Transfer to Pueblos Villahermosa/Macuspana

Hello Family (Note from Mary:  This is from Monday, May 9th),

It was such a pleasure to be able to talk to you all yesterday even though it was only for a short while. I want you all to know that I love you all so very much and it is such a blessing to have all of you in my life.

Last week as I was waiting for my transfer in Villa, I was placed temporarily with Elder Strong, who had been hospitalized for a surgery that they performed. He is an awesome Elder from California and has only been in the mission for 12 weeks. I got to stay with him and be his personal nurse for almost an entire week. It was a lot of fun, but...we didn't ever get to leave the house, so that was a bummer.

This week has been pretty crazy. I am now in Las Mercedes, with Elder Velazquez. My new area is a bunch of little pueblos that stretch along the freeway in between Villahermosa and Macuspana Tabasco. It is really different from any other area that I have had before as it is not a city. It is such a great area though. Elder Velazquez is from North Carolina, and he is on of my best friends here in the mission. We lived together before in Frontera and in Agua Dulce. Him and I get along so well and when we found out that we were companions, we were so happy. We have seen the blessings of being able to get along as we are already, in like five days, finding a lot of success.

We had a baptism on Saturday of this young man named Victor. He came to church last week, and the other missionaries before me were teaching him, but he wasn´t really progressing. He had a baptismal date for the 21st but it was falling. On Thursday we had an appointment on Wednesday with him, and shared a church video ''Because of Him''. We talked about the blessings that he has in his life because of Jesus Christ. That led to talking and teaching about the Holy Ghost. This young man started crying, explaining to us why he needs the Holy Ghost in his life. We invited him to receive it through repentance and baptism, and he accepted. Then we felt inspired to invite him for that Saturday, and he accepted. Saturday he was baptized, and he was soooo happy. We have an appointment with him tonight to see how he is doing.

We are also teaching this other family of three. Hermana Lady is a single mom of two daughters. She works a lot to take care of them, and she has to take care of her dad that is in the hospital. On Friday we had an amazing lesson with them. They have accepted baptism, but have not yet come to church. We played a game with them the Elder Velazquez made up, that has to do with the Holy Ghost. It is a really good analogy to how the Holy Ghost works in our lives. We talked with Lady and her daughters about the Holy Ghost, and the blessings it brings to our lives. We then taught about repentance, and the sacrament as a part of that. In 3rd Nephi Jesus promises us that if we partake of the sacrament, remebering Him and His sacrifice, we will always have His Spirit with us. We talked about the blessings of partaking of the sacrament, and invited them to come with us on Sunday. Lady started crying, she told us that she really wanted to, but that she couldn't because she just got a new job, nad she has to work on Sunday mornings. She then shared with us everything she is going through trying to just take care of her daughters. We testified to her that her Heavenly Father was proud of the work that she has done so far, and that her being able to partake of the sacrament with her children is so important to Him, that He would provide a way. She promised us that she would pray for that help, and then ask for some hours off next Sunday in order to come to church with us. They have baptismal dates for the 21st of this month. It was a wonderful lesson.

We are also teaching the daughter of a less-active member named Celida. She is 11 years old, and should be getting baptized this Wednesday.

We have this really cool village in our area called Teapa. It is about an hour away from where we live but is really beautiful. It is at the base of a mountain. I didn't know there were mountains in Tabasco. On the way we pass thousands of banana trees. It's like cornfields at home, but banana trees. There we are teaching Fricia, who is the daughter in law of a family of members that live out there. She is also progressing, came to church on Sunday and now has a baptismal date for the 21st of this month.

Today we spent the day with this family in Teapa. We left at 8:00 this morning to get on the bus that traveles out there. When we got there, we ate breakfast and washed our clothes. Then the brother took us to the grutas (caves) where we went spulunking for a couple hours. At some points they didn't have lights and it was so dark. All you could see was what fell into the small beam of your flashlight. It was really cool. One part, Elder Velaqzquez and I were crawling on our hands and knees to pass through this small passagway for like 10 min. It got really small and really scary because on either side of us was pitch black. When we came out on the other side, there was a huge room, full of bats, with a giant lake in the middle. It was really cool. The pictures didn't come out super good because of the lighting, but it was so beautiful. Always in life we have to pass through something hard or scary. But if we keep going, and don't turn back, at the end we will be given blessings, and we will have learned a lot.

We are working really hard, and being obedient and seeing the blessings. I am so grateful to be able to be here in the mission. It has taken a completely new meaning in my life, and I am determined not to waste any moment that I have left.

I Love you all, and will talk to you again next week.

Love,

Elder Cavenee

P.S. Happy Graduation Jenna!!!!

Pictures: Banana trees without end

Baptism of Victor

Happy Birthday Mom!

Hello Family (Note from Mary:  This is from Monday, April 25th),

How is everyone doing? It's awesome to hear how great all of you week was. It was great to see all of those pictures. It's good to see Brycen in the pictures.  Jenna, do you talk to him a lot at school? Or see him? I am so happy for those friend experiences that you guys had Jackson and Vanessa. Jenna...seems like you are just enjoying life right now. Your boyfriend is cool. Were you guys praying together in that picture?

Say hi to all of my aunts, uncles and cousins. I miss them all. Congratulations Alicia for the baby, and Audrey for the wedding. I love you guys!!!

Mom.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY on Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy for you!!! What plans do you have? I love you so much and hope that your birthday is a very special day for you. If I was there I would give you a big hug, and kiss. And probably make you a big breakfast. YOU are the BEST MOM in the WORLD. Sorry for all of the other moms in the world, mine is the BEST. You have been there for me in every moment of my life. Without you, I don't know where I would be. It is thanks to your love for me, that I'm here serving a mission. It seems like your love never ends. You are always giving your all to help your children. You have given me all of you as my Mom. So...I'm wishing and hoping that everyone makes you feel super special for your birthday because that is what you are for and to me. I LOVE YOU MOM!!!!!

To answer your questions...how am I? I am fantastic. I don't think I've ever been happier in my life. Yes it is really hot. Really really really hot. But that's okay because it gives us motivation to be in lessons all day so that we can be out of the sun. Sometimes it gets discouraging, but I always get over it. I am doing very well. In spite of a couple discouraging things, this week was amazing.

Tuesday we traveled to Cardenas to visit the district class there. It was a really good class where we talked a lot about the work that each companionship is doing in there areas. We analyzed a talk given by Mervyn B. Arnold ''To the Rescue: We can do it''. He makes several important points regarding missionary work. 1. We must not delay going for the rescue. We need to act in the moment and every moment to help everyone we know and meet to be saved. 2. We must never give up. Many times it seems just like too much, or that people will never change. Everything is possible with the Lord, and if we are diligent and patient, we will see miracles. 3. How great shall be your joy if you bring save it be one soul unto Christ. Even if it is just one person you save, that person has an effect on hundreds of others, and because of you, they will be saved as well. 4. No matter your age, we are all called to go to the rescue. Everyone is called to the rescue. We can all make a difference in the lives of others, and we need to do it.  We discussed as a district how we can change what we are doing to become more effective in our calling to save, and how to encourage members to have the same desire to do there part. It was a great class.

On Wednesday we went with Jose Antonio. He was a contact that we made the week before. He is a really cool guy. He lives with his mom and two nieces and he is like 35 years old. He has a ton of tattoos and has a super deep crackly voice. We went and taught him Lesson 1, the Restoration. When we shared the first vision with him, he began to cry. The spirit was super strong. We finished the lesson and he accepted to be baptized, and to come to church on Sunday. He was just ready to receive us.

On Thursday we had our interviews with president. My last interview with him before he leaves in July:(  It was a really nice interview. He told me how much he trusts in me, and loves me. He also told me that he is very proud of the progress that I have made in my 15 months here. He told me that as a zone we needed to step it up (we're not doing very good right now) but that he is confident that I could bring them up to level. I am really going to miss him, he is such a great guy.

I stayed with Elder Chavesta on Thursday in divisions and helped him out in his area. We found a family of seven that accepted baptism, so him and his companion are going to work hard with them to make that happen. It was fun to get to be with Chavesta. He is from Peru and is probably the shortest Elder in the mission. He is awesome.

On Friday, my companion and I found a family of five!!!! They are so great. we taught them lesson 1 and the all accepted baptism. It was so cool. They will be my first full family!!! They have a baptismal date for the 7th of May. They are all so excited. We also went and visited Jose Antonio again. He is on fire....he read the chapter we left him in the Book of Mormon and had a bunch of questions. We helped him out with his questions and invited him to church again. He was so excited to go. He told us that during the week other missionaries from another church came to visit him and he turned them away because ''he found the right church''. He said that to other missionaries. It was awesome.

On Saturday we made cinnamon rolls with Hermano Orlando and his family. They turned out really good. That really surprised me because Jessica is the expert...not me. Now all of the sisters in the ward want me to teach them how to make cinnamon rolls. I think we might plan an activity to make them with the Relief Society. It was so good to eat cinnamon rolls again!!!!

On Sunday we had 7 Investigators in church!!!!! Our family of five, Jose Antonio, and Cindel. That was just a cherry on top for an awesome week.

Tomorrow is the baptism of Cindel, so we are hopping everything goes well.

Anyways....I am super happy, super busy and super tired, but that is how a missionary should be.

I love you all and wish you the best week ever!!!

Love,

Elder Cavenee

Another Week!

Hello Family (Note from Mary:  this is from Monday, April 18th)

Zone Picture

,

I am alive and very well. And yes.....we are keeping very busy. There isn't enough time to get everything done!!! As for my baptisms...I don't have a running count. The number is not that important.

It's good to hear that you guys are keeping so busy. Being focused on good things. Jenna, good luck at prom!!!! Are you going with Sam? Send me a lot of pictures!!!

I want teriyaki chicken!!! The other day my companion and I ate Chinese food  But it is not that great here in Mexico.

Anyways...this week was very exciting. On Tuesday we had our district class, and then we went out for pizza after because on Tuesday they are 2x1. We went all 8 of us and bought four pizzas for the price of two. It was a lot of fun. We then spent the entire day looking for people to teach. It was a very hard and long day. Last week in weekly planning we decided to leave a lot of investigators behind, soooo, it's time to do some serious finding. Really, I think that the hardest part of missionary work is finding. We spent all of Tuesday contacting and talking to people. It was very hot...and we were sweating, but we kept up our excitement and made it through the day. We did more than 40 contacts...and now have a the next week full of appointments. That night I barely had energy to shower before crawling into bed.

Wednesday were interviews with President. He and his wife came. They gave us a lesson about money management. It really reminded me of our family financial meetings. They talked about how we should be spending our money, and told us how it applies in our future lives. They also talked about the rent money...because some elders in the mission have not been paying rent, and using that money. They told us that some Elders are using money to buy phones and psp and stuff that they shouldn't have. We talked a lot about obedience to the mission rules, and Sister Morales had us make paper chains with the things that we are going to do better in the mission. I guess that there is a lot of disobedience going on in the mission right now. My companion and I were last in line to be interviewed because we are the zone leaders, and president ran out of time so we didn't get interviewed. But we have interviews this Thursday with the other part of the zone.

After the interviews we went to a shoe store where one of our investigators works. We went in to see how she was doing and to set an appoinment with her for later in the week. When she saw us, she told us ''Elders, I have good news'' se we asked what it was. She told us ''I am going to get baptized next Friday between 4:00 and 5:00, do I need an interview or something before?'' We were shocked. It was so out of the blue, and after a moment of silence we regained our senses and planned everything out with her. She has her interview tomorrow and her baptism on Friday. We are so excited for her.

Thursday Elder Dimas got sick, so I stayed in the house all day taking care of him. My companion went out with him to work and go to our appoinments. He was throwing up all day long. I took him to the doctor (our bishop) and then to buy medicine. He was not very good. In the evening I went out with Elder Gardner to teach a few lessons in his area. We taught a really awesome investigator. It was a college student that is studying nursing. During the lesson she asked so many awesome questions, and was so happy when we explained everything. She came to church this week and they are going to baptize her next week. We also found a really awesome family of 6.

Friday and Saturday it was more finding, and a couple lessons. Saturday afternoon we found some really awesome families that we have appointments with this week. We met with one of these families on Sunday after church, and they are amazing. It is a family of four, and they accepted everything we taught them. We have another appointment with them tomorrow, and we are going to put a baptismal date with them.

Sunday night, we had a nacho party in the house. One of the converts of Elder Gardner works in the movie theater, and she gave us a ton of tortilla chips that they were just going to throw out. A huge box. We bought cheese on Saturday, and Sunday night we had a nacho party.

It was a great week...very tiring...especially with the sun, but it was great.

I love you all and wish you an amazing week.

Love,

Elder Cavenee

Cunduacan

Hello Family, (Note from Mary:  This is from Monday, April 11th)

Everything here is going super awesome...and yes it is super sunny. Every day is a good day!!!!

That's very interesting that course you are taking.  I hope you guys find the answers and solutions that you are looking for. No worries....I will be praying for all of you guys. I pray for all of you specifically every day. That is so cool that Jenna got to go to Washington DC. I am very jealous that she has gone to two huge cities with her Choir. I'm glad that she had a fun time. Every time that I travel on a bus here, I remember those trips (long traveling is done on the same types of buses). 

I am also super jealous of Jessica. I really want to be a part of that kind of stuff. It sounds and looks so amazing. I will definitely write her and convince her to go another year. I want to go to school with her!!! I just need to retake that humanities class....right? I can do that right when I get home. Get it done in two...three weeks. (Note from Mary:  Jessica performed in BYU's Folk Dance Concert last weekend and I was able to go up there and see it...sooooo fun!  And Brett is commenting on my questions about next year...because I always think a year ahead!!!)

I'll check into the scholarship, and start practicing every morning as I get ready. I might annoy my companion, but he is really cool and I think he'll understand. I am not sure what job I want when I get home. But I want to work hard, and earn a lot of money. The assistant Elder Johnson offered me to go and work with him on a ranch in Idaho during the summer. He says they pay super well, and that it is hard work, but a lot of fun. I would also like to maybe lifeguard. I would really like to doNauvoo, but I'm just not sure. I feel like it is time to move on with my life....but at the same time, it is sooo amazing.

Anyways.....right now everything is going very well here in the mission. Today we had transfers, (I only have 6 transfers left!!!!) but my companion and I are staying together. This is the first time that I have had a companion for more than one transfer!!! I am very excited because we get along super well. In the zone we only had four changes in companionships. We are super excited because we are just making a few more adjustments, and our zone is going to do really well this transfer. We are all pumped to work super hard and find a ton of people. Last month as a zone we baptized 16...and now we have a goal for 20. Really, I think that we can have more...but we'll see how that goes.

Last week flew by! Time is just flying by!!! I now only have 9 months left.

On Wednesday we had mission council. It was awesome. We started en the Temple at 8:00 in the morning. That was so wonderful to be in the Temple again. I learn so much everytime I go...and I now have the last part memorized in Spanish:) After the Temple we had the council. We talked about the missions problems and how to fix them. One of the biggest problems that we saw is that we are finding a lot of new investigators, but not many come to church. We came up with a new teaching model to help investigators understand the importance of coming to church and participating in the sacrament. I really believe that this will help us have more investigators at church every week. We will see in the next month.

On Thursday we had our zone class. It was another success. Elder de los Cobos and I were up until 2:00 in the morning planning everything. It turned out really well and really spiritual. Towards the end we had a really spiritual moment. I sang Where Love Is, while my companion played the piano...and after, we asked everyone to share what the fest when they thought about and remembered their own baptisms. Several missionaries were crying. I then gave a firm testimony about our calling as missionaries. That what we experienced in our baptisms, we have the power to create those experiences in the lives of everyone we teach. It was awesome.

