April 16th, 2018 Letter #23

We had to dodge 372 bullets to baptize Alberto, but it worked out and the President personally congratulated us for being persistent with it. It was a nice baptism and we combined with other wards for the service. Some members from the other wards spoke. He let loose a few tears when he found out he was going to be able to get baptized so that was a neat experience. He's married but his wife kicked him out of his house as we were teaching him so we've had little contact with his family, but his daughter came to the baptism so we're going to start working with her. No investigators came, but we're teaching a few more. I'll let you know who's progressing next week. 

Zone conference was fun and, yes, the president comes to conference. My companion convinced Hna Equihuas to buy pizza for us. We talked about the importance of love in missionary work during the meeting for leaders and I liked that bit. Elder Alor and I were asked to sing in the conference "Secreta Oración." The conference was in Poza Rica.

 I went on splits with Elder Seaman (my first zone leader) this week and that was super fun. We had several incredible experiences. One time we had what I would call a "second chance contact." We were rejected, but something told Elder Seaman to stay outside the house and wait. So we waited. When the guy came back out I told him that we also offer service to others. He turned that down too, but we got started talking again and he eventually mentioned how his mom had died recently. We shared a bit about the Plan of Salvation, he let us in, and we made another appointment. Later on we taught an investigator who met all the requirements for baptism (times in church, commandments...), but lacked a testimony of Joseph Smith. I shared mine and told her to read that of Joseph Smith himself. Elder Seaman set up a time to watch "The Restoration" the next day. Yesterday Elder Seaman called me to let me know that she got baptized and confirmed this weekend. The other thing we did was teach an English class. We taught them directions (right, left, forward...) Then blindfolded them and sent volunteers one at a time through a maze of chairs while another person guided them in English. It was super fun.

 The members feed us lunch. Breakfast and dinner is kinda just whatever we have (cereal or toast or something). 

Love you

Elder Finlinson

Alberto's baptism...with others

April 9th, 2018 Letter #22

The baptism went well. Alberto couldn't come because he went to go sell some stuff in Poza Rica (which is good because he's really struggling financially). Teresa came though. Late, but there. When Jose Emiliano got baptized he forgot to plug his nose so he came up with a cough and immediately ran up the stairs and out of the font. He got all the way under the water though so it counted and he'll probably never forget his baptism now. 

Alberto is excited for his baptism this weekend, so that's positive. 

Elder Alor and I sing hymns with investigators and Jose Emiliano likes to sing 3 or 4 whenever we go to his house. 

Maripaz and the Hernandez Aguilar family can be added to your list of people to pray for if you want, but I wouldn't stress too much about memorizing everyone.

Interviews were good, but the zone conference is tomorrow. We didn't get the Liahona yet, but the "ministering" announcement made for a hectic ward council meeting. It was a good meeting, but a little crazy.

Food really doesn't get too wild here and it's typically the same kind of thing over and over. 

The best thing that happened would be that Jose Emiliano got baptized. Apart from that we found a way to introduce religion to the conversation with Teresa (before we had been coming purely to teach English to her son because she's SUPER firm on being Catholic). So we're starting to see progress. 

Maripaz also just came to church unannounced and has apparently already gone several times to another ward so she's pretty much already prepared. 

Elder Alor is good about keeping in mind what tasks we have left to do in the day so that we don't forget stuff (which is really good for someone like me). We haven't been on splits for a while, but we're planning some this week. 

The trial is just having enough energy to keep climbing the hills. I'm pretty confident I'll make a splendid hiker when I'm done here. It sounds like a little thing, but it starts to wear down on a person day after day. The weather isn't bad. It's a little on the warm side, but not enough to complain a ton about. I was gonna send pictures, but we're in a ghetto internet café and so the computers aren't what I need.

With love,

Elder Finlinson

Jose Emiliano's baptism with Elder Alor and Elder Finlinson

April 2nd, 2018 Letter #21

I thought it was funny when President Nelson coudn't keep a straight face after announcing another Utah temple. The changes make sense. I liked the Saturday afternoon session quite a bit. The guy that talked about ordinances got Elder Alor and I going when he told the story about the investigator that asked about the sacrament and reverence in church. Alberto came to conference and liked it. Jose Emiliano came too (I had a typo on his name last week). We missed the Saturday morning conference due to some confusion.

