December 29, 2014-Zumpango

HI MOM!!

How are you!! How are the kids!! Did you watch the HE IS THE GIFT video on mormon.org? Also, read the talks, WHAT IS THE BLUEPRINT OF CHRIST'S CHURCH by Tad Callister and THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST by David A Bednar. Elder Gomez is great right!! When I was Skyping dad, Elder Gomez said, "My English is so so" and dad said "My Spanish is no no" and Elder Gomez was laughing so hard!! It was great to be able to talk to you all!! I don't think I have time to write Brady and Cody but I will find some time soon to talk to them. 

So the family of the house that we Skyped from, is Luis and Yesenia. They are great!! Luis is a Reggae singer and he used to have dreadlocks to his knees!! They are very receptive to everything that we teach them and they are getting married and baptized the same day on the 10th of January.

Sonia is another investigator that is progressing very well! She has two sons ages 17 and 19, The 17 year old has problems with marijuana and the 19 year old has two twin babies with his 15 year old girlfriend Paula. Sonia, Roberto(19) and Paula have all committed to baptism, Sonia is the only one that attends though, so she is most likely going to be baptized on the 17th, but we need to work some stuff out with the others!! I don't know if I have told you the whole story about them, but I will have to tell you more about them next time and why they are my favorites right now!!

We have other investigators, but  I don't have much more time to write about them!! Today we are having a zone activity and I get to play soccer for the first time here, but i miss basketball very much!! I actually have read a bit of Jesus the Christ, I am starting from the beginning right now!! Thanks for all the Christmas stories!! I read them all and a few brought some tears!! Tell Greg thanks for organizing and sending the Christmas package!! Tell him thanks for all that he has done to help me and all of the youth throughout the years!!! It was an awesome Christmas present!! And also tell grandparents thanks for their gift!! and tell them thanks very much for taking me and Avery to Missouri!! It was an amazing experience!! 

I don't have much more time to write, but thank you so much for all that you do for me mom!!! Love you so much!!! and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Elder Paynter

Weekly Rundown,

How was Everybody´s Christmas?! We had a pretty great holiday season here in Zumpango! I have loved teaching people about Christ during Christmas time, because the people are much more feliz and merry! I love missionary work so much right now! I don´t think that I will ever get tired of sharing the gospel with other people! Also I love the "Él es la Dádiva" video! Everytime that we watch it with our investigators or with the members, I can feel the Spirit helping us to testify of the truthfulness of our message and the truthfulness of our Savior Jesus Christ! I have been very grateful for him lately and all of the sacrifices that he made for us and all the things that he taught us by his example and all his teachings! My testimony of him strengthens every day as I share his message with others! It was also great to talk to my family this week! I´m so very glad and grateful for their support in my Missionary Work! Just last night our investigator, Sonia, was giving the closing prayer, and during her prayer she said, "I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Year Saints is the true church" It was great! She doesn't even know the full name of the church, but she knows that this church is the true church!! Also we were able to get a less active youth help us in some of our lessons! He was able to share his testimony with our Investigators, and I know that his testimony of the gospel was strengthened as he did!! I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to work in the best mission in the world! La Misión México Pachuca!! 

Con amor, 

 Elder Paynter

 I got to "talk" to Jordan via email this morning. I sent him pictures of our "Winter Wonderland"! He couldn't relate...he is enjoying a stifling 80 degrees!

December 25, 2014-Zumpango

Despite several lost connections, inaudible communications, and other various distractions, we were able to Skype Elder Paynter (Jordan) tonight. It  was definitely a tender mercy. He just smiled and laughed the entire time. His lasts words to his siblings were of "names." He said that right now there are things in their lives that seem important...drama at school, popularity, or fitting in. Then, he showed them his name tag and asked them what they saw. He pointed out the names "Paynter" and "Jesu Cristo." He continued that the only two things of great importance in this life are Jesus Christ and our families. If only the world could see that, what a different place it would be!

It was hard saying "goodbye" again. If it weren't for the fact that he is on the Lord's errand, it would be almost unbearable.  We wiped away the tears, pulled out another puzzle, and resumed our celebrations. Merry Christmas!

