Family and Friends,
Hey! Wow this last week has been
crazy! So I haven't really wrote very much because the first couple of weeks
were really kinda tough adjusting to the climate and culture. But its coming.
So this was a really good week. I haven't said very much about my adventures
since Ive been here. But just the basics is my comps/trainers name is Elder
Figuroa. He speaks pretty alright English
because he is a HUGE gamer and has been playing Mario Cart since he was 5 all
in English, so he knows all is English from video games. He is really really
smart and know how to teach really well...................................
Lesson wise we are KILLING it! We have the most in the zone for 3 weeks in a row! Last week we hit like 31 lessons
which is like way good. My comp says before me the most he had every had on his
mission was 27 and he has been here for 1 year. So we are working really hard
with lessons. I teach about half the lessons, and as long they don't say
difficult Spanish and don't speak to fast I can usually do the job. But its
still really hard. I am different than most gringo missionaries. Most
understand first then speak, I speak better than I understand. So that's kinda
weird.
So on this week was a week of blessings! On Tuesday we gave a blessing
to a sister . My comp gave that one but that
was cool. Then Weds we went on divisions and our district leader Elder Hancock
came into our area while my comp went to his for the day. I like Elder Hancock
alot, he helps me out with alot and is the only other gringo in the zone, he is
from Manti. So we had a great time! Our free time at night I taught him how to
juggle, and he taught me some cool pen tricks. But while I was with him, I gave
my first blessing in Spanish to this lady who was really sick, then our last
lesson for the night a man kept having a dream about crazy stuff! Like
equivalent to the tree of life! We gave him a blessing because he didn't
know what the dreams meant so we did a Joseph of Egypt job and helped him with
his dream. I gave him the scriptures about the tree of life for him to read,
not thinking he was actually going to read them. We visited him again a couple
days later and he said after we gave him the blessing he felt peace and
strength to help him with what he needs to do and he said he read all the
chapters I gave him! Which I was kind of surprised because they never read and
if they do its very little. He said the chapters really spoke to him and I am
not going to go into detail about everything but after our second visit he
asked for another blessing and asked if I would give it. So this week I gave 2
blessing in Spanish which was really cool. We gave 4 altogether.
On Friday I
got bit by a dog. I threw one of our members a tennis ball and he didn't catch it, so I went to go get the ball as it was rolling along
a fence and picking up the ball, outta nowhere this
hound stuck its head outta the fence and bit my forearm, I
instantly retracted my arm from its mouth and I only got spit and some
bruised, Good thing it was only that because that would of really hurt.
I will
talk about Tampico a little a bit,
it is really hot, green and humid! Most people have air conditioning in the room
where they sleep but we don't because a couple months ago the old elders in the
house broke it. So I thought it was normal to soak your garments and wake up
sweating 3 times night and have to re soak, but talking to some other elders in
the zone say our house is the worst to sleep in because our rooms are on the
top part so heat travels up and it is all cement so it literally is a furnace
where we sleep hah! So the last couple of nights we had to sleep where our
kitchen is on the bottom part cause the last couple days have been sooo hot. We
walk everywhere! I haven't walked so much since training! My thighs have
stretch marks because they are getting bigger cause of all the walking
ha!
Everyone one here has fences that have either broken glass on the top
or knife like things so people don't break into the house. Everyone one here is
so uptight, I had it explained to me today the full reason, so I guess the new
president of Mexico got elected a couple years ago and wanted to stop some of
the big cartels in the other states and I guess he cleared them all out of some
states but the bad thing is they all ran into Tamulipas, I guess a year ago it
was WAY worse. The member said everyday there were gun fights outside their
house. But they have moved the Army into Tampico and now it is a little better,
But thats why everyone is so uptight is because Tamulipas in currently the
craziest state in Mexico.
Next week we get to go to the beach on P Day so that
might be cool! I am very excited for that! So I have to jet but thanks for all
the support. It is hard here but it is worth it and the language will come.
Thanks for the letters! Tell Ian I think about him all the time! and pray for him
constantly! ........... But
love everyone so much! ..........But give everyone my love!
Elder Vince Miller
