January 30, 2016

     Hey guys! I'm glad my letters got to you! So, we've been showering out of buckets again, but willingly this time. We found a water heater that goes in a bucket, so now we have hot water! :) 

     Also, quite a few people have been sending me friend requests to my facebook. When Elder Minarik got home, his facebook didn't work, so if you could log on every once in a while so I don't lose those requests, that would be awesome!

     A phrase that Ruben says in english is "Overline Everyday". He said that he wants to buy us pocket knives and have that engraved on the blade, and on the handle put "Mi Amigo Elder Radmall" and Elder Hernandez for his. I don't know if he'll ever do it, but it'd be awesome!

     We have another investigator named, Mario. He has some strange ideas, but he's awesome! He read the entire Book of Mormon in two weeks, and when we give him pamphlets, he not only reads them, but marks them and writes down his questions. It's awesome! We were at a less active members home, and she mentioned that she cuts hair, so Elder Hernandez got one. I'll have to get a picture. haha He keeps saying he's bald. It's pretty short haha. After we left I asked him if he wanted hair extensions haha.

     This week was pretty tough again. We looked through our area book, which took about 4 hours! There were records from 2010. We tried to find some of the people, but quite a few of them weren't there anymore, or just didn't want anything.

     On Sunday we ate with a member, and she tried telling us that we can't email people of the opposite gender, and that it's rule. I was able to combat everything she said, in Spanish. It was awesome! In the end, she came to an understanding that it's okay to email girls haha.

We walked a ton  this week! Lots of appointments have fallen through again, but it's like that all over the zone. Hopefully this week is better! I love you guys! Have an awesome week!

-Elder Radmall

Dad: Drink and listen to music haha. They play some board games too. (What do the natives do to relax in Culiacan?)

Mom: I'm not  sure. I've only had to speak twice. The wards are really small. ( Is it normal for missionaries there to get asked to speak so often?)

Holly: Individuals. We want to find a family to teach, but honestly, it's hard to just find individuals.

 (Are you teaching more families or individuals right now?)

Sam: I write everyday. How's the challenge going? Tell me all about it! (How often do you write in your journel?) (And challenge accepted I will read my scriptures everyday)

Dylan: It depends on the day, but quite a few. (How many spiritual experiences do you have each day?)

Have Sam tell you about the challenge, it's extended to everyone! ( We are all accepting the challenge...even though we are already doing it!)

Sunsets in Culiacan

Monday January 23rd, 2017

Hey guys! Another really hard week! On Thursday, all of our appointments fell through, all of them! And only one person accepted us to come back during a contact. It was a tough week.

Last Monday the new missionaries got here. One of them, Elder Nef, is from Idaho. He's from a really small town up by Salmon. He is just like me. He doesn't know hardly any Spanish. I know exactly how he feels! He has a good attitude about everything though, so that's good! He used to work on his neighbors ranch up there. It's called the "2 Dot". He said that they like to hire RMs, so maybe I'll try my luck up there when I get back. I don't know, I have a lot of time before then.

The other day, Ruben practically poured out his heart to us. Over an hour and a half he told us everything he wants for his family and friends. He told that us that if he was filthy rich, he would donate his money to hospitals to help kids with cancer. He's still staying strong with not drinking. He invited some friends from work over to his house, and told them that he doesn't drink, but they're welcome to if they want. He drank soda. He already invited Elder Hernandez and I over for Camila's quincineta in seven years. He also wants to come visit Idaho someday.

This week has cooled off quite a bit. At about 7 in the morning I could see my breath. The temperature feels about like September in Idaho. Which means it's almost time for hunting! But then I remember I'm in Mexico, and it's January haha. 

  

The rules for splits changed, which I am super happy about! We no longer have them over night. Since Elder Hernandez is the District Leader, other missionaries come to our area for the day, and we do splits here. This is going to be so much better!

We were asked to give talks on Sunday, so Saturday night we prepared them. I know I can't just get up there and talk for ten minutes, which would be boring to the members and sporadic any way. So, I wrote my talk out. I guess a while ago, a different American Elder gave a talk in this ward, and he also wrote his talk  out, but I guess he mispronounced a lot of words. I was told that I only mispronounced one, so that was a confidence builder. At least I can read Spanish.

We're hoping this week is better as far as teaching lessons go. I love you guys! Have an awesome week!

-Elder Radmall

  

Dad: I wish my apartment had cupboards.  What do I miss from home?? I really miss talking about guns. Almost nobody here likes them. I went from talking to you and Brother Ward about guns every week, to not talking about them at all. It really sucks!  ( What do you wish your apartment had but doesn't? and What do you miss from home?)

Mom: We haven't started it yet. I think it starts this week, but I think personal study is going to be kinda cold. (How are you adjusting to your new schedule?)

Holly: Gorditas. It's a taco shell cooked in oil with refried beans, meat, lettuce, vegetables, and what not on top. It's really good! (As far as homecooked meals, what is your favorite thing that you have been served?)

January, 16 2017

Elder Radmall feeling the weight of the World!

Hey guys!

     This week was crazy hard! But first, transfers. Elder Hernandez and I are staying here for at least one more transfer, but he is now the District Leader. Elder Atkins is now in Mazatlan, and Elder Meadows is training a new guy.

     So this week... Usually in one day we have about 2 or 3 appointments fall through, but on Thursday, we had 11 fall through! The whole week was like that, it was really hard! Wendy and Camila are progressing. We're thinking that they'll get baptized sometime this week.

     I forgot to mention last week that I received two letters from Grandma Tucker. One from 11-8, and one from 11-26. I also received one this week from 12-9. Also this week, I received a letter from the Kolsens from 11-11. Thanks for all the suppport!

     I also forgot to tell about the meeting we had last week. It was supposed to last 5 hours, but ended up lasting 8 hours! We got a new schedule. 

The old schedule: 

6:30-8:00   wake up, eat, shower, pray, exercise

8-9: Peronal Study

9-10: Companionship study

10-10:30 or 11: Language study

10:30 or 11-9 or 9:30: Proselyte

30 minutes for lunch

9 or 9:30-10:30: eat, write in journal, pray, sleep

The humidity is killing his scriptures

New schedule:

6:30: wake up

Pray and exercise (30min)

shower, eat, plan (30min)

Go to a park, or public place

Personal Study: 1hr

Companionship study: 30min

Language study: 30min

Lunch: 1hr

10-9 or 9:30: Proselyte

9 or 9:30: write in journal, pray, eat, sleep

     So, earlier this week, we got a reference to go teach this family. They were all adult females, but only one really talked. And she was just bashing the Book of Mormon, and saying that the Bible is the Word of God, and that we don't need any other scripture. No matter what Elder Hernandez and I said, or whatever scripture we shared, she just wouldn't accept it. At the end of the visit I felt impressed to share this example with her: "As you know, I'm from Idaho, and Idaho is famous for potatoes. So, let's say that we're sitting at this table eating potatoes, you're eating potatoes from here in Culiacan, and I'm eating potatoes from Idaho. And I say these Idaho potatoes are really good, you should try some. If you don't try them, you won't know if they're good or not, but if you do try them, then you'll know for yourself. It's the same with the Book of Mormon. If you don't read it, and ask God if it's true, you'll never know if it is or not. You've read the Bible, and you know its true. We invite you to read the Book of Mormon so you can know for yourself if it's true. I have read it, and I know it's true. I know it.

     She didn't know what to say. It was awesome! I was conjugating words I didn't even know. It was one of the most spiritual experiences I've had. We gave her a Book of Mormon, and she said she'd read it.

I love you guys! 

-Elder Radmall

Forest found a cool old car!

Our questions answered:

Dad: It's a lot smaller! We don't even have benches. We sit on chairs, then stack them once Sacrament is over. (How is church different in Mexico?)

Mom: Lesson one. We teach it a lot, but I love teaching it because the whole church rests on that lesson. (What is your favorite lesson to teach?)

Holly: In this area I just have it cut in a haircutting place haha we don't have a member that cuts hair in this area. (Who cuts your hair?)

Sam: Drive the truck. (What is the first thing you want to do when you get home?)

Dylan: five. (How many investigators do you have right now?)

One more of Elder Radmall getting his toe fixed up

Monday January 9th, 2017

Holy Snow!  I wish I could've enjoyed it with you guys! I'm glad to hear that mom had a good birthday! 

