Great Day, Ramon Gets Baptized

Hola Family and friends!

How were your weeks? What new things happened?

Well, This week was a very busy one to say the least. We felt like we were running a marathon the whole week. And, we have not had water here since Monday. All of Tula and the surrounding cities have not had water for a whole week because there is no water here. We need more rain!

Because there is not any water, it made the baptisim for Ramón very complicated. It came to the point that the Bishop said it was just better to wait, but my companion and I fought for his baptism and he was able to be baptized on Saturday at 4 in another church. No-body came, but it did not matter to him. He was so happy after. He comented how he had waited for 63 years for this day and now he finally feels complete with his new life. It was a very special experience to be a part of. After, we were talking with him about how Heaven had a lot of happy people this day because he was baptized then we talked about family history. He asked me to do his families work when I get home. It is pretty special for me. Right now, he and Junita are working on getting to the temple in a year.

We celebrated my Birthday on Saturday with Mari, Juanita, and Ramon. They bought us a cake and put a firework on it!! It was pretty sweet. I recorded it so, I will have to send a CD of it here soon. On Sunday, we had another party! I did not know about it. One sister asked us to come to their house to eat dinner so we were like "Yeah, we like food! :)" So we went and it turned out to be a surprise party. We made pizza and she made a german chocolate cake. Man, it was good. It was pretty fun.

Things here have been pretty complicated with no water. The good thing is, we have a well here at our house. The bad thing is, every morning we have to get up at 5 to get water. We have a 5 gallon bucket that we throw down this huge hole.. I swear you can see China with how deep it is, then we have to pull it back up. We do this like 12 times. We will be buff when we come home. 

This week, my infection has seemed to get worse. I have decided to not treat it anymore. I am going to put it in our Heavenly Father´s hands. I am asking for you all to please pray for me. I could really use some extra prayers.

And.. the news as far as transfers go. I have a transfer. I am going to the city of Huehuetoca (pronounced way way toca) I am finally leaving the small towns and the state of Hidalgo and I am going to the big cities and the state of Mexico. I will be Sr. Companion again, and that is about all I know. I do not know who my comp. will be or anything else.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I really do have the greatest friends and family. I hope you all have a great week! Until next week- Hna. Turek

Sore Throat Again

Hola hola!

This week was an adventure. Where to begin, I do not even know.

I woke up with another sore throat on Wednesday. We called the Dr. and she could not come until 6 in the afternoon, so I kept trying to endure until she could come look at my throat. 6 o´ clock finally came and we met with her in the church. I have the infection again, and it is also on my tongue now. My poor tonsils look like they were put in a blender and blended. I am doing another round of antibiotics and we will see how I am on Saturday. I do not know why I just can not beat this infection.. but it is kicking my behind pretty good. I am so tired physiclly.

We went to the visitors center here in the city on Saturday. We took two less actives with us. It was a pretty good time. I wish the temple was  open, but it will not be open for another year. It was good for the less actives. Hermana Eldenia (the sister we took) was asking alot about being sealed and endowments. She wants to do that and she proved it by bringing the whole family to church. She told me she wants to wait for September of 2015 to be sealed so that I can come. We will see what happens. :)

Ramon had a hard week this week. His friends came with alcohol on Friday. He is really looking forward to being baptized that he told his friends to leave. It was neat to watch because we totally thought he would drink and that his date would fall. The good news? He will be baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. It is kinda weird how complete strangers come to be close friends and you have such a huge love for them and want them to do what will truly make them happy. That is how I feel about all of my investigators and recent converts here. I just can not describe the love that I have for them.

One sister is coming to St. George the last week of September. She asked if I wanted to send something so I am going to be sending a package. But, I need someone to meet her at the temple. (She will call when they are there) Also, they do not speak very much English so it would be helpful to have someone who can translate. If this is pòssible for you, please let me know. 

My thought for the week: "As we extend our hands and our hearts towrad others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger." - Elder Uchtdorf. 

I think that this is about all that I have for this week. I hope you have a fantastic week and do what is right. Love you all. Until next week- Hermana Turek

Feeling Better

Hello! Sorry that I am late writing today. We went to D.F. (Federal District in English)

This week was fast and long and hard. On Tuesday Hermano Eliseo told us that he did not want to continue listening to us nor be baptized because Miguel Angel baptized him and he asked Miguel if he had authority from God and Miguel said "yes" so now we are liars and all that jazz. He was mad at us. But he just does not understand authority or the apostasía. Tal ves it is just not his time. 

Hermano Ramon is still doing great. Staying strong. He is preparing for his baptism for the 16th and is excited. We have transfers the 19th and it is very likely that I am going to get transfered, so we were telling him this so he said that he is ready and it will happen because he wants "hermana gringa" there. :) We are also going to celebrate my birthday with them the same day. :) 

Hermana Gabriela is amazing! She had an emergency yesterday, so she could not make it to church, so that means that she will be baptized after I leave. :( But, she is so ready.

Hermano Jesus also has a baptism date for the 24th. So I will probably miss his baptism too. But it is amazing to see all the people that our Heavenly Father has prepared for us. An area that has not had baptisms in one year in September now has three new members. Our Bishop is pretty happy. 

I am finally 100% better! Yay!! It only lasted three weeks! My tonsils are pretty damaged, but at least I feel better and we can worry about those in April. 

On Wednesday, I had the weirdest allergic reaction. My stomach, neck, and face were covered in hives. It sucked. But the Dr. thinks it was a reaction to a medicine for my throat. When I come home, I am going to be immune to everything. Lets just hope and pray that I will be good for the rest of my mission.

Thought for the week- This month in the Ensign there is an article about a wife with a husband who has cancer and in this article Pres. Monson said something that I love. " Difficulties come into our lives, problems we do not anticipate and which we would never choose. None of us are immune. The purpose of mortality is to learn and to grow to be more like our Father, and it is often during the difficult times that we learn the most, as painful as the lessons may be." I loved this. A lot of time when we are passing trials, we say "why me?" But, what we need to ask is "What can I learn by passing this trial?". I promise that our Father will never give us more than we can handle. Our lives are in his hands. He knows the end from the beginning. The other thought because last week I did not include one. This week I was reading in Alma. I came upon the Story of the 2,000 strippling warriors. I LOVED this story! (I highly encourage you to read it. It starts in Alma 53.) My favorite versus are 53:21, 56:47-48 and 57:27. I owe a lot to my parents. I know that I was NOT an easy daughter to have as a teenager. But, somehow my parents were able to drill into my mind correct principles. I am very thankful to have them as my parents. also, if we put our trust in our Heavenly Father, what else matters? Nothing. 

I hope that you all have a GRAND week. This week, try to find somebody that you can share the gospel with. Love you all! Until next week.- Hna. Turek