WELCOME HOME ELDER QUIST!

Waiting for Elder Quist to arrive...

Elder Quist arrived at the SLC Airport on Wednesday at 7:15 pm!

Travel companions Elders Quist, Rowberry and Peterson

First time seeing our new home in the day! He approves. 

Temple outing the next morning!

And then off to BYU check in on Friday - Heritage Halls. And began classes on Tuesday.

 Go Cougars!!

Week 100 - Last One

Hi All!

Last one. So here it goes.

I get home on August 28th, 2019. This Wednesday... it really has not hit me yet.

I am so grateful for these past 700 days spent here in Mexico! I am so grateful that I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the only true church in the world. I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who leads and guides me, who blesses me continually day after day, week after week. I am so grateful there is a prophet on the Earth, President Russell M. Nelson, who receives revelation to direct God's work. If we actively look for ways to serve others, God will put us in the place to help one of his children, to share this amazing gospel, and to see miracles. This I know to be true.

I am without words to describe how I feel right now, saying goodbye to everyone, packing, going to church the last time here. I am eternally grateful for the experiences I have had, for the people I have met, the lives that have touched me, and the opportunity to see Heavenly Father touch the lives of those I love. I know that my time of being a full-time missionary is coming to a close, but at the same time I know that my time is about to start to be a life-long missionary. God has called each and every one of us to help and he needs all of our heart, might, mind, and strength to further this marvelous work along. 

I love all of you guys who have supported me, I thank you, I continue praying for you.

See y'all soon!

Elder Quist :)

Week 99 - Mission Facebook Pictures

(no email from our missionary this week, so enjoy some pics that were posted to the mission facebook)

Both Mission Presidents and their wives

President and Sister Zapata 

and President and Sister Rush

Week 98 - Well Done

Hi All! 

Not a ton happened this week sorry. To prove that! I have '0' photos, sooo there is that. (but his mom found some from the mission Facebook page, so there's that!;))

I finished Jesus the Christ this week. Here is a one of my favorite quotes (ps, it's just a long scripture... but read it anyway :)

“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  

Ponder that this week :)

Love you all!

Elder Quist :)

Week 97 - Beginning of the End

This week was good, the last time I will go to changes in my mission! I got a new companion this week! His name is Elder Ruiz. He is from Chihuahua Mexico, and he has 16 months in the mission. He is great, I love him, and he is ready to get to work!

On Tuesday, I went with all the missionaries who are going home this week to President and Sister Rush's house for a final dinner! It was great! We ate ribs and an amazing lime pie. 

Wednesday and Thursday were just normal days, working hard and looking for people to teach. ON FRIDAY, I went to the temple to do a session with Elder Rowberry and Elder Peterson probably for the last time. :( It was great though, we got to just chill and enjoy it. We saw a couple people that we met in the CCM, and we saw Mr. Andrew Francis afterwards and got dinner with him. 

On Saturday we had a zone meeting in the morning, set some goals, and then went to lunch. Later in the afternoon we had another meeting with the ward mission leader and the ward missionaries. Fun time.

This was the last day to share my testimony in testimony meeting which was sad, but it is always a great experience. I just wanna invite you guys to share your testimony as often as you can, not just in church. Be a missionary in every moment :)

Have a fantastic week you lovely people :)

Elder Quist

Week 96 - Jesus the Christ

Last week of the cycle this week! Sad week though, one of my best friends went home this week. The man, the myth, the legend, Elder Crockett went home this week so all of my pics are with him hahaha.

This week I have been reading a TON, both the Book of Mormon and Jesus the Christ. It has been INCREDIBLE to see the difference in my days as I am walking and teaching. I finished reading the BoM again in Spanish, I was quite happy with myself :) I have challenged myself to finish it one more time before going home! I'll never be able to read the entire BoM again as a missionary :) Also, Jesus the Christ just kinda blows my mind. Firstly, because it uses huge words.;) Secondly, because it explains everything sooooo well that it really strengthens your testimony. I have really loved learning about all of His parables. I highly recommend chapter 27 :)

These last 4 weeks are gonna be full of all sorts of activities :) It's all good stuff! Have a great week!

Elder Quist

Week 95 - Temple Visit

How is everyone doing? I hope y'all are having a dandy summer and being good people -  enjoying that good summer heat. This week we went to the temple which was fun! We went on the subway, which just so happens to be the 2nd largest in North America! Fun fact of the day.

Like I mentioned, this week we went to the temple and took our friend, Juanita and her grandkids! It was a party. The stake rented a bus for all of the investigators and a bunch of us missionaries took a bus to the metro, then took the subway, then we walked through a lovely little park to get to the temple. It was a great experience to see how she was influenced by the spirit as she learned more about the temple, the book of mormon, and eternal families. She was asked how she felt and all she could say was "I don't know how to explain what I feel. It makes me want to cry almost. I really like it here!" So you could say it was quite a success hahaha.

I would like to challenge each of you to refocus your efforts to get to the temple regularly! It is such a special place and I wish I could go more often as a missionary. God desires that all his children on BOTH sides of the veil receive the blessings of eternal life, and he needs each and everyone of us to help Him do that!

Have a great week!

Elder Quist :)

(Near) Future BYU roommates

Week 94 - Working Hard in Chalco

Hi!

So opposite of last week, some pics and not a lot of a letter.

We had our interviews with our new mission president, President Rush this week! It was nice to get to know him and talk with him about how we are going to move forward! He is great!

We had a district breakfast this week. We made eggs and sausage and burrito type things. It was fun.

Today we played soccer. It was quite a good time :)

I love you guys! Have a good week!

Elder Quist (:

 

Week 93 - Sharing the Gospel

Hi everyone!

I have no photos today - this was just a normal week. 

Let's talk about sharing the gospel! We have an investigator who just loves going to church and she has been inviting everyone she knows to church! We visited her and when we got there she was talking to the lady that works with her about how much she likes going and how peaceful she feels when she gets there. Just blew us away. We need to always be looking for ways we can share the gospel, people! 

This week we will have our first interviews with President Rush! It's gonna be great! I already love him. I promise to write more next week :) 

I love you guys!

Elder Quist :)

Week 92 - A New Mission President (and 58 days)

Hi All! 

Last Tuesday, I went on divisions with Elder Dearden all day, it was awesome! We walked a LOT and had to go fix up a couple contracts for the elders in my district. ALL DAY. It was exhausting, but I had a good time, learned a lot. In the evening, we finished our divisions with some wings! Today is my boi Crocketts BDAY and we bought him a cake and ate some wings, it was fun. 

Wednesday: I officially have 21 months in Mexico! Que loco! It is crazy to think about that, for 21 months I have had the amazing opportunity and privilege to share this gospel with others and help others know Christ. We walked a lot today and contacted a lot! It was not as fun as I thought it would be hahaha.

Thursday: Today was awesome! We had a multi-zone meeting and met President and Sister Rush, our new mission president! He is from Colorado and he has such a strong spirit. I know we are going to have a lot of success with him here, even though I miss Presidente and Hermana Zapata! After that we had a zone meeting and I taught a little about the importance of repentance and improving everyday to become better instruments for God... Good stuff.

Friday: Toady we had a lesson with the most prepared family! Her name is Sandra Rojas and she is a member's friend. She lives by herself and works on the weekends to provide for her three kids. After talking to her and her kids, she decided that she will do whatever is possible to get work off on Sunday to be able to go to church next week! And she wants to get baptized and her kids all want to missionaries like us now :)) Great moment :)

Saturday I was honestly so sick I didn't eat today and we just stayed in our house. :(

Church was fun on Sunday. The stake president gave an awesome talk! We had a few people in church and had a calm Sunday afternoon. 

TODAY I SAW MY MAN ANDREW FRANCIS. The man, the myth, the legend returned to visit Chalco and we had lunch with him, it was awesome! 

Sorry for a weird weekly, I love you guys!

Elder Quist :)

Week 91 - All Sorts of Rain

Hey everyone :)

Had a good week here in Anáhuac 2. Honestly, not much happened this week. Some lessons happened. Some lessons fell through. A family we have been trying to teach wasn't home all week. We have been trying to fix the little things that we don't do though and as a companionship we have felt a lot better, still getting along well. 

While I was talking with the zone leaders this week, we began to talk about patience. I have been in a little bit of a rut these past few weeks and I did not know why until I sat down and just kinda did some basic studying, you know, the stuff you focus on at the beginning of the mish. I was still bothered and so I read all of D&C Section 84 and WOW was that fun! D&C 84:84 is a verse we should all read (go ahead, switch over to the Gospel Library app and look that baby up). After feeling quite happy about everything I had read and all the questions and doubts I had, I read my patriarchal blessing, and it mentions a few scriptures I should never forget to read, including D&C Section 84. I was very grateful for that. 

God loves us. He loves you. He loves me. It is a cool thing to think about :)

I love you guys too :) I hope you have a good week :)

Elder Quist