Happy Birthday Will (and Jordan),

Every year since who knows when, Will and Jordan have celebrated their birthdays together at family dinner. 
Will decided to include Jordan this year, 
by dedicating the cake to him. 
Happy Birthday (next week) Jordan! 

We love and miss you. 

Happy Birthday Will! 
Thanks for being so thoughtful!

Sunday, May 31 -Goodbye Westside!

Bittersweet...
School is officially over for the summer. Jacob "graduated" from Westside Elementary and will be headed to Springville Junior High School next fall. I have accepted a job at a new school in Mapleton teaching 5th grade - Maple Ridge Elementary. The move is very bittersweet. I am ready for a change, but Westside has been our home away from home for 16 years. There has always been a "Paynter" there. I have been so blessed to be able to teach at the same school as my children. I think I actually saw them more there than I ever did when I stayed at home (...okay, not really!). I will leave behind many good friends and a smelly portable that I have grown to love and will miss, in some ways.

Gavin and Jacob...love these two boys!

Can't believe it has come to an end...

Didn't realize I had accumulated so much stuff
until I had to put it into boxes...
Thanks to Kyle, Kaylie, Jacob, Lindsey, and Melissa 
for helping me box up 
the past 6 years!

11:45 pm- Music is so powerful. "The Prayer" is one of my favorite songs. I found this version by Lexi Walker and David Archuleta. Not the best quality, but beautiful nonetheless...

The Prayer by Lexi Walker & David Archuleta

Xicotepec-May 25, 2015
 
Hello Mom,

How have you been? We are doing great here in Xicotepec. Today we had another district activity, which I always love, but I´m starting to feel like we´re more rushed on Pdays than normal days. haha, but It´s alright! I will be sure to read the talk that you sent me this week. Well, It is pretty hard to look for great experiences in our missionary work. For me, it´s all a miracle, that so many people can come to understand that God can answer their prayers. Every day is an incredible spiritual experience. I love doing this work more than anything else. This week we will have the baptism of Araceli, who used to assist to the reformed church. I will teññ you more details next week haha. I have been thinking a lot this week about the talk by Henry B Eyring that I shared with you the last week and the quote that he quotes from pres Brigham Young about the blessings received from a life full of faithful priesthood service.

“An individual who holds a share in the Priesthood, and continues faithful to his calling, who delights himself continually in doing the things God requires at his hands, and continues through life in the performance of every duty will secure to himself not only the privilege of receiving, but the knowledge [of] how to receive the things of God, that he may know the mind of God continually.”

This is what I want from my priesthood service, to know the mind of God continually, and to be able to act according to his Will. I know that the Lord Blesses every man and woman that is willing to work faithfully, and to never be slothful. The testimony that I can leave with you this week is that like John promises "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." The only way that we will be able to know the mind of God is if we do his will. I know that this is true. I know that this is the Lords work.

I love you tons and wish you a great week mom!!

Elder Paynter

pictures from our district activity this week and district meeting 

 

Xicotepec-May 24, 2015

From the mission blog: Elder Bednar's visit. Can you find Elder Paynter?

 

"When Elder Bednar bore his testimony of the Lord, I don't think that I had felt the spirit so strong in my entire life! I can testify to you and everyone that He is a true Apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ, which means that Jesus is the Christ and that this Church is His Church and that as missionaries we are all true representatives of Him. "     -Elder Paynter

May 24, 2015 - One Memorable Week...

1-Kaylie has reached a major milestone in her life-her first tube of black lipstick. Cross that off your bucket-list :)

A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!

 2-Our Young Men and Young Women's group went to the Provo temple last Tuesday. I was able to attend with Jacob and Kaylie. Kaylie was tickled to see Jacob (Bitsy...she so affectionately calls him) perform baptisms for the first time. What a sweet experience for a mother to witness. 

Near the end of the baptisms, I  swear I heard angels singing. The overhead music had been turned off. I went to investigate and found a Samoan Branch preparing to attend an endowment session. They sang for about 30 minutes or so. Though I cannot say I have heard angels singing in the temple, I am certain it was as close as I will ever get! It was certainly heavenly!
3-I had a hot "date" with these two(three) guys on Friday night! Not sure I was the best company, since Jacob fell asleep half-way through the movie..,

Lesson learned...don't take Jacob to a movie after 8 pm...

Gearing up for the last week of school!!!!

Xicotepec-May 19, 2015 
(P-day was on Tuesday this week since Eldner Bednar came to speak to the mission)
Hola Mom!!

Well I don't have much time this week....

I wish i could see the look on your face after reading that haha!! but seriously, not a lot os time, hehe.

So, I am in Xicotepec, Puebla. I have so far been in three different states here in México. Its a super cool city!! There are a bunch of mountains and in the middle of them all is Xico. p.s. its pronounced like, He (as in him) Co (like company) te (like ten without the t) pec (like a peck on the cheek). My new companion is Elder Vijil from Honduras. He just finished his training, so he´s a little bit newer. Today we visited a giant statue of The Virgin Guadalupe (Apostasy and a bit of commandment breaking) But it was pretty fun. 

