Monday, August 28, 2017

Week 100 (08/14/2017)

Hello everyone!

Well, I hope that you get a chance to read or see this email before I get home. This week I finish my time as a missionary. Once it started I thought a lot about these last weeks (probably too much) and now that they're here I never thought it would actually arrive. I don't really know how to feel to be finishing these two years and return to normal life. Haha!

I feel good about everything I've done here but the idea of going home and not being a missionary is a feeling I can't really understand. I'm really going to miss the friends and experiences I have made here. These two years have changed my life and things won't be the same after this. I have learned to love missionary work and Mexico. I have really learned to love the people of Coahuila and have loved the opportunities to serve them. I have loved all of my companions even with the difficult moments. I have learned from all of them and I have learned something new in every place I have been. I will never forget the time I have spent here nor the people I have met.

I am so grateful to have served as a missionary for these two years. I know that what I have learned here will change my life forever. I testify of the importance of missionary work and the blessings that we can all receive through our service. Heavenly Father loves all of His children and he wants us all to have the chance to live His gospel. The gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives and gives us true happiness. I've seen the change in the families and individuals I have taught and I have seen the change in my own life. The gospel is the only way we can improve and become like Jesus Christ. I ant everyone in the world to hear this message and to apply it in their lives. It makes me so sad to see those around me who don't accept the message. I don't get angry with them I just wish that they knew the joy they could have.

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of Christ and that we are all God's servants. He expects much of us. If we dedicate ourselves to Him and sacrifice our will for His we can become something so much greater. I know this is the truth. I know because God has shown it to me.

I love you all and I am very excited to see you all in a few days. Thank you so much for everything you have done for me and for all your support.

-Elder Steiner 

Week 99 (08/11/2017)

Hello everyone!

I'm sorry for not writing for the last two or three weeks. These last few weeks of my mission have been pretty crazy but they have been really good and I've learned a lot. My companions are doing really well and I'm trying to teach them all that I have learned. President Cahoon asked me to teach the whole zone everything I know but I feel like they already know everything I do. Haha! This zone is fantastic and I was glad to have worked with all of them.

Two weeks ago we had a wedding! Our investigators Armando and Ruby were married on the 22nd of July and we were the witnesses along with the other companionship. It was really great especially because they were able to be baptized along with their two eight year-old daughters, Kimberly and Sherlin, last Saturday on the 29th. They are such a great family and they will be well supported by the ward here.

This coming week is my last full week of missionary work. Next Tuesday I go to Saltillo and then on Thursday I fly home! I'll write a finishing email next week because I'm about out of time. I hope you are all well and that you have a great week.

See you soon!
-Elder Steiner

Week 94 (7/17/2017)

Hello everyone!

This week was really good but also really busy. On Wednesday morning we left here for Saltillo and were in the bus all day. We got to Saltillo around 8:00 that night and slept in the assistants' house. We played Risk until about 1:00 in the morning so none of us slept well...great idea...

The next day we had our missionary leadership council. President really wants us to help change the culture of the mission. A lot of the change is coming from the leaders he took from our zone and put in other zones so that's really cool. We also played a volleyball tournament after the meeting and President and Sister Cahoon won... President is really good at volleyball for his age.

We headed home that night around 6:00. We didn't get home until about 3:30 in the morning so that was rough. Lucky for me I had to get on another bus at 9:00 that morning to do a baptismal interview in another city. Another elder and I went and stayed there for the interviews and baptisms. We left at 9:00 Friday night and got home at 12:00. Overall, it was a lovely weekend of travelling.

On Friday night we had a huge activity in the church. It was set up as a sort of tour so that the investigators could learn more about the church and the gospel. We had a lot of members volunteer and many investigators came to learn. It was a success because every companionship had new investigators come.

Sunday was good. We had a good chuch meeting and we had several investigators come with us. Church is really busy as a missionary because I alwa
​ys​
 need to be running to help investigators and members. It will be weird to have a Sacrament meeting without having to take a call from other missionaries or always be pending of the investigators.

Today marks one month until I get home. Time has gone by really fast but it has been a fantastic experience. We'll see what more I can do in these next four weeks.

Thank you for reading! I hope you can follow my crazy week. I love you all!

-Elder Steiner