Pedid, Y Se Os Dará

Mi Familia,

This week was great. We worked hard and are starting to work with the members a lot more. We are  teaching this man named José Constantino. He is in his mid 20's and knows a lot about the gospel. He went to church on Sunday (in normal clothes) but even like that the members were asking him if he was a member of the church, because he had some great comments in the classes. He is awesome, but not married. His wife wants to get married, but in the USA because she is a dual citizen and she wants him to be too. It is a little lame but we are praying for him a lot and he is going to talk to his wife about it.

So I also think I saw Andrew from MGMT this week walking in the streets with a fairly big sized crowd. He was wearing a large white sheep skin looking blouse. I was pretty surprised to say the least. Not because of the clothes, because it was him.

On Saturday we were going to go to a ward activity but only 2 investigators showed up. Me and Elder Ah Mu both felt like we shouldn't go, even though we didn't have anything else planned for the morning. So we went contacting and found this great family. The mom's name is Marta and she let us in. We asked her if her husband was home so she made one of her two kids get him, and he sat down to hear us too. That has NEVER happened in my mission... we just asked, and Marta delivered. Her husband's name is Marcelino. They had seen The Other Side of Heaven on internet the Sunday before (the 17th). They had a lot of questions and had never talked to missionaries before. We think they are going to go to church next week. They both play basketball and want to play with me. We will see what happens. There are a lot of other family members there, we talked with a few. We are grateful that we listened to the Holy Ghost.

We were contacting yesterday as well (we contact a lot here) and we met a Presbyterian pastor named Omelino (Pastor Omelino), and he let us in the house. I thought about whipping out the Joseph Smith History and just nailing the guy but we just had a nice conversation instead. He had a lot of questions about missionary work and we asked him some questions to understand his church a little more, because I had never taught a Presbyterian before. We will see where it all leads to, and we have an appointment with him next Sunday.

Things are going well here. One of the Elders in the zone, Elder Hatch, hadn't had a companion these few weeks because his Colombian companion hasn't got his visa. We worked with him a few days and he is a great guy. He got a temporary companion from Mapastepec that is getting ready for the mission. We are happy that everyone is in their areas now.

Things are going really well here. I feel like I am learning fast. I love being a missionary and I love this work. I know it is true. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet and that he restored Christ's church. I love preaching the fullness of the Gospel. I learn more every day. I love you and miss you all so much!

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

Congréguense A Una Todas Las Naciones, Y Júntense Todos Los Pueblos

Mi Familia,

This week was a great one. I am loving it here in San Cristóbal. The work is going well. My companion is actually Elder Ah Mu, and he is from Missouri. He is Lauren's age and he has helped me feel comfortable here. Being a zone leader is weird but I have felt that the Lord has helped me a lot. I am getting used to the change here.

San Cristóbal is so awesome. It has kind of a Disneyland vibe. There are people from all over the world here, lots of shops, smells, and things to see. I have met people from Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina, England, Denmark, and the USA, and seen people from many other countries. There are also many hippies. It is so different from anywhere else. There are also a ton of indigenous people. I don't know if you have read the article about the Tzotzil District here (the one that Grandma sent me) but that is close by. Right now we are working with the Utt couple (the one it quotes in the article) to try to get the work started with the Tzeltal people. It is another mayan people (aka Lamanites). We go every thursday to Oxchuc, or Oxchujk' as it is written in Tzeltal. We have investigators there and are trying to get the work going there. It is so cool because we are fulfilling very specific prophesies from the Book of Mormon. These people are very literal descendants of Lehi and it is so special to start the work here.

We are especially excited for a man named Manuel, who was basically what we know as the mayor of Oxchuc. He is interested in the gospel but has a lot of problems with his family, many of which are members. He is very old and sick too so we are trying to help him to get baptized soon. His wife passed away a few months ago (she was a member). She died with her temple recommend in her hand because she wanted to be sealed to her husband. We gave him a blessing on Thursday because he is very sick. But if he joins the church it will help Oxchuc a lot, because all of the people there respect Manuel a lot. I am learning a little of Tzeltal right now too. It has all been a really cool experience.

