1. Studying in a hawaiian shirt

2. this lady named Guera. Which means, red head lady.

3. our bishop that just got released. Love this guy. 

September 30, 2013

Familia Necesitamos-Jamón,

So, when people try to pronouce my name...they just absolutely fail haha. So then i tell them how to say it, but then i say here is an easier way. my name is elder necesito-jamón cause {need} means necesito and {ham} means jamon. And they always start busting up laughing. So here in mexico, im elder necesito jamon :) 

This past week was full of great blessings! I think i can say that it was one of the most hard working, successful weeks i've had on my mission. We had a ton of success finding new people and receiving new baptismal dates. We ended the week with 12 lessons with members present and 9 other lessons. We worked freakin hard to get members in the lessons with our investigadors cause it just makes it that much better and spiritual. We ended the week with 0 baptisms, but we still have them ready to go, we're just waiting about another week or 2. Im so excited that we are able to baptize a few more people. This area is awesome and each week i love it more. Elder Bautista is great and he getting accostomed to the mission real quick. 

I cant wait for General Conference this weekend, its always great to hear from the prophet and apostles. I really hope i can find a way to watch it in english cause its just not he same when they change the voices haha. But we'll see how it goes! 

This past week I had inter-exchanges with Elder Rodriguez from Dominican Republic. It was a great day and we're great buddies. We just talked bball all day, haha i loved it. But during the night while we were sleeping, elder rodriguez woke up hearing the weirdess noise outside the room door. It was pitch black so he could see anything, but he hopped off the bunk bed and when he touched the ground he just cringed up haha. He reached from the light and turned it all, the house was flooded up to his ankles!! hahaha i woke up just like what the heck are you doing? and then i realized and hopped out of bed real quick. We were in his house luckily so i didnt have to worry about it, haha but there was water in the whole house. The pipes under a sink exploded and it was just great crazy. We were up at3:30 in the morning just taking loads of water out of the house! it was so fun! Crazy night though! We were just screaming running around the house trying to figure out what to do. But they're going to change houses so its all good.

We recieved changes yesterday for the district, elder bautista and I are staying together because we're in training right now. So we'll be together here in tamaulipas for six more weeks!! Woo!! We have a great time here!! 

But yeah thats all i can remember right now. But i love you all and hope you enjoy conference weekend! Have a good week :)

Elder Needham

September 23, 2013

Hola mi familia,

Wow this past week has been way fun! Elder Bautista and I have had lots of success here in Tamaulipas! This past week we had a ward activity and it was a Mexican Night! Oh man it was so great! We had the whole sacrament room full of members, less actives, and investigadors. There was dances from the members, and we actually even had an investigador dance with them, haha it was great! But you all know me, i wouldnt miss out on a dancing opportunity. So yes, we as Elders danced and sang as well! haha it was so great!! I have the video on my camera but i cant send it on this thing! But man let me tell ya, we had the other room busting up laughing!! haha i love making people laugh!

This past week we found 6 new investigdors! Elder Bautista and I are working very hard and getting lots of work done! We are trying to be as obedient as we can. Its crazy how much the lord blesses you when your obedient from when you're not as obedient. Elder Bautista and I are doing great though, and we've received many blessings!! This next sunday we a baptism for this man named Nestor! Other missionaries were teaching him in another area and in the end they had to pass us the reference and he's already ready to be baptized! What a blessing right? We will continue teaching him this week and he'll be baptized next sunday!! We also have our investigador Rosaulva who will be baptized either next sunday also, or the week after! She just waiting for a friend to be able to come into town!

Man, missionary work sure is amazing. Im getting myself lost in the work and thinking less about home! I can finally speak the language and sometimes i feel like i've lived here all my laugh. I love hearing all the great stories from my friends serving mission. This work is amazing. 

Also last week i shared with you guys that i read alma 28 and i loved it. But i lied, haha it was alma 29! Also here are some great scriptures that i love! D&C 60: 3-4, D&C 100: 3-8  11-13. It gives me a boost of energy when i find great scriptures!

I hope all is well and you're all working hard!! Share your testimonies with your friends and we're going to convert the world!! I love you all. 

Elder Needham

September 16, 2013

Hola familia,

well i just wrote you all this past thursday and nothin too much as happened since. Its been raining like crazy here so havent been able to get too much in. Tonight we are suppose to be having a Hurricane!! How crazy is that?! im so excited haha! But next week ill be sure to write all that happens! We just havent had to much these past few days!  I love you all and hope all is well! Have a good week and be safe!! 

