Cambios en Ocotito

Hola Familia!

It was another good week in La Gran Misión México Cuernavaca! Today we had changes and I´m staying in Ocotito with a new companion, Elder Lopez, from Guatamala City, Guatamala! Also, Elder Stevens, one of CCM companions, got transferred to the Chilpancingo Zone as well which is sweet. Elder Silva and I got along well and I learned a lot from him, but I was ready for a change of things and I have a feeling Elder Lopez and I are going to work even more effectively together.

Elder Lopez, 20,  converted to the Church when he was 17. He has 16 months in the mission. His parents are non-members and his siblings are less-active in the Church. I met him for the first time in Cuernavaca when we got called to be trainers and then I saw him again when we first got called to be district leaders. I already have a lot of respect for him.

This week, I went on exchanges with Elder Chiquete in Chilpancingo and Ocotito while our companions went to leadership counsel. Also, I finally decided to repent and clean the house this week and I´ll have to send pics next week because it´s so much better. I was scared to send some before because it was pretty nasty hahaha.

Other than that, there´s not much more to say this week, but we found some NICE nuevos that I´m excited to start teaching. Excited to get to work with Elder Lopez! Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Tucker

pics-

View in Chilpancingo

Hermanas y Sombreros

Elder Silva and I with a member in Chilpo that has a ton of sombreros

Compa nuevo mientras escribir

!Bautismos en Ocotito!

Hola Familia!

First of all, Happy Birthday Dad! You´re the best and I love you so much.

Another great week down in La Gran Misión México Cuernavaca! It´s been starting to rain pretty often now and I´m loving it. Yesterday, I completed 8 months as a missionary and 3 of mine and Elder Silva´s investigators were baptized and confirmed this weekend!

Marlen, 28, is a single mother of 4 that lives in a town in our area called Tierra Colorado (Colored Earth). It´s only about a 20 minute taxi ride from our house, but it always feels like it´s about 15 degrees hotter over there. Anyway, Marlen has known about the Church for a while, but has had a bunch of family, financial, and spiritual difficulties that have impeded her from progressing. She has a long story. Her four kids come from 4 different fathers. Elder Silva and I have worked to help Marlen understand and achieve true repentance. Through many commitments and perseverence on both ends, Marlen passed her baptismal interview with President Ávila. Only in certain cases do investigators have to interview with the mission president. She is now one of the most sincerely repentant women that I´ve had the privilege of knowing. Last week, after attending stake conference, she shared with us that she felt more peace, comfort, and joy that she had felt in a long time and that she knows the Church is true.

Jazmin, 11, is Marlen's second daughter, and she´s so awesome. She´s a bit shy and hides her face when she prays or reads scriptures in front of us, but she completes all the commitments we leave with her and has a strong testimony. I was shocked to see her walk up to the pulpit in front of the whole branch this Sunday to bear her testimony during sacrament meeting, the same sacrament meeting that she had been confirmed a member of the Church. But then she roasted me after Church when she said, Elder Tucker, why didn't you bear your testimony? hahaha

The only other child of Marlen that is old enough to be baptized is Rosa, 13. Rosa is really great too, but she´s had some very hard situations in the past that have lead her to have some psychological problems. It´s hard for her to trust men, especially new ones that come into her live like me, so she wasn't baptized this weekend, but we´ll keep working to help her. She attended the baptisms and confirmations of her mom and sister this weekend and was sad because she realized she wanted to be baptized too. I´ll keep you posted on the progress. I´m not giving up because part of our purpose as missionaries is to unite families.

Nora, 58, is a street contact of Elder Silva and his last companion. She´s a widow. She has the best personality and the best laugh. Reminds me a lot of Margie Aslett. She´s a golden investigator. Gives great prayers which almost always lead to tears.

Great, great week. I am learning so much from Elder Silva. My testimony is stronger than ever. The work moves on! Excited for what´s ahead.

Love,

Élder Tucker

1,2- baptisms

                                                                    3- Perfect Companions

Letter Number Two:  

Hi Mom! Sounds like fun at the new house! Sweet that you made Al Pastor, it´s my favorite. Yes, sometimes we have guacamole! Sweet that Alcatraz is coming up! You´re thoughts about the temple are so true. Keep going!

Sometimes as members, we think, that there are two parts to the Church- Missions and Local. This isn´t true at all, missionaries and members are part of the same Church. In order to have the most success en building God´s Kingdom, we must work together and have the same purpose. Sometimes it can be scary or hard to share the Gospel with someone because we fear that we could risk losing someone as a friend. Our friends are sons and daughters of the same Father in Heaven and they need what we have. 

Other times, we think, this person could never repent or accept the Gospel. When we say or think those things it is a lack of faith. Not only that, but its as if we said to Jesus Christ himself, your atonement wasn't enough for that person, you should've have suffered more in the Garden of Gethsemane. He already paid for the sins of the world. Have the faith that all can accept and be redeemed of Him. 

I've meet a lot of really humble people on the mission her in Mexico. Through all their trials, they find strength in the Gospel. Also, I´ve realized that Heavenly Father is always helping and serving us, especially when we serve others. The times where I have felt like I´ve been doing the most to serve others on my mission are the times when I´ve received the most support from my Father in Heaven.

One of my zone leaders is named Elder Carter from Independence Missouri, and his grandpa served a mission with Grandpa Funk in Brazil in 1956! Heres a pic of us.

Love you Mom

Elder Tucker

Quick One Today

Hola Familia!

Wow, I was not looking at the time at all while I was reading and responding to emails and don't have much time, but this was another good week in the Gran Misión México Cuernavaca!

I was feeling a little down these past couple weeks thinking things like: Why don´t I have just a perfect answer to every question possible about the Gospel? Why didn't I prepare more before the mission? Why don't I have more baptisms/success in the mission?

But then I realized something. All of those thoughts and questions are about me. The mission has nothing to do about me or my needs, but the children of God in this part of the world that I am called to serve.

What I and every missionary should focus on more is being as diligent and obedient as possible. Success in all aspects comes with time. Thoughts of discouragement, doubt, and impatience come directly from the adversary.

I'm committing myself to be more diligent and patient.

Thanks for all the love and support always. That´s all I have time to write this week, but it´s all great out here. I learn an incredible amount everyday and I never thought that my testimony could grow so much. There´s no doubt in my mind that this church is true.

Love,

Elder Tucker

The Zoo!

Hola Familia!

I don't have a ton of time, but this week was good, only a little bit of a bummer because Elder Silva and I almost didn't have time in our area this week.

Last Pday, we visited the zoo in Chilpancingo. Super sweet. I can`t remember the last time I went to the zoo.

On Tuesday, we did exchanges with the zone leaders. I´ve really loved all the zone leaders I´ve had so far in the mission. They´re always super chill and super effective in missionary work. I learn a lot from them.

Thursday, we had a  multi-zone conference in Iguala. And I realized how grateful I am to be in of the zones with the best weather in the mission because Iguala is HOT.

Saturday, we had a rescue activity in the sister`s area, Heroico. Still getting used to being in a district and zone with sister missionaries. Hahaha so weird.

Today, we played soccer as a zone at synthetic grass soccer field. Super fun!

I`m still positive and happy to be out here. This week should be nice because we´re going to work really hard in our area. Thanks for all the love and support.

Love,

Elder Tucker

¡Felíz Día de Las Madres!

Hola Familia!

Happy late Mother's Day to all the moms out there, especially mine! I love you so much, Mom. It was so good to skype the whole Fam for a little bit yesterday. Mothers in all parts of the world are amazing. They do so much and love unconditionally. I know that missionary work isn't easy, but I'm convinced that being a Mother is the hardest calling out there. Heavenly Father loves and blesses all mothers.

Ocotito has been so sweet these couple weeks. We're a lot more productive throughout each day going from lesson to lesson to lesson and we're about to start seeing the fruits of our labors.

In other news, Maria, Rosa, and Lorena Hernández were baptized and confirmed this weekend in Jamiltepec by my trainee, Elder Tilley, and his new companion just as planned! I'll forward the pic.

Saturday, I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time in spanish. What caught my attention this time around is the importance of prophets. God always has and always will call a man to be his mouthpiece on the earth. And we can always know that we are taking the right path when we listen to and follow the prophet. Anytime the people in the Book of Mormon prospered in the land, it was because they listened to the prophets. Anytime they fell, it was because they rejected the words of the prophets. This is applicable for us today. We have a living prophet in Thomas S. Monson. We must heed to his counsel to be guided through a world full of iniquity. Joseph Smith also was a prophet of God. Through him, Jesus Christ restored His Church. There's no doubt in my mind that this is that Church. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary in the México Cuernavaca Mission and to share this truth.


Love,
Elder Tucker

El inicio de algo nuevo, OCOTITO!

Hola Familia,

It was another great week in La Gran Misión México Cuernavaca with my new companion Elder Silva in our area Ocotito!

Ocotito is a small town one hour outside of Chilpancingo. But our area covers a ton of other towns in it up to 2 hours away by taxi and it´s one of the biggest areas in the mission. Luckily, Elder Silva is in his 6th transfer here and knows the area pretty well. The Ocotito Branch is the oldest in the stake, and the stake is mainly wards. But, we have a church building which is nice! Went to my first ward counsel meeting on Sunday since in Jamiltepec, they never did them. Our house is ok haha, it´s two stories but the owners live on the second floor. We have a treadmill and a basketball hoop. I'll send some pics next week. There were about 35 people at church this Sunday. I really enjoyed testimony meeting and shared mine. The second counselor of the branch presidency, Ricardo, and his family met the missionaries in the United States when the lived there for a time and is really great. His wife is the Relief Society president. The people here are generally more well-off financially than the people in Jamiltepec. I finally got the opporunity to teach lessons INSIDE people's houses this week instead of in front and outside. Our area is surrounded by mountains and super cool, but it´s kinda dry right now, I'm sure it gets a lot more green and pretty when the rainy season comes (June-August).

This week, I felt like I didn´t get to talk very much because Elder Silva already has so much time here and knows people really well. I also probably just gotta get used to the change haha, sometimes my mind was still in Jamiltepec or other places. But Elder Silva is so chill. I'm sure he was a great guy before but he seems like that classic missionary that's about to finish who has just totally changed for the better on his mission. We should be successful together. We have some investigators that our progressing towards baptism.

Other news of the week is that yesterday, our Zone had a quick meeting with President Ávila and he announced that now, investigators are required to attend church only 3 times (sometimes 2) instead of 5 times before they can be baptized. Sounds good to me! hahaha

It was overall a good week, but I bet this week will be a lot better! If we don't have a positive attitude, it's a lack of faith! Always do what you know you should and build your faith and testimony. Can't wait to Skype with the fam and especially Mom for Mother´s Day!!!

Love,

Elder Tucker

1, birthday cake that Elder Silva bought for me and the district

2, branch building

3,4, if you ever wondered how a pineapple grew (like i did)

5, Sister Lolita and I. This cute 70 year old member of the branch that lives on her own and goes on visits with us! Even though she can´t hear us half the time, she is amazing!

¡Mi primer cambio: Ocotito, Guerrero!

​¡Hola Familia!

Thank you for all the happy birthday wishes!!! I couldn´t believe how many people remembered and sent me loving messages! 19!!!!! Hahaha crazy. I feel old.

Well, Saturday night the zone leaders called me and told me that I had changes and just now, I arrived to Chilpancingo which is the capital of Guerrero, 8 hours from Jamiltepec! We don´t go to my new area, Ocotito, until tomorrow, but so far, the Chilpancingo Zone feels like a completely different mission. The weathers cool like Cuernavaca which is great because we just entered into the hottest month of the year and it's a real city haha. My new companion is Elder Silva from Monterrey and he has 21 months in the mission and is the district leader. I´m actually chill with not training or being district leader right now because I´ll have more time to focus on our area and what I can do to learn and improve.

It was a little sad to leave all the members and investigators that had been my family for 6 months in Jamiltepec, but they´re in good hands with Elder Tilley and his new companion!

I don´t think I could be more excited to work with Elder Silva in my new area, Ocotito! My first impression of Elder Silva: amable (kind) . And the spanish is only gonna get even better which is nice.

That´s all for this week! I'll tell all about the new changes next week! Thanks for all the love and support! This is a good birthday, not lying!

Love,

Elder Tucker

pics-

Kitten sleeping in my arms at the Hernández Family´s house

Final Activity this Saturday in the Casa de Oración for El Día de Niño

Rogelio, the second counselor in the branch presidency in Jami. Le voy a extrañar mucho!​

2-6 The house in Jamiltepec

Elder Silva, my new companion

Ocotito Guerrero, Mexico 

¿Quien dijo que los Mexicanos no fueran honestos?

¡Hola Familia!

Wow, I didn't even realize that I have no time to write today, but anyway it was another good week in La Gran Misión México Cuernavaca, a little lethargic, but good. I´m starting to discover that anytime I feel not as effective or not motivated in something is when I´m not focusing on the LITTLE THINGS. 

I don´t think that any aspect of missionary work is meant to be done just to be done. But that it´s supposed to be done with enthusiasm! We are called by a prophet of God to preach the Gospel in some part of the world for only 2 short years. Exercise, personal and companionship study, daily planning, contacting, working in the area book, doing accountability with the leaders are some of the LITTLE THINGS we do as missionaries that can make all the difference throughout each day. I think this also applies to life outside of the mission.

I know that´s not a very good explanation of what I wanna say, but you get what I mean. There´s a scripture that says that by small and simple means, great things shall come to pass. And I can´t testify enough the truth of that statement. Don´t settle with only accomplishing the few important things of each day, but try to make the most of every opportunity we have to improve. I don´t mean to step on a soapbox when I say this or anything, but these are just my thoughts for the day.

Quick story: today, I dropped my wallet when we were walking in the street. When I finally realized that I had lost it, we retraced our steps until we passed a store were this young woman stopped us and asked me if I was looking for a wallet. I said yes and she said someone that had found it in the street gave it to her and she returned it to me without any money taken out if it! Who said that Mexicans weren't honest? hashtag bendiciones.

Hahahah thanks for all the love and support. Some of those emails I read this week, I really need to hear. Love you all so much and have a great week! Focus on the LITTLE THINGS that you can do to be better.

Love,

Elder Tucker

 Foto de Conferencia de Zona

Foto de Conferencia Visita de elder Pieper

Milagros

¡Hola Familia!

It was another good week in La Gran Misión México Cuernavaca!

To start things off, we have this new investigator, Areli, who is really, really great! Areli is a street contact of Elder Murrane and I when we were doing divisions in Jamiltepec. We had just got done introducing ourselves to her when she says "where's your church? What time are the services? I wanna attend this Sunday!" 

At first, I was thinking it was too good to be true because a lot of people out here will say stuff like that and not follow through, but when we passed by her house that Sunday to walk with her to church, there she was waiting for us! 

Wednesday this week, we visited her for the first time in her home and shared the message of the Restoration. She was super interested and loving it, and the best part is Elder Tilley was participating a lot in the lesson and even extended the baptismal invitation which she accepted! Areli also attended the Casa de Oración this Sunday and we have a return appointment to visit her on Thursday. Areli's life isn't perfect. She has never had a good relationship with her family and she's made some bad life decisions. She told us on Wednesday that she had been praying for God to send someone to help her and that's when we showed up and started inviting her to come to Christ. 

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be teaching her and I'm so grateful for the Light that the Gospel can bring into our lives. I know that in no way is Areli progressing in the Gospel because of me, but because of the message that I share as a missionary and because Heavenly Father prepares His children to receive the Gospel. I know that the message we share with her in the next couple weeks will change her life forever.

Also, on Saturday, we visited the Hernández Family again (the family of our recent converts, Francisco and Roberto) and we saw the blessings of not giving up hope and continuing to visit them because Rosa, Lorena, and the mother, María are all interested again and have accepted baptismal dates! It will be May 13th, the same as Areli, because the sisters, Rosa and Lorena want to wait to be baptized with their mom who still needs the discussions and to attend church three more times.

Yesterday, in Priesthood meeting, Francisco and Roberto received the Aaronic Priesthood! It was a little crazy because I thought the elders quorum president was going to ordain them, but then at the last second, Francisco wanted me to confer him, so I ripped open my missionary handbook for 10 seconds to remember how to confer the Priesthood and I did it! hahaha! But it really is so beautiful to see this family become converted to the Gospel. The father passed away a couple weeks ago and it´s been hard for them, but now, Francisco and Roberto will be able to baptize their sisters and mother into the Church and soon they can go to the temple and start his temple work. Such a blessing.

