Monday September 25th, 2017 (Today is Forest's 20th birthday)

Hey guys! 

Wow, these transfers were pretty tough. I felt like I was leaving home again. But I didn't cry ;) Haha! Our ward mission leader, Bro. Fidel, is 73, and is like a grandpa to me. He helped us a ton! After the church services he gave me a hug and said, don't ever forget me. If you do, it´s a sin. Haha! He's an awesome guy! I was able to take a lot of pictures this week which was nice, because I won't be able to see these people for quite a while, not even in a stake conference because I was transferred to Cabo San Lucas on the Baja.  My area doesn't have any beach. But since I'm a Zone Leader, I'll be able to have splits where the beach is.

                       

My companion's name is Elder Antonio. He's from Veracruz. His dad owns his own sugar plant. He's pretty cool, so we'll see how it goes.

Elder Juarez (left) and Elder Radmall with some members

I'm pretty excited for this new opportunity to serve, but a little stressed out as well. It doesn't help that I'm also a little sick. :(

Earlier this week, we had splits with the Zone Leaders in Culiacan for 50 hours. Since they live really far from our house, we had to spend the night in their house. The splits were pretty interesting. Elder Morales and I made a contact in English which was weird. And it didn't help that the guy said that he's Joseph from the Bible, and that Mary is in Salt Lake City Haha! It was pretty weird. We were in splits for so long because we had a baptismal interview for Efrén in Navolato, so one of the Zone Leaders had to go, and the sister missionaries in my district had a baptismal interview as well, but in the evening. So I worked in Culiacan again with Elder Johnson, and Elder Juárez went with Elder Morales to Navolato. Since we got back to Navolato late, they had to sleep in our area.

The baptism of Efrén was really cool. Today, Monday, he had surgery on his arm due to a motorcycle accident. He was supposed to have it last Tuesday, but since his baptism was scheduled for Saturday, he didn't want to chance not being able to so, he moved his surgery date. He wasn't able to plug his nose due to his right arm, but Bro. Fidel baptized him very carefully and all went well.

It was a great week! I just wish I could get feeling better. Have a great week!

-Elder Radmall

YIKES!!!

Questions:

Dad: No, it was at night and we were sound asleep. (We received an email from your Mission President about an earthquake in your mission, did you feel it?)

Mom:They shout something, but I'm not exactly sure what, because we weren't allowed to go. Other than that, just a lot of beer haha (Tell us about Mexico's Independence Day celebrations and things.)

Holly: Honestly, it's sometimes hard. Especially when there are a lot of distractions like kids playing around, music in the street, or if the t.v. is on.  (How is easy is it to teach by the spirit?)

Sam: I'm not sure what it's called, but it's in the shape of a star, and yes it's really good. The water they make from it is really good as well.  (What is the weirdest fruit or vegetable that you have eaten on your mission and did you like it?)

Dylan: We don't have a ton of time to play games which kinda sucks. "young colt"  (What is your favorite game to my play on your mission?..."Old man"!!  :))

Monday September 18th, 2017

Congratulations Holly!!! (Holly was recently asked to the Homecoming dance.) 

This week was pretty decent. We didn't find a ton of new investigators, but it was good because we were able to follow up on the new investigators that we've had in past weeks. We now have 4 baptismal dates: Efrén- Sept. 23, Sandra- Oct. 7, Sergio- Oct. 7, and Diana- Dec. 9

Diana's baptismal date is so far away because she's not married. She and her "husband" are only 17, and according to the new laws here, they can't get married until they're both 18, and Diana turns 18 on Nov. 30. So we have to wait. But they're progressing a lot! Her husband, Carlos, is a less active member, but is now going to church.

This week we had a Zone Conference, and I was asked to play the piano. It was pretty cool. My companion and I were asked to be the missionaries in a practice teaching deal, and we did great! We found the necessity, and used the scriptures to answer the questions that the investigator had. It was awesome! He and I get along great! It's gonna suck when I have to leave this area. All of the members are inviting us over to eat since it's most likely my last week, and for my birthday. (Forest's birthday is on September 25th. Transfers are on the 25th too.  Missionaries are occasionally transferred to different areas in the mission.  These transfer days come every 6 weeks.  Forest has been in Navolato for the last 6 months so, he is guessing that it will be his turn to be transferred.)  But we're not allowed to eat dinner with the members unless we have a family home evening with investigators there as well, so I think that we'll be having lots of family home evenings this week haha!  I'm gonna have a family make the cake, because we don't have an oven. (We sent him a cake mix, frosting, candles, balloons, and birthday hats in his birthday package.)  The temps are still hot here. 

Enjoying the Mountain Dew from his birthday package!!  (Mountain Dew is imported in Mexico and is not always available.)

President Gabaldón challenged us to read Alma 5, write down the questions, and answer them. There's a ton! But I encourage you to do it. It's a good testimony check.

 

So, I was able to buy a flag.  (Mexican flags are hard to find unless it is Mexico's Independence Day...September 16th.)  The guy told us that it was worth 300 pesos ($16.90 US dollars), but we talked him down to 170 pesos ($9.58 US dollars).  Since he went down so far on the price, we didn't believe him, but when we got home, we found a sticker on it that said 300 pesos. It's an awesome flag! So, for Mexico's Independence Day, I had my flag out, and I was wearing my hat from Sinaloa.  (Forest loves this hat!  It says SIN on it for the state of Sinaloa but, it is funny that it says SIN since he is a missionary.  :) )

Forest is holding up the #4 for the 4 upcoming baptismal dates. 

I also received the two packages, and a letter from dad. Thanks for all the support!

Have a great week! I love you guys!

-Elder Radmall

You can take the boy out of Idaho but, you can't take Idaho out of the boy!  (Frozen French fries from Idaho)

Questions:

Dad: Yeah, but I´m excited to get to 21, so I can get my concealed firearms permit.  (Is it weird leaving your teenage years behind?)

Mom: I don't know, I haven't had to go to a dentist, and yes I got both of them. Thanks!  (How is the health/dental care where you are?  Did you get both of our packages?)

Holly: A ton, but I wish that I would've taken it more seriously.  (How well did mission prep prepare you for your mission?)

Sam: Yes!  (Do you wish you had paid more attention in church?)

Dylan: They're okay.  (How comfortable have your beds been?)

Monday September 11th, 2017

Hey guys! Oh Sam... one hunt with a cast, and another with a boot.  (Samuel had surgery this morning on a dislocated, fractured growth plate on his baby toe.)  What's next year??? Haha!

This week was really good. The mission goal for New Investigators every week is 12, and we usually get close to that, but this week we had 18! It was awesome!

We have an investigator named Efrén, who flat out told us that he wants to get baptized. The only problem is that he may be having shoulder surgery due to a motorcycle accident he had, but he has a baptismal date on the 23rd of September. He's progressing a ton!  He's good friend with Hermano Fidel, who is our Ward Mission Leader, who also gives us a ton of rides to visit people. Whenever we go anywhere, Efrén goes with us. So he's receiving like three times the amount of lessons a week as other investigators.

In a little town called Realito de Sataya, there are some members who will be leaving to serve a mission in January, but have to decided to start serving right now. They've been going around sharing the gospel and bringing us references. It's amazing! The work goes so much smoother when the members do their part.

We received a reference from a 14 year old girl in the ward this week as well. His name is Sergio. Sergio even goes to seminary with the member, Maricel, at 6 in the morning. When we went to visit him, his sisters wanted to listen to us as well. From one reference, we found 3 people who wanted to hear the message of the restored gospel.

This week Abél told us that he's trying to save some money to but a white shirt and tie for church, so on one of our visits, I gave him one of my white shirts, and a purple tie I had. I'll have to take a picture with him.