December 22, 2014-Zumpango

Hi mom! I don't have much time this week!! We are going to visit some ancient Temples. I'll take lots of photos!! You can download Skype on the I-pad!! we will call around 4-6 Mexico city time! I will be able to call you and dad for an hour each or if you could get together we could all chat for 2 hours!! That's awesome for Avery!! Love you mom. Have an amazing holiday time!! I got my package. We are in a ward and there are great priesthood holders but there are a lot of less active people because the ward boundaries are huge!! Love you talk to you asap!!

Elder Paynter

Weekly Rundown:

This week was pretty great!! Elder Gomez has been teaching me quite a bit! I feel like ive learned so much more this past week about missionary life, the gospel and spanish as well!!! Im glad I get to work with him!! I'm super excited for Christmas! Yesterday we had Family Home Evening with a few families from the ward, we were able to get one of our investigators to attend as well as a less active family! This less active family hasn't been to church for a few years and we also got them to attend church yesterday as well!! It was awesome!! The spirit was super strong during the Family Home Evening and I know that they could feel it as well!! I'm so proud that these people are choosing to follow Christ!! This week was also a success because we were able to commit a family to baptism! Its the family that we have been meeting with quite a bit, they have a long way to go to baptism, but I'm glad that they are willing to make the sacrifice to choose the right!! I'm so glad to be out here in the mission!! I'll miss not being with my family for Christmas, but I know that the Lord will be blessing you all extra because I am out here serving!!

Con Amor

Elder Paynter

Carrie Underwood-
Carrie Underwood is the only American Idol star that I have really ever followed. I must admit, I spent week after week calling in for her. It has now been almost 10 years since she won American Idol and by all appearances seems to be hanging on to her roots, her morals, and her faith! I hope she continues to defy the odds!

Not often do stars go untouched  by slander, gossip, lies, etc in the music industry. Carrie Underwood seems to be one of those "untouched" people. She doesn't seem to do anything to give people a reason to talk until recently.

I found this in a news clip about her new single:

Her new single, “Something In The Water” has caused quite a bit of controversy, as it centers around the name of Jesus Christ and what the Bible says about being ‘reborn’.In a recent performance, we got word that Carrie has come under heavy scrutiny by not only the pop industry but also the country music industry at times. Carries response was AMAZING.
Here’s her statement:

“I’m not the first person to sing about God, Jesus, faith [or] any of that, and I won’t be the last. And it won’t be the last for me, either. If you don’t like it, change the channel.”

Though I am not a huge fan of the single, I love the lyrics. She went on to sing it at this years CMA's. I hope she continues to be a "light" to a world filled with too much darkness.

Today in church, almost every talk was about standing as a witness of Jesus Christ and preparing for His return. I was reminded that it won't be an awful day. His return will usher in the millennium...1000 years of peace. No war. No sickness. No sorrow. No wickedness. No sadness. No death. This great assurance gives me peace, now! Hope, now! Joy, now! Love, now! What a great time to be alive!

One of my favorite Carrie Underwood's performances:
Carrie Underwood and Vince Gill-How Great Thou Art

 Oh Holy Night!

December 15, 2014 - Zumpango
 
Weekly Rundown

I´ve been having such a great time!! Me and Elder Gomez have been having a blast, and much success as well! I can´t express how funny and entertaining Elder Gomez really is!! This week we had splits with the Zone Leaders, I got to work with Elder Pass. It was so much fun, and I love being able to speak english with somebody else!! Last week while ELder Gomez and I were contacting, we found an older woman who was super interested in our message! She asked so many questions and wanted to learn more! So we set and appointment with her on wednesday, so me and Elder Pass went to visit her. Well the lesson went super great! We taught her about baptism and the Book of Mormon. Then we gave her a Book of Mormon and got her to commit to baptism!! Me and Elder Gomez are going to visit her tonight and follow up on a few more things! I love Missionary Work so much right now! I still can´t speak perfect spanish, but ELder Gome is helping me a lot with that! I´m learning so much from him! He´s a great example and great teacher! Our lessons have been going so much better than the first few that I had here in Mexico!! We have a family that we are focusing on quite a bit right now. Well the mothers name is Sonia and she has two sons, one is 17 and has problems with marijuana and the other son is 19 and has two kids with his 15 year old girlfriend. We´ve been working a lot with them and this Sunday we got Sonia to go to church! She is amazing! All she really wants right now is for her kids to change their lifestyles and to have a happy family, which is exactly what this Gospel does!! This is why I love missionary work so much right now, because the message that we are sharing can help people to change and be happy!!

Hi Mom! How are you!! Yes we are completely scheduled with visits to investigators and less aactives. Ive been trying to keep in touch wtih my buds as much as i can, but i only have time to reply to emails, so if they dont write me, i most likely wont write them....;) but i have kept in touch wtih them. 

I dont know if you have already, but watch the video HE IS THE GIFT, we have been sharing this message a ton with people!! So i encourage you to share the gospel with as many people as you can!! Thats insane that michael and david are returniing so soon!!! It seens like they left yesterday!! In the talk that Brenda printed off and gave me, Elder Holland says that Missionaries are the most prayed for people on the earth!! More than the prophet!!!haha, it is such a great calling!!! just let everyone know that i love and miss them!! and share a few of my stories with them! Thanks so much for all that you do mom!! love you tons and thanks so much for the support and inspiration that you give me!! Love you more than anyhting!!!!

ELderPaynter

December 8, 2014- Zumpango

 

Mexico is great! Even though i fell on my bike! ouch!! the brakes on my bike werent working and somebody called on the cell pone and then i hit a speed bump, so pretty much all that put together made me crash and fall....:( Im ok though, its just a flesh wound:) this week I aked another Investigator to be baptized and she said yes!!! haha, I guess you could say im having fun!! Me and Elder Gomez make a great team! I love working with him!! He is super funny! Especially when he tries to speak english!! haha:) Spanish is hard, but People can kind of understand me so that is alright!! This week I made french toast! Elder Gomez has never had it before, so he really enjoyed it!! Yesterday was pretty crazy!! The 9 year old boy named Eliot that we baptized last week was confirmed yesterday, And guess who got to confirm him in front of the entire congregation? Me... Ahh i was so nervous because i had to do it in spanish!! but thats alright because later that night we went to a less active house and we gave a blessing of health to the mother of the house, adn guess who gave her the blessing? Me, haha!! The spanish was terrible but the spirit sure was great!!

There is my copied message, haha thansk for the advice! and to answer your questions:

I have not yet recieved the package, but if you need to send more just send it to the misión home, its more reliable

Im going to buy a jacket today because the weather gets pretty cold towards the nighttime and we ride bikes, so im getting a lot of cold wind while driving!

My companions name is Elder Gomez, our district is made up of us and two sister companionships, so that means my comp is the district leader. Our whole district área is the boundaries of one Ward.

On christmas day we will be able to skype call. we have a service project in the morning and we will be able to call after. i can either make one call of one hour or two half hours. one to you and one to dad. plus if we call in a members house we might get two hours.

The weather isn't going to get much colder tan it is right now! sunny and 70 deg.

The members help a ton here, but since the área is so big it is hard for members and investigators to get to church, so we have a lot of inactives:)

well, my email this week was kind of scrambled but i hope it is good for you!! I love you tons mom, thanks for your support and love! tell the family i love them!!! talk to you next week!!!

Elder Paynter

First bike wreck...

Zumpango, Mexico

 

December 7, 2014-Zumpango

As if the picture and caption weren't enough, I found this as well... The mission president's wife posts copies of some of the letters to the president. 

I am sure it is Jordan. Elder P- Elder G- 

(From the picture I found out his companion's name is Elder Gomez)...

(New arriving Elder with two weeks in the mission this Monday)

Hola Presidente!

