The Gospel changes Lives

Hey!

So it's the first week of March already and I just feel like the time is flying by. This week was pretty slow in terms of teaching but we are keeping our excitement up. Our area has been a little hard to find people to teach but we are coming up with new ideas everyday to try and find people who might be interested. 

The one lesson that we did have this week was really great. The person we went to visit is named Salvador. He lives in an area that has a pretty big problem with drugs and alcohol. He is an alcoholic and we don't know for sure but, we suspect that's the reason why his wife and children moved to another state in Mexico. They are still married but just don't live together. In the first lesson we had with him we told us that he wants to change his life and quit drinking. At the end of our lesson he accepted a baptismal date. Yesterday (Sunday) we went to visit him and check to see if he had kept his commitments and had read the book of Mormon. He hadn't read because he was working really late this week; so we read the introduction again and some of the testimonies of 11 witnesses of the golden plates. He is more excited than ever to find the time to read the book of Mormon. He told us that when we read the introduction (completely) with him that it answered some of the doubts he had. Our plans for the next visit is to teach him the gospel of Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation.
 

I am really surprised in how much he has changed in one week. The first time we saw him he was sloppily dressed, his hair wasn't combed, his eyes were super bloodshot and his face just seemed kind of sunk in and aged. Yesterday when we visited him he was well dressed, his hair was combed, his eyes weren't as red and his face seemed like it lost a few years of age. He is trying to change his life and it is showing. I hope he continues to progress. If he keeps his commitments and continues taking the lessons he will be baptized a few days after my birthday and that is the best present I could ever ask for. 

I'm sorry I didn't write last week! Time was strict and I had a lot of things to do. This is my little news update for this week. Thank you all for writing me and thinking about me. 

Love,

Elder Berry

Prepared investigator

Buenas Tardes a todos,

So this week was pretty sweet. Tuesday of this week we put a baptismal date with an investigator in the first lesson. He has been really prepared to hear the gospel and is really open to the gospel. His name is Carlos Maldonado and he's about 23 and a photographer (for this reason I have decided he's my new Mexican best friend). He has been surrounded by LDS church members the last three years. All his friends are LDS, he takes photos for tons of temple marriages, and he takes pictures for other church functions. He told us that at one of his photo shoots (at a temple wedding) someone asked him why he hasn't been baptized yet. And he told them that he hasn't been baptized because no one has invited him to do so. That's basically how we came into contact with him. BUT, because he is a photographer his schedule is super packed on the weekends. We had to put down his baptismal service for the first week of April. We seriously hope that he continues to take the lessons and continues to be faithful in commitments. 

My companion and I are doing super awesome. Today he taught me how to do the Usher moon walk (luckily all houses here have nothing but tile floors). I'll be sure to send out a video when I have it down super good. We are starting to really get missionary work going in this area and the time is flying by. My companion and I only have about 8 more weeks together and then it's most likely that I'll be leaving to another area. 

As far as news on me and how I'm doing; I'm doing awesome! I have never felt more eager to teach and my Spanish is improving little by little everyday. I'm starting to like Mexican music (but only the Reggaeton). I understand just about everything and I have more confidence in my Spanish abilities... expect in phone calls. 

Thanks for all your support and love! Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Berry 

Falcons have sharp talons!

Hello everyone,

This week nothing crazy happened and I'm not dead. So that's good!  I did get to help one of the brothers from the ward put the registering rings on his falcon. That was actually a little scary. Only because the falcon has talons that are about 1 inch long and super sharp. Besides the talons, I had to also watch out for it's beak which tried to peck my hands off while I held it. In the end we successfully put on the rings (after 20 minutes and 3 attempts). 

This week we also had an awesome experience with two families in the ward. The have basically received revelation of how important it is that the members work with the missionaries. They realized that our ward basically does nothing to help us and they are going to help us with whatever we need. We were so excited to hear this because it is true. Without the members helping, missionaries have a hard time doing the Lord's work. We need the member's help in the work so that our investigators can feel welcomed and loved. We also need the help of the members to be the friends of recent converts and investigators. Without friends or at least an acquaintance in the ward, the investigators or recent converts will feel very distanced from the tight family bond a ward has. So, I am asking all of you to please help the missionaries, we really can't do this work alone. 

