:D

Hola a todos como estan espero que esten bien y que sepan que les quiero mucho. Like I say always I feel as if time is flying by pretty quickly. It's August already which means that I have about 9 months left on the mission not counting August. Time is flying. It doesn't feel as if I've been out here that long. I have been trying to think all of the time about the work in which I am engaged. But for some reason especially at night thought about home and Katie come into my mind and it makes it really hard to sleep. As well I feel that my companion and I don't get along as much as we used to. I had heard about when you become companions with someone you really like how things don't end up the way you thought and well that seems to be the case. It's definitely not hurting our companionship. We are having a lot of success together and ended the month of July with 4 baptisms and we should have about 6-7 in the month of August. I know that the Lord is definitely helping us out. I want you all to know that I love you and that I pray for you. I know that this is God's Church on the earth today. Elder Rodriguez "Porque, he aquí, ésta es mi obra y mi gloria: Llevar a cabo la inmortalidad y la vida eterna del hombre." Moises 1:39 mormon.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

my birthday!

hola a todos. i had a great birthday. a member from my area made me a cake! i was only able to have a small piece though because we were going to start fasting for them. so it's still in the fridge haha. katie sent me a great package with some very nice ties that i loved so much. she also sent me a few other things. thank you so much for your birthday wishes! it was really a great day. needless to say i don't feel 26. but i think it will catch up with me pretty soon. elder v---- and i are having a great time together. he is a great missionary. i am learning so much from him. i just wish we had a longer time together. but well the Lord has put us together for this transfer so i can learn all i can from him. i'm getting a bit nervous about becoming the zone leader taking over the area next month but i do feel that the lord helps those he calls. we are teaching so many great people and will be having 3 baptisms this coming weekend. and from what it looks like right now 6 in the month of august! :D the lord is truly blessing us and i am grateful. i know that i am not deserving of his grace and that in this moment he is humbling me. like i said i had a great birthday. i hope that all is well at home. tell everyone that i love them and that i will see them soon. Elder Rodriguez For behold, the field is white and ready to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul. Doctrine and Covenants 4:4

hey!! :D

i just finished typing my email home and all of a sudden it dissappeared on me! well i just have time to write a small email home. i love you all. i love my new area and companion. he will be going home pretty soon though.the area i am in now is pretty much all spanish and its awesome. i love teaching the gospel in spanish. well i hope that things are going well at home. i can't believe this weekend is my birthday. i hope that dad had a good birthday i hope that he got my birthday wishes! i've come to realize that there are so many things i have yet to change and that the lord has allowed me to come to this point so that i can change them. i love you all. take care. i will see you soon. -- *Elder Rodriguez* * * *For behold, the field is white and ready to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul. Doctrine and Covenants 4:4*

hi!

Hola a todos. Solo quiero decirles que los quiero mucho. Tell dad I say happy birthday! Well this week is transfers and I will be going to my new area! I can't wait. We will be teaching mostly in Spanish. Which is awesome because I love teaching in Spanish. As well I will be in a car area haha so no more bikes for me for a while at least. I am grateful for all of the things that I learned and experienced here in this area. I know that transfers are inspired of God and that we are sent to the places that we need to go because God wants us to learn things when he sends us there. I feel as if I have finally understood that this mission is not all about me but its all about seeing if I will be humble enough to do what God wants from me. I love you all and I miss you. -- Elder Rodriguez For behold, the field is white and ready to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul. Doctrine and Covenants 4:4

changes up ahead! (again)

Hola a todos! Les quiero. Things are moving rapidly for me. I can' t believe it's July already! In 10 short months I will be home. To think home is only about an hour from where I am! Haha. I feel as if I am farther away though. Things are going well for my companion and I. I think he finally has learned to trust me and we get along well. In the mission as soon as that happens you get transferred! Friday morning we received a call from President and he asks to speak with me. I knew it the moment he was talking to me that I was being transferred but I wasn't sure to where or why. Anyway I have been called to be a zone leader! I can't believe it! The zone has 10 companionships which means I will have the responsibility of helping 20 elders and sisters fulfill their missionary responsibilities. It really is humbling for me. First because I know that there is still I have a lot to change in order to become the best I can be. I know that God is calling me to repentance with this responsibility because it is the only way that I would be able to change myself. It helps me realize that I need to change myself in order to help others. I will have one of the greatest missionaries as my companions! He will be going home after this transfer which means I will need to learn everything pretty quickly. I am excited but very nervous. On the 4th of July we will actually be going home early so that we won't be running into any harm. Anyway hope you have fun that day. I love you all. Please take care. I will see you soon. Elder Rodriguez For behold, the field is white and ready to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul. Doctrine and Covenants 4:4

esta calienteee!