Elder Needham 

September 12, 2013

Hola familia,

So about a week ago, the zone leaders told us that they had a big surprise for us!! And...YES, it was the greatest present ever!! We went to the temple today! Ahh man, it was the best experience i have had at the temple thus far in my life. It was exactly what i needed! Wow, the temple sure does manifest to me that all these things are true! When i was there, i just didnt want to leave. It was the first time i had gone in 5 months so it such a great opportunity. The temple is quite small, but it sure is beautiful. And all the scenery outside of the temple is absoultely ridiculous!! I felt like i was in paradise or something! There's no doubts that the temple is the house of the Lord. It's like heaven in there. 

But besides that, Elder Bautista and I are going strong here in Tamaulipas! In my last email i told you that we might be having a baptism, but...we are going to wait a little bit longer with this kid. His name is brandon and we've been teaching him ever since I got here! He has all the lessons and is such a great kid. We had the baptismal interview and everything, but he just wants to wait a little longer. He knows everything is true, but he just hasnt obtained his testimony yet...so we've been working hard with that!! Im sure he'll be baptized soon! We also have this lady named Rosaulva, and she was an investigador from other missionaries in the district. But she lives in my area! haha they were being disobedient and going into our area to teach her. But then we find out and now she's so close to getting baptized too. Either next week or the week after!! We also have this great family named La Familia Martell. ive talked about them a little before and they are so great. They came to church last week and they loved it! The mom asked me to buy her a Bible from the temple so she can read from the book of mormon and bible and use those scriptures at the bottom to learn more! Its so great! They wont get baptized for a few weeks cause our investigadors need to attend church 5 times before baptism. But they are solid and we're working very hard with them!

Training Elder Bautista has been way fun! We've had some great times together and we just laugh all day! But man, being a trainer and district leader just kicks your butt. I was talking to my zone leader and he told me that training and district leader is one of the hardest things to do on the mission. AND i only have 6 months in the mission here in crazy old mexico! haha im dying! literally, i almost die everyday. haha. 

But all is well, and im looking forward to getting a few more baptisms in these upcoming weeks! We are working hard and the ward is improving tremendously. We have a mexican night activity next week, and i think we are dancing. Ill pull out some of those crazy dance moves that i got. 

I love you all and ill write you on Monday! Thanks for being the best family ever!

ps. 6 months completed baby!!!!! wooo!!!

Elder Needham

September 2, 2013

Hola mi familia,

so like i said last week im training Elder Bautista and he is improving so fast! He's a stud. These past few weeks and been way good and we're having lots of success right now! These past two sundays we've had 12 people attend church. Its so awesome. When our investigadores attend church its like christmas, haha we get so happy. It sure is weird training cause i feel like im still brand new out of the MTC, but it sure is crazy how much more i know than Elder bautista. hahah. When i got assigned with him, i thought because he speaks spanish already and all that he'd be perfect...but WOW, there sure are a lot of things to teach in the mission. But every day he seems to improve and he's started to take a lot of iniciative. Im pushing him kind of hard, and sometimes he gets frustrated...but whenever we appears to be mad or sad. I just stop everything and we just talk. And then we continue working. He is a very humble missionary and its very fun working with him. Even though he just got here, i've learning so many things from him. We never fight or anything, so its nice. And....he likes to eat so we eat a lot and im happy too hahaha. 

But i seriously wish i could explain to all of you the kind of food i eat here. Its seriously heaven. And its so cheap...i get so happy when i eat. I hope to bring all the family back here one day just to try all the food! But also, this week is my 6th month mark!! crazy huh? Time is flying!! This friday, Elder Bautista and I are going to order some real good food and we bought candles to have a little party hahaha. THE THINGS WE DO ON THE MISSION ARE CRAZY. 

But this week during one of my studies, i read Alma 28. Its a way good chapter and it got me motivated. I suggest you guys to read it. I love it after i read it. 

But i hope all is well with all of you and you're doing good!! 6 MONTHS BABY!!!!

OH, and also next sunday we are planning on a baptism! We hope it all works out, MÈXICO ES MÌ VIDA. I LUHHH YOU ALLLL

Elder Needham

1. my buddy Elder Larson

2. Elder Bautista and President

3. Last meal with Elder Soto and Hermana Ortiz

August 26, 2013

Hola familia,

I dont have much time to write today but ill tell you a few things that happened this past week. I was called to stay here in Tamaulipas and I am training this new missionary from Puebla, Mèxico!! His name is Elder Bautista and i think he's serving for the wrong church?? hahah just kidding! He's great! We get a long great. Im  a PAPA! (crying voice...) haha i've always wanted to be a dad so heres my chance! Its been a great first week with him! Also i've been called to be District Leader so thats pretty fun too! I teach today and im going to talk about doing service in the companiship to strengthen each other. I hope it goes well. Well those are the cool things that happened this past week. Sorry i dont have much to write today and i could respond to all your emails today. But they were great and im glad everyone is doing good. I love you all! The hot season is just about done and the rain is about to start! i cant wait! Take care family!!

