July 30th, 2018 Letter #38

With the new and old missionaries we just help in whatever way we're asked. It's not a super routine thing for us. And there are 17 news coming in the next change. That has us a little stressed because we have to open a bunch of new areas and who do you think is in charge of getting them homes with beds and all that stuff? Us! I'm excited for a wave of young missionaries though because they bring a different energy to the scene.

We do in fact answer the phone while we're here, but it recently broke and frankly I don't know what to do with it. I assumed it wasn't a problem because we have another phone here that kind of works so I figured the calls would go through to that phone, but I guess not. So I should probably look into that. 

When I have an investigator that's gonna get baptized a Zone Leader does the interview. As for how to help the district I really just think I need to help them realize their potential because I've been blessed with some really good missionaries. I try to let them know that when I call them. We didn't have much time for the district class this time around and there won't be one this week, but I'll keep you posted. 

I did in fact see the Bishop again seeing as I went to church. We didn't have a long talk yet, but he did call me "poderoso" in front of the members haha. (Poderoso means powerful) 

Good to hear that everything worked out well with McCade's farewell, that guy's a stud. I hope that between Tyler, Andrew, and Caleb we can see a wedding here soon. I write every once in a while to some friends, but it's off and on. 

Something cool about this week is that we kept ending up in the right place at the right time in situations where we wouldn't normally expect to be present. Some things that we ended up doing as a result: Taught a new deacon from another ward how to conquer his fear of sharing the gospel, sang at a baptism and gave talks in another, met relatives of a member family that seem open to hear the message, etc. The context of each is the curious part, but those things are the important results.

One really spiritual part of the week was during a youth conference that we helped out at. President talked about the importance of missionaries and mission work to the youth and it was really cool to hear what he thinks about us when he doesn't have to be putting us in line. He talked about how we really live D&C 4 and I realized how powerful those words actually can be if you don't just see them as words we habitually recite. 

In México every meal is the same so I don't notice much what we eat anymore. This week was crazy for us so we barely had time to work in general and therefore didn't really do splits this week. 

Study the scriptures.

Love, Elder Finlinson

July 23rd, 2018 Letter #37

I would agree that Coatepec is a pretty area. This week was a little crazy because it was the last week of the change, so I didn't do splits besides the typical ones with the assistants.

My district is the biggest in the mission with 5 companionships or 10 missionaries. Something memorable I've seen a couple of times in baptismal interviews is that I've been with a person that says something to the effect of: "I'm still not sure if I'm ready yet." But after a kneeling prayer where I ask the person to ask God if He feels they're ready for baptism the person agrees that it's time. It's been cool to see people receive their answers and be with them in the moment of decision.

The people we're teaching are getting there little by little. 7 people came to church yesterday so we're gonna have to focus on getting those people on board for baptism now. 

The district meeting didn't go as well as I'd hoped because I didn't plan it as well as I should've. We'll work on it for this week.

The people from the picture are indeed members from the ward. We were waiting for the food to get cooked while we took the pictures.  I was with Elder Lovaas at the time who, yes, is an assistant. When we do splits we usually just decide as a group what we think will be most efficient. The assistants usually go with the same investigators every time while Elder Breinholt and I switch which assistant we're with (this so that us two can get to know everyone seeing as when the assistants are gone we have that necessity). That results in those two getting to know people better and us two getting to know more people. It works for us. 

President and Sister Esquihaus are good at just being loving. We had a FHE with them and Sasha this week and they became friends. President and Sister Esquihaus invited her and her husband to do double date type stuff with them every once in a while as well. 

A pretty cool spiritual experience was a chat that Elder Lovaas and I had with the bishop on Sunday. After ward council he pulled us aside to give us advice and also asked us about our reasons to be missionaries because he said he felt like getting inspired or something like that. It turned into a cool conversation. Bishop gave us a handful of advice, but his line of thoughts began after his nonmember neighbor commented about how many missionaries stray from the path after their missions. So basically he was saying how we can prepare ourselves starting now for the life that follows the mission. He even suggested we pray now that we'll be able to keep ourselves in line afterwards because he says he sees that we're good missionaries and that we bring the Spirit with us and he doesn't want us to lose it when we face the temptations that will come. As for what we said, he basically just asked us why we came on the mission and said he wanted to ponder about it. I'm curious what he'll say next time we see him. He also said that he expects to see us in General Conference someday haha.

 Something that brought me joy was an activity that we had this week. The primary kids put on a play and then the kids from the nursery -- yes I said nursery -- did a choreographed dance that was really funny because they were super lost, but they gave it their best.

Love,

Elder Finlinson

The view from Connor's apartment during a rainstorm.

July 16th 2018 Letter #36

Ma, I go on splits every week. This week I went to Coatepec with Elder Melchor. It's a cool little town and the food there is real good. 

"I always thought the President and his counselors and an office couple would be in the office most of the time." This sentence made me laugh because A. The President is never in the office (His computer and office are at his home) B. He has no counselors (besides us and the assistants if that counts) C. There is no office couple here. 

Since becoming a secretary I've learned that if you really put yourself to work then you can get things done in much less time than you'd expect (I've learned it because I try to spend as little time as possible in the office so I can be in the field). One good thing about being secretary is that I get a LOT of chances to work with the assistants which really has helped me improve my teaching.

One thing I've enjoyed a lot as a District Leader is doing baptismal interviews. You get to know a person pretty well in those moments and you can make a huge difference in very little time (I've done 8 so far and they're always different, but they're always cool).  One thing I love about the missionaries in my district is the desire to do the right thing. I'm confident that they all have it. One of our struggles (in most areas) is a lack of faith. We're going out to work and we're giving it our all, but at times we're doing it without the real expectation of success. So that's what the next district class will treat. 

I feel like the ward is making a good effort with Sasha right now. We haven't been able to meet with her much because the members are constantly scheduling FHE's with her so we're just kind of leaving it in their hands for now. Pati has some good friends in the church now, but we still need someone who can give her a ride because the members that live closest to her seem to be the least willing. 

In our area we just need to convince people really well of the importance of coming to church. We have TONS of people who receive us for lessons, but nobody wants to come to church at 8:00 in the morning. The area has both rich and poor parts. 

Elder Breinholt is just an entertainingly strange dude so we've had some good laughs. The best part of the week is that a lot of people are receiving us now, but, like I said, it's hard to get people to church. That being said, we still had 4 this Sunday that came so we'll keep the faith up. (Sasha, Pati, Maria, and Mario). 

In regards to your question about what the ward could do better, I don't think there's many problems. Although the YSA's are a little prideful. We had an activity that was supposedly centered on a mission objective, but not one of the YSA's brought an investigator or non-member friend after having clearly discussed that that was the purpose. They then proceeded to tell us to leave the activity because we weren't able to bring anyone to it. It made me think of a quote from David A. Bednar: “(A) common element in many of our prayers is a request that the missionaries will be led to individuals and families who are prepared to receive the message of the Restoration, but ultimately it is my responsibility and your responsibility to find people for the missionaries to teach. Missionaries are full-time teachers; you and I are full-time finders. And you and I as lifelong missionaries should not be praying for the full-time missionaries to do our work!” But in all sincerity the ward has been good and that activity was simply an exception so we didn't say anything. 

To fellowship/welcome just don't be afraid to do it. It's like making any sort of friend -- it's not that hard if you can get past the nerves. There's also about 3,000 General Conference talks on the subject if you want to take a look. (Advice for an upcoming council)

No p-day activities, but I was grateful because we finally had time to take care of other concerns like getting food for example. 

Love,

Elder Finlinson

 The little girl wanted Connor to hold her rooster.

July 9th, 2018 Letter #35

We mostly already had nerf guns or borrowed some from missionaries in the next zone over. This week we had an activity with water balloons and sports. It wasn't super organized in the sense that it was activity 1 then 2 then 3. But I liked it better that way because it was more relaxed. 

Elder Ahumada has been there for quite a while, but Elder Lovaas is in his first change as assistant. 

I didn't see Sasha this week because I was on splits when they went to visit, but I think she'll get baptized with a little patience. I don't know if the Bishop went or not. Pati is meeting people, but still needs us to go get her for church (which is the detail we need to change so she can stay active after baptism). We're gonna leave Maria Isabel for a little while to ponder. We'll probably come back eventually though. 

District meetings have focused on whatever needs we have in the district, but one thing that is constant is that we have a brief portion about the importance of obedience to Celestial Laws because that's part of the vision of the mission right now. I try to invite other missionaries to help me with that part of the class. We also do simulations to better our teaching skills, small counsels to talk about the needs of our investigators and toss ideas around about how to help, etc. 

In the offices nobody is "in charge". We just go, get our work done, and leave. The assistants only go on Thursdays and Sundays and President never goes. He has a computer at his house. You could say I'm in charge in the sense that I'm the District Leader amongst the secretaries, but there's not really a set leader in the offices.

I'm not good at remembering funny experiences, but something that was a cross between a tender mercy and a funny moment that just happened today was that some members came to the activity and there where two little girls between perhaps 4-9 years of age that found it especially entertaining to get me wet and so they off-and-on pursued me for quite some time. They made me laugh and it helped me de-stress quite a bit. I don't have access to that picture anymore so I don't know what to tell you. I gotta take more. 

Get healthy 

Love, Elder Finlinson

July 2nd, 2018 Letter #34

Today we went to a zone activity (nerf war) for a while, but Elder Ahumada (assistant) and I had to leave early to get some stuff done before the assistants left again for interviews and conferences. That being said, I'm finding some little ways to get the stress back under control, so don't worry too much about it. 

Elizabeth understands the doctrine, but still doesn't really feel it and doesn't want to feel like she's making the decision just because her daughter got baptized. Other investigators would be Maria Isabel (total opposite of a typical person here because she believes in just about everything EXCEPT the need for a Savior and the fact that Christ is real), Pati (has a baptismal date scheduled, but needs a friend to bring her to church), and Sasha (doesn't feel comfortable in church due to a difficult past situation). There are others of course, but these are the ones whose needs I best understand. 

The best part of the week was just the last couple days I've felt a lot of support from those around me. We ate really well this week actually, but one thing I can mention was a churro relleno that had carmel in it. That was kind of fun. Tender mercies would've been the recently mentioned support that I've gotten. Also Elder Lovaas (the other assistant) and I had a real good chat yesterday. One cool spiritual experience was seeing the revelation that the Bishop has in our ward here. Sasha's big problem with feeling comfortable in church is due to her past and so I was going to talk to the ward council about it. But before the ward council we had our meeting as a ward and in sacrament meeting the Bishop bore his testimony about forgiveness and it was rock solid. So I talked to him later and he's gonna visit Sasha and her husband this week. I also have a testimony of the help that the Spirit will give you in key moments if you try to be worthy of it.

Love, Elder Finlinson