Week 26 - Stealing from the Testigos

Elder Roth and Elder Martinez at the Cañon de Sumidero

Hola amigos míos,

This week was pretty sweet.  There were a couple of transfers this week, but I'm staying here in Reforma with Elder Martinez.  Unfortunately my friend Elder Northrup is leaving, and my other friend Elder Rawlins finishes his mission today.  I'm gonna be a lonely little gringo in our district meetings haha.  Thanks for the updates and whatnot :).  Big news this week.  We snatched a baptism away from the Jehovah's Witnesses! haha.  (btw, you would not believe how many JW´s there are here - its ridiculous!)  Anyway, the girl was just about to get baptized a JW, when we came, taught her true doctrine, she felt the Spirit, and got baptized in the true church.  We are hoping to baptize her sister this week :) good stuff!  Also, you may be surprised to hear that I saw a guy wearing an Ocean Palms Elementary shirt this week.  Unfortunately I couldn't contact him because I was in the combi and he was in the street, but it was pretty cool anyway.

Welp, I´ll get to answering your emails:

Liahona, November 2012, p. 89

Mikele - First of all I´m about 95.7% sure that your picture is in page 89 of the November edition of the Liahona in Spanish.  

 Anyway, thanks for the update on the fam - I sure love them all.  I remember those long days waiting for the mission to start - it was torture.  But enjoy them! haha.  I had certainly not made all of those connections from the story of the brother of Jared.  You are a super scripture scholar! haha.  I'm glad to hear that seeing BMW's makes you smile haha! You are such a goof.  I love you!  Send me your MTC address so I can send you a letter while you're there!

Mom - I´m so jealous of your cold weather!  I don´t have any great insights for your lesson, but I think what you've got sounds great!  Umm, I can't say I plan on moving back after the school year. I'm happy wherever!  I love you Mom! thanks for your prayers and support and everything!

Dad - hahaha you and Roy have already destroyed everything I wanted to destroy!  ha. You crack me up.  Pretty cool that Randy was within 100 miles of TXG.  You hardly ever see planes flying overhead here, its a pretty dead zone.

1.  What are you doing for exercise, staying healthy and such? 

- ha depends. This week I was sick so I didn't work out too hard. (in fact I stayed in my bed under the covers and did about a million crunches because I didn't want to get up, but wanted to be obedient).  On normal days I do a bunch of pushups, pullups, and stuff like that.  I also fill up a 5 gallon bucket with some water and use it as a dumbbell - yes its pretty ghetto, but it works...kinda.  I´m also doing my best to avoid chicharrón and other stuff that surely causes early death.

2.  In the US, we have those things called Media Referrals, where folks see Church stuff on the TV and can call in to receive a video or book. Do you have that down there in the United Mexican States?

-In theory we have them, but I have never gotten one.  I´m trying to keep the hope though :)

No Tirar Basura - No Littering

3.  In that picture of you and your companion standing on a roadway, with the countryside behind you, there was a lot of trash on the side of the road. Behind you there was a sign that said something like no littering. Was that intentional? (If so, you can thank Mom for figuring that out.  She is amazing)

- haha I hadn't noticed the sign!  That's really funny.  All the streets here are covered in trash.  I don´t understand why they don't take care of their stuff here, but they just don't. 

 4.  Do you pray in English or Spanish?

- Spanish. The other day I tried to pray in English and words kept coming out in Spanish.  From the second day in the MTC until now, I have been praying in Spanish.

5.  Do you dream in English or Spanish?

 - about half and half - sometimes a mixture of the two. Also every once in a while I´ll be talking to someone in Spanish and I'll say something in English  For example I asked an investigator, ´´Usted, remember (with rolled r haha) cómo oramos nosotros?´´ ...he still makes fun of me for it haha.

Tell Bishop Maughan hi for me and thanks for the email!

I love you all. have a super great week!

Looking into the sun at the Cañon de Sumidero last week

Adios,

Elder Roth :)

Week 25 - Another Smashing Week!

What´s up!?

Things are rocking on as always here in the TX gizzle.  This week was pretty awesome - we encountered 3 different families, and all of them seem pretty solid.  I´m really excited to work with them. You´re receiving this email later than normal because today we had a multi-zone activity. We went to the Cañon de Sumidero.  Pictures will be coming next week.  Its one of the big tourist spots in Chiapas, and its in my proselyting area!  Its was pretty wicked.  I also got to go on divisions with Elder Northrup (pretty much my bestie haha) which was way fun.  Also I had my first plate of chicharrón this week.  What is that you ask.  In a word, terrible...in two words, pig skin.  You just fry it up and throw it in a taco.  Certainly not one of my favorite meals here.  I feel like I´m sounding really whiny today.  Sorry bout that.  In all honesty I´m thrilled to be here and loving every minute of the mission.

Welp, I suppose I´ll get to responding to your emails.

Mikele - sounds like our missions are fairly similar in terms of living conditions.  Embrace the terribleness! haha.  I truly cannot explain in words the disdain I have for stray dogs.  (Did I tell you I saw one get hit by a combi? - it was a bit gruesome.)  I´m impressed that you are picking up the Spanish so fast - good job! ...I love you!  P.S. glad to hear I´ve survived two marriage proposals. :) 

Dad -  My favorite sacrament talk opening is still the good ole fashioned J Golden Kimball, ¨Brothers and Sisters, God only knows what I am going to say today.¨ ha makes me chuckle every time.  I´m totally crushed to herar that the old lawn mower is no more.  I was hoping it would get passed down to me haha. 

1. What type of electronic aids do you have?  Apparently, some elders in the US are experimenting with iPads. Supposedly, they can be used for the Area book. I am guessing your mission will not be passing them out anytime soon.

 - We have a cell phone with a pay as you go plan. thats pretty much it. I´m glad we don´t have an iPad or anything like that.

2. How many Sacrament talks have you had the opportunity to give thus far?

 - 0. The ward I am in now is relatively strong. I give the lesson in gospel principles every other week but other than that I don´t play to big of a role in our church meetings. That is very different for the missionaries who are assigned to little pueblos.

3. Compare and contrast a typical Fast and Testimony Sacrament meeting in TGZ vs. USA.

 - Pretty similar. They both go over time. They both have some very awkward moments that make you glad you aren´t presiding. We have some amazing members in our ward that were pioneers in the church here in Mexico. Its always a joy to listen to their testimonies.

4. Is there much in the way of sight seeing opportunities on P-Day?  Or will that not happen until you get out of the city?

 - Other than the Cañon de Sumidero there isn´t too much to see in Tuxtla. We might go the zoo one of these days with our bishop though. :)

Roy and Andee - I´m so jealous of the snow you have this year!!  Thanks for your emails and for being awesome.  Andee, your Arizona state comment was hilarious haha.  It´s great to hear that you marched a two guys off the court - lets be honest that's more fun than winning.  haha.  Keep on rockin!

Mom - Tú eres trabajador!  I can´t believe that you find a way to get all your work done.  I hadn´t realized that you would be in Utah so long, have fun! Haha that story about dad and the brakes cracked me up.  It reminds me of Roy telling dad about how the gas pedal clicks when you put it to the floor hahaha. What a delk!  I love you!

I love you all a ton!  I wouldn´t mind it if in the next package you sent me some aloe vera, I don´t think they sell it here.  The sun is seriously so powerful - 5 minutes in it and you´re burnt.  But no hurry.  Thanks for the support and laughs.  I hope you all have a fantastic week.

Hasta luego,

Elder Güerito aka Roth.

:)

Week 24 - Happy Black History Month!!

¿Cómo estáis?

 

Throwing some old fashioned Spanish at you, vosotros style.  Welp, things are going pretty good here. We had an interview with the president this week, which was pretty good.  Unfortunately he didn't ask me what my favorite movies were, so unlike Roy (who told his Mission President his favorite movies were "The Sting" and "Smokey and the Bandit") I didn't get the opportunity to show my disdain for authority and law in front of my authoritative lawgiver....next time haha.  Its also good to hear about your lives back in the land of the free.  I have so many fond memories of my pre-mission life.  I have certainly lived a charmed life.  That said, I am totally thrilled to be here in Mexico and love every week more than the last.