That night I went to Cunduacan to do interviews for the sisters. They had a family of six. I only did two interviews on Thursday night because the rest of the family wasn't there. I stayed with Elder Chavesta and Elder Barajas on Friday, and Friday night I did the rest of the interviews. Then a member took us back to Comalcalco. It was a great day working with them. We got lost looking on our way to the lunch appointment, and ended up walking like four miles in the wrong direction. Then we had to walk all the way back. Eventually we found the house, and they gave us tostadas!!!! It was super good.

On Friday I was with my companion again, and we had an awesome day. We found Cidel. She was very receptive and accepted baptism. The only problem with her is that she is always working. She is going to talk to her boss to see if she can get a couple hours off in order to get baptized. So that will be happening this week or the next.

We are also teaching a couple and their son. Raul, Fanny and...I can't remember their sons name, but he 8 years old and is super cool. They are progressing and want to get baptized, but they just haven't come to church yet. We are working with them this week to get them to church. Elder de los Cobos and I have made a goal to find two new families this week. Big ones:) We want to start baptizing more.

Sunday was an amazing day. One of our investigators stood up and bore her testimony!!! She cried and was so full of the Spirit. It was awesome. On tuesday she is moving to Tiajana, so she will be getting baptized there.

Anyways...this week was awesome, and next week is going to be even better.

I love you all and wish you an amazing week!!!!

Love,

Elder Cavenee

General Conference!

Hello Everyone, (Note from Mary:  this is from Monday, April 4th)

It's good to hear about what's going on back at home. I'm sorry for all of the problems.  I understand that life sometimes can and will be stressful and hard. Full of challenges. But....all of those challenges and hard times are to help us become more like Christ. I pray for you all everyday so that you can all have the strength to overcome the problems that come into your lives.

That is really amazing all that is going on with Jackson. Although he has many setbacks, and a long way to go for full recovery....I think this experience was a for the best. We all strengthened our faith...we know that miracles still exist. We are witnesses of many, that have passed in the past couple weeks. Jackson has become closer to his spiritual side...improving his spiritual talents, and having those sacred experiences.

No worries about the call. Everything was working perfectly on my end. I could see and hear you all....I don't know what the problem was. Oh well....it was good to see you all and listen to your voices. I Love you all!!!

How about that weekend? That was one of the most inspirational weekends that I have had on my mission, and by far my favorite General Conference. As a missionary it is a little stressful because we are worrying about investigators coming, and we were in charge of setting up the church....so it was really stressful at the beginning, but once it started.....I received an overwhelming peace that calmed me down. It was wonderful. Saturday I watched the first two sessions in Spanish. I watched the priesthood session and the two sessions on Sunday in English. It was great.

Russell M Nelson gave an amazing talk in the priesthood session. The Price of Priesthood Power. He taught us that as priesthood holders we are not living up to our potential. One thing that he said hit me really hard ''In a coming day, only those men who have taken their priesthood seriously, by diligently seeking to be taught by the Lord Himself, will be able to bless, guide, protect, strengthen, and heal others. Only a man who had paid the price for priesthood power will be able to bring miracles to those he loves and keep his marriage and family safe, now and throughout eternity''.  ''If we will humbly present ourselves before the Lord and ask Him to teach us, He will show us how to increase our access to His power''. It made me think about what I am doing to strengthen and grow my priesthood. I still have a long way to go. I am now going to search this teaching from the Lord to learn how to increase my access to His power.

And on Sunday....Elder Holland's talk was my favorite. ''Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever.'' Our desire to do good, if we try, we can be changed by the atonement of Jesus Christ. He will help us to keep going. God loves us....He really does. I feel and see that love in the lives of everyone I teach here. God wants us to change, and that is why he Gave us His son.

