Los Que Han Venido Hasta Acá, Quédense En Estas Regiones

Mi Familia,

The transfers got here this morning and I am not getting transferred. Big surprise. Now I think I had already explained that President always changes us for our last transfer to senior comp but I asked the assistant that gave me the transfers and said the President tried to change me but he didn´t feel good about it. So... I am staying here my last transfer! I am so happy and I think we are going to have a lot of success this last cambia.

As for my companion, he is going to Tuxtla. My new companion will be Elder Bernal, the missionary I trained. I am so happy to be able to be with him my last transfer. That means I am going to end the mission with 3 areas. Unheard of. But I have loved that because I get to see the progress in the area and get to know the members very well. And to answer Mom's question, I did say bye to all of the members and investigators haha. Everyone thinks I am leaving.

Fruit I tried this week, Granadilla. Translation, alien eggs in an orange peel.

This week was a good one. First of all, I forgot to mention that I got my visa renewed last week. It expired in March haha. But it is good for a year so I can come to Mexico till November of 2013. While I was in Tuxtla I saw some members that I helped activate in La Salle. They are doing great.

Keveck's Baptism

On Tuesday we got a call from Elder Utt saying that we needed to go back home because there was a huge protest. We were at the chapel because we were going to have a meeting with the district leaders. We went home and took the district leader and his comp to our house because it is close to the chapel. The Elders from Ocosingo had to get out of their taxi and travel back home. The protesters were Zapatistas. It is a huge army that protects the indigenous people. There was a huge up rise in 1994 were hundreds were killed here and in neighboring cities  They weren't going to hurt anyone but they were carrying sticks and machetes. They crossed a few schools parades because it was Revolution Day here in Mexico. The parade stopped and everyone was closing their stores and hiding. Nothing happened, we just had to stay 2 hours at home. We are fine don't be worried about this!

Baptism of Jatziti (left) and Yaneri (right)

Victor and Angeles, the investigators that won the court case got the sentence from the judge and when Victor gets divorced they will be able to be married right after. They are so happy. If all goes well, they will get baptized this month.

Jatziti and Family

Also we ate in a Chinese buffet here with a member, and I found out this week that the owner is the cousin of Jackie Chan. Cool right?

This week I baptized two niños inscritos (I don't remember what they are called in english) The bishop had us teach them the lessons before their baptism so that they could have a spiritual experience. Their names are Jatziti and Keveck. Keveck's full name is Keveck Steve Anderson Santacruz Cachiguango. One of the most bizarre and stylish names I have ever heard of.

Yaneri and Family

Yaneri was also baptized. She is the cousin of Jatziti. She is a great girl and is going to be a great member.

Things are great here. I love you and miss you. I hope you have a great week!
Love,

Elder Riley Stevenson

Y Hubo Muchos Grandes Milagros Que Se Efectuaron

Mi Familia,

This week was one of miracles.

Víctor and Ángeles have been going to church for almost a year now. They haven't been able to be baptized because Víctor is married to another woman that wanted 50,000 pesos from him so she would sign the divorce papers. they have been in a hard court cases but this week they found out that they won the case. They will soon be divorced, married, and baptized.

Carmen, another investigator that I have taught has not been able to be baptized because her husband who is very catholic didn't want to get married. He got sick with an appendicitis and they talked this week and he said that when he is better they are going to get married and she will be baptized. That will probably take place in January. She has not missed a week of church for almost 3 months.

We invited Esperanza, that was a Jehovah's Witness, to pray this week to know if God exists and if he loves us and knows us. She did so and received a strong spiritual confirmation and knows that he exists. The JW's had told her that God would not listen to her because of the sins that she has committed. She wants to be baptized but also has to get divorced and then married. Her daughter, Yaneri, also received her answer. She was sick and asked God to heal her. She said she felt better after and didn't miss a day of school. We invited her to be baptized and she is going to be baptized this Sunday with her cousin, that is 8 years old (niño inscrito? I don't know how to say that.*) She wasn't going to church but we have been visiting the family and they are getting active.

Asunción, that we baptized about 2 months ago is Patricia's aunt (Patricia was baptized about a month ago) They didn't know each other, but Asunción spoke at Patricia's baptism and they found out later that they are family members.

Guadalupe, the daughter of Manuel told us about a dream her sister had. She said that her sister saw Manuel with his wife (that was an active member with a temple recommend) walking together in the Spirit World, in Paradise. I am happy that he could accept the gospel in this life and that he is happy now.

Well I don't have much time, this work is true and I love being a part of it. I hope you all have a great week, I love you and miss you. Happy birthday Dad!

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

* Child of Record

Los Élderes De Esta Iglesia Enseñarán Los Principios De Mi Evangelio

Mi Familia,

This week was really good. We have been very busy. So we spent a lot of time traveling. We gave trainings here and in Ocosingo. I told Dad but Ocosingo is about 2 hours away from Palenque. There is transport that charges under 4 bucks to get there. So I think this is the closest I have been to Trevor!

Our investigator, Sergio got in a motorcycle accident on monday morning (5th) and he was pretty beat up. He couldn't move and we couldn't see him while he was at the hospital. Luckily he is home now and doing a lot better. It was pretty serious, he was in a city called Teopisca and they had to transfer him over here for more care. he couldn't move. He starts work today. On monday we visited his wife and kids, they were scared but things are good now. We got to help them figure out some of the paperwork because he was working when it happened, a member helped out. He is going to be baptized this saturday if everything turns out well.

We found some more investigators this week and they are great people. I love teaching the gospel!

It is getting cold here, and we are getting in the Christmas spirit. We also found a small Christmas tree in the old house so we are enjoying that. It has lights. So don't worry about not having the christmas tree when I get home.

I am finally going to renew my visa tomorrow in Tuxtla. It expired in just over 8 months ago. Luckily I look Mexican, right?

I love this work and know it is true. I know that I represent the true church of Christ.

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

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

Aumentaréis En El Conocimiento De La Gloria De Aquel Que Os Creó

Mi Familia,

This week was very special. I have been so busy but good. On Friday Elder Daniel Johnson came to the stake center here. We had a great meeting with him. We sang the special musical number "How Great Thou Art." We sang the first verse in English, the second was sung in Tzotzil, and the third we all sang in Spanish. Our mission president was crying and Elder Johnson said it was marvelous. Then he asked a lot about our hour of language study and said that it was the first zone conference he has been to where everyone studies well for that hour. It was great. He talked to us about our Heavenly Father and how we should teach our investigators about Him. I learned a lot from the conference.

On Saturday we had the zone leader council and Elder Johnson was also there. He talked a lot about all of the missionaries that we will be receiving in these next few months. He said that in Mexico more young women sent their papers than young men, and that we might have more sisters serving missions than elders someday. Looks like the mission is going to triple in size before too long as well. Elder Johnson said that he asked the missionary department for 100 sisters and 270 Elders here In Tuxtla. In the Zone Leader Council he told us that we were sent on the mission in this time to prepare the other missionaries for this great change in the work. I am excited to see the changes and see the work grow.

We are working hard here. I can't believe how fast the time goes. I feel like there is so much to do here. We are going to have more time to teach this week, which is great.

Yesterday we brought a family of five to church. They are so great. They are humble but want to learn more about the gospel. The dad's name is Magín, and the mom is Peri. They have three daughters. 2 are small (Monserrat and Valeria), and Yaneri is 16. They liked it, and I think they made some friends there.

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

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson