FEAR IN MY EYES

Hey family!!!

I hope everything is good in the hood!!

It sounds like school is passing by fast and everyone has their gimmick or hobbies! And that's great! Keep up the work team! Keep watching out for each other and don't be too hard on los padres! I want to get back with them not having too many grey hairs.

Well the training with Elder Duran is actually really fun! My comp is pretty awesome! He knows a lot so he helps me in those times when I really don't! I feel like master wishu in Karate Kid! I sing the song from Mulan every morning "Somehow I'll make a man out of you" ha ha it's great!

Well this week the scripture rang true to my ears. Saying "many are called but few are chosen" "muchos son llamados y poco son escojidos"

Elder Duran and I really put fire to the stones this week. We found 2 families Saul y Rosalba. They have five kids! Two of them have their husbands so a huge family! It was awesome. We had a lesson like a family Neves or family Roberts gathering. With all the kids and the parents. We taught the Plan of Salvation. It was one of the best lessons i've ever had! Well Saul and Rosalba are for sure getting baptized! But i'm not sure about their kids!!

 (even the cows don't want to listen)

(A great member family) 

(Helping get water at an investigator's house)

 (we dunked our heads in the well for three minutes. seconds later, our hair was dry.) 

 (throwing blocks at the Bishop's house. I got my work out for the day)

The week kept going strong and we found like two new families about everyday! So it was awesome! We found a old guy who smells like really strong aftershave and he combs his hair to the side and he is surprisingly not crazy! He's one of a kind here in Mexico! But he loves me! He doesn't want to listen to anyone else but me. Like when my comp tries to talk, he talks right over him directing questions a mi. He gave me a name Espanol Roberto!

Then sunday came.

So when we went around Sunday morning to pick up our investigators they all were going to chill at the Carnival! So it was pretty sad. Well this weekend Martinez they have a Carnival when everyone drinks and goes crazy (back story). We even passed by with one families who are really cool but were just not ready. But they invited us to drink Pineapple with beer. He like used a weird name that I didn't recognize. So I was like ya why not. But my comp told me what it was. Good thing we didnt drink it or I would be ariving to church drunk!! ha But Saul and his family came so that was great!!

One of the scariest things happened to me yesterday! Well after church, we went to the house of Marisol to ask why she didn't go to church. When we got there, we knocked. She came out the side of the house and looked like she's been crying. She said it wasn't a good time for us to come and told us that we should come back tomorrow. Well their house is made of tin and in through the wall I could hear her husband yelling. Well the hermano told me to come in the house to talk to me. I ignored him. He finally came out side yelling at me, having a little trouble walking. Obviously drunk, but still fiesty. He had his shirt off. He about the same height as me but more thick. His body was covered in tattoos. So he came around to the front of his house with his finger pointed saying "I want to talk with Tu" He said he only wants to talk with me. Just me. I was kinda freaking out. Well I couldn't help myself but I said something. My comp was giving me looks like i'm crazy. But I took a step forward and said that he doesn't see fear in my eyes that's why I don't want to talk to him.

Well long story short. I got him to calm down. I even got him to tear up. He we are going to teach them today! Hopefully he hasn't been drinkin. 

I've got to go but I love you guys!!

Elder Roberts

THIS IS TRUTH, THIS IS TRUTH

Well family, 

It feels like a lot of time since I've written you guys! Ha ha everything is Pertner Perfect. LAst week I went to the mission home in Xalapa to pick up my kid. Well my "kid" Elder Duran or Duran Duran or Kevin Duran how ever you want it...he is awesome he's from Guatemala. He really reminds me of the guy that Michael hates from The Office, umm I don't remember his name. But Duran talks like that guy and is a little slow going like him. Ha ha I'm a little overwhelmed to be training him. I really don't know what the President was thinking. It will be a great chance for me to learn more. I'm really excited also that i'm going to stay a little longer in my home Plaza Verde.

Last week I'm happy to say goodbye to E. Celaya he's a good guy when he's a way from me ha ha. I'll kinda miss my little arm rester. Well we baptized Francisco. I'm a little bummed because he is actually a really cool guy but it's just that he was more like a number then a convert because I didn't have much time with him. So I'll be passing by a little more time with him to make sure he is converted. Francisco is really funny, really sarcastic which hardly any of the mexicans understand.  

 I've been thinking a lot lately. I'm coming up on my 9 month mark! It really kinda puts a slug in my gut. To look back and see if I really disfruted those moments that I've had and if I'm doing all that I can to be a great missionary.

