Happy Pioneer Day

HAPPY PIONEER DAY! This week I completed one year in the mission! This was an amazing week!! So much happened in so little time. Tuesday morning at 6:30 I was in the ADO bus station in Teziutlan and then two hours later I was in my new house with my new companions and already getting used to the life here in the offices. We normally spend the mornings in the offices. I seriously feel like we are in an LDS version of the show The Office as seriously every day is a blast.

In the offices we are five to seven people. Elder Grundvig (who is training me), Elder Ix (who will be my companion for the next little while) The Valeros (a missionary couple who love to buy us food), and sometimes President Greer and his wife (who rarely come as they go do visits with other missionaries during the mornings), and well myself. I can honestly say I really love being in this area and I thought I would miss a ton my old area but I'm already at home here! The members here are freaking amazing. The ward reminds me of my home ward in Utah, except that everyone speaks Spanish.

We have gone to visit with this awesome family who every girl in the family is named Bianca and every boy is named Willy. There's 5 girls and 3 boys. Wut? I'm always so lost taking with all of them. But they all are so different and it's always a blast spending time with their family. Another crazy thing that happened is there was a baptism for  a little girl in the ward. Naturally the dad invited all his family. We show up and guess who was there?? One of the hermanas and her family from San Juan!! Got to say my goodbye right there in my new area! hahaha The world keeps getting smaller and smaller.

There's so many cool things you can do here in Xalapa and I'm excited to be here for a little while. I hope everything is well back in the states. Here the weather is always good with rain in the afternoons and I've heard it'll never change. I love you all and miss you tons!! There's a hymn we sang the other day and I really love the lyrics. It's number 281. I love the last verse it says, "Help me find thy lambs who wander, help me bring them to thy keep. Teach me lord to be a shepherd, Father help me feed thy sheep."

Love,

Elder Babcock

Happy Pioneer Day

Out with the old, in with the new

Transfer to Xalapa

What a super week. This week we had two amazing days of divisions. I went to work with Elder Valdez and then next to work with Elder Cobox, my old companion! Brought back some great memories and cool to see how far we´ve come as missionaries!


The next awesome thing that happened was that we had a family night in the ward where we learned how to index in Family Search. I know, at first nobody was excited. In fact everyone wanted to leave, every excuse you can think of was used. But in the end it was super cool and the most people ended up finding lots of cool people and you could definately feel the spirit there.


Then we had our Sunday services in which yours truly gave a killer talk with a bunch of planchas (lol) about the Mexico Area plan. Afterwards the stake president gave a talk and told us that in the three talks that were given before you used to word guide and serve more than thirty times. He told us we need to be people who guide and serve others to the blessings we have received. I was like, well that's why I'm here! But as members it should be the same thing. Serve and guide those who don't know the truth or have fallen away from it.


And well the last amazing thing that happened actually happened today in the morning! I got a call from the mission president and he wants me to come work in the offices as his secretary! Been serving in the Mexico Xalapa Mission and it took one year until I finally made it to Xalapa! But I'm super excited and super happy! I already know my comp. He used to be in my district and it's going to be a riot up in the offices. He's from Merida and actually he knows Brother Sorenson who teaches seminary in Stansbury. Small world right? Anyway I'm super happy for the change, I'm sad to leave behind San Juan and Elder Guzman but I know this is a super blessed area and they are going to do just fine when I'm not there! I love this work and I know this church is true! Blessings come with obedience and sacrifices!


Love,


Elder Babcock

Skunk tacos

My face when I found out I was transferring to Xalapa

Divisions with Elder Valdez

My brother on his mission in Mexico in 2013--funny how we took similar pictures!

Keep your covenants

What's up new friends, family, random dude searching the internet? Another week has passed here in the mission and it was a great one! This week the stake presidency asked up to help out the ward with some special activities and visit less active members to help them come back to church. Sadly our ward suffers from a lack of priesthood holders. Normally every Sunday my companion or myself, or both of us have to bless and help with the sacrament. It's sad as in our ward alone there are 10 families complete who have been sealed in the temple, and yet they don't want to come to church or help out with the ward activities. It's so sad to see that people have done so much and come so far just to leave it all behind.

In the baptismal interview the final question basically asks if they are prepared to take upon them the name of Christ and keep his commandments always. Our job as missionaries is invite others to come unto Christ, but not only through baptism but also through repentance, faith, enduring to the end. These are fundamentals to the growth and progress of anyone in the church. And well Elder Guzman and myself have had some amazing lessons and chances to talk with members and help them feel this same spirit they felt 10-15 or even sometimes up to 20 years ago when they were active.

I love this work and I love the gospel. I know it's true for that reason I'm here. Keep strong in what you're doing now. Be a better person today than you were yesterday. Work hard to live your baptismal covenant and if you've made bigger covenants then focus on those as well. This gospel is too precious and perfect to push to one side for wordly happiness. I love you all!

Elder Babcock

Working with members in Xiutetelco

Wowwww! Another week passed and I'm here again at the computer writing another letter. What's up world? This week was [great] and I'm loving Mexico. We recently have been working tons with two people who are looking great for their baptismal dates for the 10th and the 24th! I'm super stoked as we have had quite a few dates fall here in San Juan, a lot more than we would like. But we keep working and hoping for the best.

Happy Fourth of July for all you great and lovely people! I'm sure you all enjoyed your firework shows. Here in the United States of Mexico this holiday doesn't exist. It's crazy to think that a year ago I was in the parade for Wellsprings Pediatrics and Dr. Rich and now I'm in Mexico! Like whaaat? I also just finished filling out my visa papers again. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that means I've almost hit one year in the mission. Crazy right? I still don't believe it, and don't want to believe it, but life goes on. It's scary to think that in one year I'll be in my house again. I actually don't wanna go back. I love this work and I love Mexico (especially the food).

This Sunday we had an awesome visit by the second counselor of the stake presidency. He told us he feels sad in our ward that the people don't want to go to church and don't want to help out us or even the other members. So we are going to focus a bunch them as well as us to help out the members this week. I truly miss that about my home ward. Any person, any time of the day you could ask them for help and they would help you. Put their fellow ward members first. And here its a little different. But little by little we are going to help Xiutetelco change for the better 'cause the members really are great, just need a little push to get started!

I truly love this work and I know this church is true. We as members we aren't. But the church is and everything it stands for and teaches will help us in our lives to become more like Christ. That's why it's HIS church. I love you all and stay strong! The hard times always seem less hard with prayer and with lots of faith!!

Love,

Elder Babcock