Learn to Teach

November 18, 2013

Familia,

I am no longer with Elder Pantigoso just Elder Hendrickson. FYI Elder Quentin L Cook is coming to the mission in January. We are excited about that.

I also saw Elder Bloom. He is STILL in Olinte. He is going to train there. He will be there a total 11 months. He joked that I watched them plant the corn behind the house, I watched it grow, I watched them pick the corn, and I will watch them plant it again. He has a good attitude and it was good to see him.

We had an interesting contact experience. We knocked at a door and a teenage girl answered. I did my best to smile and make a positive impression. She said, "one second". Then closed the door went back and the door opened again. The mom came and talked to us. I put on the charm again trying to get in to visit. Again one second the door closed. This time it opened and it was the mom again, with the other daughter behind her. I don´t know if it was a fashion show of the gringos or what. We offered service, they said no thanks. So I jokingly said alright we will come some other day and wash the clothes they laughed and we walked off. The door closed. We walked down about 10 steps then the door opened again. Come in they said. We were really confused but went in and taught.

We had an awesome lesson from a member reference. The investigator found some stuff in the Bible she questioned. Later in the week we got a call from a member she had a family that wanted to hear more about the gospel. She set up an appointment for Thursday at 7 and invited us. That is how missionary work is supposed to work. Members invite their friends then invite us.

We took Jenga and taught the restoration to a mom and her ten year old daughter. This lady is looking for God, comfort, and spiritual guidance. I feel like we fit the description to help her with all three.

It was times for interviews with President. As usual it wasn´t what I expected but exactly what I needed. Later we had an Elders quorum activity that night and it was tasty with BBQ chicken. We left talked to a lady we felt we needed to. Caught a miracle bus and were happy to get home at 9.

This week we taught a member and her mother about Family History work. It was a very spiritual lesson and it taught me that I need to do better at this. Elder Hendrickson had a powerful story. It was super special.

This was such a great week finding new people. Getting references having a correlation and lots more things. Very awesome. Thank you for your prayers and faith. I love you tons.

Elder Wright

Thoughts On Living The Dream‏

November 11, 2013

Familia,
We had a positive lesson with a couple, in which He asked the golden question. . . "What is the right church?" I am excited to teach him.
We did divisions with Central. I went with Elder Gneiting from Idaho Falls (almost Rigby). He reminds me a lot of Uncle Todd with his jokes and the way he talks. He works hard. We had three lessons with a member. That was awesome. In the first we taught about baptism using 3 Ne 27:21,20. in that order. The member bore powerful testimony. In fact the member couldn´t stop talking. We hustled to another lesson with an investigator. He is not a member, his family are all members.

Our next visit with an investigator, she was amazing. We planned to talk about baptism. We planned a solid lesson. We explained showing the picture of Christ getting baptized that He set the perfect example and that we must follow it being baptized by someone holding authority, by immersion. Then asked the question "What can you do to better follow the example of Jesus Christ?" She said I need to get baptized by immersion. She said that lots of trials have come lately. I remembered a scripture I found recently in 1 Ne 15:23-24. I shared it explaining that trials will come but to get through it then we must hold on to the iron rod. How? Church, scriptures etc. She accepted to come to church.

We finished at a family. The father gathered all his children before he let us begin. They said the church wasn´t important and we all are looking for God. I used the example of how the father had gathered his children and in like manner, Father in Heaven wants to gather His children in only one church.

We worked with a recent convert here in Toto. She took us to three new houses. It helps so much to have members.

We did some crazy service for a lady's front yard of her abandoned house. It was crazy. We made it a little better.

Our Zone had a baptism. That was super neat.

Changes- Elder Navarro, Gneiting, and Pantigoso have changes. I was enjoying my time with Pantigoso.

Please continue praying for my investigators. Thank you for all of your love and support.

I love you all and desire the best for you. 

Love,

 Elder Wright

Up Hill Battle

November 4, 2013

Querida Familia,

It was a challenging week. Many visits fell through, nobody was home.
At a meeting with the President he taught six principles of powerful prayer. 1-Pour out your soul 2- Ask is there more. The Lord is always willing to give us more than we ask for. Like Joseph Smith just wanted to know what church to join and he received the revelation. Nephi wanted to know the interpretation of the dream of his father and he received the vision of the history and future of the world. 3- Pray for eyes to see ears to hear, and heart to feel the things of God. 4- Ponder with prayer 5- Consumed in the joy of Christ. 6- The will of the Father.

Today in my zone meeting message I did an activity where you stack coins on your bent elbow and have to catch them with the same hand. I did it to illustrate the need to be happy with what we have but not content with mediocrity. It is neat to do 5 coins but why not 8 or 10. They understood fairly well. Satan will try to make us happy with just something “good" when we can achieve something better or even best. The brother of Jared got to a better place and stayed four years we must always be progressing to a higher level. (eter2:14)

When leaving the apartment for lunch the thought crossed my mind that we are always to pray before leaving. So I said a prayer for protection and to recognize opportunities. As we went we found a drunk in the middle of the road that had passed out and split his head open. We basically picked him up and put him on the side walk. He probably won´t remember it, but some people were watching. It turns out when we got to the members house five minutes later in the bus, She asked what we did with the drunk. I had no idea she had even seen us. But who knows.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! It wasn´t a big deal here. I think there were some people that dressed up but we didn´t see them. They have legit costumes like those of Disneyland. The bigger celebration is the 1st and 2nd of Nov. They go on the 1st called the dia de los muertos/santos (Day of the Dead/saints) to leave wreaths of flowers and things at the cemetery. Then on the second they put candles and they all go and eat lunch there and fly huge kites. It is like the feria just in the cemetery.

