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

Heading towards the one year mark in Teziutlan

Well for the weekly letter, this week went by extremely fast and it also was time for changes!! We had an awesome time as all the missionaries in Teziutlan got together and we had an awesome dinner waiting for the changes to come. The surprise came when most of us aren't changing!! I am going to stay with Elder Guzman for another change and most of my district stays the same. Elder de Groff is going to Xalapa where he will finish his last change. Elder Cobox will now be in my district as he's going to Altotonga. I'm super stoked to see him again.

I'm really excited to spend another change here as I'm going to hit the one year mark this change!! Crazy how fast the time is flying. A bunch of elders that had about my time in the mission when I started are going home and I'm here like I still wanna stay. I'm not ready to leave yet hahahaha. We had a taco fest as a district because Elder de Groff is leaving. Sad to see my buddy go, but he's going to do work in Xalapa. I truly love this work. Through the good times and the bad times it's always been a blessing and I wouldn't wanna be anywhere else.

Love,

Elder Babcock

Little Jerry Seinfeld

I was challenged to take some shots at the fair.

Voladores ("flyers")

11 months

Well I don't have very much time as we are six missionaries and there are only four computers so we are learning to share (; This week was awesome and we were super busy the whole time. I've come to learn the mission really is the best two busiest years. One second you're up in the morning and the next you're laying down to sleep. Crazy how fast the time flies. Not to mention I'm going to be hitting eleven months in the mission pretty soon. WOOOT how crazy?! right?!


I feel like just yesterday I showed up to the mission home and Elder Reyes took me to Coatzintla. I've come to learn a lot but most of all I've come to rely more on our Savior during the tough times. I love love love studying the atonement and reading about the life of Jesus Christ. They gave out a little booklet with tons of conference talks a while back about the atonement and well I've been reading like crazy cause I just love it so much. In this life we are meant to have joy, it says so in the scriptures (2 Nephi 2:25) but we are all going to have tough times and trials. That's also part of our time on the earth. I know and have learned that searching the scriptures and praying often helps just about any situation.


That would be my little challenge to read and learn as much as you can about the plan our Heavenly Father, more specific, about the atonement of Jesus Christ, as that is the central part of his plan. I love you all and hope everything is swell and hot there (; in June here there's tons of rain so its nice and cool here. We walk around in sweaters and jackets all day (; stay sweet!!


Love,


Elder Babcock

Good news, bad news

Welllll hello there... this week was absolutely amazing in many ways. We had some super cool lessons, one of which I will talk about a little later, also our president came to visit for a zone conference where something really bad and sad happened... (suspense...duh duh DUH) we also are looking at some very very possible baptisms for the next couple weeks and it's all just good and dandy here in San Juan.

To start off this week we had a zone conference with our amazing president, Presidente Greer. He talked with us as a zone about talking less and letting the spirit talk more. Instead of reading a scripture or passage and then immediately sharing a question or thought to give some time and wait for them to start talking. It really was something so simple but that we have seen a lot more success in our lessons. Also we encouraged us to use more of Moroni 10:3-5, Moroni´s promise, with our investigators and even the less active members.

The sad thing that happened is that we received our cards and packages from home this week.. all of them were sitting inside of a suitcase from Xalapa. But while we were inside the chapel having the conference someone snuck in and stole our stuff..... and later we found all our cards and packages destroyed and ruined... I found a card with my name but I have no idea who sent it and well I sadly wasn't able to read it.

We have this amazing investigator. We're just about done with the lessons and she has her baptismal date in a couple weeks. We were talking about the Word of Wisdom and sharing the wonderful blessings we can receive if we live this commandment in D&C 89. And instead of blurting out a question we just stayed quiet and still... we waited.. and waited.. and waited some more.. and then she started to talk and told us that she would love to have every single one of these blessings.

But that wasn't all!!! We had another amazing lesson with a new investigator. He lives in the middle of nowhere.. he owns lots and lots of cornfields and well doesn't have much free time. We went to visit him with the intentions of teaching the restoration and leaving a Book of Mormon to read. When we showed up he was busy, but dropped everything to chat for a little while with us jovenes. We were out in the middle of the cornfield when we started to teach the story of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. The spirit was so strong that in the middle of the lesson he told us out of nowhere that he felt a slight burning in his chest. Nothing that hurt him but felt really good. It was super cool to be part of that lesson and help him feel the holy ghost. he later accepted our Book of Mormon and on Sunday told us he's already to Mosiah.

I LOVE THIS WORK! THE CHURCH IS TRUE! AND I LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!! #staysweet #coolbeans

Elder Babcock

Super busy

This week was awesome!! Super busy but we got it done and are ready for the next one. Sadly I don't have time to write today.... we were super busy and we have a family home evening tonight.. my companion and I had a super cool week as we found awesome people to teach and did lots of divisions. My comp and I are doing awesome and idk how the Pres. does changes. Sometimes people stay like two or three changes together. That's about it.

Love,

Elder Babcock