10 - Coba 5

Another week in paradise. Not too much happened this week aside from having to bail out a baptismal font (biggest workout I had in weeks!). It was the baptism of the stake president's son and there was something going on with the drain in the font, so someone left it filled all week. Really gross. We had a fun time hauling buckets of the dirty water from the font, cleaning it, and refilling it for the baptism. Lots of fun.

Most of the work is focused on reactivating the less actives. The biggest problem is that they don't like to commit. We do have a large group of investigators that we are working with, but there are two commitments they have trouble with: going to church and getting legally married. But they love our message, especially about the Plan of Salvation. Many of them have families that they love dearly.

My Spanish is progressing. I'm still am not fluent, but I'm exercising patience.

Earlier, Hermana Kirkham, the mission president's wife, shared an interesting thought with us. She shared a scripture from Moses where Enoch was called by God to be a prophet. Enoch responded by asking why of all people he was chosen, because he was slow of speech and not favored with the people. Here God gave an amazing promise. He promised Enoch that if he would open his mouth to speak to the people, the Lord would fill it with utterance (Moses 6:32). For us missionaries, we have many weaknesses which sometimes include speaking the language. But this promise also applies to us when we teach. We give the spirit opportunities to teach through us and we teach the things the spirit teaches us. This doesn't just apply to missionaries, but also to every member of the Church. If you open your mouth or let the spirit teach through you, the spirit will tell you what to say. I hope we can always remain worthy to have the spirit and to teach from the things the spirit will put into our hearts. If we do this, we will always know what to say.

Hasta luego,
Elder Bailey

09 - Coba 4

Hey Everyone,

It looks like my letter didn't come last week, so I’ll try to give a good update.

The last two weeks have been crazy.  We've been hit with a bunch of storms and most of the streets are flooded.  This makes it a little difficult to get to the appointments on time.  But it feels good to have a little cooler weather in contrast to the normally hot, sunny days.

The work is progressing rapidly.  Most of it is focused more on the less actives.  The people here are very humble and receptive to the gospel, but they have a hard time with commitments.

My Spanish is progressing rapidly.  I can speak well enough for the lessons, but the biggest struggle for me is following the native’s Spanish.  They speak fast!  But the members have been very helpful and encouraging.

Also, in our last zone conference, we received an exciting announcement—in our zone we get to have beds!  The hammocks are fun, but often you wake up with a couple of stiff muscles.  Everyone in our zone is all excited about it.

Also, about Halloween.  From what my companion told me, most of Mexico normally celebrates El Dia de Muerto which last for two days, but here in Cancun, they celebrate Halloween instead and it lasts for three nights!  My area kind of turned into a party town.  We had trouble sleeping those nights because one of our neighbors set up a mega sound system in his front yard and was blasting spooky music all night long.

During church last week, one of the sisters in the ward gave an interesting lesson.  In Mexico, the holidays are traditional and everyone loves to party, but they have all forgotten the meaning behind the holidays.  Especially El Dia de Muerto.  It is a holiday to remember and honor our ancestors before us for the sacrifices they did for our generation and we serve them on these holidays.  In the church, it is especially important.  We do family history to learn about our ancestors and do service for them by performing the sacred ordinances they need but didn't have an opportunity in the mortal life.  Each of us is encouraged to actively participate in the Family Search program and learn about them.  There are many things that we can learn from them and they need us so that they can have the ordinances necessary.

Elder Bailey


Other stuff:

[I am in the west and north side of Cancun;] most of the area is all of the city to the south and to the north into the jungle.  It’s kind of big.  It actually is supposed to be divided into two parts, but too many missionaries left and there are not enough coming in, so my companion and I have to work the entire area.

One image is the new beds.  I don’t have a pillow, so I stuffed the pillowcase with the sheets to make do.  The next image is our house.  The tree in front has coconuts that we will soon pick and have for supper.

I’m happy, although I've developed a craving for bread lately.  I haven’t had bread ever since I arrived.  It’s always tortillas.  I miss Mom’s bread and cooking.  The food here is very good, but they always serve the same thing.

Every night we put our shoes up against the fan to dry them out.

08 - Coba 3

I am writing from an internet cafe, and it takes time to write letters on the Spanish keyboards.  The hammocks are comfortable.  They always serve two course meals and it is rude to refuse a second helping.  We really don’t have much time to exercise vigorously and I’m starting to gain a little.  The only way for me to return to the normal weight is to catch a bug, but that’s not a good way to go.  The city is dirty and not what I am used to, but the people are great and I’m adapting.

I’m out of time now and I’ll try to get in a little more next week, thanks.

Elder Bailey

A picture of the inside of our house

07 - Coba 2

Hey, so it’s been a week already.  The mission is hard work but I’m working my hardest.  So just to give you an idea of my area, Coba is a section of Cancun.  It’s very hot most of the time, but sometimes we get sudden intense rain for a few minutes a few times per week.  Everyone lives in small houses that are stacked side by side so it’s one big building.  Sometimes it’s hard to navigate around the city because all of the houses look identical.  But you can manage by memorizing the shops and graffiti.

There is a lot of poverty in the area, but as I may have said in the last email, because of the circumstances, the people are very humble and receptive to the gospel.  I’ll admit, speaking with the natives is hard—they all speak very fast and it’s hard to follow, but I’m still picking up a lot of Spanish from conversations with my companion.  Elder Gonzalez is an awesome companion.  He doesn’t speak much English, so I have plenty of opportunities to practice my Spanish.