Elder Needham

August 19, 2013

Hola peeps,        

Wow looking at all of Keilani and Justin's wedding pictures makes me sad. It looks so beautiful and just a happy day. Im glad it turned out perfect. Haha the card board thing of me was funny, im just like a little creep in all the pictures. hahaha. And im glad my letter to kk made you all laugh...and cry and...stuff. Haha i wish i was there to see it! How did nate read it? I chose nate for a reason, me and him are so similar i knew it'd be just like me talking haha. But im glad it was a wonderful weekend. 

This past week was a lot of work with very little success. Almost every appointment we had fell through, but its ok cause the appointments that we had were very good. We have this investigator named Fransisco. Heres the story of when we found him.

    'We were in a little gas station buying some water real quick, and this man comes up to me and asks me if i'm a mormon missionary. I say yes and he instantly invites us to his house. We thought we had just received a miracle or a punishment because Fransisco had just bought some beer. haha. So as we've continued to teach Fransisco, we have lessons like i've never had before. He has many many problems in his life, but he's one of the most special men i've ever met. He just cries to us for help and he wants to find THEE path...the straight and narrow path. Every lesson we start out with a song and he just prays with all his might. Haha its actually kind of funny when it happens cause he just cradles up like a little emphant. Me and my companion dont know what to do so we just keep singing. One time we finished a song, and he just started balling for like 5 minutes...we didnt know what to do so...we just sang another song haha. He also just pours out his heart to us. The thing is..i dont feel sorry for this man. I feel the need to help this man, he's like a child to me; i feel the need to care for him. At times its kind of sketchy with him cause he drinks a lot, but he wants to find the way of Christ. I dont know how long it'll take for him to understand all of our Gospel, but I know what day he'll find it. 

      Also some big news, we have changes this week and my companion is heading out to another area. He only has 7 months in the mission and guess what?! He's going to be a zone leader somewhere! Its ridiculous! Its very rare for someone with such little time to already be zone leader. Im very happy for him. The good part of this for me is...that he taught me all he knows in this past 6 weeks to become a great missionary. So i hope i receive some kind of lidership. President wont tell who are new companions are until tomorrow so ill tell you next week. President told Elder Soto early because zone leader is a great-important position. So we'll see tomorrow what i get! And ill be staying here in Tamaulipas. Im excited to see what these next 6 weeks will be like with my new companion. 

        But anyways, thats all my family. Love you and hope all is well. I sent a letter home on friday, but i gave it to a member that went to the states on friday. You should get it today or tomorrow i hope. I love you.

Elder Needham

August 12, 2013

Hola,                                                                                                                            

this past week was great!! WE HAD A BAPTISM!!!!  The baptism was on Saturday and we baptized one of our investigators Daniel. Daniel was always a really good investigator the whole time! We found him the very first week we were here by contacting. He had always been way solid! Daniel is 17 years old and he knows when something is right, then its right. We had been teaching his girlfriend, Esmeralda, too; but her family believes some crazy things so we had to stop teaching her. The day of the baptism, daniel had lots of doubts because of his girlfriend. He didnt want to lose her. But we were able to help him through it and he was baptized saturday and confirmed on sunday!! it was so cool. It was a crazy weekend but it was nice to get a baptism. Ill post a picture of the baptism! 

Also this past week i had inter exchanges with Elder Rodriguez from Domincan Republic. Him and I are way good buddies so it was a fun day. But i have a funny story to share. So me and elder soto have been teaching this lady named Guera(wich means red head haha) but she never has been really interested. But when i was with E. Rodriguez, we decided to go visit her! So when we got with her she was just different this day, it was weird. haha she wanted to talk and she was just happy. But heres the story. So almost nobody in the neighborhood knows the real name of Guera. So when we were visiting her a few weeks ago, her mom was visiting so we asked her what her real name was...and she told us! So this time with E. Rodriguez, he asked her what her real name was. But she wouldnt tell us. So when she went inside for a sec, I told E. Rodriguez and we planned a little lesson real quick! When she got back we started the lesson with prayer, and E. Rod. said that we are going to talk about how we can find answers through reading the book of mormon! So he told her that he's going to read the book of mormon and receive an answer for what her name is. Haha so E. Rod. is just acting like he's reading for a little. And Guera is just like ya ya whatever you can find it!! haha and then E. Rod. writes the name on a little piece of paper and gives it to her. She reads it and.....ALMOST DIES. haha she was freakin out!! She yelled and her kids and said, 'GO GET THAT BLUE BOOK IN THE HOUSE!!' hahah it was hilarious. Oh and after that, she accepted a baptismal date. Cool story huh? we were laughing the whole time!!

But theres my week! I love you all and have a good time at the wedding!! Ill be thinking of you!! 

Elder Needham