This place looks more like Europe than Mexico. It is probably the most beautiful place I have ever been to. I love it here. There are three wards here and a few in other cities nearby. San Cristóbal is very colonial. There is a lot to see, buy, and eat! I am trying to get used to the cold weather. We have hot water in the house and a microwave. I think the Lord is preparing me to go home (haha). But I haven't been thinking about that too much. But right now I would definitely prefer that you guys come here instead of going on a cruise. I will try to send some pictures next week. If you can, you should look up pictures on internet, I am sure there are a ton.

We have some great investigators, many of which we found this week. I am so excited for the work. I know that it is true and that the Lord will help us to be successful. I hope you are all doing well. I love you and miss you!

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

Levántate Y Sube Al Monte

Mi Familia,

This week was one of the hardest in the mission. But that is how we learn and also obtain more faith. I got pretty sick monday night and went to the doctor in Tapachula on tuesday, (he is a member) I had an intestinal infection but I bought some medicine and have felt a lot better. Actually now I feel great but we started working thursday in the afternoon and got some things done.

On Friday, Yami had her baptismal interview, passed and everything went well. But on Sunday (the day she was going to get baptized) she got sick and didn't go to church. But she is going to get baptized this Sunday, maybe with Diana, another investigator. We are also happy because Carolina, the grandmother of Saida, set her own baptismal date for July 15. We are happy for her but she is almost already ready! But it is fine, we are happy that she made the decision. We also met some great new people this week and are happy for them, and excited to see how they progress.

Zone Conference - Elder Stevenson is seated, fourth from the left.

Yesterday at 8 pm when we left a lesson we got a phone call from the mission president which had never happened to me in the mission. He asked me how I was doing, about the area, obedience, etc. Then he told me that the Lord had called me to be a zone leader, and gave me some advice. I am scared. Today they called to tell me that I am going to San Cristóbal, hands down the most coveted zone in the mission. It is an hour away from Tuxtla Gutierrez and it is cold there, and beautiful. It is in the mountains and it is a very touristic place. I am going with Elder Treviño, who is mexican but has lived in the USA (in Utah). I know him and he is a great Elder. I am worried because I don't have very much (any) experience as a leader in the mission. But I know that the Lord will help me.

I hope you all have a great week. I love you and miss you!!

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

El Diablo Es Enemigo De Dios

Mi Familia,

Thanks for all of the emails and sorry I couldn't write too much back. I am glad that everyone is doing good. I am glad Zack got his mission call to chile! I always thought he would go to south america. Also I have a lot of friends that are serving there, but they are in the northern parts. Tell Zack to watch 180 Degrees South. I think they filmed it in that part of Chile. There's a part where they are surfing at the foot of a mountain full of snow. It is so gorgeous. I am also glad that Mimi is home and doing better.

This week was a good one for us here, and interesting too! My companion had tooth pain all week so on thursday we went to a dentist office here. The man has the nickname "el diablo" but we didn't know that before we went, or maybe we wouldn't have gone there. But a church member recommended him. He told my comp that he had to pull the tooth but he couldn't do it, so he split it in two parts and still couldn't get it out. Elder Bernal started crying and told him to just leave it. We went to another dentist on friday and they had to do a surgery, and got it out. We haven't been able to go to work in the sun so these days I have just been studying and watching church videos. But this week should be normal. I also felt sick yesterday but I got a blessing and woke up feeling a lot better.

We had stake conference yesterday and it was great. My favorite talk was the one by our temple president. He talked about temple work and also humility. He talked about how we need to love everyone, and it impacted me a lot. I want to be better at that haha. Even though we couldn't talk to a lot of investigators one went (Diana) and she liked it a lot.

We taught Yami this week and she wold us that she wanted to get baptized this week instead of on the 16th. I was really surprised and when I asked her why she said she didn't know but just wanted to! I am so happy because she is really ready and the Lord has prepared her a lot for her baptism. She also got her tooth pulled with "el diablo" this week.

This week we also had our zone conference. It was great. We talked about working with members and how we can't reach our full potential as a mission unless the members are working with us. The branch is working hard and we are so happy. I don't want to be transferred! I have also been studying about the great apostasy and how the apostles and so many people have given their life for the gospel. I am grateful for their sacrifice.

Well I love you and miss you all so much! I hope you have a great week!

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson