Week 78 - 2005

Hey family,

My address is 6 poniente y 6 Sur...I think. Honestly, no one in this state knows their address, and the streets aren´t marked. Some houses have numbers but most don´t - if they do have them they aren´t sequential. But anyway, it's a green house by a basketball court.

So I´ve got some news today. 

First: transfers. My compy and I are staying!!! yes! Best companionship ever. We are just tearing it up here and loving every minute of it.

Second: Release day. Well hopefully you will take this as happy news. My mission president talked with the mission department and they asked him to stop extending our missions. So... I´ll be going home on August 5th. I´m a bit disappointed, but mostly happy. It will be good to get back to school and such. 

Third: If you´ve noticed the title of the email is 2005. Why?, you ask. I will tell you. Yesterday morning I was reading a conference talk from President Monson given in 2006 called How Firm a Foundation (if you haven´t picked up on this yet, I am addicted to conference editions of the Ensign. I have one from 1981, one from 1992, 2001, 2003, and two for every year since 2006 :)) Anyway, he mentioned President Hinckley´s 2005 challenge to all the members of the church to read the Book of Mormon before years end. Then I realized that I accepted that challenge! On December 31, 2005 I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time. I prayed and asked God if it was true, and I got my response. That day has affected everyday of my life since then. 2005 was the year I gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon, of the Prophet Joseph Smith (that was the year we did the musical as well), and of the church. I have been so blessed for following the prophet. 7 years later the prophet sent me a mission call - the blessings have been beyond my imagination. Follow the prophet, he knows the way. I am grateful for living prophets. 

Mom - Haha I would kill a man for some legit Lumber City BBQ. I´ve had enough tortillas - they´ve lost their allure. Dad said you slayed your talk (I imagine thim saying it in this Randy Jackson voice.) It's definitely important to be patient with yourself and others. Discipleship is indeed difficult. Sorry for the short email. I´m short on time today.

Dad - How´s PVB? I miss mowing the lawn and eating cheeseburgers. ha. Any exciting news from the Olympics? Hoping the curling team is doing well :) 

How cool is that?  A Unisource bucket!

1.  What is one thing you like about transfers?

      Leaving Tapachula haha. jk. umm, It's always an exciting time. You get to know new missionaries and meet up with old friends. 

My Generation from the MTC

2.  Describe the smells where you are right now.

     Right now there is nothing too notable. You smell a good amount of burning plastic as you walk down the streets though, and exhaust too.

3.  What is your address?

       (See above)

4.  Did you  know that G&G Powell got a Vette?  It is always good to have a new Vette in the family.

     No, thats awesome. Send me some pictures!

5.  Tell us a true story about something good that happened yesterday.

    haha, true stories aren´t nearly as exciting. Just kidding yestday was fantastic. We had 3 confirmations in sacrament meeting. (In the baptismal service my comp and I sang Come Thou Fount. It was awesome!) Other than that things were pretty normal. I talked to some drunk guys on the street, taught some lessons, walked and walked and walked and walked, etc. 

Ceci and Daniela

Darwin

6.  Now that it is the middle of winter, what is the cold season like in your area?

     It's starting to get hot again. In January it would get down to about 45 at night. I was loving it. But things have returned to usual. I´m sweating right now...

7.  What aspect of the Mexican Culture do you appreciate?

      They are truly friendly people. With a few exceptions people respect us and listen to us - even if they aren´t interested. They will give you all the food you can eat, even if that means that they don´t eat. They are good people.

My Favorite Possession

8.  I think I asked this before, but it has been a while ago, and maybe you have additional perspectives:  Was Karl Pilkington correct when he observed that the people in Mexico just do whatever they want to do?  Remember, that was one of the things he liked about Mexico.

     That is so true. Wanna eat pure sugar - do it. Wanna burn a tire in the street - go for it. wanna take a nap on the sidewalk - you got it. haha. 

9.  Tell us what happened at the last Missionary Meeting you attended (defined as more than 3 missionaries in one place)? 

    We had 2 this week. One with the mission pres, and a zone conference. We talked about obedience, goals, and 3rd Nephi 12:48 - Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect. President wants us to stop making excuses and start living up to the Lord's expectations. It was really good.

10.  What did you learn this week?

     So much. The most impressive thing was what I explained earlier about following the prophets. Just do it. 

Thanks for you emails I love you. 

Elder Roth

Week 77 - Your Face es Como un Burro.

Family,

Thanks for your letters. Life is good. Really good. I get to wake up at 5 every morning and make breakfast. It's the best! I get to go to bed by myself everyday of my life. Its fantastic! I love it! haha. Name that movie. :)

This week was really good. We´ve just been going nuts and talking to everyone and inviting everyone to be baptized haha. Our goal for baptismal invites this week is 40. :) I seem to recall that in The Best 2 Years Elder Calhoun did 99 in a week. I want to beat him haha.

Every week I have tons of cool experiences and funny stuff happens but for some reason I seem to forget about them all on Monday morning. Sorry about that. 

Dad - Hopefully Bode can get something. He needs to redeem himself from his slalom run in 2010. Wow, working everyday of the year is pretty intense. I hope you can break that streak this week, and back to the good ole 904. I´m writing you a letter about the decision, so you may or may not get it before I get home ha. 

1.  Are transfers next week already?
     - Yes, I can´t believe it. I´ve been telling my companion that I´ll be going back to Tapachula jokingly. I hope I´m wrong...haha

2.  Have you seen any Destroyed in Seconds type of things, like with the propane tanks being refilled in a residential area.  It seemed like the show got a lot of material from places like where you are. Floods maybe?
    - haha. I haven´t seen anything too devastating. I´ve seen a lot of car wrecks. This Sunday was the most recent, the most notable was a combi that got in two wrecks within 45 seconds haha.  

3.  Tell us what you hear around you right now.
     - Some Mexican love tunes, some people arguing, ´´Sunday Will Come´´ by Elder Wirthlin, mototaxis, street vendors, etc.

4.  What do you do while your laundry is washing?  I think it is not in a bucket, but by a machine where you live?
     - The same thing I would do if I was at home - I eat. Don´t think that my washing machine matches up to the one we have at home. You have to fill it up with buckets of water and you have to squeeze the water out by hand. The cord lets out sparks, and plugging it in is a moment of tremendous fear every time. But even so it's one of the greatest blessings ever. It saves so much time. 

5.  Have you recovered from you stomach problems of last week?  I hope so.
     - Yeah, on Saturday I started to feel better. I´m feeling 100% now. No worries. 

6.  How large, geographically, is your area?  Have you been to all parts yet?
    -It's really big. From Berriozábal to Cintalapa and out to Villaflores. I´ve hardly visited any of the outer areas. Just Lucio Cabaños and Bonampak. 

7.  Do you ever think you will be in a bicycle area?
    - I don´t think there are any in the mission. There might be a few in Oaxaca - I´ll be sure to advise you if I ever get a bike. Of course it's possible that I´m in my last area right now. :)

8.  Tell us something that made you chuckle this week.
    - My companion. haha. He is so hilarious. It's tough to describe it over email - you just have to hear his voice. Everything he says makes me laugh. 

9.  As you meander about during the week, what is the predominate type of music you hear?
    - A soul numbing cry of drunken desperation. The bars always play really terrible music. ha. The other day a drunk guy sang to us in the street. It was a song called ´´Tragos de Amargo Licor.´´ (Swigs of Bitter Liquor). There is a version of it by Carla Morrison that is really good though (don´t ask me how I know that - just kidding - We heard it in a combi.)

Well dad, thanks for the weekly emails and the daily support. I love you!

Mom - Everyne has those moments. Don´t kill yourself over it, just learn from it. :) Perhaps it's a cultural difference, or it's due to the fact that we are foreigners here, or maybe it's just a general truth, but I have found that people, with few exceptions, respond very kindly to our efforts to teach them and invite them to join with us. I think you´ll find that to be true. I´m really glad you are praying for missionary opportunities. In Deiter F. Uchtdorf's talk Waiting on the Road to Damascus he says that we should teach the gospel at all times, and if necessary use words. Then says, ´´opportunities to do so are all around us, do not miss them by waiting too long on the road to Damascus. I love that. :) Thanks for the insights and encouragement, you´re the best! I love you mom!

Andee - haha, that slope style guys sounds awesome. I think I´ll just wait for the winter semester to start my classes. As for where I want to live, and all of that - I have no idea. haha. I hope Roy´s interview went well - tell that bum to write me haha. Love ya AD. Have a fantastic week. 