We didn't try the singing thing this week because we spent quite a bit of time teaching rather than contacting. We added Dolores to the list of progressing investigators.

Tell Cole to take care of his head because head injuries mess with you if you don't take good care of them. The head stays with you for life, but a soccer game or two gets forgotten pretty quickly. 

Good to hear Elder Mardo still loves me from afar. I've been studying humility and pride this week. If you get a minute or two then it might be worth glancing over Chapter 18 of The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson. 

Love you all,

Elder Finlinson

March 26th, 2018 Letter #20

Cool story: We were talking to a man in a store and he kept talking and talking about religion and the bible and whatnot and it was hard to get a word in, but I felt an impression to take immediate advantage of any window of opportunity and just ask if he wants to get baptized. So I did. He agreed that baptism would be important so we said we needed to teach him a few things in order to baptize him. He invited us to teach and so we made an appointment and set a baptismal date with him right then and there. We later came back to teach the restoration and I felt like my Spanish/teaching was lacking for whatever reason so I said a little prayer in my heart just saying, "please don't let me mess this up." At the end we asked if he would pray about Joseph Smith and he basically said, "I have nothing to ask. I know he was a prophet." So that was a blessing. He also came to church yesterday so hopefully we'll have a baptism for Alberto on the 14 of April. Other investigators to pray for if you'd like: Teresa, Jose Emilio, Alicia, Gabriel.

Our voices were still struggling even up until last night (from being sick) so we might put the song thing into practice this week. Even though we couldn't use it, we still had a great week this time around. 

I like the little bananas.

The Chinese restaurant is pretty similar to American ones. There aren't as many bakeries here.

I played soccer for P-day with Elder Alor, Jimenez, and Medina (Medina is from my CCM district). El Tajin isn't far so we'll go someday. 

My favorite part of the week is that we had a shower of blessings. Every investigator we have (except Gabriel) is new. An inactive sister from the ward came to church yesterday after years of inactivity and brought her unbaptized 9 year-old with her. We talked to her afterwards about her son and, long story short, we should be able to baptize him on the 7th of April. So the Lord has been helping out a lot lately.

We're watching conference in the church building with the ward so it'll be in Spanish. I haven't seen any big celebrations yet for Easter. 

Insight from studies: don't make fun of people (Alma 5). I kinda lacked on pictures this week so I'll have to look for opportunities this time around.

With Love, Elder Finlinson.

March 19th, 2018 Letter #19

I will be staying with Elder Alor in Xanath this change. I heard a rumor that the President expects a lot from our companionship, which is both encouraging and frightening (pressure). Elder Alor heard the rumor from Elder Lovaas (Assistant of Teaching).


The area is indeed hills on hills and it also happens to be one of the biggest areas in the mission (At one point it was 3 areas I heard). It is a pretty area though. There's a real shower now, but the water is cold so I sometimes still go for the bucket because we can heat it. 

I typically think in English to myself because it's natural, but I think in Spanish a fair amount for the sake of practice and I also think in Spanish when I've been talking for a while.

We baptized Sara this weekend and I got to confirm her as well so that was neat. . She's 10 and her sister was baptized a few weeks ago. Her dad was an inactive member, but is starting to come again now.That being said, we have almost no investigators right now, so we gotta focus on finding this week. Elder Alor and I had been planning on using hymns to get into houses. Something like, "hey can we sing a hymn and say a prayer to bless your house?" then teach a little and reschedule an appointment. But then we got sick Friday/Saturday and so we've decided against singing until we're healthy again.

The ward is really nice and fairly well organized. We eat with members and the food is pretty similar. Although there is a Chinese restaraunt here that a member owns so we go there a decent amount.The guys that spin from the sky are more of a seasonal thing, but I have seen one of the towers for it. We kinda just relaxed for P-day because Elder Alor and I are both sick (just a cold). 

The homes around here are pretty similar to Vega. There are a lot of banana farms here. I like almost everything about Xanath, but the hills make for a long day toward the end. It's said kinda like "Shannut". 

Also some interesting thoughts from Elder Alor:

He says I look like Chase Matthews from Zoey 101, but with different hair.

When we pass young women they often stare and once he told me, "you're like a Jonas Brother" because I catch a lot of looks.

One time I was standing in front of him and so with his broken English he said, "your butt is my face" He missed a crucial "in".

The Lord answers prayers when our desires are truly in line with his. Like Moroni says, we need to pray with real intent and a sincere heart. If we're asking him for things that we want simply because we want them then it's not so likely we'll be answered. If we ask because we honestly know that what we're asking for is something that lines up with His plan then it's a lot easier to recognize an answer just around the corner.

Sara doesn't smile unless she has a reason. Pictures weren't a sufficient reason for her.

The two in back are family members and the little boy in red just jumped in because he saw an opportunity. We figured we'd let him in. 

March 12th, 2018 Letter #18

The people here are super nice and I swear every family we visit has a super fun 3 year old. The area itself is pure hills so that's always fun. It's rained a couple times already. It's not as hot here so far as Vega, but I have to shower at night now because the hills work up a good sweat. Elder Alor is from the Veracruz mission so he lives super close to here. His family got baptized a few months before he left and he was baptized three years ago. He turns 24 in a month. We get along well and he's very complimentary of my spanish and preparation, which is nice. We went to the zone leader's area for p-day and I got to know a little more of what the city center is like in Papantla.

For the transfer they just straight up sent me solo and figured I wouldn't do anything stupid because there wasn't a way to send someone with me. The investigators are cool and we should baptize this weekend. Briana got baptized in Vega last week so that was cool to hear about. The best thing about the week is that the Spanish is being put into practice now (Elder Alor and I talk quite a bit as we walk). The worst was that our numbers were a little rough this week. There are still street dogs.

Love, Elder Finlinson

Also interesting sidenote: Xanath means: 1) Intense desire for association with people and new experiences (and/or) 2) You have a unique inner potential. With your first breath, a spiritual essence and purpose became part of you.

 Elder Finlinson with Elder Andino at Zone Conference

 Morning Prayers?!  I thought it was funny that they were both praying with their butts in the sky (Elder Marquez and Elder Lascarez).

 Beauty of Veracruz

 More coastline

Cute piglets

March 5th, 2018 Letter #17

We taught the Plan of Salvation several times this week and we use the little wooden cutouts we got at Deseret Book before I left to teach. 

Elder Marquez is one of 7 kids and his parents are separated. He's a convert of 4 years and a couple of his family members also joined the church a little after. He gets good support from home. That being said, I won't be here in Vega anymore. I'm being part of a special transfer tomorrow because there is a missionary who has knee problems in a hilly area and I'm in a flat area so we're gonna trade. Funny thing is that I asked the Lord for a trial a couple nights ago, ( I really just started to think, "This is supposed to be harder so I can be more mature when I get home.") and now I'm being sent to a new area suddenly so I'm curious to see what awaits me. My zone will be Papantla and the area will be Xanath. I was starting to enjoy the oddities of a small branch but it will be nice to perhaps have a ward council or something in my new area.  My companion's name will be Elder Alor. The only thing I know about him is that is a convert to the church. Also fun fact we're supposed to have 3-4 baptisms in Vega this weekend. But it is all the same work regardless of who gets to witness it. 

I feel like I've been pretty protected primarily by your sister, Kristen. Have you ever wondered if it was coincidence that she passed away, seemingly without reason, shortly before I was born? I have.

The music is good. I'm used to having a lot of music so it's an adjustment to be limited.

Coco is pretty awesome. In regards to the street dogs... There is an abundance. They're seriously everywhere. One time an elder from another area came for a split and when we first left the house he remarked that he could see more dogs in that moment than he had seen in all of his area.

Zone conference was good. We had a focus on keeping temple covenants. The conference was in another zone (Teziutlan) and it's way pretty. Naturally, it was the hermanas that made the matching stuff. The tie cutting is for missionaries that are in their last change and will soon head home. I like several missionaries in my zone. The leaders are incredible (Hurtado and Dominguez), I also get along well with Elders Ricks, Cortes, Wilson, Miller, Escobar, and Andino. I get along well with all of them of course, but those are the ones I'm more comfortable with.

Shopping is fairly normal, but peanut butter is expensive and options are more limited.

Weather is warm, but not too bad. I'm gonna guess it's not rainy season because that hasn't really been a concern yet.

I keep forgetting the group, but I do write individuals who write me.

Love,
Elder Finlinson

The Hermana's in the zone made matching ties and dresses.