Mi Familia,
Well thanks for all of your prayers! I felt many blessings because of them. This last week I recovered nicely and this week I will be able to start working normally, the whole day every day. This week we left the house at 6 and worked till 9 because I couldn't be in the sun for long periods of time. I feel almost completely normal but I do get tired quickly and spent most of my time in the house sleeping this week, but after this week I know I will be back to normal. I don't have too much to say because we didn't work too much and we spent a lot of time looking for investigators and trying to set up appointments with the little time we had.
I remember in the MTC when they talked about the mosquitoes and they had a list of countries that needed to hear that part of the lecture. I remember seeing Guatemala but Mexico didn't come up (haha). I then remember thinking that they might put me on the border of Guatemala but then just hoped they wouldn't. Apparently the mosquitoes are not respecters of borders.
I am happy and hope that you all have a great week. I have learned a lot in this time and have really received a stronger testimony of the atonement. There were specific moments when I was sick and really struggling when I felt that Christ had felt those same afflictions. I know that he not only suffered for our sins, but also all sickness and all pain.
I love you all and miss you. Have a great week!
Elder Riley Stevenson
Monday, January 30, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Los Sanos No Tienen Necesidad De Médico, Sino Los Enfermos
Mi Familia,
This week was a crazy one. On Tuesday we went to the doctors because Elder Cubillos was still sick. He was hospitalized with a member doctor and was quite the experience! He had dengue. The doctor told us we could go home Thursday morning, but he was still a little sick so we stayed longer. On Thursday I started feeling sick and was hospitalized as well. I got dengue and salmonella. I felt pretty terrible and weak. Luckily Elder Cubillos was all better so we just changed spots in the room and he started helping me (I had been helping him when he was sick.) It hit me pretty hard and I just left the hospital today. I can't be in the sun and get tired if I do anything for any period of time. It will probably take another week for me to recover completely. But don't worry too much, just keep me in your prayers.
I also decided that I am going to stay here the full 2 years, so if Dad could advise BYU, that would be great. I prayed about it and thought about it for a long time and the answer was clear. I should get home January 10, 2013.
Well not that much happened this week except for one other thing. Teodora (The woman that got baptized last Sunday) has another son that is studying in Acapulco. He was kidnapped this week and they asked for 100,000 pesos to let him go, from his parents - Teodora and Adrian. They do have money, but not a ton. They paid it of course and they let the son go. It made me sad because Teodora was so scared and had heard a lot about the trials that come after baptism, and we couldn't visit her or help her because we were in Tapachula with the doctor. It is also complicated because Adrian is a police officer, and they think that one of the guys that kidnapped his son was arrested by Adrian here before. Adrian doesn't like his family to leave the house for that reason, and that is why he doesn't go to church. Teodora and Misael still went to church on Sunday and Teodora paid her tithing. I know the Lord will bless her for her sacrifices!
I am happy. Thanks for your support and prayers. I love you and miss you so much!
Con Amor,
Elder Riley Stevenson
This week was a crazy one. On Tuesday we went to the doctors because Elder Cubillos was still sick. He was hospitalized with a member doctor and was quite the experience! He had dengue. The doctor told us we could go home Thursday morning, but he was still a little sick so we stayed longer. On Thursday I started feeling sick and was hospitalized as well. I got dengue and salmonella. I felt pretty terrible and weak. Luckily Elder Cubillos was all better so we just changed spots in the room and he started helping me (I had been helping him when he was sick.) It hit me pretty hard and I just left the hospital today. I can't be in the sun and get tired if I do anything for any period of time. It will probably take another week for me to recover completely. But don't worry too much, just keep me in your prayers.
I also decided that I am going to stay here the full 2 years, so if Dad could advise BYU, that would be great. I prayed about it and thought about it for a long time and the answer was clear. I should get home January 10, 2013.
