5 More Days Until We Talk to Dallas!

Hey fam!



P day has been changed to the 25th this week so we only have a few minutes to write to let you know about the plans for the Christmas call.


You can call me at one o clock in the afternoon in Utah, which will be two o clock in the afternoon here in Michoacan. I'll be at the home of the Arreguin family. I'll let them know that Grandpa Bob would probably be doing a test call this week sometime to make sure the number works and everything. We'll have one hour to talk and I'm super stoked! I'll be able to write the regular e mail this saturday and send the pictures from the baptisms and the Christmas stuff. By the way, all my packages arrived on time (don't worry Bam, I got my little Christmas tree set up on time and I have my presents and candy all set up underneath, and I've been enjoying the hot chocolate! I'll send a picture of the tree on saturday too). It was sort of a Christmas miracle, I'll tell you all about it in my e mail on Saturday!

I love you all!

Elder Aguilar

11 Months

Hey fam!

How is everybody! Sorry but this e mail will be a little short because I don't have much time. This week almost all my mail got here! We had a big party in our house. It was actually a surprise from one of the zone leaders Elder Vasquez. It turns out me, Elder Sanchez (who lives at our house), and Elder Vasquez all have birthdays in November, so we had a little party. I included the pictures.

We had a baptismal service on Sunday that went really well. It was a neat experience. We hadn't been able to catch her at home for like three days before her baptism, and I was super stressed that she might not make it. We headed towards her house in the morning with a taxi, and there she was with two of her kids all ready for church and the baptism, already walking towards the chapel. Sweet. Maria de la Luz Cisnero Galvez was baptized by my companion Elder Briceño. I'll send the pictures next week.

We were on divisions this week for three days with Elder Vasquez and we learned a ton from him. It was pretty cool. He came initially for the birthday thing, but ended up staying longer to help me with the district. There were a few problems that needed to be corrected in the other companionship, but everything is good now.

The sebichi was good by the way. It was way different than I expected but it was really good!

Mom- I sure can bear my testimony in Spanish on the phone for Christmas. Just remind me when I call. I'll have all the info for the call next monday. That's so crazy about Shalyssa and Kaela! How ironic. And cool. haha. My birthday package was awesome. As you can see in the pictures I baked my cake! And the build a bear was sweet! Love you mom! have a great week!

Dig- Wrestlilng sounds awesome man! Say hi to McCumber for me! And yes of coarse you can use my shoes. haha. Love ya dig. have a great week!

Nay- That music therapist stuff sounds awesome! That'd be the sweetest job! Where did Logan go on his mission? Love ya nay! have a great week!

Dad- That's sweet you met that Michoacan family. The people here are pretty great. I sent that testimony in a seperate e mail. I'm excited to get a copy of the other testimonies too! Love ya dad! Have a great week!

Shash- Good luck with your Jazz att. stuff sloosh! Tear it up at the old folk's home! haha. Love ya shash! Have a great week!

Den- That's sweet your doing so great at the piano! Let me know how your recital goes! Love ya! Have a great week!

Egans!!!- Thanks for the package! It was awesome! The CD you sent in the package arrived broken in half! It was a tragedy! I was wondering if you could maybe send the recordings over e mail and I could burn them onto a CD? Thanks! Love you all!

Thanks SO MUCH for the packages Bam, Hardings, Egans and Fam! All the Dear Elders too! Love you all!

Elder Aguilar


YIKES!




Party Time




Elder Aguilar's Birthday Party - Better late than never!




The Build-A-Bear is his present from our family - when you squeeze it's hand it sings Happy Birthday from all of us.



Halloween?



That's Dallas' Birthday in a Box we sent him.  Looks like he had plenty of cake!



Hey Fam!

How is everybody? This week has been good. It was a little slow and there were some pretty crazy trials for me personally, but I learned a ton and I'm super thankful for everything that happened. We didn't really see any success until saturday and sunday, when we suddenly started to find people all over the place. Quite a few members started to give us references for appointments to visit their family members that need the gospel, and we found a family that listened to the missionaries a long time ago and have been reading the Book of Mormon ever since, even though the missionaries hadn't continued to teach them.

