Reactivating an entire branch

Hello Everyone,

    This week has been pretty good! A few things happened.

    But first of all, I would like to wish a happy birthday to my little sister Sarah! She turns 13 today! Have a great day Sis and I hope you get lots of Birthday spankings!

    So we are starting to see some miracles here on the Island. There are lots of members here but only about 10 or so are active. Yesterday there were about 30 people there so that was awesome! We are getting there. The former Elders Quorum Prez is inactive along with lots of other priesthood so we are trying to work with them. On Saturday we went to visit the former Elders Q Prez and he was home! He had always rejected the missionaries before I had got here but he opened right up and we had a great chat. He talked about his family, when he got sealed in the temple, and a lot of things! He is super excited and he said that he is going to come back to church this next week! I am sooooo happy!! We desperately need more priesthood here and when Hermano Guemez(Eld Q Prize) comes back, we are going to light things up here!! He has a great spirit and I felt it super strongly when we were talking to him. We are literally going to re-activate this entire branch! Miracles exist!

    I love being a missionary. Even though its really hard and some days are just terrible, it's worth it. There is no better reason to be walking around in the hot 40 degree sun with 90% humidity every day than for the salvation of God's children. I know that when we obey the commandments and pray and fast for those that we love, God works miracles in our lives. I know that Jesus is the Christ! Savior and Redeemer of all mankind. Until we really start "enduring the end" we cannot fully experience all of the blessings of the Atonement. Thank you all for the wonderful examples that you have given me. Have a wonderful week everyone and be safe!

    Love,

        Elder Strate 

Loving the Island

Hello Everyone,

    This transfer is going by super fast! Only two weeks left! I feel like every transfer goes by faster than the one before it. Crazy!

    We had exchanges on Wednesday with some Elders in Cancun. Elder Zuñiga came with me to the island. It was a great day! We had 7 lessons and found some new investigators and put some on baptismal dates! So we decided to celebrate with some pizza! It was pretty good too. 

   

          This week we hope to have two baptisms! There is no baptismal font here, so we have to do it in the beach! What a terrible sacrifice...Oh, and also I want to wish a happy birthday to my baby sister Miranda! I don't think she is a quite a "baby" anymore, but I think she might act like one still! Love you Miranda!

    There are lots of things that I have been thinking about this week. How to strengthen the branch, teach lots of people, help people to do whats right etc. There is a lot of work to be done here on the island but unfortunately there are not many people willing to change. We are doing all that we can to help others but when it comes down to it, everyone has their agency. I would love to make decisions for people, but that is against God´s plan.       

       Lets choose wisely in all that we do to one day get to the celestial kingdom! Thanks everyone!

Love,

             Elder Strate 

Conference

      Hello Everyone,

     This week has been full of spiritual events!

     On Saturday we got to watch the talk called "Feed my Sheep" by Elder Holland. That is an amazing talk. It is specially for the missionaries and it was given in the MTC in 2011. Its great to always here the apostles and how we can be better missionaries. 

      Yesterday was great too! It was stake conference here in Cancun which was great. I got to see some of the members that I know from the Corales Ward. Thats where I started my mission! It was great to see them again. The speakers were excellent too. And last night we had a special fireside just for the missionaries! The Temple President from the Merida Temple came with his wife to talk to us about the temple. It was extraordinary! I learned a ton of things about the temple and scriptures that I had never even though about before. Such a wonderful experience and I now appreciate the temple a lot more! I can´t wait to go to the temple when I get back! I am literally dying to go!

      The Gospel is definitely the anchor in our lives. And the temple is so marvelous because of the blessings that we receive inside.There are so many things that have yet to learn inside the temple, but I know that the Lord will help me! I also know that the Lord with help anyone who truly seeks him. We are all God´s children and we are entitled to receive answers from him. 

       Thanks everyone for all the love and support. My time is getting shorter and shorter, but I will give it my all to finish the work that I have been called to do! Once a missionary always a missionary! Have a great week I love you all!

        Love,

           Elder Strate 

 

                                          The view of our apartment and a pic at the ruins.

 

Hacienda Mudaca

     Hello Everyone,

      First of all...happy mothers day to all the mothers out there! There are so many out there who are wonderful and are really changing this world for the better! However, I have to say that my mother is the best in the WHOLE world!! There are not words enough to describe how wonderful she is and how much she has done for me. Thanks you mom for everything and I love you to Kolob and back!!

       So this morning we went to a place called, "Hacienda Mudaca". Which is the house of the guy that discovered Isla Mujeres. And he was a pirate!! Thats cool. There are a few ruins and other things here. And there are crocodiles here too! It was great! 

 

 

          It was also great to get to talk with my family yesterday. The family is so important to us and also to God. 

      

       There is a reason that God put us here as families. It is not just to live and die and that being the end. Rather, an eternal family that can live together with the one day in the celestial kingdom! However, we get to choose if we really want that or not! God won't force us to do anything, he just invites us. I now invite all those who are reading this to really ponder about that. And what are the changes that you need to make in your life to accomplish that. Its not going to be easy, but its well worth it! Repentance is a woderful gift people! Without it, we could never enter back into God's presence. I know the gospel is true. I know that repentance is real and only through Jesus chrsit we can be saved. And witht he help of his authorized servents who hold the priesthood of God, we have access to all of this blessings. Make a choice!

        Thanks everyone and I love you all so much!

          Love,

              Elder Strate

Turtle farm !!!!!!!!

Hello Everyone,

            Remember last week when I said, "I don't know what happens when you put two rednecks together?" Well I was right. Lots of things happened!! I will try to remember them all. 

 

            Okay, so first off. The Island is so beautiful! Lots of heat but there is a nice ocean breeze to cool us off too. This morning we went to the "Tortu granja" which means turtle farm. Its like an aquarium that has turtles and other fish. Starfish, lionfish, nemo, lobsters, seahorses and lots more! I took took many pictures to send but I will try to send at least a few. 

 

            So, my companion is great. Earlier this week, we were putting up a close line to hang our close in the house. And my companion was tying it on the door somehow. I saw that the line started to slack a but so I reached to grab and adjust it, and at the same moment my companion decided to shut the door...needless to say my middle finger got slammed in the door lol. But it wasn't too bad. It hurt for a bit but I'm fine now! Another day, after a visit we had with a member, he offered us some fruit with yogurt. So we sat down on his couch and he brought some sliced fruit with yogurt in a bowl. Then my companion started talking and ranting about something while he was eating and "accidentally" flinged a spoon full of yogurt all over my pants...that was pretty funny. I can just say that we have become really close friends  in just one week!

            We also have some investigators that are awesome. Some old investigators have started to progress too. There is lots of work here on the island and I am so happy to be here! We are the only missionaries on the island. I am so blessed to be able to serve here in this mission! Its the best mission in the WORLD! Thanks for all the love and support! Have a great week and a happy mother's day!

         Love,

                Elder Strate