I brought my camera so I could send you pictures but the computer isn´t recognizing my memory. I´ll be sure to send them next week. 

I´m going to include something that I wrote to Bishop Maughan as my testimony of missionary service. 

My Good Bishop Maughan,

Now that almost a year has passed since you wrote me I finally remembered to write you back. My bad. I hope all is going well back in my beloved Jax Beach ward. I´d like you to know that I think of you practically every day while I iron my shirt. I remember you saying in Tom´s farewell that you owe all of your blessings to your mission, including the habit of ironing your shirts every day. How true it is. There is not one principle of the gospel that I can think of that the mission has not clarified, or amplified, or planted deep within my heart. Especially the principle of consecration - anyone who thinks that ended with the United Order ought to go to the temple and give it some serious thought. God forever has and forever will require our all. This has been the best experience of my life. Help those young men get out in the mission. It will change them forever. Send them my love and my testimony that this is the Lord´s work. Nothing can compare.

The gospel is true. And I love you all.

Elder Roth

Week 76 - Hi

Hey!

Well, it's been a good week here en Ocozocoautla.  I can´t think of anything too memorable to write you this week.  We had a conference with President Cardenas which was pretty sweet.  And we found some really cool people contacting.  I just love this place. 

Yesterday was interesting.  My companion and I were both sick.  haha, I guess that's one of the dangers of putting two gringos together.  We went to church, then we went back home to sleep.  Then at 6 we had a meeting in Tuxtla so we got our behinds out of bed and treked on down, then back.  We got home at 10 and just collapsed into bed.  It was rough.  Despite it all though, I´m happy to be here.  I consider it the best decision I have ever made in my life - I love being a missionary.

Thanks for your emails.  I love them.  I love you guys so much.

Andee - I can´t believe Roy's swing lows swing lower than that V.  There is no way he wears that in public haha.  Your superbowl feast sounds like it was excellent.  I remember when I went over to watch a BYU game and we made chili with velveeta cheese - and we all felt so sick haha.  Good times. I didn´t apply for a scholarship - but I´m pretty sure it said something about all returned missionaries being automatically applied.  It would be awesome if you found me an apartment for fall.  I would love that.  Good idea Roy.  (You don´t hear anyone say that too often.)  Roy and his fixations.  To be honest its a Roth family tradition.  We are all easily entertained.  Welp, love you Andee.  have a rocking week!

WendyMom - as dad calls you.  ha.   Why did you go to a laundromat?  You should try washing your clothes in a bucket one of these weeks - you´ll love it ha.  That is the most accurate slogan ever. ( "MEXICO, you've got to live it to believe it".)  You just can´t understand how funny it is to live here until you do it.  Nacho Libre comes pretty close though.  This week I was browsing though a stack of thousands of Liahonas in my church building and happened across a conference edition from 2001.  I read a talk from Julie B. Beck back when she was 1st counselor in the YW general presidency about Patriarchal Blessings - it was pretty awesome.  There is also a talk from President Faust about them. They are awesome.  I read mine quite often - and I´ve learned a lot from it. Its definitely helped me out during the mission.  Hope you´re enjoying the drive home.  I love you! 

Dad - Sounds like a bummer of a super bowl. I hope you can get all your work done and be home by Feb 14. 

1.  Do you do any door knocking, tracting or such?
     - No, we aren´t allowed to knock doors.  We have to find a way to work with the members.

2.  How about street approach?  What is your method?
     - We do lots of that though.  Our goal is 140 contacts per week.  It's really simple - you just go up to the people and talk to them.  Whatever comes to mind you just say it.  You don´t go in head long and say, ´´hey we´re missionaries!´´  There aren´t too many white guys walking around in shirt and tie in Coita.  People know we are missionaries.  So we just talk to them, apply some gospel principle to their lives, and ask if we can visit them in their homes.

3.  If I had not told you, would you have been aware it was Super Bowl Sunday?
     - Yeah, people watch it here too.

4.  What is the best thing you ate this week?
     - Alta seltzer haha.  just kidding.  Probably some fried chicken.  It's a little different here though.  You eat it with beans and tortillas.  It's good though.

5.  Do you realize it is the dead of winter?  Does it feel that way?
     -haha, no and no.  It was a bit hot this week.

6.  What is your favorite Disney movie?
     - one of the hardest questions ever.  I love them all.  The first one that comes to mind is the Lion King though.  

