See you in 10

Well I only have one more week left in my mission. I now know how the majority of missionaries feel where you don't want to leave but at the same time you do. For those who don't know my mission president left last week and I now have a new one!! President Esquihuas!! He's from California if I'm not mistaken and well I won't get to know him all that much sadly. This Thursday we have a conference with him and then yeah my last interview! These past two weeks have been amazing. We had a priesthood conference this last week and it was awesome. LOTS of people have recently received the Melchizedek priesthood in the stake which is awesome!! We are still working with Andres to get the Aaronic. We also had a zona activity where we cleaned the entire stake center. That was tons of fun. I also got two days of divisons! Yeah super splits I guess! Friday morning we went to Martinez and started our divisons. I was with Elder Santos. He's from the Dominican Republic. He's super funny and his Spanish is great jajajaja. Anyway we were supposed to end Saturday morning but they called us asking all missionaries to attend the priesthood conference so well I got to stay another while there in Martinez. We have found quite a few of new people the past couple weeks and I'm really enjoying my mission. I'm extremely happy where I'm at and with only one week left I'm super grateful for the time I had here. If you don't know whether to go or not, DO IT!!! It's the most amazing place you could be. Spouses and school can wait!! jajaja but the Lord's work is worth the time!! I love you all so much! I'll see you in 10!!!!!

Elder Babcock

Foto

Note from parents: Elder Babcock is so busy preparing for the end of his mission that he doesn't have time to write weekly blog posts. He did, however, find time to submit this recent picture of his sleeping quarters in San Rafael.

Tender mercies

This has been a great week! Elder Vasquez is a machine! The dude loves to work and being my last change it's amazing to have that influence. Not much to say other than we have been visiting these little towns that are like 30 to 40 minutes walking from our house in 30-38C heat. Yeah sounds awful but we have found tons of people to teach and are seeing the fruits of going out there. Something that is a true tender mercy is we found this single mother who assisted church in another town for more than a year! She wanted to get baptized but the missionaries never talked with her sooo we started talking with her and yeah she's awesome!! She has two little kids and they are SUPER crazy with lots of energy. But they made it through 3 hours of church without a breakdown so that's good HAHAHA! I really love where I'm at in my mission and I'm not quite ready to come home. 4 weeks! Gotta take them one at a time and enjoy the last little bit I have left. I love you all and miss you! You're always in my prayers and I hope you all enjoy good weather. It';s hotter than anything from Utah here. Have a great week!!!!!

Love,

Elder Babcock

New and final companion

WELLLLLL a lot has happened this past week. I'll try to recap all the most important parts. To start off, Elder Chavez went to Xalapa and my new companion is Elder Vasquez. Funny thing is he's from the same place as Elder Chavez. He's an awesome missionary and well I'm super happy he's my last companion in the mission! He's my first comp with more than 6 months! Crazy no? I have had all young companions!!! Anyway he's super great with our investigators and the members. He loves to talk and loves Coke even more HAHAHA. Daily he drinks from 1 to 2 liters of Coke I know but somehow he manages to live and not have kidney problems. Anyway! We have had some really awesome things happen this week. In the beginning of the week we had interviews and a zone conference. I  had my last interview with my mission president as a new one is coming next month. Also my last conference where I gave a small testimony to my fellow missionaries. It's finally starting to click that it's coming to an end. Here in San Rafael (or Veracruz in general) they are voting for what would be like a governor haha. It's crazy. I snagged a sweet verde backpack (pics coming soon). One day we went out to this tiny town called Gyuayabal. It's literally like 50 people. They all grow bananas. Silvia invited us to go visit a friend. It was such a great lesson. Her friend has a lot of sadness in her life and seeing her spirits lifted by the gospel was neat. She came to church with her family this week! Hopefully they can be baptized before I go! But yeah and now we played volleyball all day in the stake center and I'm WHIPPED! Never been so tired. But yeah here I am in a small ciber in San Rafael, Veracruz Mexico. 5 weeks left!!! I love you all so much and can't wait to see you all!! Have a great week!!!

Final transfer with six weeks to go

Another quick week in Veracruz and here I am in front of a crappy computer in San Rafael. This week was the last week before changes and well we knew change was coming. This week we had some really great activities planned with service and helping others in mind. One was moving a LOT of dirt for an older sister in the zone. All 16 of the missionaries came together and it was amazing what we accomplished. I will say I got really sunburned and the sun drains energy like none other here in Veracruz! HAHA we also had a fun branch activity where everyone invited a friend and we ate mole, played games and broke piñatas! I won musical chairs and my companion won some weird pin the tail on the donkey game. But it was like a chicken. Needless to say it was a great week and we have found quite a few new investigators while keeping up to date with the recent converts and the investigators we have been teaching the past couple of weeks.

