Elder TSFWWP Winslett in Mexico

¡Hola! Como ¿Como estan?

Oh and by the way its Elder T. S. F. W. W. P. Winslett haha, yes it is getting longer and longer, but its all good.

I apologize now because the Spanish keyboards dont seem to have an apostraphy. Ill find it one of these days.

Almost forgot, aboviously my preperation days here in Mexico are on mondays and I usually get on around noon-1 pm. 

I wrote the mailing address in my last email. It is complicated I know but thats the only way. I will copy and paste it again incase it got messed up

Write on the box for Origin=

Elder Benjamin Winslett
906 Riverside Dr.
Alvin, TX 77511
USA

(Or if someone else not family is sending something have the address be their address.)

Then the destination will be=

Jose Luis Escobar Maya
Apartado Postal 118-184
Gustavo A. Madero
Mexico, D.F.
CP 07051

(I don´t know why it´s like that but yeah, it is that way. The Jose Luis Escobar Maya guy is the owner of the place so it has to be under his name.)

So yeah do that, exactly, and then it should get here. Mail, from what I have heard is reasonably safe. To keep it extra safe, I would find some Virgin Mary stickers and tape them all over the box. Also sending packages via UPS or another company usually is much safer. It usually takes anywhere between 1 week and 1 month to get here though. Letters work the same way too. But email is the preffered way.

I forgot the paper agai with the 6 steps but here is the general run down

Teach whatever lesson applies best to them, then if you and your companion feel the spirit and know they are, identify it with them, then tell them it is testifying of the truth. Then swithc over to the 4 things of the Gospel of Jesus Christ meaning Faith repentence baptizm, and the holy ghost. emphasieze on baptizm and how Jesus Christ set the example, then ask them if they think they would want to follow Christ almost everyone will say yes. Then commit them to baptizm. This work 90% of the time. Everyone we have done it to has said yes. Its pure brilliance and President is the only mission that does it from what I have heard. Also I am told to tell you not to tell anyone else about this. Haha, no idea why but yeah. We are one of the top baptizing missions in the world! Its crazy.

My mission is, yes, going to be in some ways similar to Stephens. The only diference is there is literally NO referals. We find all our Invstigators through knocking. Every once in a while we have gotten refferals from members and one lady, nonmember gave us a reference. But yeah, from the sounds of it, I will be baptizing almost every week.

Yes I am keeping a journal. I have never missed a day since day 1 in the MTC. I plan on keeping one throughout the whole mission and maybe after as well.

One of the requirements here in this mission for baptizm is church attendence at least once before baptizm and obviously after as well.

Testimony in church was in Spanish and for what I could see they understood me.

Brandon, the boy who was doing Marijuana, from what he has told us, has stopped. His whole family is coming to church this week, hopefully and baptized soon there after. He and his family have been praying and what not and so Im certain he is receiving help from the man upstairs.

We try and commit them to baptizm at lesson one, but if we dont feel the spirit or use the 6 steps, we wait until we do. So anywhere from the first lesson to the very last one. As of set dates noone has been baptized yet on there scheduled date, but yeah.

Like I said before, we had to open a new area so our work has been slow to start. But we feel there will be atleast one baptizm this next week.

Spanish has been the one thing that has gotten me upset here. Like I said I understand noone! I barely understand my companion when he talks, but also only when he talks gospel related. Its gotten me a bit upset at times but my companion and I have talked about it and hes helped me realize that its always tough to start. He has also told me if I do my best and the Lord do the rest, I should be able to understand people by next transfer. Which by the way transfers are every 6 weeks. But I will almost certainly be with my dad next transfer as well. They recently did this missionary starter program were your with your "dad" for 12 weeks, or 2 transfers, for extra training.

Ive been really homesick alot as of late, mianly because I feel quite alone here. Spanish being the cause of that. I know its dumb, and I shouldnt feel that way. But at times it gets to me. I think, though I am getting over it. No need to worry though, I am ticking through this whether or not I like it haha.

