Week 64 ...Posted late by me (MOM)

Hi mother, well I cannot tell you how shocked I was to see the photos from your email. Its incredible I can honestly remember when Dakota was born, it is just incredible how big she is getting. I feel like the whole world is getting slowly flipped upside down while I have been out here. The longer I have been out here, the more I realize that so many of the things that I missed at the start of my mission, that seemed so important just no longer hold the value to me that they used to. I mean so often we put so much value on things like Television and other forms of entertainment that we so often fail to realize how much time we lose from those things in our lives. I was thinking about one of my favorite series when I was younger, it was 100 episodes long, each for a little less that a half hour. When added up, this means that I wasted literally two complete days of my life watching just this one show, not to mention all of the other things such as video games listening to music, etc. I used to think that those things made me happy, but I have just started to learn that those things aren't real, they're just in our heads, the things that truly matter, our families, our friends, people who are truly suffering deserve our attention. This is not to say I wont ever do anything that's fun again (that would be quite dull indeed) but I really have changed my priorities since being out here. I only mention that because as I saw all of those photos, I remembered all of the days when dad would take me to do drip castles in the sand, I don't remember most of all any video game or anything like that, but I remember the times when like you guys took me to the beach or to San Francisco, all of those moments which I didn't appreciate at the time, but now are my treasures.

It makes me happy to hear how you have involved so many people in ward activities, if I could only get people to be that involved in activities! I certainly have not developed your party planning abilities! Anyways, I only lack 2 more weeks here in Cosamaloapan, and I can honestly say that I love this place. It is so weird how nothing ever seems to change here, its like life is always the same, the weather changes, but it feels like back there everything is always different. I am with a newbie, and its really funny because he mentions so many things that have changed in the world that it has shocked me. By the way, if you guys would tell me whats going on with politics that would be super appreciated, I miss it, and the only thing I heard about was that Donald Trump hates Latinos (they flipped out about it)

Anyways, as far as the work goes, it keeps progressing. The highlight of the week was from Zone Conference, President is honestly making me feel stupid, he is way way smarter than me, and honestly has taught us how to teach so much faster and more efficiently. My companion and I then applied this in a lesson and it was great. We taught this woman who is a bit like a catholic version of a seminary teacher, and she really liked it, and wants to go to church. I am a little sad because we were hoping to finally complete with Mexico´s standard of baptize every week, but this next week the person who was going to get baptized was super sick and couldn't come to church, so there is the problem.

Something that seriously was powerful this week was a fast that my companion did. I asked President if because of the heat here, we could drink water when fasting, and he said basically no that isn't fasting then. (this is very different than the old president) my companion and I did a fast, and honestly it felt like for the whole day my body was on fire, I honestly could hardly stand it. We ended after planning and had like no food in the house and when our neighbors found out that we had done this all day, they cooked us up some fish and picadas (i will make some for you when I see you). In that moment a feeling of overwhelming gratitude came over me. I have gotten so accustomed to the sisters giving us to eat lunch everyday that it has become something expected. They take such good care of us, so I really hope to be more grateful for what they do in the weeks to come. Anyways, those are the most memorable moments, take care, love you!

Elder Standridge

Week 63

Hi mother, believe you m, I know exactly what you mean about teaching the young guys. Sometimes they get distracted really easily, and one really has to help them to focus. The thing is at that age though, they learn even if they don't seem like it. There are seminary teachers who have busy work schedules, and prepare a lesson everyday with kids who bring pillows and blankets to their class. Sometimes I worry that those poor seminary teachers might feel like their efforts are in vain, but in all honesty, they don't realize the effects that they can have on some people. 

I honestly have realized that I have such a hard time with you kids out here. There are several little kids that are always screaming and disrupting lessons, and sometimes it just makes me feel super helpless. Like I wonder what I will do someday because honestly my companion right now is totally good with little kids and can get them to be quiet and things like that, but I dunno, I wonder if because I never had any little brothers or sisters and never had to deal with that, if it just makes me like really bad with it. Regardless, at least the mission has taught me that neither baby sitting nor elementary school teaching are my callings in life.

Something that has really touched me this week is the importance of the worth of a soul. This week I get invited to the zone leader conference (I'm still a district leader, but he wanted me there for whatever reason) and I got the opportunity to realize how dumb I am. Honestly President Cordova makes me feel super unintelligent by comparison. First off he taught us about how we need to really teach the restoration in the first lessons with people. Some people yelled out about what about the needs of the people. Then he said tell me needs, and every need he related perfectly to the restoration and explained why the person needed to know that more than anything else. Next he has really been helping us to become better teachers. Its honestly great and I have realized how bad of a teacher I was in college in the elders quorum and really want to improve that for when I get back. The more I think about it, the more I have realized that I would be happy spending the rest of my life working in a classroom, its really something I enjoy (my classroom will be have air conditioning because if I have to keep teaching in this kind of heat I am not going to be a happy camper). Finally he played a talk for us by Elder Christofferson that talked to us about how much is a soul worth to God. Each one of us is a spirit child of him and has the potential to become like him. For God, our worth is the potential to become like god. There are not ordinary people. No one is just plain or unavailable. To God, everyone around us has the potential to become like him,but unfortunately so many of us live below that potential. IT made me super grateful to my Father in Heaven and really helped me to care about those around me. As I walked down the street I realized that all the people I didn't talk to, I was allowing them to not achieve this potential, and it really made me want to work harder here.

Oh by the way, the fotos are first, imitating President and his stereotypical looking over the glasses and pointing.

Second and third are of a baptism of a young man named Eric. His older Brother just was forced to come home early from his mission for dignity reasons. Honestly Mom, I have so much respect for the people who are brave enough to admit that they have sinned and come home from their mission. There is so much pressure, what will ones parents think, what will ones friends think, but at the same time one feels incredibly guilty. Its so hard, and I have a ton of respect for hi older Brother. Anyways, luckily or unluckily, because he came home from his mission, his older brother was able to be at his brothers baptism. It was great and honestly I really really enjoyed it. 

 

 

 

 

I love you both lots, and you will be in my prayers, take care, I know you will find a job soon, and I hope you enjoy life their in California, see you soon.

Elder Kevin Standridge

Week 62

Hi dad, well I really am super glad to hear about you getting to go to the beach, I hope that you enjoy it while it lasts in these months, I am super jealous, and would be super tempted to go swimming in the giant river here, but there are whirlpools that kill be annually, so I am gonna avoid that. Its really cool Dad, I just really wanted to sharewhy I love my mission so much, the miracles that are here and what has happened here with 3 families in our ward and the changes that have been brought to their lives.

Veronica and Anselmo-We found them as we were going around looking for less actives. He joined the church as a teenager and was active until he was in his 30´s, but has been less active for more than 10 years. He and his wife had had massive problems for years, and were on the point of separating when we found them. We got there by accident, and taught them for several weeks. Over the course of teaching them their marriage improved significantly and their problems have stopped for the most part. They got married while we were teaching them, and Veronica and their daughter Paola got baptized. Anselmo is probably gonna be the Elders Quorum President here in the next couple of weeks and they're super happy.

Francisco and Francisca-Their son Uriel was a less active 15 year old that actually got baptized by one of my zone leaders when I first got here. We went in, taught Uriel, and Francisco came with him to church. It was incredible because he didn't seem to have any problems and we just taught him the Gospel, nothing more nothing less. He apparently had been fighting constantly with his wife and their son had started going out with a really bad group of kids. Apparently over the course of us teaching him, all the problems stopped, and Uriel wants to be a missionary. Currently we are teaching Francisca, and its incredible because she is accepting the Gospel super well. 

Juan and Estella- Juan was from a Mormon Family that had gotten baptized quite a while ago. He was really active when he lived in Ciudad Juarez and was the wards secretary. There Estella got baptized. Since they moved to Cosamaloapan, they had dis-activated and had stopped going to church. We had found Estella´s brother, who as  a coincidence had gotten baptized while they were in ciudad Juarez. From there we began to teach Juan and Estella and we baptized their 9 year old son Juan Ramon. What we didn't know was that they were at the point of separation their marital problems were so bad. They have not only solved the marital problems but are paying tithing, despite the fact that Estella quit her job to go to church (suddenly as soon as they payed tithing they got the idea to sell burritos, a food not sold here in Veracruz that sold like nuts) and Juan will soon be the ward secretary, we are also teaching his nephew Kevin.

 

Dad there are miracles here around every corner. I get to see people change their lives and love them so very much. My mission blesses me, and the Lord takes a lot of care of me. One day after going through a fast the woman who was supposed to give us lunch canceled. Being Sunday, we couldn't buy food, so we just said well lets get to work. We went over to see Juan and Estella, and incredibly there they had 10 volovanes for my companion and I. I know that as a missionary I get the luck to serve the Lord. Since being here I have seen too many miracles to believe otherwise. I miss you lots, I hope you take care, and will see you soon.

Love,

Kevin

Week 61 - Kevin's sounds AWESOME!!!

