October 21, 2013

Wassgood fam,

This past week we had a lot of fun experiences and lots of food. Last monday we went to this mall called CityDel as a zone. We ate there in a restraunt and i got my self a bacon cheeseburger like always haha, and there was a soccer game on. I couldnt resist, so yes i watched it. Im sorry...haha. But whenever we do something fun like that as a zone, it feels like im back home. Its a super nice mall, and they also have cinnabon that they have in all the malls in the US. So yeah i got that too. 

On friday I had exchanges with this elder from El Salvador. Its so cool to just know people from all over the world haha. This mission is a crazy ride. We had a great day and had some powerful experiences. We visited the less active family named F. Acosta. They havent gone to church ever since i got here and we've never really understood why, sometimes they have work but really they just dont go. So i felt that we just have a testimony meeting, cause i really wanted to know if the dad of the family had a testimony of this gospel. There were 6 people there in all so i ripped up six little pieces of paper and wrote the numbers 1 through 6 on them, and each of us picked one out of my hands. And whoever had number 1 was able to share their testimony first. And we had to go in order. But we could start talking when we felt like we were ready. Luckily enough i was 2nd and not first haha. But come to find out, the dad of the family was 1st. It was great to start out with him. By the end of his testimony, i just nodded my head up and down and knew he truly has a strong testimony of this gospel. As with all the family, they were all crying by the end of their testimonys. Even though sometimes they dont find time to go to church, I know that they all have firm testimonys of this gospel. It was a very spiritual experience and after the lesson the dad and I ate some Japenese Peppers and man they were spicy! haha it was so funny! It was a fun-spiritual night! 

We had a lot of great experiences this week but ill stop it there! Hope all is good back home and you're all working hard! Congrats to my aunty cherisa on her wedding, welcome to the family Kent!! So sweet! Plus next thursday, 31 of Oct. we are going to the temple so i wont write home next monday. Not until that thursday. I love you all and miss you lots! But im doing great out here :) Have a great week and a half!! 
Elder Needham

October 14, 2013

Hola fam,

Monday: alright so after i wrote you guys last week, we met up as a zone and Elder Cayetano from my first area is my zone leader again! its freakin sweet, i love that kid! he's so fun, best zone leader ever! We all played some football and basketball together which was fun to finally play a little football. But it wasnt anything, haha all the mexicans were just running around like crazies! It was funny! And during one of the games of basketball, i got a break away and totally threw off the backboard and dunked it haha. it was so fun!! Man, sports really are my life. I love them too much. I sound like a jock, but i take advantage to play any kind of sport while im on the mission haha. 

Tuesday: Today i had exchanges with Elder Cayetano and it was just a great day in all. He is just a great leader and example to me. He is a convert of just 3 years, and he is one of the most humble missionaries i've ever met. These past couple of weeks i have been feeling a little bit down, tired, wornout. And i needed some help. I hadnt received a priesthood blessing for a few months so i asked him to give me one. It was one of the most heart-felt blessings i have received in my life. For the first time in a while, during the blessing i felt God's love for me. I had a feeling of peace, calmness, and just the most soothing experience. I know that when times are hard, through having a blessing we can be reassured god's love for us. it was an awesome experience. In the night we bought two campechanas each and went into this empty room next door with music and just enjoyed our time talking and all. it was great!!

Wednesday: Today we did some great service for some members! We chopped down some weeds with other elders and then had a barbeque after! It was a fun experience. 

Friday: we had our final lesson with one of our investigadors Nestor. We were preparing him for something very special and this special thing is.....

Saturday: WE HAD A BAPTISM! Woo! Today Nestor was baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! It was such an awesome experience and Nestor is seriously one of the most awesome men i have ever met. His testimony that he has is like he's been a member for 5 years. It was just a special service and it was great for Elder Bautista to have his first baptism. We now have a new rule that missionaries cant baptize the people. Only the members. its a good rule cause now the converts with always have a friend in the ward. It was a great day :)

Sunday: Nestor was confirmed today and received the Holy Ghost. I cant tell which is better, the baptism or the confirmation. It was so great! The bishop confirmed him and Elder bautista and I were able to join in the blessing. What a great weekend!

Monday: we are going to this big mall here called CitaDel, it'll be way fun :) 

Well, there's my week! it was a great one and im still alive. So thanks for the prayers. Love you and all hope you have a great week!! Take care. 

Elder Needham

1. & 2. just preachin the book of mormon

3. the baptism

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