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