Hola a todos! Los quiero mucho! It has been really hot. But I think you know that pretty well. This past week we had zone conferences and as well the new missionary meeting which was the 4th time I had gone to that meeting not counting the time I went to it as a new missionary. I heard and saw the same information I had seen before but guess what I learned something. I've realized that I am selling my self short. I am not doing this work the way I am supposed to. Which means that I am not receiving all of the blessings I could be if I were 100% dedicated to the work. Sometimes I feel as if I plain stubborn and that I feel that I am above certain missionary rules. But I need to change that. Please pray for me that I am more exactly obedient. This transfer seems to be dragging a bit. I have two more weeks left in it. I am not sure if I will stay with my current companion. If I do it will be the 2nd time I finish a 12 week training. We are struggling together. We get along but I feel as if there are a lot of things that we both need to change in order to get along really well. well i love you all. i will see you soon. Elder Rodriguez For behold, the field is white and ready to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul. Doctrine and Covenants 4:4

hi

hola a todos. espero que esten bien. solo quiero decirles que los quiero mucho y que pronto nos veremos otra vez. algunas personas me dejaron saber lo que el Presidente Obama habia anunciando en relacion con el programa de migracion que ha creado. Se que despues de la mision voy a poder aplicar para el programa y que voy a poder ayudarles como lo he deseado hasta ahora. Se que esto realmente es una bendicion de Dios! This has been probably one of the hardest weeks for me. but i am doing fine now. i love you all sorry. i didn't have more time to write you . hope you are all doing well! :D Elder Rodriguez For behold, the field is white and ready to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul. Doctrine and Covenants 4:4

it's hot!!!

Hola a todos! Que calor a hecho esta semana! I love you all. So on Wednesday I feel as if it was the hottest day of the week. I felt so sick that day because of the heat. But well I am taking better precautions now like taking a break and asking or carrying my own water. But well its all good its part of the work that we have to do. When I feel like complaining all I can think about is the suffering of Christ and how he never complained. He underwent worse pain and things that I ever did in my life. We worked really hard this week but we did not have much success. We didn't find any people to teach or to bring to Church. The M---- family has not been really excited to talk to us. They may be going through their own problems etc to have to deal with us. But well I don't know we will give them one more chance today. Well like I say every time I write I feel as if time is just flying for me. The mission can only be done once and I want to do it without regrets. I don't want to look back on my mision and tell myself that I wished I had worked harder. I want to do my best every single day I am here. well everyone take care. i love you all. i will see you soon. Elder Rodriguez For behold, the field is white and ready to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul. Doctrine and Covenants 4:4

new week, new companion

Hi everyone! I love you all! So last night I had a dream that I was back home and that everyone was there. The sad part of the dream was that Jonathan and Isaac and Samuel didn't recognize me. I wouldn't be suprised if that were to happen though. I feel that time really is going by really fast and that everyday goes by faster than the last. Yesterday the R----- and T--- families were confirmed members of the Church. It was 6 of them from two different families. Their confirmations pretty much took up all of sacrament meeting! We only had time to partake of the sacrament then hear Bishop's testimony and it was over! I was really happy for them. Sis. R--- actually cried a bit during her confirmation. It was really spiritual. I felt the spirit of the Lord so strongly when I was in the circle with the other brethren. I love being a missionary and seeing the changes people make in their lives because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have no doubt that this work is true. Even though some days we struggle with the work I know that it is all part of being a missionary. It is also part of God's plan for us to struggle. The days have been extremely hot. My companion isn't used to biking or to the weather. I am being considerate of that. I feel that I have the area pretty much memorized already. It is a pretty small area but it is good because we are on bike. We found this great family on Saturday they are the M---- family. They also came to Church this past Sunday. Well everyone. I love you all. I would love to hear more from you. Also happy b-day to everyone who has a b-day this week and the rest of the month pretty much! I love you all. Elder Rodriguez For behold, the field is white and ready to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul. Doctrine and Covenants 4:4

