We got to the Ciber a little late today, and then the email wasn't working for a little over 45 minutes. This email will be a little shorter.
I'm not sure if I told you, but Élder Montalvo only has 2 months left. He has become what we call "fried" or "dead." This week he slept a LOT and was not all that excited about working when he was awake. He still likes teaching lessons, but doesn't like contacting the people we have to in order to get the appointments to teach :P. Because of that, we didn't get nearly as much done this week as we usually do. That being said, we did get one of our investigators to Stake Conference yesterday! :) I really think it's possible for her to get baptized this month. She's really gaining a lot of faith and keeping her promises. I'm excited for her! :) That's really been the highlight of the week. The conference was pretty cool too. The mission president and his wife and the temple president and his wife apparently make a habit of going to all the stake conferences around here. All four of them spake this conference. There were a few themes that I took from the conference. One that was talked about a LOT was the influence of women on their husbands, children, and friends. If I could only express just how true that has been in my life! Because of the example and influence of Mom, the girls, and many, many good friends that were girls (English really needs the word amigas), I am where I am. I am at the point of tears right now writing about them. To all of those women in my life that have changed it for good, THANK YOU! :)
Another major theme that came out was what we can do in families for our children AND to help missionary work. I've found out how essential it is to missionary work to have the members be good examples. I'm not just talking about a few, we need the majority to be good, solid examples. Three things were emphasized for families. Be good examples to your children, teach them the gospel as well as you can, and pray for them. The same is true for missionary work (especially as members help with missionary work). Be good examples for the investigators, teach them if you have the opportunity, and pray for them. We are going to start that in our wards here. We are going to go to every members house and leaving two things. One is a list for them to write the names of less active members and non-members who need the gospel in their lives and pray for them. The second is a challenge that will change every other week. This week it's going to be for them to have family prayer at least once a day. We need to help the members be good examples in this area so we (the bishopric and us) came up with this plan. We will follow up every week with every family. We don't have huge wards, so it's possible, though will be difficult. I think Élder Montalvo will enjoy this more too, as we'll actually be teaching instead of walking the streets contacting (or, as he calls it, walking in circles). It probably won't show immediate results, but it will fix one of the big problems that has been hindering missionary work in this area. I'm really excited to do this :). But I'm excited to do everything...I think Élder Montalvo will be excited as well. Now that's something ;).
I don't really have any other news at the moment. We have zone conference this Wednesday, which will be exciting :). So I will leave you with the lyrics of another song. This song is called "Go Bring Them In". This song became special to me the day President Hinckley died. I found out the news at a seminary fireside and, as I was driving home, this song came on the radio. It was very much the message President Hinckley carried and was one of the things I loved so dearly about him. The heart of the message is found in the last verse and in the chorus.
November 1856
Just west of Devil’s Gate
A place they now call Martin’s Cove
Sacred ground of faith
Some hours ago we somehow crossed
Sweetwater’s sheets of ice
At times it took your breath away
At times it took your life
The sky is growing dark again
There’s little food to eat
The chilling wind cut to the bone
I cannot feel my feet
I know that Zion lay just ahead
As I rest and close my eyes
Will I wake to see the morn
Or maybe Paradise?
Go bring them in from the plains
Go bring them in from the cold
Like a Fire the Spirit's burning,
Bring them in and keep them warm
Go bring them in from the plains
Go bring them in from the cold
Wrap your loving arms around them
Bring His peace to their souls.
Now tonight I dream of Kirtland
Zion’s Camp’s holy test
I dream of Independence
Liberty and Far West
Tonight I dream of Nauvoo
Brother Joseph’s iron will
Tonight I dream of Carthage
And how we miss him still
And tonight I dream of Bethlehem
Nazareth and Galilee
Tonight I dream of miracles
From our Master and our King
Somewhere it starts as whispers
Then turns to shouts so clear
Wake up, wake up, it’s not a dream
The Valley Boys are here!
Go bring them in from the plains
Go bring them in from the cold
Like a Fire the Spirit's burning,
Bring them in and keep them warm
Go bring them in from the plains
Go bring them in from the cold
Wrap your loving arms around them
Bring His peace to their souls.
Now it’s me who walks these steps
Just west of Devil’s Gate
A place we now call Martin’s Cove
Sacred ground of faith
In silence and in reverence
Sweetwater we now cross
And hear the echo of their prayers
Their tears and their loss
The night still needs a light that shines
His truth we need to share
To honor those who came this way
We’ll lift up and we’ll care
On our backs and in our hearts
We’ll carry and proclaim
And heed a prophet’s call once more
Go bring them in from the plains!
Go bring them in from the plains
Go bring them in from the cold
Like a Fire the Spirit's burning,
Bring them in and keep them warm
Go bring them in from the plains
Go bring them in from the cold
Wrap your loving arms around them
Bring His peace to their souls.
I'll leave you one more song that I don't have with me but has also been dear to my heart. The song is called "Safe Harbors." It talks about a call to arms...it's the call I answered. I can't find the lyrics, so I found the video on YouTube. Here's the link http://www.youtube.com/user/steviedmormon#p/u/4/MUYOC0KeFf4
Tell the girls thank you for their letters. Did Noella run her Memorial Day Marathon (or half-marathon)?
DearElder.com I believe is free and if you use the pouch service to my mission, the letter is also free. Make sure you choose the pouch option and it should be free. I left the pouch address at the apartment, for now, just put the regular mail address. Letters usually still get here in pretty good time. I'll try to find it, or if you use facebook and ask Liz Harbuck to give it to you when my letter gets to her house, she can tell you.
The regular mail address (mostly to be used if you send a package) is:
Élder Frederick Curtis Sudbury
Misión México Ciudad de México Sur
Avenida del Taller # 540
Colonia Jardin Balbuena
Delegacion Venustiano Carranza, Mexico D.F. C.P 15900
Mexico
I hope all is well. :) So glad to be in the motherland ;)
-Elder Sudbury
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