Sept. 17th, 2018 Letter #45

Elder Lovaas has actually grown to be one of the best friends I've had in the mission. He's planning on going to Utah State so perhaps you'll see him at Walmart some day and wonder why he looks familiar. 

On Independence day we had to go home early so we borrowed Monopoly from some other missionaries and played it in the apartment. 

My district is finding it's way, but it'll take some work. One of the missionaries was sent here because he's a friend of mine and they were hoping I could get him motivated. We did splits this week and talked for a while about how he's doing and I now expect to see progress. We didn't have a district class this week because we had that zone conference (the one with the singing and tie-cutting).

The best part of the week was just seeing that we have a good amount of people that could get baptized within the month (Aleli, Fernanda, Fernando, Saul, and Juan Jose). 

A funny moment was when Elder Lovaas took a mega risk in Monopoly and sold all of his properties to put hotels on Boardwalk and Park Place in hopes that Elder Breinholt would roll a 10 or a 12. Elder Breinholt rolled a 12 and lost the game. 

A tender mercy was that we have found countless miracles of people who all of a sudden want to get baptized in our area. I'm hoping to see the new people get baptized in October. 

My clothes are holding up fine, although a few new pairs of garments would never hurt. I'm still on my first pair of shoes and they're holding up so I'd be surprised if it ever becomes necessary to buy more. Goldfish would be good in the Christmas package. 

One teaching thing that I've liked is that we're teaching the husband of a member who is just now coming back to church and while we teach I can tell that the message is helping her as much, if not more, than her husband so I've enjoyed seeing the spirit of learning that is there. 

One of the hardest parts of the week has been trying to stay organized enough with our time to help progress the current investigators while still finding and teaching new people. We had tacos al pastor for the conference on Friday.

Love,

Elder Finlinson

 Elder Bednar's visit to the mission

Zone Conference in Xalapa (Connor is behind the guy that stands out in the middle. )

Sept.10,2018 Letter #44

One thing I really liked about the visit from Elder Bednar was the way he responded to a question. The question was something like this: "Often times we are promised specific blessings as we receive a priesthood blessing. How can I know that I haven't lost any of those blessings because of something I've done wrong?" And Elder Bednar said something like this: "Do you remember what those blessings are? If so then they are not lost. But quit waiting on them like an object. Be an agent and go get them." We also talked about how prayers don't end when we say "amen." The spoken portion of the prayer will be of little use without taking proper action afterward. 

The last name for the family of 7 is actually unknown to me. Around here we get by on first names typically because everybody has 2 last names.

I've been in the mission/offices for long enough to know almost every missionary at least a little. Of the 5 that went home there were 3 from my zone and one of them got here at the same time as me so I knew those 3 decently well. 

The mission is pretty safe. There's not many sketchy areas. Usually the worst we get is just an angry drunk dude in the street who shouts stuff at us. 

The next wave of missionaries is basically as big as this one so I'd like to say things have calmed down, but we'll surely stay busy. That's a bigger problem for my companion than for me though. He has to get materials for all of the houses while I simply deal with the contracts for said houses. Apart from that I mostly just work with the records of baptisms.

Something I'm going to focus on more in the district meetings is doing simulations. I was chatting with Elder Lovaas the other day and we talked about what we do when we go to basketball practice. We talk about what we're going to do and how we'll do it for a short amount of time, but then the majority of the time is spent actually doing it. 

Thanks to the abundance of new missionaries there where a couple of zones that increased in size (one being ours) so the districts were reorganized. I'll be working with a couple of the same missionaries, but also some new ones. I'm really excited about the change though and I think it'll be a fun few weeks. My district has shrunk a tad because a new district leader was called in our zone, making us 3 instead of two. So I have 8 missionaries now instead of 10. It's now tied for the biggest district in the mission instead of being the flat out biggest haha. I like that because I'll be able to focus on the individuals a bit more.

You could say I'm with Elder Breinholt more than anyone else, but I definitely see a fair share of other faces during my weeks. My favorite moment of the week was in a baptismal service we went to with our investigators. There was this little kid who sang a solo after this baptism and you could feel the spirit pretty well. I think it'll help the investigators.

One scripture that I've liked lately is James 5:19-20. It helped me realize the importance of bringing back those who've gone astray. 

Love, Elder Finlinson

Sept. 3,2018 Letter #43

I don't have a ton of time so I'll keep details minimal. Elder Bednar's visit was really cool. He had a presence to him that boldly stated prophet, seer, and revelator. He said to us that he typically doesn't shake hands because when that happens noise breaks out and the Spirit of the meeting is lost. He then asked us after that intro whether we thought we should shake hands or not. One missionary raised his hand after about 30 seconds of waiting in silence and said that he thought we could manage it. So, yes, I shook his hand. After we finished he walked to the pulpit and simply said "Well done." Then left. So we felt good about that.