How is it going? Things are going great!! I love my Companion! Elder _____ is awesome! We are doing great together! I´m learning Spanish a lot faster with him, he is a good teacher and an amazing helper to me! The people are incredible here! They are so nice and they love their families a lot! We have so many great families we are teaching. I love to watch them progress in their knowledge of the Gospel. I can´t communicate very well, but I can still understand their needs! It has been a pretty great first week. Me and Elder G______ are having great success, even though there is a Little bit of a lack of communication between us! It´s alright, because I´m starting to learn a lot more spanish! This Saturday we were able to baptize a 9 year old boy named Eliot! It was a great experience! I got to witness a baptism in my very first week! Also after the baptism we visited a family of 4, three of them have baptismal dates, but one doesnt. When we got to the house only two of them were there, Yolanda(w/bap. date) and Angeles(w/o bap. date). We brought Hermana A______ with us to the lesson, and we taught about the Plan of Salvation. It was so great! I got to teach most of the lesson with my broken Spanish! After we finished the lesson, I asked Angeles if she would be baptized on the 27th and she said yes!! It was an Incredible esperience! I´m so greatful for the opportunity that i have to serve the Lord! I can{t wait to see what the next two years have in store! Thanks for all that you do!!

-Elder P

Did I mention I think the world of Sister Egbert for updating this blog each week?!

Found this treasure on Jordan's mission blog (link can be found on the right, but to save you the trouble...)...

 Love these two Elders who work hard and keep smiling.... one week in the mission and only one bike wreck for Elder Paynter.... Yes Mom, that is road rash on his elbow. He is down one tie and one shirt but he repaired his pants. Thank goodness for helmets.....

December 1, 2014-Zumpango

Hi Mom!!

I dont have alot of time!"! I need to figure out how to type faster!! Love you tons!! Im pretty sure that ill be able to skype on christmas!! I hope the family is doing great!! Im having an amazing time here!! the people are great and the work is amazing!! don{t worry about me!! Thanks for all that you do !! did you get the package that i send with my jacket and shoes'?? Well Ill make sure to send you along letter next week! We got to baptize a 9 year old this saturday and i was able to get someone to commit to baptism!! also somebody at church on sunday asked me if i could baptize them!! Also the misión predident has a rule that we can only baptize once the whole misión, i dont know why though!! How did thx giivng go? they dont celebrate here in mexico!! I love you tons!! Ill make sure to take a lot more pictures too!!! ove you}!!!!!

con amor

Elder Paynter

Some additional information via John's letter...

My companion is from peru! He can speak a Little bit of english, so it’s a Little bit easier to communicate!! Hes been in the mision for 6 months! Hes a convert of about four years! he is twice as cool as me btw!! He played soccer for a university in peru, so hes the real deal!! My area is called Zumpango!! Its great the people are amazing!! You might think they are poor, but they really don’t care! They are happy no matter what!!

Still looks happy! He should fit right in...

Never knew Mexico City was so large!

The Christmas lights that never were...

Kyle so graciously accepted the call to string up the Christmas lights. Who ever thought of trying out brand-new lights before hanging them up? Apparently, not me. He got them all up and neither string worked. He then, not-so-graciously, took them down and will try again sometime this week. Until then...

Phone break...

Direction break...

Observation break...

Broken lights...

Perfect day to hang Christmas lights!

Thanksgiving-2014...

I have much to be thankful for this year. 

*Meghan graduated from Snow College with her Associates and is now in the teaching program at UVU. She continues to study hard and work hard, as well. I love being able to talk "the education talk" with her. She has lots of great ideas and enthusiasm for what she is doing. I have no doubt she will be a great teacher. I am so proud of the woman she is becoming.
*Jordan not only chose to serve a mission, but was and continues to be excited about the prospect of teaching the gospel to the people of Mexico. He sent me a letter last week as he was preparing to go and sounded a bit nervous. "Well, Mom, I'm excited!! I can't wait to go!! I am also going to miss the MTC! I'm scared of the transition! Well, I'm gonna have to do it either way!" I love his matter-of-fact attitude. Just like him... Tomorrow, I hope to hear where he is serving in Mexico, who his companion is, etc.
*Kyle has become the "priesthood leader" in the home. I couldn't be more proud of the efforts he is making in his life to be an example to his younger siblings.  When Jordan left, Jacob asked, "So, who's gonna be the good one now?" Kaylie quickly declined. Kyle has stepped up to the plate and is trying to fill those shoes of his older brother. Kyle continues to put up with my rules, ramblings, and regulations, the best that a teenager boy can. 
I love him!
*Kaylie has become my counselor, clothes/makeup adviser, and friend. She loves life and it is contagious! After a tough year last year, she continues to smile and make me smile. I love talking to her! Of all my children, Kaylie loves to talk. And, I love to listen. She finds joy and happiness in the simplest things. I love to hear about her day at school, her new favorite song, her irritating science teacher, or her funny math teacher. I have missed her this Thanksgiving break and can't wait for her return.
*Jacob continues to be my "baby" boy, though there are few indications left that imply such (like the occasional hair-fetish thing). I have tried to be thankful for his last year at Westside Elementary. Unfortunately, it is going by way too quickly. It makes my heart sad to think that none of my children will be with me next year. He has grown up quickly. His friends will come and talk to me in my classroom but he kind of lags behind. Chatting with mom at school is just too much for a 6th grader. He more than makes up for it at home, though. He loves life and plays hard. He just finished volleyball (all girls league-minus his team) and will soon be starting up basketball.

Our Thanksgiving festivities took place at the Backus' home. We were few in number but made the most of it with LOTS of food, sleeping, Hallmark movies, pool, and conversation.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Conversation with Kyle on Saturday...

(or a re-creation of it)

Kyle: Kaylie can't drive dad's van if she gets her license first. He said I could drive it.

Mom: But, if she gets her license first, she will be able to drive it instead of you.

(Kyle walks away, none-too-pleased)

Monday afternoon: Hey mom, I took my permit test!

Tuesday afternoon: Hey mom, I passed my permit test (96%)!

Wednesday Morning: Hey mom, can we go get my permit?

It just takes the right kind of motivation...

Congratulations, Kyle!

From the archives of my camera... 

Hmmm, what to do when Mom's not around?

Is that....whipped cream?

 This girl makes me smile! I love you, too!

Rewind to Halloween...

Jordan's mission has consumed my thoughts these past 6 1/2 weeks. Last Monday, he left for Mexico and Kaylie left the same day for Washington with the Labits. It was more than I could handle. Thus, I have been in a weird kind of "funk" this week. To try and cope, I have watched Hallmark Christmas Specials-one after another- Heartland, and any other Christmas show to try to "feel" better. I didn't even do my normal Black Friday shopping (except for a stop on the way home Thanksgiving night to appease Jacob).

As I looked at the pictures on my camera, I was reminded that life at home keeps going on.... So, to be fair to my children who are still at home, I will continue to blog all the "going's on" at the Paynter home, as well as Jordan's letters. So... let's rewind to Halloween!

We quit asking?!...

And the final results! Not bad for a few novice carvers. :)

Wow! Today was harder than dropping Jordan off at the MTC... I got to speak to him for a few minutes this morning before he left for Atlanta, Georgia and then a flight to Mexico City. He sounded tired and a little nervous. I have never met his mission president and wife but love them already. Thanks for all your support and prayers!

Dear Parents-

Your missionaries made it safe and sound tonight to Pachuca. We just delivered them to the homes of several missionaries where they will spend the night and then we will meet them tomorrow at the Stake Center for mission wide transfers at 1000 am. President interviewed them all tonight after we fed them- we have some great trainers picked out for each of them who we believe will do an outstanding job. We are so impressed with this group of 5  missionaries who arrived tonight from the Provo MTC. We add them to the group of 8 Elders that arrived this morning from the CCM in Mexico City. A total of 13 arriving in this generation. They are exhausted tonight, but in great spirits and anxious to get out there and be missionaries. As I reminded them “this is a once in a life time opportunity for them and we have 18-24 months to give it our all and the rest of our lives to talk about it. No regrets!” President added in the 3 step secret to a successful mission: 1. Be strictly obedient 2. Work your “back sides off”. 3. Love the People    and our main goal is that they become converted to the Gospel themselves first- so that nothing in their life that happens will ever derail them from or shake their testimony- and second, we want them to become the very best teachers of the Gospel. If they baptize along the way finding real converts who change generations to come then that is a HUGE bonus- but not our first priority.

Thank you sincerely, for sending us your sons/daughters to serve with us here in Pachuca. We are blessed and honored. Please know if you have any concerns to contact me through this email and I’ll pass things onto President as needed. Also please continue to pray for them daily as every prayer helps, as the mission isn’t easy; and there may be times that tough love on your end is needed. Once in a while they have to “pull up their boot straps and forget about themselves” and then they get to work and the mission changes their lives. We love you because we love them!

Happy Thanksgiving!

President/Hermana Egbert

Mision Mexico Pachuca

PS : Please forward this to any additional parent emails – I didn’t have every parents email on file. Thanks so much. Hugs from Mexico!

WEEK 5-

Mom!

Ok, this is my serious email:) I love hearing from you all as well! I'm so glad that I have so much support! I'm glad Jacob was able to get the letter i sent him! I have been looking at the Mission Blog a lot recently! It's kind of preparing me for what I can expect!! And I'm hoping that they don't have very many Mice in Pachuca! And i also hope that you guys will get the mouse problem solved as soon as possible!! I hate to sound rude, but I'm glad I left before they started infesting a lot more!! I think they were just scared of me so they hid while I was there!! Isn't it crazy that in just four days I will be in Mexico!! I still can't believe it is almost over here at the MTC! I learned so much here! I just wish I had the chance to learn more! I still need to be more prepared!! I keep feeling these nervous/excited feelings! Well, Andy came into the MTC yesterday and i was able to talk to him and take a picture with him!! We have the same Meal and Gym schedule, but I only have one more Gym time before i leave!! anyways, i'm sure ill run into him before I leave!! I think my spansih is doing pretty well, I still need tons of practice though. but that is what I have the next two years for right? Well, I';m not sure when I will be able to call you all yet, but when I do, i will try and let you know!! also, I haven't looked at my flight plans again, but when i do I will tell you the details!! There have been so many great learning experiences here at the MTC, I can't really chose a favorite! but when I'm in mexico I'll probably look back on one of the things and realize that it has blessed me the most!! well, anyways! I love You! I'm so grateful for everything that you have done for me in my life!! I love you more than you could ever imagine!! I've been missing you tons!! I can't wait to hear from you soon!! Love you!!!!

-Elder Paynter

Jordan and Andy Garza (He's going to an Adriatic mission)

Can't leave the MTC without a "map" photo...

Jordan's latest photo..reminiscent of the 
Book of Mormon cover of long ago.

All is well...

WEEK 4-

11/13/14!!

Holy cow I've been here for almost a month already!! I didn't get a picture of my Ninja costume, but it was just me in my Ninja hoodie! 

We don't get Temple food for free, but I'm willing to pay for it because it tastes way better than any MTC food.... :)

Things are going alright with the companion! We're doing a little bit better with each other! I love the spirit that we feel when we teach together!! It's awesome!!

Today in the Temple I was talking to one of the Temple workers and he said that he served in the Johannesburg Mission! I told him that you served in the Cape Town mission and he told me that about 7 years ago they stopped sending sisters to south Africa! I didn't know that! 

Good Luck with the mice! one of my old Zone Leaders is in Mexico right now and he Emailed me telling me that he had to kill mice and cockroaches this week in his apartment! So, I don;t think that ill be missing out too much with the mice spotting:) EW!

We have two teachers right now, Hermano Salisbury served in SLC and he has some super cool experiences and stories from his mission, and our other teacher is Hermana Moody, and she served in peru! They are both great at spanish and we are learning tons from them! The Visa is ready, they will give it to me right before I leave! Which reminds me, Tomorrow we get our flight plans! crazy! Time is flying by so quickly!!

Make sure to tell Hermana Jensen Thanks for helping me with spanish! Hopefully you will get rid of the mice asap!! Also, tell Greg, Camille Averett, and Emma Bair thanks for sending me mail this week! It's so hard to find time to send actual mail, but I'm trying to mail as much as possible!! Tell Jacob that he can expect a letter back in the next few days!! I'm still looking out for a Sister Thomas! That would be could to meet up!!

Me and Dan Hernandez have been running into each other quite a bit!! It's crazy! He will be leaving before I do, and he has only been here for a week!! 

It was great to Hear from you this week! If you get the chance, read D&C sec.50, It's great! Love you so much!! Miss you tons!! 

-Elder Paynter

Work hard....sleep hard!

                           (Lots of questions about the bird?!!!)

                        First snow of the season...first snow at the MTC!