I am so excited and happy to be here in Mexico. I love meeting new people because they basically become an extension of my family. I know that what I am doing here in Mexico is a very important work. It is bringing families together closer in their relationships here on earth and eternally. I love helping people receive the blessing of the knowledge of Jesus Christ and his love for everyone. I know that this church and our message can change lives.

I love you all, and I hope you have a great week!

Love,

Elder Berry

What You Stand For

Que Onda?!

I only have two more weeks of training! Which doesn't really mean much other than the fact that after my training is over, I have to be prepared to possibly train someone else. Also, after my training is complete I could also be getting a new companion or  go to a new area. I will be sad if either of those happen because I love serving with my companion and I really love the people in this area. 

Speaking about my area, we had a pretty interesting experience this week. We have this one family that we are teaching and the father (Raymundo) has had some stomach issues and was bed ridden, so we gave him a blessing. The following day we came back to check on his progress and when we arrived they were having a little family party. The minute we showed up Raymundo's nephew (he's about 25) started talking to me in broken ghetto english; he had lived in Atlanta but isn't fluent in english. Five minutes after we showed up he starts offering me Tequila. Every time he asked/told me to drink with him, I said no (obviously). Raymundo invited us in to eat with them and once we sat down, his nephew sat down next to me and started hammering out some more shots (because he was already pretty drunk). That's when he poured me a shot and put it in front of me. He told me he wanted to drink with a 'gringo' because he never has. Again, I told him no and that I don't drink. He told me that I was being disrespectful in his culture. I then told him that it is a part of my religious beliefs and personal preferences to not drink and I meant no disrespect. Until this point, none of our investigators had really said anything to him. However, after I told him this, they started to defend me more and eventually the nephew left me alone (after 30 minutes of telling me to drink with him). The nephew also offered shots to our investigators (his family) which they all turned down and we were pretty happy to see. 

This experience may seem insignificant to some but to me it was a very big deal. My investigators were watching me and saw how I reacted in this situation. If I had given in to the nephew and drank with him, our investigators would have no trust in us. Besides the fact that I wouldn't be worthy to be serve a mission, I would have lost the trust and respect of our investigators. They saw that I truly stand up for and practice what I have taught them. In turn they stood up for me and they know that I live what I have taught them. 

With this experience, I would just like to remind you all that whether you are a member of the church or not, people are watching your actions and will always remember the things you do. I know that it is very important to always live and act in the way that you want others to remember you by. 

Thank you all for your support and your letters this week. I love you! 

-Elder Berry

Recap of the last few weeks

Hey,

I am sorry I haven't written a real letter in two weeks but my time limits and number of emails makes it a little difficult at times. But I am going to recap the last two weeks and this week. Well last week was another little Holiday called The Day of the Kings. On this day everyone buys a special dessert bread called Rosca. In the dessert bread there are little plastic angels randomly placed. If your slice of the bread has an angel, you get to eat tamales on the 2nd of February. We were out with investigators and they shared with us and guess who got an angel on the first try/slice?! ME!!! So I get to eat tamales at their house on the 2nd and I am pretty pumped about that.

 

 This week we have found 8 new investigators! 5 or so are kids and we are hoping the parents will want to be taught as well.  Oh and I finally had my first encounter with someone who believes in the Santa Muerte... which is the Holy Dead. It's basically a religion that worships satan. This investigators name is Jose M. Our first visit with him he was rolling his joint in front of us and then went out to smoke it. At least he had a little courtesy haha.  Our goal this week is to talk to him about the Santa Muerte and at least help him realize there is a God. 

Now time for the sad news. Jose Luis and his wife have unofficially adopted a 17 year old boy named Jorge off the streets. Jorge, can not read or write and has been teased badly. I also think he might have a  mental disorder. He left his home because his parents are abusive. He has deep scar tissue marks on each arm. I am not sure if his parents cut him with a knife or what but it's a pretty messed up situation. The worst news of all... Jorge went back to his house this week when we returned to teach him how to write. I am praying he will return to the house of Jose Luis so we can help him with the Gospel and other church resources. 

