Doing well--even in the rain~

Buenas dias, familia!! Glad to hear everything is well at home. Mom, thanks for the spiritual thoughts and such every week. I love to hear them :) Dad, I´m doin just fine! haha the conditions here really aren't too bad. At least where we live, we have it pretty good compared to most people. But other than that I´m doin good! I´m feelin healthy, havn't been sick yet, and all in all just doin great. If I need it, I have access to all the little things I need. I´m in a decent sized city with stores and stuff. My mission president is the bomb... he´s such and awesome guy. He´s been out here for a year so he will leave to go home the same time I do! All is wellllllll. Also, no one told me what Cam shot in the tournament this week. What is this??? Tell Lindsey I´m proud of her for getting a job finally ;)

Mom wants me to tell y'all about people that we teach. So here it goes: we teach a ton of less active people. We only have like 3 investigators, and only 1 of them is really progressing. We have to teach about faith ALL the time, too.... because people don´t understand that in order to have faith, we need to have both parts: a belief, and an action. This week we had kinda a cool experience! So it´s been raining here... today it's been terrible and when it rains, the streets are like rivers, not kidding. Ha. And the dirt roads that we walk on a lot--forget about it. But anyways we had to hurry home the other night so we took a shortcut on a dirt road. No one knows how, but we found this little tiny beat up cell phone in the mud, in the pitch black of night. Anyways we ended up contacting the guy that owned it and we planned to meet him the next morning. So we did, his name is Samuel. Super cool guy, but he´s kinda strugglin right now in his life. And he was super encouraged when we told him who we were, and what we had to offer. So we have an appointment with him this Saturday! Hope it goes well. But I am starting to see that God has prepared people to receive His gospel, and often He will provide us the means to share and help them. Thanks for all the support!  I love you all so much and am so glad to hear all is well at home. Mucho Amor :)

Elder Webb

Week Two in the Bag!

 

 

Que pasa mi familia!! Man.... life´s pretty good here in Mexico!

 

Dad wanted me to tell you all specifics so here it goes: my companion's name is Elder Gonzalez, a 23 year old guy from Uruguay. He´s a freakin stud! We walk EVERYwhere, I´ve got some pretty nasty blisters. Haha and I sweat like crazy. The branch we are in is tiny! Like 40 people show up to church every week. The people here are hard to work with man... super nice, super friendly, but just sooooo lazy!! They don't wanna do anything! We´ll be like, "so you believe in God right?" They´ll say... "Of course" and we´ll say "So then you want to keep his commandments right?" And they´ll say "No! what for?" Haha it's so hard!!! But I know I´m here for a reason and we do have a few progressing less actives and investigators that I really feel good about. My spanish is getting better! It´s coming really fast... even tho most of the time I feel completely lost still... but having a native comp really helps a ton!

 

Not too much interesting has happened this week... we´ve had a rough time teaching this week. but I´m loving the mission life! And I loooove to hear how everything is going at home! Cam, you have no idea how proud I am of you. A little advice for golf, but it can also be applied for everything else in life: 1. As good as you´re doing, you can ALWAYS do better.  2. Never be satisfied, and never compare yourself to others. ALWAYS work hard to be the best you can be and NEVER be satisfied with how well your doing now. 3. ALWAYS be humble. Remember who gave you you´re talent, and He deserves all the glory. Thank him every day for everything you have, especially your talents.       4. And remember that talents are meant to help build his kingdom here on earth. Remember Him in all you do.

 

Love you all!! glad to hear everything is going well. I´m doing great and hopefully I´ll have more stories next week :) Dad, keep me updated on the ranch too :) Hasta la huego!!

First Week in the Books!

ahhh man. mexico is the bomb!! my spanish is.... terrible. but my comp is awesome he kinda takes the reins during lessons and stuff. it's super hot.... super humid.... i drink a ton of soda and no one here drinks from the tap. there is no hot water, at least where we live so i have to take a cold shower and the only setting is jet stream. haha but i love it! ive seen some crazy weird things, eaten some weird things (and good things dont get me wrong) and met some weird people. but its alllllll good. as far as our investigators and stuff, we dont have much success. if you guys didnt already know, missionary work is different now. its all about working with members and reactivating less actives and receiving referrals for new investigators through members or less actives. no street contacts, no door knocking, we try to be more efficient i guess. but the work is kinda hard but.... it's alright we're still workin at it! some weird stuff i've seen, eaten, or done so far:

lady cutting her lawn with a machete

man who owns a taco shop hangs the carcasses of animals that he uses for the meat for the tacos right outside his shop, where he'll go, take a piece off, and cook it for the customer.

this morning, we went and got our haircut and a ladies house and she made us breakfast. she made us pork hooves with tortillas. a bowl of stew like sauce or whatever, with a big pork hoof in the middle with torillas on the side. 

i'm trying to remember what else.... but i cant.... all in all its just way different here! 

but life is good. i'm doin fine! i'm loving it. love all of you!! 

buenas tardes

elder webb

Estoy Aquí!

hola everyone!! i don't have much time to write a long message but just wanted to let you all know that i got here safely! it is so freakin hot.... and the most humid place you can imagine. it's crazy we just met up with the misión pres and the rest of the elders in this city and we're about to have dinner! all is well.... i can already tell i'm gonna love it here. pictures soon!

love you all! hope all is well at home!

--Elder Webb

Consulate and the Priesthood

Aug. 1, 2013

Mi Familia!--

So, like I've said in my many emails, I'm leaving on Monday . . . bluh, bluh, bluh . . . I'm gonna call you guys around 9.  You know what's goin' on.  But, so today we went up to Salt Lake to get our Visas.  It was pretty sweet.  We got tot take Front Runner from Provo to Murray and then Trax over into South Salt Lake. 

So, we went to the Mexican Consolate right next to the Bees Stadium to pick up our Visas.  Anyways, that all went fine, I guess we haven't got Visas yet. technically, but they expect them to come tomorrow or something.  But, so I wanted to tell you about an experience we had while we were on our way back to the train!  Keep in mind we are in a sketchy part of Salt Lake---ghetto, just your stereotypical inner-city.  (I didn't know that side of Utah existed!)  Anyways, so we are walking back and we see this guy park his bike a little ways in front of us.  He takes off his shirt and yells to us, "Missionaries!  Missionaries!  I need you to give me a blessing!"  Ha.  There are like ten of us walking down the street, and we were all like:  uhh . . . . . and it was funny cuz he was right in front of me so I had to answer to him.  He begins to tell us how he's possessed with demons and how he's battling drug addictions.  But he looked just awful.  And so he kneels down in the midst of us and is just like, "Please bless me!"  He gets down right in front of me . . . and I'm feeling weird about this the whole time.  (Also, keep in mind that we are right by Main Street--tons of traffic and tons of foot traffic).  So, we're like, "Uh, right here?  Right now?  It's pretty public right here."  And he just says, "Ya! The more public the better!" So, we explained to him how it was sacred and it needs to be done more privately, and he was totally understanding.  So, we walk over to these trees around by the gas station, all the while talking with the other elders and they they all felt the same way:  that we probably shouldn't give him a blessing there.  But, we decided that we should just leave him with a prayer.  So, we did, and we prayed for him that according to his faith he would receive strength and comfort and a knowledge that he is a a child of God.  And I felt the Spirit way strongly. 

Afterwards, he just says, "Thank you guys so much.  I know you guys do great things and have the priesthood power of God! I know I'm a child of God, but I'm just so lost right now! But, thank you so much--I feel strength to change."  And he left.  Oh, my, it was such a cool experience!  Missionary work is gettin' real!!  I'm so excited to get out there . . . just wanted to share that with you all!! Love you guys so much.  Thanks for all the love and support.  --Elder Webb

 

Nada Mucho

hola mi familia! como estan?? Nothin goin on too new here at the mtc. ha i'm loving it, but at the same time i'm ready to get out of here and move on to the field! my spanish is actually pretty good... i understand a lot of it, although i can't speak it that well yet. most of my friends are starting to head out to the field. Talon headed out a week ago, jake and bitters headed out yesterday, and dawson just got his visa so he heads out on monday straight to australia! it's weird, i feel like i just got here!! time flies in the mtc... it really does. 

