E-mail (Dated: 6/16/2014)

Hey YALL! (Hermana Young says it ALL the time hahaha (: )

What a growing experience this past week has been for me! It was such a big change to going from my training to showing Hermana Young our area! It was hard to be the only one who knew the area! I was a really worried at first, but I have found that as I put my trust in the Lord, I don't need to worry. If I trust my Savior and Heavenly Father, I don't have any reason to worry or stress! They know exactly what is best for me. And they have blessed me with just enough knowledge to show Hermana Young the area. I have found that I know more Spanish than I thought! Its amazing to see how Heavenly Father meets our needs. He always blesses us with what we need at the exact moment we need it. I have learned that the Lord has PERFECT timing for EVERYTHING. It continues to blow my mind!

I absolutely love Hermana Young! She has brought such a special spirit to our area and the ward already loves her! She fits in so perfectly here! Her testimony is so strong and I love learning from her! She has so much to offer.

Our area is continually growing! One of our ward members who was just re activated a couple months ago, finally submitted his mission papers this week! His name is Samuel, hes 25 and I could not be more excited for him! I have been SO grateful for my mission. It has changed my whole eternity. And it will never be something I regret.

We also had a really tender experience with one of our investigators Bobby. We were able to watch the Jospeh Smith video with him at a ward members house. The spirit was SO strong the entire movie...During the part where Joseph was tarred and feathered, Bobby said I can relate to that... and he explained to Hermana Young about the night he got beat up and mugged right after our first lesson with him. Ah he has such a special spirit and he has SO much faith. I cannot wait for his baptism here in about a month!!!

Familyyyy: I GOT YOUR PACKAGE!!!!!!!!!!(: THANK YOU SO SO MUCH!! You have no idea how much they mean to me!! Thank you for everything! You guys are SO thoughtful! I LOVE YOU!

Oh and the rain is nuts! We love it!

Hope yall have a truckin good week (:

Love your Brookie Cookie (:

E-mail (Dated: 6/9/2014)

UWhat a fantastic week! Adriana was able to be baptized this week!!!!! It was such a HUGE miracle! She had her interview with President Kusch on thursday and he said she was ready to be baptized as soon as we could get a program ready! The timing was absolutely perfect! We hurried and put it together that night! It was so incredble to be able to have her baptism before changes. Aww It was so beautiful. The spirit was so powerful. Every person that got up cried! Her two daughters, Hermana Fernelius and I were able to sing "Cuando me bautice" (I like to look for rainbows) for Adriana. It was so tender for me because that was the song I sang at my baptism!! When we got up to sing, that memory hit me hard! It was so tender! And her daughter bore testimony afterwards! The whole experience was just beautiful! Ive never been to a baptism where the spirit was that strong.

SOoooo Changes!!!! I am staying in Chapultepec!!!! Fernelius left for Cualta! And my new companion is Hermana Young. She is 23 and is from Texas so she speaks English :) She is graduated with a degree in Psychology! Shes cute. Not gonna lie, changes are hard. I dont like change haha. But I know that this change came from our Father in Heaven. I am excited to learn from her! I have so much to learn! I am so grateful I get to work in this area a little longer. The people here have such a special place in my heart. 

Theres also a man named Leonardo (Gpa that gave me the Jose Jose cd) And he came up to us this week and pulled out his notebook. And on one of his pages were some letters and numbers.. me and Fern were super confused at first and after a little bit we put it together- He saw us get into a taxi one day and wrote down the number of the taxi in case anything happened. How stinking cute is that?!! Ahh it just about melted my heart! These people are incredible!

So we also learned how to Salsa dance last night.. And it was hilarious! I cant wait to show you guys the videos! Theyre so embarassing! And can you guys believe I officially hit my 4 month mark.. blows my mind.

Well I hope all is well! I love you all SO much! And miss you every day! Have a fantastic week! 

love your cookie (:

E-mail (Dated: 6/2/2014)

Hey hey hey! This week has been SO much better. Honestly, Hermana Fernelius has been doing a lot better! It was such a relief! I felt all of your prayers headed our way. It really was a miracle. I am so grateful!
So we had Paolas baptism on Saturday!!! We actually found out that at her sisters baptism last week (Adriana), Poala asked Heavenly Father if he wanted her to be baptized too when her sister was going into the water. And of course he told her YES!! Everything went beautifully! Me and Fernelius gave a lesson on baptism and then I said the closing prayer. The hard thing was that her mom was not able to be baptized this week. She has to be interviewed with President Kusch first. It was really hard for her to be happy for Paola. But we reassured her that Heavenly Father has a plan for her. And her own day would come!

This week we prayed and prayed and prayed to meet our zone goal of putting 15 people with fecha (baptism date), but we still didnt meet our goal. We did everything we could to meet it, and it still didnt happen. This was a very good learning experience for me. I learned that Heavenly Father had a different plan in mind. He put so many people in our path this week! Every corner we took, someone we knew or that was a potential investigator was waiting for us. We were able to have an incredible lesson with a man named Miguel. Miguel is 26 and even speaks English! He told us that he feels God has abandoned him. And that this could possibly be the last chance he gives God to show him that he is really is there. The spirit was so strong the entire lesson and completely guided me and Hermana Fernelius. It was incredible! By the end of the lesson, he told us that if he doesnt follow this path, it isnt on us, but it is from his own choice. I pray that everything will work out... kinda super stressful haha. But it is all good! I know that Heavenly Father will take care of him!

I am also so grateful for the beautiful gift of the Holy Ghost. I know without a doubt he guided us and kept us safe this week. There were some moments during the week where he pressed on me so hard and clearly. And I am so grateful I was able to listen to those promptings!

We also have a mission goal of reading the Book of Mormon in 72 days!! So its 10 pages a day (IN SPANISH)... We started yesterday! So if any of you want to do it with me I would be SO excited!! It takes me a long time to read in Spanish, but I know it will push me and help me so much! And when I say a long time I mean like an hour and a half for 10 pages... its hard haha!

So fun facts of the week:
1. We conctacted a Mariache Band this week!!!
2. We found out that when the Vocanoe looks like it has smoke coming from it, it IS smoke haha not clouds (:
3. Someone told me I looked like Britney Spears this week (: (: hahahahaha.

I love you all so so much! Have another spankin week (: mwah!

E-mail (Dated: 5/26/2014)

Hey hey hey mis amores!

We finally were able to have Adrianas (daughter) baptism!!(: It was incredible!! Everything went so beautiful! Ive never seen anyone so excited for their baptism! She was counting down the days and everything! The entire time she was just glowing and smiling! She had so much support from the ward! It was so so amazing!! Listen to this though- we were about to start the baptism, and all the sudden we see someone open the font a little bit and we saw Adriana and Brother Issac in the font! We were like uhhh whats going on hahah! It was actually hilarious! Luckily someone from the ward grabbed her and got her a new white jumper and then we were able to start! And Hermano Issac waited in the font the whole program hahaha! 

Yesterday in church she was confirmed, and I just pictured the entire room filled with angels that were rejoicing for her! Its so special! The entire experience was so beautiful for their family. The mom was crying the entire time! It went so beautifully that this next Saturday, Adriana (mom) and Paola (sister) want to be baptized!! They set it in stone and announced it in church (:

I also had a really amazing personal experience this week during contacting! Me and Fern split up and I went on the other side of the street to contact. I contacted a couple walking down the street, and without realizing it, I understood what they were saying.. I was also talking in Spanish without having to focus on each word! It just flowed out and afterward I was like NO WAY! The couple was Christian and didnt really want anything to do with the church, but they were friends with a ward member. They even commented how amazing my spanish was and how well I could understand! Even though they didnt want anything to do with church, I was so excited to finally feel the gift of tongues! The woman even gave me a "cheek kiss handshake" (not sure what its called) by the end of our conversation! I was so so grateful Heavenly Father allowed me to have that amazing experience! Earilier this week I had been feeling like my spanish wasnt progressing and just straight out stunk. So it was incredible to have help from Heavenly Father and for him to reasure me! It really is a gift though.. cause I wouldnt have been able to talk and understand them without his help! 

Its also finally starting to rain!! It downpours! Its so fun! And the nights are so much cooler so its easier to sleep! Such a blessing! 

Also another fun short story- We were eating comida at a members house and after we finished, her little girl Alizee came up to us and painted our nails haha! She is 3 and looks like shes 6. I was so impressed! She actually did a really good job! She even put orange polka dots haha (:

The people here are so cute! I love them!

Hope you all have a great week! I love and miss you! Te amo!

-your brookie cookie (:

E-mail (Dated: 5/19/2014) [Longgg weeekkk]

Hey hey hey! Not gonna lie, this was a harder week. It was super long. But we did have some amazing experiences! The past two days I felt like we were in exactly the right place at the right moment! Heavenly Father either put us in someones path, or someone in our path! It was so amazing! And when we got home at night, I was able to feel like I could put my day and work on the alter and offer it to the lord. This was a harder week for Hermana Fernelius. I don't know how to explain it. The only way to describe it is like bipolar depression. It comes in waves. And when it hits, it hits hard. She has been doing better the past couple days though. We called President but hes out of town, and was just gonna send the sister training leaders. Luckily he had another sister call and talk to her and that helped her a lot. I am learning so much patience ha.. Its hard. But I have been so impressed at how she has been able to fight through this new trial of hers. She is so strong and she refuses to give up! Good news of the week- We met a man named Pedro. He is around 60 years old and we just know he is an escohido (golden investigator)!! We contacted him in the street and were able to teach him in his home the next day! And in the lesson, he accepted baptism!! He was SO excited about everything we taught. He said he investigated other churches before and just left feeling like something was missing. He told us he wants to know where the true church is! He just kept smiling the entire time it was so cute! He wouldn't stop thanking us for teaching him. And after he went and bought us cokes! It felt like he was another grandpa! Ahh It is so so amazing to be able to share this beautiful message with other people! It truly is a message of happiness!! And I am grateful Heavenly Father has given me this experience! So i don't know if you guys remember Adriana (mom). Well she told us something really really tender this week! So the day we fasted with her last week, she went to lay down cause she was feeling really sick. She was rubbing her stomach and she fell asleep. And when she dosed off into a dream, she felt someone start soothing her stomach and rubbing it for her. And when she looked up, she saw me!! She said she couldn't see all of me, but she could see my face! Aw i wish i could explain how amazing this is to me! She is one of my second moms here, and its so incredible that she can feel my love too-that she can feel that I love and care about her too! And me out of all the people she knows.. its just really tender to me! I hope you guys are having a great week! Fam- don't have too much fun without me in California.. just come down a little father to Mexico! Love you all and miss you all so much! Mwah! Te amo! Con mucho amor, your brookie cookie (: PS: transfers are in 3 weeks and im freaking out!! I dont want to leave my area!!! and im scared to have a native companion. I don't know Spanish.

E-mail (Dated: 5/12/2014) [Mother's Day]

hey hey hey my beautiful loved ones!!

Another great week! I am loving Chapultepec and the people here! They have taken such great care of us! It was SO amazing to skype my beautiful family! I loved seeing all your sweet faces!! and hearing your voices!! ahh the little kidies and raigen are growin up so fast! STOP! please!! just 7 more months and well be skyping again haha! (:

I have been so impressed with Hermana Fernelius! She has been doing SO much better and she has helped me so much these past couple weeks. I feel so blessed to be her companion. She always finds a way to serve me whether its by making my bed, cooking me something to eat, or just encouraging me, she is always doing something! She can relate to me in so many ways I never thought possible! I am so grateful for her!
We had such an amazing experience this past week- We were walking down the street when a guy stopped us and told us he saw us talking to another guy about the gospel. His name is Bobby, hes 22 and he also speaks ENGLISH!! (he did a exchange program for school in Oregon!) He just poured out his life story to us and how he wants better friends and a better life. He said that he wants friends that have the same standards as him and actually understand what really is important in life. We have taught him once and he came to church on Sunday too! The first night we met him, he told us that he has never been mugged and just has faith that God will always protect him. When he showed up to Church on Sunday, he had a patch over his eye and looked horrible. Friday night after our lesson, i guess he went out to get some food and got mugged and beat up.. I couldnt believe it. I felt SO bad. The amazing part is that he is taking it so positively. He was taking it as an answer from Heavenly Father! I was shocked! The advesary works SO hard on us.. and Bobby didnt let it stop him! He stomped on him like a bug!! (Blake i know you love that when I say that (: )

Another cool experience we had this week was with Adriana again! She is so amazing! We got to her house one night and she wasnt home.. and just as we were walking away she walked up! Long story short, she opened up to us about how she was so stressed because she couldnt find a job and they didnt know what they were going to eat. She was also worried about her health. We taught her about fasting and offered to fast with her! So the next day we all fasted and she had a job offer but didnt feel good about it so she didnt go. (She recognizes how the spirit works with her!!) My comp told her she might have her faith tested for a little bit, but we knew she would be blessed to find a job! Another tender experience with her was in Relief Society yesterday. The whole lesson was on Moms and they played a movie and everyone in the room was in tears. Ya this was especially hard for us as missionaries! Especially when it said "Show your mom you love her, write her a card". And i was like uhhhh cool ya I cant do anything im across the border! So at the end of the lesson they had us all hug eachother and I cried in Adrianas arms. She embraced me like I was her own child, tearing up with me. She was telling me something very tender (couldnt understand it all) But it was about how she was so grateful that God put us in her path.

There are definately ups and downs every week, but overall I am just so grateful to meet these amazing people! I am learning and growing so much! And I didnt even know it was possible to grow this much!
I love you all and hope you have another fantastic week (: TE AMO!
ps I got to wear my raincoat for the first time this week! (: we were so excited! now its just hot again haha!

E-mail (Dated: 5/5/2014) [HAPPY CINCO DE MAYOOOOO!!]

AHHH ITS MY 3 MONTH BIRTHDAYYYYY TODAYYYYY!! Can you believe it? I cant!! Also today marks my 50th day in mexico! (:

This week was great! It started and ended with miracles! Last pday was super hard for me, so me and Hermana Fernelius decided to fast. We fasted for many different things-comfort, peace, etc. And one specific thing we fasted for was that moms package and letters would be able to make it to me! The next day we had a district meeting and I recieved the package and 5 dear elder letters!!!!!!!! We were like whatttt!!! I wish I could send the video of me opening the package but its too big to send! Ill show you when i get home mom (: But It was such a testimony builder to me on the power of fasting! I am so grateful that our heavenly father listens to every worry and care! We are so blessed!

Also yesterday we had a very tender experience. We went to pick up an investigator for church (Gabriela) and she wasnt able to come. Hermana Fernelius mentioned that she had been thinking a lot about Adriana, Adriana, and Poula (other investigators) this past weekend. So I said lets call them! They answered and told us to come ride with them in their car to church. Keep in mind that Adriana (mom) hates being late.. she is always early for everything, If she is late she wont go! So we hurried and ran over and right as we got there, they were walking outside to their car. There car is a superrr old car and they have to put the battery in every time they use it (It got stolen one time so now they take it up to their house) So once they got the battery in, we got in the car and then found out that the car wouldnt kick over. There was absolutely NO way it was going to start. Haha and for some reason I just knew it wasnt going to start until we said a prayer. So I let her mess around with it for a little bit, and after a little I finally said "Would it be okay if we said a prayer?" She said yes, but still tried to get the car to start. After a long minute she gave in and said okay lets pray (poor thing she was shaking). I offered the prayer and prayed that the car would be able to work and funtion for us. After the prayer, on the first try, the car started right up as if it never had any problems! Her whole family was shocked. They were like No way no way! The spirit was so strong and I was almost in tears! During the second hour in church, Adriana (mom) started to cry and bore testimony to our class on the power of prayer and shared this experience. She said that she doubted before that the prayer would help, and after this experience she realized that prayer really is so powerful!! She said I now have such a strong testimony on prayer!

This was such a tender miracle for me. It was so amazing to be able to be a part of such a tender miracle! I feel so blessed to be able to have these tender moments here with these amazing people! Not only did it strengthen the testimony of Adriana and her girls, but mine too. I put all my faith on the line, and Heavenly Father didnt let me down. I didnt realize till after how big of chance I took.. but I had such a surety and I knew it would start up after we prayed! It showed me that when I take a leap of faith, Heavenly Father will always catch me.

Okay so fun fact of the week- We ran into a mariache band!! And I totally got a picture with them I was so excited! Ha it was so funny they put their arms around me and I was like uhhhh and I looked at Fern and she just started laughing as she took the picture!

Also one of the Native Hermanas thought my last name was Chipmonk so that was funny!
AND one night this week when we came home, I looked over and I had a reciet on the table. And I had a double look back cause I saw "NATHAN C" on the reciept!! no joke!! Ill send a pic nate (: look closely! It was so cool!!

Yup I also had to eat fish again.. You will die at the pic it is so funny! Lets just say it was not a pretty experience. I almost ran for the bathroom a couple different times! And there was SO much food! Heck! I was dying! I was the last person to finish hahaha so bad.

But i love you all!! I hope you have a great week! I cannot wait to talk to my beautiful family on Mothers Day!!! mom ill send you a message about it (: So to Momma Kel and Shannon-HAPPY MOTHERS DAYYYYY!!! and mom and raigen THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH FOR THE PACKAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (: It literally was like Christmas no joke (: And it could not have came at a more perfect time!! The lord has PERFECT timing with everything.

Con mucho amor,
Brookie Cookie (: