Week 72 (02/13/17)

Hello everyone! Happy Valentines day (unless you're a missionary)! 

This week has been extra good. We finally had interviews and zone conferences so we got to see President and Sister Cahoon along with Elder Gallegos, my comp from Piedras Negras.

We had zone conference on Wednesday. President is putting a lot of emphasis on keeping the flame of faith alive. I feel like there are so many things that we need to change as missionaries to have the most success but it's really hard sometimes...I feel like I need to change so much in order to do everything we need to and we are trying really hard. President shared a quote by Joseph Smith about how even the least of us can have the same visions he had if we just have sufficient faith. It still boggles my mind that if I just have enough faith I can be visited by angels and I can speak with Heavenly Father but I know it's possible. I think it's just going to take a lot of work...

On Thursday we had interviews which was really good. I love talking with President because he is always encouraging us to do better and helping us improve. President helps us so much and he really wants us to improve to help more people receive the Gospel. This work is such a miracle. I don't know how a bunch of young men like us could have any success if this weren't the truth. Haha!

For the rest of the day Thursday we worked with Elder Gallegos. He came out with us and helped us find new people and gave us help in the lessons. It's fun to work with my old companions and see how they have changed.

On Saturday we found a new family of six. They accepted us really quickly which was kind of surprising and they were really friendly. I feel like they will progress pretty well.

Until now I have seen more than sixty birds. I think I could do a little better in Utah but for being in one place in the middle of the Mexican desert I think sixty is pretty good for two months. Haha! I'm pretty sure I saw some pelicans today. They were far away so I need to consult my book.

Well, that's it for this week! I hope that you are all well and that you have had a good week. Everything is good here and the work is marching along.

Con mucho amor,

Elder Steiner

Week 71 (2/6/2017)

Happy Monday everyone!

I kind of ran out of time to write today...Sorry! I had to write a lot of stuff in my email to President Cahoon.

This week was good. We found lots of new investigators and we are working toward the new goal that President set. Every companionship is supposed to be getting 16 new investigators each week. Mathematically if we get 16 each week we will baptize every week. That's really crazy and kind of hard but I'm confident that we can do it especially if we follow the Spirit. The Spirit is key in this work.

I now have 68 birds since the 26th of December. I think I'm doing pretty well for being in one city. Maybe if I go to Saltillo before the end I can rack up my big year numbers. Haha! The last few nights we have seen huge flocks of what I think are Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. It was crazy last night because we were walking by the river and all of a sudden the air is filled with crazy whistling noises and then a huge flock of birds appears over us. Birds are so cool. 

Well, that's all for this week. I hope you are all well and that you have a great week. God loves us all and has a plan for each and every one of us!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Steiner

Week 70 (01/31/2017)

Happy pday!

Today has been a pretty good pday. We have been a little busy with haircuts and extra lunch with our neighbors but still good. I think that my hair got cut a little too short this time but whatever. I feel like no matter how they cut it here it always grows in fine. Missionary hair must be magic in some way. Haha!

On Tuesday we went to a missionary homecoming and sang some special hymns for him. It turns out that out of all the missionaries in our zone Elder Reid and I have the most musical experience (I still feel like I have very little) so whenver they ask us to do special songs he plays the  piano and I have to direct everyone. It usually turns out okay.

This week was pretty eventful with a bunch of baptisms on Saturday. Our branch ended up having eight baptisms in one day. We baptized three kids and the other elders baptized a family and another girl. There was also a child baptism for the branch. It was a really good day and the week leading up to the baptisms was really fulfilling. Elder Reid and I even bought some 9 peso (50 cent) wafer cookies to celebrate and treat ourselves.

Today is the end of my 12th change. Only five more to go and then I come home....Only a year ago I thought that I would never be this far along. Much less training, being a district leader, and being able to baptize. I've learned so much as a missionary and I know it's all due to the Atonement. Heavenly Father has taken me and molded me into something better. I still don't know what's coming in these next seven months but I'm really looking forward to growing and learning.

Thank you all for everything! I hope you all have a good week!

-Elder Steiner

Some of Will's photos from the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017

Week 67 (1/9/2017)

Happy Monday everyone!

This week has been pretty normal. Not a lot happened but I do feel really good in my new area with Elder Reid. It has been a little stressful these last few weeks but I feel like We're finally in a good rythm here. Working with members has been kind of tricky not knowing where they live or who they are but it's getting easier now.

This week we found a really great family. The mother is a member of the church from several years ago but hasn't gone to church in a long time. She has three kids (all older than 8 (Woooo!)) and her husband isn't a member either. Her nephew is also living with them so that totals to five baptisms if we can teach them. The kids really like us and I love teaching kids.

Elder Reid has been learning a lot. I feel like he's going to be a way better missionary than me. His Spanish ability holds him back a bit but he has learned everything so quickly. I'm really happy to be training him and to have this chance to share some of what I've learned.

I'm seeing the impact that the Holy Ghost can have on my life every day. I can really feel proptings to contact certain houses or to use certain questions in lessons. I'm really grateful that I can be a missionary and have these experiences. Even though I haven't baptized very many people I have seen changes in lives and in my own life.

I forgot my bird journal again this week. I'll bring it next week to report on my progress. Haha! Birds are so great and thanks again to Ellie for my new notebook.

Thanks to everyone for writing and for your love! I love you all and I hope you all have a great week.

Love,

Elder Steiner

Week 66 (1/2/2017)

Happy New Year and Christmas!

Sorry for not writing last week. Pday got a little crazy...We went to the dam and we didn't get back until about 5:45 so we had to write to president super quickly.

These last two weeks have been pretty busy. We had lots of activites with the branch and as missionaries the week of Christmas. There was a branch activity Thursday and then a mission activity Friday. Saturday was Christmas Eve and then Christmas on Sunday. That whole weekend was really busy. 

This week was a little less busy but we still had a lot to do. On Saturday we didn't get to work at all because a dog bit my companion. What a great way to spend your first New Year's Eve as a missionary...It was only a tiny bite but it was pretty annoying because we drove around to a bunch of different hospitals and none had the injection we needed so we went to do it today. He's fine incase any of you are worried. We washed the bite with alchohol and put a bandage and everything. My companion does, however, avoid all the dogs on the street now. Haha!

I got some packages on Christmas morning so it looks like Santa stopped by the mission offices to bring the packages to Acuña. He even put them under the tiny Christmas tree! Ellie sent me a little notebook made out of an old Peterson bird guide which was really cool. I've decided to use it now as my journal to record all the new species I see. Starting from the 26th (when we went to the Amistad Dam) I am going to record every new bird I see until I get home. I might make it like a mini big year. Haha!

Today we finally got around to reorganizing the whole house. It was a little disorganized from the last elders and we haven't had much time to clean it all up until today. It looks way better than before.

Well, that's it for today. I hope that you all had a great Christmas and New Year. About eight months until I get home so I'm going to make them good!

Love,

Elder Steiner

Week 64 (12/19/2016)

Happy Monday everyone!

This week has been really busy but really great. On Monday after I sent my email I had to run to pack all my stuff. I ended up packing all my bags in a few minutes. I had to put all my wet clothes in a trash bag because I couldn't put them with the clean ones. It made travelling a little tricky. However, I did manage to get the trumpet in a bag this time!

We went to Saltillo for the new elders and slept in the secretaries house. There were a bunch of elders that night so not a lot of sleeping. Haha!

The next day we had a training for trainers and then for the new missionaries. We then got our new companions and mine is Elder Reid! He's from Provo and he's a great new missionary. He doesn't speak Spanish yet but he's learning really quickly and I am really glad to be with him. We're into lots of the same stuff so I expect to get along with him really well.

We're opening area so we have been working a lot to find new investigators and We already have a baptism for this week! His name is Rodrigo and he's eight years old. He's going to be baptized on the 24th!

This area is really cool. There are several little rivers that go through our area and I saw some ducks and coots the other day. I think I'll be able to see some other water fowl soon.

Well, I'm already out of time so I think I need to go now but I hope you all have a great week and a great Christmas! This week is going to be full of activities and stuff so there will be a lot to say next week.

¡Feliz Navidad!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Steiner