Week 26: Correr!

Hello! 

So everyone decided to write long emails this week. haha which is good! but Im just going to print them off and they reply to them next week. So I'll just be a week behind but that way I can actually read them and then reply the next week on them!  So don't stop writing I'll just print them off. 
But this week was another story pack week!
First off we did a little mini mission this week. We had a kid named Jair, (it's a Portuguese name but he is mexican) come with us for a whole weekend! It was a great idea and I wish I would have had the chance to do it before I went out! He met with us Friday at District meeting and stayed with us until Sunday afternoon! He already spoke perfect Spanish and English so the language wasnt a problem with him but he wasn't used to talking to people so it was pretty different for him.  Elder Bruneel and I tried our best to make this a good experience for him and involve him in our teaching and contacting but he wasn't really excited about it! haha  His knowledge of the church was about as far as the cover of the Book of Mormon. I felt bad when we would ask him to share something and he didn't even know what it was. So I think he learned a lot! but at the same time I don't really think he enjoyed biking in the sun for his weekend! But I can't blame him, I didn't really like the first week of my mission either. We had a few spiritual lessons but mostly just the usual contacting and purpose lessons with people! Right towards the end he started opening up a little bit more! I wish we would have had more time with him and hope it was a good experience for him, and that we didn't ruin him! haha 
One funny story that happened while we were with him was we were contacting this drunk guy who called us over to him, trying to give Jair some practice with people, but we told him that beer is bad for your body but he was going to prove us wrong by flexing his biceps and showing that he was healthy. So after he did that I wanted to ask him if he could run though.  I guess Correr means to run and to race. So he thought I was challenging him to a race - so he said ok, set his beer down and walked out to the middle of the street. I was a little confused at first but then after I remembered the double meaning and what I said, I took my backpack off and followed him out to the street! haha We decided to race to the nearest stop sign which was about 20 or 30 yards away is all. So Elder Bruneel said 1,2,3, Go. and I just kinda jogged and he was going as  hard as he could, just trying to keep his legs underneath him! haha I was sure he was going down! But some how he made it all the way to the stop sign! I beat him of course, but I was just impressed he made it! haha It was so funny! And don't worry Elder Bruneel filmed all of this! haha...speaking of I think I'm just going to send my card. I haven't had a chance to talk about each one yet on tape but I'll just let you ask about specific ones and maybe I'll talk about those ones! you let me know. I'm going to sent it today though I think. Also while i was talking to the guy after the race, Elder Bruneel took his beer and put it in the trash, he said he did it so we at least helped him! haha 
Also later that same day, nothing had been going right and we had not had a lesson all day! and it was already 7 on a Sunday! by now it was just Elder Bruneel and me. We passed by some kids playing basketball.  We bet them a lesson we could beat them to 11. Elder Bruneel is 6' 4" so he is pretty good at basketball. So once again I took off my backpack and we played a game to 11! It was actually a really good game and the kids were pretty good! The score was 10-11. They won. I was a little bit upset but we gained some respect and they said that they wanted to listen still! So that took away a little bit of my anger from losing. But I'm still a sore loser. But we taught them a good lesson and got a return appointment! So playing in a shirt and tie with some slacks is another thing I can add to the list! and was actually productive! haha. 
We had one more lesson after that game with Frank and Monica! 
Frank is an awesome investigator. He is like 22 with a baby boy and he wants to know so much and was asking great questions like "do we have one of these prophet guys on the earth today and how can I meet him?" The only problem is his wife's dad is a minister and so she doesn't really agree with our message and since Frank has never even heard anything about God his whole life he just looks to her for the answer when it come to religion, not God. So hopefully we can get back with them again! We taught the Book of Mormon and Frank was loving it but Monica wasn't really buying it! She said she was going to talk to her dad then we could come back.....so we'll pray extra hard about  that one!
But other than that still finding! not a whole lot of investigators...Jamie bailed on our last appointment so hopefully we can get back with him!