For those who haven't kept track I have 6 more weeks! That's right next week I can start to count with one hand the weeks! What an amazing experience. I will be finishing my mission out here in San Rafael. I will have 6 months here when I finish! That's a long time! My companion is going to Xalapa to enjoy the cold  for a little while. Anyway I have to go as it's a little late!! I love you all so much! I can't wait to see you all! Interviews and zone conference this week so I'm looking forward to that!!

Love,

Elder Babcock

Amazing things in San Rafael

I have been soooo bad at writing a weekly email. To start the email off, this day 22 months ago I left my house!!!! Crazy right?? Only a month and a half left (7 weeks). I'm honestly sad it's coming to an end. I love my mission and I have loved every second here. I have learned so many new things and met so many amazing people. This is the last week before changes and it's left me reflecting the whole past 4 months of my mission. I feel like just yesterday I was in Xalapa and now I've got over 4 months in the small town of San Rafael. This branch is really amazing and the members are even better. Elder Chavez has been one of my favorite companions. He enjoys working and teaches me new things everyday. We had a really great visit the other day with a new investigator where Elder Chavez was able to do everything! We took turns teaching and everything went really well! I'm super happy to see how far he's come! Anyway! I gotta go! I love you all soo much!! Have a great week!! #7weeks

Elder Babcock

9 weeks left

Well another week has passed and well the mission goes on!!! Sadly not much has happened this week... Andres and Silvia are now working on their own family names to go to the temple soon!!! I'm super stoked for that.. it seems more likely than not that I stay here in San Rafael to finish off the mission.. For those who don't know I now am at the 9 weeks left mark!! 1 and a half changes left! I'm really sad it's coming to an end and maybe that's why I dislike writing on Mondays :p I just want you all to know that I'm really happy and I have LOVED my mission. It has been an amazing experience and I have learned and lived tons of new things and I wouldn't change it for ANYTHING. To anyone back home or anyone you might want to share this with.. if you are unsure about what you are going to do from 18-22... GO ON A MISSION. Whatever you have to do get it done because this is a once in a lifetime thing and its sooooo rewarding.. I have not only learned things for myself but helped many others receive the blessings that we as members totally take for granted... Our branch president's wife lost her mother this week... and well its was such a great sacrament meeting.. nobody cried and the spirit was SO strong. We all know she's okay and they will see her again... it made me think about others who may have also lost a family member recently.. do they have this same comfort and peace?? Knowing their loved one is okay? Share the gospel so that our friends and neighbors have the same blessings we have a receive everyday. (: i love you all I can't wait to see you all when I come home..

Love,

Elder Babcock

Trials and how they benefit us

I have been really bad at writing recently.. However I am loving the mission.. for those who didn't know I stayed with my young child Elder Chavez. I have to be honest he's one of my favorite comps and it's because I have been able to see his progress.. I won't ever forget our first lesson together... but he's come a VERY long way and I love being able to teach him as well as learn from him. He's not a very outgoing person but he has lots of insight for only being 18 years old. It seriously makes me so awestruck to think this is my comp of 18 years old and I think he doesn't know that much... JOSEPH SMITH WAS 14!! The message of the restoration has touched many hearts this passed week but especially Brother Andres! He was sad as the members went to the temple two Saturdays ago however he was able to be baptized two days ago! He is super happy and truly loves the Book of Mormon! He was a referral from Silvia, who was baptized about 3 weeks ago.. the first time we visited him was my last Sunday with Elder Hurtado.. and now he's a member of the church!!

Quick story about something really really cool that happened this week.. we were walking in the center of the town contacting when my comp said he wanted to go with this sister we are teaching.. she has a lot of health problems and is in a wheelchair and can't move by herself.. where she lives is kinda far from center but we decided to go. He didn't tell me why he wanted to go just said lets see if she';s home. Turns out she was home and when we came in she started to tear up and said she was just thinking about us and hoping that we could come by! We had a really really really powerful lesson about trials and how they benefit us.. needless to say my comp is a boss and I love him! I love this church and this message that we share I know it's true with all my heart. I love and miss you all so much and hope you are all enjoying cold weather in Utah.. here it's always high 90s or even in the 100s with 80-90 percent humidity... ITS HOT! have a great week!!!!!

Love,

Elder Babcock

Fotos

Note: due to spotty Internet connection in Mexico there was no letter from Elder Babcock this week, just these photos.

Short note from San Ruffles

Such a very fast week and well I've got writer's block. Sorry I'm boring! This week Silvia has been inviting all her friends to church. It's a true testimony that she was waiting for this gospel. Another investigator we have should be baptized this Saturday as well. However it's the temple trip for the branch so it might be next Saturday. But yeah, I'm happy and life is great! Changes were this past week and well I'm staying in "San Ruffles" for another 6 weeks with my beloved son Elder Chavez. He's doing great and I love having him as a comp. Other crazy news is that Elder Biggelow finishes his mission this Wednesday. Elder Grundvig (my first comp in the offices), Elder Ix (my second comp in the offices), and Elder Silverio (my third comp in the offices) will be in my zone this change! Gonna be cool to catch up and see them (: anyway sorry for being boring but yeah I'm tired and we are going to eat birthday cake and mole tonight as some members have invited us to visit with friends sooooo yeah. LOVE YOU!!

Elder Babcock

Baptism(s)

Well this was another amazing week in the Mexico Xalapa mission. Here in San Rafael we had a baptism!! Remember a while back when I talked about not judging a book by its cover?? Yeah like 2 months ago? Well, SILVIA GOT BAPTIZED!!! What a great experience to help her and see her growth in the church. She has read most the Book of Mormon and is super happy. She's a great person. We had the baptism on Saturday and her confirmation on Sunday!

Kind of a cool little thing that happened was that she wanted to be baptized in the ocean. Let's be honest we all wanted that HAHA but my mission president send he felt like we shouldn't. Well we went to the stake center in Martinez and we along side the sisters were baptizing this day. However the member who was going to baptize for the sisters didn't have clothes that fit him! And the streets were blocked so nobody could really leave (it's carnival time..) SO... I was blessed with the opportunity to baptized two people. I thought back and well if we would've gone to the beach this guy probably wouldn't have been baptized that day! I'm not sure if that's true but I like to think of it as a cool little testimony of my mission president! He's a great guy and I'm going to miss him a ton!

Anyway other than that not much.. I love you all!! Have a great week and I hope you enjoy the pics!

Elder Babcock

Lessons from conference

I completely forgot to send a weekly email last week. FORGIVE ME!!! This last week was completely amazing! I loved every second and have learned so much this past week. First off we had general conference. It's such a blessing to hear from the servants of the Lord. It touched my heart this weekend as every single of my questions was answered and then some! I wish it could be general conference every week. One of the greatest moments with conference was President Monson's talk about the Book of Mormon. We had an investigator who was still fighting with her testimony of the Book of Mormon. She walked out of that session saying I'm going to get to work and read. She will be baptized this coming Saturday in the ocean!!!!!! I'm soooooo stoked! It's Silvia the sister from the don't judge a book by its cover email. She's so great and has progressed ten fold. She's a true example of how the gospel changes us and molds us to live more righteously. I know this message that we share is true. I know it because our branch is small, tiny even, not many members go or help out much. They live far away. Yet through the spirit Silvia has received her testimony of the church. Another great thing that happened is some elders in my district baptized this Sunday. How amazing was it to see the eyes of the non-member father watch his 16-year-old son be baptized and then say I felt something so special when he came out of the water. He's now talking daily with the missionaries! HOW COOL RIGHT?? This is a work of miracles and love and I enjoy every second. I'm going to miss it DEARLY! To any missionaries or future missionaries TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY SECOND!! You never know how fast the time will pass. I love you all and pray for you!!!! have a great week!!!!

Elder Babcock

Not much to say

What a great week! Not much to say apart from that fact that Elder Chavez and myself are working hard with lots of new people. We had the prayer house dedication and that was really special! My comp's good and so am I! Sorry to keep it really short. The internet here is really bad right now soooo yeah. LOVE YOU ALL TONS! HAPPY WEEK! p.s. in two days I complete 20 months in Mexico! Viva mole y pozole!

Elder Babcock

Mis gatos

Advice from stake conference

What a great first week [with my new companion]! My "child" is well and we are having lots of success! My comp is amazing and we have been working hard together. The first lesson we had together he didn't really know what to say so we have worked TONS with simulations and Preach My Gospel and now he runs the first lesson and third really well! I'm so proud to call him my "son" (; Our investigator went to our stake conference which we had along with president interviews. An Area Seventy came and gave some amazing talks. My favorite was about callings and how we must know our "sheep" not just their name or where they work. But their wife and kids' names, ages, hobbies as a family, a basically everything. I took this to heart and have started to talk more with the missionaries in my district about their families and friends and hobbies and we have seen a huge boost in ANIMO! We are all having a great time! I love and miss you all and would love to encourage all of you to take the time to get to know all the members you visit or should visit with the many callings there are in the church. I'm sure there is someone there who needs a friends and getting to know them is the first step!! I touched a monkey this week and gave him gum. I've asked my mom to include the picture below. Enjoy your week! T-Minus 4 months...

Love,

Elder Babcock

New companion

Another really quick week has passed by. Maybe because when you're busy time flies or maybe because I'm writing on Saturday who knows! The good news is that I will be training another new missionary! I'm going to Xalapa on Monday and I'll spend my day there. I'm really excited for a new missionary and I'm looking forward to more "posterity" as they call it in the mission. As of now I have 4 "sons" and 4 "grandsons". My old comp Elder Aviña will also be training so looks like 1 more of each! HAHAHA!

We had an English class this week with an investigator and tons of her friends, namely 12 friends, most of which accepted an appointment with us and are open to go to church on Sunday! I guess we will see (; HAHA I don't have much to say as I spent Wednesday through Friday in other areas of my zone in divisions and house cleaning checks and interviews! It'll be nice to have this first week with my new comp to work! Anyway I love you all and hope you have a great week!! I'll send a small email on Tuesday with a pic of me and my comp!

Love,

Elder Babcock

Never judge a book by its cover

This past week was a HUGE eye opener. To start to week off I had a leadership training in Xalapa!! That was a true tender mercy as I was able to go and visit the family I had spent 8 weeks teaching in Xalapa to find out that they are all baptized (: Truly touched my heart to see the changes in their lives.The mom is already a secretary in Relief Society and the dad is young men's advisor. HOW COOL!


Now for the actual leadership training. It was a well needed spiritual boost for this week. We learned about serving and loving instead of ruling and controlling. That's how we work with investigators so why not with missionaries too, huh? I've seen a big difference in my calls with my district and they are all starting to have more success so everyone wins, right??


The big thing that happened this past week was that two new people came to church, but not just any person. One older investigator and one new one. It was really cool how it all happened. So there is this woman, she's like 40ish, and her husband died like 5 years ago. She's not living the Word of Wisdom. Just for background knowledge she has been taught by the missionaries for over 3 months... Ok? Now one day we were talking with her and she said she had a friend who needs God more in her life so she took us to visit her friend. We show up and she was very nice and gave us tacos al pastor which is always a win. We started talking and when we invited her to church she said maybe. She wasn't so sure about it. When randomly her friend says c'mon let's go together! We thought they were joking around so we finished the lesson and ended inviting to them to come which they both said they would. Fast forward to Sunday and they both showed up, on time, with their Books of Mormon ready to learn. In the first hour they both had tears in their eyes and after the services they said we cant wait to come back next week! The last person I would expect to not only come to church but to give a referral did it, so don't ever judge someone! She told us that she hasn't had alcohol in almost a week and has a goal in March to not drink or smoke! We hope to be able to help her and her friend to learn more and keep progressing!


Sorry for the long letter but it was a really cool experience for me (: have a great week and enjoy the cold weather in Utah!!!


Love,


Elder Babcock

This is where we hold Sacrament Meeting

Sunday School

Back to Xalapa for training

What a crazy fast week. This week not much super crazy happened, however I was able to do two baptismal interviews for my buddy Elder Bigelow. They baptized two people on Saturday and were confirmed on Sunday. It's really cool getting to know the investigators of other areas and all. This week I'm going with the other companionship of my district in some day long divisions. I'll finally be in a big city! HAHAHA! Actually this week I'm going to Xalapa for a leadership conference. Tuesday morning I'm going to my old stopping grounds to listen to our mission president and his assistants. I  honestly really miss being there, BUT I completely love it here. This place is really touristy and there are lots of FRENCH people. The other day we met a family of 8 all from France. They are all SUPER BLONDES hahahah with blue eyes. Anyway sorry for the short letter. I'm happy to say that in two days I'll complete 19 months in the mission and in a couple weeks I'll only be missing 4 months! The time goes so fast and with getting the college stuff in order it feels like the end is a lot closer but it's nice that I still have 3 changes! I love you all and have a great week! Enjoy the pictures!!!

Elder Babcock

Importance of agency

Sorry I don't have much to say! This week was great! We went on Friday to Teziutlan to have our conference and the Wednesday before we had our interviews with our mission president. HE'S SO GREAT! Seriously you can feel his love and desire to have us be better and better every day. It feels like I have another mom and dad that's how much they worry and care about us! Just so you all know yesterday marks only 5 months more until I come home! WAYYYY TOOO FAST! hahaha

Anyway just a quick thing that happened the other day. There is this recent convert here who has only 2 months as a member and ever since he received the Holy Ghost hasn't come back. He's 16 and didn't feel like the church was for him. When we first started talking we told him you have to do it. We miss you in church and we need you there. And he just kept saying no no no and no. While my comp was talking I felt prompted to talk about the power of the sacrament. What blessings it brings to our lives. Instead of fighting with him and telling him he HAS to go we taught about the sacrament and then invited him to go. This time he didn't feel pressure and even told us, I didn't know that and I feel better and I want to go.

I learned you CANNOT argue or try to tell someone they're wrong. What we CAN do is teach and invite and hope they are ready to act. Using your agency is the best way to receive and lose blessings. Use it wisely! It's the best gift we have as children of God. I love you all and miss you dearly! Have a great week!!

Elder Babcock

D&C 6

Lots to say but at the same time it's just the same old same old. The new prayer house is done and we had services this Sunday there. I FORGOT TO TAKE PICTURES! Next week though! Had some amazing miracles this past week. One being a lesson Sunday night with two older ladies. We had walked around trying to find a family for a good 30 minutes and never found them. We asked an older lady and she told us she didn't know. We asked to share something with her and she accepted!! We taught the lesson about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and did the invitation to be baptized which they both accepted! In fact they asked if they would have to go to Martinez to go to church (it's an hour away) when we told them no they got so happy and said good 'cause it would be hard to go. They said something that touched my heart; the mother said that she had prayed to God asking Him to send someone to teach her about Him earlier that morning. HOW COOL!!! And then to top it all off, the daughter (who is like 55ish) said that when she was 13 her family was talking to the missionaries. Her father died and they stopped talking to the missionaries. She told us she wants to learn more and wants to do this for her dad who never got to! I cannot wait to teach the plan of salvation and temple work with her!! I love this work so much!! Miracles every day and lots of amazing experiences. It's sad to think I'm finishing in 5 months. Until them you have to work D&C 6. I love and miss you all! Have a great week!!

Elder Babcock

A new church building in San Rafael

Another week has passed here in San Rafael, Veracruz and I love it. We had an awesome "capacitacion" I don't know the word in English. Missionary work is changing and it's giving us, the missionaries more freedom and more focus on our goals and what we measure. I loved it a lot! This past Saturday we got the good news that we will finally have a building to have church in!!!! The house was approved and we went to clean. Today they went to paint and knock out some walls and hopefully with coming Sunday we will go there to meet! FINALLY! A prayer house is going to help this area out a lot as it's no longer going to be a porch outside. When it's really cold outside not even members want to go. HOWEVER! now with a house I feel like more members should come.

This week we found a super cool family who's last name is Prince. They are FRENCH! They are all super white and have blue eyes and blonde hair. In fact more blondes than me. The family is super sweet and really amazing people. Seems like in March we should be having a baptism for this family but we will see what happens. Apart from that we had a really cool experience on Thursday. We were walking in the cold knocking on doors trying to find a referral we have when we look into a window and see this little girl. She was super white and has super blue eyes and blonde hair. My comp said we have to knock on that house to see if they are French.. HAHAHA we talked with the father and he let us pass. In 30 minutes we talked about the restoration and about baptism by immersion. They all started to cry and told us if you want to help this family keep sharing your message with us! The mother is French as well as her kids but the husband is from here. I love this gospel and how you can make someone's day better by sharing it. We went on Saturday and they were so happy to see us! In fact someone called and the mom said tell them to call in 30 minutes we are busy learning about God! This is a really cool family that could progress very easily! They love to pray and already love reading the Book of Mormon!

Share the gospel with everyone you know! Not just by talking the talk but by walking the walk! Being an example is the BEST way to show the blessings of the gospel and showing how God wants us to be in this earthly state. I love you all and hope you have a great week!! It's FEB-ALREADY! Enjoy your week and remember to pray always! No matter how unworthy we are of the spirit, his love has no limits. he loves you and wants you back home!!

Elder Babcock

San Ruffles

I have been officially moved to San Rafael, or as many missionaries say, San Ruffles hahaha. It's a town of about 30,000 people and only 50ish are members. We are a branch. A small branch of only like 15 active members. It's going to be really fun here and we will see what happens. I'm in the zone Martinez. I haven't been in this part of the mission before so it's going to be super fun! I will be the district leader of 6 missionaries including some old buddies. My companion is named Elder Hurtado. He's from Mexico City and has only 3 months in the mission. He's relatively new but knows how to work and is a super awesome guy. There isn't much else! The area was without missionaries for a while so we don't really have much at the moment. It's going to be a great opportunity to work hard and build this branch!!

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

Elder Babcock

Off to San Rafael

Another quick week has come and gone and lots of things have happened. I'm sad to say that I won't make it to Sunday to see the baptism of the family as I'm being moved to a place called San Rafael this coming Wednesday. The mission president was going to leave me until changes but a missionary had to leave today so I'm going out in a couple of days. Spent most the day packing and saying goodbye to people. I'm really going to miss this place. I've come to love the ward and the area and it's going to be a HUGE change of pace. My new area doesn't have a prayer house. Church services are on the porch of a member. Also many of the people who live there not only speak Spanish BUT also speak French! WHAT! This is going to be a great new chapter of the mission and I'm super excited to see what more will come! It seems like I will  be training! I guess we will see what's going on and who knows if I'll stay much time or in changes if I'll end up leaving. I'm super ready to have new experiences and I'm ready to be work all day instead of just in the afternoon. It's super hot where I'm going to it's going to be grand! hahahahaha. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Elder Babcock

Final weeks in the office

Soooo this past week has been very crazy. Recently we haven't been able to be out past 7 p.m. because of lots of riots and marches against gasoline prices. It's been tough to lose even more time to work but we have found lots of success in the short time we have. Some really amazing people are looking at a baptismal date for the 22nd, the Sunday before I leave the offices!! And the 21st they will go to the temple in Veracruz. They won't be able to enter but they want to buy stuff and see the temple. This family is super awesome and they cook amazing food! Gorditas, picadas, mole, tamales and pozole! I love teaching families and helping them realize that families can be together forever. I'm eternally grateful for my family and the knowledge that I can be with them forever. So when others learn this to be true it invites a very special spirit to the mission lessons.

The days are counting down until I have to leave the office and I'm really sad. It's been an amazing time in the mission and the 6 months have seriously passed soooo fast. You come to love your ward and investigators when you stay a long time and that makes it sad when you have to leave. Elder Brewer and Elder Silverio are going to have a great couple changes with all the people we have found and even though I'd love to be the one to baptize them I know I have done my part and I'm more than happy for the time I was given here with each and every one of the members and non members. We were able to go to a baptism on Saturday of the assistants of the mission and one of our investigators went. He loved it and is now working towards a baptismal date as well! So much going on and such little time. Being busy is seriously the greatest blessing!

Anyway I love you all so much! Thanks for all your support and love! There are lots of missionaries who not all the family is member and often where not all the family is happy that they left for the mission. I feel extremely blessed to have family, friends, neighbors and members of the ward who support me in the mission. Have a great week and keep being awesome!!!

Love,

Elder Babcock

The Office

Another crazy week and my replacement is finally here!! His Name is Elder Brewer, he's from Arizona. We are literally the same person. We get along so well and always working well together. I will be with him until he understands all he has to do as secretary and then I'm gone! Could be a week or could be three more! I don't really know!

This past week we were able to find lots of new people to teach, even though most people went out of town so the church was literally EMPTY on Sunday. A whopping 20 people including us. (but hey that's the same as Espinal every Sunday hahahaha).

Its now 2017 and yes that means lots of great things. New year, new chances, new opportunities, new challenges, new friends, new everything!! Take advantage of this year and make it the best one yet! It will also be the year I come home!! I love this time of year because everyone talks about GOALS. However, without work and a follow up, what good is a goal? Something we try to always do as missionaries is connect our goals with heaven. I'm sure most goals we put during this time is something that would help us or make us better people right? Why not pray about it? Ask for help and strength and then throughout the year continue in this pursuit. Our Heavenly Father invites us to be more like him at all times. He gave us his son as the perfect example to follow. Keep with your goals and become more like your Heavenly Father!! I'm sure you won't be the only happy one when you complete it!

I love you all and hope you have a great week!! Work, school and other things are starting back up which means less free time but don't ever forget time for personal prayer and scripture study! It's a huge blessing to me and to many people I visit with here in Mexico. Happy New Year!!!

Love,

Elder Babcock