March 24, 2014

What's up, fam!!

Glad to hear you guys had a great time down in St. George... Sure do miss it down there. And when you mentioned about the Bear Paw restaurant, Mom, it made me realize that I haven't eaten like waffles or pancakes since I left home. Dang.... haha. But I'll tell you what--you guys are missin out on the food down here as well. One day, we'll come down here and I'll show you all my favorite taco spots (mostly because I know that it's one of Dad's favorite things in the world). Forget about all the people I've taught and come to know, we're comin just for the food. hahaha. Just kidding.

This week was good!! We baptized Juanita this week :) She's awesome... It's a little different because I wasn't really there for the most part of when the missionaries were teaching her... I kinda just showed up and she was already gonna get baptized. Ha but whatever.... Hey I deserve it for not being able to see Irma's baptism. Ha but it went well... she was super pumped. There were only like 12 people that showed up to see her get baptized, but I think she liked it better that way because she's naturally super shy. The area presidency of Mexico have made it the goal to be able to baptize 1 person every week. But not just baptize to baptize, but baptisms of converts. We're not quite there yet... but we're workin on it. And just like Nephi says in 1 nephi 17 that if the Lord had commanded him to do all things, he could do them. I know it's the same thing with this goal that they've put for us. I know that they're men called of God and that things like that are inspired. We're gonna be workin hard this year. 

Sorry I don't have too much to write this week... This week flew by without me even realizing it. ha. But everything's good in the hood. How did Cam do in his tourney down in St. George? Which course did they play? Love you all, hasta luego :)

Elder Webb

March 17, 2014

Hey everyone!

Before I tell you all how my week went, I have to confess something. Mom, I wish I would have never quit taking piano. Remember when you would tell me, "When you're out on your mission, you're gonna want to know how to play all the hymns." And I was like, "ya... right." I am officially regretting ever stopping to practice the piano. Wanna know why? The ward I'm in doesn't have a ward pianist. And since I know a little bit about the piano, they asked me to be their ward pianist. Every Sunday I'm there playing the prelude music and everything. Lets just leave it at, I regret quitting practicing the piano. Wow, what do you know... Mom was right again.

This week was good! We're working well here in this area. Finding many people that are already prepared to receive the Gospel. My companion is a hard worker. So I don't have many problems with him. But ya we're gonna have a baptism this Saturday! Her name's Juanita, I think I already told you guys. I'll send pictures next week :) We're in the process of finding people and preparing them for baptism. We have quite a few investigators but not tons of them are progressing. So we're gonna spend lots of time on our knees this week. 

I just recently finished the Book of Mormon again so now I'm starting the New Testament. Reading this morning in Matthew 4 when Jesus is taken away by the Spririt to be tempted by the devil, I found an interesting insight. Satan, trying to tempt Jesus into denying his Sonship, tempted him to turn the stones to bread, to take himself down from the high point of the tower, and to worship Satan himself for all the riches of the world, to which Jesus responded every time with "It is written..." and then his response to the temptation. Jesus shows us the perfect example of how to deal with the temptations from the devil. By studying the scriptures, the written word. In them are all the answers. Just something interesting that I noticed, but it's true is it not? My love for the scriptures has grown immensely out here on the mission, and it makes me so happy to hear that you guys are doing a Book of Mormon reading challenge. Haha--I think I started like, 3 or 4 Book of Mormon challenges but never made it past Alma. haha. So for that, I congratulate you guys for getting further than me!

Everything's goin good out here! Super hot... like, wayyyyy too hot. I hate it. I like cold weather. But I love it here at the same time. Hope you all are doin grrrreat!! Next week, pictures comin your way. Les amo a todos!!

Elder Webb

March 10, 2014

What's up FAMMMMMM

Can I just start out by saying how happy I am to hear that Cam is keeping up the family legacy of getting in car accidents. Also let me just briefly kinda barely just kinda mention, Cam, how many times you made fun of me for getting in a couple car accidents. At least I never drove through Beto's fence by accidently hitting the gas instead of the brake. HAHAHA. Alright ya just had to get that off my chest.

But hey ya sorry I didn't tell you where I had been transferred to! I'm in a city called Mante, about 3 hours north of Tampico. It's a decently big city, like 100 thousand people live here I think. Our area is pretty sweet. Lots of people to teach, lots of work to be done. Our ward is HUGGEEEEEE. I think yesterday we had 70 people attend church. hahaha. No but seriously that's like ginormous compared to my last area. But we're gonna have a lot of things on our plate the next little while. 

We're scheduled to have a baptism this week! (ya I just showed up in this area and this lady was already gonna get baptized... sweet!) Her name's Juanita. She's awesome. Hopefully there will be more where that came from in the months to come. Still learning the area, which is tough sometimes cuz I just wanna get out and go but I have to follow my companion around who is still in his training, so sometimes we get lost. But it's all good. I'm still district leader, as I think I mentioned before. It's a little different now, because in my last area I was district leader, but of a district of straight sisters. Now we're all Elders. But I'm likin it. It is a little bit of responsibility but it's really rewarding as well. The mission teaches you to have a lot of patience. I've learned a lot of patience, but I don't think the process in learning patience ever ends. It's kinda a life long thing, right, Dad? hahaha. 

