Tulancingo, Mexico- August 29

Hey Mom!

This week has been another excellent week! Leonides (the 84 year-old father of 2 converts) is doing great! He still has a lot of desires to be baptized and we have been planning with the ward to help him be baptized, we are really excited! Suzana is also doing pretty well, it has been hard helping her to find her answer, but I think that it will just require a little bit of patience and a lot of prayer. This week she couldn't come to our ward at 10:00am because she had to go see some family, but we went with her to another Tulancingo ward at 8:30am. This week we were blessed to find another golden investigator! Her name is Margarita, and she contacted us in the street, she told us that one of her cousins that lives in Pachuca had been telling her about the missionaries and the church, so she talked to us on the street and we went to visit the next day. She had been going through a few problems with her son that has had problems with drugs, and she was really stressed out about the whole situation because her son´s girlfriend just had a baby, and they have had lots of problems. We left a blessing in their home and we felt the spirit really strongly. She accepted a baptismal date, but this Sunday she didn't come to church. I feel like each day the Lord blesses us with many opportunities to serve and bless the lives of others. The mission really has been a great experience!

In my Book of Mormon reading I have been reading the Isaiah chapters in 2nd Nephi. I know that they are a little hard to understand, but I have learned quite a bit more. Today I was reading something really interesting. I thought is was really interesting that one of the chapters that Nephi includes is Isaiah chapter 11 and that in Joseph Smith History verse 40, one of the scriptures that the angel Moroni mentioned to Joseph Smith is that same chapter and he told the prophet Joseph that it was going to be fulfilled soon. In Doctrine and Covenants 113:1-4 explains a little more about that chapter and it basically tells us that in the last days the Lord was going to lift up a servant to be an ensign to the nations, one who had the Priesthood and was descendant of Joseph and of Jesse. I think it is really interesting that Isaiah could see these last days, and it is interesting to think that that person whom he mentioned could possibly be Joseph Smith. Cool stuff right!?

Well Mom, I hope you are doing well! I hope you have a great week! Is there anything that I can do for you before I get home? Buy a sombrero or something? Mexican Independence day is coming up! Should be fun!! I love you tons Mom! Have a great week!

Elder Paynter

Tulancingo, Mexico- August 22

Hey Mom!

Things are going great here! I am loving the mission! I am sad that it is coming to an end, but I am so happy because of all that I have learned and all the experiences that I have had!!! This week was a good one! We did a lot of service and Elder Pino from the seventy came to the mission! It was a great experience!! He taught us in a conference as well as our leadership council. He encouraged us to keep working and keep "raising the bar". I am so grateful to have the examples of many dedicated servants of the Lord who are always willing to teach and strengthen us. Today we went to Pachuca to renew my temple recommend... that's right, two years have passed since I got my first recommend! haha, it was a great experience to remember all that we need to do every day in order to be worthy to enter the Lords house. I was actually looking through a few of the letters I have printed out, and last night I was reading one that you sent me with this same list from President Hinckley. I read it and I feel like those are some great things to bring home. I have to admit that there are many things that I still haven't learned that I hope to keep learning so that I can become more spiritually prepared to return from the mission! We have been teaching an 84 year old Father of some converts in our area. He has a lot of desires to be baptized! The only problem is that he has been sick for quite some time and has been home-bound. Last week we took him to church with us in his wheelchair, and he liked it a lot! We hope to keep helping him progress towards his baptism! Im so grateful for this work! Like President Ezra Taft Benson said, "I love this work, and it is work!" I love you tons Mom!

Have a great week!

Elder Paynter

This silly missionary will be home with us soon! Still so bitter-sweet...

Tulancingo, Mexico- August15

Hey Family!

How are you all? I'm great! I am really excited and nervous! Today was transfers day, therefore we had to get a lot of things done, and we don't have much time to write today. We didn't have transfers, so Elder Merino and I will be starting our third cycle together here in Tulancingo. This cycle will be my last cycle in the mission, I am very sad that soon my full-time missionary service will come to an end, but thanks to the Gospel, I know that my life of service to others and to the Savior will continue onward much longer. I am grateful for all my family! Thanks to everyone who has supported me throughout my entire mission, and thanks for all the inspiring and encouraging letters written. I feel like I have been so blessed, much more than I ever could deserve. Im grateful for the Gospel and I know that Christ is our Savior. This work is His work. I know it. This church is His church, I know it. I want all my family and friends to know that I know these things are true. The Book of Mormon testifies of Christ and is the word of God. Christ lives. I have attached a talk by Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge, its one of my favorite talks! Read and ponder it! I love you all so much and thank you for everything!! Have an amazing week and live the Gospel every day!! 

Elder Paynter

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/the-way?lang=eng

Tulancingo, Mexico- August 8

 

Hey Mom!!

How have you been? I've been great here!! This week was a pretty great week! We had a lot of challenges, but the Lord knows our weaknesses and has strengthen us! We have given a lot of service this week! The Lord blessed us with so many opportunities to serve this week! We didn't have to look much to find people to serve!! I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve my brothers and sisters! Just like President Monson said, "Spiritual strength frequently comes through selfless service" I have felt that strength! This week Suzana, one of our investigators came to church! She is progressing very well towards her baptism. We arrived a little late to Sacrament meeting because we had to go to the Tulancingo ward to check up on our missionaries. We got to our wards meeting like 10 minutes late, but it was good to see that some of the ward members had already welcomed her and were sitting with her!! The Lords work will carry on. I know it. I'm so glad that he gives us the blessing to help in His work!

The mission home is separate from the mission offices. The offices are right outside of one of the chapels in Pachuca. The mission home is a little further of, but only like 5 minutes away. The Leadership councils that we have had have been held in the mission home! Its a pretty big and fancy home! haha

To be honest, its not easy being a missionary once you've got 22 months in the field. I feel like it was easier getting used to things at the beginning of the mission. I think that my testimony on the power of the Scriptures has grown a lot these past few weeks. I keep finding endless scriptures that have motivated me and helped me to keep my focus. I know that The Lord speaks to us through the words of His holy prophets. I have read 2 Nephi chapter 2 many times. I really love all that it teaches about the redemption that comes through Christ. This week I really liked a few verses that encouraged me to keep working hard!! verses 6-8 "6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise." In the mission I have come to know that Christ always calls us with his arms wide open. His love is offered to all. We have a great privilege and responsibility to make these things known unto all Gods children! This is another reason why I love His work. He watches out for each one of His children. He prepares a way so that we can obey all His commandments, but also gives us agency to choose whether to follow Him or not. I'm grateful for Him and His love for us!

I hope you are doing well Mom! I love you tons!! I have been working on my BYU essay and Ive advanced a little bit more, I just have to keep searching for free time. The time is going by very fast! Keep striving! Thanks for all that you do Mom!! I love you!!

Elder Paynter

It's been raining tons!! We haven't had anything very dangerous happen here, but the missionaries from Huauchinango and Xicotepec in our Zone have seen a bit more dangerous incidents. In Huauchinango, there was a big mudslide that collapsed a few homes, but that's the most severe thing that has happened.

Mexico Pachuca Mission Leadership Conference

Tulancingo, Mexico- August 1

Hey Mom!

How have you been? Ive been great!! First, about the pictures, The birthday cake was from my birthday last month, we do have a lot of normal street roads, but there are a few places that still don't have pavement. I did get my birthday package before my birthday, we were able to celebrate with pancakes and candles and party hats, it was great! The suit that I had on was borrowed from my companion, mine was in the dryclean, so he let me use one of his. Thanks for the reference of Gospel Topics Essays, there are quite a few people that ask a few strange questions about the church, so I printed off a few to study. 

This week I was reading in my studies and I found a scripture that I really liked. Its in the book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price. Its when God is talking to Enoch, and teaches and shows him many things. I found it interesting that while God shows Enoch the power that the devil has over the hearts of many wicked men, God weeps. Moses 7:28 "And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept; and Enoch bore record of it, saying: How is it that the heavens weep,and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains?" Enoch is amazed that God in all his glory and perfection, was able to shed tears. He basically asks Him why and how. in verses 32 and 33 it says, "The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency; And unto thy brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;" The Lord explains here something that is very important that we should all understand. He has given us agency. He has given the freedom to choose, but with that, he has given consequences, and punishments. In the scriptures it talks a lot about the wrath and anger of God and how it is kindled up against those who perverse his commandments. This may scare us a little at times, but we should always remember how much the Lord loves us! He gives punishment when we sin because he is Just. But he weeps when we don't obey because He knows that he has to punish us. He loves us so much that He sent His beloved son, Jesus Christ. His love is infinite and extends to all those who have been crated by His hand. I love God and testify that he hates sin, but love us as sinners. He has all power to make us perfect as He is, and allow us to enter into his presence. I testify of these things!! 

Thanks Mom for everything! Have and amazing week!! Love you!

Elder Paynter