Catching up

Elder Rodriguez, investigators and Sean at the visitors center.

Despite my efforts, I haven't been very good about updating Sean's Mission Blog...mine either for that matter!  So here's some updates on Elder Larson!

Sean on the rooftop of his apartment

View of the hill Sean lives on

The prison below Sean's apartment

Sean displaying his WWF belt that he won at the ward party

Visiting with members who own the "glasses" store

Sean modeling the candy lei made by the YW

Elder Javier,  Luis (ward memeber) and Sean

Elder Javier in front of the ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!

Sean and Monzon family

Sean and Laura. She cuts the missionaries hair

Temple in Mexico City

Visitors Center with Elizabeth, Mario and family

"Changes" and new companion Elder Rodriguez

 Oct. 11 2010
"Another other quick week here in Morelos.  This change is going by super fast.  it is pretty crazy!  I think it is because we are focusing on the work more.  I have to say sometimes we still dont have a lot of success but its much better to work than not to. the days are just long sometimes but then once the week finishes we are always amazed.  I dont know if it is a good thing or bad thing then haha.  I am really grateful for my comp, Rodriguez.  He knows a lot of stuff and helps me a lot.  There are still so many things i dont know and that i am still learning.  And i think that is why he is with me.  When i dont know how to answer a question that someone asks (not because of spanish, i just dont know haha) He is always there for me to back me up and sometimes we both dont know and that is when we tell them, we will study up on that and check with them in the next appointment.  Thats really cool too because that is when we study as a companionship and learn so many other new things." 

Ward Members art for "Day of the Dead"

Eating with ward members

Preparing dinner

Cooking tortillas

 Sean has been serving in Morelos for the last 3 months.  Transfers are this week, so he's not sure what will happen then.  He has love this area and many of the people he has met there.  He has had the opportunity to teach some wonderful investigators and to baptize them.  (I'll share baptisms on my next post)  This has been such a great experience for him and despite the hard work and sometimes disappointment, he absolutely LOVES being a missionary!  We love seeing the spiritual and cultural growth in him!  We look forward to his next letter.  I'll try and be better about keeping up!

A New President and Transfers

Pres. Villarreal is great! I had an interview with him and I know he is going to be great.  He told me there are going to be changes in the mission, actually I think in all the missions! Missionaries are going to be taught 8 lessons so that they can be better teachers.  It's for the missionaries and its not for the investigators.  I am really excited because I need help with that. Then eventually one random day, our President will knock our door and go to work with us that day! Cool huh! I am excited.  I also think it will help kick some of the elders into gear to work again.  I am excited and that means more hard work.  So that will good for me and everyone else.

  

Sean and Elder Hernandez (Sean's trainer)

Sean's new Area

Sean's new companion, Elder Javier.

The streets of Morelos after the rain

Flooding in the streets

Morelos at night

I love this mission and I love you all so much! I miss you tons... but love you more! I am right where I   want and need to be, here in Mexico, preaching the gospel.! Thank you for your support and prayers and letters. I love you all! PEACE!

First Baptism

The Perez Family

Meet the Perez Family!  This family was in Sean's first area and one of the first families to be baptized.  The father was already a member and Sean and his companion, Elder Hernandez, were able to teach and baptize the mother and her daughter.

"I will tell you about our baptisms! ya! finally.  So we have been teaching this family, the Perez family.  The dad is a member but the rest are not.  The dad was inactive and wanted to start going to church again and get his family baptized.  They have 3 kids but 2 of the kids aren't 8 so they can't get baptized yet. The other daughter, Cony and the mom, Marium have accepted to get baptized this Saturday! Yeah! So that is great news and I am totally excited!  I don't know if i will be baptizing them or not. It's funny because Marium doesn't really want her husband to baptize her but i don't know why exactly,  so  I might,  but either way its great!!  It was so cool actually hearing the investigators answer that question of "will you be baptized on this date?" and then  to hear them say "yes!" It's a lot different than the MTC haha.  It was a really cool experience and feeling. It really helps boost your confidence and makes you want to work even harder! I love it! I will update you next p day on how the baptism went.


We also brought Sol, our golden investigator, to church yesterday! She is totally set and ready and looks like she will get baptized on June 5th in Utah.  That is really neat for her!  She will be a great member and add a lot to the church with her spirit.  Plus she went to this meeting on Friday and 3 of the Seventies were there. They let the investigators  ask questions about the church and stuff! Cool huh! Anything they wanted to ask they could ask.  Sadly.... I wasn't there. ..yes I got sick. Fun!.... I don't know if it was something I ate because the food was fine but I felt way tired on Thursday and then my stomach just was not acting right.  So that night went to bed and threw up and ya....  anyways! Friday I could not do anything! I had no energy whatsoever! Showering was a big struggle for me! But then we got meds and now I am feeling fine! I am so happy for that too because I realized that you really don't want to be sick on your mission. It sucks! You want to go out and work but you just can't. It sucked but all is well now!"

Sean and Isis Perez

Missionary Bear Kidnapped!

BREAKING NEWS! The missionary bears were on an outing with their newest missionary, Elder Stringham last Thursday, July 22, 2010. When the outing was over, the Guatemalan bear was carelessly left in the back of the van by his mother! It was alleged that the Mexican bear seized the opportunity, kidnapped the bear and is holding him for ransom! (Evidence was found on the scene.) There have been no updates as to whether the ransom is being paid or not, but we will keep you updated with any breaking news!

Alleged kidnapper and Guatemalan bear

Ransom note

Distraught mother and father

Elder Larson, Elder Fadel and Elder Stringham in happier times

The Food...the sports...the people!

Sean really loves Mexico! He loves the food, he loves the people and he loves their enthusiasm for sports, especially soccer. He said that their love for soccer is unsurpassed. It has been particularly fun being there during the World Cup. Even though the missionaries can't watch the games, they always know what is going on because the entire town is "a buzz" with soccer talk. They were heartbroken when Mexico was eliminated. Sean's zone played a lot of soccer on their p days. I'm not sure how well he plays, but the uniforms are awesome!

Sean LOVES the food in Mexico. The members take very good care of the missionaries and feed them well. He said in his last letter that he now weighed 160 pounds! (I think he weighed just under 140 when he left.) Here are some fun shots of some of Sean's favorite things!

I think this is Mexico's soccer jersey.

Uniforms for the zone

One of the only soccer fields that actually has grass!

Same

P day...taking the bus

One of Sean's favorite meals...I can't remember what it's called

Now we know why he weighs 160!

This is his favorite meat for tacos!

Authentic tacos...yummy!

Sean's First Area

After 11 weeks in the MTC, Sean arrived in Mexico. He spent the first night in the Mission Home then was off to his new area and to meet his new companion, Elder Hernandez. He is in an area called Distrito Federal. Sean says it is the "Washington DC of Mexico." View of the city

Sean and "his city"Street MarketsCity streetsChurch in the city

Mexican graffiti

Painting of the temple

Sister Virginia and her artwork

Sean's zone at a Chinese Buffet

Subway's are the main mode of transportation hereRiding the rails

Elder Hernandez and friends

No, it's not what you think...it's a health drink!I did it!