The other companionship in our district moved in with us this week which will be sweet. One of the Elders has a ton of church music and a pretty sweet set up to play the music, and two more people in the house means two more people that might have extra food to share with me. It will also be really neat to get to know the other Elders better and be more involved with their investigators etc. We'll be doing divisions with them this week to share ideas for contacting and teaching etc.

Tomorrow one of the sisters in the ward is making us something called sebichi (i think that's how it's spelled) which is raw fish in lime juice. I guess you can eat any kind of raw fish in lime juice and it's healthy. I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy it.

We went and helped the Elder's quorum president paint his house the other morning for about an hour. My comp use to paint houses and cars in Peru to make extra cash, so he showed me how to paint a house right. It's not as fun as I thought it would be, but I learned how to do it pretty well.

This week one of the houses in our area caught on fire. A family with small children were inside asleep, but they were luckily able to get out without any problems. Everything in the house ended up burning right to the ground. It was pretty cool to see the people that live here take action to quickly help the family out. This wednesday we're going to go over there in the evening with some of the members of the ward to donate a bunch of clothes and stuff and help with some of the reconstruction.

Saturday we were knocking on doors when we arrived at a house that had the door open. Inside the door was a long hallway that went all the way to the back of the house. When I knocked on the door this little dog came running around the corner at the end of the hall at full speed. It ran straight to me with out even hesitating and just bit me on the shin. Luckily it was just a little dog like I mentioned, so I just laughed when it bit me and it ran away. It was pretty cool.

Well thanks for everything fam! I hope you all have a great week!

Gram- My dad pointed out to me that I totally forgot to thank you for the birthday money! Thanks so much gram! I was able to buy a ton of tacos for my comp and me and a better cd player to listen to mo tab and the draper sisters with the money that you and bam sent me, and there's still plenty left over for more tacos or tamales or something. Thanks! I love you! have a great week!

Mom- Benita Garcia Espinoza isn't quite beautiful thanks hope, that'd actually be Bonita Gracias Esperanza. But they are very simillar! haha. Thanks for the update on the fam. That's sweet that our fam is friends with Phillip now. That guy's funny. So about the mail, I still haven't recieved anything, but the Zone Leaders went to Guadalajara last week so I should recieve it all tonight at the district meeting. I'll let you know for next week. I'm attaching the pic from my birthday thing to this e mail! By the way the whole biting the cake thing is a tradition in mexico. They're supposed to shove your face into the cake too but I managed to escape that part. haha. I love you Mom! have a great week!

Shash- Sweet job with your jazz att concert! I can't believe how big you are already sloosh! I love ya! Have a great week!

Den- That's sweet your in B ball man! keep me updated about your games! Love ya! have a great week!

Dad- Thanks for reminding me about gram. Keep me updated on how she's doing. The District leader stuff has been going a little better now that the other elders are with us in the house. Love ya! have a great week!

Nay- That stinks about your knee nay! don't snowboard you could end up with a way bad injury. haha. So what's a music therapist do? That's awesome you're learning guitar. Love ya nay! Have a great week!

Dig- Sounds like you had a fun week man! Those junior high years are the funnest. I remember it like yesterday. keep me updated on everything. Love ya! have a great week!

Love you all!
Elder Aguilar

Happy 20th Birthday Dallas!  I sure am glad someone made him a cake since he didn't get our package.



Elder Bricenio and Elder Aguilar - November 17, 2010



Hey Fam!

How is everybody? This week has been pretty great! This letter might be a little short because I don't have a ton of time. So this week started out super stressful. We were having very little success. We weren't finding any new investigators and almost all our appointments kept falling through. When we reported dats on Thursday the only thing that looked up to par was our contacts. On Tuesday morning the assistants called all the leaders to let us know that the President was asking for us all to complete the standard of excelence this past week. As I mentioned in my last letter, I've never actually been able to do that before. I was really stressed by thursday, and started to think it just wouldn't be possible. Then I realized I was being very faithless. I remembered that these numbers don't gain us anything. The only reason behind them is to help us work harder to bless the lives of others. I decided that if the Lord had revealed those goals for us, he obviously wanted us to complete them so He can bless more of His children who need the gospel. So if the Lord wants us to have success, and we want to have success, and it's all for the right reason, to follow Christ's example and serve others, then what was going to stop us? The opposing side certainly isn't as powerful, the Lord will always provide a way. Anyway we started to work more faithfully, and continued diligently to the end, and we completed the standard of excelence. We also saw some incredible changes in some of the families we've been teaching, and the Spirit was alot stronger in each of our lessons.