We have been teaching this older lady, her name is Eduarda and she lives with one of her daughters. Her sister, a member, just recently died and so she is really sad about that. To top that off her daughter is, from what me and Elder Barben can tell, verbally abusive, so she spends her days away from home to avoid that as much as possible. Anyways, on to the spiritual experience. So we were knocking doors, and we stopped out side her apartment door. Elder Barben asked where I think we should go and so we stopped outside her apartment complex. I was getting a prompting, but I could not tell where we should go. This same thing was happening to Elder Barben. She opened the door and looked outside, she looked around, as if she was looking for someone. I believe she poked her head out because she was looking for us, but neither of us knew that. Elder Barben then decided it was her we were getting the prompting for. So we contacted her, used the 6 steps and she has a baptism date for Saturday but she ended up not being able to come to church so we are either baptizing her after church or next week. Everytime we have taught her the spirit floods the room and so she is obviously ready. Also one of the lessons I got to teach the first vision. I dont think I ever taught it with such power, she repeated the words as I said them, in spanish, and she obviously felt the spirit, because she began to cry. It was amazing!

Another really quick one. We were knocking a complex before we were going to go home. We were having no luck but as you can probably guess the last door we knocked they let us in. The mom is blind, the granddaughters parents died recently and she has surgery today. The dad works like crazy for them all. Anyways, no news on them but we have a follow up on them tomorrow, they are really interested in the Plan of Salvacion. Ill let you know how that goes next week.

Quick funny story. So we were walking, and being the only white guys in our area, everyone seems to look at us. Well, these two guys on a bike drove by and said Guero meaning white guy or fair skin in spanish. It is our name down here for nonmembers, it is hilarious. anyways so as he did my companion was attempting to give him the piece sign but his finger got caught in the planner in his hand so he flipped the guys off. Luckily they didnt see and we laughed pretty hard after the fact. I wish I could have taken a picture.

Ok, well, we got to run, but thats the big stuff this week. I am confident in my ability to learn spanish, I just get discouraged from time to time. Its all good though, I am learning more and more as each day goes by. The stories are true about the time. The days seem long but the weeks seem short, I cant believe its already the start of week 3.

Bueno suerte con todo.

Les amo

Elder "Tall Son" "Frijoles" "Winzie" "Winnie the Pooh" Winslett

Elder Hermano Demke and Elder Winslett

His Visa

Elder Hermano Jensen

Elder Winsett towers... He said that is the average height for door there. Wow!!

Elder Winslett's first companion (and his "dad"), Elder Barben

Out their front door (Whose car is that I wonder? Neighbors?)

The Church Building

He's in Mexico!!

¡Hola de Ciudad de Mexico!

 

 

Ok so due to a rather abrupt request from Stephen, I will write out in a new Email. Stephen, I replied that way because it was a lot easier in the MTC to do it that way, since we could not have tabs in the browsers and we could not open more then one window. But now I am emailing from an Internet lounge in Mexico so I can have tabs and what not opened, so esta bien.

 

 

Holy smokes, Mexico is crazy, and different, and awesome, and wow, all at the same time. I´ll tell you more about it alittle later.

 

 

The flight to Mexico was fantastic. I sat inbetween two RMs who went to other missions, but they helped calm my nerves a bit about getting to Mexcio. You could say Ciudad de Mexico is "modern" but that might be a lie, haha. Nah, it is but it is a heck of a lot more run down., and dirtier. I love it though, it reminds me of a concrete jungle. Houses are a bit funny here, there is usually a metal door on the street, and you buzz the person like in an apartment. When they let you in it is usually like walking into a castle of some sort. It´s hilarious! There house is usually a few feet away from the fron gate, but I know they do it that way for security. So the streets look like walls on both sides. I got pictures.

 

 

Real quick speaking of pictures, what I am going to do is send the ones I really like attached to the email and send it that way. When I run out of space on the SD cards I will eventually buy an external hard-drive and transfer them there. The awesome thing about Mexico, is everything is cheap! I got like 5 tacos for 15 pesos, which is basically a dollar. So the external harddrive should be cheap.

 

 

Yep I had dinner with Mr. President, haha. Na, President Tervort is awesome, we had ham and potatos and what not. It was dilicous. He is awesome as well, he served his mission in this same area, only back then it was in Mexico East Mission. So obviously he knows Spanish. My new companions name is Elder Barben, and he is from Sandy, Utah. He´s been out for 1 year and 1 month so 13 meses. His Spanish is amazing, and I am super jealous. But, what am I gonna do? Practice. He is pretty cool as well. I call him papá all the time, because in the field your trainer is your "dad" haha. And I am his child, or hijo. My area is called Segundo Congreso-Industrial. It is actually a brand new area and it´s towards the bottom of my mission. It´s brand new, meaning we had a brand new apartment. So most of my spending money was spent on stocking the fridge and obtianing cleaning supplies. Don´t worry though, we will be awesome! My area is only about 2 or 3 miles by 2 or 3 miles, but it is packedwith houses and cars and people! I get 1600-ish Pesos every 1st of the month, and about 600-ish pesos every 15th of the month. All for food, washing, dry cleaning, etc. But, like I said, everything is cheap here so I usually have extra spending money, for suvenirs and what not.