                                             

Umm this week...well Monday of last week I went to Xalapa to pick up my kid. It was a cool experience because I rode the bus ride alone. And then when I got there no one was in the terminal to pick me up. So I took the opportunity to eat alone and think. Then I took a taxi to the mission office. We spent the whole day there and they talked to us and everything and got a little red carpet treatment. They fed us and it was actually pretty awesome! Oh and we watched "Meet the Mormons" I'm surprised that it didn't get an Oscar! 

We left Tuesday morning and got home and just started to work. Well this week was great, It was just a little hard to find new people to teach. Right now we have Marisol- we baptized her kids Sunday (yesterday) but she can't get baptized yet because her husband doesn't want to get married. We found a new family though...their life is like Job in the Bible because they have been married (Casados) for 14 years but they just barely were able to have a baby. So it was so cool that we were able to teach them the plan of salvacion. All while I was teaching, the husband kept saying to his wife "this is truth, this is truth!"

I'm doing great. I really know that God gives men 2 chances in this life, I found my wallet!!! Someone turned it in to the police. The money wasn't there but all the cards and everything were still there!!!!

I love you Mom Dad Laur Wade Riv Kal Quin Canny Ro Ro oh and happy birthday Bolt!!

The church Is true.

Elder ROberts

BRING ON THE DOVES

*NOTE: We did not receive a letter from Brett last week or this week. He sent a small note just today saying he was actually sent to Xalapa (six hours away) to be a trainer. And that's literally all he said. So next week we're hoping for just a few more details - if not, I'm getting on a plane ;)

 -  -  -  

March 2nd 2015

Well family i'm just sitting here at my computer sucking on coconut juice. And really disfrutando my missión.  Today we went as a district to see the waterfalls in Talpacoya. Wow they were so amazing! It was like the Indiana Jones movies mixed with Avatar mixed with Suits on the Loose! Ha ha - It really was one of the most naturally pretty places I've ever seen. It was an awesome thing to kick off my week.

Well this week kinda pushed me to put my game face on. We have two marriages planned for this week. And by the skin of our teeth and crossing our fingers and praying like crazy for me and my comp, everything will turn out fine. 

Okay i'm going to lose my temper... well when?...now...when? RIGHT NOW!!! ha ha

This is so frustrating! To get some one married here, you need the license and the birth papers and they have to be 18 or older and if they don't have kids, you have to bring all these hospital documents. Well here is Plaza Verde, they are hard workers when in the field and cutting oranges...but to get married, they'd just rather not bother with it. They are making us do it ourselves.

Ha ha well this family we are working with, Alejandra and Juan... they had just a few problems. Juan is from Puebla and he just has a copy of his license because he lost the original and his birth paper isn't certificado (every year you have to get it checked) well he hasn't for 15 years! So to get this all fixed, he has to go to Puebla to pick up the papers. And to get a new license, he has to wait until after the votes which is at the end of July! So the odds were really against us. Oh and it didn't help that Juan was being a mommy's boy saying that he has to go to his home in Puebla and ask for permission from his mom (well that's actually not a bad thing right mom?) but anyway he had a lot of excuses. 

Well on thursday we went to their house really late in the night. Probably a little too late. The family was all awake actually! It kinda felt like they were just waiting for us. We ended up talking to them and really working through their concerns. Juan put his big boy pants on and said well you guys are doing nice things for us, so yeah, why not! Let's get married!

So check that, we got the permission of Juan. We all went to the registro on Friday. My comp didn't want to talk to the clerk. He's a little afraid of rejection so I mustered up the strength to ask for what we needed. Well I pulled a mom and did all her tricks and jigs. Well we were blessed because everything passed without a problem. 

So bring on the doves and start the organ because we are going to have a marriage and a baptism!!

I'm learning a lot and growing and figuring things out. One thing that I'm learning is the art of making decisions. When a decision needs to be made, you make it just go for it and make it work no matter the problems you face. People usually like someone to lead out. 

So when making decisions just go for it don't doubt, just do it.

I love you guys!! 

This week is so busy.

I'm doing great. 

Love you Elder Brett

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

Okay Hey guys!!