You guys have to keep me updated on all the people that get their mission calls! I love to hear about all my friends from back home that are getting their mission calls. It's exciting stuff. Things are goin well out here. This area gets suuuuuuper duuuuuuuper hot. Like we're talkin up to 115-120 degrees. Ya.... we havn't gotten there yet but when we do........ I dont think i'm gonna survive. hahah. Wellp, love you all! Have an awesome week.

Elder Webb

Oh and p.s., I just got my valentines day package today. You don't know how happy I am to have my two favorite things in the WHOLE world!!--beef jerkey and peanut m&ms :) Man I love you guys. 

March 3, 2014

Wassup Fam!

Writing a little bit late because, yes, I got transferred. I kinda saw it coming, but did not want it to happen. I'm with Elder Ocampo, I'm finishing up his training and I got called to be District Leader again. Life's good, I'm in a city about 3 hours outside of Tampico. Changes are always exciting, this area from what I've seen so far shows a lot of promise. Elder Ocampo, who is from Veracruz, Mexico, is a stud and I'm already impressed with him. Kinda sad I had to leave my area in Tampico... More than anything, because I'm gonna be missing Irma's baptism. She was so sad when I went to say goodbye to her last night... haha I thought saying goodbye to the family and all my friends was hard... dang.... ha that was hard. Its different, because you never know if you're gonna see someone like that again. I hope to come back to visit my mission some day, but who knows if I'll be able to find her again or whatever. It's tough... but I'm so glad that I was able to be a part of her life and a part of her accepting the gospel. She's doin great... and is heading down the right path.

This week Elder Johnson from the seventy, President of the area in Mexico, came to visit our mission. All the missionaries within the limits of Tampico went to a stake center to have a meeting with him. It was awesome! He's such a smooth guy... If you don't know who he is, I'm sorry. You're missin out. He talked to us, as missionaries, about a lot of things. Mostly about missionary work.... haha. But later that night there was like the adult session and we took Irma with us to go see the meeting. In that meeting, he talked a bunch about fortifying the home.

He asked the question to the whole congregation, (not a small congregation might I add), how many of them were reading their scriptures as a family EVERY DAY. He asked them to raise their hands if they were doin it, and NO ONE raised their hands. Including stake presidents and bishops in this meeting. He then testified that if they don't start to do it, they're gonna lose at LEAST 3 or 4 children or grandchildren. Lost, like, not being saved in the celestial kingdom. It was so powerful... and I thought back to when I was at home, how diligent we were in scripture study. We were pretty good about scripture study, but let's not kid ourselves, we didn't read EVERY day together. Its not like Mom and Dad didn't try, more than anything it was because of us kids and doing whatever it was that we were doing. So, I would ask you all, like Elder Johnson did to those members, are you studying the scriptures as a family every day? We talk a lot about how the Lord is hastening his work.... But so is Satan. The scriptures are the solution!!

Everything's just great out here in the mission field. I'll be learning my new area in these next few days but everything will be alright. Love you all sooo much. Miss you every day. Here's a picture of me, Irma, and Elder Delgado last night. Love you all!!

Elder Webb

February 24, 2014

HELLO, FAMILY
 

So crazy how small of a world it can be. Nick, training a buddy from high school in Jake Nilson, and Eric getting his call to Rome, Italy to be with Jake Stout. haha...... Someone better come to Tampico or I'm gonna feel left out. What's the low down on the house? Are you gonna sell it or what?

This week was a really good week. We've really focused more this week on finding new people to teach. And our work paid off! This week we found 9 new investigators!! There are a few way solid ones. We'll be going back to visit them this week and see where they are. But the work is definitely progressing here in this area. From where it was, to where it is now, is incredible. My first 6 weeks with Elder Marin, we found 1 new investigator. ONE. and in my almost 12 weeks with Elder Delgado, we've found 35. Pretty amazing to see the amount things can change with a little change of attitude and faith and work methods.

 

We've been very blessed to see many wonderful things happen in this area. Irma continues to progress!! She's doin so good and tryin soo hard to stay on the right path. We had to change her baptismal date... it was gonna be for March 1, or this Saturday, but our leaders made us change it to March 8th cuz she missed going to church a Sunday a couple weeks back. Which means that I most likely won't be here when she gets baptized.... becuase the transfers come this Sunday, and most likely they're gonna change me out of this area because I've already been here for 4 months. Kinda a bummer.... but nothing is for sure yet. Who knows, they could leave me here. But if they change me, It'll be sad for sure not to be able to see her get baptized... but, however, I know that I, alongside my companion, played a big role in introducing her to the gospel and helping her along this path. For that, I'll forever be grateful. But we'll see what happens.

