Well I Guess This Is Growing Up

so we had a ton of chicken that we tried to cook.. failed horribly so we decided to knock doors in our apartments to find someone to cook it for us and we did! this lady upstairs cooked our chicken and it was the best..so my compa and i are trying to eat healthier.. and so we tried this crazy thing where you dont eat bread and noodles and stuff like that.. and wow .. yea i lost 10lbs in a week.. scary right..so now im just pounding on meats, fruits and vegetables 24/7 im eating all the time its so fun! we were contacting last night about 5 so the sun was going down.. and we decided to hit up this trailer park near by. so we are riding through and there are cats and dogs in cages everywhere.. well as we were riding we see these 2 pitbulls, just start booking it towards us..and i notice a little too late that there are no leashes on them.. wow.. que awesome so we start biking as fast as we can but they catch up.. then theres another one and they are surrounding me cause im in front.. i start kicking them as hard as i can, they are just going crazy for my legs and bike.. i kept hitting them in the face with my loafers and the side of the head and nothing. it is doing nothing to them im like wow this might be the day i get bit and kill a dog. i just kept going as fast as i can but its not fast enough and kept kicking ahh just freaking out and then finally they stop and go back... i keep going and look back and my compa is gone.. im like wow.. great.. he's getting eaten alive probably.. haha jk i see him at the other end of the trial far from the dogs, i yell for him to come over and he said no.. but then i yelled again to go as fast as he can.. and so he goes as fast as he can haha it was hilarious. haha

we scuba dived with our mission president into some deep doctrine. Our service to God is everything. I came out of there with a whole new everything in mind. Abraham 3:25 is just wow.. so good. you know once you know whats right, its important to always do it. its like a kid knowing that his parents dont want him outside with shoes.. well the first time he did they got after him and said hey dude.. you gotta have shoes... he does it again.. and they are like yoooo dude.. you gotta have shoes or no desert after dinner. im not gonna tell you again.. and so know the kid knows that there is a reward for wearing his shoes outside and will obey.. but say he's a good kid and obedient and always wears his shoes.. and always gets desert after dinner..and then comes a time he decides to just be lazy , rebellious, ignorant and just not give a crap..and doesnt wear his shows.. his parents say alright man.. you know the consequence.. no desert after dinner.. and he says alright.. so dinner comes and no desert. the next day.. he does it again.. he knows whats right and what to do.. but doesnt.. so again the parents say alright man again no desert.. dinner comes around and all his siblings get a super delicious cinnamon roll.. and he just sits there and cries cause he isnt allowed to have it. and the parents say well you know the rules and the consequences and rewards. the next day. same thing he doesnt wear his shoes.. he's just giving up on even trying at all and everyday after dinner he cries.. and cries.. those around him get it but for some reason he is choosing to not obey.. we may not always know our reward.. but we know whats right. we all have our agency. a few nights ago i got to crush a meth pipe. I met a man named Jimmy that had a stroke and is now in a wheel chair said he was a pretty wicked man before the stroke and was into a lot of bad stuff. we are going to start teaching him. theres another thing that was said to me that really made me put things into perspective.. soo say you have a missionary.. alright so we get a descent amount of money on our cards each month. well say the missionary has been using his card all month and its near the end and he usually doesnt have a lot near the end but he decides to go to a nice restaurant. says to himself that he'll just get something small and in his budget. well he is sitting there looking at the menu and sees all these great things.. oh man.. a steak, corn bread, mmm some jalapeno poppers, and the waiter comes by and he tells them that he wants the 24 oz steak with mashed potatoes and corn bread, a side of gumbo and a huge pitcher of Big Red, also every desert they have and a shake.. and man does this missionary enjoy the food. he has the best time. well while he is enjoying everything... the waiter comes back.. with the bill... the missionary sees it and.. honestly.. has no money for it.. that missionary had his agency to get what he wanted. some times i feel like a pitbull explaining things. but one of these days you could be receiving your bill. see all things as a learning opportunity and really just make things right with the Lord. the mission is a blast!!

Skin head trying to mow at night..

an Oldie with the loafers

Christmas mop

Las Abejas Del Norte

Rainy days

Ate at this place called Shorties

Sunday morning surprise!

