Week 26 - 6 months!

Happy (late) St. Patrick's day,

I turned 6 months today! I am officially a fourth done with my mission. How sad is that? It has been flying by. I can't believe it. It seems like every email I am finishing another month. But I am really glad to be here. 

We had a super awesome lesson a few nights ago. So, context: we had contacted a street a few days earlier. A family had just pulled up and were getting out of their car. I gave them a card and explained that families can be together forever. They said we could come by a few days later. So we did. The guy, Oscar, said he believes in a superior being but not necessarily God, and especially not a Christian view of God. But his wife, Itzil, is a Catholic, so basically she's never read the bible, and doesn't really know what she believes in. We taught that God is our loving Father in Heaven, and a little bit about the Plan of Salvation, how our message helps families in this life and in the life to come. 

They explained that they had a falling-out with the Catholic church because they weren't married by the church, only civilly, so they couldn't baptize their baby girl. We explained about Baptism and that little children are alive in Christ and don't need to be baptized. We extended the invitation to them, and she said "Yes, if I receive a confirmation that your church is true", and he said "Same, but I want to know more." I can't believe the complete change he made. I am super excited to keep teaching the Trejo Family. It is just one of the many tender mercies I have seen this week.

The church is true. I am doing well. We are going to play soccer in an hour, then we are going to go eat with an investigating family, then more appointments. I am really happy. Life is good. I really hope that you all have a great, safe week. 

Love,

Grant

P.S. Oh and I did get a hair-cut. Thanks Elder Jimenez and Elder Asencio.

With Giovanni, 17, preparing for his mission. We went to visit families with him. He is cool.

Week 25 - They came to church!

Hola,

This was a really fast week. Time is starting to fly by. Sometimes I forget that I am in Mexico. Don't let anyone know this, but Querétaro is almost like the US. We are just in like a ghetto US city where everyone speaks Spanish haha. I am really blessed to be here. We hear stories from other missions, and it makes me feel really grateful to be here.

We had a family come to church yesterday! Adan y Monica Larga Garcia. It was awesome! That was so awesome! They were kind of uncomfortable, but they liked it. I can't imagine what it would be like to come to a new church and not understand anything that is happening. I am hopeful with them.

We went bowling and then went to Pizza Hut. It was awesome! I am really liking it here in Querétaro. I forgot to take pictures of my journal pages, so I'll send those later. 

Hope you all have a great week!

Love,

Grant

Pictures at Pizza Hut.

P.S. We haven't had time to go get haircuts these past 2 p-days. So today we are going. My hair looks so fluffy and bad haha.

Week 24

Hola!

This was a really good week! Who knew it would be so frustrating when people can't go to church? But it is. We have a few prospective investigators, but Satan is trying to get at them. We will see how this week goes.

We've been working this week to help the missionaries that finished their missions and to receive the new missionaries that will arrive in a few hours. 14 newbies are going to arrive, 12 finished.

Elder May's new comp is from El Salvador, Elder Mercado, he is really cool. We all live in the same house, so it is kind of like we have 3 companions, not just 1. 

I am at the offices now, waiting for the new people to arrive, we don't really have a p-day today. But I did get to watch the Face to Face with Elders Eyring and Holland. https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/face-to-face/eyring-holland?lang=engHere is the link. Watch it. It is very good!

I am happy here in Querétaro. Not too much is new, but I am still working hard and seeing many tender mercies. The church is true!

Love,

Grant

Selfie with E' Jimenez

Week 23 - No changes for me

Hola,

It was a good week! We had some more lessons than those of past weeks. Now we just have to get our investigators to church!

I am no longer sick. I feel good. All is well here in Mexico!

We had a ward talent show. It sufficeth me to say that you should always check the songs that you play even if it is all in english and no one will understand it. Check it. haha.

We have a new investigator named Francisco. He has been to church twice and he says he wants to be baptized! I am really excited for him. He is 13 years old. 

I am happy. We didn't have changes, so I am still here in the offices in Villas with Elder Jimenez.

Hope you all have a great week! Love you all!

Elder Rasmussen

1. District Photo: Top row: Chavez, Jimenez, Paul, Caballero, May, Frederickson, me 

Bottom row: Balbuena, Olivorio, Aguilar, Medina, Grow, Caamal

2. Huge truck stuck in the gate of the chapel, shaking my head.

3. View from San Jose el Alto, ok during the day, but super sketchy at night.

Week 22 - Five Months!

Every P-day has been super awesome. We got back from bowling and buffalo wild wings. We celebrated for Hna Caamal, from Yucatan, Mexico, who is finishing her mission next monday. She is really cool. She is mayan. We always joke that she is going to get married in two weeks.

Also, Elder Frederickson from Orem is going to have changes. He is the comp of Elder May from Providence, Utah. Freddy has been here in the offices for the 5 changes and been training May. They are really cool guys. 

Sometimes I don't even feel like I am in Mexico. But there are definitely other times when there is no way I can forget haha. But I love it here. It is different, but it definitely has its good parts.

All is well here in Mexico. I am happy, and my spanish feels good. Saturday I felt really sick, but I feel better now. 

Hope you all have a great week!

Love you all,

Grant

Week 21 - Food Poisoning

I was a little sick from food poisoning, but feel better now. We had interviews and President Williamson is awesome! He really knows how to help us. 

We are doing good, and working hard. My spanish feels really good, even though I can still improve a lot. I at least can understand the majority of what people say.

I am doing well here in Villas. All is good. I don't have anymore time, but I can send photos later.

We got back from playing soccer as a zone. We beat the El Sol zone.

Love you all,

Elder Grant Rasmussen

Week 20 - Theme Parks and Trabajo

Hola,

This week was good, pretty solid. We worked hard and we had some success. We'll see what happens with Erick and Jonathan. Two investigators who are progressing. Oh yeah, and I had food poisoning yesterday. It was rough, but my prayers were answered. I feel lots better today.

Today, we got permission as a zone to go to Parque Bicentenario, a theme park. It cost about 2 dollars to enter haha, and it was super cool. It was just a ghetto Mexican version of Lagoon, with a train ride to see animals in cages too. haha. But it was awesome!

I am very happy to be here and I am grateful for this opportunity to learn. Mexico is good. All is good here in the Villas ward and I am happy. The church is true. 

Love you all,

Grant

1: Park map

2. E' Jimenez and I at the park