No Os Engañe Nadie De Ninguna Manera

Mi Familia,

Hey! This week was great. On Thursday we had a multi-zone conference which was great. I directed the meeting and Elder Cruz and I were in charge of the food and everything. We made some quesadillas at home and brought them. Just kidding. One of the sisters in the ward is from Ecuador and she and her mother and a friend made a chicken dish from their town. It was good and we got to watch some of President Monson's Birthday on the projector as we ate. It was fun and we learned more about the attributes of Christ. I learned a lot!

This week we have been focused on Ramiro and Asunción. They aren't married but they are awesome, and they want to get married! Ramiro told us that he had been praying so that he could know what church to go to, and we knocked on his door 3 days later. It was awesome because where he lives is far away! And we went there in the first place because we contacted the woman that cut our hair and she wanted us to go there to her house. But we went and she wasn't home, and that is how we started working there. Ramiro is a police officer so he couldn't go to church yesterday but Asunción went with Carla, their three year old girl. They really liked it. This week we are going to go to the Registro Civil to see what the requirements are for marriage.

We also had a woman go to church because one of her friends in Tuxtla is a member. Her name is Carmen and she is very interested in the church. She had gone to church one time already. We are going to teach her on friday.

This week is going to be busy we are going to go to Tuxtla and Ocosingo and we might have the baptism of Humberto (we think his family is telling him not to go to church with us and not to get baptized) but we will see what happens.

We contacted a Catholic guy that was a missionary (in the Catholic church) this week. He said he couldn't let us in because it wasn't his house but we talked at the doorstep. We started teaching him about the Apostasy and restoration and he wanted to see where it talked about it in the Bible so I told him we would show him if he let us in. So I showed him a couple of scriptures (Matthew 24:9-12 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 - Scripture Mastery!) and he started with Matthew 16 (beware the doctrines of the Pharisees and Sadducees) so we explained what Christ meant. It was cool because he was interested and he said we could come by again. Don't worry we weren't bashing, just showing him the truth!

I know this work is true and that Christ leads this church. Things are great and I am so happy. I hope you have a great week, I love you!

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

Enjugará Jehová El Señor Toda Lágrima De Todos Los Rostros

Mi Familia,

Well this week was very good. We had Guadalupe's baptism and it was a great service. A lot of people showed up. The family had been waiting for a long time for her to get baptized. The service was full of tears.

Guadalupe with her two Grandsons, Rolando and Lamoni

We had two investigators with baptismal dates go to the baptism - Humberto and Ramiro. Humberto is so awesome - I think I talked about him last week. He went to church again and we might move his date up for this week. He is already ready. He always talks about his baptism and is studying hard. Ramiro is a police officer that we also found contacting. He wants to change his life, he used to drink a lot and beat his wife. We talked to them about getting married yesterday so we will see how that turns out.

Guadalupe with some of her family

We found another good family because a member of the ward next to us talked with a young man who was working. His name is Patricio. He said that he killed someone and wants to repent. We talked to him once with his parents, so didn't get to talk to him too much (at all) about that.

The biggest staircase in San Cris (I think)

We are working hard and we are seeing a lot of progress in the zone and that is special. This week we are going to have our zone conference so we are trying to get everything ready for that.

Guadalupe's parents that got baptized about 30 years ago - Micaela and Nicolas. They are the oldest people I have ever met. Nicolas is about 104. Birth certificates didn't exist where they lived at that time, so it's an estimate. Micaela is not far behind. They are sealed in the temple.

Well not too much more to report. Things are really good. I love you all and miss you. I hope you have a great week!

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

Tú Ensanchaste Mis Pasos Debajo De Mí, Y Mis Pies No Han Resbalado

Mi Familia,

This week was way good. We worked really hard. Our mission president wanted us to focus on people that already met the requirements for baptism but hadnt been baptized yet. So we did. We got to move a date up for this week (Guadalupe) and we are so excited for her. I will talk about her more below. The Elders from Ocosingo also set a date for this week and she got baptized.

