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

 

Almost two months!

Hey everyone,

I have a really weird experience to share with you all. So it has rained 4 of the 7 days here last week. On one of the rainy days my companion and I  stopped under a shade thing in front of a store. Then this man walks up to us. My companion starts talking to him and gives him a card, and does all the normal contacting stuff. Then the man shakes our hand... this is where it gets weird. He shook our hand normally, and then slid his hand, down ours, to our fingers and gave our fingers a second handshake and then took his time removing his hand from ours. At this point I realized his mannerisms. He told us his name, and asked us to teach him lessons but it turns out he doesn't live in our area, so I don't think he is interested anymore. We proceeded to say bye to him and he molested our hands one more time and then we walked off in different directions. It was a creepy experience but we were nice to him. 

We have 15 investigators and they all basically live up hills. It's not fun but we don't complain when we do it. Yesterday we were supposed to have two of our investigators, Juan and Bernardett, come to church with us. We have 8 o'clock church and we were all going to meet at 7:30 and take a taxi to the church. They also live up a giant hill. So, yesterday morning we walked up the hill and no one answered. They just didn't answer the door.  We waited until about 7:45 for them to answer the door but they weren't coming. We then had to leave and go to church. It was disappointing but I try not to get depressed when things don't work out because that doesn't help any. However, when we got to church, one of our other investigators showed up!! So in the end, the Lord gave us a mood booster. 

Our ward has about 50 members and enough seats for about 350. haha. This was my first real Sunday in my ward and I was just trying to understand everything that was said. I am glad that there are only about 50 members in the ward because I had to get up and introduce myself and bear my testimony in Spanish. If the chapel had been full and there really was 350 members, I probably would of been more nervous. Everyone told me I did good but I know I made mistakes... but I don't care because I'm just a 'güero'. 

I need to tell you about my companion!! His name is Elder Amador, and he is from Mexico. He was a professional soccer player before his mission. He is 22 and did 2 years of college before his mission. He is studying some type of engineering, I don't really know because it's hard to understand each other correctly. 

The time is passing  faster and faster, I have been out for almost 2 months, which isn't a lot but it's more than it feels like. I love you all and I thank all of you for your support and influence in my life!!

Love,

Elder Berry

Finding my way

Hola,

This has been a very hard week. I have been very homesick and depressed because I couldn't talk to anyone or understand them. I am doing better though. I am happy now and can understand about 50% of the conversations and try my hardest to talk to people. They are so loving here. La Familia de Rubio is an amazing family! They feed us a lot and we are over there about every other day. From what I gathered in Spanish, Hermano Rubbio is one of the Bishop's Counselors. 

They have a  lot of technology in the part of the city I am in. However, the houses and everything else here are pretty run down. They don't seem to care so much about what their homes look like but they put a lot into the way they dress. They are very loving people and care a lot about people, I feel very welcomed even though I can't talk to anyone very well. 

I really like this area, It has tons of hills and reminds me of all the movies I've seen that take place in Brazil. We have to hike gigantic hills that I hope I can sneak pictures of here in the future. I try not to look like a tourist so that I don't get beaten up and robbed. The houses are pretty humble mostly all concrete and they only have tile here, I have not seen carpet in any home that I've been in. Only the Stake center had carpet. The area I'm in is supposed to be the richer area...

We've taught quite a few lessons this week and spent a lot of time trying to contact people who were not home. Some of the weird experiences I've had this week: A drunk (buracho) guy called us over to talk to him and my companion didn't understand a word he said and he kept telling us to look up scriptures for him, we finally just said we had to go and then walked off. Next experience: We were teaching one of our investigators, Elizabeth, and she started breastfeeding her kid (not baby). She just whipped out her left breast and the kid started going to town. When I thought he was done she adjusted her shirt whipped it back out so her son could have seconds. It was one of those times when you just keep trying to find a way to make eye contact and act like everything is normal.  One last experience: We have an investigator with a son named Juan. Juan is getting into trouble and being a devil for his mom. I noticed that when we were teaching him, he was on YouTube the whole time. So I gave him two songs to listen to: David Archuleta-Glorious,and Pentatonix-Little Drummer Boy. Oh and I told him to watch the Mormon Messages. I was trying not to laugh when we left because, I thought it was super funny that I had given him some spiritual songs that were better than his Techno songs, and they were inviting to the spirit, and he has no idea what the songs are saying because they're in English. 

When we are teaching lessons I try to follow what is being taught so that I can bear my testimony on it when my companion looks over at me. That's about all I can do right now in Spanish. However, I do feel the spirit when I bear my testimony and I think it is because when I am finally able to contribute, my companion and I are working as a team and the Spirit testifies stronger than when it's just my companion alone. I am working hard on my Spanish and hope to able to contribute a lot more to the lessons very soon.

Being here has made me so thankful for everything that I have been given. The people here are so loving and I love them just as much. I thank all of you that have been praying for me and my safety.  I've had some odd experiences but have been safe none the less. I invite all of you to write down the things that God has blessed you with in your life and give Him thanks. I love you all!! 

Love,

 Elder Berry

 

 From our front porch

 

Made it to Mexico!

 

Hola,

 

I didn't get to write last night because we were stuck in the most horrible traffic I have ever seen. We got picked up from the airport at 5:30 and didn't get to the presidents home until about 9:00-9:30ish. They drive insane here. I didn't think we were going to  die but I worried a lot that our brakes were going to give out. On our adventure to the president's house I saw a dead dog on the highway, one car accident, and a lot of cutting off and road rage. My pday is Monday and I only get to send a quick email to let you know I got here. I have to go now but I want you all to know that I love you and send a picture of all of us that traveled and made it to the presidents house. The president's assistants are the elders on the very left and very right.

