Elder Alejandro

November 21, 2015

This is a story written by Keith.  We love Elder Alejandro (first name)!

Elder Alejandro is going home this next week.  He is a wonderful young man from Oaxaca, Mexico. He stands about 5’1”, very stout build, and radiates happiness. 

       About 8 months ago he asked for an interview with me, and walked into my office with tears in his eyes.   He explained about his family.  His Dad left them when Elder Alejandro was about 5 years old, leaving his mom to raise 3 little children, himself being the oldest. 

       He was raised pretty much in poverty. His Mom supported the family with a little “in home” business where she made corn tortillas and corn tortas, and sold them on the street.  She and the kids worked together in pretty tough conditions to be able to survive. 

      They were members of the Church, and Elder Alejandro always wanted to serve a mission, so when he reached 18, he accepted a call from the Lord to serve in our mission. 

       He being gone became an extreme hardship on the family.  His Mom heavily relied on his help to keep the family supported. With Elder Alejandro gone, the family slipped further and further into poverty and hopelessness. 

      That day,  8 months ago, Elder Alejandro told me that his mom had told him that she wrote to him, pleading for him to come home, and that she was deserting her family to move herself to Tijuana, Baja California to seek work.  She was just going to leave town, leaving her young teenage children on their own, hoping that Elder Alejandro would leave his mission and come take care of his siblings.   That meeting was on a Friday, and his Mom told him she was leaving on the following Tuesday. 

      Through his tears, he shared his deep desires to stay on a mission and fulfill his commitment to the Lord.  “President”, he said with tears streaming down his face, “I love my family, they need me, but I want to be a missionary!!!  I hugged him as he cried on my shoulder.   What a struggle for a faithful young missionary, coming from hardship, working through the challenges of missionary life, and wanting to finish him mission where he was “called to serve.”

       That day, we prayed together, I gave him a blessing, and we talked about the options.  Going home was one of those options.  He basically had the weekend to decide. 

    I contacted the Stake President who said he would contact his mom.  He did, in fact.  Sometimes the membership and ward support here in Mexico is quite not like it is in the USA.   This Stake president and the Bishop decided to help family. His mom decided to stay.  

       Ward members began to help this poor, struggling family.  Over time, the little family business was doing better, even flourishing. 

         Six weeks ago, we had a seminar for the Latino Elders on how to get jobs, choose colleges, do resumes, and to take advantage of the Church perpetual education program.  Elder Alejandro was among them, and is very excited about his future. 

        End of story, Elder Alejandro is going home to study business, will expand his mom’s family business into a store, and plans to open some kind of a “chain”, at least opening a few more stores. 

       His “goodbye” interview as very touching and tearful, as he explained his appreciation of the Church, the Savior, and for the blessings of the gospel.  He loved his mission, and I know he will not be returning to poverty!!!  

Garbage in Mexico

November 10, 2015

When I first moved to Mexico City, I was disheartened by the amount of garbage and graffiti I saw everywhere.  At times it was hard to see the beauty of the city because your eyes would stop at the gutter or painted wall first.  It has taken me awhile to see another perspective.

People living in Mexico City are very clean.  I seldom see someone in dirty clothes unless it has to do with their line of work.  I think at times the Mexican people might be cleaner than North Americans.

Every day I see hundreds of people sweeping the concrete in front of their homes.  They sweep and then they wash it.  I don’t know how they do it, but they take a bucket of water and with a “special” hand action, throw it across the concrete to clean it.  Most things are cleaned with buckets down here – hoses are not seen too often.  How often have I swept the concrete in front of my North American home? 

Cars and buses are washed frequently – all using buckets.  At most stop lights, there are people – sometimes many people - there washing windows and wiping down dusty cars.  They do this for any amount of pesos you want to give them.

Trash collection is done by a system much different from the states.  A man/woman walks down the street ringing a bell.  It signals that someone will arrive soon with a cart, hand drawn or horse drawn, to collect the garbage.  A residence doesn’t sign up for trash service - you give the trash collector a few pesos for taking your garbage.  It later arrives at big garbage trucks where it is hand sorted for recyclable materials.

My home is covered with almost white tiles.  Every drop of water causes footprints – and yet they don’t last long.  Our housekeeper is here 10 hours a week, split over 2 days.  Every tile throughout the house is cleaned twice a week.  I have yet to walk into a home that is dirty or messy.  They take pride in that.  Note to self: Never put off white tiles in your American home – way too much work!

So why is there garbage catching your eye when you drive or walk around?  It’s an infrastructure problem.  There are not workers paid to clean it up.  There are some around, but they have huge areas to cover.  The Mexican people have simply learned to overlook it and keep their own little bits of heaven clean.

Best Zone Conference ever

November 1, 2015

As I left the meeting with Elder Brent Nielsen last week, a missionary walked up to me and asked who would be the next General Authority to visit us.  After all, we had Elder Christofferson of the 12 apostles last month, and this month we had the Executive Director of the Missionary Department!  I guess this missionary thought this might be an ongoing pleasure!  I told him it would not, but it would have been fun.  I think we have had our share of visitors from Salt Lake for some time to come.

When we heard that Elder Nielson would be visiting us just weeks after Elder Christofferson, Keith and I joked that we were either “really good”, or “really bad.”  We didn’t dare guess which!

Elder Nielson and his sweet wife Marcia stayed with us for 5+ days.  He spent 2 days just visiting our missionaries and giving them instruction.  They all were on spiritual highs as he answered any question asked, and gave great guidance on how to make this mission even better.  A few of his hints that will be started ASAP:

• Less active members are a goldmine.  We are using 18% of our time with them, and they are providing 48% of our baptisms.  We need to use time more wisely.
• Leaders (Zone and Assistants) need to be the hardest working missionaries in the mission.  We never take them out of their area.  Missionaries come to “their laboratory” to see how it is done.  Divisions will be changed – we do it just opposite of this as do most missions.
•  Alma 23:13: “lay down the weapons of your rebellion.”  He taught us that we all have these weapons – the little things that keep us away from completely enjoying the blessings of the gospel.  After this teaching, several missionaries handed over electronic devices that were against mission rules.

The missionaries absorbed his sweet spirit, mild manner, and 4 hours of help.  He visited apartments to see how they are here.  He interviewed some Elders and Sisters.  He encouraged, he loved, he shook every hand, and he motivated.  It was the best Zone Conference ever!

As we put them on the plane on Thursday, we took a deep breath of relief!  We had maneuvered the roadways, got people to places on time, fed the guests, and felt “filled” our selves.  Good times in Mexico City!

Added side note:  Mexico left an impression on Elder Nielson also.  He missed the last stair while at the airport and ended up with a sprained ankle.  He will remember us for a while! (Add him in your prayers!)

Heavenly Company

October 24, 2015

Sister Griselda is from Mexico.  She is training Sister Noraida who recently arrived from Guatemala.  They are an amazing team.

The other day they walked by a man on the street.  They had seen him several times in the past.  The Spirit whispered to return and talk with the man and so they did.

As they talked with this man, he asked if they were sisters.  He thought they might be family.  They explained who they were and why they were working in Mexico.  He then asked: “Who is that man in a white shirt and tie that is usually walking with you?”  It was then that these two missionaries realized that they had Heavenly company assisting them in as they walked the streets.

Dual purpose thermometers....

October 9, 2015

We have prepared new first aid kits to hand to each companionship.  Each kit has a thermometer, medicines for the stomach and pain, band aids, and disinfectant.  Elder Harper has been handing out the kits as we do zone interviews.

Conversation with an Elder as he looked at his kit:

Elder:  Isn’t this just for girls? Should Elders have one of these?  (Pointing at the thermometer)

Harper:  That’s a thermometer.  What do you mean, just for girls?

Elder: Don’t you use this thing to see if you are pregnant?

We once again remind ourselves that we are working with 18-20 year old young men.

In the palm of His hand

October 6, 2015

Leonardo had his first fainting spell when he was in his mid-teens.  It wasn’t often but every once in a while he would faint.  His family took him to the best doctors in Aguas Calientes but the diagnosis was always the same.  Leonardo was a healthy boy and the fainting spells were unexplained.

At age 22, now Elder A. was serving in the Mexico City Southeast mission.  He had been here for 3 weeks when his companion, Elder G. called deeply concerned.  He found Elder A. on the floor, right after a fainting spell.  He was taken to the hospital where the doctors started to rule out things.  All were sure he had a seizure until the test showed nothing.  In a few days he was released, but he went home wearing a 24 hour heart monitor.  As a last resort, the doctors chose to test this.

The results were a little shocking.  During the 24 hour period, Elder A. had not passed out.  Still there were times that his heart would stop beating for 8 seconds.  It was amazing that he was not fainting during those 8 second stretches.  How long did his heart go without beating when he did faint?  It spoke to his youth and strength to keep going even though his heart did not beat for 8 seconds.

The first hospital said he needed a pacemaker.  We send missionaries home if they need a hernia surgery – he would have to go home.  However, his little home area did not have the medical care that we do in Mexico City.  He would stay on his mission.

With excellent cardiologists he underwent months of tests.  22 year old's shouldn’t need pacemakers.  Could medication work for a while?  After tests, and trying new techniques, he continued to faint. He went to the hospital for one more test done under anesthesia.  If he failed the test he would immediately be given a pacemaker.  He failed the test.

Elder G., his companion has been a champion through this.  He would comment that his companion came “batteries not included.”  He would watch him and try and prevent him from being hurt when he fainted.  He argued with doctors and hospitals trying to get the best care.  He truly became his “dad.”

Elder A’s parents have sat on the edge of their seat for months.  His mom has a bag packed in case she needs to jump on a bus and get here.  They agonized as the surgery went longer than expected.  We hope they have now found peace.

Elder A. now sits in our home for a week.  He has to rest.  And then, batteries included, he will go back out to the mission field.  He is so ready and would not think of throwing in the towel.  His physical life has been changed – new batteries every 10 years, no contact sports, and several unpleasant scars.  However, this will not stop him from his appointed duty.  He will be more ready than ever before to walk the streets of Mexico and share the gospel message.  Can anyone doubt the Lord’s hand in this young man’s life?

The week that will not be forgotten

September 27, 2015

Some weeks are hard to describe.  We have just completed one of “those” weeks. 

It was a week with little joy – although when we would find something funny we would “over” laugh because we were “over” tired.  It was a week with many difficult interviews, short nights, and worry about missionaries.

The behavior that we found in a few was termed “out of the normal.”  Because we love each of these missionaries, we had to try and find out how many were “out of the normal.”  We then had to protect and re-direct their efforts.

We are just two.  We often have to rely on a few of our missionaries to do some “other than missionary” work.  Someone has to pay bills, arrange for VISA’s, gather referrals, and order supplies.  These missionaries split their time between both duties.  We have to rely on our Assistants to go with us to teach, make myriads of phone calls, and be examples of righteousness.  They do this along with missionary work.

This week was one that we taxed the strength of these missionaries.  Elders Olson, Orchard, Hixon, and Cuscagua – here is a shout out to you!  We love and appreciate all the time you stood by us this week.  In years to come, this week will always be one of those that we will remember!