A stream in San Cristobal

Guadalupe has been going to church for years. Her sons are members and one of them is an RM. She has finally decided to get baptized and we have been working really hard with her to get her ready. She is great. Her nephew is Bishop and almost all of her family are members of the church. We are so happy for her.

Corn and Sheep

On a sadder note... Wednesday Elder Utt called us and said that Manuel was dying. He picked us up and we went to Oxchuc. On our way there he passed away. When we got there a ton of people were there and everyone was crying. We didn't have much to do there so we went home. It was sad but we are happy that he could get baptized and he was also ordained an Elder last week. We know he is happy now though, and so is his family (the members).

The step is indeed forbidden (in the caves)

So Mexico won the gold medal in soccer! It was big news here but the celebration was rather small. We are happy though.

Our zone

We found another man named Humberto. He is awesome. We were contacting and I felt like we should contact his house. He told us to return another day. He has 10 kids (he's about 50) and lives 2 blocks away from the chapel. He accepted a baptismal date and went to church on Sunday and just loved it. He wants to get baptized and is reading the Book of Mormon. He will be baptized on September 1st.

A neighborhood in our Area called La Garita. It is so tiring to climb those stairs. The picture doesn't do justice. Also the staircases are manmade rivers when it rains.

Well things are good here. Don't know if you guys heard about the hurricane. It rained a lot but we are fine. Nothing too big. But it sounds like it hit other parts of Mexico pretty hard. Well I love you and miss you very much. Have a great week!

Ernesto (the hurricane) coming towards us

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

Dios Los Ha Hecho Para El Uso Del Hombre

Mi Familia,

Well this week was very busy. On Tuesday we went to Tuxtla for the Zone Leaders Council. It was really good. We set goals and talked about changing the details that can get us distracted from the Lord's work. It has helped me a lot. The zone leaders in Tapachula told me that two more of my investigators in Ciudad Hidalgo got baptized. Carolina, the grandmother of Saida, and Diana, the cousin of a member were both baptized. It makes me happy to know that the work I did there continues even though I left.

Also I think I forgot to mention that about a month ago I ate cow brain. Surprisingly good. And small... This week I ate rabbit and I think it was my favorite weird food that I have had in the mission. Everyone says it is like chicken but the texture is a little different and the flavor is a lot better. I told the family that gave it to us that there are a lot by our house and that there are always a few dead ones in the street. They told me how to make it and that I should do it so I think we will be eating conejo when I get home. : )

Also... We will be able to Skype this Christmas so that is exciting news. Don't know if you guys want to, I am good with whatever. It will be 2 weeks before I go home so not too important.

On Friday we went to Ocosingo for a couple of baptismal interviews. It was crazy because it was raining so hard on the way there (it is a 2 hour taxi trip) I thought we were going to die! But I just kept praying that we wouldn't die and I felt fine after. It rained hard 5 different times on the trip. Then when we were going home there weren't any taxis but one came and he told the other guys waiting that he wasn't going back. They left and Elder Cruz and I were just trying to figure out what to do then he asked us if we were going to San Cristóbal and he said he would take us. I talked to him the whole 2.5 hour trip. He was really nice and we talked about the Plan of Salvation. He had lost a lot of family members. It was a cool experience.

We also met a Taxi driver here that lived in San Marcos by the High School! It was fun to talk to him. But we contacted him and he wasn't too interested.

Today we went to a cave and played soccer with the Chenahlo and Comitán Zones. Then we played soccer. I hit the last game winner on the all gringo team. Good stuff. The cave wasn't anything special - New Mexico was better. That is why I am writing a little later than usual.

Also the Stake is talking about starting a Family Group in Oxchuc and sending missionaries there so we are stoked because we don't have people to visit right now. I hope they get sent there soon! It is special to be a part of this great work. But I am also realizing how far away we are from preaching everywhere. But that doesn't dim my faith that it will happen someday.

We have found some great people and we are so happy. I will tell you more this next week. I hope you are all well. I love you and miss you all!

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson