Llamad, Y Se Os Abrirá

Mi Familia,

Hey everyone. This week was really good.

On Tuesday during our studies we heard a knock on the door and our neighbor (that lives in behind the same gate as us) went out, and we just heard "no gracias" and then our phone rang and it was President Cárdenas. He came to the house and interviewed us (we have them every other transfer). Luckily the house was very clean and I had a good talk with him. He brought my package so I have the HLJ rings and the pamphlets. Thanks a lot for that! I have already given out a few.

I think I also forgot to mention that Elder Bernal is training this transfer, so I am a Grandpa in the mission. And the best part is, he is training an Elder Stevenson. I haven't met him yet but he should be good.

On Friday we had a service project in Tuxtla in the building of La Salle (my first area). President Cárdenas invited us so we made bagged lunches for the people that are trying to get rid of dengue (I don't know how else to say that). I got to see a lot of members and 2 converts. I saw Ari who is going to serve a mission in the beginning of 2013, and Nefi that is going to leave the summer of 2013 (mission too). I was also informed that an investigator that I taught there is going to get baptized in October. Her name is Alondra. It was all like a dream - haha. But we made over 800 lunches and put them in trucks to be taken to other parts of Tuxtla, and some were eaten there as well.

On Sunday we had the stake conference. Our Bishop was called as the new stake president. He is a really good man and we will have to see who our new bishop is. Elder De Hoyos was there and gave a great talk about visiting less actives and helping the missionaries in the Lord's work. We had the baptism of Sonia after with 2 baptisms of the missionaries serving in Teopisca. Sonia was probably the investigator that was most prepared to hear the gospel that I have ever taught. She had some pretty hard problems the week before her baptism, but was really strong.

Today we went to the Registro Civil (that is why I am writing late.) Ramiro and Asunción are going to get married on Friday and baptized Sunday after church. They are really excited. They are awesome and so willing to live the gospel and make big sacrifices to follow Jesus.

This week we also started teaching another couple whose daughter got baptized a few months ago. They also need to get married but they are getting their paperwork done and saving money. Their names are Sergio and Patricia. They get so excited when we go to their house and want to get baptized so badly. Their baptismal date is for the 20th of October.

We are teaching other great people and many of them will get baptized. I am so happy, and I know this work is true and that the gospel was restored by Joseph Smith under the Lord's command.

I love you all and miss you. Have a great week!

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

Por Esto Dejará El Hombre A Su Padre Y A Su Madre

Mi Familia,

This week was a really good one. This weekend we had the Mexican Independence Day but things were quite normal. This week we taught a lot of new people. A lot of them aren't going to progress much but we found a few that may get baptized.

We are still teaching Ramiro and Asunción. We had a small miracle: Ramiro needed his birth certificate but he is studying High school and the school had a lot of his papers. On Friday, the day before he was going to renew his birth certificate, they gave them back all of their paperwork. And he said he was one of a few that got all of their papers. On Tuesday we are going to the Registro Civil to pay for the wedding and give them all of the paperwork.

Sonia is going to get baptized this Sunday at the stake conference. Almost all of the areas in the zone are going to baptize so it is going to be a special service.

Things are good here. I don't have too much more to report. I love you and miss you. I hope you have a great week!

Elder Riley Stevenson

No Os Afanéis Por Vuestra Vida, Qué Habéis De Comer O Qué Habéis De Beber

Mi Familia,

 This week was very good. My new companion Elder Rios is great. He is from Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. We get along really well and are having a lot of success and a lot of fun when we are working. He has been making breakfast so I iron and wash dishes. It is a great deal.

We invited Merieli to church this week and she went with her daughter, Eida. They are really great. We had some other people at church and we are going to start teaching them. One is the cousin of some less actives and the other works with a member and wants help because she mentioned to us that there is a man that is following her and looking for her. We don't know why he is, but we are going to teach her tomorrow.

Last night it was 8:45 and we were contacting a few blocks from the house and I had the impression that we should contact in a little store. We went in and talked with a mom and her daughter. I talked to her about the atonement and we explained to her that the law demands the life of the sinner and how Christ's sacrifice was infinite. She was very interested and she gave us soda and cookies from her store. We are going to go back this friday to teach her.

We are also teaching a boy name José. His brothers and sisters are members but his parents aren't. His mom wants to get baptized but can't because she isn't married to her husband. But she is really worried about him because he has been coming home high for a while now. She told us that she had been praying, and that in a dream an angel appeared to her and told her that if he goes to church that everything will be resolved. We started teaching him and right now he has a baptismal date for the 29th. Later today we are going to teach him.

Things are good here. I miss you and love you all. I hope you have a great week!

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

Obrando Mediante La Autoridad Que Os He Dado

Mi Familia,

Heyo. Today we have transfers and Elder Cruz is already going! He is going to Mactumatzá, the Zone where I started my mission It is a surprise and a bummer because we get along well. But Elder Rios from my generation is coming for his first cambio (change or transfer) as a Zone Leader. I know him a little and he is great. I am excited to be able to stay here another 6 weeks and keep working!

This week we had the Zone Leader Council. We talked a lot about the people that are already prepared for baptism. We also have the goal in the mission that everyone can baptize in the month of September. I know we can do it and we are working hard to be able to do it.

This week was really good. We are teaching Carmen and she is great. She isn't married but lives with a man and he is not interested in the church. She went again and just wants to read and learn more. We are trying to figure out how to help her out. She wants to get baptized. 4 years ago her son died of Cancer so we taught her where he is and how she can still live with him again. She accepts everything we say and asked us when she can make us lunch. That is a good sign.

We also are still teaching Ramiro and Asunción. They went to church and really liked it. Ramiro went to check the marriage requirements and they have all of the paper work but we are going to help them to do it and be able to get baptized. Ramiro says that he knows it is true and that nothing can hold him back. We are happy for them. They have their baptismal date for the 29th.

We are also teaching a woman named Merieli and her 2 daughters. They are very catholic but they always listen to us. She asked us about her marriage because she got married in the catholic church and then got divorced and is living with another man, and they are not married (common here in Chiapas). But anyways she was really worried because of the scripture in Matthew 19:6. We explained the authority of the priesthood and I showed her my Priesthood Lineage card that Grandma and Grandpa gave me. She looked at it and understands english so she got it all. But after she asked me to shake her hand so I did and she just held it a while and she started crying and said that what I was saying was true. I got kind of freaked out because I was thinking it was witchcraft or something but she explained that she could feel some energy and she knew I wasn't lying. We bore our testimony and we are trying to get her to church.

Things are good here and hope you all have a great week. I love you and miss you all!

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson