Beach

Hey all I thought I would check in to the blog. I went to New Smyrna beach last Friday and had a blast. It just so happens to be the official shark capital of the world, interesting fact. ( the above right pic is a aerial picture of New Smyna beach, the black specks in the water are sharks.) I also found this really cool picture of a surfer out at New Smyna that had a shark that wanted to join in the fun. I had a fun time anyway and I really liked that beach, just have to be more cautious I guess. I think you would have to be more cautious of rip currents then anything else but that's just my opinion. It was funny because withing hours of us leaving the beach that area was issued a tornado warning, I must have a knack for avoiding natural disasters. Anyway I start school in a few weeks and am pretty excited about that. Wish I could take more classes so I could get it done with faster. Took a walk by my lake the other day and got a little burnt, it is so pretty up there though, makes me want to visit Grandma and Grandpa at there lake.

Elder Sieler

Yeah last week I was pretty bored so I decided to switch things up a little bit. Anyway I got the second package yesterday so my feet are pretty snug and happy and with that pillow I slept like a cusioned dream. Thank you so much Mi Madre bonita. Other than that though this week has been pretty uneventful. No baptism but if everything goes right in the next couple weeks we should have a bunch including a whole family but there not making it easy on us so we will have to see.
Also my companion seems to be getting lazier and lazier every day so I think I might have to kick his but pretty soon. Im trying to learn this language as best I can and as fast as I can so I dont have to depend on him so much and start dragging him around and getting this area in some real order. Oh and speaking of my area its pretty much in the middle of what we call the biggest city in the world. We live in Estado de Mexico but part of our area is also in Distritu Federal or as they call it here the D.F. Yeah our area kind of stretches from the colonia Metropolitana Segunda Seccion Hasta Santa Martha. Its pretty big. Our stake is called Nezahualcoyotl and consits of Six wards and we are over Three of them. Yeah we kind of work along the road Texcoco and its also near one of the metro lines. Yeah its right in the big city but it doesnt have like all the sky scrapers and stuff all those are in the west mission. Here it looks kind of like a run down San Francisco. Ill try to take pictures of the streets next week and send them to you.
Yeah its been pretty overwhelming in this part of town but ive gotten the hang of it. I just need to start kicking my companions butt and everything will be fine. Thats to bad about Cory though. Hes probably going to be grumpier than Josie in a little while.
I hope the best for Cameron and thats all I can really do. The rest is up to the Lord. Make sure you do all you can for his family. Pray hard but seak for ways to really help out because faith is a principle of action.
Okay well Ill talk again next week. ¡Adios!

translation

Dear family and my parents,
What was, is and will be like? I hope everyone is good. Here in Mexico everyone will receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. Mission in Mexico Be I think we're going to christen the world. No photos for this week but the work is good. Eleven people bring to church this week include a family of six. But this is not enough. We will find more people elected. We now have very good researchers and each one I love very much. I hope that each receive the gospel in all and never will deny. A am a missionary is not easy, but I do not want another thing. Amon felt like in the Book of Mormon who wants to serve all of his life. Family thank you very much for all your help. Always remember your brother or fig Mexico here in serving the Lord Jesus Christ. I know God bless you greatly because of this.
I do not know much but this morning I again eat in a Chinese buffet here in Mexico. No more than a buffet in the United States but no person was Chinese. Elder Celaya asked what tribe of Israel is the mejorita Chinese? I do not know but do you know who to? If not okay. I also found a Mexican Anni here. She is like the original Anni but only spoke in Spanish and has white hair but do not worry Anni're unique in this world. Only a girl like you. But now it is time to write the president. Bye everyone. Always keep the commandments of God!
With much love,

Translation

Beloved family and my parents, ¿How was, as is and as will be? I expect all they are good. Here in Mexico each person will receive the Gospel of Jesus. In Mission Mexico Be I believe that we are going to baptize the world. Not photos for this week but the work is well. We bring eleven people to the church this week they include a family of six. But this is not enough. We are going to find but chosen people. Now we have very well investigators and each one of them I love a lot. I expect that each one to receive the gospel on the whole and never it to deny. To I am a missionary is not easy but I do not want something another. He felt as Amón in The Book of Mormon who he want to serve for all of his life. Many thanks family for all of his aid. Always it recalls its fig or brother here in Mexico serving the Mister Jesus. I know that God will bless you a lot because of this. I do not know a lot but new but this morning I eats in a buffet Chinese here in Mexico. Not but different from a buffet in the United States but never person was Chinese. Elder Celaya ask ¿which tribe of Israel is the mejorita of Chinese? I do not know but ¿to the who of you know? If not this well. Also I find an Anni Mexican here. She is like the Anni original but only he speaks in Spanish and he has cabella white but himself he worry not Anni you are unique in this world. Only a girl as you. But already it is time for I write the president. Good-bye to all. Always keep the commandments of God! With a lot of love,

HELP - I NEED A TRANSLATOR

Querido familia y padres míos,
 ¿Cómo estaba, como está y como estará? Espero todos están bueno. Aquí en México cada persona recibirá el Evangelio de Jesucristo. En Misión México Esté yo creo que vamos a bautizar el mundo. No fotos para esta semana pero la obra está bien. Traemos once personas a la iglesia esta semana incluyan una familia de seis. Pero esta no es bastante. Vamos a encontrar mas personas elegidos. Ahora tenemos muy bien investigadores y cada uno de ellos yo amo mucho. Espero que cada uno recibir el evangelio en total y nunca lo negar. A soy un misionero no es fácil pero yo no quiero algo otro. Sintió como Amón en El Libro de Mormón quien quiera servir por todos de su vida. Muchas gracias familia por todos de su ayuda. Siempre recuerda su higo o hermano aquí en México sirviendo el Señor Jesucristo. Sé que Dios bendecirán ustedes muchísimo porque de esto.
 No sé mucho mas nuevo pero esta mañana yo come en un buffet chino aquí en México. No mas diferente de un buffet en los estados unidos pero nunca persona fue chino. Elder Celaya pregunte ¿cual tribu de Israel es la mejorita de chinos? Yo no sé pero ¿al quien de ustedes saben? Si no esta bien. También yo encuentre una Anni mexicana aquí. Ella es como la Anni original pero solamente habla en español y tiene cabella blanco pero no se preocupe Anni eres única en esta mundo. Solamente una niña como tú. Pero ya es tiempo para escribo el presidente. Adiós a todos. ¡Siempre guardar los mandamientos de Dios!
Con mucho amor,
Elder Sieler

Update on Chris

Chris - the son- had gallbladder surgery today. All went well. We thought he might be going home tonight but haven't heard back since we left at 7 so I think he's still in the hospital. Anyway he's looking forward to a few days of recovery then being pain free.

Monday email

It has been a very busy week full of extreme highs and extreme lows. Dads email kind of explains it all. I´m in the hustle and bustle of the largest city in the world I can barely speak the language or every figure out where I am and Satan sure does think his winning but we sure are taking it to him with more than he can handle. I just time to be even more bold and start screaming this gospel through the streets. My companion is great but sometimes I think he is to polite and not forceful enough. I´m starting to fix that though by studying my butt of in this language telling people how it is. I mean when somebody doesn´t read the book of Mormón its not just okay this is the words of god we´re talking about here saved specifically for our day. People need to know the importance of this gospel and I feel like we have been treating it to lightly but not anymore.
Anyway the work is going really good I just think it could be going way better. I´m fixing it though. Anyway last tuesday we expierienced nothing less than a miracle. It was the end of the day and we were heading home and decided to stop at a panderia to talk to a member lady we know that works there. Then while we are talkin this family walks in to buy bread and the father walks right up to me and asks me if I´m from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was like heck yes I am! This man knew a bishop in Monterrey that had always been really nice to him and his family and they had even gone to church with him a few times and he wanted to get back in touch with this bishop. Well anyway we said we could get that but it would take a while and then we said up an appointment and we taught them an awesome first lesson the next day but they actually went on vacation over the weekend so we´ll have to see what happens. They were all really loving it though. Then we got two investigators to church which are just awesome. One of them is an eighteen year old girl named Ivon and we actually taught her whole family a couple of weeks ago but were never able to get back in touch with them again until we ran into Ivon in the street and set up another lesson with her and she was interested and came to sacrament meeting but had to leave after that to go to work. I hope we can find her again because I really think she is the doorway to a miracle happening in her family.
Then there is Joséluis who is a 68 year old man who we have set upp for baptizm in 2 weeks. He had a lot of doubts though when we taught him earlier this week but agreed to come to church and after church it looked like he was just glowing. I think he can be the doorway to a miracle as well and their are both such wonderful people. The truly amazing part of this work is when you start to become peoples elder. the elder that they think about when they think of missionaries and I just love it.
Then as you can see in the pictures we had another baptism. Julio wanted to get baptized from the first time we talked to him. We had a lot of help though because the girl in those pictures is Karla his girlfriend. Then there was also a babtism of an eight year old. The other guy in white besides my companion is the second counsler in the bishopbric and he baptised his daughter. Anyway after we baptized Julio we told him his next mission is 500 años which is the name of the street the temple is on. I think he really liked that idea actually.
Then there is Mario. I don´t know if we´ll ever be able to give Nicole the Holy Ghost because they didn´t come to church and then when we went to there house afterword to see what was up his wife Maricela gave us a letter that Mario wrote. Pretty much the guy is crazy. He looks normal talks normal walks normal has a very normal and stable family but inside his head is pure craziness. I have to go back though I can´t just let it end like this. I don´t think I can change Mario but I know that Nicole wants this Gospel so bad but her father is standing in the way.I just wish we could confirm her so bad. Baptism without confirmation is just a dunk in the water. Yeah I don´t care what my companion thinks I am definitely going back there.
That has pretty much been my week. Oh and I did have an interview with the President that went real good. He´s an awesome guy. He told me that Elder Ward from my district in the MTC went home after just three days. President tried to convince him to stay for just a week longer and see how it goes and Elder Ward said President get me a plane ticket or I´m going to start walking. He should of made him walk maybe the loser would have figured out you can get a bus ride for like ten cents here. Oh well though the work rolls on here in Mexico! Stay cool Everyone!!!!!

Chris and Michelle

Just a heads up for anyone wanting to visit sunny Arizona in December for a sealing. Chris and Michelle are going to be sealed (along with Chris Allen) on Dec 23 at 9:00am in the Mesa temple.

Last email from Bryan sent today

Okay well first things first I spoke a little late on the package. I got it on friday and I´ve been sleeping like a baby ever since. Since its raining almost everyday here those boots will come in handy too. Thank you so much! Don´t worry about those other things unless you already sent them or someting. Its just that only get the mail about once every three weeks no matter when it shows up because It passes down through the leaders until we have a district or zone meeting then I get it. I got all the post cards too! Thank you so much and I see that Dad is learning some Spanish. Good thing too because I think Im forgetting english. I didn´t get that letter you were talking about though so I don´t know whats up with that. Anyway just send stuff and I´ll get it eventually I just didn´t really know the whole deal until now but I got the whole system of work sort of figured out now that I can actually understand people pretty well.
Okay well now to the real stuff. I got my packgage and all the letters on friday because we had a Zone conference. It was totally awesome! First of all it was awesome because i could finally talk to some American Missionaries and figure out some things I had been wondering like when we get mail and stuff. Then more importantely it was awesome because of the things we learned. There was a slide show first off showing a bunch of pictures of baptisms. Then since it was actually a multi zone conference we broke off into our seperate zones and learned how to better retain investigators by teaching the fifth lesson better. It was a lot of good advice and I actually understood all of it. Then we came back together as a zone and President Bulloch taught us about the example of captain Moroni and working together as an entire mission to Mantener la tanque llena y mantener mas y mejor conversos in Mission Mexico Estè. I´m sending a picture of the Estandarte de Liberdad that every missionary in our mission singned. It´s an awesome work that I´m a part of here!
Then as you can see in the other pictures i had my first baptism on Saturday. I was always confused as to why this girl wasn´t baptized when she was eight since both of her parents are members but I just kept teaching and getting her ready for her baptism. Then also on friday I found out why. Pretty much to make a long story short her dad is crazy. He has been a member for almost ten years and holds the priesthood and everything but doesn´t beleive in virtually anything. He has some of the most messed up beleif I have ever heard. First of all he doesn´t beleive God has a body of flesh and bones but he does beleive that Jesus does. He doesn´t beleive in a life after this one at all which doesn´t make any since because he does beleive in the Book of Mormon. however he kind of just beleives its a good book that provides a lot of great advice. He beleives in Joseph Smith and all the other Prophets as great and inspired men but not necessarily as Prophets as we think of them. Then the strangest of all and something that maybe you could discuss in your blog is the importance of beleiving in Satan. He didn´t beleive in Satan at all and it was kind of the heart of all his problems. I think their is a quote somwhere that says Satans greatest victory is convincing people he doesn´t exist and I definitely saw that in this man.
However after he said all that all I could think to do was bear the strongest testimony I could. It didn´t change much but it sure made me feel a whole lot better and he left it up to his daughter to decide if she wanted to get baptized and even had her say a prayer to decide. Of course she said she did and it was amazing! After her baptism she agreed to bear her testimony and she said that before she went into the water she was very nervous and scared but when she came out all of it was gone and replaced with joy!
It was truly an amazing expirience. The water was tinted slightly yellow and was actually quite cold but in that moment in that font I became hooked. I would do anything for these wonderful people!
Anyway I´ve been writing to long but we have another baptismo lined up for next week and more for the week after if we do a lot of praying. The work is really Rolling forword. Me and my companion are going to start an english class and guess who´s going to be the teacher. Your darn right I am! I need to really start studying spanish now though. Wish me luck! Tell Katie she is more awesome and tell Adam I love Katies dancing and tell Rachel that I tell almost everyone I meet about my cute little baby sister and yes Katie I do tell them about my other cute little sister too. Tell Dad I love him so much for raising me in this wonderful and true gospel to serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Tell Mom she is the best and most wonderful mother in the whole World and that I love her too and tell Brittany she is an awesome older sister and tell Chris thank you for raising the Estandarte de Liberdad in our family and serving a misión. Then to all the extended family stay cool read the book of mormon every single day! I love you all!

p.s. I pretty much leave as soon as I write the emails so yes I don´t get youre responses until the next week. We write them in little Internet booth things.

Kelsey's pics...

Kels was outside when she found the kids freaking out over a butterfly...She decided to put it on wiley's shirt and found that it wanted to be on his face! she took some pics of it! She is hoping one of these will win her another big prize again..! last year she actually won the peoples choice award of Sanders County with a picture of a butterfly!! its kinda funny I thought! I think she is planning on using the one on the very top...but tell us which one you like the best!!!