 

I can´t believe the 49ers made it to the Superbowl.  Yesterday I walked past a house that was watching the game (well, I suppose it was the people in the house, not the house itself, but you know what I mean).  If I hadn't seen that I wouldn't have known it was Superbowl Sunday. (A shout out to Mikele who knows why Superbowl Sunday is especially significant to me :))

 

 I certainly hope you don't catch leprosy from the armadillos, but if you do just read Leviticus and you're set. PS. the Old Testament might be the funniest thing ever written. The euphemisms are classic, and the people are so ridiculous.  I'm loving it haha.

 

Welp, I'll go ahead and answer dad's set of questions for the week:

 

1.  Have you had any good Burritos while in Mexico?

-Believe it or not I have not had a single burrito here.  Pure tacos.  However you'll be pleased to know that your pronunciation of tortilla is spot on.  Also there is a verb here that means to make tacos - taquear. Awesome!

2.  What do the locals do for entertainment?  Watch Soccer?  something else?

- They certainly do watch a lot of soccer and other stuff on TV for that matter.  One of the funnier things about the culture here is that even in the houses without running water and stuff they always have a TV, often a pretty sweet flat-screen.  Anyway, they also play a lot of soccer for fun.  Other than that they don´t really do anything...

3.  Does being an American make it easier to get people to talk to you?

- Yes and no. It certainly attracts all of the drunks (and there are a ton of drunks).  They all try to talk to me in English and I just pretend to understand and keep walking.  haha.  Other than that it doesn't really make a difference.  Although I must say I appreciate the effort they made to understand me back when my Spanish was terrible.  That was nice of them.

4.  How much interaction do you have with Missionaries other than your Companion?

- Not a ton.  We have a district meeting once a week so I get to see the other Elders in my stake for about 2 hours. Other than that, we run into the elders from Las  Águilas sometimes (they share our chapel).  I also go on exchanges about once every transfer cycle.  But I'm really good friends with Elder Northrup from my district, and I got to go on exchanges with him the other week.  It was probably my favorite day of the mission so far. haha. 

5.  Is there any interesting wild life or animals that you see?  Maybe not in the city?

-No, just nasty dogs and annoying cats.  I truly have developed a strong hatred for dogs here haha. They are the worst!

 

``I did something Friday that would make you chuckle.  Mom and I were driving back from Mandarin building. We were in separate cars because I was coming from work. From Phillips Highway I started pacing her. She was in the M5 and I was in the X5. So I drove next to her all the way to the bottom of the Palm Valley bridge where I had to move over. When I got home she was so mad at me she could barely talk. I thought you would appreciate that.´´ 

-hahahahahaha so funny.

 

Roy that sounds like a pretty sweet deal. I hope you're enjoying your classes and wrecking them as always.  Rock on!

 

Mom - That class sounds like its going to rock.  And by the way thanks for all the seminary and institute classes you have taught me.  I have a ton of fond memories from those days and know that they made me a better missionary.  All my stuff is holding up pretty well (although my backpack smells so bad from all my back sweat. (you know - my nickname in high school  was back sweat).  I'll probably wash it today.  My Eccos are the best, pretty much like new, I think they'll go the distance.  I really don't need anything.

 

In my individual study I study the Book of Mormon 20 minutes, (right now I am in Helemán 11), the missionary lessons for 20 minutes, and other stuff in Preach My Gospel for 20 minutes.   I also read a ton whenever I have time, like if I am ready before 8, before I go to bed, on p-day, and Sunday morning when we have our time to workout. I've finished Our Search for Happiness, and Our Heritage.  I've also read a good portion of the conference edition of the Liahona, up to Joshua in the Old Testament in English, up to John in the New Testament in Spanish, and some other good stuff.  I seriously love reading the scriptures so much! (though to be honest I miss the days of listening to BYU devotionals - oh well, I'll have them back sooner than I want).

