November 26, 2012

Jojutla is a municipality in the state of Morelos, Mexico. Its municipal seat is the city of Jojutla de Juárez. The towns of Tequesquitengo and Huautla as well as Lake Tequesquitengo are also located in the municipality. 

Well family we had changes today and I have officially left Amilcingo and now I’m in JOJUTLA!!!  I also have a new companion and he’s great so far.  His name is Elder Rodriguez and this is his last change in the mission and so I’m going to try extra hard to help him finish the mission strong and good.  I had great time in Amilcingo but I guess the Lord wants me to be in Jojutla.  Jojutla is the hottest part of state of Morelos but its not very hot because its winter right now so it’s pretty cool and a little bit cold.  My time with Elder Alvarez was tough not only because of the Spanish, but because we butted heads a little bit and he’s a little bit different in how to work. I learned a lot of things from this companionship and how to interact with people that I don’t really like but have to talk with...so it was a really good learning experience of me.  It’s kind of sad because right before I left I started to talk with a inactive family that I liked a lot. The husband loves Football American football and he’s a Steelers fan…I guess that’s why he is inactive haha.  We were talking about football and things like that and really just sports and at the end of talking with this family I asked them if they would come to church and they went but now I left and I’m in Jojutla its funny how things like happen. 

I know my Spanish has gotten better because I can understand and speak a lot better than before.  Now it’s another challenge with the language and I know if I do my part all will be good.  It’s funny again because the last companion of Elder Rodriguez was Elder Evans my comp in the MTC so that’s pretty cool.  It’s cool too because Elder Hessing is my Zone Leader and he’s in my district and so I will be seeing a lot of him soon.  Well Family I’m so glad that I have a family like you and that y’all are there for me and all that jazz.  I hope that y’all are doing your part to receive blessings by keeping the commandments and being faithful.  I love y’all and have a great week!

Por medio de nuestros Aflicions y Dificultades podemos superar y vencer estas pruebas en la vida.  Para Que podamos llegar a ser mas como nuestro Salvador y Redentor Jesucristo.  Siguen el Camino de Dios mediante 3 cosas.  1 orar  2 Estudiar las Escrituras  3 Obedecer los Mandamientos  si hagamos estas cosas vamos a tener muchismas bendicions les amo 

Elder Park

Translation: 

Through our Afflictions and difficulties we can overcome and defeat these tests in life so that we can become more like our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Follow the path of God through 3 things: 1 Prayer; 2 studying the Scriptures; 3 Obey the Commandments.  If we do these things, we are going to have blessings. Thank you very much I love you!

November 19, 2012

Mexico City LDS Temple

Elder Park and friends...

Elder Alverez and Elder Park

 Elder Park, Elder Alverez and Rosario after her baptism!

Tyler on his baptismal day - May 5, 2001  'Cinco De Mayo'

Temple and Baptism

Well Family everything is going great here in Amilcingo Mexico.  I’m trying to be the best I can be in all things that I’m doing.  I’m trying to have patience with Elder Alverez but he’s super stubborn and doesn’t like to do things that I want to do. I have 5 messes and he has 8 or 9 but it doesn’t matter.  I’m a Park and so I’m the Boss haha.   We’re going to Find, Teach, and Baptize people who will be converted to the Gospel.  I’m doing better with the language. I still have tough times but I’m learning how to speak and understand.  The baptism with Rosario went great and we felt the spirit really strong.  I’m grateful for the blessing that I have and that now Rosario will have.  The Temple was amazing!!!! Super beautiful! It is the most beautiful temple in all of the world because it’s in my Home!!!  I love the people here, it’s different, but it’s my home.  Hope turkey day is going great and GO COWBOYS THEY’RE GOING TO GO THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR.  Boo Texans sorry Hannah but their chafismas.  Translation they are really bad haha. 