The Kids Aren't Alright

where to begin..
had an exchange in Sinton.
got crazy bashed by this man at walmart with his friend. the things they said were just so awful and ive never heard or seen anything like it. i know is this church is true and everything i represent. even Jesus Christ himself. we've been going hard on genealogy. its been a blast i want to do it all day.
Everything ive been hearing or seeing lately is all about fortifying families and just how to make them spiritually strong. family council is very important, idk my eyes are opening to a lot of things since ive been out here. like i actually understand what a blessing is now. crazy right. children are the future and its important to teach them early on the principals in the church, like tithing. using the scriptures to teach. pray for things that are in Gods will, dont be afraid to be scolded. remember the lord chastens those he loves. This life can be hard but we know who is going to win this battle in the end and we know where we can go after this life? so whats it going to be? sin, laziness and sadness or exaltation? with effort the outcome can be far greater than we can imagine. we always meet people that are sad and lie about it and say they are good. they are just pushing through mud thats up to their neck. they say "well i dont want to burden anyone, i know what i need to do. read, pray and go to church" wow you say it so easily but yet its so hard for you to do. we are to help one another and most of all the Lord is there too. (mosiah 24:13-15) having an eternal perspective has helped me greatly on my mission so far. I KNOW it will change your life. if you just remember there is something far more greater and wonderful that we are working towards. humble yourself before the Lord. the gospel has forever change my life and continues to change it. my heart is full and im hungry for more as the days go on. "it beginneth to be delicious to me" Alma 32:28 idk my world changes a little more each day. we went to the aquarium yesterday in corpus and that was awesome!! so sick!! alsooo last night we came across the sisters about 3 blocks from the house on our way home and they were on bikes and we were walking and we decided to race them! well yesterday marked the first for something in my life, we were just a fence away from home and my compa run up and hopped over, and i was right behind him but as i put my legs over, my pants ripped..:| but we won! so thats all that matters haha. theres been a quote that has been helping me a lot.
"do or do not, there is no try." - Yoda
idk man all i know is true peace is possible, dont lose faith and just have fun. I probably sound crazy but hey thats okay i guess. also brother muhammad is getting sealed next saturday!!:) there was this cool story shared with me and i want to share it with you guys.

The alarm bell rings at 6:30, I stumble to my feet

I grab my companions bedding and pull off his sheets

A groan fills the room, is it already time to arise? It seems like just a second ago, I was able to shut my eyes The morning activities follow- study, prayer and such When it’s time to leave the apartment, you feel you haven’t accomplished much

“We have a super day planned,”My comp. says with a grin lowly utter a faithless breath,“Yeah, if anyone lets us in.”

With the word of God and my faithful Schwinn, we ride off in the street prepared to Face another day of humidity and heatIt’s 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through My champion and I are riding home not accomplishing what we thought to do

We ride up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate “air Box ”We go up to our apartment, the day is now completeThe only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet

It’s past 10:30 p.m. My companion is fast asleep,Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weepIn the midst of sadness, I kneel down to pray I need to talk to father, but I’m not sure what to say

“Oh, Father” I begin, “What happened to us today? I thought we’d teach somebody, but everyone was away My hands, my aching hands- worn, hurt and beat;If our area was any smaller, we’d have knocked every street”

“Why on missions are the days so much alike?The only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike Will you send some cooler weather? The heat is killing me I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes, it’s very hard to see”

“Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn’t your protection enough? People always laugh at me, and call me stupid stuff Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack I want to give them Books of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back”

“And what about my family: They don’t have much to say I’m sick of not hearing from home day after day after dayOh Father, Why am I here am I just wasting time? Sometimes I just want to go home, I’m sorry but that’s on my mind”

“My companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me?”The way he rides his bicycle, I don’t think he can see Now you have it, I can’t go on, I don’t know what to do That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I have for you”

My prayer now finished, I stand up, then jump right into bed I need my rest for tomorrow, we have another long day ahead Sleep start to overtake me, I seem to drift away Then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day

I’m standing alone on the hill. The view is very niceA man walks towards me and says, “My name is Jesus Christ”Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet“Arise,” He states, “Follow me to the shade. You and I need to speak”

My attention’s towards my Savior, total and completeHe says, “Your mission is similar of what happened to meI understand how you feel, I know what you’re going throughIn fact, it would be fair to say I’ve felt the same as you”

“I even know how you felt when no one listened to youAt times I felt not quite sure what else I could doI know you don’t like to ride a bicycle, for you a car would be sweetJust remember the donkey I rode wasn’t equipped with 21 speeds”

“I understand you don’t like sweating, in fact it’s something you hateI remember when I sweat blood from ev’ry pore, oh the agony was great!I see you don’t like your companion- you’d rather have someone else-I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth”

“It’s hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of youI remember when they put thorns on my head and called me King of the JewsSo you feel burdened down by the weight of your packI recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back”

“Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all dayI guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ached in a similar wayIt’s hard not to hear from home when your family’s not there to seeI lost communication on the cross and cried, “Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?”

“We have a lot in common, but there’s a difference between us you seeI endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me”He embraced me with His arms and His light filled me with His loveWith tears in my eyes I watched as He went back to the Father above

I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my headI listened and heard the alarm, then realized I was in my bed My companion let out a groan, “6:30 already, no way!”I sat up and said, “Come on, I’ll even carry your scriptures today!”

No matter what we go through,When we feel we can’t take moreJust stop and think of Jesus Christ,He has been there before

i love you guys, thanks for all the encouragement and support. i honestly cant believe that im on a mission. its a blessing to be here.

the house we are working on.

so much service!!

so grateful for this baby, the sisters take us everywhere

this is what happens when the cold front comes through, all the plants die

found these broken babies while walking

in the gutter once again

me after a council, just chillen

brother Webb and I

under the corpus bridge

dolphins! there was a bald man in front of my and i got his head in most of the pictures:/

yay more dolphins!! it was a dollar to get into the aquarium

beautiful! theres the whole thing for you guys.

corpus baby!!

homies

just enjoying the mission

the lexington

it was bumpin all day

que cool right?!? 

stanky legg 

get me outa here!! 

 ehh..

Sound of the 7th Trump

pretty crazy week, saw Finding Dory last monday.. that was pretty sad at first but hilarious. it got to about 22 here and stayed in the 30's orale!! it should never get that cold here por lo menos like 70 or something. but its warming up. many great miracles have gone on this week. let me tell you of one from a couple weeks ago i forgot to share. so we got a call from an hmna, she said she was in the hospital and needed a blessing so we went over in the morning and this hmna is always in the hospital and sick.. anyway we go to the hospital and knock on the door and walk in. she is laying there coughing and just not feeling good. we talk to her for 10 minutes then we give her the blessing. all is well and we are about to head out.. thats when she says.. "elders did you guys put on a gown and gloves before you came in the room?" i look at messi like.. what.... we tell her what gown and gloves.. she says yeah there should be some on the door, youre not supposed to come in until you put them on...im contagious my compa and i look at eachother like great!! haha perfect hahah yeah we look on the door and there they are.. like most hospital doors. and hey a week later we are still alive!:) we got to do lots of service this week. the coolest thing ever we got to help knock down a trailer. im sorry i guys i dont have much to say all i can say is that im reading so much! i read and read and read,you wouldnt believe it but i love reading!!!! my compa and i love eating food. i went to a meeting in mcallen and saw elder Barnett, he's all grown up and now a district leader in brownsville its about 4 hours from beeville. wow guys im really sorry i dont have much to say. all i really want to share with you guys is now is the time to prepare. dont give up and plan with the spirit.

