Transferred to Lago Tijuana

Dear All,

So I have two weeks to catch up on. Let´s see how well I do.

The last week in Mexicali feels like forever ago. The temple was super duper legit, and yes we did as many ordenances as we could in Spanish. It was cool cause we got to do every single one. We started in initatories and then we went to sealings cause we had some time before the session and then we went through a session with the whole ward. That was way dope. Also my companion got sealed to an American girl there, so that was pretty funny. It was like a glimpse right into his not too far distant future. Lol I´m gonna miss that dude a ton.

The highlights from the week: Another baptism, which put our total at 9 for the transfer (one shy of the record) and that was way cool. It was the daughter of a Less Active family and her dad got to baptize her. It was pretty legit hearing her dad say ¨Habiendo sido comisionado por Jesucristo¨. It was way cool.

And then we got the call and my District leader was like ¨Dude are you ready for this? These are the craziest tranfers I´ve ever seen.¨ And then the dude freaking hung up on me. So that was sick. But then he called me back and told me that I was leaving, that I had to be in Tijuana at 10am to pick up my new companion fresh from the MTC. And then he told me I was going to be opening an area. And then he told me I was moving up as a DL. BOOM. All of it just kinda hit me. I don´t think I slept at all that night.

So now here I am in Lago with my new compa Elder Priego, from Taluka, Mexico. He´s a pretty quiet guy but he´s a good missionary.

My new area is super huge and we don´t have bikes so that´s kinda hard, also in terms of drugs and sin this is definitely the worst area I´ve been in so far. So we shall see how this all goes. We´ve already had several encounters with drunk people (including some drunk members) and we have knocked on several doors to have people with needles in their arms answer them. So that is definitely very sad. It´s hard because those are the people who need the gosple most but they are also the hardest ones to accept it. So that´s a challenge. But it´s alright. We are just gonna baptize a ton. This is gonna be a solid couple of transfers. I can already feel it.

Other cool things about my area is that is has two of the best religous sites here within or just next to the boundaries, one of them being the Temple, and the other is this HUGE Catholic church with a giant Christ statue that overlooks the whole city. Literally the two churches that are mentioned in 1 Nephi 11-14. So that is kinda cool. I guess. The temple looks super duper legit, way better than when I saw it a year ago, but from what I´ve been hearing I´m not gonna be able to help in the open house cause it´s only gonna be Sister Missionaries and Members. Oh well. We shall see.

The other cool thing is that all of the Americans in my district are from the south. I´m from Georgia, there´s a sister from North Carolina, and there´s a Zone Leader from North Carolina too. WOO. 

Today we all went and played ping pong and other activities and ate pizza and basically just had fun  as a zone and it was pretty fun. I took second in the Ping Pong tournament just so you guys know. 

Anyway there really isn´t a whole lot more to talk about. Hope you all have an excellent week and always read your scriptures and say your prayers.

Los quiero mucho,

Elder Rawlings

Quick email this week

At the San Diego

This is pretty much just to let everyone know that i am still alive. I got switched areas, im now in Tijuana Estaca Otay Barrio Lago I am training again and opening sector and I am also now a district leader so yeah a lot has happened but i dont have time to tell you all about it but yeah hope you are all good and well and yes just to be clear i am alive and well.

Los quiero mucho,

Elder Rawlings

***note from Mom. Jenson asked me to monitor his Facebook page, and when I logged on to his account this past week, he had numerous friend request from those whom he had met and served in this last area of Nactionalista  in Mexicali.  I found lots of great pictures that others had posted of him, and was so grateful to see these pictures, and thought it would be fun to share some of them

 Cleaning the church

Teaching the Gospel

Helping put a roof on a member's home

Cleaning the church

At the church...goofing off a bit ;)

Cleaning the church

Working on the roof again

Riding bike (Jenson is on the left) 

With the Bishop and his family of the Nactionalist Ward

Salsa competition judges

Dear All,

HOLY WEEK. Let´s get started.

On Tuesday we went on exchanges. We were leaving the house, we got to the corner, and my companion started telling me that his bike felt kinda funny. So we checked it out and the freaking wheel had straight up fallen off the back of the bike. Like I don´t know how it was held on except by the blessings of tithing and keeping the sabbath day holy. So we ran back to the house, did a 10 second flip of the bikes, and we were off. But here is the best part. The reason my comp switched bikes was cause his seat was broken. So without knowing it, I made my District leader get up onto a broken seat. So basically the whole day he was riding around with his butt about a half inch above the wheel. Also, the seat padding didn´t work and so sitting on it kinda made it feel like there was a metal pole sticking up into places where it doesn´t belong. The dude is a champ cause he rode it the whole day like that. 

Wednesday we set up a ¨Bring Your Own Salsa¨ competion with the Relief Society. That got intense. One of our investigators won. But don´t worry the judges were professional. They definitely weren´t two blue eyed americans. Just kidding. The judges were totally us. It was great.

Thursday was a normal day. Nothing super special.

Friday we had a pretty kickin day. We only baptized 6 people nothing big. And we sang a special musical number. A mixup of ´Paz, calmense¨ ¨Tu me has dado muchas bendiciones Dios¨ and ¨Asombro me da¨ (I forgot their titles in English I know because i have been given much and the other is i stand all amazed but paz calmense i have no idea) and it was LEGIT. Way cool.

Saturday we had ANOTHER baptism bringing the total to 7 this week and 8 this month. Thats some good work right there. But on Saturday there was a special musical number too from a girl in our ward and her friend that are going to be in the Tijuana Temple dedication choir. Holy freaking moly. The voices of Angels. It was amazing.

Sunday we confirmed all of them, and then we got permission from President to do something very special. Ladies and Gentlemen, this saturday I will be on American soil. We totally got permision to go to San Diego and go to the TEMPLE YEAHHHHHHHH IM SO HAPPY!! And then we found out that we will also be able to see the Mexico City temple rededication in September. I´m so freaking excited. I love to see the temple.

I hope you guys are just so very happy. I really love all of you and I hope the best for you. Hearing that Allie and Sadie weren´t hurt is just awesome. That could have been super bad. 

Keep reading the scrips, keep going to church, and keep being good people.

Los quiero demasiado,

Elder Rawlings

Baptisms

Jenson's zone enjoying lunch together

Bike Selfie

Salsa Judges

Another pretty good week

Dear All,

Pretty good week.

Monday we spent the day at the mall and then in the Centro buying stuff for my comp to take home (he has two weeks left). So that was pretty chill.

Tuesday we had our training with the President. I guess he looked at my FaceBook or something and saw that I was studying Engineering and he´s an engineer, so that was kinda cool. Everytime there was anything to do with numbers he would ask me the answer. So that was pretty cool haha. We talked alot about our potential both as people and as missionaries, and what´s stopping us from getting there. Pretty cool.

We were also on exchanges that day, and leaving the stake center it was super hot so I was just looking for the first bus that passed by that took us to our house. And I saw one. So we got on. But we grabbed it on the wrong side of the road, cause all of the buses here have two routes. One that goes one way and one that travels the same course but in the other direction (I hope that makes sense). So you not only have to know what bus to take but which side of the street to take it on. And we messed up. Two hours later, after a sick tour of the whole city of Mexicali, we got off in front of the house. Not my proudest moment.

Wednesday was pretty chill, a sister brought some burritos to our house that didn´t quite fall well in my stomach  so that was an interesting twist for the next couple days.

We also met a super dope guy that day. We got his reference from some other zone leaders, and they told us that he had just showed up at church by himself. So we went and taught him and turns out that like 5 years ago he rented a house that was owned by some members. And they had a copy of the Book of Mormon there. So he read it. And he´s had the desire to go to church since that day. And on sunday he finallly went. And we taught him. That was pretty freaking legit. The Lord really does prepare his children so that they can come back to his presence.

Thursday we had interviews with President. I always love those.

Friday was a pretty normal day. My comp decided he didn´t like his bike, and we had another frame in the house. So he changed the wheels and put them on the other frame. So now its this red old school frame with a whitewall thick tire in back and a black street tire in front. It is the best looking bike of all time. I´m kinda jealouse. And I promise there will be pics next week. 

Saturday we got up at really early to start a service project at 6:30am putting a roof on this guy´s house. That was pretty fun. I felt like I was gonna fall through the roof at any given moment but other that that it was way fun. And then we went and cleaned the chapel. And then we went home and got showered and as soon as we left the house it started to rain. And yes we got mega wet. 

On sunday we had a lesson after church and when we came outside it was like hey this weather feels really nice. And then we were going along on our bikes and we start to hear thunder and feel little drops. And then bigger drops. And so we found the nearest member and took shelter. But then we had to leave cause we had interviews for some upcoming baptisms. And so we had to leave. At this point the rain had stopped, but there were some legit puddles. Like as we pedaled, our feet would dip into the water. I felt like a human Jeep. Super legit.

And yeah that was my week. It is so much fun having an american companion. Last night we played 1 on 1 soccer in the house with this little plastic princess ball we found in the backyard. And like they say its all fun and games until someone gets hit where it hurts. We stopped after that.

I hope you guys are enjoying your summer break and doing not super dumb things. 

Los quiero mucho,

Elder Rawlings

Pretty Legit Week

Dear All,

Guys guess what. It wasn't that hot this week. Maybe that's why we are seeing so many miracles. 

So yeah this week was pretty legit. On Sunday the bishop's son, who is getting ready to go on the mission, told us that he wanted to come with us all day, every day this week. So that was pretty cool. 

On Tuesday we did divisions and my companion went with him and I went with his brother. Fun day. We went and visited a family and it just so happened to be the daughter's birthday, so we got some pizza, cake, and ice cream, and then we had a super awesome lesson. I love teaching families. There is nothing more joyous than watching a family come together and help each other in their journey towards Christ.

 Wednesday we had a special conference with the Church doctor for all of Mexico. It was kinda cool, it was supposed to be like "The 10 Commandments of Health" but it ended up being like "The 10 Things you know you're supposed to but don't and you haven't died yet so yeah". It was pretty chill. And then we had a question and answer sesh and that may have been the funniest thing ever. All of the sudden you get to know everyone's weird medical problems.

And then that night we b-b-b-b-b-baptized. Woohoo. He's a 14 year old joven. He's a pretty chill dude. He showed up at church the first Sunday I was in this area and we set a baptismal date with him the next day. So that was kinda cool. Seeing the fruits of labors from the very first moment. Pretty legit.

Thursday we went to go buy some water in the morning and we noticed that there was a bunch of little mini garage sales lined up along the street and long story short my compaion came home with a pair of cowboy boots and I came home with a new pair of Johnson and Murphy shoes that are super dope that cost me $10. But we forgot about water. Whoops haha.

Friday I found out that I have a very tasty left ankly. Yes, in the exact same spot that the dog got me in Ensenada, another one got me here. But again, I was saved. The thing was huge, but his bite didn't break the skin. Just swollen and purple. And then when we were leaving the lesson, I went to shake the lady's hand and then she like turned her head to the side and wouldn't let go of my hand. So yes. I kissed and old lady on the cheek this week. Probably the worst lesson of my mission.

Saturday we spent the morning scrubbing bathrooms in the church and rapping all the songs we could remember.

And then Sunday we had church, we had another high number of investigators come to church, and we finished the day eating fried pork skin and salsa with a recent convert family while we taught their son. Not a bad week.

We kept going to the gym this week too, and I now know how to throw some pretty legit punches, how to dodge the other guys punches, how to tape up my hand, and how freaking hard boxing is. So much respect for the people that do it. It's legit.

Anyway, hope you are all good, and Allie, I hope you have a wonderful birthday. Enjoy it. 

Be good, read your scriptures every day, and remember que Cristo te ama.

Los quiero mucho,

Elder Rawlings

Short email this week

Dear All,

This is gonna be super short due to the fact that we spent 5 hours in the doctors office and the others bowling with the zone. 

But this week was awesome! On tuesday, on the bus back from district meeting, me and my companion were the only ones on the bus, so the bus driver pulled over, mumbled something about how this would only take a second, went to the back of the bus, and proceeded to pee into a water bottle. I LOVE MEXICO!!

We have been going to the gym every morning and learning how to box. My respects to boxers everwhere (especially Joe´s hehe) cause that is one tough sport holy heck. The first day I could not move. Everything hurt. And we only punched the bag. But it´s wicked fun.

On Friday we had our steak and shrimp (cause sunday was fast sunday and here the fast starts after lunch on saturday) and DANG was it good. My comp is like pro chef level. It was legit. If I had more time I would hook yall up with the pics but that´ll wait till next week.

Also on Saturday we planned this super legit missionary activity with all the youth ¨A day in the MTC¨ but then only the bishop and his two kids and his wife came so we just cleaned the church. And my Bishop was a pro soccer player when he was 14 so hes pretty good and I found a ball that I was kicking around while we were cleaning and he was like ¨Hey lemme see that¨ and then lined up to kick it and hit my comp in the back of the head and when he planted his foot it slipped and the dude was flat on his back like a sack of hammers. And EVERYONE saw. It was probably top 5 funniest things I´ve seen in my life. After the bus driver peeing in a water bottle.

I also went out on a limb and let my companion cut my hair. I don´t think anything else needs to be said.

Keep being cool, read your scriptures, and don´t forget to pray.

Los quiero mucho,

Elder Rawlings

Our Frankenstein bikes

Fell asleep on the job ;)

Dear All,

Its still hot. Actually I take that back. It wasn´t as hot this week as it has been, but it got super humid, and I can´t decide which is worse: having the sun constantly burn you, or sitting (not even doing anything) and feeling drops of sweat rolling down your back. And they say that July and August are like a combination of the two. WOO HOO.

But yeah this has been the hands down chillest most fun week of my mission. My companion is a stud. We are working our butts off and speaking lots of english. But the dude is just a champ. Favorite companionship by far. For example, Saturday is Fourth of July. We are both American citizens. We are gonna celebrate. So today we bought some New York Sirloin, shrimp, mashed potatoes, butter, garlic, everything you need to throw a real party. It´s gonna be chill.

But yeah we are killing it. We had more than a few investigators in church, to the point that one guy who is notorious for not getting along with missionaries came up to me and was like ¨Wow, looks like you guys actually work, huh?¨ So that felt kinda nice. We even called president to find out the record for baptisms in a transfer for a companionship. And yes, we are going to smash it. By alot. I´M SO PUMPED!

So yeah besides kicking butt in the work of the Lord, we´ve been kicking butt in the workout side too. My companion has a few of the P90X DVDs and so we´ve been giving those a spin. And this morning we started waking up at 5:30 to go work out in the gym of a guy in the ward. Plus with the whole riding bikes thing, it´s gonna be great.

Speaking of bikes I was reminded many times of why I didn´t want to buy them. My companion´s bike broke the first day. So we went to the dude who sold us the bikes and he gave us a replacement part. Good thing it was the gear star in back and you need a special tool to take that off. All we have is a $5 crescent wrench from walmart. So we went to the neighbors and borrowed some pliers, And with that we just made it worse. So we were looking for a solution, when we looked at the bike that someone had given us that didn´t work. But we saw the back wheel. It wasn´t quite the right size, but could it work? Of course it could. So we squished together the back part of the frame until the two little holes where the wheel goes were close enough together, and threw the bolt on there super quick. and its been working. It´s slightly crooked, but we haven´t died yet, so that´s nice.

So then the next day we were going around and I was like ¨dang I´m either getting tired or it´s getting hard to pedal¨ and sure enough my back tire was flat. When I looked at it, I realized that my whole tire had just shredded. Like a 4 inch gash. All the patches in the world weren´t gonna fix that. So we went back to the house, and I was looking at that broken back wheel from my comp´s bike like hey there. But here comes the best part. The original tires from his bike were like super thin street tires, and the one he put on as a replacement is super wide. And white walled. So it´s like a muscle car. And my tires were normal sized, but now that I changed the back one to the thin one, I´ve got a thick one in front, and a thin one in back. Which is pretty cool cause I´ve been practicing drifting. So we´ve got two frankenstein bikes, but hey they´re faster than walking. And at least my brakes work. 

But I forgot to take pictures. So next week you´ll see em in their glory.

I am so happy right now. This is the most fun I´ve had on my mission yet. It´s weird being able to ride down the street and have a random song come into my head, then I start to sing it, and then my compaion joins in and all of the sudden we have a pretty solid duet of Don´t Stop Believin or Cruise or some other song. And its the best when we both forget the words, so we just hum until the chorus and then we go for it with all we got.

I hope you guys are all good. Don´t worry about the politics, just keep doing what you know is right and you´re gonna be blessed. Remember that we believe in being subject to kings, rulers, and magistrates and obeying, honoring and sustaining the law. That doesn´t mean that we have to agree with their decisions, but we do know that government is a necessary part of life. Like I said, just keep doing what you know is right, reading the scriptures both personally and in your family, saying prayers the same way, having FHE, keeping the sabbath day 100% holy, and just doing your best to keep the commandments. 

Los quiero mucho,

Elder Rawlings

after a long hot day of missionary work