I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that anyone can be changed by applying the principles of that Gospel to their lives. Anyone. Not a single one of us is alone in this world. Se con todo mi corazon que somos hijos de Dios. El nos reservo para esta época. Somos sus mas fuertes, preparado a enfrentar los mas difíciles situaciones. Y no lo tenemos que hacer solos. Nuestro hermano Jesucristo esta a nuestro lado en cada momento. Se que todo eso es verdad. Lo se sin ninguna duda.

I love you all. I love being in the mission. I love life.

I wish you all a wonderful and spirit filled week. I'll talk to you all soon.

Love,

Elder Cavenee

P.S. Sorry....I didn't take any pictures this week.

Cardenas Pictures!

Note from Mary:  Brett was able to facetime us for a little bit on Monday, Feb. 28th so that his brother could gain some memory back by seeing him.   Hence, no letter this week but he sent pictures!!!

This is from Monday, Feb. 28th

Cardenas Week 3/Baptism!

Dear Family, (Note from Mary:  This is from Monday Feb. 21st)

How is everyone doing? It is great to hear about the progress of Jackson, and that he is out of the Hospital now!!!! Honestly I think the best rehab would be to just relax with the people that love him the most. Were the videos that you sent me from his rehab home? Did they give you a definite response in how long he has to be there?

Congratulations Vanessa on your speech. Did you guys record it? I would love to see some of it:) How is piano going? I miss you:) Jenna, how is your manfriend? How are you doing? I miss you. All of the Elders that see our family pictures always comment on how beautiful you both are:)

I'm sorry for all of the stress that it has been on all of you. I know that I don't feel any of it being here, so busy, but I imagine that it is very difficult for all of you. I want you to know that my companion and I pray for you all...all the time. My companion knows a little about what is going on.

My companion is the coolest guy ever. My favorite companion:) He is from México, and has 7 months in the mission. He is an awesome teacher, and a wonderful companion. We don't get to spend a ton of time together, because we do a lot of divisions, but we always miss each other. Right now our zone is the second best in the mission (not like it's a competition...okay maybe a little). The best zone in the mission is Carmen, and they have always been the best, but we have plans to pass them up. We'll see how that goes. Right now we are working on helping all of the Elders in the zone to invite their investigators to be baptized in the first lesson. We have several elders that are still afraid to do it, so we spend time in divisions with them showing them how it is done, and helping them feel more comfortable doing it.

This week was another crazy week of finding, teaching, interviewing, sweating, getting dehydrated...all of the good stuff. And.....we baptized!!!! We baptized an investigator named Marcial. It was a really neat experience. On Thursday, a sister in our ward told us that she wanted us to teach her brother. He had been taught by missionaries before, and has come to church, but just didn't want to change his life, and habits. His sister told us that she wanted us to visit with him and see if we could help him with his problems. We went on Friday, and taught him. We started by showing him the video Hallelujah. Then we talked to him about the Holy Ghost and what He is in our lives. We talked to Marcial about how the Holy Ghost can help him in his life, and asked him if he really wanted to change. He said that he did want to change his life around, and become a better example for his little boys. We then....following the Spirit, invited him to be baptized on Saturday, and he accepted!!!! I had the privilege to baptize him on Saturday. It was wonderful. All of his family were there. They were all so happy because they are all members, and he is the only one that has not been baptized. He told us that he has been taught by missionaries for years, and until the day we had visited him, he had never felt the Spirit that strong. He is very excited to start a new life. It is wonderful.

We have another baptism planned for this Saturday as well. We have been working on getting all of the areas baptizing every week....and this week only two areas don't have dates. We are going to be working with them to see if we can save some baptismal dates.

It has been very hot here. The heat months are getting closer. I've been told that Comalcalco is the hottest place in the mission. We'll see:) Today was a nice break. It rained and the weather cooled down.

Things are going really good here. I am really loving the mission. I love my area, zone, companion...everything. It is awesome.

I continue to pray for you all.

Love you tons,

Elder Cavenee

p.s. I'll send the pictures in a moment:)