June 18th, 2018 Letter #32

On Friday we (assistants and secretaries) talked with the President about several things and at the end I asked him what he wanted me to do to help the investigators in the area of the assistants when they were gone and after a bit of analyzing we realized that it would be a lot more efficient to keep me in Los Lagos instead of Natura 2 so I'm back. I'm pretty stoked about that to be honest. Thanks for putting Elizabeth's name in the temple. 

Being district leader is cool, but there's a lot of work to do in order to right the ship around here. We have good missionaries though, so I'm not exceptionally worried just yet. Elder Breinholt is a good companion. He also participated in track back in the day, but he jumped. He's been a big help in the offices. We technically have the same responsibilities as secretaries, but he's gonna take care of materials a little more and I'll take care of the records a little more. We did have a district class this week and I taught about the importance of bearing testimony to the investigators and making the lessons more personal so that the Spirit can be felt. I felt like it went well. We do indeed have Hermanas and Elders in the district. One of the hermanas is a sister training leader as well so we both stay busy. The other secretaries are in my district as well.

I had forgotten about what President Price said about my Mission President.*(He told Connor, the night he was set apart, that his Mission President was going to love him and be so grateful when he stepped off the bus because he knew he would be someone he could rely on.) That was cool to hear again. Sounds like you guys are staying busy enough still. I don't have pictures simply because the thought never occurred to me this week, but I'll try to remember this time around.

Love, Elder Finlinson

President and Sister Esquihaus with the assistants and secretaries.

 (This picture was before the last transfer. So there are some changes now.)

June 11th, 2018 Letter #31

My new companion will be Elder Breinholt from Riverton, Utah. I'm kinda excited because I heard he's really good with computer stuff so I just might have someone who can help me keep things straight in the office. He's a little newer than me in the mission. He came in to the mission one transfer after me. I will be training him in his secretarial duties. I'm officially in Natura 2 now. It's a section of Natura that has never been worked in so Elder Breinholt and I will be starting from scratch (whitewash). With that being said I have no specific names for you to pray for in my area. If you want you can pray for Elizabeth who is from Los Lagos because we just baptized her sister and daughter, but she says she wasn't quite ready. She's close though. 

Starting now I'll be district leader as well. We have the biggest district in the mission with 5 areas and two of us are coming in on whitewashed areas. So between secretary, district leader, and a whitewash in my own area I should be a little busy from here on out.

There'll be 4 Secretaries this change so that Elder Breinholt and I can figure out what's going on in the offices and still have time to set a good example with our work in the field.

The best part of the week was the baptism of Evelyne and Pati. I'm sad Elizabeth didn't join them, but she's on her way. Seeing that baptism made me think a little more about the importance of the whole family coming together with a common goal (THT). *THT is a family motto that means TO HEAVEN TOGETHER.

I'll go visit the new missionaries here in a few minutes, but there weren't enough news for them to need me at the bus station to pick them up. I'll be there in the future if/when there's a need.

My ward is smaller again, so I'm back to teaching Gospel Principles. I'll talk to the Bishop about doing it though because that's supposed to be their responsibility. I'm not worried about Gospel Principles taking a lot of time or anything, I would just prefer that the Bishop gets to know the investigators. Because if we teach in the home AND in the church then we are everything for the investigators and when we leave they go inactive.

Sounds like Oregon was pretty. I'd forgotten that Bro. Greer lived there until Dad said something about that. 

Baptism of Evelyne and Pati

June 4th, 2018 Letter #30

Today for P-day we went to a trampoline park. I'd answer the first two questions you asked, but I won't know the answer until changes happen next week so... hasta la próxima. I have no idea if the Cofre is within boundaries, but we asked permission so I'm sure we're fine. President´s son is 26 and fluent in both English and Spanish, but he just returned back to San Diego this week as he was just here for a visit. No other children are with them.

I haven't had much time to run to the store in awhile so I'm mostly just eating what I'm given again. I don't know what is considered "exotic" but something you don't find in the states is the litchi. It's kinda like a grape, but you have to peel it. 

My favorite part of the week was the fact that we've been busy enough to not hardly ever question "What now?" The hardest part was finding out about the problem that the family of 4 has (I'll explain in a second). The funniest was watching Elder Shoemaker walk around town (he's a clumsy fellow and trips a lot, but we love him anyway). There's not really a "primary employment" once you make it to the city, but there's always a lot of taxis. My suitcase is in Natura because it's technically my area, but I'm in Los Lagos because the assistants have needed someone to cover their area while they've been gone. I do have hot water now. The two apartments that I'm between are the most expensive in the mission so they're pretty nice and they actually have furniture so that's fun. I've been to the lakes, but I'm also not a tourist most of the time so it's just as a passerby. I don't teach anyone that goes to the university right now. 

A tender mercy that I saw was that in the family of three they have all been pretty back and forth on baptism, but lately they've been more and more sure. One thing I like about the office is that I get to know a lot more about the mission and how it works. One thing I don't like is that we have less time to work in the field. Ok so the family of four is in debt. A lot of debt. So they hesitate to take breaks from work on Sunday to go to church. They also have issues between mom and dad so I don't know if we'll be able to get them to get married. That's something that prayers could help us out with.

Here's a couple pictures from the trampoline park

May 28th, 2018 Letter #29

Elder Shoemaker will simply be leaving the offices. He's still got plenty of time left in the mission. Elder Garity is the secretary of finances and Elder Vasquez is the secretary to the President so they're actually not in training right now. There's typically 3 secretaries that know what's going on and one that is being trained. I think I'll be able to enjoy the job, but there's definitely a lot to learn and a lot of responsibility that I'll be left with. I'm basically in charge of making sure that everything we do is recorded in some way (baptisms, house contracts, etc.) as well as making sure every missionary has what they need (clothes racks, mattresses, Books of Mormon, etc.). In regards to "better food" let's just say I had a good fresh carrot this week so I'm happy. I haven't had Birria de res. I've spent the majority of the mission in areas too poor for carne de res. We can talk chicken though.

I found out a little more about what I'll be doing as a missionary in this area. Basically I'm in Los Lagos right now. Natura is typically the secretary's area, but I'm pretty much purely in Los Lagos for now while Elder Garity and Elder Vasquez take care of Natura. My suitcases are in Natura though so I'm really in between the two for where I sleep. The good thing is that the house in Natura is close to the offices so it's not hard to run over there to get clothes while I'm around the office. We have a couple of families that we're teaching as well as several individuals. We baptized Diego this weekend and should have some more baptisms on the 9th, but we'll wait and see. Diego has a difficult story, but he's made some serious changes in his life. I wasn't here to see much of the change, but it's been neat getting to know the guy.

The weather here is kind. Not too hot, and it hasn't really rained much. The area is nice because the ward is super well organized and so it's easier to work with them in some ways. I guess the negative side of the area would be that we pay a lot more for taxis.

I didn't have time to get Jose Emiliano a real present because I didn't have a P-day between getting the news that I was leaving and actually leaving, but I gave him a tie. Today we climbed a mountain with the AP's and the President's son. Look up "Cofre de Perote". I should have pictures of it next week probably (The President's son has them and will send them later I'm sure).There wasn't snow, but I did get cold for the first time in ages. There are little shacks up top, but I think it´s just to take care of the power poles and what not.

I'll try to heed your challenge, but since becoming a secretary and living in different houses it's become difficult to write in the ol' journal. Keep looking for missionary opportunities. The members can have a huge impact on missionary work if they have the desire and motivation.

Elder Finlinson

May 21st, 2018 Letter #28

Alma will get baptized next weekend, but I'm going to be out of town. I got special changed again to Xalapa. I'll be working in two areas at the same time because we have our own area (Natura) and the area of the assistants (Los Lagos) because they're going to be at conferences for the next few weeks. The good thing is that for now there are four secretaries so we can split effectively. (There are 4 right now because Elder Shoemaker is training Connor to take his place and I assume one of the others is doing the same thing.) Elder Shoemaker and I will mainly be in Los Lagos and Elder Garity and Elder Vasquez will be mainly in Natura. That being said I will be in both fairly often. It's a lot of work, but also more investigators that I'll meet. As a secretary I'll be in charge of records and materials. It's a lot of stuff, but I'll get into more details another day.

The week was good. I did splits with Elder Cornia at the start of the week and we found several new people. I got the phone call from the assistants the morning after. The food here is gonna be really nice, I can tell you that much. And there's a Walmart kinda close to our house.

Also. Happy Birthday!! I'm actually gonna celebrate because there's a recent convert from here that has a birthday today haha. 

Love, Elder Finlinson

Saying Goodbye to Hermana Milagros and Jose Emiliano

They gave him a Charmander Pokemon as a going away gift

May 14th Letter #27

So we didn't end up going to El Tajin just yet due to a lack of money, but it's in the plans. I didn't even know there were prizes for clean houses. (The cleanest apartments receive a prize in their mission.) I think I forgot to say Happy Mother's day! I appreciate the sacrifice and patience it's taken to get me here

Love you,

Elder Finlinson

Some of the conversation during our Mother's Day Skype:

Xanath has a reputation with the missionaries...very few want to serve in that area because it is so hilly. Connor really enjoys the area but he did say that by the end of the day the hills can be wearying. His former companion was a professional soccer player and they walked at a good pace on those hills but his new companion and those who come on splits have a harder time with that pace so Connor says they have to take it slower or take little breaks. 

There are lots of lizards. When asked what kinds he said, "It's like a Dr. Suess book, big ones, small ones, thin one, tall ones etc... Too many to count. But they love the lizards because they eat the bugs. He said he always has bug bites on his legs. The repellent only repels so much. 

There are also lots of chickens, roosters and birds everywhere. He doesn't even notice their sounds anymore. We were amazed how at all the bird sounds when he was talking with us. 

He said it is very hot. It doesn't matter if you are in the sun or shade the temperature is the same because of the humidity. He takes a quick cold shower in the morning and a long cold shower at night...sometimes with a fan blowing on him through the parted curtain. When asked about rain he said it hasn't rained very much at all, only about 15 days since he arrived. (6 months)

He usually is served chicken, beans and rice each day but one day he was served pork and he said it was the best thing he ever ate because it was different. :) 

His goal is to speak with the correct accent when he speaks Spanish. He is fluent but wants to keep improving.

On p-days they normally go to the church and play street soccer, after washing clothes etc..

May 7th, 2018 Letter #26

Another nearly empty week in the church. Almareli came though and she's got a baptismal date for the 19. She's Alberto's daughter.

Elder Marines is from Saltillo Coahuila, Mexico and is the second of three kids. He's been a member since birth and has been in the mission for 9 or 10 months. I still feel like I don't know him super well because we did splits twice this week and our personalities are a little different, but I'll think we'll get along fine. He just has a humor that isn't similar to mine. It's not bad, but I don't find it funny so I don't know how I should react to his jokes. I offer a weak laugh, but it's just kinda awkward.

I heard the Gummy Bear song in the street. You hear a lot of things in the street without knowing the source. 

Jalapeños are found in a lot of meals and sometimes are sides as well.

The apostle talks have the same structure as missionary lessons are supposed to have. It works best that way. 

The splits I did this week were with Elder Cornia and Elder Almonte. Both times I stayed in Xanath because my companion doesn't know the area yet.

Get those new people to church. Every member a missionary.

Love, Elder Finlinson