Xicotepec-June 29

Wow, What a week you've had!!

Well things are going pretty well!! I'm still here in Xicotepec with my new companion, Elder Gutierrez. Hes from Yucatán, in México, close to the capital Merida. Hes great! He has about 5 months in the mission, hes a little shy, but not really, he just talks really softly. We have been getting along really well!! He does actually speak English pretty well, but still learning. 

So what I understood is that Elijah and Kyle are driving home from Washington alone? It does make me a little bit scared as well...

Kaylie told me that Jacobs lip is all purple and brown... yikes... any pictures?? Sounds like things are going pretty great with the Family!!

I can give testimony that the mission is the greatest experience that anyone could have. I don't think there is any other place where someone can grow and learn so much. My favorite part of life is being able to use the atonement of Jesus Christ everyday. I hope that you can all be able to do this. Think about him everyday, and use his Atonement to become stronger everyday. I'm super glad to hear the news about Meghan. I hope that she and Kyle are preparing a little bit every day to get ready!!

The World is changing everyday. It makes me think more and more everyday how great it is that we have a living prophet to lead and guide us through this changing world. Yes, it's good to have the Bible, and Yes, it's even better to have the Book of Mormon, but I think the greatest is that we have a living prophet. Yes, it's true that God never changes (Hebrews 13:8) but the world is changing everyday. The Living Prophet and the Apostles of Jesus Christ give us guidance that has been "adapted" to the specific changes that keep happening. I'm glad we have a Living Prophet and am so grateful that our heavenly father can still lead and guide us through modern-day revelation!!

Well Mom, the package still hasn't arrived, but all is well here!! I'm serving as District Leader here in Xico, and its a lot of responsibility, but I know that I will always have help if I keep asking and working for it!! I love you mom!! Hope your week is great!!! Keep going to the temple!! Its kind of a bummer not being able to go, but you and the kids need to pick up my slack!! Love you!!

Elder Paynter

Fotos:

Last pictures with Elder Vijil, in the house of the Zone Leaders

Apparently, there was an uninvited guest in the shower this week...

Xicotepec-June 29
 From the Mission Blog:

Two of Snow Whites Dwarves sited in Mision Pachuca Mexico....

Happy :)

 Grumpy or is it Dopey?

Xicotepec-June 22, 2015

Hola Mom!

How are you?? Things are going great here!! And the time sure is flying by quickly!! Tonight we will start our trip to Pachuca and stay the night with the Zone Leaders in Tulancingo, because tomorrow we will be having transfers again. I will be staying here in Xicotepec and my companion Elder Vijil will be leaving me. Its been super great, We had some good experiences together. 

Here in Xicotepec, the weather also has been a little bit extreme, but on the opposite end. For the last few days, it has rained consistently from about 4 in the afternoon until late at night. So we have been soaking ourselves basically, haha.

Our three baptisms on Saturday were all a success. We have been having a lot of success with baptizing, but I feel like there is a lot more work to do in the retaining of the converts and less actives here. We have started to work a lot with the less active and new members in our Ward. 

Yesterday we did divisions with the Bishop and his first counselor. It was great because home and visiting teaching doesn't really work here. We have plans to help the members to fulfill their duties. If we can get at least half of the active members to activate at least one person it will be a success!! We have great plans with this Ward!! 

At times we all need to go and seek out the one lost sheep. What good does it serve us if we only spend time with the sheep that have already been saved? Or like the Savior taught, he didn't come for those who were saved, but for those that needed saving. I challenge you mom and everyone else to search for one lost sheep who hasn't assisted for a while, or look for someone who has yet to hear the góspel, and go and bring them back to the fold!!

I love what you shared about the eye single to the glory of God. If we keep our eye focused on the glory (Immortality and eternal life) the rest of our bodies will shine with the light of God. We will be pure of heart and mind.

We have been trying a lot more to contact as much as we can, a lot of talking in the street and just simply talking with everyone! The week has been pretty great, I still haven't received the birthday package, but I'm sure I'll pick it up tomorrow in Pachuca. and still no word on the sister that is coming here, but when I hear I will let you know!!

I love you tons mom! Keep up the good work with the temple trips and make the most out of it and remember that all the members here only get to go to the temple no more than 3 times a year!! So make the most out of it!! Love You!!!

Elder Paynter

Fotos:

From divisions with Elder Zeledón (District Leader). 

We went running in the morning with Oscar, our Ward misión leader!!

  

  Fotos from the baptisms!!

Fotos:

Saying goodbye to three great families...

 Gomez Family (Investigators)

  Jorge and Anahí (Converts)

 Danin Family (Ward mission leader and his mom and brother)

Xicotepec-June 15, 2015

Hey Mom!! How are you!!

Things have been great here!! You reminded me of the scripture in D&C 82:3, we are given much as members born in the covenant, and also MUCH is required of us, because with greater light comes greater condemnation, so if we don't live what we have learned, we will regret it!! For this reason, I will serve the Lord for the rest of my life. He has called me to serve him and I can't let him down, because he has never let me down!!

It's great to hear all is well in Springville!! Our baptism didn't happen this week because the lady that we were going to baptize went out of town with her husband for the next 20 days, but when she gets back I'm sure shell be baptized!! We do have three lined up for this Saturday, Martha, who is the mother of Araceli (the sister that we baptized two weeks ago), Dennise, a 9 year old girl from a less active family, and Anahy, a friend of Aline and Jorge who were baptized last week!! and on the 11th of July we also have two more baptisms lined up!! Things are going pretty great here in Xicotepec, and I don't only say that because a lot of people are entering into the kingdom of God, but also because I am learning a lot!! Everyday I feel closer to God. I really am growing here!! I hope that I can do everything possible to keep on improving in the sight of God.

This week I was studying and I read a scripture that I had already read a few times before in Mathew 6:22 with references to D&C 4:5 and Mormon 8:15 I want you to read it and think about what they mean to you!! hehe

Its always great to hear from you mom!! The word Capacitación means training, and sorry this week I couldn't upload my pictures due to technical difficulties, but ill send some next week!! Love you mom!!!!!!!!

Elder Paynter

Thanks to Sister Egbert for posting pictures from the mission each week on her blog:

 

 Zone Capacitation 

Wednesday June 10th in 

Tulancingo

Xicotepec-June 8 2015

All is well in Zion, yea, Zion prospereth, all is well. 2 Nephi 28:21

Just kidding, haha, but all is well here!! Had a pretty great birthday!! We spent like three hours in the clerks office fixing the ward list, and we only got to the names that start with the letter D. So, we have a lot of work still left to go!! Plus, one family made me a Birthday cake!! and another made us pancakes!! It was super awesome!! It was great to spend my Birthday here!! I wasn't able to get my package yet, because it takes a process to get it here, when the Zone Leaders go to Pachuca they will probably pick up my package.  Then they will wait until our district leader or we go and pick it up from them. They live like 2 hours away from us, and like 2 more hours away from Pachuca so... haha.

This week was pretty good!! We had two baptisms and it was a blast!! I got to baptize them, it was such a great experience, the great thing is that I will still be here in the mission when they will be able to enter in the temple, so that will be great!! I love doing this work!! It takes a lot of work but the blessings that come with it are eternal!! I love serving the Lord!! (This was an extra special baptism, because missionaries in his mission are only allowed one baptism for the duration of their mission and Jordan chose this one. It will be especially neat if he is able to see them be sealed together in the temple)

We are hoping to have another baptism this week!! It is a family of a less active husband and his nonmember wife, we are hoping that he will be ready so that he can be able to baptize his wife!! It will be so great!! They are a super cool family and super friendly and nice. About every time that we go to visit them, they make us dinner!! haha, its great!! I love it!! I'm so glad I am her in Mexico serving in the greatest mission in the whole world!!!

Yes, we heard about Hermana Laguna a few months ago, we have been praying and fasting a lot for her. I never had the chance to meet her here, but we know that no matter what happens the Lord will continue to bless her and her family for her service that she did here!! 

 Well, I love you tons mom and hope you have a great week!!! Love you!!

Elder Paynter

No birthday package...but pancakes and two baptisms....

(This must be a member's store...check out the picture on the counter, under plate :)

 Cleaning before the baptism

 Jorge and Aline, our converts from this weekend

And how we celebrate baptisms (With Tortas)

 Who could ask for better Birthday presents?

Elder Arnold's Visit
Monday 1 June, 2015
Pachuca Zones/Tuluancingo Zone

HaPPy BIrtHdaY JoRDaN!

June 7, 2015

Will and Jacob have celebrated their "family" birthday together for many years...neither one has ever been bothered by it.

Jordan has always loved his cousins. So, I feel the need to post these treasures that I found while searching through my pictures. We have been greatly blessed to live near cousins whom we can truly call friends and great influences.

Easter at Labit's Church

Thanksgiving in Las Vegas

Family Reunion in Washington

Easter at our house

Will's Baptism

Jordan's Mission Call

Jordan's Mission

 "There's no better place that i could be celebrating my birthday!!"

Missing you like crazy today!

Happy Birthday...

Xicotepac-June 1, 2015

Thank you mom!!

I'm pretty Excited to celebrate my birthday!! There's no better place that i could be celebrating my birthday!!

This past week we had a baptism!! It was super incredible as always!! Baptismal services should always be the most spiritual experiences like Elder Holland said, and I am absolutely sure that the spirit was present in this last one!! I love hearing the testimonies of converts right after their baptisms because it always convinces me that the Atonement is real and that our heavenly father forgives every one of his children if they come unto him with a willing heart and a contrite spirit. That is what we look for as missionaries, are people who are willing to obey the commandments and humble themselves before him and be forgiven of their sins. this Saturday we will have two more baptisms, and if it all goes as planned, I will be baptizing! woo hoo my first and only time baptizing in the mission!! The hard work always pays off when we are obedient to the commandments of the Lord. I love doing the work of the Lord and i know that if i work diligently and give all to the Lord, that he will bless me each and everyday of my live. And i know that he will do the same to all those who are willing to do so!!

Its great to hear that this school year went super great for you all!! I can´t believe it went by so quickly!! I am enjoying this area a lot we have a lot of investigators and a lot of work to keep on doing!! So i am super excited to keep on working!! I pray everyday that i continue having the strength to work hard each and every day!! i love you tons mom!! and wish you an amazing week!! 

Elder Paynter

 

Fotos from our little adventure today!!

 

 

 

 Baptism of Araceli

 

  So we went to Pachuca yesterday for a conference with Elder Arnold from the seventy, and we ran into Chuckie on the bus so we thought we would take a few selfies...