Well not that much happened this week except for one other thing. Teodora (The woman that got baptized last Sunday) has another son that is studying in Acapulco. He was kidnapped this week and they asked for 100,000 pesos to let him go, from his parents - Teodora and Adrian. They do have money, but not a ton. They paid it of course and they let the son go. It made me sad because Teodora was so scared and had heard a lot about the trials that come after baptism, and we couldn't visit her or help her because we were in Tapachula with the doctor. It is also complicated because Adrian is a police officer, and they think that one of the guys that kidnapped his son was arrested by Adrian here before. Adrian doesn't like his family to leave the house for that reason, and that is why he doesn't go to church. Teodora and Misael still went to church on Sunday and Teodora paid her tithing. I know the Lord will bless her for her sacrifices!
I am happy. Thanks for your support and prayers. I love you and miss you so much!
Con Amor,
Elder Riley Stevenson
Monday, January 16, 2012
Que Tuviesen Autoridad Para Sanar Enfermedades
Mi Familia,
Thanks for the emails! I kept receiving one just as I finished writing the other. So I don't have much time to write. But last week my email said that it got sent so I don't know why it didn't work. Hope this one gets through! Also I tried to send photos but the computers haven't recognized my camera yet, it depends on what computer they assign me, I will try again next week.
This week was good, and memorable. I got sick for the first time where I really felt bad. I think it was from the food. It was Friday, and I stayed home and slept but my stomach hurt a ton. I puked a few times in the night and feel better now, still kind of weak in the stomach. But I took some anti-parasite pills and it seems like that had a good effect. We had our semi-annual parasite pills this weekend so it could have been the problem... I also ate iguana but it seems to be unrelated as I got sick 5 days later. The iguana was good. My companion Elder Cubillos got sick yesterday. But he is feeling better as well.
Misael and Teodora got baptized yesterday. It was great, and a ton of people were there because we had it in the stake center the day of Stake Conference. We had some problems because a sister told us that the choir was going to eat there (where the baptismal font is) and that they couldn't eat in any other room. It was really weird and then a member from the stake told her she could eat somewhere else, and they ate in the room next door - haha.
I got mail yesterday so that was great and got to see Elder Ballard and Elder Velasco, my “dad” and my first DL because they are the assistants. It was great to see them and talk to them. And thanks for all the letters. I get a ton every transfer.
Haha - thanks for the emails I will have to write more next week but have a great week, I love you and miss you all!
Con Amor,
Elder Riley Stevenson
Thanks for the emails! I kept receiving one just as I finished writing the other. So I don't have much time to write. But last week my email said that it got sent so I don't know why it didn't work. Hope this one gets through! Also I tried to send photos but the computers haven't recognized my camera yet, it depends on what computer they assign me, I will try again next week.
This week was good, and memorable. I got sick for the first time where I really felt bad. I think it was from the food. It was Friday, and I stayed home and slept but my stomach hurt a ton. I puked a few times in the night and feel better now, still kind of weak in the stomach. But I took some anti-parasite pills and it seems like that had a good effect. We had our semi-annual parasite pills this weekend so it could have been the problem... I also ate iguana but it seems to be unrelated as I got sick 5 days later. The iguana was good. My companion Elder Cubillos got sick yesterday. But he is feeling better as well.
Misael and Teodora got baptized yesterday. It was great, and a ton of people were there because we had it in the stake center the day of Stake Conference. We had some problems because a sister told us that the choir was going to eat there (where the baptismal font is) and that they couldn't eat in any other room. It was really weird and then a member from the stake told her she could eat somewhere else, and they ate in the room next door - haha.
I got mail yesterday so that was great and got to see Elder Ballard and Elder Velasco, my “dad” and my first DL because they are the assistants. It was great to see them and talk to them. And thanks for all the letters. I get a ton every transfer.
Haha - thanks for the emails I will have to write more next week but have a great week, I love you and miss you all!
