My thumb hurts!

Hey all!

 So at zone sports after e-mailing last Monday, I think I may have broken my thumb/damaged it badly, so that has been hurting all week and has been super inconvenient. It bruised up pretty badly. But it is healing up already.

 We had kind of a hard week again! We have struggled the past two, especially on having investigators coming to church. That is something so important. Satan is working hard to keep them away from coming because he knows what an amazing effect it has on them. But we are working harder and we will succeed!

 We had dinner last week with a really awesome member, and she told us to go visit some of the people that live in the apartments behind her house. One of them was a couple of brothers named Roberto and Luis. They were super chill and they are from the coast of Mexico by Guerrero. We set up a return and went there yesterday. We had a great lesson with them, and they accepted to read the book of Mormon and pray and see if this is something that God wants them to do! They are very sincere and mature guys, And I hope everything goes well with them.

 We also met this guy named Vicente, he was on the stairs of the apartment complex where an investigator lives, so we talked to him and he is super cool. He is very humble, and is willing to be baptized, but needs to straighten some things out in his life, he says, like stop smoking and such. We talked to him about the atonement and that the reason we are here as missionaries is to help him use Christ's sacrifice to change. It went super well and I look forward to seeing him again the next time.

 This next week Elder Sanhueza and I are going to strive to really find those that the Lord is preparing, because He is working alongside us. He has promised us that!

I hope you all have a blessed week. Look around you to find those who need the gospel. They are everywhere, and they have no idea the happiness and peace they are missing. I love and miss you all,

 Elder Stone

Ejaleeeee!

Well the past 7 weeks have all been fantastic, it is about time we got a slap in the face!

We had kind of a frustrating week! I got a flat tire 3 days in a row, and because our main area is about 15-20 minutes away on bike, it totally killed us. But in the end everything was able to work out.

 Aurelio somehow disappeared this week, which is a huge bummer. He didn't show for his lesson Friday and when we went to find him the next day too his daughter (who apparently hates us very much) said he was in Galt (another town up north) with his brother. But she wouldn't give us the number or anything, and he didn't show up at church. It was super disappointing, but we are hoping for a miracle and that we can find him again so he can be baptized on the 29th. He is incredible and needs the blessings!

 Last p-day after e-mail, we went to the Black Chasm, which is a couple caverns and some other formations. Because we had the whole zone, 25 missionaries, we didn't go into the cavern. But we got to go through and play around in all these super cool formations left over from a hydraulic mine. It was awesome and a good time trying to squeeze and climb and navigate through the rocks.

 It has been super hot this week! It has been around the 80s mostly. We need more rain though! The heat seems to be making a jump on us, which isn't good because we are still dryer than dry! California is going to go up in flames!

 Damian is back to Mexico by now! It was super sad to see him go. He is strong and we hope he is able to keep his testimony and the blessings flowing down there in Yahualica!

 We went over to Hna. Gauna's house to pick oranges with her again! She is hilarious. She was super excited to share some menudo with us again. Luckily it wasn't death spicy this time! And this time she had the feet and stomach, which was actually pretty tasty! But it was an awesome time. She is such a great woman, and even though she is crazy, we love her a ton.

 Well we are going to have a big week this week. We need to work extra hard to make up for the lack of progress last week.

 I love this work! Success or no success, the Lord is with us and there to help us. I know that we will receive blessings as we pray and improve and increase our faith this week.

 I hope you all have a blessed and safe week! Love and miss you all.
 Elder Stone

Windy, Windy!

(March 3, 2014)

Windy, Windy!!

 Well we had a great week. Today I am officially out 8 months, which is absolutely insane. It goes by way too fast.

We have received some great rain this week, which is good. The only annoying part was all the wind! We have about a 15-20 minute ride to the majority of our work is, and right into the wind all the way added on an extra 5-10, it was super frustrating!

 Elder Sanhueza and I have had a wonderful week. We really saw the blessings of choosing fellow-shippers prayerfully. We saw great success, and it brings so many blessings to the teaching process, church, and the progression of the investigator. My testimony of prayerfully selecting fellow-shippers was definitely strengthened. I am so grateful for the wonderful ward members we have to work with us. They have been amazing.

 Yesterday at church I felt the Spirit very strongly when we were in gospel principles as I saw the strength of the converts there. I had a great feeling of appreciation to be in this work, and to see how peoples' lives have changed and how the Lord has changed them. It was a great experience. Thankful to be a missionary at this time.

 Unfortunately, Roberto couldn't come to church yesterday. So we went to see him and he said he had to work. We had a great talk with him, and he says he is going to ask his boss for Sundays off and "If he asks me why, I will tell him because I missed church last week and I am not missing again." He is awesome. There was some Mexican music playing in the background and we asked him if he liked listening to it as hie was making his lunch, and he said (in Spanish, which sounds funnier) "Eh, the woman likes to listen to the music, but she doesn't like to make me lunch. I need to find a woman that will make me lunch." Haha he is hilarious. We got a picture with him because he looked so good! Love Roberto.

 Well time is short. I love you all. We had a very blessed week. I hope that you all have one too! Stay safe and remember to ask the Lord for missionary opportunities. Love and miss you all,

 Elder Stone