Week 32---July 3, 2017---RAIN RAIN GO AWAY, SNACKTIVITY, COMPLEX, PHOTOS

Rain rain go away

On Wednesday, it rained harder than I cried when I found out I was going to miss the opening night of the "Lego Batman Movie."   We were coming back from a meeting with a lot missionaries, and literally the streets were turned into rivers.  Some streets were too sunk to even drive on.  Also the metro was submerged in some parts of the city. It rains crazy here.  Under our taxi we could hear the water constantly splashing against the bottom. 

Snacktivity

We had an activity with all of the other missionaries that live close by.  It was a fun time to be all together and enjoy ourselves for a bit.  We learned how to make flour tortillas, make mud masks, and also took some fun photos.  We finished with a good meal of a torta. 

Complex

The complexity of human interaction boggles my mind.  We seem to work on so many assumptions when interacting with each other.  Only in times of honest, frank discussion do we even begin to see the tip of the iceberg.  If we could learn to love a little easier and communicate better I think that we would come to a much greater understanding of each other. 

Photos

1. Elder Ellsworth and me posing up for the companionship photo.

2. Possibly the most dangerous way to trim a tree I have ever seen. Both have saws shoved in the back of their pants.

3. Me when people ask me for more money.

Week 30-31---June 26, 2017---INTERNET, FUEGO POEM, MICKEY D'SSS

Internet

We have lived the past week (mas o menos) without internet. Today we got it back. Beautiful day.

Fuego Poem

The Man In The Glass  Peter Dale Wimbrow Sr.
	When you get what you want in your struggle for self And the world makes you king for a day Just go to the mirror and look at yourself And see what that man has to say. For it isn’t your father, or mother, or wife Whose judgment upon you must pass The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life Is the one staring back from the glass. He’s the fellow to please – never mind all the rest For he’s with you, clear to the end And you’ve passed your most difficult, dangerous test If the man in the glass is your friend. You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years And get pats on the back as you pass But your final reward will be heartache and tears If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

MickeyD'sss

We found a McDonald's while out and about and I had to go. It was my first McDonalds here, and it was delicious. Such a dream.

1.Elder Ellsworth and I in a posed picture to have at least one commemorative photo of our companionship.

Week 29---June 12, 2017---THE FOOD STRIKES BACK, UNDERSTANDING, AND PHOTOS

THE FOOD STRIKES BACK

This week was blessed with food in abundance. We ate tacos al pastor by the kilo with a family. We also ate a brownie cake. That was a revolutionary creation. Also a family gave us food from their house because they are moving. Elder Ellsworth and I were super pumped about that.

Understanding

The truth will set us free. The quest to find and understand truth will set us free individually and collectively. The most important truths won't be taught in school. It is up to us to search out truth and to live it.

PHOTOS

1. Enjoying the new couch

2. Enjoying the new couch pt 2

Week 28---June 6, 2017---ANTHROPOLOGY MUSEUM, BBQ AND PHOTOS

ANTHROPOLOGY MUSEUM

Today we went to the Anthropology Museum with two other missionaries and a lady that they knew. The museum was a great experience. I learned a ton about all of the different civilizations that founded much of Mexico. I especially love the architecture and art of the Aztecs and some of the other earlier civilizations. 

BBQ

I helped Elder Ellsworth whip up some seriously American BBQ. Hot dogs and hamburgers. To be honest, I just gave him the pan to stack the finished patties. So I didn't do much.

PHOTOS

1. Wartortle that mysteriously showed up, but watches over us in his natural habitat.

2. The guy sitting on the pole played a flute and drum at the same time; his four friends descended gradually down the pole upside down whilst being tied with one regular rope swinging around this pole with their arms spread out. I had and have no idea.

3. Sun stone. 

4. BBQin' hard (in trash bag aprons).

Week 27---May 29, 2017---ELDER ELLSWORTH AND ME

Elder Ellsworth and Me

My companion Elder Ellsworth is a champion. He always shares his food with me. Also he is an easy going guy. We get along well, and since he sometimes even makes my bed I had to give him a personal shoutout. 

Week 26---May 23, 2017---FREEDOM, HAPPINESS, COMMANDMENTS

FREEDOM

One of the biggest things that I have realized more and more is that when you surrender freedom, the more and more you lose happiness. One example is people that are slaves to a substance. As a youth, drinking alcohol was cool or a good experience, but 30 years later, they are on the street with nothing. The alcohol is their master. The alcohol dictates their decisions, their thoughts, their priorities. 

HAPPINESS

Happiness is dictating your own decision, thoughts, and priorities. 

COMMANDMENTS

Commandments are nothing more than rules to life that are designed to maintain your freedom. But don't take my word and try it out. Pick and a commandment that is found in the scriptures and ponder the implications of a life-long commitment to live it. Live it and be free. The truth sets us free. Free to live, free to experience life, free to love. Let freedom ring.  

Week 25---May 16, 2017---SPEAKING WITH THE FAMILY AND FOTOS

May 16, 2017

SPEAKING WITH THE FAMILY

I got to speak with my family on Sunday. Twas a great experience. Being away from family, I'm constantly reminded that family is everything. I love them, they love me (hopefully) and it's awesome.

FOTOS

My companion let me use his camera to put my memory card in, so I wanted to send all these pictures. They are in no particular order.

1. Saving power by ironing my shirts with my latest mixtape.

2. Me in front of a sign.

3. A part of the city behind me.

4. Strawberry Atole. Super good drink that I'm still not sure what are the ingredients. 

5. Senior Photo.

6. Valle de Bravo days, sitting on the mountain with a view of the area behind me.