I'm starting to see the importance of teaching and living in correspondance with the spirit. as missionaries, they tell us basically daily that it's not us that converts people, it's the spirit. i always believed that, but now that i'm out here and i see all the miracles that can be brought forth from faith, my perspective has changed a bit. like i've told you all, we have investigators even here in the mtc. our teachers play the role of an investigator in the field so even though they arent the actual person, they represent the actual and do a really good job of playing the part of an investigator. i can't tell you how many times i've just gone into a lesson and the lesson plan has completely changed and i just relied on the spirit. you can feel it so strongly when you just have faith to open your mouth! it really is pretty cool... sometimes during lessons i catch myself and think, "how on earth are we having this full on 40 minute discussion in nothing but spanish?" there's no way on my own i could ever do that in the small amount of time i've been here. it really is a miracle and the gift of tongues is real if you put in the work on your part for it. 

this week has gone by pretty fast.... i don't know if i'm ready for the field or not! haha but its alright the mtc gets reeeeallly old after about 2 weeks of exactly the same thing every day. me and elder pedersen (dawson) basically just hang out all the time its sooo fun. without him the mtc would be soo boring. don't worry mom, i'm still working really hard :) i think i've gained like 7 pounds since i've been here.... haha the food isnt even good but there is soooo much of it. anyways, lifes good, hope all is well back home, love you all! te quirre mucho!

 

con amor,

 

--elder webb

A Send-Off and More Pictures

hola mi familia--

buenos dias! hope all is well at home! life at the mtc is... you guessed it... good. haha i know you're all getting sick of my uneventful emails and mail but in all honesty it's just busy work around here most of the time! so i have a hard time finding things to share. but i'll do my best!

 

This week was a good one.... it just flew by! i can't believe i've already been here 3 weeks.... isn't that crazy?? so this week my favorite district in our zone left. the last of them left tuesday morning. it's weird how you can become such good friends with people you've only known for just less than three weeks. honestly, i was soo close to at least 4 of those elders. so it kinda sucked having to send them off but we had a ton of fun with them before we sent them off. Yesterday was rough because i was soooo tired like the whole day. because the night before, a few of us elders hung out in dawson's room with elder jensen, probably my best friend from the leaving district. we stayed up talking and telling stories until like 12:30 in the morning. it was crazy. i know i know mom.... lights out and 10:30. for the record, the lights were out and we were just talking in the dark ;) nah i'm kidding but it's nights like those that i'm gonna remember for the rest of my life! sorry i don't have more to say.... haha if you want to know more specifics ask me but nothings really coming to my mind to tell you! i'm learning a ton... feeling the spirit stronger than i ever have....my testimony is growing immensely.... esta bien :) love you all. thanks for all of your love, prayers, and support. you're the best :)

 

mucho amo

 

--Elder Webb

Here's mi testimonio en espanol:

Yo se que El Libro de Mormon es verdadero. Estoy muy muy agradecido por eso conocimiento. El Libro de Mormon ha bendice me vida tanto, y yo amo El Libro de Mormon

Yo se que las familias puede vive por eternidad con Dios. estoy mur agradecido por mi familia y sus amo para mi.

Del Don de linguas is real. es ha bendice mi en la CCM tanto y yo no aprender mucho espanol sin del don de linguas.

El Senor jesucristo es nuestros salvador, y su Expiacion es muy muy importante por todos la gente de la tierra si quieremos regresar vivir con Dios.

yo se que Dios ha bendice me por servido un mision, y El continualmente bendice me, y estoy muy muy agradecido por Dios in mi vida.

en el nombre de Jesucristo, amen.

 

 

translation:

 

hello, i want to testify about the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

i know that the book of mormon is true. i am very very grateful for this knowledge. the book of mormon has blessed my life so much, and i love the book of mormon.

i know that families can live forever with God. i am very grateful for my family and their love for me.

the gift of tongues is real. it has blessed me in the MTC so much and i would not learn much spanish without the gift of tongues.

the Lord Jesus Christ is our savior, and his atonement is so very important for all the people of the earth if we want to return to live with God.

i know that God has blessed me for serving a mission, and he continually blesses me, and i am so so grateful for God in my life.

in the name of jesus christ, amen.

On our temple walk the other day, there were a few evangelical protesters. it was kinda weird, but pretty funny to see.

The whole zone!

Me, Dawson, and Elders Jensen and Packer. That's at four in the morning dropping them off at the travel office. Elder Packer is the great grandson of Boyd K.

Elder Jensen!