January 19th

Hey Guys!

This week has kind of been a bummer for me. I have had migraine pain since January 9th, and it is still going as we speak. I spent a couple days in home, a day in a members house so that Elder Lumbreras could work, and 2 days in the hospital for observation. They said that it is really probably just due to the stress of the mission, the change of culture, the change of food, etc. etc. They gave me medication that I take every 8 hours, and one that I only take in the night. I find that medicine really does not help this pain though, and I was getting really frustrated this morning with the pain. I decided that this is just a trial of faith for me in the mission, and that I really have to push through it so I can help bring people unto Christ. I know that the Lord wouldn't have called me here if he thought that I was incapable of doing so.

Anyway, the negative parts of this week behind. Elder Lumbreras and I had a miracle baptism yesterday. It was my second investigator when I first got into the mission, and her name is Mariana. She isn't part of our ward, so she kinda stopped taking the lessons from us because she only wanted to be baptized if it was by one of us. She showed up at church in our Gospel Principles class, and told us that she wanted to be baptized, and we got permission from our bishop to baptize her here in Orizaba, and she was baptized yesterday by Elder Lumbreras. Another miracle investigator is my very first investigator in the mission. We only have like 2 lessons with her, then she moved to another part of Mexico. When we were in the hospital Elder Lumbreras received a text from her just saying "muchos saludos elderes." We thought that was a little strange so Elder Lumbreras called her. She said that she had an experience similar to Joseph Smith. She had a dream, and she saw a very bright white light, and then she remembered seeing Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. She said that Jesus said repeatedly follow in the way of my church because it is true. She didn't want to listen to the missionaries where she lives because they were pressuring baptism on her, and she didn't really like the teachings of these missionaries. She told us that after this dream she told her mom(who is a member) and then called us and told us that she wants to be baptized by us. That really was such a cool experience to listen to her say that.

Mom, I really do hope that the headaches are just from all of the stress of the mission life, and the  adjustments that I have had to make. I am on a special diet now and am not allowed to eat chocolate, cheese, milk, ham, and other things that apparently can make the migraine stronger. It stinks, but maybe it will actually help me, but I don't know. The thing about keeping snacks in my bag is that we are not allowed to eat in the street, because it looks unprofessional, but I will try my best to get rid of these headaches, and prevent them. We are still living in our tiny house, and it is freezing. It could be 65 degrees outside, and our house would still be freezing. We don't have a lot of progressing investigators right now, but we are working really hard to make it so that a lot of these people can become progressing investigators. I hope that you are doing great in school! From what it sounds like you are enjoying it a lot.

Dad, That's nice to hear that Taylor had a hard time talking to the family too and I am not alone. It really was such a great experience, but it just made me miss home more. But I think it will get easier as more time goes on. Just think, with the MTC I have almost 5 months in the mission. The 1st day in February will be 5 months. It really is flying by fast, and I only have 2 weeks left in this change. And I don't know if I will stay with Elder Lumbreras, but from what it sounds like I might be a trainer, and that honestly kinda scares me. But I know that I can do it all with the help of the Lord. I have a couple of best buddies in the ward, one is Ivan and the other is Benjamin. They are both returned missionaries and are both great. Benjamin stayed with me for like 4 hours in the hospital so Elder Lumbreras could go out and work. It really is fun learning more of the language, because it helps me to truly have friends in my ward. The Hernandez family is really cool too. The dad is one of the counselors in the bishopric, and he is really good to me too. I stayed like 3 hours in their house one day also, and they are really good friends of mine as well. I don't see a whole lot of my MTC buddies because none of them are in my zone, and 4 of them are in a completely different part of Mexico. But I saw them one time when I had to go to Veracruz for my VISA and it was kinda fun to see those guys again. The food here for the most part is great. You can usually find a Dominoes or a Mcdonalds, or Burger King around parts of town. When we were waiting to check into the hospital the other day we went to mcdonalds, and I had some chicken nuggets and fries.

Kenzie, I'm sorry that work has been so tough for you this week. I miss you a lot too. That really was one of the highlights before the mission was getting to hang out with you and Justin so much in the apartment. But just think, I have almost 5 months in the mission. Almost a fourth of the way there if that seems crazy to you. Haha Before you know it we will be hanging out again, and having Halo parties. Thats so funny about Ollie. :) He really is a funny guy. Has he calmed down a little bit now that he is not a man anymore? Haha I hope that work goes well for you this week, and I will pray hard that it does. For Justin as well so that he can have this new job be a blessing for you and for him as well. I miss you so much sista, and you really are my best friend. :)

Syd, OMG Patch favorited your tweet. I am SOOO jealous. :) I hope that everything is going well with you little sis! I am so proud of you that you made honor choir, it shows that you are recognized for your talent. I mean come on, with us Carbine's. :) Have a great week at school little sis!

I sang a solo in sacrament meeting yesterday. I was more than just a little nervous. I sang I'm trying to be like Jesus in English. We had a little program with all of the missionaries kinda like a primary program, and it was a really beautiful spirit. We called it Domingo Misional. I hope you guys all have a fantastic week! I love you all.

-Nick

Hey Guys!

Yesterday and the day before were miracle days in the mission. The other day we had a interview set up for Jose Luis, but when we got to his house he wasn't there. We tried to call him all day, and he didn't answer his phone. We thought for a while that he just didn't want to be baptized anymore, but we still had faith. He called us at like 6:00 that night and told us that everything was great, and he felt really good for his baptism yesterday. And yes, that picture was from yesterday. :) My bishop showed me the picture on facebook, and Jose Luis told me that you guys commented on it, and that it was in English. Haha It was a very good day for him. And that same night that we had the interview set up with Jose Luis, we got a call from the Hermanas in my district, and they said that his Grandma decided that she wanted to be baptized as well. Elder Lumbreras had an interview with her, and she was baptized as well. That same night we got a call at 11:00 at night saying that Jose Luis' aunt wanted to be baptized as well. We had an interview with her Sunday morning, and she was baptized like 2 hours later. It really was a miracle day for this family. I really am happy for them.

Dad, I thought about that as well about my accident. It seems crazy how fast I recovered and was back in school and work. I really do feel that it was Heavenly Fathers way of helping us to become closer through this trial of my accident, and also through your cancer. I really am happy with how close our family has gotten over time, and how much I have grown and the family has grown in faith. My home sickness is still there, always, but it seems to get easier as more time goes on. It was just hard seeing everyone together and just wanting to be there with all of you watching A Christmas Story, and just hanging out as a family. And it is just hard being a whole country away from all of you guys. But I really am starting to feel it subside. I had my second interview with President Cordova, and I think he was pretty happy with me. He told me that for 2 months in the mission I speak Spanish very well, and that in 4 months it will be perfect. Elder Lumbreras told me after his interview that President said I will be a trainer in a few weeks. I am honestly kinda scared, because if is a gringo I have to teach them Spanish, and if it is a Mexican, I don't have to worry too much. I like that you went to Thai food. I really do miss Thai food, it is my favorite. But I have had a lot of really good food here as well, and I can't wait to come back and introduce you to some of the food, and all of the people I have come in contact with as well. Speaking of food, my bishop took the missionaries in my district to an all you can eat buffet for lunch, and man that was some really good food. My bishop really is a cool guy. I get to eat with him again for lunch tomorrow! Haha  I love you!

Mom, This week has been pretty great in the mission, as I expressed in the first paragraph. It really was a miracle week, and it just makes me more excited to work even harder in missionary work. Jose Luis is the person in the picture with me and Elder Lumbreras, and he was very happy. He is my age as well, and I really do think that we will be good friends for life. The weather has been pretty cold and rainy lately, like always. Just kidding, It really is kinda like Utah weather here. One day it will be freezing, then it will be hot. Freaking Bi-polar weather. It is crazy that this is the start of my fourth month in the mission, and that I will be a trainer, AHHH. I know I can do it, I just know that it will be very hard work to help make my companionship an effective one in the Lords hands. You will do great in school mom, I know it. Don't worry too much, go with the flow, and do homework.(hah Homework) But that will be me most likely after my mission as well, but I don't know what will happen then. I still have 21 months left in the mission. The food is great for the most part. Some food is better than others, but I still really like all of the food here. Like I said last week, It is pretty much impossible to starve here, because the people feed us so freaking much food. And I am losing weight, partly because we haven't had a lot of money throughout the past couple weeks so we were trying to conserve as much as we can so that we can have more money throughout the week. We only use taxis and buses if it is absolutely necessary, because my area is huge. I cant believe that you and dad are celebrating 23 years of marriage. That's crazy how fast time flies. It gives me hope that time will go fast here as well. Not because I want the mission to end, but because it means I am closer to getting to see all of you again. And time really does feel like it is flying by faster now. It makes me happy and sad at the same time, because the mission really is great.

Kenzie, I really hope that time continues to fly by, I really do miss you a lot. I am so glad that we had the chance to get even closer before I left for the mission. It really was nice to have someone to hang out with whenever I was bored and had nothing to do. :) I really do think of you as my best friend, and we will be best friends for life. I really can't wait until we get to hang out again just like before the mission, and have a good old-time Halo party with you and Justin. :) The person who posted the picture in facebook is my investigator Jose Luis. My bishop showed me today that it was posted on facebook. I am glad that it made you happy to see that in your news feed. I really hope that this job will help you and Justin to get a house sometime in the near future. It will be nice for you guys to get out of your little apartment. I had to take the opportunity to say something about Alex and Nicole. It was just the perfect opportunity. Haha I miss you like crazy sista, and I hope that you have a fantastic week.

Alex, So...you and Nicole. You guys like steady dating now? Just gotta ask because i'm in Mexico and can't tease you like the family does. Haha I hope that your work is still going well. I really hope that this job continues to be a good one for you. I hope that you have a great week, and I miss you bro.

Syd, How is school going sista? I hope that you are doing well in school, and that you are staying happy. Remember to always say your prayers, morning and night, and also whenever you feel the need to throughout the day. You really can pray anywhere and at any time. I have prayed standing in the middle of the street before, really you can anywhere. Haha And remember to read your scriptures. It really will be a blessing in your life. I miss you sis, and hope that things continue to go well.

Justin, I am so happy to hear that you got the job! That sucks about the hours though. Hopefully with more time in the job, you can get better hours, or request better hours. I hope that things continue to go well with you, and that this job turns out to be a great one for you. I miss you bro, and hope that you have a great week.

I hope that all of you have a great week, and stay happy. I really do pray for your happiness every day. I hope that time continues to fly by so that I can see you all again. I love you all!

-Nick

Nick and Jose

Buffet with the Bishop, Elder Lumbreras, and the Hermanas.