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