Those are the highlights of this week and I'm pumped to keep working, learning, and progressing out here on the mish! Thanks for all the love and support and have a great week!

Isaías 9:6

Love,

Elder Tucker

Los Cocos, La Diligencia y La Conferencia General

¡Hola Amada Familia Mia!

This week was another very good week for me in my mission and my life. It´s difficult out here, I don´t think any mission is easy, but the mission is always filled with so many little tender mercies that are always enough to keep me esforzando.

Thursday we visited the Hernández Hernández Family and showed them the video The Lamb of God which I downloaded on my USB. Afterwards, their cousin, Ricardo, came over with his machete to climb their 30 foot palm tree and cut down some coconuts. I was so impressed how easily and quickly he could climb it without ropes or anything to help him. This all happened when it was getting dark outside so I couldn´t even see when I was almost taken out by one of the coconuts that fell right between my legs! Thankfully, that´s probably the most dangerous thing that`s happened to me since I´ve been en México. Also, the coconuts were SO good! I`m a little confused how there´s so many good coconuts, mangos, etc. here right now when it hasn´t rained once during in my time in Jamiltepec, but oh well, I´m cool with it.

Friday, Elder Tilley and I taught our english class in La Casa de Oración. 4 members and one non-member showed up. We didn´t have time to contact the non-member as she had to leave right after the lesson but we will continue teaching the classes and hope that she and more people will come!

Saturday and Sunday we watched all sessions of General Conference in the chapel in Pinotepa. So many great messages were shared and I hope you all had the opportunity to hear them. Something I didn´t know before was that the translators for all of the speakers don´t have the script, but have to listen and translate every word live. Talk about the gift of the interpretation of tongues! It was also powerful listening because sometimes the Spirit hits the translators at different points of the talk than the speakers and you can hear them getting emotional. Also Sunday, I did my first baptismal interviews as district leader for America and Nereida Mendoza Valentin. They probably were the easiest baptismal interviews for someone doing their first interviews because America and Nereida are sisters of 10 and 11 years old. Anyways, they passed and will be baptized this Saturday!

As of right now, the closest investigator Elder Tilley and I have to baptism is Diana. If you remember, Diana is an investigator of Elder Noh and I and other missionaries, but she could never get baptized because she wasn´t married to her boyfriend that lives with her. Elder Noh and I taught them the importance of marriage and families and they were finally about to get married when José, the boyfriend, started having a ton of drinking problems. Diana has been progressing ever since the first missionaries met with her and wants to be baptized. Elder Tilley and I have continued to meet with her and she made the decision that she will find more temporal and eternal hapiness if she splits up with him and is baptized. Long story short, they´re splitting up now and it´s sad, but the good news is Diana will be ready for her baptism when he actually leaves, which should be this week.

Tomorrow, I complete 6 months as a missionary! I´ll be honest, these 6 months didn´t feel like they were going by that fast, but when I think about already being one-fourth of the way done with these two years, I start thinking wow, I really gotta keep doing everything I can with the time I have because this is my only opportunity to give everything I have to the Lord and the people of México!

Thank you for all the love and support! I know the Jesus Christ lives, I know that this is His Church, and that Thomas S. Monson is His Prophet.

¡Tenga una buena semana!

Remember that Conference isn´t just something we listen to every 6 months, but something we should study throughout the whole year!

 La Rama de Jamiltepec en Pinotepa para la Conferencia General

Another member´s new puppy

Carne Asada that we had with the Elder's Quorum 

Hermana Dalia´s baby, chillin in a hammock

A dog and her puppies napping in Jami

Los Guapos de Jamiltepec, Hermano Victor y yo

La Canchita, a restraurant in Pino that sells the biggest tortas I´ve ever seen

¡Muchas responsabilidades!

Hola Familia!

This week was going pretty good until all of our investigators, like my fellow Mexican missionary Elder Trender would say, choked in the 4th quarter and didn´t make it to church. I felt pretty lousy because I felt like it was because I haven´t been a good enough missionary, but it´s all good. All I can do is keep working hard and keep my hopes up. We had some great lessons this week nonetheless.

Friday, I gave my first training as district leader in the Pinotepa zone training meeting and I was a little nervous but it went well! I really like my zone and district. Everyone´s working hard and building their branches out here and I think we´re going to have a lot of success this change!

Saturday, interviews with Presidente y Hermana Ávila again. I always love my interviews with them! But I realized that I need to be doing more to help Elder Tilley. We get along fine but I need to teach him more and include him in everything. Sometimes I get too focused on things and I realize I´m not fulfilling my job as trainer by including him. These next weeks will be better. It´s all part of the learning process as a missionary. Learning from your mistakes and staying motivated!

As we approach General Conference weekend, I invite you all to prepare yourselves mentally and spiritualy to listen to the living prophets of today! What an amazing opportunity we have to be lovingly counseled and directed by men who literally speak the words of the Lord. Also, remember when I was in the CCM and heard a talk from Elder Bednar about how we should take notes in Conference? Well he said that we should divide our notes into three sections: one for doctrine and principles that are shared; another for the invitations to act; and another for the promised blessings. I know that if we take notes like this during conference, we can better analyze what is being said to us and why.

Sorry, but I don´t have any more time to talk about investigators or send pics, but have a great week and enjoy Conference!

Love,

Elder Tucker

El Patriarca de Pinotepa

Hola Familia!

So we had changes and it´s all been great! Elder Tilley and I are staying in Jamiltepec which is good because we should be able to make a lot of progress in these next six weeks. Also, Elder Murrane got made zone leader in Pinotepa so I´m pumped that I`ll still be seeing and working with him. I now am officialy the Elder with the most time in the Pinotepa Zone so they call me The Patriarch.

As district leader my new reponsibilities are to do accountability with the missionaries in my district and to report to the zone leaders. I also will conduct district meetings every week, go on exchanges, and do the baptismal interviews for everyone in my district.

Becuase we didn´t have a lot of time in our area this week, there´s not a whole lot to talk about. With more responsibilities, I sometimes feel a little stressed or incapable, but I have so many great resources and leaders to turn to for help. I know that if I just continue working hard and staying focused I will be successful with my assignments and as a missionary in general. President Ávila told me that one of the many things I can learn in these moments of my mission is to perfect my obdience. I think that obedience is how we prove our desires to be righteous to our Father in Heaven.Often times, God is just waiting for us to obey a commandment so that He can pour out more blessings into our life. That`s why Satan tries so hard to tempt us and keep us from being obedient. Because he knows how much more happier and better we will be if we follow Jesus Christ and keep His commandments.

Gracias por todo su amor y apoyo. Tenga una buena semana!

Alma 41:10


Love,

Elder Tucker

pics-

1, The son of the owner of our apartment building, saved a puppy in the street and is keeping it. His name is Bobby.

2, Elder Tilley drinking his first Arizona haha

¡El Nuevo Líder de Distrito!

Hola Familia!

Sorry I couldn´t write Monday, but it was because Sunday, I received a call from the APs that I´m going to be made a new district leader next change (starting Monday, March 20) and I had to travel to Cuernavaca to receive a training. I don´t know what else is going to happen this change, but I´m guessing that I´m going to finish training Elder Tilley in Jamiltepec! We also had Elder Tilley´s halfway training today in Cuernavaca so I haven´t spent any time in our area this week unfortunately.

I´m so thankful for the trust that the Lord and President Ávila have in me to give me this assignment. I´m so excited for what´s in store!

Thanks for the love and support!

Love,

Elder Tucker

Thanks for the letter, Mom! So cool to hear about Wes! And I´m so happy for Brooklyn Taylor, that was actually one of my dream missions before. I think I might've gotten one letter from Sister MacMickens. Sounds like Ghana was a great experience. There´s not very many kids in Jamiltepec, but they´re so funny haha. Always eating candy with chili power. The Work is good! Sometimes I feel inadequate, but I know those are just feelings from the adversary. I hope we can make a lot of progress this next change.

Sad to her about Grandma, but I´m glad you´re visiting and spending time with her. I´ll keep her in my prayers.

Fotos de la conferencia de Zona

El Entrenador Misionero en Santiago Jamiltepec, Oaxaca

¡Hola Familia!

Another great week as a missionary en La Gran Misión!