Saturday was a special day, we had a baptismal service for Benita Garcia Espinoza. She's seventy six years old, and she's just beginning a new life. Awesome. I had the priveledge to perform the ordinance, and I was thankful to be a part of that special day, but it was kind of scary. She doesn't walk very well, hear very well, or see very well, so I had to guide her down the hall to the font. It was a zone baptismal service, so the floor was already a little wet from the first baptism. As we turned to go into the font, I was getting a little nervous about the slippery tile, because it would be so bad if an accident happened right before her baptism. She didn't end up slipping and falling. But I did. I think it scared Benita a little but I was ok. I had to tell her really loudly in the font that she had to keep her nose plugged when she went under water. She said ok. But when she went down under the water she got a little stressed and breathed in a little water. Then as I was pulling her up she wouldn't stand up all the way, and the Zone Leaders had to reach into the font from the outside and help me stand her up. It was pretty crazy, but it was a really neat experience. Her daughter and granddaughter recently joined the church, and they were really excited for the baptism. A few of her other children are also preparing for their baptisms.

After the service we went to visit a really neat family we recently found, the Martinez family. We had taught them the restoration, and also lent them the DVD of the Joseph Smith movie. As we began to ask them how they were and everything, the father began to talk about how they appreciate what we shared with them, but they aren't sure if they could come to church with us, because they felt like anywhere that talks about the Savior is fine, and that they didn't really need a change. The wife began to speak, and was echoing what her husband had said. Then she mentioned that they actually hadn't attended any church services in a while, then she began to cry, and expressed the need she feels for a change in her family. She said they really need the Lord's help with their kids, and that she just wants to be happy, and not have so much contention in their home. We testified of the Savior's love, the plan of Salvation, and the power of prayer, and put a baptismal date. It'll be neet to see how they continue to progress.

Dad- Thanks for the District leader advice. The Zone Leaders asked me to do some interviews in the district tonight, and I'll keep in mind what you said. I'll be pulling that $100 from my birthday out today just so ya know. Love ya dad. have a great week!

Dig- That u game sounds like it was sweet. Man your making me wish I could go sledding too, it doesn't even exhist here! Love ya dig. Have a great week!

Nay- That's crazy that the bagger thing was so tiring. I've never really thought about it but ya that'd be pretty tough. haha. I don't feel like christmas is here still. It's blazing hot in Uruapan. Live it up this Christmas for me though Nay! Love ya! have a great week!

Shash- Sounds like you had kind of a tough week! It's ok though. Just remember the whole fam loves ya, even in the bossy times. haha. I love ya sloosh. Have a great week!

Den- Man you saw shaky when you rushed the field! That sounds awesome! That's sweet what you learned about tithing too denny o. Love ya! Have a great week!

Mom- I'm pretty sure the letter should arrive ok, I sent it with a special international stamp. I still haven't recieved mail in a while. The Zone Leaders are going to the offices this week, and they'll bring the mail with them. But it's possible that I won't get the Christmas stuff in time. I do have a picture from the birthday family night. I'll send it next week if I can. I included pictures of the baptism this week, and one of me in front of a cathedral. About your question, Yes I always feel your love through the letters mom! Thanks. It helps me stay focused on why I'm here, and remember what an awesome fam I have. I love you mom. Have a great week!
Elder Aguilar

Benita Garcia Espinoza's Baptism - She is so cute!



Cathedral in Uruapan

Hey fam!

How is everybody? I'm doing well. So this week has been pretty up and down. It's been up because the area is exploding. The first three days of the week we found ten new investigators, had reached about two thirds worth of our number goals already, and set alot of baptismal dates. This place is really super prepared for the gospel. Then friday we found a new family of five as well. Everything was looking perfect. Sadly, we decided not to give it our all for the entire week, and I felt horrible by the end. There's nothing worse than thinking about the last week, and wondering if more people could have come unto Christ if I would've been more diligent. We ended up missing the standard of excellence goal for the mission by one person not making it to sacrament meeting, and one baptismal date too short. That would have been my first time getting the entire standard of excellence for the mission, and usually there are only about four or five companionships in the mission who reach it per week. The president came on thursday for interviews in the zone with the assistants. He gave us good advice that will help me alot. I don't want to sound like numbers are the only thing that matter by the way, they're mostly just a way to keep ourselves on track, and a way to show the Lord how much we need His help. We know we can't do anything alone, so we give it our very best to hit our goals, so the Lord can take care of the rest, and miracles can happen in the lives of His children here in Uruapan. Anyway, I was thinking about what things I need to change for this upcoming week to do better, and I came to the conclusion that sacrifice is what I'm missing. If I want to see sacred experiences happening here for these people, I need to make more sacrifice. I don't think it's ironic that sacrifice and sacred have similar word roots. I've been thinking alot about how the Savior said "he that findeth is life shall lose it, but he that loseth his life, for my sake, shall find it." (or something similar) Anyway, I was thinking about that, and I realized that if I'm worried about what's going to happen after the mission, or if I'm always thinking about memories from life before, or if I'm seeking more for my own gain than to complete the Lord's will, I'm searching for and more or less finding my own life, and in that process I'm losing it! I need to completely dedicate every single thing I do to Him, losing my life, then I shall find it. Maybe that's a simple principle I should have been able to figure out earlier on, but I'm just thankful the Lord is opening my eyes a little more. It's crazy how the more I learn about the simple basic principles of the gospel, the more I realize how much there is to improve on! sheesh. haha.

Me and my comp are doing well. We have similar mind sets and priorities, and it's been pretty cool working together. A little more about him, I found out his favorite food is rice. I thought he was crazy when he told me that, but then he made me some peruvian rice, and it's sooo good. He's going to teach me how to make it. He knows absolutely nothing in english, he's actually trying to read my e mail right now but he only knows the word yes, so he's not getting very far. We're working on his english and my spanish in the mornings for our language study hour. He's from an area in peru where many drugs are legalized, and he actually had a job before the mission, guarding a cocaine truck with a machine gun while they delivered to various distributers. Utah is a pretty nice place.

My birthday went well. We had a decent work day. A member family bought me a cake, and they all sang happy birthday to me at a family night. Thanksgiving actually isn't celebrated in Mexico, so that stinks. But I found out everybody makes turkey for Christmas, so I can pretend that Christmas and Thanksgiving are smashed together into one holiday.

Thanks for everything fam!

Shash- That's sweet about Rhino's Christmas tree! What did you get him for Christmas? That's good you're doing a little better on cleaning your room now. It always feels better to be in a clean house instead of a dirty one, and the Spirit can dwell there stronger. :) Did you take pictures of the snowmen you built? It sounds like that was super fun making the snowmen. Love ya shash! have a great week!

Dad- That experience from Sacrament is insane! I can't believe that actually happened! I've never seen that happen before. There were a couple classes in the MTC that I was in when a missionary made a comment like that, those doubts were usually answered in a word or two or ignored. District Leader is going alright. I'm now in the second district that I'm in charge of, and they've both had the companionships that are struggling the most out of the zone. It makes it a little stressful, but I feel like it's an great opportunity to learn. I'd appreciate any advice on how to get them more excited about the work. Anyway, thanks for always being such a great example dad. Love ya! have a great week!

Den- Sounds like you had a super fun week man! you're just livin the life right now. haha. Way to take on the challenge of a two verses one airsoft fight too. Love ya denny o! have a great week!

Mom- So the package business... I never got Bam's halloween package, and I haven't recieved any birthday packages yet. I did recieve a birthday card from the Hardings with a note from each of them though which was great! I'll see when the Zone Leaders will finally be heading to the city and make sure they check the mail room in the offices really well. That's too bad to hear about Mr. Keddington, he was the man. Thanks for letting me know about him. Thanks for getting that jacket sent, it just so happens that's the style down here (the professional missionary type style of course). Let me know when you get my letter! I love you mom! Have a great week!

Dig- That's sweet about your new airsoft guns. That pistol with the silencer sounds sweet. I did that same car project at kennedy! Love ya dig! have a great week!

Nay- That stinks that you got the whiniest fake baby in the world for your project haha. At least now you'll be extra prepared for a fam in the future. That stinks about your leg injury too. Keep me updated on that one. I hope everything works out ok. Let me know about the results from all your college apps too! Love ya Nay! Have a great week!

Love you all fam!
Elder Aguilar