Con Amor,
Elder Riley Stevenson
Monday, January 9, 2012
Acuérdate Del Día Del Reposo Para Santificarlo
Mi Familia,
This week was really good! It is hard to believe that I have been away from home for a year. It has been good and I know that this year will be awesome too.
Last Sunday one of our investigators, Misael (14), almost drowned in the ocean! (Maybe that's what he gets for going to the beach on Sunday). The whole town knows about it, and has been talking about it. He almost died from what I understand, the current pulled him out super far and he doesn't know how to swim very well. A lifeguard saved him and he has recovered nicely. Luckily, it has opened up the heart of his father who wanted him to wait until he was 18 to make the decision. After he said that he can when he wants and he and his mom accepted a baptismal date for this Sunday in our stake conference. They are so great and I am so excited for them. They have been ready for a while but I know the Lord did this so that could realize that it is important that they get baptized now! I know that he works in mysterious ways to help his children.
Marlene went to church with us and she liked it. When we were about to walk in she told us she was nervous and didn't want to go in. But she did and a sister sat next to her and helped her with the Hymns and sacrament. Everyone said hi to her and the members helped her go to her classes. She really liked it and is reading her Book of Mormon. It is so amazing to me how fast we can go into a house, teach someone, and they are already reading and learning, and getting baptized! Marlene didn't know how to pray and had never read the scriptures and now she is doing both. I think it is really what makes me happy on the mission, seeing people spiritually progressing.
We have another investigator, Jesica that is great. She has gone to church a few times and she loves it. She is looking for a job because this week she told us that she has to break the law of chastity to feed her little girl that is 2 years old Zoé. It makes me so sad but she really wants to change, and knows she can. We are going to be searching so she can get baptized.
I tried coconut water here and it was really weird! It is kind of sweet, but not like soda. But I think it is cooler that you have to cut it open with a machete. A sister in the ward also said that she is going to give us iguana sometime in these next couple weeks (in tamales). I think that beats out horse tacos as the weirdest food on the mission.
I am happy here! I know this is the Lord's work. I know that He is actively involved in all aspects of our lives and in what the church is doing. He leads this church, and missionary work. I know he lives and loves us.
I love you and miss you all, have a great week!
Con Amor,
Elder Riley Stevenson
This week was really good! It is hard to believe that I have been away from home for a year. It has been good and I know that this year will be awesome too.
Last Sunday one of our investigators, Misael (14), almost drowned in the ocean! (Maybe that's what he gets for going to the beach on Sunday). The whole town knows about it, and has been talking about it. He almost died from what I understand, the current pulled him out super far and he doesn't know how to swim very well. A lifeguard saved him and he has recovered nicely. Luckily, it has opened up the heart of his father who wanted him to wait until he was 18 to make the decision. After he said that he can when he wants and he and his mom accepted a baptismal date for this Sunday in our stake conference. They are so great and I am so excited for them. They have been ready for a while but I know the Lord did this so that could realize that it is important that they get baptized now! I know that he works in mysterious ways to help his children.
Marlene went to church with us and she liked it. When we were about to walk in she told us she was nervous and didn't want to go in. But she did and a sister sat next to her and helped her with the Hymns and sacrament. Everyone said hi to her and the members helped her go to her classes. She really liked it and is reading her Book of Mormon. It is so amazing to me how fast we can go into a house, teach someone, and they are already reading and learning, and getting baptized! Marlene didn't know how to pray and had never read the scriptures and now she is doing both. I think it is really what makes me happy on the mission, seeing people spiritually progressing.
We have another investigator, Jesica that is great. She has gone to church a few times and she loves it. She is looking for a job because this week she told us that she has to break the law of chastity to feed her little girl that is 2 years old Zoé. It makes me so sad but she really wants to change, and knows she can. We are going to be searching so she can get baptized.