 

Well, I love you all a ton!  Have a great week!

 

Your favorite,

 

Clark

 

PS. I have the worst missionary tan ever!  I might send you a picture next week haha.

 

Week 23 - Rippin and Shreddin

Hi there,

 

Welp, we´ve had another good week.  You´ll be pleased to know that the owner of the internet place is rocking out to some Bon Jovi ballads as I write this...haha these people crack me up.  I´m thrilled to hear about all the good tidings back in Amurica. 

Good job mom!  Dad said you totally slayed it (I imagine in the Randy Jackson voice from American idol...I always love it when dad gets in touch with his darker side haha.) 

Roy - you´ve exceeded even my expectations, I´m glad to hear the netbook is no more.  Now you can use it to play duck, duck, brick, or ring around the brick...ask Wills if you need any more information about games played with bricks. 

Dad - I´m so glad to hear that cursed tree is no more, hopefully the yard trash guys come soon so we don´t get charged with stacking lumber again in the neighborhood - we can´t afford any more of these grievous violations. 

Mikele - Finally! I´m sure happy you enjoyed the letters. I sent you another one last week, but I have my doubts as to whether it will get there before you flee...I mean leave SLC.

 

Dad´s questions for me this week were :

 1.  Have you had opportunity to sing?  Either in a choir or otherwise.

-I´ve sung a little bit.  When I was with Elder Reyes we sang in some of our lessons when children wouldn´t behave or it was otherwise difficult to teach.  Now with Elder Martinez we don´t sing much because he is literally the most tone deaf person I have ever seen.  And mercifully we haven´t had any choir performances...I really wish you could understand the suffering that is music in the church in Mexico.

2.  How much time do you spend tracting?  What is your door approach?

- Almost none.  We aren´t allowed to knock doors, and street contacting isn´t super successful (not to mention it is really hot outside).  For the most part we just talk to people on our way to lessons, or on the combi.  I try to change up the approach, but I almost always talk about the family and relate it to the restoration.

Elder Roth and Elder Martinez in Chiapa de Corso

3. What have you been doing for haircuts?

 -there is a little salon down the street from me that charges 35 pesos.  But my comp just bought a trimmer so I am going to (foolishly) put my confidence in him later today.

Well for a little update on the work:

We have an investigator named Maria (everyone here is named Maria). I think she is about 22 and apparently she had some problems with drugs before. She was a reference from a member of our ward. Our first lesson we taught the gospel of Jesus Christ (normally the 3rd lesson; consists of: through Christ we can be free from sin, faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end). We taught her with the sister who had given us the reference and has been her friend since she was 10.  She told us after the lesson that she had never seen her friend smile like that, she had never seen her so happy.  The word was delicious to her like it says in Alma 32:28,

 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. 

Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart,

 behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief,

 that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; 

and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—

It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good,

for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea,

 it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea,

 it beginneth to be delicious to me.

and the word of God had healed her wounded soul like Jacob 2:8

 And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the pleasing word of God, yea,

 the word which healeth the wounded soul.

We invited her to be baptized and she said with a smile, ´´of course.´´

An Awkward Picture with Patsy

Roberto

Luis

Oh and to answer Mikele´s question from last week: I kick it to a pink iPod mini, the very same one that Roy used on his mission, and if memory serves correct Wilford Woodruff also used it during his mission.  (in case that joke isn´t funny at all, i´m trying to say its really old.)

 

Well I love you all.  Thanks for the emails and prayers.  You rock my proverbial socks.

 

Con amor,

 

Elder Clark Roth

Looking back - Clark's best friend in the MTC -
Elder Murphey

An MTC original -
Elder Roth with the first Missionary
to serve from Nepal

Week 22 - What's Crackalackin!?

Hi,

 

Well another week has passed very rapidly here in Tuxtla.  You are indeed correct about the cold front we got here.  It was pretty hilarious, everybody was walking around in gloves and down jackets (I have no idea how they can afford those, but its true).  Unfortunately its starting to heat up again, but its all good, I´ll just be refined in the furnace of my affliction haha.  Well, I hate to break it to you but we broke the streak of 4 straight weeks baptizing.  Can I just mention how much I hate vacations...they are the enemy of missionary work ha.  But its all good, we should have 2 baptisms this week.