 First off, the Day of Kings, is where you have a circle cake that has little person figures in it. Each person takes turn cutting a piece. If you get one of the figures, you and the other people that have figures, buy everyone else tamales. They don't actually end up buying tamales, but it was still kind of fun!

Elder Radmall and Camila

Día de los Santos Reyes  (Day of the Kings)

The baptism went great! The day before, we tried to print off the program, and it would not work, which made us freak out a little, because we had a multi-zone meeting the next day, the day of the baptism. After the multi-zone meeting we went to try to print it off, and luckily it worked. Ruben and I both were pretty nervous, haha! The ward really supported him, there were quite a few members that showed up. When we stepped into the water, we about turned into ice! The water was freezing! Ruben said afterward that his feet still hurt cause it was so cold. I was pretty nervous that I'd mess up the prayer, or that part of his body would come out of the water, but as soon as I started the prayer, a super calm feeling came over me. Everything went perfectly. On Saturday, Elder Hernandez and I bought Ruben a white shirt and a tie. When we went to give it to him on Sunday, he was super excited to show us that he'd bought a suit coat. So, with a white shirt, a tie, and a suit coat, he got mistaken as a missionary several times at church. Elder Hernandez confirmed him, and then one of the members in Elders Quorum gave him the Aaronic Priesthood. So now when Wendy and Camila are baptized, he can do it!

Elder Radmall and Ruben  January 4th, 2017

Ruben, Wendy, and their daughters

 


 


                                                     Fun with Elder Radmall and Elder Hernandez!!


 

Elder Radmall with Elder Atkins (fellow Twin Falls Elder) and Elder Meadows (Forest's MTC companion).

For the past two or so weeks I had an ingrown toenail, which sucked, but I was doing fine. Then, it started to bleed, so I figured that I better let Hermana Gabaldon know about it. There was a member in a different area that's an EMT, so  we went over to his house to have it taken out. It was done really fast, and he didn't charge me anything. I'm feeling a lot better now, and am even wearing my shoes today. I had to wear a sandal on the foot that had the ingrown toenail. That sucked.

  


   

It was a pretty good week! I love you guys!

Elder Radmall

Culiacan

Dad: We have 7 investigators. (How many investigators do you have?)

Mom: It's hard to find out a good routine that we both like, and how to teach together. (What is the hardest thing about getting a new companion?)

Holly: Ummm I'm not sure. Getting to know a new area, while trying to teach at the same time is pretty hard. (What is the hardest thing about your mission?)

Sam: Cow liver. It was disgusting! (What is the grossest thing you have eaten?)

Dylan: One of the easy things, is one thing that I love to do, and that's Personal Study. Studying the scriptures is awesome!  (What is the easiest thing that you do as a missionary?)

January 2, 2017







Hey guys!

Happy Birthday on Thursday Mom! 

     So, Elder Hernandez and I misunderstood the whole no sports thing. We can play basketball and volleyball, whew! 

     This past week we had splits. I got to go with Elder Meadows, it was awesome! We had a lot of fun, but we worked really hard too. He's a lot taller than me, and I really noticed while we were walking. He walks so fast! About mid-day, we were walking across this intersection when this guys truck made a loud noise and stopped. The shock on the left tire broke completely. 

     Luckily, there was a mechanic that was walking near us, so all three of us helped the guy. The truck was in the middle of the road, so traffic sucked, because everybody wanted to go, but only one line could pass at a time. Elder Meadows said he wanted to direct traffic, so I said do it. And he did. It was hilarious! People actually listened to him!

Elder Radmall & Elder Meadows MTC companions, now on splits in the Mission Field

     Wendy loves talking to you too mom. She tells me about it all the time and shows me the pictures you send her. They have a baptismal date for this Wednesday, but only Ruben is going to be baptized. He wants to be the example for his family, and wants them to get baptized for the right reasons. Ruben had a problem with drinking. He said he used to drink every day. He now refuses to drink, and even invited his friends to stop drinking with him. It was so awesome when he told us about that! When he came to church on Sunday, he had bought new shoes, and a button down shirt.

     Also earlier this week, I was given at a little store, a 20 peso coin. It's the first one I've seen, and Elder Hernandez offered me 50 pesos for it. I decided to keep it. Elder Hernandez and I are doing good. He even invited me to his future wedding whenever it happens haha.

I love you guys! Have an awesome week!

-Elder Radmall