Week 62 (Carmago, Mexico)

Ya it sucks that my other comp got transferred, I had lots of fun with him. We would always go on visits with a member and this member liked soccer then at the end of the day we would come back to our house plan then we would all juggle together with the ball that you sent me. 

But ya I have been having a lot of changes lately but that is the usual pattern. You have one area where you stay forever and then you are in other areas for short amount of times. But all is well with my new comp, and actually I think that you will be happy to hear that he takes lots of pictures, and if we have any luck maybe I will pick up some habits from him ha-ha. 

I do have a release date that was given in my ministerial ticket it has my entrance and leaving date. I head out July 18. Wow, I can’t believe we are already talking about me coming home, that’s horrible.

The ward I am in is really small. Lots of people have gone in inactive because the big church is closed and there isn’t a lot of space in the little house that we rent. But the members here are cool. There is one family that helps a lot. They have a kid that is about mission age and he is getting ready to go he helps us with visits all the time. 

Love Elder Blanchard

Week 61 (Carmago, Mexico)

This week went well, not too much different. We are still looking for some cool investigators. Lots of contacting still but our area has the town center and so there are always a lot of people. 

This last week I destroyed my toe. I was walking by my bed and kicked my bed post and peeled it up. It killed a ton but now it’s getting a lot better. The thing that sucks is that I always seem to bump that toe right now.

On Saturday I got a call at 9am and I was told that my companion had changes and that he needed to be in Chihuahua at 2. We were on divisions and he was in a different city and I had to pack everything for him and I took it all to the bus stop and we waited for his bus to come and then I hopped on and we left for Chihuahua. My new companion is Elder Crockett he is from Orem, Utah. He is 19 and has about a year in the mission. He seems cool so far. 

Love

Elder Blanchard

Week 60 (Carmago, Mexico)

I have to agree that lots of us take the gospel for granted. In answer to your question to me asking if I feel my testimony has grown…I definitely feel my testimony has grown. I thought as I left for my mission that I knew it all and that I knew all that there was to know. Here in the mission, the more I learn the more I realize how little I knew and how profound the gospel is. I have come to a better understanding of what it means to have the fullness of the restored gospel. 

You are right, it is a neat experience to be a full-time missionary. And, I am really grateful for the experience. It is the best decision I, or anyone else, could make. In the scriptures and the church history there is always some kind of exodus. When the lord tries the people asking them to make some sacrifices and take some leaps of faith. (The family of Lehi and the pioneers left homes and possessions; others asked to leave traditions, old beliefs. etc.) I feel like the mission is my exodus.

The gospel isn’t a place of comfort zones, you can’t really become converted or make any real progression unless you leave that comfort zone. And the mission made me leave my comfort zone.  In the beginning we think that we are giving to the Lord but that is really insignificant and overshadowed when we look at what the hands of the lord are doing to mold, shape, and direct us into where, and what he wants. Nothing I left is worth more than what the Lord has and is giving me. 

We did see all five sessions of conference but we were in and out, trying to get the English one going at different time, but we did see the majority. We get the Ensign from every month, but here it’s called the Liahona. And we can choose English or Spanish. On top of that I just download talks from lds.org onto my USBs and listen to them in the mornings and nights and I can listen to any talk I want.

  

I am planning on going and buying some new pairs of pants soon. Maybe even tomorrow, my comp has to go to Chihuahua for some immigration stuff and we are going to get some. And, they are some pretty nice pants too, usually expensive but since the dollar is so high they cost like 50 bucks. So I will finally be using my card.   Also, I haven’t gotten my shoes yet but tomorrow we are going to Chihuahua and I will check. 

Viviana sent me this really cool watch with a blue face that is half analog and half digital with a black band. She sent me a nice tie, two chocolate bars that are really good, and also some chocolate sticks, and a pack of gummy bears and aromat seasoning.

This week we did a ton of walking and traveling. We went to a bunch of little ranches around our area. We went to see if it is worth it to be visiting the people and making trips. We are going to be doing the same this next week too.

The weather has been getting a lot better too, a lot fresher and the mornings are cooler. 

Love 

Elder Blanchard

Week 59 (Carmago, Mexico)

Sorry I kind of ran out of time. I just got a package from Germany too that was pretty cool. 

Not too much different this week either. All is well here with my companion too, he is still cool. 

Conference was pretty cool but we had to go to Delicias to watch it. Because our church in Camargo is still closed, it will be closed for like the next two months. Next week I will get you guys some pictures of the little house of prayer where we meet. The only downside was that we watched conference in Spanish not English. We couldn’t switch it to English without changing it for the whole congregation.

Love Elder Blanchard