We went to help a member move. But when we got there at 830 as they had asked it was pretty much done. We went instead to help our investigators move. We helped a lot moving in furniture. sweeping, and what not.

I went on divisions with Armando Arriola to do a visit but our investigator wasn´t home. It was different going from a trio to going out with a member, it was a good experience.

Our investigator asked, “What was the purpose of our visits”. I answered to teach the restoration and help you get closer to Christ. She told us I am good where I am at. That killed me.

At church Elder Morales from Guatemala came. He is an Area 70. He bore a powerful testimony. I guess he was the mission president here in the Xela mission in 05-08. Pretty neat. I hope that my testimony can be that powerful and my conviction strong. I appreciate all your prayers and support.

Love,

 Elder Wright

Happy Halloween

          

Huge Kite

Doin' Work

October 28, 2013
Familia,
We had a meeting with an investigator last Monday. He had read chapter 31 of 2 Nefi. That was awesome. He asked about the door we should enter. I explained the door was baptism but the key was the authority. We explained how the spirit works and each took opportunities to share our personal experiences. I always expect writing in the sky or something big for my answer but I told him I came to realize it is little by little just feelings and passing thoughts. Hendrickson invited him in that moment to kneel with us in prayer and ask if it was true. We closed the door and turned off the cell phone. He offered a heartfelt humble prayer. The dogs were barking but then they went away. A peace and tranquility filled the room We sat in silence.

At the Noche de hogar we watched the restoration. Then they paused it blindfolded me saying they were going to do an activity. Spun me around about 30 times and took the cover off. Right in front of me was a huge cake. I was smiling so big and couldn´t say more than muchas gracias. I did the traditional mordida (bite) and they missed the head push so I did it again to be a good sport and they got me good. (See the fotos)

A phone call informed us that we would be receiving a another elder back in a Trio. We picked up Elder Pantigoso from Peru. La libertad. I continued celebrating my birthday on Tuesday. Two investigators surprised me with a cake and gift. It was super nice of them.

The Lord is in the details of our lives. We planned a lesson to teach one of our investigators the commandments. It wasn´t necessarily the next logical step but Elder Hendrickson suggested it and we felt good about it. We got there and our investigator asked before we start if I am going to get baptized will you explain to me more about the commandments. That was awesome to know the spirit had helped us plan.

Later that night we played Jenga with two different families. It was a good way to teach the restoration, the falling of the church, the construction of many different churches without all the pieces, and then the restoration of the true one and strong church.

Sunday, I played the piano for the first time in Sacrament Meeting. It turned out well. I was super nervous but I did work. The second counselor in the temple presidency came and talked. He is a gringo from Kentucky originally Arizona. Mortenson. He told a story that the first lesson he taught on his mission in Mexico the guy got baptized. Later about 20 years he went to the temple in Mesa and the Mortenson guy went and asked how come you only brought 3 of your 6 kids to be sealed. The answer was they couldn´t get the money to bring all 6. But the great news is that temples are dotting the world and we don´t have to choose it is so close. But we must go to one that we have so close!!!!

I love you all and I know this is the true church. Take care!!!

Elder Wright

Elder Hendrickson, Elder Wright, Elder Pantigoso

Traditional Mordida 

Solid Week and 21 años‏

October 21, 2013

Querida Familia,

Gracias por todo su apoyo en esos mi 21 años. Les quiero mucho.

One of our investigators was having a birthday, we bought her a cake, and had a balloon and a sign. We dropped it at the door and hid in the corn to watch their reaction. They thanked us a lot and shared some of the cake.

With our challenge to do 10 new contacts we did one thanks to our taxi driver. Along the way he stopped and picked up a lady. Turns out she is the sister in law of a member. We set up an appointment to visit her. 

That night we met the Father of one of our investigators. Turns out he has a problem with liquor and is looking for a church. To think we found them while contacting and fulfilling our new goal of 10 contacts daily.

At the end of our lesson to another investigator and his family members we challenged all three to baptism and they have accepted!!!

This week brought an emergency trip to Xela for a zone leader council with the President. Mostly it was to brainstorm ideas for November. For me it was a direct answer to prayer to know how to better fulfill my calling. President also taught that we need to rely on the spirit to discern the needs and then do our part to teach to the exact needs of the individual.

I baked cupcakes in the church and practiced the piano for the Hymns next week. I am a little nervous. I don´t think I have ever played in sacrament meeting. But we will ir por el oro.

I had many people at church wish me happy birthday. It was sweet. I got a text from this wonderful family in the ward wishing me Happy Birthday! They fed us lunch and I got my special order of Jocon. After a full first plate they asked if I wanted a little more. I said ok. Then it came back as full if not more than the first. Then I shared my cupcakes it was really nice. They sang to me, I felt really loved.

At the end of the day on Sunday the husband and wife investigators had their front room all decorated with streamers and a poster that said FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS ELDER WRIGHT! It was awesome. They even bought me a cake. I felt loved. They sang and it was a great end to my Birthday.

I want to thank you all for the birthday wishes and more importantly for the love and support throughout my 21 years of life. Thank you for your help and sacrifice on my behalf.

Love,

Elder Wright

Gifts from Home

Birthday Gift from Dad

Birthday Party at Investigators Home
Tradition Mordida