Se Realizó Un Gran Cambio En Su Corazón

Mi Familia,

This week was busy! And very different. When I was writing you last week the zone leaders called and told us we would be going to Elder Ward and Day's area, and the Sisters to ours. We had about an hour for Elder Ward to explain to me the area and investigators before they left. This week we did a lot of searching for investigators, and also for a house for the Sisters. We finally found one, but they can’t move in until Thursday, because the owner had to do repairs and doesn't live in Tuxtla. But we are starting to be able to work again.

This week's baptism - Gabriel - 15 years old and a pro soccer player.

Our new area is in the same ward, but the southern part. It is all mountains, and more beautiful. The streets aren't as nice, if you can call them streets! And also we have the most dangerous part of Tuxtla in our area. We have to be out of there by 6. We have already seen some sketchy stuff but I know we will be alright.

Live monkey on the hood - probably not the sketchy stuff he was referring to.

We have a lot of great people we are teaching and I am super happy to be here, but sad to have to leave the other area. I still get to see everyone at church, but don't get to go to their houses and see their progression like I used to, but I know that is just part of the mission.

View from Elder Stevenson's area.

Things are good and I am so happy. I am excited to get back to work. I will have more stories when I am actually working again (haha). I love you all and miss you so much!!

California plates in Tuxtla! Registration hasn't been renewed since 2003...

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

Vuestros Hijos y Vuestras Hijas Profetizarán

Mi Familia,

Cambios came and.... I stay! Elder Nay is staying as well. But we are going to the area of Elder Ward and Elder Day, the other part of our ward. It should be very interesting. Sister missionaries are coming to our old area, not sure how that is going to work because we eat together, have meetings together, etc. It should be interesting.

This week was amazing. I just want to share a story.

Months ago, Itzelt had a dream she was with her family in a beautiful place with all of her family, just together and talking.

In March, an inspired Stake President called our zone leader, to tell him that he wanted 4 missionaries in La Salle. After much work, they added 2 more and divided the area in early April. They were Elder Ward and Elder Castellanos. The first night they had no idea where the house was, but stopped at a house to buy something to eat, the house of Itzelt and her mother, Carmen. They said they wanted to hear more about the missionaries, and they had always called us their "angels." After almost 3 months Elder Tapia and I went to their house. We started teaching them and Itzelt got baptized a month later and shortly after entered the temple. She said it was familiar inside. It was the place she had seen in her dream.

Carmen couldn’t get baptized because she had a commitment with her niece to go to a Christian church. I had invited her to be baptized a few times, for the 20th of August. She said no, not yet, but someday. She even promised me I would baptize her someday.

On thursday we got a call that we can’t play soccer anymore. We did that as an activity with the ward if we had investigators. We decided to go to Itzelt’s home at 8 that night since we couldn’t play. Later we had a man drive up to us and wanted us to come by at 8. We said ok, but when 8 rolled around we went to his house and he wasn’t home. We dropped in on another investigator, but also was not home. We both knew we had to go to Itzelt’s home. Itzelt was looking out the door when we came in. Long story short, a family member died and Carmen said she had been thinking and wanted to get baptized and could, on the 20th. I baptized her and Elder Ward confirmed her yesterday. Elder Ward leaves today for another area.

I know the Lord prepares people for us to teach. I know this church is true and He loves all of His Children.

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

¿No han de tener respuesta las muchas palabras?

Mi Familia,

Ok - I had a ton of letters today and don’t have much time to write, sorry!!!

I think I am mostly going to answer questions because there are lots!

First, we only get to go to the temple here once, like 2 days before you go home. I have been by it many times and it is beautiful, and everyone has seen it, even though I am on the complete opposite side of Tuxtla. I don't know how many investigators I have right now, but we have a lot. They aren’t home a lot and that has been a problem the last few weeks, we are going to look for new ones. And yes we tract almost every day. We knock on lots of doors, contact in the streets, and combis.

A member made the fish meal. It was really good too! When I make food I usually have a quesadilla, yogurt, cereal, or nutella on bread. Simple things, partly because I am so tired when we eat (in the morning and night) and also we don’t have much time. We don’t have an hour for lunch and dinner, just lunch from 2-3 and we work till 9 after that.

I still wash my own clothes, and I sent a picture of me with all of my white shirts and the bucket I was going to wash them in. It takes a long time and is tiring, but I am pretty good at it. I haven't confirmed anyone yet, because in our ward the members do it. My Spanish is still improving, though my zone leader told me I learned Spanish faster than any other missionary he has seen, and he has 23 months in the mission! He is also Mexican which makes it more valid, I think. I do not translate in my mind, and it is so hard to read/write/speak in English. I have to translate to write home. The ward members compliment me a lot, and the members from other wards always ask me if I am training Elder Nay and think I have 16+ months in the mission. I think that is a good thing!

Ok I have to go but I will write home better next week, I love you all and miss you!!!

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

Y Descendió La Lluvia, Y Vinieron Los Torrentes

Mi Familia,

Hello! This week was busy with work, and a good one.

First, to answer questions: There are 10 or 12 in the mission and none in the zone, but... The rumor is that sister missionaries will be coming in this transfer to our area. The mission president told someone in our ward that (ha ha). Then I had an interview with him this week and he was asking about the area, if it is dangerous, how long I have been there, etc. Transfers are two weeks from today, I think I am a goner but we will see what happens. And I almost always study in Spanish. The only time I use my English scriptures is to read the bible dictionary or index, it is much more complete in English.

Tanner and Dad are coming home! I can't believe dad's picture, he looks really good. I remember when we came back - that first meal I ate was so good. I hope they had a great time.

Things are going really good here. This week we got a referral from another ward. His name is Gabriel and he is 15. We called him and he told us he wanted to get baptized. We went to his house and he told us that he has been to church and loves it. His best friend is a member of our ward too. It was amazing to see how prepared he was for this message. Gabriel is also a really cool kid. He plays pro soccer and already wants to go on a mission. He is going to get baptized on the 20th of this month.

Yesterday it rained super hard. We were contacting and an 8 year old kid let us in the house. He was so sweet. This kid had me laughing so much. He told us how he was a clown for work so I assumed he worked in the street. There are a ton of people that sell stuff and do shows in the big intersections for money. You can see a bunch in the picture I sent last week, but there are also clowns that juggle and stuff like that. When I asked him if he did he told me no, that people hire him to work in houses and parks or parties. He told me he makes about 1500 pesos a day, more than 100 dollars. I couldn't believe it. But he told me his Dad does it too and I guess they are really successful clowns.

We had another reference from some members of the ward. It is a family of 5. The dad's name is Wilmar, and he is from Colombia. They are so great and they are progressing a lot. The dad is so humble and told us he has been looking for a guide in his life. I couldn't believe how ready he was to hear our message. He and his wife aren't married yet, but they are trying to work that out. His wife is from Honduras and I have no idea if it going to be easy or hard for them to get married. We will see. But when they do they will be all ready to be baptized.

Things are so good here. I have no doubt in my mind that this church is true. I know it is Christ's only church on the earth and that he leads it and is very involved in all of its aspects.

I love you all and miss you!

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

Tres razones para sonreír ... o quizás tan sólo dos

Mi Familia,

Hello from Tuxtla! This week was a good one.

First I saw the funniest shirt in a store here the other day, it was in English and went a little like this,

3 Reasons to smile.
It's sunshine!
It's holiday!

I wanted to buy it because I think it is the funniest thing in the world, but I didn't. If I see it again I will have to take a picture.

We are working really hard over here! We found new people to teach this week and our investigators are progressing a lot. This week at church almost 100 people came. I think my first week here we had around 40. The ward is growing and it is so fun to be part of the Lord's work. I hope it can continue to grow. One family that we are teaching is awesome. The mom is a member but less active. Her oldest son is a member too but also inactive. We taught them with the Bishop there and they all came to church on Sunday, 6 kids. It was so great to see them there and the ward treated them really well.

Susi got baptized too! It was so exciting. Her family couldn't come but we had so many ward members there. It was so sweet to see the ward there. She has so many friends in the church. She has gone through a lot, but it doesn't stop her from staying strong. She is so strong and I am so happy we had the opportunity to teach her.

We were teaching a woman named Isabel as well and she asked us in the first lesson if we pay tithing in our church. I was a little nervous but told her yes, ha of course. Then when we explained it all to her, we asked if she would pay her tithing after her baptism. She said yes, and asked if she could start paying before too. I was so caught off guard and had no idea what to say. The truth is I still don't know how that works but that really helped me understand the importance of tithing a little more.

We also had a great lesson with Itzelt this week. We talked about the temple and she is so excited to go and do baptisms, she will go this Thursday. We also invited her mom to get baptized, but she said no. She had already promised a family member that she would go to their church, but she looked at me in the eye and said she would someday. I knew she was telling me true, and know she already has a testimony that this gospel is the truth. I tried everything to help her accept until I was begging her to get baptized, because I wanted to be there to see it. She told me that if I get transferred she will go there to be baptized when she can. I love that family so much and they have helped me feel at home here in Tuxtla.

I am so happy to be here! I see miracles everyday. I love the mission so much. I miss you all and love you! I know this church is true.

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson