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