new companion once again! :D

hola a todos! well what a week. my new companion just arrived! his name is Elder P----- and he is from Salt Lake City, Utah. He seems eager to learn. We had a good companionship study this morning and he took everything in good stride. I can see that we will have a lot of success together and that we will get along well. I am grateful that God has given me the ability to train again. Even though it may difficult and it may not be the easiest thing to do when you are in a new area I know that the Lord will help us accomplish our purposes. this sunday the r---- was baptized. i did the ordinance once again. the dad showed up to show his support! it was awesome because he at first was reluctant to talk to us much but he has really opened up a lot and we hope that he keeps supporting his family and showing more support. this saturday the t---- family will be baptized again. i am glad that we have been able to make our goals this month and for the next month. now we have to keep working to make our goals for the month of july! i love doing missionary work and going out everyday and teaching people about the gospel of Jesus Christ and how it can bless their lives. I love you all. have a good week. Elder Rodriguez For behold, the field is white and ready to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul. Doctrine and Covenants 4:4

:D

hola a todos. los quiero. well this week i received a call that i will be training again! i was suprised by the call. i felt that i was going to be with my current companion for a while longer or that at least il was going to be able to have someone more experienced as my next companion. but it seems as if the lord really wants me to stay on my toes and always be working hard and having to help others as they come into the mission field. things are really going well for our area. we are having success. and i feel that the only reason that is because we work as hard as we can everyday. by the time we get home we are usually very tired and fall asleep as soon as we get to bed. every day goes by so fast and i try my very best to do my best to make the most out of it. i just want all of you to know that i love you all a lot. i know that this is god's work and glory. i feel as if i am doing what he wants from me right now. have a good week! Elder Rodriguez

another p-day

Hola a todos! I had a good talk with mom yesterday about a variety of topics. But well overall it seems like the family is doing good. This last week the zone leaders, district leaders, and trainers were in a leadership meeting from wednesday to friday. The training was focused on the 8 fundamentals of preach my gospel. I learned a lot. I mean this was not the first time I had gone to this type of training but I still learned what changes I need to make in order to become an even better missionary. The R---- and the T--- families came to church again yesterday. They are progressing very well towards their baptism. We are trying to help them get fellowshipped really well by the ward so they can stay strong in the Church. Transfers are in a few weeks but I really don't see myself leaving any time soon. Unless I am called to be dl somewhere else. But I think my companion will be leaving at the end of the transfer. Well things are going well for me. I am trying to figure out how to best do this work. I love being a missionary! My time is short but I know that with the Lord's help we will accomplish many things! I love you all. Take care.

1 year!

Hola a todos! Los quiero! What a week! It has been so hot! I feel as if I have gotten darker and more sunburned than ever before in my life! This whole week there has been a wind blowing from the south that makes it really hard to pedal our bicycles. I hate pedaling against the wind hahaha. But well the Lord has looked down upon us and smiled and has blessed us with a lot of people to teach! We are working with 3 families of 3 right now for a total of 9 investigators as well as with a single mom and her two daughters. 2 of the families and the single mom were able to make it to Church this weekend and it was amazing having so many people there. My companion was a bit overwhelmed and excited to have so many people at Church for the first time. Most of these people I can see taking that great step of baptism into the Lord's restored Church. I am glad that Heavenly Father trusts us with his prepared children. I know that I have so much to change still to receive all of the blessings he has in store for me. We had a baptism this past Saturday of someone that my companion had been working with for a while, and we should be having another baptism this Saturday as well. One of the families should be getting baptized by the end of the month. This past week I have been reflecting a ton on this past year! It's crazy to think it has been a year already. May 5th marked my year mark when I went to the temple to receive the endowment. (http://www.lds.org/church/temples?lang=eng ) I wish there was a temple nearby so I could relive that sacred ordinance but I am glad that I have a good memory for when I am feeling a bit sad I always replay my temple experience in my head. There are little things that I hear or see that instanly remind me of the temple. One of those things is the quiteness of the chapel during the administration of the sacrament. It feels awesome! I love feeling the Spirit in the simplest of things. Saturday will be my official year mark. I'm planning on bbqing a little bit for dinner after my companion and I finish planning and doing other things. Hopefully we get a chance too. Sunday is Mother's Day. I can't wait to call home. I should be doing that sometime after 6pm. More than likely after Church and all that. Well what more can I say? I love doing this work even though it is the most stressful and challenging thing I have ever done in my life.

a time set apart

Hello everyone! I love you. Now that I am close to hitting my year mark as a missionary I feel that I really am fully focused on this work. My mind seems to always be preoccupied with how I can find new people to teach or what I can do to improve as a missionary. Its funny how things have changed. I try to think less of myself now and more about others around me. Everyone needs the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives. Today I was reflecting on how weak my testimony was before the mission. I made so many mistakes before I came out. But I know that they all happened for a reason. I learned from my mistakes. The hardest thing for me is to confess and repent. I don't like to and want to undergo that process again and especially not after the mission. I don't mind bicycling at all. Its hot yes but I don't feel it too much. My legs are usually super sore by the end of the night but I'm fine. This is a small price to pay to preach and help others learn about Jesus Christ. There is no greater blessing than to be able to testify to others about the greatness and goodness of God and the plan he has for each one of us. Yesterday I was able to be at J---- baptism. He was the last person I was able to teach and prepare for baptism in my last area. I am grateful that Heavenly Father allowed me to meet him and everyone else in my last area. I am who I am as a missionary because of all of these great people. I feel as if I have so much to change and learn still. I know that God will help me accomplish what he wants from me in this area. So my companion and I were knocking in a neighborhood and well we knocked our last door and no one opened. We were walking away trying not to feel dissapointed because of our lack of success. For some reason I turned to look back and a lady whose door we had knocked was motioning us over. That rarely happens to us! We quickly rushed over. She invited us to share our message with her. We invited her to visit the Church the next day. She came with her sons (8 & 14) to Church the next day. She is looking for the truth and we are going to help her find it. I know that the Lord is preparing people everywhere to receive his gospel. I hope to be worthy and ready to discern the Spirit. Have a great week. btw I should be calling on Mother's day, Sunday May 13 around 7pm but that time might change. send me the phone number i should call to in an email. i lov eyou all!

the Lord's work

Hey everyone! I am now in my new area. It is really different from my last one. There is a lot more english and it is overall a nicer area. yesterday we had dinner with the Bishop of the english ward. We are planning some great things to make this ward even more missionary minded! We are working hard to find new people to teach. It has been a struggle. My new companion is Elder G----- from Las Vegas,Nevada. He has been out maybe 3 months less than me. It feels good to be with someone who isn't new and knows what he is doing. At the same time its a little hard to get your words in because he feels like he knows how to work the area and how best to work in it. But well we are working well together and we had some success finding new people to teach and get to Church as well. The area has been struggling for a while with low numbers but I have the faith to change that! My first district meeting was a little scary because the zone leaders were also there. But I got some really good compliments from them and the rest of the district. I know that we have a lot of potential to do great things. I also know that I now have to set the example and do good work. Its scary but I know the Lord can help me. Before district meeting I asked the Lord in prayer to help me and I soon as I got up I felt a really big sense of calmness and reassurance come over me. I told my companion "I know everything will turn out alright" and it did. I am glad that God helped me. Well time goes by really fast everyday. I have come to realize that this work is the Lords and that I have to do my best everyday to find those that are ready to receive him into their lives. I actually enjoy bicycling everywhere now. It doesnt feel to hot but again I know that the summer heat is really coming up so well see. But well it hasnt been too bad. I love you all. I'll see you soon.

changes ahead

So I leave this area tomorrow and will be starting in a new place with people I don't really know. I was able to give a talk in the Spanish ward yesterday. I spoke about retaining new members. I am concerned for the many people that I taught and baptized in this area I want them to stay strong in the Church and gospel. But I know I will have the ability to see them after the mission for that I am really grateful. I know that this area will continue having success and that the work here will progress. I know Elder B---- will really help it continue growing and I know I have left all of my recent converts in good hands. Well there is not much to write. I am nervous and at the same time excited for this new area and responsibilities I will be having. here is a picture of me and the E---families that I was able to teach and baptize in this area. I pray that the Lord continues to bless and help them move on in the Gospel. I will miss them a lot! Like I say every time I write I can't believe how fast time is going for me. I know that this time is precious. I will never have the opportunity to serve the Lord like I am doing right now. Take care everyone. I love you all!

Happy Easter!

Well I hope you all had a great Easter I was remembering last Easter when if I'm not wrong we had an Easter egg hunt in front of the house. I'm not sure if we had a bbq or not but I'm pretty sure we did because I remember we did bbqs a lot last year. Anyway yesterday when I was driving around in our area I just saw a lot of families that were together and who were having parties and well of course naturally my mind wandered to you guys. Is funny but sometimes it seems like I've been a missionary for a long time and other days it seems like I just started. We had a rough week once again. I feel that the longer I have been in the area the more it seems like I run out of ideas as well as inspiration as to what I can do here to find people to teach. I know I have to rely on the Lord a lot more because this really is his work and glory. We were able to bring two of our investigators to Church yesterday though. The english ward had some great Easter program planned out it was awesome. I felt the Spirit really strongly there. Last night I got a call from President Trayner. I am not only getting transferred to another area next week Tuesday but he also called me as a district leader. There are a total of 3 companionships in the district. I am a little bit nervous about being district leader. Its not something I was looking after because a lot of missionaries here look after the titles and leadership but things like that have always made me a bit nervous. But I know the Lord will help me just like when I was called to be a counselor in the branch presidency back in Raymondville. I am also going to be in a bike area during the middle of the summer! I am sort of not looking forward to the heat! But well it shouldnt be too bad. My new companion has been out for a bit so he is not totally new to the work. I actually met him during general conference and he seems like a great elder. Well I love you all. Take care!

general conference

This weekend was general conference ! Saturday I spent pretty much all day at Church from 9am to 9pm! We didnt get home until 10pm. It was pretty crazy. I never thought I would ever be in Church that long. But I loved listening to the prophet and the other Church leaders. I realized how much I have to change to become a better missionary and follower of Jesus Christ. One of the questions posed yesterday during the last session was one that we should ask ourselves. The question was "what does Christ think of me?" Only Christ knows our true motives, thoughts and actions. There are a lot of things that I need to change now that I only have a little more than a year left on the mission. We had one of our investigators show up to Church yesterday. He liked it a lot and was actually taking notes during the conference. There have been some problems with some of my recent converts (the family of 4 that was baptized in february) they are losing their property and home and well it seems like they have had a lot of problems since they joined the Church. But well we visited them this last week and they still have faith its just really hard for them now. Well I hope you all have a great week. I love you all!

otra semana mas!

hello everyone? i hope you are all doing well. i love you all.

this week was really hot but i know that the summer months will be even hotter. right now my companion and i are going with a struggle to get people to church. a lot of the people that we are teaching we have barely found this past week and a lot of them have a lot of different needs that would make it difficult for them to be able to come to church. but i know if the Lord has blessed us before there is no reason that he cannot do it again.

well elder b---- and i are working hard everyday. i just need to involve him more in the lessons. its really hard when you are doing all of the work yourself. but well i guess this is part of training. well it is because this is the 3rd time i do it. :) i know that the lord will bless me because of my efforts.

this weekend is general conference! i am really excited to hear the messages that will be shared by the prophet this weekend! i know that i will come out more ready and able to do this work i cant wait. here is a video explaining what will go on this weekend. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/invite-others?lang=eng

i am grateful to be here. i hope that you all know that i love you. i know that this is the lord's work and glory.

service project!

I'm not going to lie. This was a very rough week. We struggled all week to find new people to teach. I try not to show to my companion how much of a struggle I have keeping up with the work. I am really happy for the experiences I have had as a missionary in this area. I think this is a constant struggle between keeping a balanced effort. You can't focus too much on members or recent converts without going on and finding new people to teach. Anyway we have tried different forms of finding from less actives to knocking on doors to no avail. But well what can we do but go on?

Anyway I feel like I just finished writing to President Trayner haha. I am doing fine. I am trying to be more focused and dedicated. I can't believe how fast time is going by. This work is rough but its well worth it.

Well this Saturday we went to do a service project. You might have seen it or me on TV. It was fun and a lot of work. We helped pick up a lot of trash from this neighborhood. I saw a lot of members that I knew from Hidalgo ward and also from Mcallen West stakes.

I love you all. Hope you have a great week.

great video

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/lift-us-up?lang=eng

new companion

hola a todos!

well my new companion is here! his name is elder b---- he is from tucson,arizona. he is a great elder really willing to learn and grow. he is a bit quiet right now but then again that is pretty normal. i really want to have him help me as soon as he can. so i am doing my best to help him learn how to teach and how to speak spanish. its going to be tough because they teach elders one thing in the MTC and then they are taught something else once they get to the field. for example they are taught that they have to teach the restoration of the gospel in the first lesson and here in the TMM we are taught to teach the doctrine of christ and end with an invitation to baptism. so that took him by suprise but he is adjusting to it.

this was a cold week as well! i couldnt believe it was raining and it was cold. we had to knock doors for a bit in that weather but it went well we had several lessons. well yesterday we had 3 baptisms. i did them all. it was amazing. i hope that these children of God keep their promise and stay faithful to him and his Church. I want to help all the people i teach and baptize to stay strong in the church. its a good thing i will be close by to make sure of that.

well i have been struggling with some things here on the mission. sometimes i feel like i am not getting anything out of it. but i need to snap out of it and realize that this is the lord's work and glory. i am helping him accomplish his purpose. that is all that matters i am only an instrument in his hands.

well i love you all. hope you had fun with mom's bday. time is flying by. i will be home before you know it.

new companion tomorrow

hey everyone.

well this has been a rough week for me. it was a real struggle to find new people to teach. sometimes i can't believe i will be in this area for at least 3 more months because i feel like i've been everywhere in this area already. but we need to keep finding. there are thousands of people here. all the lord expects of me is to find a few of those that he has prepared. this coming weekend we will be baptizing 3 kids ranging from ages 8-12 there parents are working on getting married and then baptized and the Church but they want their kids in the Church nonetheless.

sometimes i get really worried about meeting the goals that i have set for this area. we always have to be in a constant finding mode. i sometimes get a little stressed about making the goals that we have set. but well i know that it is only through goals that we can measure our effectiveness as well as our love and dedication to the lord Jesus Christ.

yesterday we went by our recent converts in the area and they decided to give us a lot of the food that they didnt need. it helps us out a lot. i love these people a lot and well i am glad that i can come by and visit them after the mission.

so tomorrow i will be meeting my new companion! i am excited to train again but at the same time nervous. its funny how i sometimes feel like i'm on a roller coaster on the mission. sometimes i feel like i can always do everything and sometimes all i can think about is my inadequacies and shortcomings. but i trust a lot in the Lord and I know that only through him I can overcome all things.

well i love you all. have a good week.

10 months out!

Hey everyone!

Well in a few days I will hit my 10 months as a missionary of the Lord's Church! I really can't believe it. I am really learning a lot and really increasing my faith in Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ.

This past week E----- and M---- were married at the Church on Friday! It was great. There were several members from the ward there. I am glad that they had a lot of support from the ward. I feel that they are the people that have had the most support so far. Well one of the sisters made a great wedding cake and M---- was really surprised to see it. I think they have never felt this much love and support from people other than their family ever before in their lives. We talked to them about temples and eternal families on Saturday. Well Sunday was their big day as both of them were baptized into the Church. E---- and M---- were almost in tears with the Spirit that was felt. Their daughter A---- was also baptized as well as C----- another young woman from another family that we had been teaching. In total we baptized 4 this month. It really has been a blessing from the Lord to teach and baptize many of his children in this area.

Sunday also happened to be stake conference. We had the baptisms after the 10am Spanish session. But during the English session ( I was so glad to finally be able to sit down and listen!) one of the speakers said something that really resonated with me. He said, "I have chosen to live the gospel and will do so without regrets". I hope that I can always think of that and not think of what I could rather be doing instead of serving the Lord.

We should be having at least 2 more baptisms in a few weeks. Exciting! Well also last Friday I got news that I was going to train again. So that means that either my companion or I will be leaving. I'm not sure what President is thinking of doing. But well see. I'm excited as well as a bit nervous about all of this.

We struggled this past week to find new people to teach. Not finding people to teach obviously affects the rest of our numbers. If we dont have anyone to teach then we cant baptize and everything else. But I know there are some things I need to change and start doing so that the Lord can help me more.

I really dont want to waste my time out here. I want to do the best I can everyday.

It was great hearing from all of you.

I love you all. TQM. ;)

hey everyone!
i always have the hardest times coming up with subject lines for my emails but i dont think anyone really cares about those anyway. well this week was pretty rough. we had a hard time finding people to teach. but well had a good sunday. we had 8 investigators at church and should be having 4 baptisms this coming sunday after stake conference. really the Lord blesses those that love and serve Him. all that we have to do is have a good mind and heart about the work and never get discouraged. although that really is easier said than actually done. i know without a doubt that this work which i am a part of is true.

i am glad for the family that will be getting baptized into the restored church this week. they have made so many changes in their lives its amazing! i am glad that i have been able to teach them what i know to be true.

there are a lot of things that i am still trying to figure out about the church for myself but what i know without a doubt that is true is that jesus christ is the son of God and that he died for our sins. if we are faithful and obedient to his commandments (which are to have faith, repent, be baptized and receive the holy ghost in his restored church) we will be saved. i know that in the coming months because of the election a lot of things about the church will come out in the news and elsewhere. just know that many of those things are false. all we say and do and believe in is in Jesus Christ.

i love you all. and hope you have a good week.

Hi everyone I hope you all have a great Valentine's day tomorrow. I love you all! Well this past week was pretty wet and cold. I am really lucky that I have not gotten sick yet because as you know I am pretty miserable when I get sick. But anyway we had two days of just training from pretty much 8am to 5pm Thursday and Friday and well that took up a lot of our days. So we were not able to find a lot of people to teach but the ones we have are still doing awesome. We should baptize 4 people by the end of this month! We are already teaching 2 other people for the month of March. God really is blessing us. I dont know how long I am going to stay in the area but I am having the most success and learning the most here than anywhere else.

Well Elder O----- had to go home and that was really rough for me. He should be coming back within this year though so that should be good to see him again and hopefully work with him as well. My companion is still struggling a bit but well all I can do is pick him up and give him some encouraging words.

Nothing new is going on. The new Elder in the apartment is a pretty cool kid he was serving in Monterrey East before this and he was actually in Reynosa for a while so that's cool.

Everyone that we are teaching is progressing well. By the end of the month we should have a marriage and then the baptism of the whole family.

I really know that this is the Lord's work and glory. I am grateful to be here as a missionary of this the Lord's restored Church.

hey everyone!

it seems like i say it every week but this week just went by really fast. my companion is really struggle emotionally and with his spanish and there really isnt much for me to do but to stand by him and help him as much as i can.

well the e---- family will have to wait until the end of the month to be married because e---- has to get his id card but he cant do that until the last week of feb.

well i am running out of time. but i am doing good. time is just flying really fast and i dont want it to go to waste. i know that i am giving this time to the Lord and that is what is most important to me.

i love you all and hope you are doing well!

Hey everyone! Well this week was probably the longest week on the mission so far. Things are going good. The ----- family should be getting baptized pretty soon. But before that they need to get married! So we are working with them to make that happen. We are really excited to make that a reality. I'll post pictures up of the marriage and party it should be awesome!

Well we just worked really hard this week to find new people to teach and well the Lord blessed us and we were able to find several new people to work with.

I feel like this work sometimes is really challenging. Sometimes I don't know if this is what I am supposed to be doing with my life. I don't know how things would have turned out for me if I hadn't found the Church. I am grateful that I did. I feel like this is the right thing for me to be doing at this time.

Well this morning I made some beans. haha I had been craving them for a while and well this morning I decided to make some! Well the first batch burned! and the whole house smelled really bad. but well i decided to try again and they came out amazing! I added some sausage,onions, garlic and serrano peppers. They came out really good. Everyone in the apartment liked them too. Well here's a little bit about the missionaries I am living with: the first is from Las Vegas and he is the one I trained. He is a convert just like me and overall awesome. The second is from California and is Salvadorian and pretty cool kid. I get along with him really well except when he gets in his serious mode. I've had "arguments" with him several times but its ok I love him. And finally my companion he is from Idaho and just a really quiet and shy kid. He is struggling a lot with his spanish but I'm glad I can help him out with that. If you have any questions for me I"d love to answer them.

Well I love you all! Hope you have a good day.

hola a todos~ espero que esten bien. los quiero mucho.

this week was pretty stressful to say the least. my companion and i struggled a lot to find new people to teach. right now he is struggling with discouragement. its really hard when the companionship seems to be one sided, meaning that only one companion is doing all of the work. but well this is what i signed up for. but i already talked to him this past friday during weekly planning session. i really want to help him become the best he can be. president trayner told me that i would be training many times during my mission so i must just get used to different types of companions.

well the e---- came to church again and that is definitely the highlight of the week. its funny how sundays are the days that we can measure our success as missionaries and the effort that we put in throughout the week. i never thought sundays could be so stressful as they are now. but well i am happy to be able to be doing the lord's work and growing his kingdom on the earth today.

well it seems as if i will be six more weeks in this area and well i think that is as much as i can handle because i feel like i already know everything about the area and the people that live here. but well i know that the lord has prepared people to receive this restored gospel throughout the valley. and i plan to find them.

time is so short on the mission and i dont want to waste a day! well i hope everyone back home is doing well. please send me an email to let me know how the family is doing.

los quiero cuidense mucho!

p.s. here are some pictures i think the first one is of me and e----the son of one of my recent converts outside of his house and the second one is of me knocking a door on a saturday afternoon hehe. los quiero.

hey everyone.
i hope you are all doing alright. this week went by super fast! i am really tired. i never though sundays could be so stressful. we had a baptism yesterday. we had the e--- family come to church as well. they were able to talk to the bishop about their wanting to get married. we are planning a wedding for february 14! well see what happens with that! other than that we are struggling to find people to teach. but well i am not complaining a family of 3 is pretty awesome! i am glad that i am finally teaching a family.

my companion is still struggling with his spanish but well what can you do but keep moving along? i just want him to feel confidence in himself and also to learn all he can. i know i am probably not the best example but i try to be.

things are going well other than that. just making the best of my time out here. i miss you all and love you!

Hi. I hope that everyone is doing well.

This past week was a really tough one for my new companion and I. He is really intimidated by speaking spanish and so is quiet most of the time. Most of the week I felt like he wasnt really focused on the work and that I was working alone. But well we already talked about it and he knows how I feel too. So all that we have to do now is keep working! I have already made plans with him to help him with his Spanish and so things should get better. This week we are going to double our efforts and find more people to teach. The baptisms yesterday were cool and I was able to see Daniel Hernandez who baptized me a little more than two years ago. It was super cool!

Well I miss all of you and really think of you all a lot but well the time goes by really fast and before I know it this great experience I am having will be over.

I love you all!
Take lots of care.

--
Elder Rodriguez

For behold, the field is white and ready to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul. Doctrine and Covenants 4:4

Its 2012! I can't believe we are in a new year already. I remember when I left home how far that seemed. Now that we are in the new year I realize once again that time really flies and that before I will know it my mission will be over. Whoa! I dont even want to think about that yet. I can really see how the Lord has blessed me in so many ways and the changes that I have seen in my life so far. I know that this is what God wants me to do with my life right now and I am so pleased to be part of this great and marvelous work.

Well I have a new companion (again!) I am going to be training a new missionary. My companion only had to move across the hallway hhaha so its cool that I still see him everyday but its going to be different now working with him. Tomorrow we have the new missionary training and I'm excited for that again. :/ Well not much to talk about. We should be baptizing the L----- family this sunday! I am glad the Lord is helping is meet our goal. We need to find 1 more person so we can meet our goal for 4 for January. I really enjoy being here and I love being a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I just cant imagine the changes that I will see in my life and in the life of others as they accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives.

Well on New Years Eve we went to the Dove building for a missionary activity and we watched a great movie called 17 miracles. It was great! I hope to see it again someday. But yeah I was able to see a lot of missionaries that I have gotten to know through the mission now and that was good. But well we came home and of course had to keep the usual 1030 bedtime. But we did set the alarm for a few minutes before 12am so that we could get up and wish each other a Happy New Year.

I hope everyone had a great New Year's. I love you all!

--
Elder Rodriguez

For behold, the field is white and ready to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul. Doctrine and Covenants 4:4