3/26/2018

3/19/2018 I live in the Capital of Puerto Rico!

Hola!

Finally made it to another area! And it's a doozee! It has a really different feel, and everything from the apartment to the people is completely different (weather is still very not fun a d hot and wet and sad and etc.). The new area I'm in is called Kissimmee (pronounced kiss-sim-me), and it is commonly referred to throughout Florida as the capital of Puerto Rico, and I have seen why. Literally 2/3 people here are from Puerto Rico, and there are more Puerto Rican flags here then American, it's awesome. The other city we cover (and live in) was voted "The Most Boring City in Florida" last year, it's called Poinciana, but we do have a Walmart, which is nice. That's about it though. It's really funny, also half of my area is uninhabitable swamp, which is really cool in my opinion. Most of the roads go through them, so it feels like we are in Jurassic Park, 10/10.

I don't want to write an essay for yall to read, so I'm going to try and keep the Friends section short, so I can explain a little more about this amazing land. If yall remember Lisa, these two first people are essentially Jamaican Lisa, and Other Lisa. Jamaican Lisa is named Sybil (si-bull), and hails from the land of dreadlocks and steel drums. She really likes the Book of Mormon, and is super sweet. Other Lisa is named Susan and is basically just Lisa without the huge family and money problems. Really nice, really likes missionaries, loves the church, just having a hard time coming and being willing to be baptized. I love them both so much already though! Last one I'll mention is Carla, she is AMAZING! She has come from a very difficult background, but is fighting everything like a champ! She really wants to change her life, and has seen that she can do that through Christ! She is around 25, and is honestly super inspiring. Her testimony is becoming immensely strong, and she is preparing to be baptized on April 7th!

It's been an awesome week just getting to know the new area, the new companion, the new ward, and the new Investigators! I'm positive I'm going to love this area as much as I did the past, and I'm stoked to meet the people that he put me here to meet! I've already fallen in love with the ones I have, it's crazy just how much the Lord leads His church! Don't have a ton of time to write much else (let time get away from me today, sorry yall), but something I wanna talk about again is the purpose of the Lord's church. Something I feel like a lot of people forget is that the purpose of His church and of life in general is not to do something, but to become something! We are here to try again after every mistake to learn and grow! A quote that I love from the recently deceased Prophet Monson is "one of the most incredible gifts God has given us is the chance to try again, for no failure ever need be final!" It doesn't matter who you are, what religion you associate with, how you live your life, what you focus on, or anything else, we are all going to make mistakes. It's a fact, no-one is perfect (of course, except Christ), but that's the point! If we were perfect, there would be no point to anything we do. We would have no reason to even live, we are made to grow, improve, and get back up! Sadly, that means we need to put ourselves in situations where we can fall because there is no growth in comfort. So if you really want to feel happier and see the purpose for your life, get uncomfortable! Its hard, but it's always gonna be worth it! I love this Gospel, I love the chance to try again, I love the Savior and his Atonement, I love my Heavenly Father, and I love all of you! Have an awesome week, and never stop getting back up!

<3 Elder Fox

3/13/2018 Macdonald part 2 and Latina Wife!

Hola mis amados!

Well, went from a really casual week to a pretty fun and hectic one, figures, haha. A lot of things have happened, but not much to write home about (ha, it's a saying but it actually applies here because I am writing things hame right now haha, I'm so funny) so I am going to save you all from having to read a lot again, you're welcome. I hope you have all had an amazing week! Elder Jones is our district leader, so this week we had to go a bunch of places so he could interview people for their baptisms. So we didn't even have a lot of time to do too much, but stuff happened, so, onward! 

First off, I'm heading down south tomorrow! I'm finally getting transferred out of my first area! I'm going down to a city called Poinciana. I've been told that 80% of the population wears cowboy boots, so I'm excited. I was also informed that we get fed tons of food down there, also a solid plus. My companion is going to be another mans named Elder Macdonald! I'm super sad to leave all of the people I come to know and love up here, many a tear was shed saying goodbye to Lisa especially, but I know I'm going where the Lord needs me to be!

We only met one new friend that we are teaching this week, and she actually lives in Venezuela! She is the daughter of our investigator, and he is trying really hard to set me up with her XD. She is really nice though, and we have been teaching her through an app called WhatsApp, she is actually really liking what we have to say like the Book of Mormon, and how we know that God is our Heavenly Father that loves us and just wants us to be happy! We just got in contact with the missionaries down there that will be bringing her a Book of Mormon! 

It's crazy to think about switching areas, it honestly almost feels like leaving home again, haha. I have come to love all the people I've met here, and I have seen so many miracles with and for all of them. I am going to miss it tons, but the cool thing is, I know it's not over! I can keep in contact with them through the magic of technology for sure, but I know I'll see them all again after this life is over. I think one of my favorite things to share with people is that death isnt an end, especially for loved ones! Death is just a graduation the way I see it, haha. I love this gospel and I love that knowledge that families don't stop here! Which is awesome cause I love mine more than they know. I love all of you more than you know! I really am grateful for what you do for me, not a day goes by where I don't think how yall are doing! I love all of you and hope you have an amazing week! 

<3 Elder Fox

Small weekly word Vomit 3/5/2018

Hola todos!

Hope everyone had a grand old week, mine was just swell, really calm and mellow. Not a bad week. Sadly this means my email is going to severely shortened because I am quite boring. Not actually, just a pretty boring week as far as quantity of cool things, quality wise, Lisa got confirmed (made an official member of the Church of Jesus Christ and recieved the gift of the Holy Ghost) yesterday! It was an absolutely amazing experience.

We didn't meet anyone this week that was ready for the gospel, sadly, but many of our current friends have learned a lot. Stephanie is starting to open up to the idea that prophets are on the earth again! Zulmy and Eduardo have been reading the Book of Mormon, and are really starting to like what we share. We couldn't meet with them this week due to not being able to bike all the way out to them. And honestly, other than that, nothing really happened this week. Hope the short message didn't disappoint anyone too much.

Might as well add something good though. This week, I really increased my own testimony of the Book of Mormon! I realized not too long ago that I have always know the Book of Mormon to be true (like logically/scientifically), but have never really had a burning spiritual testimony of it, so I have been striving for that this week! If I could only share one thing that I have learned from my efforts so far, it is that everyone is different, and the Spirit is going to testify to us all differently, it is our opportunity to discover our favorite method! For me, I realized when I am reading, if I treat every person in the Book like my friend, it all feels so much more incredible and inspiring! Maybe for some of yall it will be looking for every time the Book mentions Christ, or every promise it gives, or every time someone overcomes fear, or anything else you need. And it changes as time goes on, we are constantly adapting and in need of something new, so don't just read the same way you always have, really look for what you need and want, and go for it! As an authorized representative of Jesus Christ, I promise as you do this, your testimony of Him and His church will increase immensely, and you will feel the healing and strengthening power He has to offer through His word every day! I love Him, I love His gospel, I love the Book of Mormon, I love my mission, and I love every single one of you more than you know!!! LOVE YALL HAVE AN AWESOME WEEK!!!

<3 Elder Fox