First Contact in Mexico

Hey Family.

How is everything? Good i hope. It is really strange here in Mexico. The scariest part of town in Modesto is better then the best part of town here. haha. I love it here though. I love getting on the bus and just separating and contacting. I'm scared to death to do it but it is fun.

My very first contact by myself. Was interesting. I sat in front of them and started asking if they had had contact with missionaries before, they said yes. I asked what they thought of us. I started sharing a message the normal missionary thing. I asked if they had been baptized before. (a general question to ask for concerns of catholic baptisms.) The lady said yes. I was about to ask which church when she continued to say en la iglesia de Jesucristo de los santos de los últimos días. Ya my first contact was a member. I felt dumb haha, but it was funny. My companions laughed at me. They didn't know she was a member in the stake until after I started laughing.

Things are a little more laxed here. I don't love it. Fresno was more strict on things. I hated it in the moment but really miss it. It is strange haha.

I'm not so worried about getting robbed, more so about getting lost. I cant figure out which way is which. I cant find street signs and what looks like a war zone is usually someones house haha. My companions are awesome. I sent a picture the one on the left is Elder Pedreza from Mexico The other on the right is Elder Abbot the one in the middle is Elder Castilleno. He is an office Elder. I'm in the zone with the APs office elders and my companions are zone leaders. I'm excited.

So my first full day here. Yeah i was sick. I wanted to throw up so bad. It is probably a combination of nerves and what not. I still feel a little woozy now but not to bad. Elder Krebs is also sick (he was in Modesto with me) anyway i really don't have much to report on this week. I have only taught two lessons so far. Church was stake conference it was a regional thing where Elder Holland spoke via satellite. He spoke in Spanish!!!! More or less. Just the beginning and his testimony was in Spanish. The rest he had translated. It was really cool. Anyway, I am still safe and sound don't worry about me to much. I love you all so much. Be safe.

Con Amor

Elder Paskett

Across the Border

OK so it is really strange here, haha. My keyboard is in Spanish. I didn't know that even existed, haha. I thought it was all universal. I was wrong. I'm doing really good I am excited to be here. My companions are zone leaders. I don't know who they are yet, but president said that he knows who he is going to put me with. I'll let you know on Monday, haha. Nothing too exciting to report. Just traveled to Mexico, with a bunch of Mexicans. Most of which were shocked we spoke Spanish. haha. I thought it was really funny. Anyway, I'll let you know more about Mexico on Monday. I have only seen the mission home so far. We will be working by 3 today. I love you all lots take care.

Change

Hello family,

This week was interesting. My companion had specialized training in Fresno all week pretty much. He left at 9 in the morning and got back at 6. So guess who I got to work with. Elder Arias and his companion......Elder Levie. Yay. It was interesting I felt like I was back at the MTC. haha. I guess I lost some patience and God was reminding me that I need it. So I worked with them teaching some of the investigators and what not that they have in the area down south of Madera. It isn't an official area but since they have visa waiters they make "extra areas" to work in. The south doesn't really have any promising people. I thought this area I had was rough. Things got better. We made some progress with Dolores and Rolando. They need to get married. She just told us that she is having a baby, and how she wants the gospel for them. Hopefully the missionaries can help.

We went to visit a less active member named Alejandro. We were teaching him and a nonmember named Ray. He came out and told us that he wants to be baptized. Well we told him he had to get married. (he lives with his girlfriend) She doesn't want to get baptized and said she needs time to think about marriage. Ray and Luisa started arguing about how she has had enough time already (3 years) and that he was ready. It was in Spanish so I didn't understand it too much. Eventually I got the courage and calmed them down, and asked if they loved each other. I told them that they need to make the choice together. Of course being a missionary I brought prayer and church into it. They stopped arguing and she said she would pray about it. Well she did. They plan on getting the papers to get married here in the next week or so. It is really exciting. Hopefully she changes her mind about baptism.

OK so Elder Arias went home this week on Friday. He got released early (3 weeks) so that he could make it back in time for school. So guess who is my new companion here. That is right Elder Levie. Holy cow it has been rough. I forgot how complicated he makes things. I have had to learn some serious humility. I never thought I would have to work with him again. Teaching is harder in a trio. His Spanish is rough. (He speaks like he has an Irish accent and says it is how Elder Arias talked (he is from Mexico)) Elder Gomez and I laugh hard when his "Monterrey accent" comes out during a lesson. I'm pretty good at containing it but Elder Gomez cant help it. haha.

Well OK so we had stake correlation with President Boswell (stake president) the zone leaders the bishop and his counsel and President Gonzalez. We were talking how we can retain the members and reactive members in the Madera 3rd ward. It was really good. Really productive, I think. I didn't understand all of it haha, but as we were leaving President Gonzalez came up to me and said he wanted to talk to Elder Levie and I. well he looked at us and said "Are you willing to serve where ever the lord asks. I said yes. I got sad. I kinda lost hope for my visa in December. I kinda thought that we would be reassigned. He said you leave Wednesday for Boise Idaho. Man, I was upset. Really really upset. I never thought that I would go to the Boise Idaho mission. Are you kidding me? haha. He continued to say from Boise you go to the consulate in Idaho, sign your visa and leave for Mexico Friday! I'm so excited. So I have to finish packing( I don't think I have the luggage space anymore after Christmas) and getting ready. I'm so so so so excited.

Anyway I love you lots. I love you all be safe. Especially you Tanner don't hit a pole or a dog, cats are ok.

Love you all

Love Elder Paskett

PS don't write me until i get my address to you. you can email but I'm not sure about letters and what not yet

Transferred

Hey family,

How was the rest of your Christmas weekend. I hope it was as good as mine. It was really cool to see that wedding on Christmas. We didn't think that this couple was going to get baptized this month. They had a chance to go to the temple and realized what they wanted fast. They came home. Got the marriage papers and were married the next day. We had the baptism on Sunday. (yesterday) They got there and were really nervous. I was freakin out too. I don't know why. I guess i was just really excited.

After the baptism we went to their house to eat. We had ham, mashed potatoes, rice and some other stuff I cant really remember. It was the only thing that I had eaten all day so I pigged out. Which was fine because my companion was just as hungry as i was. I was glad, that way i could eat more and not look stupid. haha.

I was really happy to talk to everyone. It felt like a recharge. Sorry i sounded sad or whatever but i just couldn't think of anything to say. My life seems the same here but i guess that it is different for you.

What did everyone get for Christmas. (no i wont get upset. my Christmas was cooler we had a baptism haha) are you eventually going to go skiing. i hope so. everyone seems to like it.

well i don't have much more to say

wait!!! i got transferred. I'm going to madera 3rd ward. my new companion is elder gomez. he was companions with elder valencia. He was jealous when he found out. He liked him a lot. So I'm really excited about that. Elder Valencia also worked in that area. It was his favorite. So it should be good. I feel my visa is coming soon. Maybe i am just getting impatient. It really doesn't matter I'm super excited where ever i go.

i love you all lots. be safe. tanner don't crash. it sucks telling mom when you crash a car. keep working hard and praying.

ps how is everyone doing on the book of mormon. i am in helman chapter 1.

i love you all.

love elder paskett.