 

Love,

Elder Berry

 

 

Last week in the MTC

Hola,

So to start off I should tell you that I am now the new zone leader... for the last week I am here! The first district (District A) left yesterday and their district had the zone leaders. We would not have needed to assign new zone leaders if we didn't have 19 new missionaries coming to our zone tomorrow! The old zone leaders passed on the traditional 'zone ball' to me and Elder Aguirre (he is the other zone leader). The zone ball is only for zone leaders to play with and me and Elder Aguirre have some pretty intense wall ball games with it while we wait for our district to show up before classes. 

We are expecting to have a general authority come in to give a devotional tonight or this Sunday. We think this because at our last devotional, they gave us special instructions for when members of the 12 come to talk. Oh and Elder Nelson's wife talked to us this last Sunday. I enjoy listening to all the people they bring in to talk to us but I really kind of hate listening to people with wet mouths talk. The noise that their lips and spit make on their teeth every time they move their mouth  bugs the crap out of me. Despite this constant annoyance, Sister Nelson gave a great talk. 

Halloween was alright. We put everyone's name tags into Elder Jardon's pants (because they were the closest thing we had to a bag) and pulled out a name tag. The other Elder's name we got, is who we were for Halloween. I had to prove my identity when I picked up my Halloween package because I was wearing Elder Macinnes's name tag and the package was for an Elder Berry hahaha I got it and there were no more problems. 

We like our new rooms alright and I'll attach some pictures at the end of this email. We all really love being on the same floor as the Poly's. There is one Polynesian Elder who can sing really good and today he was singing Opera (but he usually sings just about anything). We all share two giant bathrooms per floor.  We gathered around his shower and waited for him to come out so we could applaud him because he didn't know we were outside his shower listening. He also plays the ukulele at night before bed. 

Elder Jardon and Elder Macinnes (our two Canadians) had to fly to Vegas yesterday to get their visa's at the Mexican Consulate there. I'm not sure why they had to fly all the way to Vegas for it, when there is one in Salt Lake. I was a little jealous because I would of been able to fly home for a day and then come back to the MTC :D. They loved seeing the Casinos but never went down Vegas Blvd. I think they were on the I-15. They showed me pictures they took and I told them what the Casino/Hotel was and told them if it was a dump or not. Elder Jardon ate some tacos from some restaurant down by the consulate and isn't feeling good today... he said he's never going back to Vegas. 

I am so excited to go to Mexico! I leave Monday at 3:30a.m. to head to the airport. It's going to be a long day but I am ready!!!!

Yo no espero!! Les amo!! 

-Elder Berry

Marco

Hola,

This week I have had an amazing experience with our TRC Investigator, Marco. Most of our investigators here are members but we do have some nonmembers. Every one of them is paid to play a role of their choice. Such as playing the role of themselves before they were converted or whatever they choose. 

I don't know how old Marco is but I love to just see him and be around him. He has Polio and walks around on crutches but he is always smiling. When ever I come up to Marco, I can just feel his Spirit. I can literally feel Marco. I feel all the love he has in his heart and all the happiness that radiates from his body. He told me he writes poetry about life challenges but they're not about his life's challenges. He writes about challenges in general so that his readers can relate. Next week we are hoping he brings in some of his poetry! His investigator story is that he is from Peru (which is very likely) and his sister gave him a Book of Mormon (Libro de Mormon) and invited missionaries over to hear more. We have only taught him about 2 lessons before our lesson yesterday... which has been the best lesson yet. 

Our lesson yesterday was about how to recognize the promptings and feelings of the Holy Ghost. This was our lesson because the day before he had a question about how he will know the feeling of the Spirit. We started by sharing a few scriptures: 3 Nephi 11:3, and D&C 8:2. I used only a part of 3 Nephi so that I could explain how the Spirit talks to us. After I shared the scriptures and we explained them so he could understand, we shared some our first and most impressionable experiences feeling the Spirit and recognizing it as the Spirit. 

I started by telling him of how I felt the Spirit comfort me and testify of our Heavenly Fathers love, at my friend Kirklyn's memorial service. Then I told him about how I felt it while singing a hymn in sacrament meeting with all the priests and laurels in our ward. As I explained my feelings and thoughts of these events, and after my companion shared his experiences, we could feel the super strong presence of the Holy Ghost. I then asked Marco how he felt. He said he felt calm, peaceful, happy, and that he didn't want it to end. I then told him that he is feeling the Holy Ghost. And as I started to say "I also hope you can feel the love of your Heavenly Father", the spirit grew even stronger and I started to cry tears of happiness and joy because I could feel Heavenly Father's love. I also had the impression that the words coming out of my mouth were intended for me as well. 

After our lesson we took pictures with Marco and he got our email addresses because he didn't know if he'd see us again, he stops working here at the end of this month. He faithfully writes to about 70 missionaries a week right now!! This man is definitely going to Heaven!! We left by giving him hugs and I told him I love him because I truly do. 

But today I was so excited because we saw him as soon as we walked into the temple!!  

This experience made my week amazing and I hope my lessons in the future will be like this amazing Spiritual experience. 

Love,

Elder Berry

Marco. Please excuse my smile, I don't think I realized the picture was being taken. 

 

Idk what this is but me and Elder Jardon drew it and we love it.
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Elder Aguirre, Elder Jardon, Me, and Elder Macinnes. 

Elder Jardon is a total hipster from Canada, it's super funny. And my companion (Macinnes) is also from Canada.
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