Hey, Sorry I've been really bad at sharing my testimony with y'all. I'm just trying to get the stories out before time runs out. But I do want you to know my testimony has changed so much!! To be honest I was living off of dads and moms testimony. I knew everything was true because I lived it because you raised me in it and those were also just the "rules" of the house.  More of a John 7: 17 testimony than a Moroni 10. I never really read the Book of Mormon to the point of learning from it and understanding it. My first few weeks I had a hard time bearing by testimony about it cuz I wasn't 100% sure myself since I was away from my parents. But believe me now when I say I Know the Book of Mormon is true. I know it can change people. I know that this gospel is true. It's so simple if we focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ. It all makes such good Sense to me. Everything in life fits into the Gospel. I've learned to Love my study time! I've actually learned how to let the spirit teach me! and I've learned so much from it! I Know it's true and I know It can bless anyone who will try and actually do and live what it says. 

Hope all is well at home! I haven't read everyones emails yet so sorry if there is some big news! I'll be sure to respond to it next week! 
LOVE YOU ALL!
Con amor y respeto!
Elder Erickson

TRIVIA
Jamie got it! not really sure how but jamie or jon found it
Jamie Jon: 2
Mother: 2
Dallin:1
Eli: 1

Week 25: An Awesome Miracle!

Hey Everyone otra vez!
The temp here just keeps getting hotter and hotter! haha I keep thinking one day it will stop...but I keep hearing that day will come in the middle of July and stay til september! Really looking forward to it! but beside that we had a roller coaster week!  The first was super slow! and we were having a really hard time getting a lesson! But of the few lessons we did have, we had an awesome miracle! 
There is an investigator we met about 2 weeks ago named Jamie and his wife Consuelo. When we met them they had only been in the United States for 25 days. They are very kind and loving people and they invited  us to sit down with them on their front porch. As we were talking with them we learned that Jamie had a very good Knowledge of the Bible, he was quoting many scriptures. He also believes that the Sabbath Day is on Saturday. He is Seventh Day Adventist, but still very kind and willing to talk with us. We shared a brief Purpose lesson with them and then set up another appointment. When we went back for the next appointment we expected him to have scriptures to show us that we should worship on Saturday.  We had also found a few our selves to show our point of view. (Really we were just expecting a bash but im going to send this to president too so I'm making it some what formal, forgive me if its boring! haha )  When we got there we began the lesson and he asked a lot of questions from the pamphlet we had read and we ended up spending the whole time talking about that.
We did show a scripture about the Sabbath day and he simply said oh well I guess I'll have to look at that! By the end of the lesson he seemed really interested and it was awesome for me to see the change of heart he had. If we would have gone into the lesson thinking of bashing points of view it would have driven the spirit away. The sad part was that he told us they were only visiting here and would be going back to Mexico soon, but he still wanted to schedule another appointment and we left him with a Book of Momon to read.
Now is when the real miracle comes, when we went back the next time told us the story of how his son is going to have the chance to get working visa papers and be able to stay for 2  years here. He said that they will be staying longer now and how he was happy because we could continue to visit. He told us how he thinks its Gods plan for him to listen to us! He still had questions about the Sabbath day but this time we were able to explain prophets and how we have one today who guides us to answer his question. 
ok sorry that was really boring but im saving time. But it was sweeeet that he was able to stay and recognized it as Gods plan for him! 
We also taught a way sweet family  last night. We rode by and they had stood us up before but we decided to give them a second chance, Im glad we did! They were very nice and the message will really help them as well. Their names are Frank and Monica! so hopefully you hear those names some more! they are mostly English but he said he likes to pray in Spanish so that means they can some to Spanish ward! 
I also went on exchanges with our new zone leaders! in English, Im so glad im on a bike even if it's a million degrees! i hated the car! it was so hard to contact people! We hardly talk to anyone! And also i like the spanish culture a lot more! They were nice people but not the same! The only thing I liked about it was they have super nice apartments! Big, AC, and a shower that works, and they have hot water! nos faltan todo!( we lack any!) but other than that im glad I'm a spanish missionary!  
Love yall tons! 
Con amor
Elder Erickson

Trivia! 
Eli got it first and right!
So this one is pretty tough and weird. 
Where in the Book of Mormon is Shakespeare quoted...or maybe its what party of the Book of Mormon did Shakespeare quote from...im not really sure which way to word it.  

This is a hat the Morenos gave me! ( the Moreno family was the first family Elder Erickson helped teach and baptize the kids)  They moved out of my area and ward! 

but it's like a 40 dollar hat!   It's sweet! 

Week 24: Houston Temple

Hey family!!
So another week gone and another week hotter! its a Joke! You don't even make it out the door before the sweat is coming! but what do you do!
This last week we got to go to the Temple! The Houston temple is so sweet! It had been so long since I was able to go there! It is such a peaceful place! I could be there forever! I reallly enjoyed going again and having more knowledge.  I learned a lot of new things! especially since we have deep doctrine class every Thursday morning! It's supposed to be Spanish class but the guy who teaches it knows so much it usually turns into deep doctrine in Spanish! haha I've learned some pretty crazy stuff that I haven't even thought about before! And one thing that was really cool was we were talking about sacrament and how it is the most important meeting and then he stopped us and said... well im not so sure about that, (this is by no means Doctrine) but if the most important unit on this Earth is the family, Then wouldnt family night be the most important meeting????? That really made me realize how important family night is! So everyone make sure you doing it! 
Other than that, this week was a longer one! A bit slow, still trying to find some legit investigators! We have been making some progress with Libni's mother in Law! She came to church yesterday for the second time! It was so cool to see her there because at first she didnt want anything to do with us! The only problem is she doesnt know how to read! So we bought her the book of mormon on CD's at the temple along with a set for Ron, the truck driver, so he can listen to it while he drives, Dad thats what those charges are on my card. But she said she started listening to it so hopefully we will make progress with her! Sadly we still have been unable to get in contact with the family who came to the Conference and then left after the business portion. We have been calling them and passing by their house. I know there was something there because they did make the effort to come to church. I know I felt the spirit during the lesson we had with them. I know there is still time, we won't lose faith in them. Just wish we could get in contact with them to at least explain and hear their feelings. 
Thanks family for all you do! I miss you but I can put all that on pause for a short minute!
Con amor y respeto por todo!
Elder Erickson

Trivia! -rules: I'm getting away with the whole - having to find all answers before you can move on.
So the score is 
Mom-2 
Dallin-1
Jamie and Jon- 1
Mom got it this week! 
So the riddle for this week is. Who is it that it seems that he Dies, but really he didnt! He really didnt, he didnt die until about 350 pages EARLIER!! suerte ;)

Week 23: Stake Changes

Hey Family!!!!

So first off - the meeting we had!

This is a good and horrible story all in one! First off we had a tri-mission meeting and I got to see Bryson (Elder Howell)! It was so good to see him and talk with him for a few mintues! He is doing way good! It made me feel like I was just at home in Utah running into people again. It was really sweet!  

My compainionship is going great! We are getting a long really well! And we are working hard! But we found a really sweet family! and they came to church with us yesterday, but as werid as it sounds, it was a mistake I think. Yesterday we had a conferance with all the stakes in this area and they made all the changes. We no longer have a spanish stake in our mission. Then broke it up and made two Bi-lingual stakes. I'm now apart of the Summerwood Stake. 

It doesnt really make a differance for me besides the fact that we no longer have a spanish zone and so we'll be mixed a lot more with english elders. Which is bad and good. But other than that it didnt make a differance for missionaries, our stake president no longer speaks spanish though so that will be interesting.

But anyways the family came for that. They sat through 45 mintues of changes and then she said they were Catholic and left. AHHHHHHHHH! I was so upset in ruined my day. The first two lessons we had with them were so good! The spirit was there and they were reading and interested! They came to church the first time we invited them! and they said they were not a part of any church and never go. But then 45 mintues through business they were all of a sudden Catholic!? I think we should have waited. But I tried to set up another appointment and she said just to call her and then we'll see....so hopefully we can meet with them again!

But we are teaching a lot of people who are in the beginning stages. One family who thinks someone is doing witchcraft on their wife, one guy who can't keep commitments and we found beer in the back of his truck so he's not as far along as we thought! A pentacost family that invited us for dinner and just wants to be good friends! haha...so many crazy people! But luckily the Ortegas and Irma and Morenos are holding strong! We are having a famly night tonight with them and a member of our ward who is in the high council is going to talk about patriarchal blessings, because Hno Ortega asked us last week at dinner what he has to do to get his! He's so Boss!  

Weather is hotter and hotter! i dont even make it out of the door and I'm already sweating! It's something new for me! haha but im loving it! and being quemado (burned)! haha Love you all and hope things go well for you and all your plans!!

Con amor!

Elder Erickson

Trivia!

Where in the Book or Mormon does It say "UTAH"?