Its Brett here! Wow what a week of up and downs side ways al otra lados I guess all the ways... That's pretty much how my week went. It sounds like Utah is going to become the saudi desert. But that's good that everyone is great and crazy. It was fun looking at all the videos mom sent and how goofy the family is. I kinda forgot! Mom, when you were describing Ro in your dream, you were describing perfectly how some of the dogs here look like. Really though, there our some dogs that could be qualified as exotic animals. I'm not kidding. HAha

(the well I dropped my phone in)

My two fav girls here in martinez!

 la rosa de guadalupe! 

Well our area is doing great, plaza Verde 2! I don't know what happened and what changed but it has caught on fire and I really cant put it out! We have been finding families left and right. For example: We found a nice pretty lady named Marisol who has 3 kids. Accepted everything, loves the church and will for sure get baptized! It's just the maldito casarse (*translates to damn wedding). Everyone here just likes to live rules free!! We have 3 families right now that we need to get married before we baptize them! Alejandra y Jaun (the mom and dad to Izidro and Veatriz) Jaun has something in his head that he thinks his wife needs to ask the hand of his mom to be married. And his mom lives in La Goma Puebla. So this week they are going to Puebla so cross your fingers that everything with go smooth with them. Really great family!

Lunch with the Pope!

Umm my homie ELder Marin

Marisol loves the church last night we were talking to her husband in the little shack of a house with the tin and bottle caps nailed in the keep the house together. They have their mattress together and cook in the corner. Really humble at heart. Her husband works everyday and gets home late every night. Well yesterday we went to talk to him. In my mind when I was thinking of what he looked like, I imagined a cholo.. shaved head, mustache, tattooed arms. And figured he hates the mormons. Well I was right on some of the parts. He does have tattoos but he's actually pretty cool with us. He didn't accept the gospel as fast as Marisol, but Marisol was putting him in his place saying "well maybe I should be the example and get baptized first and then he'll see the change in me and his daughters he'll want to get baptized." Ha ha She has a greater testimony then a lot of the members here! 

Fransico is the boyfriend of a member. He is really funny and really kinda crude. My comp like to correct him but I just laugh!! Hell get baptized for sure!!

So we need 3 marriages right away! you can call this Mission Impossible. Or Top Gun and I'll call myself Tom Cruise and my comp is my wing man, Goose.

Umm I really have seen that service softens the heart of the people. It makes us a lot more accepted to the people than just knocking doors. For example, we were walking and out of the corner of my I I see an old man carrying this piece of tin above his back (rolled up into a tube) well Goose and I helped him out. He's named Gilberto... 80 years old and still works his guts out just to pay for those tortillas. Haha well we got to his house and with the tin he invited us in to his house. Check! Well after a little bit of talking we found out that He and His wife have 11 kids and the youngest still lives with them Miguel Angel. His wife is a weird name Aranjua.  They accepted everything...It was a little hard at first because the Aranjua was healed by the town priest so they weren't to easy to convince. But in the end they all accepted. I was laughing because Gilberto and Aranjua were funny. They would both talk at the same time and talk over each other basically just said the same things but just in different words. They remind me of the old couple off of the Princess Bride. 

Well we came back the next morning, which was a blessing because Aranjua had breakfast all made for us. (my long lost grandma Mexico form!) She was like "Hermanos, eat eat don't be shy eat!" She's awesome!!

                                                                       white and nerdy

Well I'm going great I promise. A little struggle here and there, and now and then. My comp is from Sonora the boarder of Arizona. So he's almost American but not quite so he has a little bit of a chip on his shoulder. So he always gets on the subject with the investigators about how bad America is. And what ever. Don't worry, i can deal.

Ha I love you Guys. I don't know if it's the same for you guys but the time is going fast! A little too fast. I'm doing good on my Spanish. I just wished that I could speak it perfectly and convert everyone I see. But God doesn't work like that. Everyone has their chance to accept or not. You can take a horse to water, but you cant make the horse drink. They have to have the thirst like Marisol!

I love you guys sooooooo much

Brett ( El Gringo De Martinez de la torre)  

WHISH COOSH

Hey mama, I'm having had a problema with the computers here at the cafe! So this week's letter is really not going to be much of a letter! I'm sorry I've got pics and everything. Right now here in Martinez, they are having Veracruz carnival so It's just loco down here!! I got your packing that just filled my heart with love! Ahh mom I can't even tell you how happy I am! 

Real quick story, umm we were teaching a lesson with an old guy and his daughter and her little son. While Elder Celaya was going on and on with his  his spill. I was playing catch with the little kid and I was making him laugh. To the point that he was losing his breath. I would scare him and then you would throw the ball at my face and I would make like the "duh" sound. It was Hilarious. The Kid couldn't stop laughing and all of a sudden wáter started to run down his leg and he stopped laughing and looked at me with a face like "uh'oh! my mom's going to kill me!!!" Ahh it was sooooooo funny. The mom was like "Alfredo beng a ca!" and he ran to her. But his shoe was full of pee so it was like whish coosh It was funny!

I promise a bigger and the best letter next week!!

I love you mom!! Thanks so much for the package. I can feel your love mom. I'm doing great out here in the work of the lord. Last night I couldn't sleep (I just stayed up) I opened up the package!! Ahh it was everything I needed!

Laur, kill it at Hfan!! You can do it! get a cut out of me por favor  Wade, I dare you to not cut your hair until I get Home! Riv, you need to watch peter pan! Don't grow up too fast! Kal, you remind me a lot of me. Ask mom  to tell you some stories. Quinny: I miss you too sweetheart. I love you tons and love you most. Canny: The ninja in the picture is you man! It's you! Roan: goo goo gaa gaa! 

I love you soo much!!

Bretters

THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN!

Hey my lovely Family;

Well when I think about this past week...I think of the song "The Boys Are Back in Town" or something like that. Haha really this area has been on a vacation for way too long. And I feel like we really are going to see some true Miracles this cambio!

                                                      (Hitching a ride to our next cambio) 

    So I have a new companion, my first thought when I saw Elder Celaya I was thinking we were going to be like Timon and Pumba! But he's a great a Elder. He's kind of a Jeffery R. Holland type, he likes to give out the doctrine and then drops the mic and walks away, (leaving the investigators with blank stares.) He is young in the mission like me, so we are really going to see the fruit of our labors. I'm going to miss Elder Vasquez but the fun had to end some day. 

 (saying goodbye to Elder Vasquez)

 (this guy was a real life Rex Kwando showing my comp tricks to study with his 8 week program)

    Well really this week was just all about adjusting to the area with the new comp. We had a lot of contacts in the streets that turned out to be dead ends. We ran into a lot little kids lying to us saying that their parents aren't home. People saying that they are Catholic etc. All that junk.


But we did find a chosen family. With a joven (Brynn) and his mom (Veatriz) and his two sisters (Rubi y Carla) and their grandma (Margalita) haha a really awesome family that really, really need the church. We were teaching them during the whole week and preparing them to go to church. I really enjoy the family. And not I'm not saying it's all about me, but when Sunday came we did splits with the Bishop's sons to pass by the house of all our investigators to make sure they're going to church. Well it turns out that the family didn't want to go because I didn't pass for them. It was just Elder Celaya. Ahh it was awful, I was pretty mad. Well we passed by after church and they all were happy to see me and I made them promise to go the next Sunday. So I were are going to see what happens!!

On Sunday we had a family night which was pretty fun. We played a game where everyone chooses someone to do a dare, but the name of the game is don't have someone do something that you don't want to do. Haha so it turns out the dare that you had someone do  -plot twist...you have to do it yourself. So I ended up doing the chicken dance in front of everyone! It was awesome.

Well my spanish is coming along. My new comp is a little more abrupt and kinda rude about correcting my spanish, I'm just used to Elder Vasquez correcting me lovingly! I'm excited to see what this next week has in store for me and for you guys too! 

Tell everyone hi and I love them!

I love you all soo much! 

Roberts, Brett Roberts!! 

BESA BESA BESA!

Hey Family! What's the new? 

      Well I really feel like this week I've done it all! A lot of experiences that I'll never forget for the eternities! hah

This week started out blah, but it turned great because on Monday we had a fun Monday night with JC and Prex with another family (Bautista) we had a family night. Well the hmna did the message and talked about a lot of doctrina that left our investigators wondering with a lot of questions we had a good explaining after. Umm we ate Hotdogs and browines buen rico!! haha!

Then on Tuesday started out the same ol same ol but ended up with an experience I'll never forget. THat morning I remembered an experience that I had when I was in the MTC ( I remember like it was yesterday) I was sitting at my desk, thinking about Mexico and what it was going to be like. I got a little preoccupied about how I would teach tithing to the poor people. Well a few months passed by and here I was getting ready to go and do just that, I was in that moment I thought about. That morning we were going teach Prex and JC about diezmo (tithing) in the small plywood walls, tin roof, dirt floors of their home... and in the middle of my words I remembered that moment I had at my desk in the MTC. I felt my worries come back. But I was comforted again when Juan Carlos accepted the law of tithing and accepted to do everything possible to follow the commandment.

(Jonny and Carla drew batman on my hands)

Wedding Wednesday! da da na na da na na( wedding theme song) haha Yeah the time came to marry Juan Carlos and Prex. It's was funny because the Prex (the wife) was always joking about taking the kids and running away and JC would wake up solo in the morning. It was like something from Run Away bride. no se. It turned out to be a beautiful day. The niños cleaned up and so did JC, he shaved and was looking slick. Its funny it really wasn't a wedding just signing papers and having the witness present and that was about it. Haha I kinda made it a big deal in the office of the judge when they finished. I started to chant besa besa besa (well I regret it now) they didn't hold back on the kiss!!! It was an awesome day. We were thanked a thousand times over about helping them get married.

(the big wedding day!)

(with jonny and carla waiting outside city hall)

On Thursday: Elder V and I were struggling to see eye to eye. So I decided to not talk with him for the rest of the day. Well that lasted until the comida. ha! I learned it's better to be the first one to say sorry then wait for a sorry, or not. Well mid day we went to go see the family of Izedro and Veatriz (recent conversos) It was a while since we were able to talk with them last, so when we arrived the house was dark. Thinking that no one was home, but it turns out that they were but just ( Juan the dad) had lost his job and wasn't able to pay the bill, ni the hospital bill for their baby. It was actually a pretty bad situation. They were pretty gloomy sitting in the candle light glow. Well instead of starting in to some lesson I tried to say a few jokes. It took me awhile to finish it because I was translating it in my head. but no one laughed. Elder V caught my drift. And we started telling jokes and laughing and then everyone joined in. The mom and dad took turns telling stories and jokes and laughing. I feel like for the little moment they forgot about their situation. It was awesome! We left with a message and smile on their faces. (the family went by themselves to church) CHOSEN!!

Well Friday was a sad day because our 36 year old bachelor investigator decided to take the low road of drugs and cerveza than the higher road of the gospel. It was a hard day and you're always left asking if there was more you could've of done. Finished the day with not too much succes.

Saturday Elder V hit his 6 months left mark and we had a good day of making sure our investigators will be able to go to church the next day.

Sunday was a day of a lot of events! I had a baptism and a new comp and lost my camera all in a one day!!

Fast Sunday is always a good Sunday! Everything went well we had Investigator in church. Prex and JC were pumped for their baptism. Well the time came for baptism and we were a little late. So we were in a rush to get there and finally got to the stake center and payed the taxi and rushed in. When I was all dressed I went to go get my camera to take pics for the babtism. Well it wasn't there! (worst feeling ever, next to rejection) Well we called the taxi center and they said the guy checked and couldn't find the camera. I was heart broken. Luckily I backed up the photos but not of the boda. It was horrible. Well we pressed on and the baptism went great... one of the most peaceful baptisms yet!! wahoo...

(baptism de Juan Carlos and Prez family)

Well in the night we looked for the camera couldn't find anything in the street. Today we went and found the taxi driver that I took. He said No I checked every where. Well I asked if I could look and I Found It! under the Seat BEST FEELING EVER!! (mom's words in my head: Check your pockets every time you take a taxi) 

Well I got word of a new Comp Elder Salaya (dad would say saliva) I'm going to miss Elder V. He was a good comp, reminds me of an action figure missionary. He had his catch phrases and would say stuff like "today feels different" or "a la goma" or "soy el rey del mar tiburon" haha and walking he would always be fake blowing stuff up. I'll miss the guy!

Well i'm doing great- excited for the new cambio here In Martinez! Hechamos fuego! haha I love you all! It sounds like Laur is really taking the Highschool life and running with it! that's great!! Wade It sounds like you're killing it in all the things that I was never good at. River: Don't forget your Valentine crush here in mexico (his name is pedro and he is 7 years and already has mustache) haha Kallers don't worry I still have a little boy belly too. Quinny I have a love hate relationship with school too. Love right now because it doesn't get better. Canny, Go Patriots! haaha. I can see you becoming the next Tom Brady! Ro I love you dude, your first words should be coca!

Mom and Dad I'm gaining more and more respect for you guys each day and realizing how much of trouble I was for you!

With love,

Sitting happy here in Mexíco

Bretters