7.  What did you learn this week that is useful?
     - We had a conference with the mission pres and he said, "if you learn to dominate street contacts you will be able to dominate any aspect of your life." That's quite a promise.  I´m not afraid to talk to people anymore.  I love doing it.  I can invite anyone to listen to our message or be baptized and I just don´t worry about what they are going to think or say.  I think that is one of the most important things I learned this week.  Also I made a list of things I have learned on my mission this week.  I´ll send you one.  There are hundreds of things.

8.  What will you do the remainder of the day?
     - Buy food, do my laundry, and rest.  We aren´t feeling too great right now. :)

Love you dad!

Roy - Hey big brother.  I hope you have a good interview this week.  For some reason I thought of the University of Michigan this week.  Weird huh.  I love the apartment idea.  If not I can work with some migrant workers and live in a van down by the river .  It's all good.  Thanks for answering my question about your preferred major. You won´t be surprised to hear that I have no idea what I am going to end up studying (and I don´t ever think about it). I'm sure I´ll change my mind at least 10 more times before I actually figure out what I am going to do.  ha.

In other news I got my Christmas packages this week.  haha.  Thanks for all the goodies and such.  And I'm sure you think you´re so funny sending we the trowel and the wipes and all that.   haha. It sure made me chuckle.  I love you guys. 

Elder Clark Roth

Week 75 - Is This Heaven? No, It's Coita!

Hi,

Time is seriously starting to fly.  This is crazy.  Anyway, I am grateful for your emails,and prayers and such.  Things are going well - our investigators are awesome, as is my companion, as is my area, as is my district.  So that's good. 

I have been thinking a bit more about staying the extra transfer which has provided me some interesting experiences.  Obviously there are some apparent drawbacks - such as the long time before I can go  back to school, not being in Utah to see someone that I really really want to see, etc.  But every morning as I study I feel that I am making the right choice.  Everything I have ever read or listened to or taught says that missionary work is vital, life-changing and a privilege.  That we ought to put our trust in God and consecrate all that we have and all that we are to his service.  I don´t know what I´ll do when I get home but I´m sure it will all work out.  Plus, I've never heard anyone say, ´´my mission was great - I just wish I had gone home sooner...´´

Roy - I hope you are enjoying volleyball more than writing to your brother. :) ha.  Just kidding it's all good. Love ya.

Dad - You are way behind schedu.  haha.  It sounds like work is a bit rough right now, but hang in there - it will all be worth it.  Thank you for working so hard to support us.  I think I'll cash in on that hard work you do and buy myself some new shoes today haha. :)  You keep making it, I´ll keep spending it.  Just kidding.  Have fun with the rental - drive it like you stole it! ha. I love Mormon 6.  I´ve always thought it is the most poetic part of the Book of Mormon.  Oh ye fair ones...how could you?  But now you are gone, and I am left alone to mourn your loss.  Not even Shakespeare could write such a heart wrenching tragedy.  True indeed.  We can never depart. 

1. Compare and contrast your current missionary apartment to your last one.

     - my new one is better in every way.  It has a functioning bathroom, a gas stove, a couch, a chair to study in, a washing machine, it is not infested with cockroaches, it is clean, it is in a nice area, etc. 

2. Tell us what music you played in Church meetings this last week.

    This Sunday I played hymns number 40 ,120 and 26.  How Firm a Foundation, Jesus Once of Humble Birth and Come Ye Children of the Lord. In priesthood I played We Are All Enlisted. 

3. I know you can speak Spanish, but how much writing of Spanish do you do?

     A bit - I write my converts from time to time.  I write a letter to my Mission President every week, and a few other odd jobs.  It's really easy - I spell much better in Spanish than in English. ha

4. Describe the flora and fauna in your current area.

     Well, the city is devoid of nature.  But around us there are palm trees and pines and sawgrass and saint augustine.  Sound familiar?  haha.  Chiapas is very similar to Florida in that aspect - well, a very polluted, deforested, ruined Florida.

5. How many wild dogs did you see last week?

     How many emails do you have in your inbox at work...It's probably about the same number.

6. Did you ever get any sort of Christmas package, at all?

     Negative Ghostrider, the pattern is full

7. Since the answer the previous question is probably no, can you ever forgive us?

     Of course, but only if you send me grits in my next package haha.  I have a hankering.