So yesterday ELDER BEDNAR WAS HERE, it was incredible! What an amazing experience!! I am still amazed by it!! It was amazing! It was like you said, a question and answer thing! The spirit was incredibly strong!! We talked a lot about faith-acting, charity, conversion and a lot more that I wouldn't be able to describe in words! haha. The three talks we studied were "Ask in Faith" "Seek Learning by Faith" and "Converted unto the Lord. I challenge you and the rest to read these talks, because mainly what we talked about in the discussion we had with him. When Elder Bednar Bore his testimony of the Lord, I dont think that I had felt the spirit so strong in my entire life! I can testify to you and everyone that He is a true Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, which means that Jesus is the Christ and that this Church is his Church and that as missionaries we are all true representatives of him. 

I really liked what you shared about Brother Ogles and it made me think about when you shared Luke 9:24-25 jst with me. The only way we will gain the eternal life is if we give up ours for it!! I love doing this work!! and I love my Savior!

So I promise to explain more about my area next week because literally have no more time!! I love you and thank you for your counsel every week!!

I love you Mom!!

Elder Paynter

p.s. my pictures of when our ride broke down on the way to transfers...

p.s. share Luke 10:2 with Meghan, I know that we are all called to serve as proclaimers and harvesters of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Mission "Transfers" Van

Might as well take a picture since we are broken down...

The Virgin Guadalupe

New Area

New Companion

 

May 17-Somewhere in Mexico...

Jordan told us last week that he would be transferred again, so I wasn't surprised to see his picture on the mission blog tonight. Can't wait to hear who he is with and where he is at...

May 10, 2015-A boy and the priesthood...

Mother's day is always a bitter-sweet celebration. On the one hand, you appreciate the thoughtful words and gifts from your dear children. On the other hand, you are reminded of how much better you should/could be. However, there is nothing like celebrating Mother's Day while watching your baby boy (not much of a baby anymore) receive the Aaronic Priesthood. May you always honor the priesthood and bless the lives of those around you! Love you Jacob!

May 12, 2015-A boy and his mitt...

Baseball season has officially started. The weather has been somewhat unrelenting in allowing these boys to play. Fortunately, we got a game in while Grandma and Grandpa Brown were in town! It was somewhat of a blow-out, but hey, he had fun.

Panuaya-May 11

It was also good to hear from you all too!!

I´m glad it all went well!! I find myself with no time again!! Tomorrow I have transfers and I will be leaving Panuaya! It was a nice short time I had here!! i learned a lot and had a Lot of fun!!

Thinking about that Video and thinking about the priesthood, I was reading the Mission Handbook in the back where it has all the ordinances, and about every one of them it mentions that they should all be done by a WORTHY priesthood holder. I honestly love that video and there is also a talk that I love by President Eyring called "Act In All Diligence" and I recommend it for Jacob and Kyle. 

Well that is all that I have time to say right now mom!! I love you tons and will talk to you next week!!

Elder Paynter

Many fun and exciting activities with the district and zone...

Zone Activity

District Service Project

District Activity

 Elder Marquez-District Leader

Panuaya-May 4

Hola Mamá

How are you? How have you been!! Make the most of the time that you have!! It may pass by pretty fast at times, but I feel like time is one of the most important things in this life!! The time here is passing by super fast!! 

On the 18th of May, Elder Bednar will be coming to the mission to have a conference with us!! Wooo hooo!! I´m super excited!! I plan on going in fast so that I can learn more!! and I´m a little bit curious to hear how well Elder Bednar speaks Spanish!!

On Sunday, we will be able to call home / skype home for an hour. so either 30 min with you and 30min with dad and Tammy, or you can all get together for an hour call with me!! Just let me know your plans!! I can't wait to hear from you all!! 

Wow!! I can't believe that Jacob is already entering into the priesthood!! There´s a super cool video from the church that is about the priesthood it's called......"The Power of God" and I Love it,  I think Jake will love it too!!

I know you want a long letter this week,but I really have no time again!! The work is great here, we don't have a lot of investigators, so we are contacting a lot, It sure requires a lot of work!! I really am learning a lot! I have found that I learn a lot more when I am studying the first principles of the Gospel over and over again. In Preach My Gospel in like the first few pages there is a quote from Hyrum Smith that I love. We learn a lot more when we are learning the first principles of the Gospel and not so much when we are studying about other things that are deep doctrine. I really love to study now!! I use my study time really wisely so that I can always learn as much as I can!! I love you so much mom and hope you have an amazing week!! Love you Tons!!

Elder Paynter

 Fotos of our district and divisions with my district leader Elder Marquez:

Jordan's Artwork

Elder Paynter and Elder Gamez