 

 

I apologize in advance, my spanish has further damaged my English, spelling and everything.

 

 

I haven´t used the filtered water bottle yet, but that is because we buy a big 5 gallong jug of water for drinking and what not. I wash my hands with soap and water every time I touch my contacts, and I am using fresh solution every time I take them out, I am almost certain I won´t have a problem with my eyes.

 

 

I, surprisingly, have not gotten sick yet. The food here is good, from what I have had, and it hasn´t really done anything to my system yet. yet is the optionaly term, haha. I probably will get sick eventually but yeah, what can I do?

 

 

I am no longer nervous, really, about Mexico. I am still a bit uncomfortable about door knocking, but my dad is helping me with that.

 

 

Trust me I have plenty of stories already. I will share with you the majority of them, but yeah.

 

 

Ok so mail here is wierd this is what you got to do:

 

 

Write on the box for Origin=

Elder Benjamin Winslett

906 Riverside Dr.

Alvin, TX 77511

USA

 (Or if someone else not family is sending something have the address be their address.)

 

 

Then the destination will be=

Jose Luis Escobar Maya

Apartado Postal 118-184

Gustavo A. Madero

Mexico, D.F.

CP 07051

 

 

(I don´t know why it´s like that but yeah, it is that way. The Jose Luis Escobar Maya guy is the owner of the place so it has to be under his name.)

 

 

So yeah do that, exactly, and then it should get here. Mail, from what I have heard is reasonably safe. To keep it extra safe, I would find some Virgin Mary stickers and tape them all over the box. Also sending packages via UPS or another company usually is much safer. It usually takes anywhere between 1 week and 1 month to get here though, so if you want to send presents and what not I´d send them now if you can, that way they get here by Christmas!

 

 

Well, you know how I said we are in a new apartment, well other then a bed, fridge and desks, it was empty. So we were knocking doors one day and out in one of the parks there was a orange couch. It was deserted so me and my companion "obtained" this couch for our apartment. Haha, don´t worry it was not ilegal. It was pretty embarissing though, carrying that down the street to our apartment.

 

 

Next up I have obtained another nickname, this time it is Winnie Pooh. Haha The Mexican´s barely can say our last name so my compnion has been introducing me as Winnie and that developed into Winnie the Pooh, or W. P. Haha. So that will be added to my long list of nicknames.

 

 

Ok now for spiritual awesomeness! Ok so we were knocking doors and we came upon this lady, here name is Veronica. She has two children. Anyways, we walked into her apartment and immidiatly the spirit flooded in and we knew she was ready. Come to find out her father was killed in a robbery and she loves the idea of being able to see him again. My companion taught the Plan of Slavation and we set a date for this next week. Sadly, however she didn´t come to church yesterday so we have to push her back one week.

 

 

Next awesomeness is we were again knocking on doors and in between two apartments I had a strong impression to contact the people who were walking in front of us. Luckily, she and her daughter turned around for some reason and we contacted them. Her name is Nancy and her child´s name is Betsy. She then insisted on buying us dinner as we talked, so we did so, we got to know her. She then started talking to these other two and Nancy, note that we haven´t taught her anything, started telling them that the Book of Mormon is a great story and that they needed to take lessons from us. so we set up apointments with the other two. Then after that we walked Nancy and Betsy to her house and we set up a follow up. At the follow up we taught her the Restoration and set a date with her and Betsy. She couldn´t come to church yesterday so we might have to push it back one week. The Lord had obviously preparred her and so she will be one of my first baptizms.

 

 

Next a funny story. We were knocking again and came across an older man. He let us in and we began teaching. As we were teaching this man proceeded to wet himself. It was so hard not to laugh. He was in his 70s so it was understandable. Come to find out it was his birthday so we said afterward that it´s his birthday he can do what he wants, including wetting himself. We did, however ended up setting a baptizmal date with him so it was still good. He ended up not coming to church yesterday either because of work.

