I almost fell off this bridge

 Baby Jensen Mateo Lopez

 River fun

 Ahhh refreshing melted snowman

The baptism of Romulo

 A sweet beenie I was using

 Sunday sunset

 Another river

 Romulo's amazing family

The Shortcut

Hiking down the nice easy part of the shortcut

 We survived and made it to the river

 The trees in the background are where we came down

Change of Companions - January 28, 2013

Hola mi amorosa Madre! Wow sounds like lots of crazy news back home. I feel bad for Dave. His grandmother and then his grandfather. I send him all my love and support. The firing range sounds very fun and I would love to do that. I heard about the ice rain. That sounds absolutely crazy. I cannot believe the weather that Utah is having. Ice everywhere and lots of snow. It sounds like it all came a bit late and is going to stick around for a while. I can’t believe what the pioneers did either. Truly amazing people. Nana and Grandpa are also amazing with all their service and love. So here a lot has happened. Changes were last week and we were happy there was none here, that Elder Guerra would be my last comp. We get along really well and have fun. Well Tuesday the office called and said Elder Guerra has emergency changes. It was super sad and he cried at lunch when I told him. He really didn´t want to leave here and didn’t want to have a different comp. They sent him to the heat of Tikisate. I got a new comp Elder Fernandez. We had these changes because Elder Fernandez and I are going to organize Rio Blanco and another area called Serchil into a zone and we need to determine where they will put more missionaries and where we will have our meetings. It will be lots of work to get everything ready for March when we are a zone and have 12 missionaries. So I called the post office about my packages. The package that Nana sent in June was signed for by the office in July and your package was signed for in November. So the packages that I thought the post office had somewhere are in the office. But there is bad news that made me very upset. I called the office and no one can find them. They told me they looked but found nothing and they are sorry. That is not a good answer to me. They were responsible and lost it and that is money and things from my family. I’m going to write President about it today. Who knows what will happen. What did you send in the package? This week we went to Chorjale in our area and heard there is a shortcut. We decided to try it for the first time. Turns out the short cut is go down a very steep mountain side that has no trail and is pretty much sliding and falling down the mountain. I got super dirty and don’t know how we made it down. Next it’s cross a river and go up another mountain that is steep and crazy. As I was going down the mountain I felt like Bear Grylls from the discovery channel, but in a shirt and tie. Then when we reached the top it was a long walk. I don’t think we will us that path again. We did have a baptism Saturday. I was so happy to see the change in him. I know his daughters are so much happier than I am. His wife is not a member and when we talked she said she couldn’t go but the day of the baptism she came. I was filled with so much joy. The water was ice cold. After I was talking with Romulo and he said the water was freezing but after he came out of the water he felt a heat in his body. He shared a great testimony saying how grateful he is for Elder Guerra and myself. Sunday he also shared a great testimony. I now want to teach his wife and other son that is not a member. After the baptism we had our Book of Mormon activity. Many members came. We did a word search I made and the members really loved it, it was challenging. Then we did two teams that answered trivia questions of the Book of Mormon. Then I gave the certificates that I made for reading the book in 3 months. 12 people finished reading and get ready for this, one is not a member. We need to teach her for sure. The last game was balloons filled with parts of a scripture. Each team searched for their color and when they popped the balloons without using their nails they assembled the scripture and said where is the reference. Our team won. Each person that finished the Book of Mormon gets a scripture case with their name and a pic on it. It should be really good. I’m very happy. Yesterday the office called me for something else. Only one missionary is coming in Feb so there is no change meeting. That will be very different for me. They gave me the option to stay 3 weeks more for the next change meeting but I said no thanks my mom would kill me hahaha. No I’m ready for Feb. Can’t believe how fast it is going. I get travel plans this week so I will let you know as soon as I know. Love you Mom so much and I’m getting extremely excited to see you in 5 weeks. Stay safe and happy. Tell all the family I love them.

