Week 26 - Hiking Popcatépetl

Hi All! A run down of my week --

Monday: Last week for p-day, we hiked/drove up Popocatépetl, an active volcano nearby. It was pretty awesome! Don't be jealous.

a view of the active volcano from our area

 hiking with the district

Tuesday: We had a multi-zone meeting in Chalco. We left our house at 7:30 am and didn't get home until about 4 pm. Long meeting. We were so tired. Walking up a volcano the day before is not too easy on the legs.

Wednesday: We have been looking through our area books (we have a ton) to find people to teach again. We visited one this morning. She wasn't there, but we talked with her a little bit and she is really interested! We left her a Book of Mormon and she really wants to read it.  Later we went to Ecatzingo (a town in our area). We have to use a combi or a bus to get there because it's so far. Without traffic, it's 30 minutes by bus. But. It's probably my favorite place to visit so far in the mission. 

Thursday: We went on splits with the Zone Leaders in Ecatzingo. We were there all day. There is not a flat road in this place. It is pure hills. One road is literally more than a 45 degree incline.

Friday: I don't think y'all knew this, but no one in Mexico has toasters. I have not seen one yet. I really miss them. And bagels. I miss bagels. I thought about American food a lot today.

Saturday: We traveled a ton today! When I go to this area, we received a branch. The other Elders never worked there, so President Zapata gave the area to us. It's called Tepecoculco, and it's also quite far in a combi (30 minutes) and about 120 pesos. That's a lot... we had a really good lesson in Ecatzingo in the morning. Then we met with the Tepecoculco Branch President in the afternoon and visited some less active families. Long, good day.

Sunday: We had a really cool lesson in the afternoon. I felt the spirit during the opening prayer and this lady we taught was like, "whoa, I've never felt the spirit like that before." Great lesson. At the end, I felt impressed to promise her that if she prays, she will feel the spirit strongly. She prayed and the spirit was definitely there. She felt it too. Super cool!

Overall this week was awesome! We got 12 new investigators and worked SUPER hard. I really miss bagels, but besides that things are great! I love you all! You're in my prayers!

- Elder Quist

 the pig (aka, the carnitas) from last week

Week 25 - Carnitas, Carnitas, Carnitas

Hey there! This email will be shorter. Sorry. My new area is the Ozumba 1st Ward and a branch in Tepecoculco. Just know these names aren't too easy for me either. ;) My new companion is Elder Gastelum. He has 11 months on the mission and is from Chicago, but his parents are from Mexico. 

Monday: We played soccer as a zone in the park close to the church. It was hot, but fun! Later, I packed up my things. Oh, we had cake with the Jimenez Familia, Brenda y Ingrid. Good times. Later that evening we had Lime Pie with the Garcia's. It was the best! Good last night.

Tuesday: Changes. We had carnitas as a district. Carnitas, are, well, THE BEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO ME (so far) in this new area! haha! Later for lunch we had quesadillas and gorditas. Then visited some contacts.

Wednesday: Our area, geographically, is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, in the mission. Some names of cities in our area - Loma Verde, Atlautla, Tepecoculco, Tecomaxusco, Ecatzingo, Mamalhuazuca, Tlalamac, Ozumba, and Tlacotompa. Have fun trying to pronounce those! We are trying to establish a house of prayer in Ecatzingo, so we checked it our today. It's super pretty, small and ONLY hills... my legs are gonna look gooood when I leave this area! In the evening, we committed Teresa and Paulina to a baptismal date! Pray for them.

Thursday: Nothing too special. Just walked a lot. Checked out the area.

Friday: I forgot to mention - on Wednesday, we helped Hermano Victor kill a pig (he makes carnitas - super good carnitas). This morning we had carnitas from the pig we killed.... We spent the whole day in Ecatzingo (only like 5 hours) just getting to know the place and we got 12 accepted contacts! This place is far away so missionaries never work there. This cycle will be fun over there!

Saturday: We met with a less active family in Ecatzingo. We helped them make carnitas. haha! We had carnitas 3 out of 5 day this week.

Sunday: Teresa and Paulin came to church! The ward here is one of the oldest and best organized wards in Mexico. Just trust me.

This was an awesome week! Love you guys!

- Elder Quist

Week 24 - Champions!

Hey everyone!

At this point, I don't know what to talk about. Mexico is good. I'm loving the mission! If you are wondering what a mission is like, or if you forgot, well, it's good. Like 80% of the time, things don't go as planned and you get frustrated and the other 20%, things don't go as planned and you have a really cool experience.

Monday: This day was the bomb. In the mission every 6 months, we have a Sports Day. With team (Zone) jerseys and all. We play basketball, soccer, and volleyball as a zone against every other zone. Our zone, Helaman, won! It was so fun to see the whole mission, all my homies, in other zones. Good day!

Helaman Zone

 Bus ride to sports day

 Elders Peterson, Rowberry, Crockett and Quist

 Zone Trophy cause we are the best

 My dad - Elder McDowell

 with Elder Braithwaite, my homie 

Tuesday: There really wasn't anything super interesting about this day besides having a district meeting and a super interesting lesson. So we taught a lesson about the Gospel of Jesus Christ to about 20 people... it was an Alcoholics Anonymous group. Haha. It actually went really well. 

This cycle has ben hard, not gonna lie. But I found these scriptures: Mosiah 23:21-22 - "Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten His people; Yea, He trieth their patience and their faith. Nevertheless--whosoever putteth his trust in Him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people." I've come to realize a lot more clearly that I'm on the Lord's mission, not my mission.

Wednesday: We had a zone activity today in area Zapata and I went with Elder Oehler, my homie. We contacted 6 or 7 people and they all accepted soooo we killed it. We walked a lot today. They said I would gain weight on my mission, but I honestly don't see how that's possible. haha! We never.stop.walking.

Thursday: We set 3 baptismal dates today! Ana Maria, Wendy, and Jade. They all seem really interested so I hope it works out next cycle. 

Friday: Another zone activity, but this time it was in our area! 20 elders walking around contacting for 2 hours. I was with Elder Barcenas, super fun morning! Then we had lunch with the Garcia's. We had some tacos dorados ( like taquitos in the US, but better). They were the best, as usual. 

Saturday: This morning we helped this cool member, Sergio (he has a glass eye). We moved a giant metal staircase. It was huge, good service though!

Sunday: Just a normal Sunday. No one came to church. It's transfers this week and I found out that I'm moving down to Amecameca! 4 1/2 months here in Valle de Chalco has been so awesome! But I guess it's time to go. I'm excited though! I'll be closer to the volcanoes. :)

Have a good week! I miss y'all!

- Elder Quist

Week 23 - "...being an instrument in the hands of God"

Hello! How is everyone doing? You know, the longer I do this whole mass email thing, the harder it gets. Like, how many people actually read this?? Anyway, If you read this, send me a quick email. I'd like to know. ;) 

Last Monday was p-day. Super relaxed. Didn't do a ton. We had a FHE with the Garcia's and I taught. The lesson wasn't perfect and neither was my spanish, but the spirit testified so strongly, which was super, super cool! 2 Nephi 3:24 "...being an instrument in the hands of God." It's a cool feeling. I've been praying a lot lately for, well, help. I'm on a mission, but this past week or so, I haven't felt like I'm doing much. This lesson helped me understand a little better that I'm here doing God's work. Literally. Not what I think is God's work. Does that even make sense?

Tuesday: Has anyone read the book of Job? I read about it in the Bible Dictionary - pretty cool. "The Book of Job suggests that affliction, if not for punishment, may be for experience, discipline and instruction." God doesn't give us trials to punish us (well, sometimes). He gives them to us to make us better people. 

Wednesday: Today was a party. I went on divisions with Elder Parker in his area for the day. There is this area call "Las Tablas" and it is super sketch. Elder Parker said they never go there after 6. 'Cause you'll die. Anyway, it is always fun to do divisions. And it was fun to be with someone from the US. Good day.

Thursday: We had a zone meeting this morning and 'twas a good time. This zone is da bomb because it is only elders. There aren't any sisters, so we are super tight. Just a heads up: If you tell a latina that you really don't want food, they will still make you food. We visited a recent convert/less active member and talked with them for awhile. He asked me to say a prayer. That was a pretty inspired prayer as he said it was exactly what he needed and they are really going to try to come to church again. 

Friday: HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!! The big 5-0! 

Saturday: We had a zone activity this morning contacting people in another area. I was with Elder Martinez from Nicaragua. He's super cool. Hey if y'all have time, go read and seriously ponder Alma 5:14-15.  It's kind of like a member self quiz. 

Sunday: Church en la manãna, fue bueno, estuve muy cansado. Tuvimos Almuerzo con la familia Hinojosa Herrera y tuvimos helados de fruta. Sinceramente es mi segunda comida favorita, despues el pay de limon de Angeles. Tuvimos una junta en la tarde por pocos Horas, entonces tuvimos tiempo a descansar. Buen dia. Que Tengan una buena semana!  (Church in the morning, it was good, I was very tired. We had lunch with the Hinojosa Herrera family and we had fruit ice cream. Honestly it's my second favorite meal, then Angeles' lemon pie. We had a meeting in the afternoon for a few hours, then we had time to rest. Good day. Have a good week!)

Elder Quist

a view from our area