They talked about how the best gift they could leave us, is having taught us how to trust in the Spirit when we teach. We had a really awesome practice, with a new style of teaching, and it is the best lesson I have ever given in my entire mission. It was amazing. It is helping a lot in our teaching. Afterwards we played volleyball with president, and of course I was on a team opposite of him. I got several good serves to pass through his arms, but because he is president, he called redo....hahaha. He has a really good serve as well. It was a lot of fun...especially because president starts talking trash to everyone (in a very loving but funny way). At the end, he told us that it was the last game, but we played four more until he finally won. And then he said ''Alright, that is the real last game, so that you all remember that I beat you all at volleyball!'' It was very funny.

I ordered a new magnet name tag like five months ago (i lost my other in a bus) and it finally got in this week. The only problem is that when a Méxican Elder send in the order, he writes your name wrong. My name tag showed up written Elder Cavene. I´m going to order a new one.

On Sunday I sang ''Oh My Father'' for a special musical number with another sister in the ward. It was  awesome. She has an incredible voice!!!! (Picture of her family included) Also, the primary kids sang for all the fathers during Priesthood.

Anyways....this week was great, and we are preparing for another great week ahead. I Love you all and hope that you have an amazing and safe vacation.

Love,

Elder Cavenee

Singing on Doorsteps

Hello Family!!!!!!                                           (This is from Monday, June 13th, 2016)

Happy Week to all of you!!!! It is crazy that our family is all growing up!!!! We are entering into a new stage of life. It's crazy. It just blows my mind every time that I think how Jenna just graduated from High School!!! And how Jessica is married...and Jackson is going to turn fifteen this month, and how Vanessa looks so old and beautiful!!!! It's crazy....I've been gone from home now for 17 months!!! In just seven months I'll be home!!! Time is just flying by!!!

So...this last week was another amazing week here in Las Mercedes. On Monday....Elder Mendez got permission to visit one of his old areas that is really close to us, so we traveled to Villa so that he could visit some members and some of his converts. It was really cool so see the reactions of these people when they realized that it was him. They were all so happy, and he was just smiling the whole time. It was awesome to see him that happy!!!! We also went to some cool places in Villa....but....sadly I left my camera charging in the house....so I don't have any pictures from Villa. Next time we go, I'll take pictures.

Tuesday we had a really awesome district class. we listened to a talk given by Neil L. Anderson in the worldwide missionary training conference entitled ''Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts''. It is so good. Elder Anderson talks about our purpose as missionaries. the importance to understand in order to teach the atonement and repentance to our investigators. He said ''be ready to testify at every moment with the power of the Spirit. Testify of Jesus Christ and invite all to come unto Him.'' He asked several questions that I have pondered on this week during my studies and free moments. I want to share them with you guys with the intention that you all think about it this week. What is the Atonement of Jesus Christ? How am I applying it in my life everyday? The Atonement is for every moment of our lives. Not just on Sundays when we take the sacrament, not just when we mess up big, or not just when we feel bad. We should always remember that sacrifice that He made for us, and in every moment strive to be better. Once we understand repentance, and the Atonement, we can then teach it to others. When our investigators really understand it, they take action and their lives begin to change. That is the truth!!! When they experience these changes, they have a personal conversion, and that leads to baptism. It all flows together like a river. It was a great class!!!

We found a bunch of new investigators this week that are all super great. On Tuesday we found this lady named Maria Ofelia. She is about 70 years old and is so sweet. She just loves talking to us. When we found her, we sang her a hymn....and she just loved it so much that she asked us to sing her another...so we did...then another...then another. We sang her like five or six hymns, then we taught her about the Restoration. The Spirit was so strong, and she really felt it. It was awesome.

On Wednesday night we didn't have an appoinment so we were walking around looking for someone to teach. With the threatening rain...their was no-one outside, which made it a little difficult, and no-one was answering their doors. We decided to say a prayer. We asked Heavenly Father to send us to a house, and give us a way to get them to the door. After we prayed, we started walking again. In like 2 min, we passed a house, and without saying anything to each other, we both pulled out our hymnbooks. We both looked at each other like ''Hey...I was gonna tell you to do that!!!'' So with that we sang ''Lead Kindly Light''. And guess what....they answered the door!!!!! We finished the hymn then we asked if we could teach them for a couple minutes. They accepted and we taught them lesson 1. They accepted everything. It was awesome. Valentina is the mom, and she had three kids...Candi, Angel, and Itzel. They are an awesome family, and I know that the Lord led us to them and gave us the way to get them to come outside. It was great.

Since that worked so well, we started singing on doorsteps to get people to come out, and it has worked for majority of houses. It is a lot of fun. It reminds me of Christmas caroling.

On Thursday we went to visit a recient Convert named Roque. He is the one that makes the hammocks. He taught us several steps of how to make them. We caught on pretty quick. Who knows? Maybe I'll set up my hammock shop when I get home:)hahahaha.

On Sunday I was asked to play piano for the Choir of the Parilla ward. They had ward conference, so they asked me to play for the choir. It was fun. They sang ''Home can be a Heaven on Earth'', ''How Gentle God's Commands'', and a really cool hymn that I have never heard before ''Lord We Come Before Thee Now''. Their ward conference was really great.

On Sunday Lady and her daughters came to church!!!! It made our week!!! After almost two months of teaching them....they came!!!! It's a really cool story so keep reading...

So, Lady is a single mom with two daughters. Suari is 15 and Yahaira is 12. They are super happy and nice and cool with us and really enjoy the lessons. We have been trying to get them to come to church for a long time now, but Lady works everyday of the week, including Sundays from 7:00 to 3:00. Our services are at 8:00 am, so she hasn't been able to come. On Monday night Elder Mendez and I were talking about this family and how we could get them to church. we prayed and asked that the Lord would provide a way. All week, we prayed with this family praying that her boss would give her permission to come to work late, in order to come to church. Everyday she would ask, and her boss told her no. By Friday we were all a little sad....but.....when we showed up at their house on Friday night, Lady was very happy. More than normal, so we asked her why. She told us that she got permission to go to work late in order to come to church!!!!! We freaked out (in a missionary appropriate way)!!! She told us, that they had fired her old boss, and the new one, gave her permission!!!! The girls made jokes that God got her old boss fired for standing in the way. I believe it's true though. Don't mess with Him. We knelt down in that moment and said a prayer of thanks. They came to church on Sunday and participated in the sacrament, and felt the Spirit. It was really special, and they loved it. Her daughters are going to mutual on Wednesday.

Maria Ofelia also came to church on Sunday, and Loved it as well.

All in all it was a great week.

Pretty flowers we found

I find joy everyday speaking and testifying of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel. He is the reason for everything good in our lives, and the reason to change all the bad. Through Him, we can repent and change....from anything. I know He loves me inspite of the wrong things that I do, and He is always willing to forgive...if I do my part. I Love Him, and I love the chance that I have to serve Him everyday.

I Love you all, and hope that you can feel that.

I wish you all the best week that you can have.

With much love,

Elder Cavenee