Love your baby boy

 

A Baby is Named Jensen - January 21, 2013

Hola Mom! So exciting news. There were no changes for us in Rio Blanco, that means I get to end here YEAH! It will be so good but really sad when I say goodbye to my friends. No news about the package. I have bad luck that everytime we go by the post office it is closed. But I’ll keep trying. I want to ask where the packages arrive here and then call and ask where mine went. No travel news yet. I hope it comes soon. I’m excited for the new pair of shoes. They will be wonderful. David's grandma passed away, that is sad. I send my love to his family. His grandma was really nice and I am glad I got to know her. I am still kinda sick too. This runny nose never goes away. I will have to check out this Downton Abbey show. Sounds very interesting. I don’t really look forward to the cold there in Utah but I think Rio Blanco is preparing me because this last week has been incredibly cold here. It is hard getting out of the warm bed at 6:30 because our house is so cold in the mornings. Today is not as cold but wow it’s been cold.  January has gone by so fast and I can’t believe it is almost February. I will be done before we know it. Heather is growing up so quickly it is crazy to think about. This week we met with Romulo. He really wants to change and be baptized. He has problems with drinking but is doing better. We challenged him to be baptized this coming Saturday and he said yes. I really hope that he can do it. It would be so amazing for him and his family. He has 2 return missionaries, 1 in the mission, and 1 preparing to go, but he and the mom are not members. He is wonderful and I really love the family. This Saturday we also have our Book of Mormon activity. 7 members have finished reading the book in 3 months. I’m happy that they are completing with my activity. We are going to make certificates and give a nice prize of scripture cover for the Book of Mormon. In the activity we have families we have asked to do a skit of some different scriptures. I have also made a word search and we have trivia questions. I hope it goes really well. I have been reading the Old Testament and have a goal to read it all before I go. I started January  1 and yesterday I got to Judges. Not too bad I think I can do it. As I was reading in Dueteronomy I thought about some interesting things. In Chap 4:34-35 talks about the miracles that Moses did in Egypt. Thinking about these scriptures I think the miracles were not really for the Pharaoh but more for the children of Israel. That they would believe in God and know he has power to do anything. Another is in Chap 8:2, here it says that the time they wandered in the wilderness was to try them, see what is in their heart, and if they will live the commandments. There is a video about Zion’s camp. These are similar. In Zion’s camp they never went to war (just like generations of Israel never entered the promised land), the journey was to try them and see what is in their heart, to see if they are faithful and will be the chosen people. That was a cool connection and I also connected it with the hard times in my mission. It is to try me and see what is in my heart. Pretty neat. I’m liking the Old Testament a lot. I have one more cool story. Last month a member had a baby. She was thinking of names and asked her family what my name is. Well I got to meet baby Jensen Mateo Lopez. That's right they named him after me. I feel very special and honored and happy. I think i made a good impression, that and no other person here has the name of Jensen so the kid will be unique. That was special. I want to visit here again in the future and see how Jensen is. This is the same family that the little girl calls us tio elder (uncle elder). Has any of the family got my letters I sent? Love you Mom and hope you have an incredible week and are healthy and happy. Until next week, I can’t wait. 