Elder Breinholt was doing well with his health in this week so hopefully things stay that way. That family of 7 is super super awesome. The couple isn't married and the mom is married to another guy so legally and with the law of Chastity we'll face obstacles, but the whole family is way nice. 

I have some Christmas music, but I'm not opposed to more. The new Nashville Tribute album would of course be nice. 

That was indeed Elder Lovaas and Elder Ahumada in the picture.

Today we just helped new missionaries get settled all day so it wasn't much of a p-day, but it was cool to see the excitement that they all had. They'll be good missionaries. We're sending home 4 missionaries this change because they finished, but we also lose 5 to disobedience/sickness/lack of desire. 

The best part of the week was just seeing the success we had because we didn't have a ton of time to work, but things really came together for us. I smelled a cool thing in a house the other day, but I don't know what it's called. A little 4(ish) year old member came up to us the other day and offered us a piece of cake so that was something good that I tasted. I suppose that was a neat little tender mercy as well. It also made me smile. (I'm out of time)

Love, Elder Finlinson

August 27, 2018 Letter #42

I still haven't met Alfredo's grandma, but she doesn't live in our area so if she accepts anything, I'll probably only hear minimal details about the process. Sasha didn't get baptized and now she's gone to Guadalajara for the next few weeks so I don't know what'll happen with her. Elder Bednar will come this week. We'll be with him on Thursday. Yeah, this week will really be something for us, but we'll be good. (Elder Bednar visits on Thursday. Then the first part of next week 17 new missionaries come and some will go home.)

Elder Breinholt's got an infection in his intestine, but he's already doing a lot better. We couldn't really work this last week, but I think he's good to go again. I gave him a blessing. I've given several during the mission, but they seem to come in spurts where I'll go a week or two or three with nothing and then all of a sudden they'll be all over the place. Elder Marquez is doing fine as far as I know.

I'll likely be a secretary for 6 or 12 more weeks depending on how things go. Secretaries are typically in the offices for around 6 months. The best part of the package would've been the music, I don't have a "favorite" part of the music because I hold those two albums both in high favor. I liked the granola bars for snacking. 

My favorite part of the week was that I was able to work on Friday and Saturday with Elder Ahumada because the assistants were back and town (Elder Lovaas was also sick so he stayed with Elder Breinholt). In those two days we were able to get a lot done and we got a reference for a family of 7! (6 that are old enough to get baptized). I hope that things go well there. 

One thing I studied in Preach My Gospel was the importance of studying/teaching with/understanding the scriptures. There's a lot that we can learn from them and a lot of power that is found therein. We sometimes undervalue that power. 

Something that made me smile was just that we were able to have a successful week even with a serious lack of time. 

Love, 

Elder Finlinson

 Xalapa Zone/District

  A park they went to for P-day

August 20th,2018 Letter #41

Lili and Alfredo got baptized this weekend, but I don't have pictures of either of them. I'll get a picture of Lili's later on, but I didn't even get to go to Alfredo's baptism (I'll explain in a sec). Sasha will hopefully get baptized this weekend, but the plan is shaky right now. Lili and Alfredo were found within the last month or so, but Sasha has been around for a good while. Lili is 14 years old and is the neighbour of a member. She was pretty bold in pushing forward towards baptism because there was very very little family support, but she did it. Her family said that she will not be having a party for her 15th birthday (which in México is the most important of all birthdays for a girl). But she said it just made her sad for them that they would react that way and that she would still get baptized anyway. I had the privilege of baptizing her and it was a neat experience.

Alfredo is the boyfriend of a member and he's the most humble dude I've ever met. He's 16 and completely independent. He technically lives with his Grandma, but has responsibility for all of his costs. He accepted the Gospel extremely quickly and he trusts us a lot. He seems significantly happier now than when we first met him. 

Sasha is married to a member but comes from a Christian church background. She loved her old church and doesn't want to change, but feels that she should be at her husband's side so she's making the effort. But every week when she's goes to church she gets upset all over again and doesn't like the idea of joining. So we'll see what happens with her. 

We went to IHOP for Pday just to chill for a second because yesterday/last night was another one of those days. Around 4:30pm Elder Breinholt got a sharp and sudden pain in his abdomen that wouldn't go away so we went to the hospital and long story short he's doing better, but we're still not 100% sure what's wrong with him. The insurance that we have couldn't agree with the hospital staff so we didn't get a real room last night. I was therefore left with a metal stool to "sleep" on. Needless to say I think I managed about an hour of total time asleep last night. We had been on our way to Alfredo's baptism when it happened so that's why we missed it. I called the Zone Leaders and put them in charge of the baptismal service. It was much easier to help the medical staff with their questions this time than it was with Elder Marquez because now I actually communicate in Spanish so that was a blessing. We ended up in the same hospital as last time. 

When I said I was reading the headings in the Book of Mormon I meant to say that it was only the headings. That way I could get a good grasp of the story of the book without reading all of it in one go. 

You can surely send these emails on to a group if you'd like. I live with the assistants and therefore have the privilege of a washing machine in the house so... ha. I've been to Walmart. It's pretty much the same except you're supposed to tip the baggers. 

One tender mercy was just seeing the baptisms come through this week. It's stressful waiting to see if problems will arise because they so often do. One thing that made me smile was just how excited Lili was after her baptism. It was a simple thing, but fun to see. I'm a big fan of all the music I got in the package (it did arrive this week).

Love, 

Elder Finlinson

August 13, 2018 Letter #40

Elizabeth isn't showing a lot of promise anymore so we're kinda focusing on others right now. She'd still let us in, but we're looking for people with more desire so, unfortunately, we had to move on. People on date for baptism now are Lili, Alfredo, and Sasha. I don't have a ton of time to explain their stories right now, but all 3 stories are incredible.

My favorite part of the week was hearing that Sasha accepted a baptismal date finally because she's been a difficult one to get there (I wasn't actually there when she said yes).

Most challenging part of the week was having to stay home for a day because Elder Lovaas got sick. I felt like a sinner for being at home, but I figure there wasn't much I could do about the situation.

Lately I've been between studying the headings of the Book of Mormon to understand the setting and story better and also studying for other questions that come to me and/or are posed to me.

*I asked him what he has learned from each of his companions since he arrived in his mission. This was his answer:

Elder Márquez taught me to care about investigators as individuals. Elder Alor taught me hard work and sacrifice. Elder Marines taught me how to be my own agent. Elder Shoemaker taught me how to enjoy working. Elder Breinholt is teaching me how to effectively improvise. I feel like I could definitely mention Elder Ahumada and Elder Lovaas on here but I'm kinda short on time. Elder Alor would be cool to serve with again. 

I haven't seen the package, but thanks for sending it ha.

Love Elder Finlinson

August 6th 2018 Letter #39

We know what areas are opening. The zone leaders are in charge of finding housing in each new area. We need to get every material that is typical of a mission apartment (bed frames, mattresses, cooking stuff, tables, chairs, shower curtains, etc.). *They will have 17 new missionaries coming in the next change that they are busy getting ready for.

I didn't change areas so I'm still in the Zone of Xalapa and the Zone Leaders didn't change either so they're still Elder Heaton and Elder Goodman. 

The President and Assistants split up the conferences and interviews normally, but this change we're not having any zone conferences because Elder David A. Bednar is coming at the end of the month and we'll have to figure out how to get every missionary in the mission to Xalapa and find places for them to stay a night. It'll be hectic, but I'm confident it'll be worth it as well. 

The secretaries weren't invited to the leadership conference this time around, the only reason we were in the picture is because we stopped by to drop off materials and ask the Zone Leaders for baptismal forms.

*This is a continuation of last weeks letter: In brief details that I remember: 1.We taught the deacon because I had to be in Coatepec (another area) for a baptismal interview and then our lunch appointment got cancelled so we stayed with hopes of eating in Coatepec with the other missionaries so in the meantime a counselor from the stake presidency put us to work teaching a new deacon. 2. The meeting with the relatives is a continuation from this same story. We weren't actually able to eat in Coatepec, but we got back to our area later for having waited. We had no appointment for food and it was Sunday so we couldn't buy anything. We decided to go with a member that we have a good relationship with and it turns out that one of the kids was having their birthday that day so we ate there with the whole extended family. 3. The baptism was simply the right place at the right time. We had just finished a meeting in the church when 2 other missionaries popped around the corner and asked us to help them out with their baptismal service that was just about to go down. So we did.

 

The best part of the week was that we had a baptism and 3 more people that came to church that have a baptismal date on the schedule so things are looking up.

In my studies I wrote 3 little steps that came to mind to help a person have success. 1.Pray always 2. Be patient and humble 3. Know that miracles will come.

I also had an interesting thought about how since everyone is going to be resurrected you could almost think about the Plan of Salvation like this: The reward for keeping the first estate is the rescue from physical death. The reward for keeping the second estate is the rescue from spiritual death. It seems a lot simpler to me when it's put that way.

Love, Elder Finlinson 

Pati's baptism

Leadership conference