Chilis

stuffed

trailer trash

somebody got their eye poked out

in tha ghetto nothin but tha ghetto

No News is Good News 1-2-17

so Messinger and I are staying another here in Beeville. it was kind of a shocker. we saw star wars last p day it was pretty sad when han solo died.. i was hoping for the best:/ hahah, pretty sick. we will be watching finding dory today. we are really trying to get this ward going and just build our friendship with everyone. cant believe its 2017. all i really want to say is communication is everything. be open about whats bothering you, just be honest, humble and open. we all have a Goliath in our life. i was reading this book by thomas s monson and it talked about how we all have a Goliath in our life we are david and he chose 5 stones. Courage, Effort, Humility, Prayer, and Love of Duty. times are hard. be strong and of good courage. the lord is on our side and He loves us. my compa and i decided we really needed to serve the members more. so we have little plans for each of them in our area. we set out to do the first one. there is a menos activo taht has been out of town for a while and we thought, what a great surprise itd be to come home to a nicely cut lawn. we thought we can probably just ask a neighbor for their lawn mower and cut it... sounds pretty simple right.. welllll there was literally no one that had a working lawn mower on the whole street!! we finally found someone and it was already dark, we tried to jumpstart the mower cause the battery was bad and no luck.. so we took a dull push mower from the 70's and it was impossible!! we just wanted to serve this guy come on! we walk a lot cause my compas bike is out of commission. it really helps us keep good unity. its pretty weird that its 2017.. church was good we were sitting with our bishop talking to him after sacrament and an old investigator showed up randomly!! yay!! it was awesome. also i thought itd be a pretty cool idea to try out white strips before church for the first time ever.. i did it and left them in for the amount of time it asks for. and i swear it was a little rough day. my teeth then killed for the whole day. i tried to get a butter knife out of the drawer and all the metal was clanging together and that noise almost killed it ahhhh.. every thing just hurt my teeth, the wind, a car driving by, utensils and plates, i couldnt even wash dishes hahaha and the whole time my comp is just laughing cause i can barely talk cause any bit of air hurt my teeth.. haha it was a great experience haha. things are good. be safe out there guys and choose the right. have fun and just be you.

this chair is a little malito hahah everytime i see it, it just makes me laugh.

giving our investigators son a fade hahah

limo status, this guy stopped us and said he had a limo service so we had to check them out

charlie

el oh el

the best burgers are made here

jump starting the mower 

final resort 

christmas candy stew.. it was pretty toxic 

stuntin is a habbit "butterfly doors" lol

Go Back 12-26-16

we had the christmas conference with the whole mission. it was fun and good to see everyone. we left at 6am to get there on time.. it started at 10am. i got to see Barnett it was good to hear the update on mercedes. there were skits form each zone and a majority of them just grilled President Torres it was hilarious. pres thought it was funny he was recording everything. we did ours with Corpus zone and just did What Are the Odds with the things form the bible or book of mormon like eve eating the fruit, i was lot and told my wife to look back and she lost.. hah the funniest was nephi talking to god admiring the white skinned nephites, then they played what are the odds if god would turn them black... he lost and then all the black/brown people in our zones walked up on stage hahah. something im continuing to learn through out my mission is peace or pride, which do you want? listen with a humble heart. we were told that we are getting ipads in 2017:/ eeek.. and we are watching star wars episode VII today and finding dory next p day. que rad right!! we had a few christmas miracles. ahh so much to right.. my compa's package got to the mission home to late so he wouldnt get it until nxt month.. well a member in Weslaco that we served with brought it up, how awesome. the other one was. we went to go by epi and his fam and we were speaking to eva and then all of a sudden her husband comes outside and yelled at us and told us to leave..and said they had their own religion and it made me pretty bummed cause his wife really wants to come to church cause she knows itll help them... well we had to leave cause the guy was ready to beat us up hah. on the way to our next appointment we saw this older woman walking so we start talking to her but she doesnt want to talk at alllll we ask if we could help her and she says are you god? i said no but we're representitives of Jesus Christ.. she stopped and chuckled then walked into her house.. while that was going on this guy down the street waved us down and asked for a book and told us he just got out of the hospital and wants to change his life and get baptized gave us his info and told us to come over. how awesome! yesterday when we were getting home we had a ton of food from all the places that we were at.. there was this guy walking in our apartment complex, asked him if he wanted a apple pie he said oh yeah any thing would be ncie..so we gave him all of our food. there was sooo much to carry he could barely see infront of him. his arms were full!! and he was so grateful cause his wife and little baby are ging through a hard time. that honeslty made my christmas day. it was fun! the mission is dope, relax..idk what else to say. trust in the lord and he will guide you. dont be prideful,, itll only make things harder.

ugly sweaters

Anderson!!

Chicken Little (Barnett)

An elder impersonating president Maluenda and then later Torres

push up contest

popping balloons

posterity

Chess club

cookie exchange at our apartment complex

trippy clouds

christmas eve as a zone

andale