May 7 2012--2 Type A's = companionship issues?

Hello how are you all doing? Well I am doing pretty well! Just pushing through another quick week. This week was a super hard week! I am not going to lie. It was like everything just kind of fell through. But that’s okay. There are weeks like these and all we have to do is push through onto the next week. We had a lot going on like zone conference and all. We also had a baptism this Saturday! It was pretty exciting! There were some funny memories this week, and also some very cool experiences. One of our investigators, Maria, was kind of having a hard time in deciding if she should be baptized or not, because her husband went to the United States to work and all. And then she was talking with her husband on the telephone and was asking what she should do. And the husband said to pray and ask. Well she prayed and asked and she got a prompting to open the bible randomly and read a scripture, well she got her answer opening to Philippians (I think that’s the spelling) 4:9. Wow I read it and couldn’t believe it. Please read it because it shocked me entirely! Haha Well there are things like that that happen in the mission and I try to write down all the experiences. Well I haven`t really said anything about my companion, haha, his name is Elder Santiago from Lima, Peru. He has been here in the mission for 1 year and 8 months. He`s about done. And he works hard, but he is always right (like me. haha) We're both pretty stubborn and it has been a trial a lot of the times, but it is a learning experience of patience. There have been times of complete verbal fights with us, but little by little I am learning to gain more patience for my companion. I am working hard on getting better with that because I am stubborn haha. But I am sorry if this wasn`t the most spiritually filled letter in the world. But to let you all know that I am ok and the mission is tough, but it is good work. I`ve never enjoyed sleep so much in my life! Haha. We do have to go to bed at 1030 at night, and you would think that we would want to stay up and talk. But the truth is that I love to sleep now! Haha Whoever stays up is crazy on the mission haha. The weather now is like 85% humidity, 90 degrees and this week it looks like it will reach 115 degrees. It should be fun work! Haha Take care, I love you all!

Elder Justin Powell

Leia Mais…

April 30 2012

Hello how are you all doing? I’m sorry I haven’t written in a while. Last Monday was crazy and I didn’t have any time to do anything that I wanted. And I had no time to write a good email, we were kind of kicked out abruptly because the member had to leave and so we left and I didn’t have time to send this email off. So this is a continuation of the email of last week. Well I am doing well, its pretty dang hot in Mexico... But we are working hard with the heat. Everyone one of you will probably think that I am gaining weight on the mission, but believe it or not, I am losing a ton. I put my suit coat on yesterday and wow it’s big on me... It’s probably because we walk like 10 miles a day (no joke). But it is all good. Well this week just flew right by and I can´t believe I’m here in front of the monitor again. Well on Tuesday of two weeks ago we had the opportunity to go to the Monterrey Temple to the chapel right beside it to listen to Elder Bednar of the twelve and Elder Johnson of the seventy. It was such a great talk that he gave and he seriously is such a powerful speaker. He doesn´t really just gives us the answer, he gives us the knowledge of what we can do to receive the answer, how we can improve our answer getting ability. So that when we find the answer, it touches our heart intensely and that way we can follow through with what we learned. He really makes you think. So for 3 hours, we were thinking very hard. But I learned something so valuable that will change how I will serve this mission and what will happen for the rest of my life. For example, if you pray like this "Please bless that I may get more money to help my family" while you are sitting at home doing nothing, God will very very rarely have this incidents where there´s $1000 on the porch the next moment. Yeah that is some hope, but with that type of prayer, nothing will happen. Now, if you pray like: "God, while I am out looking for better work, while I am working hard and doing my part, please help me with the energy to find great work, please help me have money for my family." Do you see the difference? God will do his part if we do ours. Plain and simple. If we pray with the intent of acting right after the prayer, god will act. So I learned a ton and I love listening to Elder Bednar.

Well we are trying to have a fun time on the mission as well because we work hard, but the thing is that it gets pretty boring at times. Or we get kind of bored with just working and not taking some time to relax, because a typical day with my companion and I is 7 lessons a day (when its only necessary to do 5), talk with 50 people on the street (when its only necessary to talk to 20), and we just work and try harder than what is expected. So with that, I kind of get tired of the mission or bored. And there are so many frustrations here in Mexico; I know why God sent me to Mexico, to become more patient because that is an attribute that I need to work very hard on. But I keep pushing through, what I heard is that after the year mark, that’s when you find true happiness with the mission or that’s the point where you don’t want to go home. Haha.

Well don’t worry about me here in Mexico, everything is fine. If you watch the news and all you hear about is all the danger here in Monterrey, well yes there are bad news, but for everything bad thing here, there are 1000 good things. And that`s how it is everywhere! So don`t trust the news too much because the truth is that Monterrey is a place with a lot of good people and 99% of the people here want good and peace. And the food is excellent, the only thing is that I am losing weight and not gaining. hahahah

Well I love you all, send me letters and tell me how is everything! I haven`t heard from a lot of my friends and I am in dire need of hearing from you all! Haha

Love,

Elder Justin Powell

Leia Mais…

April 9 2012

Hello Family and Friends,

How are all of you doing? I am doing pretty well, this week was really hard because it wasn`t successful and very frustrating, but it happens right? It was because in Mexico, they celebrate a week called Holy Week and it’s when everyone has vacations and just leaves for a while. Haha Today I change companions and I stay in the same area. I will be with Elder Santiago from Peru and what I have heard is that he is a great elder. I’m very excited to start working with him in my area Lomas Del Pedregal. This next weekend coming up we have 4 baptisms! I`m pretty excited and then next week we have Elder Bednar coming to talk with us. Pretty exciting couple of weeks coming up for us missionaries. The weather here has been pretty cloudy/rainy in these last couple of days. But I can feel the heat coming because it will be pretty dang hot in these next couple of weeks. Well I am sorry that this letter is short but I have to go. But I love you all and I miss you all like crazy. Take care and be safe.

Elder Justin Powell

Leia Mais…

April 2 2012

Hola Familia y Amigos,

How are all of you doing? I am doing pretty good, just pushing along through another week. This week that passed was good. I had interchanges twice, going to the other areas of our district because the other elders need help from Elder Perkes and I as far as working harder. The Zone leaders wanted us to lend a hand with uplifting them, so we were doing that this past week. So I learned a lot of leadership skills this past week. And then we finished to the weekend with a great conference. We got to go to the mission office because it`s the stake center as well, and while everyone in the stake was watching in Spanish in the chapel, us American`s got to watch the whole conference in English in the offices. So I got to understand it all, and it was a great conference. A lot of advice on how to become better families. And that counsel was very good for us to learn so that we can apply that counsel with our investigators and our teachings. I don`t want to take anything away from what the speakers said, but I do know this gospel changes families because I have seen families change for the better when they live the gospel of Jesus Christ. So live the gospel to the fullest, it is meant to bring happiness to everyone and I have seen it completely change a family from unhappy, near splitting to complete happiness and love. Apply the teachings of this conference in your lives and live your life to the fullest. I love you all and be happy because everyday should be a happy day. Stay positive and smile everyday! hahaha Love you all take care.

Elder Justin Powell

Leia Mais…

Let's do this again

I'm back!  I want to apologize for not posting Justin's letters in a little while.  I've been a little bit off and, frankly, Justin's letters have been getting shorter and shorter.  But, here we go again--it's time to hit reset and go forward.  I'll do my best to make sure that his letters get posted promptly.  Honestly, I knew that there were a few people that followed this blog but I have to admit that I've been surprised by the number of people that have wondered why they haven't been able to follow Justin's mission adventures through his posted letters here.  I'm humbled and I am recommitted.
Dan

Leia Mais…

110 degrees in Monterrey!!

And now, here is today’s letter.  Once again, sorry that I was late with last week’s but this letter gets you all caught up with the latest and greatest news from Monterrey. Again, Justin sounds great and is in good spirits—even playing pranks on his companion—brings back some very cool memories. Also, it sounds like Justin is developing some skills for a future as a wedding planner.  After next week, he’ll have welding, wedding planning, and rail car repair experience under his belt—and he’ll be able to do it all in Spanish.  In seriousness, he sounds amazing. I’m very, very proud of this son of mine.  As always, I wish you all the very best that life has to offer—lots of love in your lives and in your actions.  Until next week…Dan

Hola Familia y Amigos, ¿Como están? Well I am doing great! It is a hot day in Mexico today and the temperature will just keep rising. It already reached 110 degrees last Friday. Well it’s alright because we just drink a ton of water at that point. Well some pretty great news that I just found out and it is that Apostle Elder Bednar is coming in April to speak to our mission! I will get to meet him in person!!! I´m very excited! And pretty intimidated as well... haha But it will be a very neat and awesome experience. Also we have had a pretty good week this past week. Since we lost some investigators due to them being baptized, we have been doing a lot of contacting in the street. There have been some good people, but then there have been some interesting people. But we will keep looking for new great investigators. So something funny that happened between my companion and I is that we were contacting, but in the morning I cut out a picture of this lady´s face out of this coupon and taped it in his planner in the part where we write down new contacts info, well I forgot that I did that in the morning because I was expecting him to open it during morning study, but we contacted this guy and he opened it and there was the picture, and I almost died tried to hold in the laughter. Luckily the guy didn’t see us but that was a funny story in many that have happened on my mission. Seriously, I wish I could have time to write in my journal, all the things and stories that happen.

