12 Days of Christmas Missionary Style Dec. 8th 2014

On the first day of Christmas my mission gave to me.....a new companion from the MTC.

On the second day of Christmas my mission gave to me...two liahonas.

On the third day of Christmas my mission gave to me....Three used ties.

On the fourth day of Christmas my mission gave to me...four packages.

On the fifth day of Christmas my mission gave to me...Five CTR rings!!!!!!!!!

On the sixth day of Christmas my mission gave to me....Six hour conferences!!!!!!

On the seventh day of Christmas my mission gave to me....Seven days of work!

On the eighth day of Christmas my Mission gave to me....Eight hours of sleep!! :/ 

On the ninth day of Christmas my mission gave to me.....nine Catholics yelling!!!

On the tenth day of Christmas my mission gave to me....ten crappy carolers!!!

On the eleventh day of Christmas my mission gave to me...eleven Books of Mormon.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my mission gave to me.....twelve written letters!!!!

Ok, well, now that that's over, lets get down to business!!! (<-----Anyone? It's pretty easy!!) This week has been a crazy emotional, spiritual, and mental roller coaster!!! It all started Monday.

Monday, I had been enjoying a normal P-day when I got a call from our Zone leaders. They wanted me to bring them something and we would meeting at the Chapel. Well, President Cordova was there and was talking to them and to another Elder in my district. As I got closer I could see that everyone was silent, and that this other Elder had been crying. I fpund out that this Elder had a family member pass away only hours before. The rest of the night I was thinking of what I could do to help this Elder. Well, Tuesday comes and I give my district class. After my class I go and sit by him to see if he was ok and if he needed anything. He got a Little teary eyed and I just put my arm around him to let him know I was there for whatever he needed. Then we go and eat and after lunch I receive a call from this Elders companion. Side note: his companion is from Utah and has only been out for about 4 months and knows Little to nothing in spanish. So I grab a taxi and head over to their house. I send my companion and his companion to go work in my área.  The Zone leaders were in Veracruz on Tuesday so i wasn't able to make contact with them.  I have never prayed more fervently as to know what I should do and say to help this Elder. I got the strong impression to just listen, and when appropriate, talk. So that's what I did. We didn't go out and work, we just talked. Later that night the Zone Leaders called and asked why we didn't go out and work. I told them that he couldn't go and work in this situation. He found out that a member of his family had died just the day before on Monday in the evening. He didn't have enough time to capture everything and felt like it may be best if we didn't go out that day.  I did what I did because He just needed someone to be there for him and dragging him out to work under those circumstances would have been rough. He just needed a little time.  Also, a members father passed away Tuesday evening. So that was Monday and Tuesday and it was emotionally draining.

Wednesday was a normal day. Just checking up on this Elder every now and then but he has been fine and has been working harder and with a new power and ability that very few Elders have. We also went to the funeral service of the brother who died Tuesday evening.

Thursday we had Zone conference. It was suppose to be our Christmas conference. Want to know what we got for Christmas? The FLU SHOT!!!!!!!!!! So Thursday wasn't too great of a day either.

Friday, again, a normal day. Preparing for our baptism Saturday.

Saturday on the other hand was full of surprises!!! We got a call at about 9:30 AM from the Stake Presidents son asking us if we were going to baptize and we told him yea. Then he asks us if we would like another Baptism. Again the answer was the same, yes! What had happened was that there was a girl who is 17 years old who had been attending church with the Stake President and his family for over a year but couldn't get baptized because her parents wouldn't give her permission. Finally the parents gave her the Green light to be baptized. Well the reason why she wanted to be baptized Saturday was so that she could be confirmed Sunday and go to the temple with the Ward this coming Saturday. So to finish the week we had two baptisms and we could go and watch the Christmas Devotional Sundayevening!

As you can see my week has been CRAZY!!!! and now with the news that BSU is going to the Fiesta bowl again makes this week even better!!! By far the craziest week I have had in my 18 months here in Mexico!!! Thanks for everything and I hope you all have a great week! Love you all and the Church is true!!!!

Elder Dial

Humble Thanksgiving 2014

So esta semana marks the start of the world wide iniciative "He is the Gift" If you haven't heard or seen the video, look it up. On the 7th it will be the only advertisment on Youtube. Or you could look it up at Christmas.mormon.org. Its a great video and I highly encourage you all to watch it and to share it! The best gift anyone can give this year is the gift of Christ!!!

This week we are planning of baptising Alexis's brother. We are going to baptise him saturday so that sunday he can be confirmed and then on the 13th they both can go to the Temple and do baptisms for the dead. Actually we are having all our converts go to the temple on the 13th so I'm excied!!