Reading the Old Testament - January 14, 2013

I could not pass by the post office again to ask about the package. My comp got his. It was a package with letters and pics from his girlfriend.  No travel info yet but I hope it comes soon. Wow it really was a major storm. When was the last time it stormed like that? I’m glad I was not there that would be terrible to drive in. I’m glad Scott is happy though for more opportunities to use his snow blower. I’m curious to hear what he named it. Maybe it was his fault that all the snow came hahaha. How come Grandpa does not have a snow blower? He should have one. I think he would like one a lot. I’m glad Grandma Davis is doing better. I have a card for her but the post office is not open when I go by there. I will try today. Wow Jess and Jaime are getting weapon permits, that is crazy. I would love to go shooting again when I get home. I liked when we went. Free ladies day is way cool. There are 5 missionaries leaving this week and 27 coming. That is a lot. I really hope I stay in Rio Blanco and end here. I still remember the airport, it was lovely haha. Can’t believe only 6 weeks left. That is so fast. This year I made the goal to read the Old Testament because I have never read all of it. I have a goal I would like to do before I go and that is I’m trying to read the Old Testament before I go. Not sure if I will do it because it is really big but right now I’m in Leviticus 15. So it is possible. I was reading in Leviticus and it talks all about the tabernacle that Moses had in the desert. I was trying to learn new things from all that it talks about the furniture and everything. I found some cool stuff. After sacrificing an animal they would put some of the blood on the right ear, right thumb, and right big toe. But why? Well it is to symbolize that they will hear the word of God, do and walk according to their commandments. Next I was wondering about the horns that are on the alter. They put blood on the horns. But why horns? Listen to this. The horns symbolize power because most animals with horns are very strong. In Luke 1:69 it says that Christ is the horn of salvation. The blood in the sacrifices symbolizes the atoning blood of Christ, and the horn symbolizes Christ and his power to redeem and save. How cool was my personal study of the Old Testament. I love the scriptures. I love the gospel and I really love my Savior Jesus Christ. I still have a lot to learn and improve but I’m trying and growing a lot. I love you Mom and I’m preparing a giant hug for when I see you. I pray that you are safe, happy, and healthy. Continue to read the Book of Mormon. It is a great book and helps with everything. Well Mom I can’t wait to talk to you next week. Take care and know that I love you.

7 Weeks Left - January 7, 2013

Still no package. I talked with the post office this last week to track where it is. I think tomorrow I will be able to hear where it is at. No package for my comp yet either. I did however get a package of letters. I loved them so much. Sister's letter was so cute. I miss my sister and I’m very excited to hang out with her when I get home. I love all the letters from the family, thank you so much. I did get another letter from dad. He said he is sad that I’m finishing my mission because there will be no more blog and he will not know what is going on in my life. Last Monday I got a form to fill out for my return trip. I gave it to the office this last week so I think I will get travel information next week but I’m not really sure. I know it will be very soon. It has been colder here too. I can’t believe that there is no new snow there but it is freezing cold. Crazy Utah weather. The dinner sounds so good. I can’t wait to eat stuffed mushrooms and clam chowder and many other soups. I’m excited to play games with everyone. So fun. That is so amazing for Connie and Mike. I’m very happy for them. I would love to be there for the sealing, it would be very special to me. Great Grandma was in the hospital? I did not know that. I hope she is doing better. I sent her a letter last week. Hope that helps bring some happiness. I will keep her in my prayers. I love Great Grandma. I was helping our district President yesterday and saw an email about a devotional the first Sunday in March. It will be by Elder Bednar. I thought yay! I will be home for that my first Sunday home. Can’t believe how fast that is coming. This week was good. For New Year’s Eve we went to a member’s house and had a good family home evening then ate and did fireworks it was fun. This week also had some sadness. The Grandma of our branch president passed away. We went to do service and help. So many people came to support the family. It was hard. I gave a talk about life and death. It was good I thought. I talked about how Christ can help us in these hard times because of his atonement. He knows how we feel and how to help us. Death is necessary and a part of life. We feel sorrow because we feel so much love for the person. They are in paradise and we will have a great reunion together one day. The family was crying and as I watched them outside the room of the casket I thought about the tomb of Jesus Christ and how the women came crying to see him, but an angel said he is not here he is resurrected like he said. It was really sad. I gave a big hug to our President and I got emotional during the hug, I feel for the family. We helped carry the casket a long way to the cemetery and up a hill. It was so heavy. Another thought came to my mind. It was the words take up thy cross and follow me. That was a cross that was heavy to bear but there is hope and help from Christ. I am so grateful for my family. I love them so much. They are a big part of my life. I am also so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. That knowledge helps when we lose someone close to us. I love my Savior and all he did for me. The mission has taught me so much. Thank you again for all the emails, the dearelders, and the letters in the package these are all treasures for me. I have learned a lot and know I have much more to learn. I anxiously look forward to our reunion in 7 weeks, wow 7 weeks! Love you with all my heart Mom. You’re the best. Stay healthy and happy.

Love your baby boy