Trabajad, No Por La Comida Que Perece

Mi Familia,

Hey everyone, this week was good. On tuesday we had the zone conference and I learned a lot. We learned about how to teach and how important it is to... I can't remember the word. To get them to do the thing that we leave them to do like to read or to pray or live a commandment. I think it is kind of like compromise? (Editor's note: "Commit").

Wednesday night I got sick, and was really scared that I got dengue again! It was because I felt weak and had a fever. In the morning I didn't have the fever as high but I still felt sick, with a lot of stomach pain! So I called the mission doctor but he didn't answer so I had to call the mission doctor for new missionaries that don't speak spanish yet. I told him what was going on an told him that I thought it was the food on wednesday because the beef tasted a little weird. I couldn't remember how to say beef (haha) but I somehow explained it to him. I took Pepto Bismol and Tylenol and have been feeling better.

We found a lot of new investigators this week and we are really excited to start teaching them all. We are teaching a girl named Ana Michel and her family, and they are awesome. They have been looking for the true church because they were raised catholics but don't believe in a lot of the traditions. It is so special to see that the Lord prepares people for us to teach.

Yesterday we went to a little town outside of Ciudad Hidalgo, because a sister gave us a referral to visit a boy that the police is looking for. They tell us that he is innocent but I was very cautious anyway. The sister told us how she invited them to hear us, and it was a crazy story that I will explain more in the future. But it had something to do with a gun and ended with the boy crying. He is very nice and funny. We are going to see if they progress.

I am so happy to be here. I am going to Tuxtla Gutierrez this week for a meeting for the leaders of the mission! But I know this work is the Lord's and that He loves us.

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

Más Deseable Que Todas Las Cosas

Mi Familia,

So this week was really good. We got to work a lot and find a lot of new people to teach. The members are helping us a lot with referrals and going to lessons with us. Do the missionaries ever invite you guys to lessons?

This week we tried to visit Carolina, one of the women that received us last week. She was drunk the 2 times we went, I think I already mentioned that. But this week we went on saturday. It was 8:30 and all of our lessons for the day had fallen and we were feeling pretty sad so I was thinking about going home early. When we were on our street I felt like we should go with Carolina so we did. Of course I was also thinking that she might be drunk again and didn't want to see her if she was. But we went and she was sober, so we talked to her. She explained to us that her daughter died 13 years ago in February. So every year she remembers it and it makes her want to drink. I think it is a problem that she has all year long but she is more sad in this time of the year. So we taught her the Plan of Salvation and invited her to church. She went with her Granddaughter and loved it. I felt so happy that I listened to the spirit. The sister is not married (and lives with a man) but we will see what the situation is with that.

This week we also found a man that is great, his name is Doroteo. He is really funny and smart. He told us that people always go to preach to him but he doesn't like it because they aren't prepared. He asked us various questions like, who were the wives of Cain and Abel and what is the definition of proverb or psalm. We answered his questions and he looked very pleased. He said we could come back again and he accepted the Book of Mormon. He said he would read it.

We also found another man named Marcotulio. He is so funny. He works in a refrigerator repair place. He was a reference from a member in Guatemala. We found him and started teaching him. He was super interested and asked us where the chapel was and at what time and told us he would go. We explained to him the Book of Mormon, and he started reading it right there and just looking at it. It was really hard to teach him after that because the semi trucks pass by right there and he was just so interested in the Book Of Mormon that we gave him that it was hard to get his attention for more than a few seconds. We are going to keep teaching him this week.

Today we went to the Izapa Ruins. It is very beautiful. There are a lot of small pyramids and rocks. Including the rock of the tree of life! I don't know if you have seen it online but it is a rock that they found here by Tapachula. It is a representation of the dream of Lehi. It is pretty spectacular and a lot bigger than I thought it would be (I saw it before the mission online). I will have to send pictures of everything another week. But search that rock on google. Also many say that Lehi lived here and who knows if it is true. I would like to think that it is.

Stela 5, Izapa Ruins - "The Tree of Life"

This week I have been studying about the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement. I think it was Bruce R. McConkie that said that we have to understand all three because it isn't possible to understand one without understanding the other 2. I have learned so much. Because of the fall and the atonement, we can live in a better state than the garden of Eden, but it is necessary for us to live in a lower state right now. I am grateful for the creation, the fall, and the atonement. I know that they really happened, and that God is the author of the Plan of Salvation.

I am happy and I hope you guys are too. Thanks for the letters that I got! The "dear elders" were so fun to read. I love you and miss you!

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

Benditos Son Aquellos Que Son Fieles Y Perseveran

Mi Familia,

This week was really good. I went to Tuxtla and stayed, and in the night it got so cold! I woke up in the morning and couldn't sleep very well. We had our capacitación (training) on Tuesday and traveled to Tapachula, then got here wednesday in the afternoon. My companion is Elder Bernal, from Chalco, Estado de Mexico. He is great. He spent most of his life as a less active but has 2 years going to church. I am glad he decided to come on the mission. He is great and is really willing to learn and excited to work.

Baptism of Teodora and Misael

We found a lot of new people this week. Three nights in a row, we had the last contact of the day let us in and listen to a message. It was very special to see that our Heavenly Father blesses us when we endure to the end of every day! One of the people we found is Gabriela, and she already read the Book of Mormon with missionaries before. She was 12 and read it in one month. We found her when we were looking for another Gabriela, a referral.

Elder Stevenson with Elder Cubillos, sick in the hospital

Another woman we found is Carolina. Her daughter passed away this weekend and every time we have passed by after the first time she has been drunk. But yesterday she made us come in and "pray for her." We said a prayer and she told us she had faith that we could help her.

Elder Stevenson in the hospital with his Zone Leader, Elder Lopez, and Doctor Arriaga

The other is María, and she had her husband pass away 3 years ago. We taught her about temples and sealings. I know there are a lot of people that the Lord prepares for us and that need the gospel. The members are getting more excited to work as well and I have just been really happy this week.

I don't have much time but I hope everyone has a great week. I love you all and miss you, I will manage my time better next week! Sorry!

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson

Enseñaba A Cuantos Querían Oír Su Palabra

Mi Familia,

To Every Nation, Kindred, Tongue, and People

Hey guys, hope everything is good at home. Sorry about last week. I don't know what happened with the emails, I didn't have problems but they didn't seem to send.

Tuxtla Gutierrez

This week we got to work all day in the sun so that was good and I feel normal again. Thanks for your prayers and love! This past week we went to Tuxtla on Friday because my companion went to the temple because he is going home, finished the mission. We went last week because it is going to be closed this week. They told us an hour before we had to leave for Tapachula.

Baptism of Noe

This morning they called with the transfers and I am going to be training a new Elder from the MTC. I think he is Mexican but am not positive. So I leave again for Tuxtla today at 3:45 for my training on how to train, I suppose. I never get sick of that 7 hour trip (haha). It is really beautiful and I love seeing the assistants and other elders in the mission offices.

I am happy and not too nervous about training. But I hope you keep praying for me so the spirit guides me so I always know what to do! Well I have to go and get ready to go to Tuxtla so I will write more next week. I am great and I love you and miss you all. Have a great week.

Con Amor,

Elder Riley Stevenson