 

 

And now another awesome story. So we were refered to a family that there son was addicted to Marijuana (apparently it´s legal down here and anyone can smoke it.) We get there and begin teaching him the Word of Wisdom. Elder Barben then shares his experiences with overcoming addictions (I won´t go into details) and the kid begins to cry. Aparently he has been trying to stop for quite sometime and he has been searching for a way. We gave him ideas to stop, including prayer, gave him a BoM and set up a followup apt. for tomorrow. We know that if he stops smoking, that whole family will be baptized. So that looks uber promising.

 

 

Ok, so this mission has whats called the "6 steps" I´ll write about them next week in more detail, but basically these 6 steps almost gaurantee that the Investigator will be baptized. Our mission is on fire right now, because of these 6 steps. Last month they said they had upwards of 60 baptizms in our mission. It´s insane. I´ll tell you the steps next week but I wanted to mention that now.

 

 

Ok last thing, I think. Church yesterday was cool, I got to bear my testimony in Sacrament, and then after I got to be a witness for one of the other missionary´s baptisms. There are 2 sets in our ward so we see eachother alot.

 

 

Mexico is awesome the drivers are crazy. It´s super packed, rather dirty, but it´s awesome. Now all I got to do is learn to understand these people, haha. the only Spanish I understand is my companions. It will come though, I know of it.

 

 

Well, I gotta get going. Lemme know of any other questions, concerns, doubts etc. Enjoy the pictures, too!

 

 

¡Les amo!

Elder "Tall Son" " Frijoles" "Winzie" "Winnie the Pooh" Winslett

MTC Letter Week 9 - The Last One!!

Greatings from the last time I will be able to email you from the MTC. Gosh I cannot believe how fast the time has just flown! I remember just yesterday bawling in the Airport, haha. No, I figured it would pick up as fast as it did.

 

I guess I should start with the Boise Experience. So after we found out we were going to Boise (This included almost everyone in my district: Me, Elder Jordan, Elder Cummins, Elder Leavitt, Elder Avery, and Elder Hammilton. Elder Millerberg, however had some VISA problems and paperwork problems.) We had a few days to just prepare and still go to class and what not. When they day came we got on a van, which was wierd feeling because I hadn't been on a car in 2 months! This was about 3 pm on Monday So we went to Salt Lake City to pick up some of the Elder's passports then we went to the Airport. Once in the Airport we filed through security, which as a missionary is about twice the work because we have so much on us that sets those off. After security we walked to our terminal, grabbing some very delicious Burger King on the way. I could have sworn we were super stars or something because almost EVERYONE we walked by said hi or asked were we were heading. It was hilarious and scary at the same time. It felt wierd to be in Babylonia, or the real world. Anyways we got on the plane and took a 45 minute flight to Boise. Some of the others taught quick lessons to people they were sitting by, I however was stuck next to Elder Leavitt and Elder Cummins, so I never got the chance. We then landed in Boise and were picked up by Elder and Sister Harren (I think thats how it's spelt.) who were Senor Missionaries who were serving a service mission. Anyways they drove us to an apartment that was rented for Missionaries that were doing what we were doing. This was about 7ish. We then relaxed until bed time at 1030. The next morning we went to the Consalute were we sat around for 3 hours just to get our pictures taken and finger prints taken. They apparently had a bit of a mix up with my pictures and what not so we had to wait around for them to fix that. We then headed off to lunch while we waited for them to print the VISAs into our Passports. After lunch we went and volunteered at a Deseret Industries and hung clothes up and what not. Then we went back to the consulate and picked up the VISAs at around 5-6. We then went to Dinner and back to the Apartment to relax for the rest of the night. and by relax I mean we studied just so you know. The next day was back on and Airpland back to SLC. On the way back I breifly got to talk with someone next to me, but every time I brought up church he would change topics. So that was a no go. We got to the MTC on Wednesday at around 12 and resumed normal schedule. A little later we recieved our travel plans for Mexico on Monday. The I got to call y'all for that 5 minutes and that was that. So all in all Boise was alright. I will call you guys as soon as I can on Monday morning so I don't miss you. I will call dad's phone. It'll be sometime between 8-10 your time, 7-9 Utah time.

 

Ok. I'm sorry if I don't answer anything but I don't have much time. I've heard so much good things about the field I don't think I am no longer scared, but either way, I know I will be good.

 

 

Well, I got to run, but other then Boise this week has been dull. Doing some In-Field Orientation today, which is just an all day review of the last 9 weeks, pretty boring. Next time I write you will be from Mexico. I'll get you guys the address and all the information on mailing down there ASAP.

 

Les Amo! Tengan un buena semana! -Love you! Have a good week!-

Hasta proxima semana -until next week-

Elder TSFW "Only Important Son" (haha) Winslett

MTC Quick Note

Ok real quick I don't have much time, but I just got my plans, sortof. On monday at around 230 my time I will be going to Boise Idaho to a consolate for my VISA. Meaning I am most likely leaving next monday. Everyone in my district is going except for Elder Millerberg. WEre hoping his comes monday morning but we are not sure as of yet. I will be abel to give you a time when I am calling on next Saturday, which is my last preperation day at the MTC. I will be there until wednesday-ish and then back here at the MTC until next monday. Anyways, gotta go, but just wanted to let you know real quick. I'll fill you guys in more on my next Preperation day, which is next Saturday.

Les Amo

Elder TSFW Winslett

MTC Letter Week 8

Hola! Como esta? Como fueron sus semanas? Mi? Muy Bien! Este semana fue super bien. Anyways. Haha I promise I won't talk that much in Spanish. So this week has been insane to say the least, I cannot believe I will be in Mexico in less then 2 weeks. It's scary and awesome all at the same time.

I'm not so much worried about the "real investigators" I am more afraid of everything else. New country, new laws, new everything. And then I am also afraid of spanish, and mine not being sufficient enough to talk to people. But, I know with the Lord's help I can do it. I just got to get rid of this nervousness, haha.

 

 

I have learn so much in the 2 months I have been here and I still have 22 months to grow more. (Probably shouldn't say that cuz that makes it sound like a long time. haha) I know those months are going to fly by. I am insanely glad I got to learn another language.

We could have trick or treated on El Dia de Muerte (Yes in Spanish it translates to day of the dead, and they celebrate it differently.) But, we were all uber tired and collapsed when we got back to our rooms. I'm always dressed up though so it's like Halloween year round. haha.

 

 

Ok so now for my week. Well, to start off with the, I guess you could call it, "bad" news. I am not Zone Leader nor am I District Leader. Elders Cummins and Millerberg are the new Zone Leaders for the last few days we are here. Elder Hammilton is the District Leader as well. So no callings here in the MTC atleast. It's all good.

 

 

The oldest district left on Wednesday and so now we are the oldest here in Branch 17.

 

 

It "snowed" here again, but none of it stuck. Only up in the mountains did it stick so it made for a cool background haha. I think its suppose to snow again on Saturday and Sunday so hopefully it sticks. I hope it snows and sticks here before I leave because I don't think it will snow down in Mexico. Still scary that I will be down there in a week and a half.

 

 

Really awesome spiritual experience the other day. We were assigned to pray, study and prepare a lesson for one of fellow district missionaries and I got Elder Hammilton. I prepared and what not and as I started the spirit took over. It was indescribably awesome. my chest felt as though there was a flamethrower inside of it, obviously the spirit, and I don't remember all I said because He was talking through me to Elder Hammilton. I spoke on Prayer is the food for the Hungry Soul, if that makes sense. And afterwards I was on a spiritual high and Elder Hammilton said that was EXACTLY what he needed. Elder Millerberg talked to me about concecrating myself to the work and he gave me some really awesome ideas on how I can do that. I want to be as Ammon (BoM Ammon not Ammon Seigfried haha) was and literally radiate with the Spirit. Hopefully I can do my best to do that.

 

 

We got another new district Wednesday and that was awesome, I'm already friends with a couple of them. Speaking of wednesday, I forgot to mention Hosting. I got to be a new missionary host on Wednesday and that was awesome, and sad, all at the same time. None of the Elders or Sisters I hosted were cryers so thats good. but it was interesting seeing were they were all going.

 

 

Gah I'm over on time, and got to go. I think I got everything I wanted to say, but yeah. Oh so yeah If any of you want to send something to me, try to get it here before next Saturday, because the last time we are allowed to get mail is Saturday at 2. Oh and no I have not gotten my Visa yet so hopefully I get it this week. I will try and let you know as soon as I can so I can let you know when I call. My guess is it's going to be not this monday but next monday morning, early. I will let you know as soon as I can though, what time.

 

 

Gotta go but les amo, y tengan un bueno semana!

Elder "Tall Son" "Frijoles" "Winzie" Winslett