That's my recap  of what has been going on in the last few weeks! Below I have attached a picture of my American flag that I have hung up in the house. Sometimes I find myself singing the national anthem and placing my hand over my heart as I look at the flag. Every other Monday I have started ironing out the wrinkles that develop through out the week. I live in Mexico but I definitely love and appreciate America!! 

Love,

Elder Berry

Soccer

Hola!

 

Nothing really happened this week so my email is going to be pretty short. Saturday was 'La Cena Navideño', which roughly translates to something like Christmas Dinner. It's hard to translate because there isn't really an equivalent in English for the word 'navideño'. We had 3 investigators come to the little party and then another member brought a nonmember friend. We all had a good time. There was soccer (which I will talk about later), piñatas, food, and dancing (which we couldn't do). 

We definitely saw miracles this week from our obedience. On Sunday, we had two less active families show up and two of the investigators came too. The investigators have not followed through repeatedly on coming to church, so we were really surprised and happy they wanted to come. The other miracle is the less active families. One family hasn't come to church in about a year and the other hasn't come in a few months. We visit them a lot and have grown pretty close to them, so I was very happy to see them at church. I also bore my testimony in sacrament meeting, but I did it in English. First I told the congregation that I wanted to bear testimony in English and that the Holy Ghost speaks all languages. I cried a little bit but that doesn't make me a baby. The Spirit was really strong. 

Now time for fútbol!!! So they put me in as goalie for the game. I was happy to have my companion on my team because he played professionally for Cruz Azul before his mission. I'm pretty sure they put me in as goalie because they thought I would suck at soccer- after all I'm güero. I actually did really good as goalie. I stopped a lot of the balls and I almost got my head taken off like twice by the ball. We won the match 12-6. In the end, I think they had a little more faith in my white skin when it comes to fútbol. 

Thank you all for writing me! I love you!

Con amor,

Elder Berry

Esta Semana

Hola Hermanos,

Pues, yo he comido tacos de tripa y tacos de ojo. Fue muy rico!! For those of you who don't know what tripa or ojo is in Spanish, it is eyeball and intestine. They were some of the best tacos of my life!! There was a bit of a texture issue during the first bite or two, but after that it was an enjoyable experience. Oh and I got them from a street vendor so I hope I don't have a virus or parasite now... 

This week not much really happened. We had 3 baptisms yesterday but they weren't ours haha We basically spent all day at the church because we got to the chapel at 4:30 and didn't head home until 7:30. And we had church earlier at 8 until 11. There was one 8 year old who was baptized and 2 men who had been previously excommunicated. It was an awesome experience. I know that those two men must feel beyond description. The services were pretty rowdy because of the kids (and because their parents do nothing about them running around or yelling) but the Spirit was definitely there and touched a lot of hearts. 

Since I mentioned the Spirit, I want to take the time to explain what the Spirit is and how you know you are feeling it, because this is something we have to constantly explain to investigators. The Spirit (also known as the Holy Ghost for those of you that don't know) is the third member of the God Head. He is a personage of Spirit, and his sole purpose is to testify. He testifies of  Jesus Christ and God, he testifies of their love for you and every one of God's children, he is there to lead us and guide us in decisions between good and bad, and comfort us in times of need. The feelings and promptings of the Holy Ghost can sometimes be loud or manifested in a big way but usually the Holy Ghost will  prompt, guide , testify  and consoles us through small promtings in our hearts and minds. Some of the feelings of the Holy Ghost are peace, love, joy, happiness, and undescribable feelings of love and warmth. 

I hope that this helps anyone who may not of known or who has been searching for the feelings of the Holy Ghost but didn't know how to recognize them. I love you all and this is all I have to report this week!! I love you all!! 

Love,

Elder Berry

 

Pictures for this week

1. I decided to caption our calendar. It translates to 'Danger! Penguins will steal your children!'

2. Some Mexican candy. Pronounced: Booboo Looboo