Nov. 25, 2013

Momma y Famileee:

Yo, so it's been another sweet week! I can't even tell you how blessed I feel to be serving here in Huejutla at this time! Things are going so well! Sounds like everything is going well at home as well. Our week was bomb, one of the best ones so far: Baptism, tons of help from active members, new people to teach, people progressing, and just being so happy to be serving here with mi amigo Elder Dominguez. I can't even start to explain how bomb things are down here.

When I first got here to Huejutla, I liked it, it was gorgeous; but it took some getting used to, working in a branch, in a tiny little town with occasional running water and just everything was so different. Now though, I can't believe how in love I am with this place. I have seen so much progress (more than anything personal) in my time here. Attitude determines altitude completely.

This week we set 4 new baptismal dates and Carlos was baptized. David was in church and is now in Alma in the BofM. The active members of this branch are really supporting us as well, we had 12 lessons with a member present this week which is a pretty high number for us working here in a branch with 6 missionaries in it. The baptism of Carlos was really nice, he's 10 years old mom, but yeah, his fam has gotten active, they've gone every week since September, so they're there to support him. I was really happy for them, the branch really did a nice job with the baptism as well.

In October I set the goal to finish the Book of Mormon one more time. I'm highlighting all the verses that teach on prayer and it's been such a powerful experience to be able to do so. Today I was reading in 3 Nephi 18 where the Savior teaches on the Sacrament and later on prayer and I am just blown away by the wisdom and the power of the teachings of Jesus Christ. I'm on track to meet the goal which will complete one of my New Year's resolutions. I love the scriptures, I've come to love the Bible much more as well in these last few months.

This week is gonna be busy, we've got the Zone Leaders counsel in Tampico, those are always bomb, plus David's baptismal interview. It's such an exciting time to be a missionary. I hope that all is well and I trust that it is. I love you all so much and I'm so grateful for the way you have prepared me to be a missionary. Thank you all so much for that.

Love,
Elder Stockard

Nov. 18, 2013

Familee:


Hey y'all. Wow, so Lauren isn't going home for Thanksgiving? That'll be a lot quieter party than in years past with only 2 kids in the house I bet! You're getting old Parents, haha. Jk, not that old. How weird will it be for you guys though when Ryan leaves next year and there are only 3 Stockards at home in Fallon? That'll be a change. Time just keeps flying right? My week was bomb. Sounds like yours was as well.

Our investigator pool is getting bigger and bigger every week. I feel like at this point in time Elder Dominguez and I are really putting everything together pretty well. For me especially, I feel like a lot of hard work and diligence is really paying dividends for me at this time. I've been reading back in some of my journals and reflecting in these last weeks and my mission can be divided in like 2 parts: 1.) MTC up to Mainero, where I learned 3 huge lessons: Obedience, Diligence, and Grace. In those first 10 months I really set some good habits, those months were the foundation of my mission house, because if I had never learned those things, I wouldn't have had the opportunities and experiences that I've had in this 2nd year of my mish. and 2.) Central up to right now in Huejutla where little by little I have learned sooooooo many different lessons. This second year is where I felt like I've learned a lot about leadership, love, humility and pride, the gospel and about people in general. All in all, I can't think and reflect on my mission for very much time without feeling just so grateful to my Heavenly Father for this time that I have to serve him full time. What an opportunity! I just love the mission. I have met so many people that have changed my life. This week, Carlos, the son of la Familia that we have reactivated, passed his baptismal interview and will be baptized on Friday. David continues progressing like a baller, he read about fasting in the gospel principles book on Saturday and on his own decided to fast. The man is a stud. He is progressing as well as a ton of other investigators that we have. These people here in Huejutla are incredible. I love 'em, I have learned so much from them.

I hope we can all have a great week and that where ever we are this week, I hope we can give thanks to our Eternal Father and Supreme Creator who has given us all so much. He has given me so so so much, starting with all of you. I still remember when I came home from college last year at Thanksgiving, Brother Yates gave a talk on gratitude that has really stuck with me. I love this time of year even though it's not celebrated the same down here, because it calls us all to remember and give thanks. I hope y'all have a great week and that you know how grateful I am for each one of you.
#143 I'm also grateful for #JakeHeaps.
Hahahaha

Love,
Elder Stockard

Nov. 11, 2013

Hey Fam,

 

Man, you guys are the bosses.  Sounds like you all are doing so well.  I love hearing how conscious you all are about doing missionary work.  Remember, ask and ye shall receive, ESPECIALLY in missionary work.  I think we sometimes don't realize how willing God is to bless us with missionary experiences if we ASK and look for them.  Remember, this is HIS work so we know it's His will to give us missionary experiences, it's just up to us to ask and look for them.  Great job fam!  I've got the goal to never go to the Fallon 4th Ward again without inviting a nonmember friend to go with me and offering to pass by and pick them up.  How is it having the missionaries just in the 4th ward?  Do they come around asking for references and people to teach a lot more now or not really?  I am so curious about how missionary work is going back in the Reno mission.  It's such a fascinating thing to me, haha.  

 

Let me tell you all, I think this week was maybe the best week so far in my mission.  I know I've said that before.  The thing is that I feel like I'm really putting it all together right now as a missionary.  The Lord is really blessing me.  I have some really steep goals that I've set for myself and the Lord is really helping Elder Dominguez and myself to achieve them.  It's incredible to see the Lord's hand in this work.  David and our other family were in church this week and had spiritual experiences while in church and in their process to get there.  The adversary really tries and tests prepared people, but when they exercise their faith and make the decision to follow the Savior and keep His commandments when its hard, THAT is when they receive a living testimony of the truthfulness of this Church.  Let me tell you, as a missionary, one of the greatest feelings is seeing people successfully do just that.  There is nothing better.  Seeing people exercise their faith and repent, and make real changes in their lives is something that still amazes me.  David this week after church approached Elder Dominguez and I and asked us about the church's stand on a few commandments that we still hadn't even taught him.  He told us that, among other things, he had stopped smoking and drinking in the last 2 weeks... but we still hadn't even mentioned him the Word of Wisdom, how is that possible?  It's all about what 2 Nefi 32:5 teaches us; That the spirit will show us all things that we should do.  We didn't teach him the Word of Wisdom, but the spirit did.  The Spirit is what motivates all true seekers of the truth to make changes and continue progressing.  I have been so privileged to come to know so many of these seekers of the truth and they have surely had far more of an effect on my life than I have on theirs.  

 

I am so happy.  I continue to say that, but it's true. I love you all so much.  Have a great week and know that all is well.  

Love,

Elder Stockard

Nov. 4, 2013

Ey YO:


Hahaha, so two years in Mexico has totally made me forget that this last week was Halloween, that was so fun I bet. Here this last week it was Xantolo,the dia de los muertos festival that is native to this Huasteca region. We weren't here in Huejutla for the main night of it cuz we had a Counsel meeting in Tampico, but in our Saturday meal we got some BOMB tamales and hot chocolate. It is a really cool festival and Huejutla was PACKED with people from all over Mexico that come in for this weekend. It was really cool to see and to taste hahaha. As for me, I am loving my Zone, my comp, and my area. Being a missionary is literally so much fun. Elder Dominguez is such a cool guy and we get along so well. We have now gotten to where we teach really well together.                                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                                                
One of the coolest parts of this week was our Leadership counsel that the Zone Leaders, the Assistants and some experienced sisters have with President and Sister Jordan at the end of each month in Tampico. Every single one that I've been to has been really sweet, but this one was one of the best. I just love learning from President and Sister Jordan, I can't even start to explain to you how much those two have blessed my life, I look at them with so much respect and love. I have been blessed to serve under their direction.                                                                                                                                                                       
Also this week, Elder Dominguez and I had some great lessons with some new investigators, some less actives, and some recent converts. We had some really powerful experiences teaching about the Doctrine of Jesus Christ. That is one of my favorite doctrinal themes to teach people on because no matter what interests you or what you are doing with your life, almost certainly you are wanting to be happier and that's exactly what the Gospel of Jesus Christ allows us to do, and when we present the principles and ordinances of the gospel to these people as a highway to happiness, they really seem to understand it well and try to apply it. How blessed we are to know about the Gospel. I feel so blessed to have been born into the church and to Parents, Family and Friends who understand and live such principles and have taught me to do that same. I feel so blessed to know each and every one of you. I love you all so much.                                                                                                                     


It never ceases to amaze me how happy I am here as a missionary. I have come to do things and learn things that I never ever thought possible, all by the grace and mercy of our perfect master. I love you all so much and hope that you have a great week. I especially hope that all goes well for the Hubbard family and Brandon with his tonsils. They are in my prayers along with all y'all. Love you.                                                                                      
#143 #JakeHeaps                                                                                                                                                          
Love,                                                                                                                                                                              
Elder Stockard