Here with the comp is going good but we just have to get over a few things but it’s all good.  I’m super excited for the 23 of this month, this Friday, because I’m going to complete...wait for it....6 MONTHS IN THE MISSION!!!  Man has it gone fast. I’m super scared that pretty soon I’m going to have to leave home for my home but I’m going to focus on this right now.  I’m doing great.  I’m learning so much as a servant of the Lord.  I want to tell you something that I learned in the temple.  When we have frustrations in our life with people, or work, just remember how Christ felt when he was hung on the cross and what he said to the all the people that were mocking him and torturing him.  He said to the Father forgive them for they know not what they do.  If we can have more of this attitude or Charity the world will be a better place in TEXAS and MEXICO.

Familia quiero testificarles que se que esta iglesia es la Iglesia de Jesucristo y que El da revelacion a Thomas S Monson para que podamos tener mas de su conocimiento y sabio.  Estoy agradecido por los Templos y por el Espiritu de ellos.  Familia aunque yo tenga muchas pruebas y afliciones como Misionero y humano estoy agradecido por este Evangelio de Dios.  Que podemos ser salvos por medio de la expiacion de Jesucristo.  Esta iglesia no es una iglesia de cosas para hacer en facto es un Evangelio de Promesas que nos invitan para hacer cosas para que podamos tener mas bendicions y la felizidad en la Vida.  Les amo con todo de mi corazon...Estas Cosas SON VERDADERAS se que eso

Con Amor Elder Park...Disfruten el dia de gracias y coman mucha pay de calabeza por mi jaja




Translation:

Family would like to testify that this is the Church of Jesus Christ and that he gives revelation to Thomas S. Monson so that we can have more knowledge and be wise. I am grateful for the temples and the spirit of them. Family, although I have many tests and afflictions as a missionary and human, I am grateful for this Gospel of God that we can be saved through the atonement of Jesus Christ. This church is not a church of things to do, in fact, it is a Gospel of promises that invite us to do things so that we can have more blessings and happiness in life. I love y’all with all my heart...These things ARE REAL AND TRUE!

With love Elder Park...Enjoy Thanksgiving and eat a lot of turkey for me!  

    

Earthquake - November 15, 2012

MEXICO CITY — A magnitude-6.0 earthquake set off alarms in Mexico’s capital on Thursday, November 15, but there were no reports of injuries or significant damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the 3:20 a.m. (4:20 a.m. EST; 0920 GMT) quake struck near the town of Tlalchapa in the state of Guerrero and about 107 miles (173 kilometers) southwest of Mexico City.

November 12, 2012

El Dia de los Muertos ...

... Day of the Dead

At first glance, the Mexican custom of El Día de los Muertos — the Day of the Dead — may sound much like the U.S. custom of Halloween. After all, the celebration traditionally starts at midnight the night of Oct. 31, and the festivities are abundant in images related to death.

But the customs have different origins, and their attitudes toward death are different: In the typical Halloween festivities, death is something to be feared. But in el día de los muertos, death — or at least the memories of those who have died — is something to be celebrated.

El día de los muertos, which continues until Nov. 2, has become one of the biggest holidays in Mexico, and celebrations are becoming more common in areas of the United States with a large Hispanic population. Its origins are distinctly Mexican: During the time of the Aztecs, a monthlong summer celebration was overseen by the goddess Mictecacihuatl, the Lady of the Dead. After the Aztecs were conquered by Spain and Catholicism became the dominant religion, the customs became intertwined with the Christian commemoration of All Saints' Day on Nov. 1.

Specifics of the celebration vary with region, but one of the most common customs is the making of elaborate altars to welcome departed spirits home. Vigils are held, and families often go to cemeteries to fix up the graves of their departed relatives. Festivities also frequently include traditional foods such as pan de muerto (bread of the dead), which can conceal a miniature skeleton.

November 12, 2012

CAMBIOS ESPECIALES!!!!!  (Special Changes)

So this past week we had Conferencia de la Zona and we learned a lot of things on how to be safe, have the spirit and really be a better missionary of Christ and how to bring people to him.  In the Conference we were able to listen a man from the church about security and he was pretty funny about the things that he had to say.  But as y’all already know missionaries in Mexico aren’t allowed to knock doors or contact people in the calles.  Well if the spirit prompts us to contact someone in the street we can do it but for the most part we don’t contact and we are really trying to work through the members.  A day after the Conference Elder Hessing y Yo were teaching a lesson to Rosario who is going to be baptized this Friday at 4 and she is super fiel (faithful) and already and has a strong testimony.  During this lesson with her and her family I received a call from our Zone leaders who said Elder, I need to talk to Hessing.  I said we were in a lesson right now can we call you later and he said NO haha.  Well Elder Hessing is now in Galiena to be Zone leader there.  I’m not surprised but it was really crazy this past week.   My new companion is Elder Alvarez and he is from Peru.  I don’t know if it was the same in Argentina, Chile, or Texas but missionaries from Peru are very hard to get along with.  So far the companionship is going pretty well but were going to work hard.  

This Miercoles our distrito is going to the temple in Mexico City and I’m super pumped and a little bit nervous for a session in Spanish. I’m pretty sure I will be able to understand but what come afterwards is what’s going to be a cool experience.  In my weekly letters to President Kusch he responded with now you have a new challenge that I know you are ready for.  It made me feel good to hear that Presidente says that I’m ready for this challenge to have special changes with a Peruvian.  We’re going to work hard!  If he doesn’t want to work well that’s too bad because this isn’t mission TRIP this is Mission WORK.  I’m going to be baptizing Rosario because she doesn’t know elder Alvarez very well.  I’m excited that she’s going to take these steps for baptism.  Also, we found a joven named Duban that is taking the placticas right now and he’s really excited and I can’t wait to have another cita with him and hear if he has received ananswer that this is true.  Because it is true and he’s going to get an answer. 

Familia les amo.  con todo mi corazon.  Estoy agradecido por este Evangelio de Jesucristo y que esta iglesi fue restuarado por Jose Smith.  Que tenemos todas las verdades de Dios en estos Ultimos dias.  Se que por medio de los escrituras y la oracion vamos a recibir respuestas y con suelo por nuestras purebas y afliciones.  Esta semana pasada fue bien rara porque de los cambios y todo.  Pero mediante estas pruebas creo que yo entiendo mucho mejor de la obra misional.  Les Amo y sigan el Ejemplo de Jesucristo en Nuestras vidas por Perseverando hasta el fin!!!  

Elder Park  Disfruten las fotos de El dia de los muertos 

Translation:

Family, I love y’all with all my heart. I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that this church has been restored by Joseph Smith. We have all the truths of God in these last days. I know that through the scriptures and prayer, we continue to receive answers and with tests and by our afflictions we press upon. This past week was rather rare because of the changes and everything. But through these tests I think I understand better the missionary work. I love y’all and follow the example of Jesus Christ in our lives by persevering until the end!

Elder Park Enjoy the photos of the day of the dead

History of the Church in Mexico

History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in MexicoSALT LAKE CITY — The history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico goes back to 1875, when Brigham Young, then prophet and leader of the Church, sent Daniel Jones to lead a small group of missionaries to Mexico City and distribute brochures to Mexican leaders. One of these brochures about the Book of Mormon fell into the hands of Plotino Rhodacanaty, who after reading it wrote to President John Taylor – Brigham Young’s successor, to request more information about the Church.During the October 1879 general conference, President Taylor called Moses Thatcher, then the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (the second-highest governing body in the Church), to start the proselytizing work in Mexico City. Plotino Rhodacanaty was the first convert.On 13 November 1879, Elder Thatcher and two missionaries organized the first branch (congregation) of the Church in Mexico City with Rhodacanaty as the branch president.Beginning with a group of 12 members and three missionaries, the Church started to expand slowly among the Mexican people. In 1886 the Church published a Spanish edition of the Book of Mormon to further the work of the Church in Mexico. The Book of Mormon is a record of the inhabitants of the ancient America and includes an account of Christ’s visit to and dealings with them.In the first days of the Church in Mexico, two faithful members, Rafael Monroy and Vicente Morales, became martyrs because of their beliefs. During the Mexican Revolution, Monroy was the president of the small congregation in San Marcos, Hidalgo, and Morales was his first counselor (assistant). On 17 July 1915 both were arrested by a group of revolutionaries and were told they would be released if they handed over their arms and renounced their strange religion. The two men declined the offer and were shot to death by the firing squad. They died in defense of their beliefs.Throughout the years, the Church reached all parts of the country. The first stake (similar to a diocese) was organized in Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, in 1895. Sixty-six years later, on 3 December 1961, the second stake was organized. Currently there are 1,120,000 members of the Church in Mexico in 212 stakes.On 3 April 1976, under the direction of Church President Spencer W. Kimball, the construction of the Mexico City temple was announced. Ground was broken by Elder Boyd K. Packer, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The temple was open for public tours from 8 September to 20 September 1983 and was dedicated on 2 December 1983 by President Gordon B. Hinckley, who later became the leader of the Church.During the April 1998 general conference, President Hinckley said: “I have been with many who have very little of this world's goods. But they have in their hearts a great burning faith concerning this latter-day work. They love the Church. They love the gospel. They love the Lord and want to do His will. They are paying their tithing, modest as it is. They make tremendous sacrifices to visit the temples. They travel for days at a time in cheap buses and on old boats. They save their money and do without to make it all possible. They need nearby temples – small, beautiful, serviceable temples.” As a result of this vision, he announced the building of more temples, 11 of which have been built in Mexico between the years 1998 and 2000.After 25 years of uninterrupted service, the Mexico City Mexico Temple closed its doors on 31 March 2007 for remodeling. It will open to the public on 20 October 2008 and be rededicated on 16 November 2008.

Security Letter - October 29, 2012

Elders and Sisters,
On Monday they will send that email to your family. Make sure that make it today so that they know all. Mail that it is very important for the conferences that come. So send it right now!

Thank you

Elder Smith

Secretario Ejecutivo

de la Misión Mexíco Cuernavaca

Dear Family of a Missionary in the Mexico Cuernavaca Mission:
We want to make you aware that at upcoming zone conferences in November representatives from the Church Security Department will be making a presentation to our missionaries regarding safety and security while serving in Mexico.  Please know that this security training is preventative in nature; it is not being provided because of specific issues in the mission.  While we acknowledge that we serve in a nation that has and is experiencing danger in many places, missionaries generally are not in areas, or with people that would put them in harm’s way.  We also know that these good elders and sisters are under the watchful care of a loving Heavenly Father.  Please be assured that we will always do our best to educate and protect our missionaries, and your children.
Sincerely,
President Bruce C. KuschSister Alynda Kusch


Mexico Cuernavaca MissionEstimada Familia de un Misionero de la Misión Mexico Cuernavaca,Les avisamos que en las próximas conferencias de zona durante el mes de noviembre representantes del Departamento de Seguridad de la Iglesia van a proporcionar una capacitación sobre el tema de la seguridad de misioneros en Mexico.  Se pueden asegurar que dicha capacitación es en su naturaleza preventiva; no la estamos recibiendo por causa de peligros o riesgos específicos.  Reconocemos que servimos en una nación que ha y está experimentando peligro en muchos lugares, pero los misioneros, por lo general, no sirven en estos lugares, ni frecuentan con personas que les pondrían en situaciones peligrosos.  También, tenemos la seguranza que nuestro Padre Celestial conoce a estos buenos misioneros tan fieles y que sirven bajo la cuidadosa vista celestial de Él.  Por nuestra parte, hacemos todo lo posible para educar y proteger nuestros misioneros tal como ustedes harán como sus padres.
Sinceramente,
Presidente Bruce C. KuschHermana Alynda KuschMisión Mexico Cuernavaca