The house that I live in is small, but meets my needs.  We don’t have beds to sleep in, but we do get some colorful hammocks!  In the morning we eat our own breakfast (Raisin Bran!) and the other meals are at member houses.  The food is very excellent.  I never imagined that there are so many more Mexican dishes besides burritos and salsa.  The food is very tasty and they serve a lot.  It’s polite to accept a second serving of everything, and every meal usually has two courses.  My favorite food so far is the empanadas.

The work has been going great!  We have a lot of investigators to teach each day.  Our schedules are always completely booked.  All of the contacting has to be done in the street between appointments.

The transition has been hard, but I’ve been called by God to this area and he always provides a way to accomplish the things that he commanded us (1 Nephi 3:7).  God knows of our weaknesses and has always provided a way for us to become strong and do what we need to do.  If we have faith in Jesus Christ, we will be blessed, and looking back, we can always see His hand guiding us and recognize the miracles that happen in our lives.  In times of strife or challenge, I invite you to turn to Jesus Christ and remember Him.  He knows what you’ve been through and will help you if you put your trust in Him.

So until next week,
Elder Bailey


PICTURES

*These are the hammocks that we get to sleep in.  Mine is the bright green one.  This was taken the first night, so it’s not at the house where I’m staying in, although both houses are very similar.

*My new companion, Elder Gonzalez, and his old companion, Elder Bigler

*President and Sister Kirkham

06 - Coba 1

Hey, I made it.  Sure, the security in Salt Lake City gave me a hard time*, but I made it.  I love the mission so far.  President Kirkham is an awesome guy.  He is very energetic and loves everyone here.  I don't have my camera with me right now, but I'll be sure to send pictures next week.  

I've been assigned to the area of Coba.  It's a section of the main city of Cancún.  There are three areas in Cancún, and about five more outside of the city.  My companion is Elder Gonzalez, he is a native to Mexico and doesn't speak very much English.  He has been helping me a lot with the Spanish.  My Spanish isn't that fluent, but according to the other elders, after a few months I should be fluent.  I haven't been here very long, but the area surprised me in many ways.  Most of the people don't have much, but because of their circumstances, they are very humble and have amazing faith and a great capacity to love.  They love you before you even greet yourself.  

  

Out here in the mission, one of the most important things to have while teaching is the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Spirit plays a great part in the conversion of the investigator.  It has often been referred to as the missionary's third companion.  True conversion can only come with the Spirit testifying in the heart of the investigator.  Every member should always strive to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.

  

Well, that's all for now.  I'll be sure to send lots of pictures next week. 

Hasta luego,

Elder Bailey  

*The security scanners picked up something on his hands and shoes; turns out, he had polished his shoes the night before, and some shoe polishes give off the same vapors as explosives.  They ended up doing a full-blown security inspection because of this.

05 - MTC 5

In 4 days, I'll be out there in Cancun!  The MTC is a great experience, but it's out there where the magic happens.  The travel plans came in early this week and we will be leaving Monday early in the morning.  Our district will be traveling together along with an elder and a sister from the main campus.  So ready for it! My teacher, Hermana Mackay, commented how in Mexico they would say that we "have battery."  Can't wait to get there.  My Spanish may still be a bit rough, but I'm confident that I'll become fluent eventually out in the field.  You'll know when I stop commenting about it in my letters and if the letters need a little translation.

We had a couple of good storms here that tore some of the shingles from the buildings.  For service activities, we have been doing some cleanup work.

Like the shirt I'm wearing in the pic?  I borrowed the lava lava from one of the departing elders.  He is from Hawaii.

Conference was great!  The spirit and message that those speakers bring is awe inspiring.  There was a lot of emphasis on enduring to the end.  I can add my testimony, that as we continue through life, we will encounter many challenges and struggles, but if we remain true and steadfast and put our faith in Jesus Christ, everything will turn out better and how great will our joy be in the eternities.

My next letter will be from the mission field.  Stay tuned!

Elder Bailey

04 - MTC 4

I've now been in the MTC for about a month, and have less than two weeks left.  I can't wait to go out into the field!  The MTC is a great experience, but it's going to be out there where we get the most.  

We just had a change of teachers yesterday.  Our teacher, Hermano Law, worked here at the MTC to the limit—which is 3 years.  He was an awesome teacher and I'm going to miss him.  I learned so much from him—not just the language, but also about being an effective missionary as well.

My ZRT (zone resource teacher) shared an interesting quote a few days ago.  "You become who you want to be by becoming who you want to be every day."  It reminds me of a talk by Henry B. Eyring about the word "someday."  I recommend everyone look it up.  We sometimes like to think that over time, the changes we want in our lives will come to us automatically, or that there will always be tomorrow to accomplish our goals.  The truth is that nothing happens unless we work for it.  Now is the best time to do and accomplish.

Well that's all for now.  Next week will be busy getting ready to head out.  General Conference is going to be awesome.  

Thanks for your support.

Elder Bailey

Oh and here is a pic.  I traded the tie from another missionary in my zone.  Like it?  I try to acquire a variety of ties in my wardrobe.

I've been working out during gym time—we've heard all the horror stories about missionaries gaining 30 pounds within a week.  But no worries, I've been eating the vegetables and drinking the water.  Actually there isn't much of a gym here on Wyview.  The only activities we can do are running, basketball, volleyball, and four square (I'm becoming a champ).  

The thermos is very useful.  They actually provided a plastic bike bottle the first day (although it doesn't keep he water cool) and a water purifier.  The purifier is a water bottle that you fill from any source.  When you want to drink, you squeeze the bottle and it will clean the water as it comes out.  It's a good expensive purifier that they provided everyone.

Be sure to send letters through DearElder.  Thank you for everything.  

Your Favorite Missionary,

Elder Bailey