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