The Mission of Elder Stone: July 2013

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Our District volleyball team!!!

Doing well!

Family,

It is hard to know what to write! I am doing well here and I am learning a lot! It is funny how I lived off of 5 hours of sleep all school year and now 7 doesn't even feel like enough!! We went to the temple for the last time this morning at about 6:30! It was an incredible experience. I felt so much joy there.

I am still progressing in spanish and teaching is getting more and more easy :) I am excited that you guys are learning spanish too!!!

Grandma said that you guys went to the concert at temple square or something?! Lindsey Sterling was there?! Brook needs to tell me about it :) How was it?!

Mom, you are starting your own business?! What?! Congrats that is so cool! You need to let me know how it goes :) Good luck :) What are you gonna do exactly?! Me da mucho gusto!!!

Our investigators are progressing really well. Our lessons with Valente are so strong spiritually and it is amazing! Nano is harder but we are getting to him!

I don't really know what more to say!!! Just let everyone know that it is probably best not to send me letters at this point while still in the MTC!!

Sorry my camera died after downloading just one photo. More photos to come next week!!

Love,

Elder Stone

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Brayden (Elder Stone) and his companion Elder Thomas in front of the Mexico MTC.

Brayden in front of dorms.

On the bus on the way to the MTC.

All six of Brayden's roommates.

Brayden's District in front of the store. Quite the characters!

Brayden's District

Crazy drivers in Mexico City

Mexico City

"Silver Men" in Mexico City that clean windows, sell fruit and newspapers!

Corn dogs!

I am glad that Ashley is there safely :) I have also been sick all week ha. Today I think I am starting to be over it but it is super frustrating because it is so distracting. And I am very pleasant when I am sick too ;)

I sent her an e-mail and I'll wish her a happy birthday today! I am so jealous she is already out in the field. We have not had a straight 9 hour instruction but I know they are coming! I found out last night that we have a thing called TRC, where we might be teaching real investigators from Mexico City. It scared me so bad but the weather was bad so there was just a member. There are thunderstorms every day pretty much and I love it.

We get fed pretty well! It is kindof just the same foods over and over, but they vary it up! Occasionally they even have corn dogs so win win and win.

How are things there? :) Is there a volcano erupting near here? Everyone keeps saying stuff about it :P

I may write more later. I can never gather my thoughts on here :P More to come today including pictures!

Love you guys,

Elder Stone

Thursday, July 11, 2013

New Update!

How are you guys doing :) I don't have a lot of time so I am trying to hurry sorry!

Mexico City is insane. The MTC is in a poorer part of Mexico City and it is like a paradise island. All night there are sirens and I have never seen so much poverty. But I love the people here. It is such a crazy culture but they are the happiest people I have ever seen. I am learning so much here and loving it. I never thought I would study so much and still enjoy life :)

The language is coming along! We got some Mexican rommates who will help a lot I think. It is hard because after about 3 days we already had an investigator we had to try to teach. It is frustrating at times, but I can feel the help of the Lord as I try to learn as best I can.

We went to the Mexico City Temple today and it was amazing. I felt the spirit so strongly. The spirit has to be my favorite thing about being here. It is addicting, and I never understood it the way I do now. I always want it, and when it is chased away, it scares me. It is so important, and I thought I knew why before. But now I understand much better.

I miss home, but they keep us plenty busy here. It is cool but crazy to be the first Americans here, and some of the first missionaries. They barely have any idea what is going on and it is funny. They barely have the laundry set up, the schedules are sometimes completely wrong, and nobody knows how to do a lot of things. But they are figuring it out just like we are.

I know that this gospel is true and that this is the church of Jesus Christ. My testimony has been strengthened here like never before. It hit me really hard the other day, as we talked and heard devotionals and studied the scriptures, the meaning of 'forget yourself and go to work.'' I realize that in order to be the best missionary I can, I need to completely remove myself from the picture. I am not here to learn the gospel or even to learn Spanish. I am here to learn how to serve and how to be a representative of Jesus Christ to God's children. I will grow more when I focus on others than if I focus on my own growth. I know that I need to not only give the Lord my time, I need to give him my acts, my thoughts, my intentions, my words, and my whole soul to him and to this work. I am trying my hardest to, and it is bringing such amazing blessings.

I'm glad Ashley got to the MTC and is safe :)

My companion is Elder Thomas and he is from Des Moines. He is cool and we get along, but just like me abnd the majority of teenagers, our personalities clash. But it is fun and I love all these elders and learning with them. The weather is super nice down here and I love it :) My p-days are on Thursdays and so yeah :)

I can't wait to get out into the field. I have never felt the spirit the way that I do here anywhere else.

I am not good at writing and I am running out of time. I can't think of too much more to say at this point, except that I love you guys so much. I am so thankful to you for preparing me for this and for giving your support and sacrificing so much so I could.

Yo sé que esta iglesia es la iglesia de Jesucristo. Yo sé que Jesucristo es mi Salvador y el Salvador del mundo. Yo sé que José Smith fue un profeta de Dios, y que El Libro de Mormon es la palabra de Dios. Estoy tan agradecido por esta oportunidad.

Love,

Elder Stone

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Here safely!

Brayden sent an email on July 2nd, 2013:

Hola!

I am here at the MTC safely. The flights were good but tiring! Mexico City is the craziest place I have ever seen. Never complaining about Utah drivers again! I love you guys and I am so excited to get to work. Thank you guys for all your help in getting me ready and making sure I was prepared. It still blows my mind what is happening, but I am excited to get lost in it. I will send pictures and stuff as we get going. The MTC is a beautiful place. I am so excited to teach and learn the language. We are like the first white people here so it is funny. But it is amazing :)

Thank you for the amazing messages all of you wrote in my book. I read them on the plane and they helped me and made me happy! I love you all, and tell Ashley congratulations on her setting apart :) she will be amazing and I hope all goes well tomorrow.

Love you so much,

Elder Stone