 

Today has been pretty good, you may notice that this email is coming in a bit late.  That's because I went to the mission house this afternoon to pick up two packages, one from Mikele and one from Amanda!!!!  We also went out to eat at Dominoes, which was awesome despite the lack of tortillas haha.  Its always a pleasure to read your emails, they´re always good for a smile.

 

Welp, I suppose I´ll respond to your emails because that's about all I´ve got ha.

 

Mamá - I love that quote from Neal A Maxwell (lets be honest I love every quote from him).

"We cannot have the results of the experiment with out performing the experiment.  

Some of us "give" only postage stamp "place" in our lives, 

and yet we expect the yield of an acre! 

"Place" means time, thought, and service.

In the process of building faith, wrote Alma, we must "experiment on the word" of the Master,

 giving "place" sufficient to experiment upon each essential "thing" the gospel requires of us.  

Out of such cumulative experience, comes the cumulative evidence."

 Its pretty much my goal in life to talk really good like him does (looks like there´s work to be done).  The food here...the food here is so good, I love it!  Although to be honest my obsession for tortillas is dying a bit :)  To be honest the food really isn´t that different from the food in the USA, just less varied.  Lots and lots of chicken, beans, tortillas, etc.  The thing I have grown to love the most is Mole.  The mole eaten in the USA is pueblan mole, here its different . I can´t really describe the taste, its just a bunch of pulverized chilies, but its not really hot.  I´ve only had two things that made me hope the second coming would arrive before I had to take the next bite (or drink as the case may be).  One is Pozol - if you want to try it just take equal parts dirt, cocoa powder and water and throw them in a blender, and the other was fried bananas with some nasty salty cheese - I won´t even describe that one. haha

 

Papá - Thanks for the updates.  Oh and I was going to ask who won the national championship of NCAA football.  Anyway, 
1.  Describe your daily diet - Breakfast - varies a bit. Could be oatmeal with pineapple bits, eggs and rice, straight up rice, very rarely corn flakes, stuff like that.  Lunch - We eat lunch with the members.  They almost always give us some form of chicken.  Beyond that its tough to say.  We eat very few vegetables though.  Dinner - we don´t really have dinner.  Usually I eat a banana or a mandarin orange, or if i´m feeling frisky (obviously I mean that in a mission appropriate way haha)  I´ll make rice when I get home.   
2.  Describe your study of Preach My Gospel - I study PMG a ton, it tells you everything you need to know to be a good missionary.  I spend 20 minutes a day studying ch. 3 (the lessons) and preparing for the investigators.  I´ll think about how to apply points to their needs, etc.  And another 20 minutes study an assigned topic from the mission - stuff like how to begin teaching, extending commitments, etc.  I also read it out loud to work on my pronunciation during language study. 
3.  Describe your companion - hahaha. Well, to be honest I really like my comp, though he doesn´t always work extremely hard.  He has improved a ton and taught me a bunch.  He is from Colombia and speaks Spanish really weird (people here always say ´´mande´´ when he talks, which is like I beg your pardon.) I´ve learned to understand him pretty good though.  He laughs a bunch, which I like.  And he always tries to talk to me while he´s laughing and its impossible to understand haha.  He´s about 5´4´´ on a good day and he's a pretty good guy. :)
4.  Describe  ride on a collectivo - The challenge of a lifetime...umm.   Imagine being in a tent with a bunch of very sweaty strangers on the hottest day in human history.  Then you pay your 6 pesos and the tent proceeds to roll down the side of a never ending mountain... that's pretty much how it is with regards to comfort, personal space and heat .haha. I always have to smile when I´m in one because its just the kind of miserable mission memory that I know I´ll treasure forever. :)

 

Roy - You are a delk.  haha.  I´m crushed to hear that abstract algebra is a drag but equally glad to hear that you love C++. Feel free to destroy the innards of the netbook, just wait for me so we can throw it off the JFSB together haha.

 

Mikele - Tú eres campeona!!!  Don´t worry about a thing, it will all be alright. I honestly think you will be the best missionary Chile has ever seen (even better than Mike haha).  I´m almost out of time but just know that I love you and believe in you.  PS. be sure to tell Satan so hard <3 haha. Love ya, bye.

 

Well, no pictures again this week.  So sorry.  They´ll be coming eventually.

 

Love you all so much! ¡que les vaya muy bien!

 

Clark

Week 21 - 'Sup?

Things are rocking on as always here in the TX Gizzle.  This week we baptized a 15 year old girl named Patsy.  It was pretty sweet.  She had been taught by the missionaries for a long time, in fact I met here the second day I was here, and she had already been taught pretty much everything.  (I have now baptized a person I met my first day and a person I met my second day) :) Her brother Jacob was baptized when he was 8 but has been inactive pretty  much his whole life.  He was reactivated a couple months ago, and when he came home for Christmas break (he goes to college in D.F.) he helped Patsy a ton.  He´s a great guy.  He had to go back to school on Thursday (which we found out Wednesday night), so we did the interview and the baptism just a few hours before he had to leave.  Good stuff.

 

Dad - I´ll do my best to paint you a good picture.  I´m sitting at a little wood desk that my legs don´t fit under, sweating like crazy.  The rooms is about 10´x 5´ and there are four of these little desks with computers.  The owner is playing some INXS (don´t speak).  My companion is sitting next to me and next to him is some dude doing who knows what haha.  It smells like a very sweaty garment that has had some febreze sprayed on it.  And just for a bit of extra money the lady that runs the place also sells figurines of the virgin Mary...classic Mexico. 

 

I would have to say I have less human leader guidance than I expected. The zone leaders are great, I love them!

 

Since I´m in Tuxtla I hardly travel at all.  The farthest I have gone is Chiapa de Corso which is about a 30 minute ride in a little bus.  All the other meetings I have are in Las Palmas which is about 20 of the best minutes of you life in a combi. The only other place I have been is Chapultapec, where the temple is, about 20 minutes in a taxi.  For example though, my first companion was transferred to Tapachula, which is about a 7 hour bus ride from here, and we also have the southern part of Oaxaca in our mission which is several hours away.

 

The law of tithing has not presented the slightest problem for us thus far. Everyone seems willing to live it.  We make sure to explain the blessings very well though.

 

Most of the locals have finished la prepa, or high school.  There are some poorer people that are fairly uneducated because they had to work or something like that.  And a fairly large percent of the older population can´t read.

 

Farewell Otto, sad day.  He was a good car... :)  

 

Mom -  I´m a big fan of Philemon as well, though I might die if I had to give a 40 minute lesson on that one page.  During my p days I have been reading through the Old Testament and remembering the good ole days of freshman year seminary.  I don´t remember how much time we spent in Leviticus but it couldn´t have been much, its pretty strange.  The good news though is that I know which animals to kill and dip in blood and rub of the corner of my ear in case I get leprosy... good to know.  haha.  Glad to hear that Tom is rippin it up and that Jason has finished strong.  Can you get me an update on Steven? thanks! :)  I love you!

 

AD - Í´m so jealous of your weather.  It is sooo hot here.  I had no idea how powerful the sun is here.  If you aren´t standing in the shade you are only 3 minutes removed from certain death...well maybe not, but its hotter than Zimbabwe!  Haha that reminds me of the game we played in Toquerville - guess who just burned the ___ out of their tongue haha.  It´s always good to hear a T-Bird quote, keep ém coming haha.  Enjoy school and remember..´´KILL!´´

 

Sorry for no pictures again this week.  I don´t have a cable to hook up my camera, but I´ll buy one today i guess.  I´ll want you to see my investigators and everything.  But don´t worry...coming soon.

 

Per dad´s request here is a little Bio of one of my investgators:

 

José - José is 18 years old (I forgot how to say that in english for a minute). He is friends with Luis who was baptized two weeks ago.  He wears skin tight taper jeans and plays electric guitar in a band.  He´s probably not a person you would expect to be ready for the gospel...but he is.  He works all week so we can only teach him on the weekends, which is a bit of a bummer but he is always willing to give the time that he can to listen to us.  He keeps all the commitments, but is full of questions and little doubts.  We usually explain the answer, which doesn´t help too much, and then explain that it will all clear up in the future, all he needs right now is a testimony of the restoration.  He is totally awesome.

 

Well that's all I´ve got time for.  I love you all a ton.  Thanks for writing me,

 

Hasta Lunes,

 

Clark

Week 20 - Its a Party in the EUM

Hi,

 

Life is wonderful.  We got our transfer calls this morning and Elder Martínez and I will be staying here in Reforma at least another 9 weeks (we have an extra 3 weeks this transfer, don´t know why...).  I´m pretty excited to stay here, things are going so well.  Luis got baptized this week, which totally rocked.  We also set a few more bautismal (his Spanish is showing!) dates with some super awesome investigators, so I got that going for me, which is nice (in the Bill Murray voice).  haha.  It was a wonderful surprise to open my email and have 10 unread messages!  You all rock!

 

Sorry I haven´t sent any pictures lately, I´ll try to step it up.  So here´s my little answers section.

 

Mom - glad to hear you got a good cry in, (I told him I saw Les Miserables) to quote one of my MTC friends, ´´I cry every half hour on the hour.´´ haha.  Good times.  I´m also thrilled to hear that you are reminded of me when you listen to Call Me Maybe haha. Things in good ole mejico are pretty much perfect, I couldn´t ask for more. I love you!

 

Dad - The oatmeal drink is called Atole.  The key is equal parts milk and sugar haha.  Sorry to hear about the oyster situation, that is truly a tragedy.  I still eat a ton of bananas but not so many mandarin oranges.  I´ve kinda realized that the fruit here isn´t very good, but its really cheap so I can´t complain.  I have a card from the mission and go to a machine across the street from my house (to access money).  Everything is cash here, in fact my first companion had never seen a check before I showed him one.  It has only rained once while I´ve been here, but I still get soaked daily in my own sweat (...better than someone else's sweat I suppose).  About half of the roads are paved and half aren´t but there is really no difference, they are all garbage haha.  I´m pretty clueless about what goes on outside the mission (and inside it for that matter).  I know Obama won reelection and there was a shooting in some elementary school, that's about it.  On P-days we clean the house, write our emails, buy food, do errands, wash laundry (which takes forever), and then with my extra time I read the scriptures.

 

Roy - That is the dopest schedule of all time haha. Drop some volleyball in there and you´re set :)  I´m super jealous of your winter, though I must say this week has been relatively cool.  Keep on rockin´and tell Andee hi for me!

 

Mikele - Your letter made me laugh so much haha, we have some good quotes between us haha, and by that I mean we are completely ridiculous.  I gotta say that 7.8% understanding of the Spanish ward is pretty good for the first time, I was probably hovering at about 3.6% my first Sunday here.  I had to eat a ton of mints during my first few weeks to stay awake in sacrament haha.  I have not gotten your package, and from the looks of it you have not gotten my letters...don´t worry they´re coming.  Or they are being read by some sketchy Mexican ..who knows.  Your scriptural insights are fantastic!  You are going to be such a good missionary!!!!  I´m so excited. I love you!

 

Carly - Wow, I can´t believe anyone reads my blog haha. You totally rock!

 

Lauren - haha you crack me up. I´m glad to hear your loving Spanish class, I certainly did not haha.  Keep on rockin!

 

Jace - Thanks for writing me, I´ll sure try to fulfill your request haha.  I´m in an area called Reforma, Tuxtla Gutierrez Mexico.

 

Aly - Ahh I hope you go to BYU!  Its the best!  Your email cracked me up, you are so funny.  Love you too!

 

So that's all the time I´ve got. Sorry for not sending pictures, next week for sure!  I love you all!

 

Your favorite missionary,

 

Elder Roth