Monday August 28th, 2017

Hey guys! This week was pretty good! So we were contacting some people earlier this week, and after a little bit of time, they asked us where we were from. My companion said that he wasn't from Navolato, and that he's from Honduras. I looked at them and said with a straight face that I was from Navolato. They didn't laugh or anything, they just said said, "No, you're from like, Spain for the paler colored skin." I then told them that I was from the U.S., so I guess my Spanish is doing okay. haha

 

Abél and Anahí were baptized this week. We had planned to have the baptism on Saturday, but a member passed away this week, and her funeral was in the church, so we had to change the baptism to Sunday evening. On Saturday night, we got a phone call saying that the church is having problems with the internet, so we'd have to go somewhere else to watch the transmission of Stake Conference. Which made it really hard for investigators, but Abél and Anahí went, and even asked for a tithing envelope. It was awesome!

Another investigator that we have, Santiago, has been receiving the missionary lessons for almost two years now. He knows the lessons and has a testimony of this work, but couldn't kick the habit of smoking. He was smoking 2 packs a day, but we've been working with him, and we're now down to zero cigarettes a day. He's no longer smoking!

The member with the jeep, Jaime, knows some magic tricks, and I have no idea how he did this one. He had me write the name of four girls on four separate pieces of paper. I folded the papers and handed them to him. He had me choose one of the pieces and look at the name, but not show him. We then burned the pieces of paper. Jaime then grabbed the ashes and rubbed them on his arm, and the name of the girl that I had chosen showed up on his arm. It just so happened that the girl I like was the name that showed up on his arm. I have no idea how he did it without knowing her name.

Well, my ingrown toenail grew back as another ingrown toenail, so that sucks!

Yikes!!!

Have a great week! I love you guys!

-Elder Radmall

Questions:

Dad: The boardwalk.  (What's the coolest place you seen in Navolato?)

Mom: We haven´t seen any changes yet, but yes I plan on buying a flag. Do you want a full size one as well, or smaller?  (Mexican Independence Day is coming up soon.  What changes around town on that day?  (Things closed, parades etc.)  Is that when you buy your flag?  ( If you buy us one I will pay you back!!! 😊 ) )

Holly: Yeah, the church is the same throughout the world.  ( Do they have stake conference down there twice a year like we do?)

Sam: Welding  (What is the biggest thing you miss about school?)

Dylan: Jesus the Christ, because it explains His life in greater detail.  ( From your assigned books that you study, which one is your favorite and why?)

Monday August 21st, 2017

Hey guys! 

New companion...Elder Juarez from Honduras

This week was pretty good. We had a baptism on Saturday, and everything that could've gone wrong, went wrong......... First off: Some people are working on the church building, and there wasn't any water, so we had to call some people to get water to fill the font. Right after we did that, Virginia's husband called us and told us that she no longer wanted to get baptized that day because the bishop was a very big support, which he wasn't and it was very frustrating. So I had to talk to Virginia and explain that the covenants we make at baptism aren't with the Bishop, but with the Lord, and that He doesn't want us to put off our day of repentance. After talking to her for a little bit, she decided that she still wanted to be baptized.

We have a baptism this upcoming Saturday, and the Saturday after that. My companion and I have plans to have a baptism every Saturday this transfer so we'll see how that goes. My companion and I are still getting along great. He reminds me a lot of Bridon (Forest's cousin). In his country they don't use coins, pure bills. He's a cool guy, and we're working really well together.  Elder Juarez has been out for 5 months.  He was companions with Elder Arzate (Forest previous companion) in the MTC.

Just this week, we had 13 New Investigators, 1 new Baptismal Date, and 4 Investigators in Sacrament Meeting. It was a good week, but Abel's wife, Anahì', mom died this week, so she's been having a tough time. We're hoping to put a baptismal date with her this week for Sept. 9, and Abel will be able to baptize her.

I really liked this scripture: Alma 36:3 

"whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day."

I also got 2 letters from dad this week, and one from Grandma Tucker. Thanks for all the support. I love you guys! Have a great week!

Abel

-Elder Radmall

Questions:

Dad: Little by little. They use a different type of Spanish. They use the form of Vosotros, and here we use the form of Tu  ( Are you learning anything about your new companions country?)

Mom: Not a lot. Please ask Mary Doerr si ella sabe cómo hacer posoli, agua de cevada o horchata de coco. Thanks!  ( Any talk about the eclipse in Mexico?)

Holly: Abel. He helps us with whatever we need, he understands and accepts the doctrine, we have a lot in common.  ( Who has been your favorite investigator and why?)

Sam: From home: Steak and Mashed Potatoes. Here: Enchiladas Verdes.  (What is your favorite food from home, your favorite food from your mission, and are there any that are similar?)

Dylan: Agua de Cevada "Barley Water" It sounds weird, but it's really good.  (What is your favorite drink on your mission?)

Monday August 14th, 2017

FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS EN VIERNES CAMILA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (Happy birthday on Friday Camila!)

Hey guys! This week was pretty good, but a little difficult with finding people. We really used the Area Book this week looking for 20 people in a day, and almost none of them were home... Finding some new people was a little different, but I have some new news:

Elder Arzate has been transferred to Esquinapa with Elder Navarro, and Elder Navarro's companion has come to Navolato. All we did was switch companions haha! My new companion's name is Elder Juarez. He's from Honduras. He's a really good guy and I look forward to working with him. He's seems pretty normal like Elder Minarik, so that's nice. Some more news... I'm now the District Leader. I'm pretty happy about that, but a little stressed out too.

Transfer day was quite a day. This time they were on Sunday, so Elder Arzate had to pack his suitcases on Saturday night, so we were up till 1 a.m. On Sunday we got to Culiacán at 2 p.m. so he could go to Esquinapa by bus, and I went with Elder Gummow to his area until 6, which is when we had to go back to the Bus Station for my companion. Finally my companion and I were together, and we were given a ride back with the Cruz family. But we weren't able to go straight home because their daughter was in a meeting in the Stake Center. Her meeting went 2 hours late! But it was cool to see some members from Jardines and Los Pinos. We finally got to the house at about 9 p.m. It was a pretty long day.

I love you guys! Have a great week!

-Elder Radmall

From the jeep ride a few weeks ago with a member.

Questions:

Dad: No, they don´t really pay attention to us. With the rifle. 100% agreed. I want my rifle to shoot far as a sport, and for hunting I´m wanting to get into bow hunting so I can talk with the elk a little more.

(Do you guys ever get stopped by gangs or rough types on the street?...Dad and Forest are ALWAYS talking about guns and hunting!)

Mom: "Talk with everyone, all the time. Everybody means everybody. Always means always" -President Gabaldón      ummm mtn. dew and snow haha!!   (What is the best advice that you were given either before leaving for your mission or since you have left? What do you want for your birthday?)

Holly: Where in the Bible does it say where the Spirit World is. The Bible doesn't say, right now she doesn't want to accept the Book of Mormon.  (What is the most difficult question you have been asked by an investigator?)

Sam: Doritos. They taste different, but I really like them.  (What kind of chip or snack is your favorite in Mexico?)

Dylan: Talking with my family. (What daily thing do you miss the most while being a missionary?)

Monday August 7th, 2017

That's awesome dad!  (Matt had just finished a large CPTED presentation for County West) and Dylan, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! and I love the sprinkler dance hahaha!  (I sent videos to Forest of Dylan dancing at their cousin McKenna's wedding reception.)

 

This week was pretty good! We're now in the last week of the transfer, and I'm kinda hoping for a new area, I mean, I've been in the same Stake my entire mission so far, so I think it's time.

This week we had a multi-zone meeting and splits with our District Leader, but we were still able to pull out 6 new investigators this week. So, while we were sitting down waiting for the multi-zone meeting to start, one of the Assistants came over to me and asked me to conduct the meeting which was pretty cool. Since I was conducting, I sat next to President Gabaldón, which was awesome! He taught me a couple things from the scriptures during the meeting, and just talked to me about things during the breaks. A lot of missionaries are scared of him, but I felt super comfortable.

The night of the multi-zone meeting, we slept in our District Leaders house since we had splits the next day. So we bought pizza and pop and had a great time just joking around. But before we went to their house, we went to visit some investigators that they are teaching. These investigators have given a cup with a picture of the missionary and a member of the family to Elder Finkner, and to Elder Muñoz, and when we went, they took a picture of me and one of their sons, and told me that they're going to give me a cup too. It was only my second time seeing them haha !

Since we weren't able to work to much in our area during the week, on Saturday we were running all over the place! From appointment to appointment. It was super tiring!

Yesterday at church, Jaime (the guy with the jeep) told us that we could come eat with them in the evening. He had asked us what we wanted to eat, and my companion said fish tacos. When we got to his house, he loaded us in the jeep, we swung by for some of his friends, and away we went. We thought we were just gonna eat at his house, but he took us an hour away from Navolato, which is still our area, to a friends house, and there we ate our fish tacos. It was a long trip to eat fish tacos haha!

Also, dad, I got a letter from you.

Mom, there´s a lady here that was born the exact same date as you. right down to the year. What time were you born?

Here are a few scriptures that I liked this week: 2 Nephi 2:11   but when it says "my firstborn in the wilderness" put in your own name.

                                                                         1 Pedro 3:12

-Elder Radmall

​A video of part of the ride we were given from Culiacán to Navolato, and my companion snoring haha!!


Questions:

Dad:  We have to buy jugs of water to drink. It´s like a dollar for 10 gallons  (Do you have filtered water at your house?)

Mom:  I read your letters first, and yes, I can print but, it costs haha!  (Are you able to print out our emails or just read them there?  Do you read ours before you type to us or do you just read the questions to answer and then type?)

 Holly:  Yes, about every week.  (Do the locals ever play live music out on the street?)

Samuel:  Coming home haha!!  Ummmmmm I think just the unknown.  (What's the scariest thing about serving a mission?)

Dylan:  Alma the Younger  (What's your favorite scripture story?)

Monday July 31st, 2017

Hey guys! This week was pretty good! First off, a really funny experience. So there we were.... contacting in the City Park, and this guy walked up to and started talking to me in perfect English which was weird, I usually have to talk really slow for people to understand me, but not with him. He was obviously drugged up, so he was hyperactive, swinging his arms, walking around, and he had a good size rock in his hand. So I started to talk to him in English, and I asked him if he believed in God, and he said, "I believe in rock." It was all I could do not to laugh. He then showed me that his rock had gold in it, and then he left. It was hilarious!

A member who's working on the dirt bike from the 70's.  The throttle doesn't work so, he's using a cable.

We started teaching this guy named Abel. When he was a kid he went to the Apostolic Church, and liked it, but the church changed, and he never went back. He started drinking, and some strange, but cool things have happened to him. He told us that he quite drinking some time ago, and is now looking for a church to go to. We taught him Lesson 3 which talks about faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. He said that it all made sense and he accepted the invitation to be baptized on the 26 of August. He also went to church yesterday. He's a mechanic, and he likes to invent things and such. The member that has the jeep is good friends with Abel, and they have plans to do a lot to the jeep. Abel gave me some good ideas for my jeep. The jeep that Jaime has is the 86 model, which is the model that I want.

We also have another investigator that accepted the invitation to be baptized on the 19 of August. Her name is Virginia and her husband is a member. This morning we went and helped them paint their house. The work here is progressing a ton!

I love you guys! Have a great week!

-Elder Radmall

(These videos are from an email that Forest sent for his Tucker Grandparents 50th Wedding Anniversary.)

Questions:

Dad: Yeah, more than anything they want to visit their American companions and see some things of the church.  ( Do any of your fellow Native Missionaries have desires to visit the United States, and do they want to know what life is like here in the States?)

Mom: About one a day, but they usually don´t speak to well, and I have to speak slowly. It´s actually hard for me to speak in English.  ( How many, if any, people that you talk to speak English?)

Holly: You can see some, but not like back home.  (  Can you see the stars at night, or are the street lights too bright?)

Sam: I loved being way back in the mountains., but the fish didn't bite when we went.  ( What was your favorite and least favorite thing about Moose Lake?)

Dylan: A lot. And not very many accept... :(  ( How many people do you invite to hear the Gospel every day?)

Monday July 24th, 2017

Thanks for all the pics! It looks like I´ll have to find a job in Garden Valley haha which would actually be pretty sweet!

