Tulancingo, Mexico- Sept 19

Dear Family,

How is everyone doing? I hope that everyone is great! I am writing you all from Huasca de Ocampo, Hidalgo. We are visiting some cool sight-seeing places. I wanted to take this opportunity as one of my last emails to share a few things that I have learned from my mission. 

First of all, I know that most of you know that before the mission I hated reading. I'm sorry for using that strong word, but I really didn't like reading. It was always to me such a waste of time. I remember that at the end of my Senior year in High School as I started filling out my mission papers, I set a personal goal to read the whole Book of Mormon. I started with a goal of 1 chapter each night and even though I got home late from Sub Zero, (almost) every single night before going to bed I read a chapter. In the summer, I started taking my Book of Mormon to work with me. Reading still wasn't something that I loved to do but as I kept reading I got into the habit of doing it every day. When I entered the MTC I was reading in Alma chapter 30 or so. I kept reading and I started realizing the importance of the Book of Mormon. I started praying more than I ever had before. I got to the mission field and it sure was a scare, as it is for any new missionary, especially in a foreign country and speaking a new language. A few weeks into the mission I got to the end of the Book of Mormon and I prayed, prayed and prayed. I know now that the Book of Mormon is true. I knew it before, I knew it then, and I can bear my testimony now that I have no doubt that it is true. In the introduction of the Book of Mormon it says, "The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after His resurrection. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come." The Book of Mormon is the keystone in these latter days to achieve Peace in this life and eternal life in the next. I know that it is another testament of Jesus Christ and that it is the word of God. I love this promise that comes from Doctrine and Covenants section 84, 

"And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life.
 44 For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.
 45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
 46 And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit.
 47 And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh unto God, even the Father." 

I know that this church is true. One of the greatest lessons that I have learned in the mission has been recognizing that it is the Lord´s work. His spirit has taught me and has helped me to know that, "I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." (3 Nephi 5:13) I love the Lord and I know that He has called me. I know that He prepares the hearts of the people to her His message. I know that this is His church. He is our Savoir and our Redeemer. I love Him and owe everything to Him. "Shall we not go on in so great a cause?" (D&C 128:22)

I love you all! Have an amazing week! 

Elder Paynter

Tulancingo, Mexico- Sept 12

 

Hey!

Hows it going? How have you been Mom? I hope everything is going great! We have been well here in Tulancingo! We have found a few new families to teach this week and we are really excited to see their progress! This week we didn't have any of our investigators at church, and we were a little disappointed. Its hard getting people to commit themselves to do the things of the Lord. I feel like there are so many bad influences in these days. I like what Elder Pearson says in his talk, "Stay by the Tree" he says that, "Two of Satan’s most powerful tools are distraction and deception." Satan is always attacking us in any way that he can. He will distract us with cell phones, TV, and other media. He will deceive us into thinking that all is well in Zion. So many of us fall into these traps and they are very dangerous! We need to always be "anxiously engaged in a good cause." We need to recognize Satan's traps and prepare ourselves against his attacks. That is what happens in the lives of so many people that we have taught. They get distracted and deceived. We need to rely more on the truths and principles of the Gospel. The Gospel way is the only way! I am so grateful for the chance that The Lord has given me to teach His Gospel. I know that it is the power of God unto salvation! Love you tons Mom and I hope you have a great week! Stay Strong! Keep striving! Love you!

Elder Paynter

Tulancingo, Mexico- Sept 5

Hey Mom!

This week has been another good week!! We had Stake Conference this weekend and two of our investigators were able to attend! It was an incredible stake conference! I'm sure that our investigators felt the spirit very strongly! In the Saturday evening session of conference Sister Kimball gave a talk and asked me to translate for her. I was pretty nervous, but it went very well! It was a short but very powerful talk! 

Today we are in Ixmiquilpan, one of my old areas, and we are visiting a few of the people that I met here! It's raining, but I'm sure that it will still be a good day! Right now we are going to visit a convert named Brandon that is going to serve his mission in 29 days! He's going to the Mexico Chalco Mission. It's only like 4 hours away from here! I am really excited for him! Its going to be a great experience!! 

I'm not too stressed about coming home, but I'm sure it will be a new and great experience. I have felt a little bit nervous/excited, and I know that I will soon start the next phase of my life! I am so grateful for this work. There is no doubt in my heart that it is true. I know that the Gospel changes lives. It has changed mine. I feel that I have learned so much and I am so excited to keep learning and keep sharing the knowledge that I have received. I am grateful for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. I know that this is a great work, and without the guidance of the Holy Ghost and the divine help of our Heavenly Father, this work would not progress. I have seen so much progression in this work and am confident that the Lord is helping and sends angels and His spirit to prepare the hearts and minds of many. I love the Lord. I know that Christ lives! 

I love you so much Mom!! Have the best week!!

Elder Paynter

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...