For the last couple weeks we have been wedding planners. Haha Juan and Paloma are now getting married and I am so excited for them. The plan is that they will have the paper filled out and Juan wants that Elder Perkes and I are the witnesses. And on Saturday, March 24th at 430, we will have their baptism, and then at 5, a wedding celebration right in the cultural hall. Pretty much the bishop and us put our heads together to do something very cool for them and I’m excited. Juan came to church yesterday in his new suit, he looks very changed and very sharp. I was very impressed when I saw the change in him. And he said that we are definitely invited when they enter the temple on March 24th 2013! I am soo, soo excited and it made my day when I heard that he wants to be at the temple to marry his wife. They are a young couple and like 2 weeks ago, they didn’t have a desire to really get married or change. But 2 weeks later, they have changed extremely. I am so proud of them and they are a great family with their 1 year old son. Well everything is going well, I hope everything is well with everyone over there and please keep in touch. I love you all and take care!

Elder Justin Powell

Hola Familia, ¿Como Están? Yo estoy muy bien. Todo aquí en Monterrey está muy bien y espero que ustedes estén haciendo bien. Pues, el trabajo es un poquito lento ahorita porque no tuvimos mucho éxito en encontrando investigadores de oro, pero tenemos un plan bueno para esta semana para tener mucho éxito.

¿Party Rock, huh? Hahahahaha! ¡Eso es muy chistoso! Yo estaba riendo (laughing) cuando yo leí ese parte! Pues yo necesito ir ahora pero yo espero que todo está bien y felicitaciones Joshua con tu decisión a estudiar psicología! Envía fotos y yo espero que yo puedo enviar fotos muy pronto! Probablemente la próximo semana. Te amo a ustedes muchísimo! Y también, está bien si yo envío un paquete en el verano? Lo que pasa es que no tengo mucho, mucho tiempo ahora para hacer eso. También yo sé que Kate y Noah necesitan algo de Navidad y ya es Marzo! Pero yo prometo que ellos van recibir algo muy chévere de México, y también todo ustedes. Gracias por su paciencia! Te Amo,

Elder Justin Powell

Translation:

Hello Family, how are you? I am great—everything here in Monterrey is great and I hope that you are all doing well also. Well, the work is a little bit slow right now because we were not able to find any “golden investigators” but we have a plan for next week to have a lot of success.

Party Rock, huh? Hahahaha!  That is so funny! I was laughing when I read that part in Dad’s letter (about Noah and Kate dancing to LMFAO on Just Dance).

Well, I need to go now but I hope that you are all doing well and congratulations Joshua on your decision to study psychology. Send me photos and I hope that I can send some to you soon—probably next week. I love you all so much! And also, is it OK if I wait until summer to send a package home? The problem is that I don’t have a whole lot of time to do this.  Also, I know that I owe Kate and Noah a Christmas gift and it’s already March! But I promise that they will receive something very cool from Mexico—also something for the rest of you. Thanks for your patience.

I love you,

Elder Justin Powell
(From Dan)  When I wrote to Justin, I told him about how Kate and Noah dance to LMFAO music on Just Dance, and also about how they love the song "Sexy and I know it".  I thought it would give him a laugh and sure enough! Cheers!

Leia Mais…

Justin performs and baptism and plans a wedding!

Once again, here is another letter from Justin and once again, Dad is late in posting it.  I’m so sorry—my time just flies away from me. In fact, I do well just making sure that I send Justin a letter each week.  I will try to do better in the future, OK?

This letter sounds great, in a couple of ways.  First, that Justin performed a baptism and is so excited about sharing Christ’s gospel. That is an amazing transformation that has taken place in him and I’m very proud.  Second, his Spanish is really coming along and I’m very impressed with him. And finally, he actually tried SEAFOOD!! And liked it. That just might be the greatest miracle of them all.  LOL! 

Well, enjoy the letter (as well as the newest one that I’m about to post) and blessings of peace and love and service in your lives. 

Dan

Hola Familia y Amigos!

How are all of you doing? Well I am doing great! These weeks just become a lot quicker and quicker with the work increasing. I can’t believe how fast the time is flying because it feels like I was just typing on this computer yesterday. The work is great here, the Spanish is getting a ton better and we are having a lot of success in my area. The biggest news is that I performed my first baptism yesterday. Her name is Brenda and she was sooo excited to be baptized and when I baptized her, she was sooo happy. It really made me happy because of the transformation we saw in her. Only 2 weeks and now she is going to be a strong member in this church. It’s so weird to look back on the history of people that are converted and the transformations. All we did was talk to Brenda in front of her house on the way to a lesson and now she is a faithful member of this church. That’s why it’s important that we all open our mouths and preach this gospel of Jesus Christ. Because what we learn is that there are people that God is preparing and that we will meet but all we need to do is open our mouths. But this doesn’t only happen to missionaries, this happens to everyone that has a testimony of this gospel. Everyone in this church has a responsibility to be a missionary and open their mouths to preach this gospel. And it really is special to think wow, all I did was open my mouth to preach and now she is where she is, with much happiness, just because I opened my mouth. Well that is what I learned this week. All the people are great here; they just love feeding us food. Haha.

One interesting story that happened is that my companion and I went to teach this family, Juan and Paloma with their 1 year old son. Juan and Paloma are not married and young, and they had really no desire to be married. Well Tuesday we went to teach about the family and how they can be together forever, and also about the blessings that families can receive in the temple. Well they were pretty happy with our lesson. We prayed that they would soften their hearts and decide to get married. Well the next day we went, and they broke a surprise for us. They set a date for their marriage and their baptism! And now Elder Perkes and I are wedding planners! Haha The whole ward is going to cook food, bring piñatas and we are going to have a party at the church. And Juan wants us to be the witnesses for the marriage. We also lent him a suit to use for the wedding. I am so excited for them! That little family will be complete!

Well I’ve got to go but be safe and good luck with everything! I love you all and write me some dear elders! I want to hear how everyone of you is doing! Oh and BTW, I am sorry if my English is getting sloppier, I am seriously forgetting my English because I am getting fluent in Spanish…haha Take care

Love,

Elder Powell

Hola Familia, ¿Como están? ¡Yo estoy muy bien! Yo fui al neumológico (lung specialist) y el dijo que yo estoy muy bien y que es un stress que yo no puedo controlar. Solamente yo necesito hacer ejercicios en las mañanas con más intensidad para que mis pulmones puedan trabajar duro. ¡Pero todo está muy bien! Este área es muy bueno, Me encanta donde yo estoy ahorita. ¿Cómo están Jack, Noah, Kate, Joshua, y Brianna? La misión está muy bien y el tiempo está volando muy rápido. Hay veces cuando yo siento un poquito triste como esta semana, nosotros estábamos contactando al lado de una casa que tenía música muy alta. Esta casa estaba tocando Hot N Cold- Kate Perry, y yo estaba pensando cuando Kate y Noah bailaron y que papi grabó en video este baile de ellos. jajaja Y que Jack bailó en frente de  la televisión cuando él estaba solo en la media noche! jajaja Y también hay veces cuando este pasa, pero toda está bien con mis ánimos y deseo para seguir adelante con este trabajo. Con las fotos, no sé que yo voy a hacer... Yo tengo muchos para enviar, pero no sé como yo puedo. I will let you know. La comida está muy buena! Yo estoy probando mucha comida, aun camarón me sabe bueno ahora! haha Cuídense bastante y los amo a ustedes muchísimo! Espero que todo esté perfecto con ustedes.

Elder Powell

Translation:  

Hello family, how are you?  I am very well.  I went to the lung specialist and he said that I am well and that it is a stress on my lungs that I can only control by doing more intense cardio exercises each morning so that my lungs will get stronger.  But, everything is great with me. My area is very nice and I love where I am a lot. How are Jack, Noah, Kate, Josh and Brianna?  My mission is going great and the time is flying by very fast. There are sometimes when I feel a little bit sad or homesick, for example like this week, we were tracting next to this house that had loud music playing and the song was Hot and Cold by Katy Perry.  I was remembering when Kate and Noah danced to this and Dad recorded it on video.  Haha! And then Jack was caught dancing in front of the TV when he thought he was alone.  Haha! And also, there are other times when this happens but everything is great with my desires to continue on in this work. Well, about pictures—I don’t know what I’m going to do…I have a lot of them to send, but I don’t know how I can. I will let you know.  The food is delicious and I am trying a lot of new things.  I even like shrimp now!  Haha! Take good care of yourselves—I love you all a ton. I hope that everything is perfect with you all.

Elder Powell

Leia Mais…