I tried coconut water here and it was really weird! It is kind of sweet, but not like soda. But I think it is cooler that you have to cut it open with a machete. A sister in the ward also said that she is going to give us iguana sometime in these next couple weeks (in tamales). I think that beats out horse tacos as the weirdest food on the mission.
I am happy here! I know this is the Lord's work. I know that He is actively involved in all aspects of our lives and in what the church is doing. He leads this church, and missionary work. I know he lives and loves us.
I love you and miss you all, have a great week!
Con Amor,
Elder Riley Stevenson
Monday, January 2, 2012
Esperamos Poder Sufrir Todas Las Cosas
Mi Familia,
Thanks for all of the emails! This week was really good. Sorry the email didn't get sent last week, we lost connection when I was about to send it! But anyways, this week we found a couple of great people. One investigator is Marlene, she is a young woman of 19 years that we found contacting. In the same first lesson she accepted a baptismal date and we are going to see if she is going to progress. She has a 2 year old girl that is super tall, the size of a 5 year old. We found another family that is great but they work a lot so it is going to be hard to find them in the house. We taught extended family members yesterday and they were so respectful and listened to us teach them about the Book of Mormon. They accepted what we told them so we will see if we can send missionaries to their houses. It is really fun to be here because I get to meet people from a bunch of countries. I am almost meeting people from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. It is sweet too because I know people that have served their missions in those places.
The 31st was crazy, there were so many fireworks and we couldn’t have slept through the noise. Not too many people made it to church at 9 on Sunday. I gave a talk and was partly grateful that it was rather empty. I talked about enduring to the end, talking mostly about how Jesus Christ was the perfect example of enduring to the end. If he wouldn't have we wouldn't have any hope of living with God again. And how reading the scriptures and praying is what helps us stay on the straight and narrow path. I used the example of Lehi, who prayed when he was in the dessert to be able to be delivered and that the iron rod is the word of God, or the scriptures.
This week I have been studying Alma 13 and am just amazed how much I have learned. I know that the Priesthood is the power of God and a huge blessing in our lives. I know that it is the power and authority that God gives to man. I know that Thomas S. Monson has all of the keys of this dispensation and that he is a man chosen of God. He is God's Prophet today.
I love you and miss you all. Have a great week!!
Con Amor,
Elder Riley Stevenson
Thanks for all of the emails! This week was really good. Sorry the email didn't get sent last week, we lost connection when I was about to send it! But anyways, this week we found a couple of great people. One investigator is Marlene, she is a young woman of 19 years that we found contacting. In the same first lesson she accepted a baptismal date and we are going to see if she is going to progress. She has a 2 year old girl that is super tall, the size of a 5 year old. We found another family that is great but they work a lot so it is going to be hard to find them in the house. We taught extended family members yesterday and they were so respectful and listened to us teach them about the Book of Mormon. They accepted what we told them so we will see if we can send missionaries to their houses. It is really fun to be here because I get to meet people from a bunch of countries. I am almost meeting people from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. It is sweet too because I know people that have served their missions in those places.
The 31st was crazy, there were so many fireworks and we couldn’t have slept through the noise. Not too many people made it to church at 9 on Sunday. I gave a talk and was partly grateful that it was rather empty. I talked about enduring to the end, talking mostly about how Jesus Christ was the perfect example of enduring to the end. If he wouldn't have we wouldn't have any hope of living with God again. And how reading the scriptures and praying is what helps us stay on the straight and narrow path. I used the example of Lehi, who prayed when he was in the dessert to be able to be delivered and that the iron rod is the word of God, or the scriptures.
This week I have been studying Alma 13 and am just amazed how much I have learned. I know that the Priesthood is the power of God and a huge blessing in our lives. I know that it is the power and authority that God gives to man. I know that Thomas S. Monson has all of the keys of this dispensation and that he is a man chosen of God. He is God's Prophet today.
I love you and miss you all. Have a great week!!
Con Amor,
Elder Riley Stevenson
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