Week 33 (5/02/2016)

Hi everyone!

I hope that all of you have had a good week! I know that I have. It's been a little busy and unusually tiring but pretty fun and productive.

On Monday night Elder Bauer and I moved our mattresses up on to the roof and slept up there. It was a little windy but it felt really nice. All the houses here get really hot in the summer and really cold in the winter so being up one the roof felt nice at night.

On Tuesday I had exchanges with the other elders from our ward. Apparently their area is quite a bit bigger than ours so we had to walk a lot and mostly uphill. Our last lesson was the last house basically up on the mountain. Walking up there wasn't so bad and I got to see some cool birds but it was awfully far away so we didn't have any lessons right before or after. I also saw a bunch of jackrabbits up on the hill because it's a lot more deserty up there.

On Wednesday we had a normal day but for our last lesson we watched "Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration" with some investigators. We had popcorn and candy. It was the first time I had seen it in Spanish which was interesting, and I was happy to understand it all. It was a really spiritual lesson even though we basically just watched the movie. Afterward Elder Bauer and I testified of Joseph Smith and the Spirit was definitely present.

On Friday night we started exchanges with the zone leaders. I went with Elder Daines who will probably be the next assistant to president. It's always fun to work with the more experienced missionaries. They can always teach you something you need to know.

Today we played monopoly with the zone leaders. I did okay and got the orange monopoly (the best one) but I did a bad trade early on and it all came crashing down...

That's basically all the cool stuff that happened this week. I did also have a really cool Spirit guided contact to find a new investigator yesterday but it's a little hard to explain. Just know that it was cool.

Here are the birds!

Northern Mockingbird (Not a "Mockingjay" like all the Americans think. Those don't exist)

Cassin's Kingbird

Curve-billed Thrasher

Red-tailed Hawk (Go Utes!)

Scaled Quail

Bewick's Wren

Tamaulipas Crow

Sorry, no spiritual thought this week. I've been slacking a bit... It'll be good next week.

Well, thanks for reading! I hope that everything is going well for you all!

¡Les extraño y les amo!

-Elder Steiner

Week 32 (04/25/2016)

Hello everyone!

This week was pretty normal. We did have some pretty frustrating first lessons but everything is going really well.

On Monday we went to the mall to spend time with other elders looking at suits. For about two hours. I don't know if I mentioned that last week but it lasted a really long time. Elder Bauer and Elder Johnson were trying on what seemed like every suit.

It started getting a little stormy on Tuesday and it rained off and on until Saturday. The storm finished off on Saturday with a lot of rain within about 30 minutes. Right before it started raining really hard we decided to head home to get coats and umbrellas. I think the Spirit had a hand in telling us to plan lessons by our house at that time. Haha! The rain also made it so washing our clothes on Monday last until about  Friday because our clothes kept getting wet and we kept forgetting to bring them back in. To say the least, I'm really grateful for dryers.

On Friday we went over to have a lesson with one of our investigators but he was across the street painting the neighbor's house. We ended up helping them to paint and we set a time to come back and visit them. The family that lived there had lived in Canada for several years so we were speaking English with the kids to help them practice.

Here in Mexico there are these things called trompos. The kids here are playing with them a lot now because they are only around in April. Elder Bauer and I bought some and I have to say it is super hard to do anything with them. The kids around here can do all sorts of crazy tricks and I can barely get them to spin upright. We were playing with them in our house the other day but we decided to stop because the members that live below us didn't appreciate it. So, we decided to go up on the roof to try them out because there was no way that they could hear them from up there. Since I'm not very good at keeping the trompo under control I was worried that I would accidentally launch it off the roof. I commented this to Elder Bauer and then tired to spin my trompo again. Suddenly it went launching off the roof and bounced miraculously on a few walls to land on a neighboring roof. I considered retrieving it but then decided that was probably a bad idea. I promise I'm not a disobedient missionary. :)

These last few weeks we've been working with an investigator named Monica and her family. She is really excited about being baptized and her sister is also pretty excited too. She always reads the Book of Mormon or pamphlets but she is yet to come to church. That is a little difficult but I'm confident that she can be baptized next month along with her sister and mom if they come to church.

Here are the birds!

Peacock-Pavo Real (FOR REAL)

Turkey Vulture -Zopilote Cabecirrojo

Northern Parula -Parula Norteña

Cooper's Hawk -Gavilán de Cooper

Lesser Goldfinch -Dominico Dorsioscuro

This week's spiritual thought is from Matthew 5:13. 

 13 ¶Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

I like this scripture because we can talk a little bit about chemistry with it. When you mix dirt in with salt it loses it's preserving power and it's taste. So, sins are like the dirt and we lose our ability to come closer to God if we are corrupted with dirt. Normally it's really hard to get dirt to separate from salt but not if we use water and fire. First you dissolve the salt and filter the water then dissolve away the water with fire. The purifying power of baptism, water, and the Holy Ghost, fire, can return us to a state of purity and spiritual power. I'm so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and how we can truly be clean through the whole process.

Thanks for reading and writing to me! I'm grateful for all of you and your support!

Les amo y les extraño.

-Elder Steiner

Week 31 (4/18/206)

Hello everyone!

This was the first week of my sixth change! It was kind of a slow week in terms of lessons but I am having a lot of fun with my new companion. I said last week his name is Elder Bauer. He's from Idaho and his high school mascot was a potato. I thought that was kind of funny. :) He has 20 months on the mission so he's leaving in August, almost exactly a year before I go home.

This week was pretty normal. We were with Elder Johnson, our zone leader, on Monday because his companion got changed to be assistant. We taught all the Monday lessons as a trio which was pretty cool. I think I've spent an unusual amount of time specifically with leaders here in the mission because all my companions have been district leaders and we spend a lot of time with the zone leaders as well. 

Tuesday I was in the bus station for about half the day waiting for my companion. I got to know a few missionaries whom I hadn't seen before. We got hungry after a little bit so we went over to a little store and I found powder hot chocolate(!). I haven't seen it very many places here in Mexico so I bought it and saved it in the house.

On Sunday we only had one investigator in the church...That was kind of frustrating especially after about five people had said they would be there. It's okay, though. The investigator that came is named Cecelia and she's pretty close to baptism. We just need to get her "husband's" divorce finished up so they can get married and be baptized.

Every Sunday we take dats so we stopped by a members house to call the other elders. As we were sitting there the dughter in the family was progressively bringing in different farm animals. I took pictures with a rabbit and a chick and then Elder Bauer and I took a selfie with a chicken. That was pretty fun.

Here are the birds!

Brewer's Blackbird -Tordo de Brewer

Zone-tailed Hawk -Aguililla Aura

Turkey Vulture -Zopilote Cabecirrojo

Northern Rough-winged Swallow -Golondrina-aliserrada Norteña

The spiritual thought for this week is from 1 Nephi 20:10.

 10 For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

This week we are going to start ponderizing scriptures each week. I chose this one sort of randomly but it happened to be really important for Elder Bauer. I basically just opened up the Bible to the topical guide and saw furnace. This scripture is really important to show how we are chose of God by how well we endure the challenges we face.

Thanks you all for your support! I am really happy to be here even though it's a little dirty and there are dogs everywhere. I know I'm in the right place and with the right companions.

Les extraño y amo!

-Elder Steiner

Week 30 (4/11/2016)

Hello everyone!

This was the last week of the change! This change has been fantastic and I've really learned a lot. I feel way more confident with Spanish than the past change and teaching is a lot easier now than the past changes as well. I'm really happy with the work I've done this change. This last week we found several really good people that could be baptized by the end of next change.

I'm staying here next change but Elder Hernandez is headed to Monclova. I'm a little sad that he's leaving but it's okay. I can say that I really learned a lot from him and I hope that I can start applying it more in my own teaching and as I work with my future companions. 

My next companion is named Elder Bauer, and my streak of being junior companion to district leaders continues this next change. I'm excited to see how we work together and what I can learn.

This Friday we had an activity in the church. It was a little difficult because the ward wasn't as involved in the planning as we wanted but it turned out really well. We even had 6 investigators there between us and the other missionaries! We focused the activity around how the members can help us with missionary work. We commited all of the members to do a small act of missionary work this week.

It's starting to get really hot here this month, and it's only going to get hotter during the summer. I'm glad that I'm here in Saltillo at least for now because it's higher up in the mountains and it doesn't get quite as hot. I'm starting to see how what Robert Whetten said about how hot it gets is very true. I hope I can survive at least through this first summer and then maybe the next will be a little easier. (Probably not...)

Here are the birds!

Chipping Sparrow -Gorrión Cejiblanco

Barn Swallow -Golondrina Ranchera

Bewick's Wren -Saltapared de Bewick

Common Nighthawk -Chotacabras Mayor

Cattle Egret -Garza Ganadera

White-tailed Kite -Milano Maromero

I forgot to look up a scripture for my spiritual thought this week but I have something I can relate to the birds. The last three birds in the list flew away almost immediatly after I saw them and I was really happy that I saw them before they left, especially the kite. I think that God gave me several tender mercies to see those birds. For most of you that might seem a little silly but I'm honestly grateful for all the (little) good things (and some of the bad things) that have happened here on the mission.

I'm really happy to be here as a missionary and I'm really grateful for all that you all do for me. Thanks to all those that write. I miss and love you!

-Elder Steiner

Week 29 (4/5/2016)

Hello everyone!

This week was pretty normal up until the weekend. We had a bunch of lessons and contacted a bunch in the street and in houses. Basically normal stuff here in Saltillo.

This weekend was a spiritual whirlwind. On Friday we had a zone conference where the zone leaders and President Rodriguez trained us and I learned a lot of things I can improve as a missionary. President talked about a lot of different things but one that really stuck with me was about three different types of missionaries and thier trials. The main idea was that trials of faith come to those who are just. Consequences of sin come to those who are dissobedient. I think this can apply to all of us. Are we in a trial because God is testing us or simply because we put ourselves there? I'm really trying to focus on obedience now. Many of you probably know that it's not very hard for me to be obedient but, as a missionary, it's hard for anyone to be obedient. Every little thing is important in bringing the Spirit and finding the people that are waiting for the Gospel.

This General Conference was really powerful for me. It was the first time I watched every session without sleeping through any of it. Hear that Anna, Henry, and Ellie? I broke my habit of sleeping in church! :) Leading up to General Conference I was worried that I would have to watch it in Spanish so I was praying for the gift of tongues for several days. When I got to the stake center to watch, I found out that te missionaries could watch it in English in the high council room. That was a relief. The American missionaries watched all the sessions together as a little group. It was pretty nice because I could really focus and share notes with the others. Also, some of the sisters brought snacks. It reminded me of using skittles and m&ms to play conference bingo. Haha!

This week I was feeling a little impatient and tired with my companion and the other elders in our ward so I wanted to see if I could get an answer about how to be more patient. I think the best answer to my question was President Uchtdorf's talk in the priesthood session. He talked a lot about marriage and being a good husband (not quite aplicable to a missionary) but he also focused on charity. I love charity and the power of the pure love of Christ. It was a powerful reminder that I should exercise more charity with my companions and the other missionaries. We'll see if I can actually practice what I believe. :)

I'm really grateful that we can watch and listen to conference and receive guidance from living prophets and apostles. Even though President Monson didn't give very long talks I really felt the power and truth in his words. I hope we can all follow the council we have received this weekend.

Okay, here are the birds!

Zone-tailed Hawk -Aguililla Aura

Sharp-shinned Hawk -Gavilán Pajarero

Cooper's Hawk -Gavilán de Cooper

Cassin's Kingbird -Tirano de Cassin

Say's Phoebe -Mosquero Llanero

Barn Swallow -Golondrina Ranchera

Well, I think that's the most important stuff for this week. Thank you all for your support and for all that you have done for me! I love getting your emails and hearing that you enjoy hearing from me. I love and miss you all!

-Elder Steiner

Week 28 (3/28/2016)

Hi everyone!

This week was really fun and a little bit crazy the last few days, but still very fun. We were visiting Pedro and José every day to get them ready for the baptism on Saturday. We did lots of practices for the interview with José because he's kind of old and doesn't quite understand/can't hear all the words. They both passed the interview just fine. It looks like I'm actually doing a pretty good job as a missionary. :)

The baptismal service was a Noche Blanca where the whole zone was supposed to baptize. However, only three companionships ended up baptizing out of the whole zone. That was a little disappointing but it's okay. All together we ended up baptizing nine people because the zone leaders slammed out some lessons on Friday and Saturday. As district leader of the zone leaders, Elder Hernandez has to do all the interviews for their investigators. The whole morning on Saturday we were with the zone leaders finishing up the interviews and lessons. It was a little busy and we had to pay for several taxis it worked out pretty well.

Yesterday we went to Arteaga, a small city near Saltillo, to have an Easter contacting activity. Every Sunday there is a huge market with lots of people in the park so we figured it would be a good place to contact. We set up a screen to show some of the Easter videos that the church has made and then spread out to contact and bring people to the videos. It was pretty fun. We got a lot of rejections but there ended up being several contacts from our area. I'm certain that there will at least be a few baptisms from the activity.

This week I started teaching Elder Hernandez English. He wants to learn because his girlfriend is on her mission in Canada and is learning both English and French. He's eager to learn but isn't trying very hard. Haha! He has a hard time with the "th" sound. I give him a hard time about that sometimes, but it's fun to teach him English.

Today we went hiking in the mountains with one of the brothers from the ward. We didn't go very far but it was still pretty nice to get away from the streets and all the dogs in the city. I also saw a lot of birds! I was hoping to see some hummingbirds but the others wanted to keep moving so I had no time to wait around. It was really fun but it made me miss the mountains in Utah. It was also pretty difficult to get up to the hiking spot. In Utah you just need to drive 30 minutes or so and you're already hiking.

Here are the birds!

Clay-colored Thrush -Zorzal Pardo

American Kestral -Cernícalo Americano

Curve-billed Thrasher -Cuitlacoche Piquicurvo

Prarie Falcon -Halcón Pradeño

Black-tailed Gnatcathcer -Perlita Colinegra

Broad-winged Hawk -Aguililla Adura

Mexican Jay -Chara Pechigris

Turkey Vulture -Zopilote Cebecirrojo

Cassin's Finch -Fringílido de Cassin

Northern Mockingbird -Centzontle Norteño

Pyrrhuloxia -Cardenal Desertico

Black-throated Sparrow -Gorrión Gorjinegro

Common Raven -Cuervo Grande

Killdeer -Chorlito Tíldio

Greater Roadrunner -Correcaminos Mayor

Sharp-shinned Hawk -Gavilán Pajarero

Black-and-white Warbler -Chipe Trepador

The other day I was listening to "I Need the Every Hour" and I started thinking about how much we really need Christ every moment of our lives. Christ is someone we should call on only when we need Him but that is literally all the time. We all have so much to change and improve in each of our lives. Through the Atonement and the sacrifice that was made for us we can really change and improve. Not only that, but we can also receive the comfort that we all need in this life. I'm truly grateful for what Christ has done for us and the comfort that I have every moment here in Saltillo.

Thank you all for your prayers and support! I hope that everything is going well for all of you.

Les amo y extraño.

-Elder Steiner

Pictures!