I'm glad to hear everyone had a great Thanksgiving. My Thanksgiving was very different but one that I wont forget. Instead of Mashed potatoes, turkey, and stuffing, I ate a humble meal of chicken with rice. It was a very humbling experience for me. I had the opportunity to reflect on why we celebrate Thanksgiving and to be truely thankful for all the Many blessings we have in the USA. 

Theres a bunch of uproars here in Mexico to get rid of their President, Peña Nieto. I'm sure you all have heared that the government sent people to kidnap and kill 43 students and there have been a bunch of protests and crazy stuff going on!! 

I hope everyone has a great Christmas. I Love you all and may we all share the true gift, which is Christ. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever should believe on him shall not perish but have eternal life"

Elder Dial

FIRE in the Church! Nov.24th 2014

First off, I want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!! I am indeed very thankful for each and everyone of you and all you have done for me! Thank you!!

Secondly, I'm sure you are all very worried about the title of this email, "fire in the Church" Well, rest assured, my father has trained me very well! As they all say, Like father, like son!! Only this son got the better looks and height!! ;) Hahahahaha Anyways, There was a combined mutual activity that we were invited to. We brought a few investigators also. They were making Corn dogs. Well, the weeks prior to the activity, the Bishop decided to change the flooring. So they changed the tile flooring and removed the stove in the kitchen. When the Young Mens' Presidente goes to turn on the stove, a flame shoots out the back of the stove and everyone clears the room! It was shocking because they cleared the room so fast! The good news is, is that it was only a gas fire so all we had to do was shut off the gas. But to my shock, there wasn't even a fire extinguisher in the kitchen!!! In a country were all your firefighters are volunteers and the nearest statino is about 20 minutes away, there should be a fire extinguisher in the room most plausible for a fire to break out!!! Needless to say, We put the fire out and the only damage done was a black mark on the wall where the flame had been. 

Ok, well, now that the fire is out, "let's get down to business!" (name that Movie!) So after A's baptism, we visited with his family. They all loved it and now his two brothers are making the preparations to be baptized the 7th of December!!! Well, Ar for the 7th and An for the 14th. Oh and his mom also for the 14th. They are such a great family and I hope to be able to baptize them all before I leave the area. Also, A had his interview with the Bishop to see if he will receive the Aaronic Priesthood Sunday!! What a treat it would be to see him Baptize his own family!!! There is no greater blessing than the Priesthood!!! The priesthood has blessed my life many times and now I've been able to use the priesthood power to bless the life of a young man who will in turn use the priesthood power to bless his life, his family´s life, and the lives of many others!! 

As I was studying this week, I came across a quote that I really like by President Hinckley. He said, "Theology may be argued over, but personal testimony, coupled with performance, cannot be refuted!" I love this quote because it reminds me of what it says in James; that faith without works is dead in and of itself. I pray that more than anything I have been able to show my testimony through my actions. Another person once said, You can tell a man´s true religion by the way he lives his life. This is my point, more than anything, we need to LIVE the Gospel!! When we live the Gospel, our lives change, the lives of those around us change! When we live the Gospel, we find purpose to our lives, we come to understand the love God has for each and every one of us, and we come to understand the atonement of Christ a little better! I pray that each and every one of us and strive to be a little better in living the Gospel. If you don't know what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is or what it entails, ask the missionaries!! They will be more than happy to help you! I love this Gospel with all that I have because all that I have has been a blessing sent from God for living the Gospel!! I know this church to be true! En el nombre de Jesucristo, amen.

Elder Dial

A long awaited baptism!! Nov.17th 2014

This week has been a pretty good week. We were able to baptize A and his family came to the baptism so we will be working with them extra hard to get them to that point also. 

We also had a miracle happen this week. It was Saturday and we were contacting and a lady stops us and asks if we are the Mormon missionaries. I reply with a cheerful "yes we are!" She then proceeds to explain that she had been attending church in Nogales and was suppose to be baptized October 20th, but she moved into our area and didn't know where or what time church started. We told her the time and she told us she would be there. Well, Sunday came and she didn't show up. After church and everything else that I needed to get done, my companion and I started to search for her house. She didn't know her address fully so we show up at the two streets that she told us and began knocking doors. We tried calling her and everything. She answered once and told us that she went to church in nogales, which is an hour away. We tried to get her to tell us her house number but the call got dropped after one minute!! So we will keep trying to call her and set up another appointment.

Right now our tanks are empty. A was our last person we had lined up for baptism. We have hit our slump for now but we will get out of it soon. Just need to keep working harder and harder everyday!!! and I need to to get my companion excited! 

Oh, here is something that you'll like Aunt Samantha! We saved a dog this week! It was in the street and was about being bulled by all the other dogs! So we picked it up and took it home. We bathed it and gave it some food and the next day we found her a really great home!! Its a beautiful dog. I don't know what kind of dog it was but a beautiful color.  It was only for one night and it was for a good cause! And It's my obligation to Duke. Anyways, that's all that happened this week. 

Oh and something that happened a few weeks ago but I kept forgetting to tell you is that my  retainer that I have on my bottom teeth, broke! But not all, only a part. Only on one tooth. I was like "What? How could this happen?" I was picking my teeth with a tooth pick and it broke! But I guess I'll just have to wait until I get home because I'm definitely not going to a dentist here because I'm sure, instead of fixing it, they'll end up pulling the tooth and give me a fake silver one. Silver, not even gold!!! Hahahahahaha But it's not bugging me anymore so I'll be fine! 

Also attached is a photo of many Books of Mormon in other languages!! I'm trying to pick up Italian. We will see how it goes!!

Love you all and have a great week!!!

Elder Dial

I love this family! Nov.10th 2014

Well, first off I want to wish a happy let birthday to Grandma Freeman, and Danese Lothspeich! and a happy birthday to Grandpa Dial also!!!

This past week has been pretty great! Mainly the weekend but the rest of the week was pretty good. Normal, but good. 

Saturday I had the opportunity to attend the baptism of one of my investigators in my last area! (That's the great thing about being in the same zone and having the Zone leaders in your district). It was a really special moment because I got to baptize her grandson a few months ago. While there I got to see the J family!! My favorite family here in Mexico!!!!! They are preparing to go to the temple this April!!! It will be a wonderful experience for them!!! And I also got to see some amazing friends!!! It will be hard to leave this zone and probably even harder to leave the country!! 

Sunday was also pretty great! We had V and her husband attend church for the second time!! They and their kids LOVED it!!!! They don't have a baptismal date because V needs to get divorced and then needs to marry the father of her kids! UNION LIBRES make me crazy!! I will be praying and fasting very hard for them so they can be baptized while I'm here!!! They are a really special family and I've been blessed to see them grow and see their lives change and be a part of this spiritual growth!!! This is the couple that was on the verge of separating!! And now they are working on getting married so they can go to the temple and be sealed for time and all eternity!!!! Don't believe that the Gospel can change your life? Try it!!! like it says in the Bible, "try [the Lord] and see if [he] will no open the windows of Heaven and pour you out a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it."

A is still doing very well! It's been hard to encounter him lately but he has his interview set up for today and if everything goes well he'll be in the water Sunday!!! 

Also the district is doing a lot better!! This week we will be breaking the routine of me giving a class every Tuesday and we will have a zone class Wednesday. So that's about all the exciting things that have happened this past week. Still trying to find new people to teach and its very difficult but this week we are going to try and "encourage" the members a little hard, to leave and do visits with us. This work is a lot easier when EVERYONE is involved and not just the full time missionaries!!!! Love you all and have a great week! The Gospel is true and changes the lives of ALL those who live its teachings!!!! 

Elder Dial

My Mission Family

A picture of my "Mission family" My two sons on the outside and my grandson in the middle behind me. From left to right it's.

Back: Elder Gamboa (Left) Elder Mills (middle) and Elder Pizarro (Right).

Sorry Mom but I kinda don't want to return home. Nov. 3rd 2014

Pues esta semana fue muy buena!! Tuvimos conferencia de Estaca entonces tuvimos viajar una hora para llegar a tiempo! Pero traemos investigadores!!!

Ok there's your weekly Spanish update! Hahaha The investigators that we brought to church were a couple that we had been working with for some time. They were on the verge of separating when we knocked on their door! We started teaching V (the wife) because her husband was working but we started teaching her and she was in tears when we started talking about how the Gospel of Christ can solve all our problems! She said she wanted her husband to listen and so we set up an appointment and started teaching the two of them. It has been great to watch them change!! It has been a HUGE testimony builder for me!! To know that the Gosple of Jesus Christ changes lives is a hope for all men!!! We haven't been able to put a baptismal date yet becuase they have a few things thay have to do in the catholic church. A friend of theirs is baptizing their baby  and asked them to be the "God-Parents." 

Also A came to church again. He is really trying to stop drinking coffee. He's been going strong for a week now! Only 2 more weeks left and on the 16th he is in the water!! :) 

The district is doing better. There are a few problems but we are in the proccess of resolving them. I'm more worried than ever because President set a goal that every companionship baptises this month! Well, 2 companionship's in the district don't have ANYONE lined up. They don't have any people progressing and I'm stressed out of my mind trying to figure out what is it that they need and how I can help them. But I will say they are getting better. We will see how the transfers turn out because next week are transfers. I'll probably be here another 6 weeks and then right before Christmas I'll go to my last area where I will probably be for the rest of my mission. Wierd to think that I'm almost 3/4 of the way done! I LOVE it here!!! Sorry mom but I kinda don't want to return home! Anyways, that has been my week! The church is true. I know it, I love it, and I'll never deny it!!!! 

Elder Dial