This week was pretty good. We´re still teaching Ramón and his family, but his wife's mom isn't feeling good so they´ll be gone this week... :( As far as new investigators go, in a week we usually have about six, but in one day this week, we had 5 new investigators! It was awesome!

We had interviews with President Gabaldón again this week which were good as always. He always seems to show up late though haha! 

The name of the church on my name tag has almost completely worn off, and the new one that I bought got here this week. I feel weird being able to show people the actual name of our church again using my own name tag.

Not a ton really happened this week. Oh! I almost forgot to tell you. So, our bishop works in what's called Uber. It´s like a taxi system, but you request a car by an app on your phone, and the cars can't be really old cars like most of the taxis here. They have to pass an inspection. So our bishop was breaking the Sabbath ... and his car got stolen while he was driving around in Culiacán. They pulled him over, put a gun to his head, and told him to get out. He lost his car and his cell phone. It's a really sad story, especially since lots of people in this area live in humble circumstances, but it's a good lesson to learn as well. Keep the Sabbath day holy.

I love you guys! Have a great week!

-Elder Radmall

Questions:

Dad: Sí, pero aquí en Navolato no tenemos mucha lluvia. Pero en Culiacán esta lloviendo bien machín!...Yes, but here in Navolato we do not have much rain. But Culiacán is raining well! ( Has the rainy season started yet, and if not when does it?)

Mom: Yo como casi cada fruta...I eat almost every fruit.  ( You say that you are liking more fruits now...what are they?)

Holly: Ummm hay mas mosquitos en Culiacán que aquí, pero esta otro insecto que pica, pero no sé cómo se llama... Ummm there are more mosquitoes in Culiacan than here, but this other insect that stings, but I do not know what it's called. ( How bad are the mosquitoes and is there anything else that bites you?)

Sam: Yo quiero Mountain Dew y RC Cola...I want Mountain Dew and RC Cola. ( What kind of pop are you looking forward having when you get home, that they don't have in Mexico?)

Dylan: Mi gusta "descansando" mas, pero realmente no es descansando porque mi gusta caminar y hacer algunas cosas afuera la casa...I like "resting" more, but it really is not resting because I like to walk and do some things outside the house. ( What did you like most about Garden Valley when we went...the theater or resting/game playing in the cabin.)

Monday July 17th, 2017

Thanks for all the pics and the videos! I've really missed swimming! Especialmente con este calor!!! (Especially with this heat!!!)

This week was quite difficult. Like to the point where I was starting to get down a little bit. Just about no one wanted to accept our message. Just about everyone told us that they live with their in-laws and that they don't like to talk about religion, so we can't stop by their house. But they say that they're always in the park downtown in the evenings, so if they see us down there they'll yell out to us. I'm just like, are ya kidding me?  It was quite frustrating. 

But one cool thing is that I got to watch a chicken fight. It was pretty interesting. They hold their roosters and bring them close to each other, then separate them, bring them close again, separate them again, and then let them loose to fight. It was pretty cool.

 

We're continuing to teach Ramón and his family. We're now teaching 9 people in that home which is pretty cool. The hard part is that Ramón´s wife is really invested in her religion, and wants us to show her in the  Bible where everything that we teach is. One of the questions that she asked us is Where is the Spirit World. That answer doesn't come in the Bible. I've found a scripture that says that the Bible doesn't contain everything, and I also found a few contradictions in the Bible to read when people try to tell us that the Bible is perfect. I don´t want to be rude to her at all, but I think that it's almost time to share these scriptures with her to help her realize the importance of the Book of Mormon more, as well as the other scriptures.

It was a pretty slow week as far as missionary work goes, but the time saddle is flying by!

Have a great week! I love you guys!

-Elder Radmall

Questions:

Dad: Like crazy!!!  (Do you feel like the time is going by super fast too?)

Mom: I want to go up to the mountains.  (What vacation would you like to take as a family when you get home?)

Holly: Yes. When I draw, it takes me quite a while to finish.  (Do you take time to work on your drawings?)

Sam: It depends. If I´m gonna start up my own business, I´ll start the fall semester. But if I´m gonna go work at CAT, school doesn't start until January.  (How many months/years do you plan to wait before attending college?)

Dylan: It´s not a game, but my companion and I really like to talk about the deep doctrine stuff. 

(What's your favorite game to play with your companion?)