Monday we had interviews with Presdiente y Hermana Ávila in Pinotepa. They are both so loving and inspired. I´m convinced we have the best mission president in el mundo. My interviews with him are always short and chill. I´m assuming it´s because he likes and trusts me. Perhaps one day I´ll understand, but it´s not a language barrier issue, it´s something bigger.

Tuesday we had a zone conference in Pino with the Ávilas and the assistants. I especially liked when President said that as missionaries we are promised that the field is white already to harvest. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next transfer, but today! Maybe Elder Tilley and I are a couple of 18 year olds that aren`t perfect teachers, but that doesn't effect the truth of our message. We can bring the Lord´s escogidos to the Light.

Something that´s been on my mind lately is that the most successful missionary is the one that is completely converted to Jesus Christ, because if we are converted, our will is the will of the Lord and we are made instruments in his hands. And an instrument in the hands of the Lord is more effective than anything!

Elder Tilley and I found another family this week that is bien receptiva. Juan Carlos and Jessica Morales are 25 and 26 years old. They have three little kids and are very religious. They`re members of la iglesia pentecostesa, but are interested and willing to investigate la iglesia mormóna haha. We`ll visit them this week with another young member family and hope that they can progress. I have a great feeling about them!

Religion has been a big part of the history of Jamiltepec. Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, Christian, whatever, if you`re not religious, it`s usually because you don´t want to be because so many missionaries of other faiths have already passed by here. That means that most of the people that are willing to listen to us have a deep background in some religion. Which can be good and bad in some ways. I´m glad to be here. I continue to learn and improve a lot everyday. My trainee is doing good. I need to do a better job of helping him to have more confidence in his Spanish, but we´re working hard!


Thanks for the love and support!

¡El campo blanco esta ya para la siega!

Love,
Elder Tucker

I Love You 

Mis Primeros Bautismos

¡Hola Mi Querida Familia!

What an amazing week to be a missionary in La Gran Misión!

Elder Tilley and I baptized and confirmed converts Roberto and Francisco Hernández Hernández in the Casa de Oración this week!

Francisco and Roberto were contacts of Elder Noh and I that we found on Christmas Eve. We originally walked passed Francsico, 20, cutting grass in front of his house, but I felt a prompting to go back and contact him. I know that it was a prompting from the Spirit because he was super interested and invited us in to talk to him more about the Plan of Salvation. When we sat down on his porch, that´s when we met his older brother, Roberto, 21, who was also super interested and accepted a return visit. They come from a Catholic background but were never very active, and Francisco noticed some differences between the Bible and the Catholic Church which caused him to not believe. In the first lesson, the Spirit was incredibly strong and they both accepted baptismal dates! They both progressed so fast and started attending church right away. After Elder Noh left, Elder Tilley and I taught them all the commandments and got them ready to be baptized. It´s been so amazing to be made an instrument in the hands of the Lord to bring Roberto and Francisco to the Lord´s Church. They are so great.

We´re also teaching their younger sisters, Rosa, 18, and Lorena, 12, who aren`t progressing as fast, but we`re hoping with the examples of their older brothers, they will be baptized and confirmed in the coming weeks as well.

Todo está super bien! I`m happy and motivated to keep working hard, improve, and bring many more of God`s children to His Church en México!

¡Los amo mucho! Tenga una buena semana.


Love,
Elder Tucker

Aprendiendo y Mejorando

Hola Familia!

Unfortunately, I don´t have a lot of time to write again this week. But it was another great week to be a missionary!

My new companion and trainee is Elder Tilley from Flowermound, Texas and he is really great. He never studied Spanish before his mission so he's about as green as it gets but he is always ready to work hard and learn without complaint! I know that we're going to learn a lot together and through diligence and obedience, we're going to perform miracles.

When we first got back to Jamiltepec, we went straight to work. The first couple of days we're pretty hard because I just had a bunch of thoughts that I was inadequate and not ready for all this responsibility. Now, I already feel a lot better. We're staying busy and making progress. I have confidence in myself, in my Spanish, and in my knowledge of the Gospel. I still have an endless amount of things to learn and improve, but I'm excited for these next couple weeks!

Thank you for your love and support.

Love,
Elder Tucker

The photos below were taken from the email from one of Scott's companions....