Transferred

Hello Everyone,

     Guess what!? Yep, I got transferred. I am no longer in Tulum...  but thats okay. I really liked Tulum, but now the Lord needs me in another place. So I said goodbye to the members there. It was a bit hard because I had developed some good friendships with the people there. But, now onward and upward!! 

  Here are some pics with the great families I got to meet and work with.

 

         So I am now in the Zone Chetumal. Which is a city at the very bottom of Quintana Roo, almost on the border of Belize. And actually I am in a small town called Ucum. I am super excited!! I believe I will be the pianist in sacrament meeting too. Also my new companion is Elder Jayer. He is from Mexico City. I am going to finish his training. Also, our house here is huge! And we have banana trees, coconut trees, mandarine trees, and others too. 

         

         This Saturday and Sunday is General Conference!! YAY!! So excited! What a privelege we have to listen to the general authorities. How amazing is it that there we have a living prophet and 12 apostles to lead and guide us? Super amazing! What a blessing it is to be able to listen to them every 6 months. I hope we can all prepare physically(so we don't fall asleep during, yes Derek I'm talking to you!) and spiritually so we can enjoy a wonderful session of General Conference. May we always have the spirit to be with us wherever we go. I can't wait to hear some of your thoughts and impressions about the revelations that we will recieve. 

         Stay strong and keep the faith! I love each and every one of you(yes even Derek!) and I hope you all have an amazing and safe week. "We thank thee oh God for a prophet, to guide us in these latter days!" -Hynms #19 

con mucho amor,

Elder Strate  

Independance Day!

     Hello Everyone,

     This week has been exciting. This past Tuesday was Independance day here in Mexico. Parties everywhere!! 

 

     We also found some new investigators so thats good. Still waiting on the couple we are teaching to get married so they can get baptized. But things are going good. 

     We also went to the Ruins again today with some other Elders in our District, Elder Lopez and Elder Villalba. It was great! Also in the ruins, I got to hold a huge iguana!! And a huge boa! It was so awesome!! 

     

     Well, I don't have much more time to write. Sorry, but I hope the photos make up for it haha! And transfers are next week, so I don't know if I will still be here or if I'll go to another place!! 

     Love,

     Elder Strate

Mexico Temple

     Hello Everyone,

     This past week has been pretty good. Yesterday we attended the Broadcast of the Mexico City, Mexico Temple. They broadcasted it all over Mexico. It was such a wonderful experience!! We heard talks by the new Temple President and his wife, Elder Benjamin de Hoyos who is President of the
Mexico Area Presidency, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and President Henry B. Eyring who is the First counselor of the First Presidency. It was marvelous!! The main theme was about temples and how the church here in Mexico has grown enourmously in over the past few decades. 

     At the same time as the re-dedication of the temple, in this mission, us as missionaries are re-dedicating ourselves to the Lord. As his representatives, we need to REPRESENT the Savior. By developing attributes of Christ, repenting, and coming unto him, we can do it! We can be who we want to be, who he wants us to be, and who we NEED to be! 

      We also had a special conference today with President Kirkham about the Book of Mormon and it being the keystone of our religion. What a privilege it is to help these people recieve the Book of Mormon. A record of their ancestors, written especially for them, and for us too! Written, and saved for these Latter Days to come forth in the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times. So that we may know to what source to look for the remision of our sins. The fulness of the gospel has been restored through the Book of Mormon, and I know its true!! Those of you who have not recieved a testimony of the BOM, I extend an invitation. Read the book of mormon, ponder it in your hearts, and ask God the Eternal Father. 

     I promise that anyone who does that with a sincere desire to know if its true, will receive an answer by the power of the Holy Ghost. I know its true by this same power!! God lives and he loves each and every one of us. He wants us all to return back to him. He has given us the BOM to be guided back to his presence! 

      I love you all and may you have a safe, spiritually filled week!

Love,  Elder Strate

 

Elder Hardwick

Temple Dedication

     Hello Everyone,

     This week has been pretty good! We had our Zone meeting this past Thursday and it was a lot of fun! (pics below).

                                                    With Elder Lopez

                                                          Some of our zone!

  

 

       This upcoming Sunday is a very special day. Because they are re-dedicating the temple in Mexico!! And we get to watch the live broadcast this next sunday! We have to go to Playa del Carmen to watch it because that is were they are projecting it. I am so excited!! So, because of this re-dedication President Kirkham wants us to prepare. So that we, as missionaries can also re-dedicate ourselves to the work. Its a wonderful opportunity that we have to become better missionaries. 

       We always look to the Savior's example when we are learning and becoming better. Developing the attributes of Christ is key in being counted amongst his disciples. Thats why I love chapter 6 of PMG so much! It helps us to realize how we can be more patient, loving, humble, etc.

       I know that by studying PMG it helps us a lot!! Even though some of us are not full time missionaries, we are all still missionaries!! And PMG is our battle plan!! And the attributes that we learn to develop in chapter 6 qualify us to be a part of the Lord's army.(also see D&C 4)

       Thanks for all the love and support. I love you all so much!! May the Lord bless you this week and in all that you do!! Jesus Christ lives!! And his church is on the earth once again!!!

     Lots of love,

              Elder Strate