Yesterday, my companion and I got pulled in to young mens to have a question and answer class with us about the mission. One on the young men asked us, "What's one thing that you wish you would've done before the mission?". At the same time we both said, "Share the gospel with my friends." This is the Lord's gospel, and many people are looking for it. Jesus Christ is coming. Look at all the earthquakes and flooding that's going on; it's close.   (Large earthquake hit Southern Mexico on Friday morning...8.1 magnitude.  Many category 4 and 5 hurricanes are hitting in the Caribbean, Southern United States and Eastern Mexico) Share the gospel with as many as people as possible. Here are some scriptures that I like: D&C 18:10-17, 21 and D&C 100: 5-8

My companion says that things are way worse in Honduras as far as danger goes. He says that compared to his country, he feels completely secure here. He has family that live in the U.S., and he visited them for 3 months, so he knows quite a bit about what's over there. His family lives in Georgia.

My package has been found, and will be given to me on Thursday. :)  (A package that we ordered from missionarypackagemx.com was delivered on August 9th but, was misplaced.)

Have a great week!

-Elder Radmall

Questions:

Dad: Not really. I´ll ask for one this week.  (Has your comp shared anything cool or scary about his native country?)

Mom: It´s ok...  (Do you have good milk/chocolate milk there?)

Holly: nope :)  (Have you wrecked on your bike yet?)

Sam: I can ride without hands while standing up on the pedals.  (Can you and have you done any tricks on your bike?)

Dylan: no, it was almost as awesome as your huge paper airplane!  (Was your plane ride scary?)

Email sent by Forest's mission president to the families of his missionaries after the earthquake:

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

We wish to inform you so that you can be calm that our mission was not affected with the recent earthquake in our country. This earthquake was in the southern part of our country and our mission is located in the northern part; therefore, we didn´t even feel it. All of our missionaries are doing well and doing their duties on normal schedule. We would like to hear about the families of our missionaries that do live in the southern part of our country. Our thoughts & prayers are with you. May the Lord take care of you and protect your families.

With love,

President & Sister Gabaldón

Monday September 4th, 2017

Hey guys!

The time is flying by! I can´t believe that I've been in this area for almost 6 months! 

This week was pretty good! Last Monday my companion almost got hit by a car haha!  We had bought our groceries and we were on our way back home on our bikes. He went to go around a bus, and a car drove by him hitting his bag with groceries. It was crazy close!

Abél and Anahí continue to progress a lot. This week we had the lesson on temples with them and they really enjoyed it, especially since Anahí´s mom died recently. Abél had the question of how can the Lord be in the temple, if the scriptures say that where two or three are gathered in my name, there will I be also. I looked at him and said, "Where do you live?" he answered, "Here, in my house." I responded, "and do you go and visit people every once in a while?" to which he said "yes". I then asked him, "After your visit where do you go?" he answered, "My house." I said, " that´s exactly how Christ works. He has His house in the temples, but through the Holy Ghost He can come visit us." He loved the answer.

Anahí is really timid and quiet, and hasn't prayed in front of us yet, so when we were ready to finish the lesson, I looked at her and asked, "Anahí, do you have confidence in us?" to which she said "yes" I then said that "we'd like to end with a prayer, and that if Anahí would offer it." She accepted and prayed amazingly. Even remembering to end in the name of Jesus Christ. It was awesome! They even paid their tithing on Sunday.

Later in the week, we went to visit Fidel, our mission leader. He´s a really good guy. His wife died almost two years ago and he lives alone. He goes out and visits all sorts of people, but no one ever visits him, so we went and shared a scripture, and just talked with him for a little while. We're gonna talk to Abél and Anahí since they live close to him, and see if they can visit him once a week or so.

Have a great week! I love you guys!

Forest

Questions:

Dad: No, and no. We can´t even go to Gardens or Museums anymore. (Do they have Mexican rodeos in your area and can you go?)

Mom: The regular barber. On the package, I talked to the secretaries, and they don´t know where my package is, but they´re looking for it. (Do you go to regular barber to get your hair cut or does a member do it?)

Holly: Yeah (Do the little kids like you?)

Sam: I don´t think so, because we have transfers on my birthday haha! (Do you think that anyone will make you a cake for your birthday?)

Dylan: Not really. (Have you seen any cool jewelry?)