 

This week we had a couple of really powerful lessons. We found this one less-active guy that stopped going to church 20 years ago named Xicotancatl. Ya, if you don't speak Spanish, good luck pronouncing that one :) It sounds like Heekotankalk. haha. But hes a stud... and in the visit we had with him, I felt so powerful in bearing my testimony to him about the truthfulness of this gospel. After I had finished bearing my testimony to him he told me, "Elder, in these last couple of minutes, I've felt something open in my heart. I don't know what it is, but my heart has been touched, and I'll definitely pray to see if this really is the truth." Experiences like that don't happen all that often... but when they do, they're things that you'll never forget. And I know that I'll never forget the spirit that we all felt in that moment. It was undeniable. Things like this don't happen anywhere else besides the mission.... I'm so thankful for this opportunity.
 

Sounds like things are goin well back home. Miss you all each and every day but I love you all so much. Hope you all have a fantastic week :)
 

Elder Webb

February 18, 2014

WHAT UP EVERYBODY!!!
 

First things first... it makes me proud to say that I still have a dad that's got a little game left in him. Pullin out the stops on Valentine's Day, Dad's still got it ;) hahaha.
 

By the way, we switched P-day to today because we went to the temple again! That's the one good thing about being in the city is that we have the temple pretty close. But, wow, that's so awesome to hear about Lindsey!! Congratulations :)) Keep me updated on her situation. She still goin strong with that guy? Has Cameron left the basement since golf season got over? Just a few things that have been on my mind. haha.
 

Things are goin a ok down here in Mexico. This week we had interviews with President Jordan. I just gotta say that I love that man. He's got SO much on his plate but his genuine love for each of us missionaries... couldn't have asked for a better mission president. But this week was alright.... a little slow, but not too bad, nonetheless. Irma keeps progressing!! It looks like she's gonna get baptized in about a week and a half!! She's soo awesome and so good about keeping her commitments. Last night we had a family home evening in the ward, (I wasn't there, I was on divisions with one of the zone leaders in another area), but apparently she got up and bore her testimony in front of everyone. Even though it was so simple, everyone was so impressed with how strong of a testimony she already has. It makes me so happy to see someone progress like that and accept the gospel. The joy that you receive when someone receives the gospel according to your efforts is something that you just can't beat. Mom, when I get home you'll have to come down here to Mexico to meet Irma. You would love her. She reminds me a lot of you, the best woman I've ever met :)
 

I hope you all know how much I appreciate all of your love and support. I hope you know that your son is doin good down in Mehico. Putting on a little weight, but doin good nonetheless. Love you all ooodles. Keep on keepin on.
 

Elder Webb

February 10, 2014

Hey, Family!!
 

Glad to hear everyone is doin well!! Except for the sad news about Unce Sheryl... I still remember to this day how he would always confuse mine and Cameron`s names on purpose just to try and be funny. In all honesty I didn't know him very much but it still makes me sad to hear about his condition. I wish them the best!
 

Dad, I think I understand you a little bit when you have to get up in sacrament and direct a meeting. (Notice I said a little bit haha.) Because now that I'm district leader, every week I have to get up and conduct our district meeting. Which sucks. Haha but it's alright.... It would be much more comfortable if I could do it in English but I'm comfortable with Spanish, too. So it's no big deal for me now but when I was first put as district leader, man was I nervous! haha. You'll have to let me know who gets put in as the new Stake President. For basically as long as I can remember President Nilson has been Stake President. It'll be weird for me, that's for sure, to see a new one when I get home! But I love President Nilson. Send him my best, please.
 

This week was pretty sweet!! The work's goin good.... and me and my companion are finally tight and having a good time. We're starting to find new people and continuing to progress! Our investigator, Irma, as well as her 8 year old son who I guess you could consider an investigator, weren't able to come to church this week because she went to visit her family in Veracruz (another state in Mexico). But she is progressing really well! The other day we were teaching her the law of chastity and the word of wisdom. We finished teaching her about coffee and tea and stuff and she goes, "Look, I can drop coffee like a snap, but I can't promise you anything about Victor (her 8 year old son) cuz he looooooves coffee!" Hahah we had a good laugh about it, but I'm tellin ya she's golden. We just gotta get her to come to church! Our other investigators are alright, Faustina and Sabina are falling backwards... we weren't able to teach them this last week for some reason and they didn't come to church either. We'll see with them.... but who knows. But things are pretty normal here.... alllllll gooood. haha. Lovin every minute of the mission.
 

Love you all so much!!! Thank you all for the love and support. Hope you have an awesome week. Next week, I'll have a sweet spiritual experience or thought to give to you guys :) Love you all--take a whole bunch of care! :) (Hahah--something you would say in Spanish).
 

Elder Webb