Hi mom,

 I am feeling fantibulastic, there is nothing going wrong here, and I am really enjoying life right now. I really love my mission mom. I just want you to know what a wonderfully great decision this was. How so very happy I ma to be here and to be doing this. Wow, I thought about going home, that would have been the worst decision of my life. I am sacrificing so much, but at the same time, as the hymn says, sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven. I just was thinking about how much I love this place, and how much I love the people here. They are so kind one to another. They have so much good inside. All of the problems here are only a result of a corrupt political system and a lack of good education. The people as a group are good and kind and help one another so much. I mention this because have realized how much the Lord blesses us and guides us this week. 

I have a new companion named Elder Le Fevre, and wow the guy is nearly my twin (we like all the same things, same jokes etc). We get a long great, he likes to work, is obedient, and is super competent. He and I get along great and I cannot wait to hear how well he does on for the rest of the mission. Its so weird because he is such a better planner than I am, but he only has 4 months total in the mission. He is honestly super intelligent and knows way more than I do about working out, so I am trying to learn from him while we are together here. Anyways, this week we had like a miracle week, somehow, someway, we found 15 new investigators, and had 9 people in church. He honestly made all the difference here, its great. One of the biggest secrets is to just talk to everyone about the gospel, and you eventually get people who accept you in their homes and want to continue learning.

Mother I can imagine how stressful your job is, I really truly do understand, its very much like what we are doing down here, and I know that its so hard for you to take, especially with law school. Just keep going a little longer, take a deep breath, speak out loud to God, and I know he will listen and help you. Its not easy, but I really know that you can do it mom, you just have to hold out for a little longer, when I get home, everything will get better. We are in this together, and I know that God will help you to overcome what you need to. 

In regards to the party for Meg, that was incredibly nice of you to organize that mom, wow, that sounds like a lot of fun. Maybe you should go into party planning as your career! Hahaha, anyways, I am super happy for Meg and Kevin, but I find it so weird that they are getting married, I never saw that coming. No more rash or anything, its just that during this time of the year there is a ton of dengue and other things that are just super annoying and a little dangerous, but once I make it through august things cool off, the really heavy rains come, and so there wont be near as many mosquitos. I want you to know how much I love you and how much I miss you both, hold on, its just 1 pregnancy in duration to go!

Love,

Kevin Standridge

Week 60 - 2 pictures!

We had a scare this week that Kevin might have DENGUE FEVER, thankfully he does not have it, So here is what happened, here in mexico there is a bunch of rain right now, and the rain runs off the tops of houses. Well that water is super icky and dried on my skin because I have to keep working. Needless to say my skin got something called salpullido which burned like heck when I touched the sun. So anyways, its gone now   He got medicine and he is doing well now.  Please continue to keep Elder Standridge in your prayers.  Thank you.  Charlene

So this week we had interviews with president, Elder Fidencio has just gone away to the Tuxtlas in catemaco, its known to be a witch town. That he and I in the first picture. The other one is the one of Shelby Beattys friend and I getting up for a 6 am run (my idea). It was great, I enjoyed it a ton (you decide if you want to send that photo or not :P)

 Anyways, this week in my interview with president he said he was sending me like a golden missionary that I am supposed to train up to be a district leader so I am pumped about that. Then I asked him a question about what to do if a leader gave me bad council. He used the example of the husband of bethsaida (the woman david cheated with) how david sent him in the army up to be killed by enemy soldiers, and said how he did the right thing and would enter into his exaltation for following. He said we just need to be obedient without thinking about what will happen. The Lord will recompensate for any apparent losses that we have. That actually really touched me, and I realized that I could improve my obedience some more, and maybe be more diligent. I was talking today without that missionary there in the photo, hes going to byu too (it was 6 am, normally he doesn't look so tired) and maybe someone to share a dorm with. Anyways, I hope all is well, I love you lots, not too much new news (oh btw, I am teaching like two sets of clones of you two right now, there sons were converted by their girlfriends and they are just leaving on missions, and so they are investigating and getting super close right now). Take Care!

Kevin

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Week 59

Hi mom,

I hope that you are really doing well, please send my regards to Jennifer, I hope she is doing well, she looks super far along. This week was certainly interesting mom, but let me just say that I really enjoyed the work this week. I got to visit so many of my less active brothers and sisters, and really was given the opportunity to help so many people overcome difficulties. Although just so you know, right now we have rainy season, which here in cosamaloapan sucks really bad. Not only did we get rained on everyday, but also, when it rains the sewers overflow and sewage comes up into the streets. One day this got so bad that the streets literally had rivers halfway up my shin filled with poopy water. Needless to say we still keep working even when that occurs. So there was one day where we had an appointment at 6, where we ran 6 blocks crossing these small poop filled rivers (mind you I never felt more like jean val jean in my life) to get to a house, only to find that the person was not there.Sometimes I have moments like that, and a natural question is, why God. Why do we work so hard to not have anyone there. I think the answer is that my mission is not principally for other people, but instead for me. God wants me to grow up and become the man that I have the potential to be, so he puts a ton of literally crappy obstacles (sorry I couldn't resist) to help us grow.

This week was also pretty stressful for me, because well one of the companionships in my district had 7 baptisms planned for this week, and only 1 ended up getting baptized for a ton of reasons.But needless to say this week was super stressful and I almost spent more time there working in their area than in my own. Its really funny because the one who got baptized I had gone and talked to about 2 weeks ago, and she didnt want to, but since then she has had some pretty tough times, and it really humbled her. I think God really will humble us if we are not willing to humble ourselves. But at the same time it is so hard to be truly humble and loving.

I am really happy mom to hear about your relief society event. That sounds super duper awesome, it has been so long since I have had good american ice cream. Definitely will be on my list when I get back. It is so cool to hear you have this calling. I know from personal experience that if we really work in our callings, the Lord truly helps us to develop new talents and pays us for our work. I really am glad to hear that Dad has been going to hte beach, that is scary about the rip tides, please please be careful both of you. Anyways, Changes should be on Sunday, I could stay I could go, I dunno, but I am happy with whatever. I love you lots, keep up the good work, almost there!

 

Kevin

Week 58 - Pictures of Kevin Baking!!!!

Hi mother, 

So I am going to go ahead and send various photos to you today, so I hope you enjoy them. Anyways, this week, finally, after what feels like forever, Veronica and Paola got baptized. I must admit that I really love that family, they have just been absolutely truly wonderful to my companion and I. That man there is the husband Anselmo, he is works in the city, and its honestly awesome. They got married this past week, and Veronica got baptized on friday. It was honestly amazing because of all of the difficulties there were. After going through several changes of mind on whether she would get baptized, my companion and I went in to fill the fount only to discover that the chapel decided to run out of water for the day (it had been gone since the morning). So we prayed, and patiently waited (patiently is a bit of an exaggeration, I told the other elders in carillo to go fill up there fount just in case), and about 5 minutes after we prayed water came back, although not a ton. We went through started the service and everything, but because it was already 8 at night, we decided to go forward even without a ton of water. Now mom if you think that the baptism with you was bad, this was 100 times worse. Being halfway full, they had to try and submerge Veronica 4 times before it finally worked, and even Paola twice. Honestly, far too stressful a day, but it worked out alright.

So this is from the day that my companion and I did Volovanes. The two men are Juan Arenas (the shorter) and Manolo (the chubbier of the two). Juan we found about a month ago and his son got baptized. In that time his wife has agreed to leave from her job so that she can go to church on Sunday, and he is planning to get his endowment out this next month (he is a less active from Ciudad Juarez) anyways, I really enjoy this family, and they incredibly take care of us also. Its funny mom how different things are here.

Anyways Mom, so you wanted to know a little bit more about how I am feeling and about how I am living. I actually am really enjoying my living conditions here as a missionary. You have to understand how we live mom, and how the people down here in general live. We are given 1500 pesos in rent, and 1800 that we can use to live on, travel, write home, etc. 1500 is about 100 dollars to make the conversion easy. That is a normal rent, our house has 1 bedroom, a small kitchen, a bathroom, and a small room to do studies, which is not bad for a missionary house. While 100 dollars monthly in rent for a house sounds extremely cheap, I have met several young couples that pay 600 pesos per month in rent. It is interesting for me just how lucky I am as a missionary and how lucky I am in how I was born. I never realized how good I had it at home, and at BYU until I came here. That being said, I am still incredibly grateful for how I am taken care of, they honestly really treat us well as missionaries. That being said, we live in pretty good standards. ITs very warm during this part of the year, but the hottest month is may, and from there it goes down hill. Soon it will be hitting august and september, and once we hit september, its pretty comfortable. That being  said, for now we need to put a fan on at night, or you just cannot sleep, its really warm, some of the houses have air conditioning (its a single unit instead of going through the house, but it makes all the difference) I really enjoy it when I have it, but this house is climates. That being said, the work here ebbs and flows. There is always more than we can handle, but I suppose that the urgency comes and goes depending on the pressure. In regards to changes, I do not know, I will find out in two more weeks if I leave, but I don't know if I want to stay or go, I am only interested in doing what God wants me to. 

 Mother don't quit, don't give up, just keep going day by day, and try not to think about the future too much. Just take it one day at a time, and then think can I keep going for today, I know you can, and when you do, you will find the Lords blessings. 10 more months. Don't you worry, and I will be home, its not that long now, I love you very much mother. 

Love you, Kevin