October 14, 2013 Email

What are you talking about mom I am just fine nothing happened with my face ha ha. No I got an infection in my face the beginning of this week which caused it to break out good news is I didn't have to shave for the next couple of days what a blessing I missed my beard. ha ha 

Diarrhea, na nothing to talk about there lets just flush that topic haha. Hmmm well I don't know why dad has felt me around there lately maybe it was the relaxation exercise I did the other day it says to imagine a place that brings you joy and I just imagined myself walking through the house so maybe thats what it was. 

I am doing great. Every once in a while I have some physical challenges but I am not worried about that I am more worried about my mental challenges ha ha Well everything has been going great. This week was a little hard with our investigators because we had one that decided she doesn’t want to meet with us anymore, one that started drinking again and two that don’t want to get married until December so their family can have a fiesta. But we also have many that are progressing. We have three baptisms for this Sunday so hopefully everything works out. Then we have a couple more for the end of this month and we are working on finding more but I don’t know whats going to happen. A lot of it is in the hands of the Lord. 

I love working here, These members are pretty awesome even though there are a lot of inactives but this week was pretty awesome we decided to contact inactives one day after we had some citas with investigators and we found a couple and one of them came to church he is an awesome guy he thanked us for finding him and he says we can stop by his shop whenever we want and he wants us to teach his son in law. 

Yesterday was a great sunday one of our investigators brought her boyfriend to church and she came with her grandma and grandpa too. I went to comida (food) at the house of our relief society president. Ha ha, we were supposed to have family home evening at their house three times this last week but had to cancel every time and then we were going to have one today but we had to cancel too because I have to return to Xalapa for my Visa. ha ha. She is a little upset but in a joking way. ha ha She has family in Provo and Orem and visited them in july I told her next time to visit our family. 

I saw some football I hope that is not a sin but it was the 49ers so I think I am ok. Ha ha. But I also heard the chiefs have a perfect season I think that it is because their coach is Mormon now, but I don’t know ha ha. Congrats mike. 

I hope that everything is going great I am so glad that Mom finally got to go to cove fort thats so great! Ha ha, congrats Mom. I want to thank you all for your emails sorry I don’t have to much time to email you back and don’t worry Kaytlyn even if you don’t have a boyfriend for Christmas you might have a present from me ha ha I am still looking and it might get there a little late. Sorry, ha ha. 

Thanks everyone I love you all I will take pictures this week and send them next week. Thanks for your prayers your examples your love and for teaching me and raising me in the gospel.

Elder Monsivais

October 7, 2013 Email

Hey Mom, 

I hope that you are forwarding these or sharing these emails with people because I only really email you and thats all. Well family today is my 2 month mark I have been in the field for 2 whole months it is pretty weird. Conference was a blast and we had three investigators there on saturday and should have had three on sunday but my companion said no no they are going on there own i argued but he said it would be fine oh man we had a talk later let me tell you what haha he is awesome but sometimes doesn't think things through. Conference was great and I got to watch it in english so that made it twice as good. 

Well we are starting to have some problems with a few of our investigators mostly Rigo and Flor who are the ones that are supposed to get married so they can be baptized and Rigo is the one that I play the piano with sometimes he asked me to be one of the witnesses for his wedding but I cant be because I am not full mexican and they said they don't want to get married till december I was a little upset with this because they know that this gospel is true and that they need to be married and baptized but we cant force them to get married so we will just try our best for right now. 

My spanish has improved a lot but I still need to work harder on that, I am not sure if I will send pictures today haha i am kinda having a problem with my face the heat and sweat made it break out a little yep I said it my face is pretty ugly haha 

We have stake conference next week with one of the guys that talked in conference alfuerzo I cant remember his name its in my notes somewhere but we are supposed to have a bautizona to which is when our whole zone baptizes the same day I think we should be able to but I am not sure. we had a district BBQ today and went fishing but didnt catch anything good but it was still fun and one of the elders got bucked in the butt by a horse it was pretty funny he was laughing so hard. 

Well mom I guess you can send boots but I don't know how much I would wear them. I am thinking maybe it will be better if I buy shoes here but I am not sure where i wear a size 12. I never got a micro fiber towel mom so you might have to send more or I can try and find one in Walmart or somewhere. you did send me those little things but they get wet pretty fast here haha. 

Oh I was thinking about it and I would really love to get a dvd of the family too I do have two pictures of the family that I carry everywhere with me they are in my scriptures and I show them to everyone but I would like a dvd like the one we sent anthony when he was in the mission. sorry I am being kinda needy but dont worry I am also working pretty dang hard. well last week I was not able to get my visa because the computers at the place in Xalapa were not working so I will have to return later which is kind of a bummer but good too cause its like a six hour nap. 

Oh p.s. think week or last week was Loren's birthday I am not sure but if you will wish her a happy birthday that would be cool. Um not sure what else to say the mission has been pretty great and I am learning lots I can pretty much understand everything but my grammar is worse than my english grammar so I don't really make any sense luckily my companion understands me haha 

Love you family thank you for your prayers your love and all your support I hope that you are doing good and that you enjoyed conference weekend as much as I did until next week your number 1 missionary yep Mara is number 2.

Elder Monsivais o Elder munchie (that is apparently easier to say)

September 30, 2013

Hey Family,

Well here we are my second week in Mexico and it has been pretty crazy. I tell you what, but it has been awesome too. Rigo our musical investigator has been advancing a lot and before the lesson about the restoration he had prayed to know if the church was true and he asked us what we felt when we prayed about the church. I told him that I felt a peace and a happiness in my life and I just knew that it was right. My companion said about the same thing and then Rigo said I felt the same when I prayed whaaaa! It was awesome. Then the next lesson with him and his future wife and his cousin, he told his cousin "I know this, church is true. I know it". Yeah, his cousin is taking the lessons now too. They are set to be baptized on the 13, I think, but they need the lessons and marriage first... so we will have to wait and see. They came to church this sunday though, so that was great. 

Also an older couple Luis y Juana they are pretty awesome really smart and believe everything. We have a date for them too and they also attended church! It was awesome!! 

My spanish is getting better but I am struggling at times. Haha, it takes a lot of work but I am stoked about how much I am learning. haha my favorite food here has been all of it, but I dont think that the food here likes me very much. haha But I still just keep eating. Oh and emma might win 10 bucks because tortillas are really fattening and I eats lots of them. But then again I sweat a lot, and I mean A LOT everyday. haha My shirts are usually drenched. It is awesome. 

There are a few things that I need if you could send them in a package or in separate packages over time. I need, pictures of the family, micro towels, letters, and some tennis shoes from DI because mine got holes in them after the first lunes of soccer. haha But this morning I scored three goals on mexicans. Whats up! 

I lied mexico is nothing compared to Whittier. haha Its a lot more ghetto. I go to different houses everyday and think to myself wow my house in the mission and in utah are so much better I have been so blessed in my life it is unreal but I am glad I am here and helping people. I could not be happier. 

Well I don't know what else to say. hmmmm...well my pictures are of my shoes before the day begins and at the end of the day. And the lizards that live in my apartments and the street I walk every day. haha This place is beautiful. I just wish people didn't throw trash and stuff all over the place. I will work on taking more pictures this next week so that I have something cool to send. 

Oh, today I go for a six hour drive to Xalapa to get my visa stuff tomorrow and then another six hour drive back tomorrow night so I am gonna miss a lot of our visits which is kind of a bummer. 

Family, I love you and I love to hear your stories. Oh and Maria, sorry I missed your birthday I will take a picture of something cool for you here as your present but thats as good as it is gonna get haha. I want you to know how much I love talking about you haha every single visit people see the picture that I have of you in my scriptures I carry it with me every where. Love you all and have a great week!

With Love, 

Elder Monsivais 

September 23, 2013 Email

Holy cow I am in mexico.... 

haha it is awesome here I love my companion and we have been doing a lot of good work. I am in tuxpan the farthest north the first day in the field all I did was sleep on a bus it was a six hour drive!! but it was alright. I have some investigators and even though I cant say much I say a little and share my testimony. I sweat all day but that is just normal I guess haha 

I have not gotten sick yet thank goodness and I have eaten some interesting things so hopefully nothing bad happens haha. It is hard at times the language but my companion is really patient and helps me with all that I need help with. I am starting to understand a lot more and being able to talk a lot more. I just gave a blessing to hno juan who is our land lord and is having some problems it was really hard but I think I did a good job. 

This place is kinda funny sometimes I feel like I am in the ghetto park of whittier because thats what it looks like haha. A lot of the houses look like Abuelita's and Abuelito's haha. It is weird I feel like this is my new home nothing is weird it all feels natural but I am sure it will hit me someday. 

The weather is nice. I sweat after using the bathroom but I think everybody does haha. Who is the new youngs men pres. sorry no question marks on this computer. I sent the shoe things home cause I didn't want the weight haha and they were kinda ugly but turns out my shoes get pretty dirty everyday. 

Right now I wish I knew more about music we are helping an investigator who loves to play the piano and guitar but doesnt know how to write music but he has created songs already in his mind and they are pretty good but he wants me to help him i think but then again my spanish sucks haha. 

I also am teaching another man and woman who are pretty awesome they love the gospel I think but they didn't come to church this week so hopefully next.

There is really only one road here the rest are dirt paths and it rains a little, we only do references here because it is effective and we get a lot I am not sure how my companion does it but we do get quite a few each day. 

I bought eggs today and milk and cereal so hopefully that will work out. We eat lunch with members and it is a lot of food so we usually don't eat dinner. 

This morning we played soccer but then Elder Perez kicked the ball too hard it went over a wall that was 20 yards away and pretty high they tried to find it but couldnt so we stopped playing. 

I will try and upload some pictures and I don't know what to say but keep writing me and I will try to read them but I only have a little less than an hour. Love you all.

                                                  From the place they call mexico but looks like ghetto Whittier California, haha

                                                                                             

                                                                                                 Elder Monsivais 

(We aren't really sure what this picture is, but he sent it, so we are posting it....)

September 17, 2013 Email

Mom,

The mission President e is awesome and great, don't worry mom. 

I have made it to Mexico and am doing fine. 

Thanks for all your help and don't worry. 

I should be able to handle the Spanish with no problem. 

Love you all don't worry about me.

Elder Monsivais

September 15, 2013 Letter

Hola Familia,

Well here I am again leaving another home and moving a lot farther away. My time at the MTC has been kinda crazy but a lot of fun. I have learned so much but I am nervous to teach. I don't think I know enough to teach but I do know enough to serve with all my might, mind, and strength. Haha. 

I'm more nervous about talking to people on the way to Mexico than in Mexico. I don't know why. I honestly don't even know how to express myself. It is such an overwhelming joy but at the same time an odd fear. I didn't realize till now how unprepared I really was, but I am pretty pro at faking it, so no worries.

Oh family, I love you and will miss you and Provo. Sorry that I am not homesick enough Mom, but I just can't think enough about it to feel sick.

Maria, I am thankful for all of your letters. I hope that it can continue in Mexico but we will just have to find out.

I love to hear your stories so please write me and I will tell you mine as well. I pray that the Lord blesses you like he has blessed me. I pray for you every day and I love you. 

By the time you receive this I will be in Mexico!

Buenos Suerte Familia. 

Elder Monsivais

September 12, 2013 Letter

Dear Familia, 

 Hey so I leave this week so that package you were supposed to send me would be great. I am also sending home this SD card. JK I have only taken 70 pictures so I think I will wait cause I can still take 2,317 more. It is kinda crazy to think that I will be in Mexico in a week, but I am so stoked to go serve people and stop worrying about myself. The MTC has been a lot of fun though and my district is the bomb. An Elder got a letter from his  district  (not even close) secretary in his mission saying he comes from a zone that has the reputation of being the most obedient!! Mind blown. I got to be better. Who would have thought I would have been part of the obedient zone? 

Oh, and wish I was better at the piano already because Sunday is our musical number and I have to play the piano. Which reminds me please send some of Dad's music. Something that doesn't have this though: 

Or this:






















I don't have that many fingers. I am a little nervous to fly and I am excited for the field, but I feel awkward talking to people in airports and airplanes. Maybe I will get the opportunity and it will be fun. Oh and my Visa is only 6 months so if I don't get a more permanent one by then...well I will get to serve another Mission. I heard China is opening soon (thats a joke). Nah, I just can't deal with that many Asians. I could hardly deal with the 2, haha. I leave at 2:30 in the manana so it will be around 4 or 5 that I could call. I will let you know better on Saturday. This is such a weird feeling but as me and my comp like to say ¡Estoy Pumeped! (Spanish for pumped). I will miss playing volleyball though. Las been awesome and basketball was fun.

Oh hey, tell David there was glow in the dark paint in my room that said "You Like It" right over my bed. And I didn't see it till last night which was really weird. 

Met an Elder today his name was Elder Fillerup. Yep, no lie. He is in my old teachers class. I almost busted up laughing when he walked in the room. His teacher said when he walked in his first day "you get made fun of Elder?". 

I want you all to know that I love you and that every day I get letters was awesome. Even though I am away from home I am at peace. Such an overwhelming sense of peace and comfort. I hope that is the Lord telling me I belong here because I don't wanna be anywhere else. I thank you again for all your letters, packages, prayers, and love. Hasta ver para siempre dios este con vos. 

-Elder Monsivais

Email from August 19, 2013

8-19-2013

Hey well according to Loren’s email you guys got my letter so that is awesome. I don’t have much to say other than what was in my letter, everything has been going great I have learned a lot the last couple weeks and I am beginning to learn the gospel and the language so that has been amazing. 

My district is so amazing and my zone is pretty awesome too, we were on temple walk yesterday and everyone was taking pictures with the district that is leaving which was a lot of fun and a lot of photo bombing of course. Elder Speth one of our great friends is leaving this week he is so nice and would always come say good night and talk to us for a really long time but it was always a lot of fun and relaxing. Elder Jensen and some other cool guys leave to we are gonna miss them in the zone but we get a new district of 8 elders this week and one of their names is elder McCraken yeah sweet right his name will be known in our zone that is for sure. Elder Clouse has been in Vegas all day for visa issues so I have been with Elder Peterson and Elder Lawson which is fun and I wanted to serve them today so I shined their shoes which maybe was not a good idea cause I am pretty awful at it. 

I saw Brother Merel? (Morrell) I don’t know his name but he was in the temple today and I said hello to him. Well not much more has happened the last couple days just been making elders laugh and learning to laugh at myself even more. 

I hope everything is going good and I hope to receive a lot more letters, cookies, clothes, and healthy snacks I guess Elder Lawson and Elder Clouse are scared they are gonna gain weight haha.

Con mi Amor

Elder Monsivais

September 6, 2016 Letter

Dear Mi Familia,

Yo estoy muy animado por el compo. Perdoname por mi espanol es muy mal ahora. He aprendia mucha cosas mas pero es muy dificil, y tambien no se como escribo. Pero estoy muy pumped, por la oportunidad servire las personas en Mexico y tambien comparore el mensaje de El Evangelio de Jesu Cristo.

Anyway, the last couple of weeks have been awesome but a little stressful, por que a veces yo estoy animado es a veces yo estoy nefuiosa por el campo.

I know this is the right thing to do but I don't think the Lord realized how dumb I can be sometimes. Haha. I love this work though and I feel like there is no other place I should be. I have been feeling a little sick but I think the Lord is just testing me. I'm not gonna let a little cold stop me.

We got to host new missionaries this week. It was pretty fun. I only hosted one but he is a good Elder. He had no idea where he packed his stuff and he is quite the twig (Joshua drew a 'life size' photo of the Elder).

He didn't pack a notebook so I gave him an empty journal of mine. I'm just glad he packed his scriptures. I don't know if I could part with mine. I have seen Elder Tu'ua quite a bit the last couple of days which has been cool. His companion knows 3 languages - French, English and hearing Japanese.

Sunday was pretty awesome. We had a translater, well I think this is the second time I said that. We got 2 new teachers. One of them is freaking awesome his name is hermano Angel and the other one is alright her name is hermana fringoles. Es un chiste her name is pinto.

She is a little weird and make us knees every time we pray, which is okay but we had decided only to pray after a very spiritual experience. This week has not been too exciting but we are starting to only talk in spanish which makes it a little more fun. Thanks everyone for your letters and your packages and your emails. They mean a lot to me. Oh, and G thanks for the gorditas. I was just thinking about them the other day. Also crazy to hear that Erin is prego! But I saw it coming. Well this letter is short, don't have too much to write but the church is true and the gift of tongues is real!

Buenos Suerte en todos y estoy muy agradecido para todos oracion para mi hasta luego.

Con mi Amor

Elder Monsivais

Ps To hang on the fridge.

August 15, 2013 Letter