8. How many investigators are currently active in your pool?

     We have a ton, but right now we have 9 progressing investigators - which means they are reading, praying, going to church, and keeping other commitments.

9. Do you have an Area Book, or whatever they now call it?

     Yes - updating it is the worst part of being a missionary.  haha.  That and weekly planning.

10. Who do you pick in the Superbowl, Broncos or Seahawks?

     I´ve been humbled.  I can no longer bet against Payton Manning - he´s just too good. Broncos 31 - Seahawks 13.

<love you Dad.  Have a great week.

Mom - Wow, you put some serious preparation into your talks and lessons. I'm sure it was wonderful.  That is an excellent quote.

 

(I sent him this by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. (MATTHEW 4:23) He then went on to say: "We know the Savior to be the Master teacher.  He is that and more.  And when He says the bulk of the harvest yet lies before us and that there are far too few laborers, We immediately think of missionaries and others,… who need to teach.  But the call is for a certain kind of teacher, a teacher who in the process heals. 

I believe Christ wants our teaching to lead to healing of the spiritual kind”. 

“Rather than just giving a lesson, please try a little harder to help that blind (young adult) really see, or the deaf (woman) to really hear, or the privately lame (man) really walk.  …Try a little harder to teach so powerfully and so spiritually that you can take that (young adult, man or woman) who walks alone, who is overwhelmed by responsibility, who weeps in the dark of the night – can you unleash the power in the scriptures and the power in the gospel and “cleanse” that leper, a leper not of his or her making, a leper made by those on our right and on our left and sometimes by us?” 

It takes more than a scant knowledge of the scriptures and a superficial testimony to teach like the Teacher, and heal like the Healer.  Such blessings are reserved to those who truly follow him, who truly live His gospel and strive to be like Him.  That's what I try to do and that is what you succeed at doing. I´m glad you like that Elder Holland commentary.  I really like the natural man, natural resources one as well.  Love you Mom!

Andee Dawn - hahahahahahahaha Roy is so ridiculous.  haha.  To be honest I don´t remember My route Y id and all that. I´m like 94% sure that I wrote it down with the classes I want to take in Fall - Mom can check.  I´m so down to go visit you guys when I finish here.  I´m still hoping for Boston but I wouldn't be disappointed with Palo Alto. (which means high stick BTW) ha. But anyway - I´m glad to hear that you are enjoying Top Gear and school and surviving life with Roy ha.  It must be a party.  Love ya AD

Well, time nears it's eclipse.  I love you guys. 

Elder Roth

Week 74 - :)

Hey!

My cheeks hurt from smiling so much.  I seriously cannot believe how wonderful this place is.  Thanks for your letters and prayers.  So this week I have a favor to ask.  Due to a weird 4 week transfer we had a long time ago I can either finish my mission the first week of August or the 3rd week of September.  Obviously, if I stay I won´t be able to start at BYU in the fall - I´ll have to wait until winter.  But then again the mission is cooler than BYU. ha.  I´ve been thinking about it a little bit and have decided that I should stay as long as I can - until the mission president drags me to the airport. Can you make sure that I can defer my entrance in BYU another semester? pretty please.  :)  I´ll write you a letter about how I made the decision because it was a great learning experience for me. 

well I´ll get on to your emails. 

Dad - Both you and Andee mentioned Top Gear.  This morning I told my companion to "prepare to bask in the turbulence of my excellence".  haha.  I´m sure you´ll do great on the project you are picking up.  I can see that you made the decision with faith and I know that everything will work out fine.  We also had our lesson from the JFS lesson manual, but I was quite disappointed.  We drifted from the theme and it became essentially a dodgy doctrinal lesson.  Darn.  Anyway.  Its actually quite cool here - Friday I wore my sweater for the first time in my mission. :)

1.  Now that you have an American companion, do you speak English when you are together?

    Sometimes, but not a ton.  We speak a lot of spanglish.  We do all the planning, comp studies, and stuff like that in Spanish.  But sometimes at night we talk in English - we both need the practice haha.

2.  Have you heard about the big parade they do in o co zo co?  I think it is done on Ash Wednesday, so you might still be there when it happens.

      Yeah its called carnival Zoque. Apparently it gets pretty intense, I´ll be sure to tell you about it when it comes around.

3.  How has your understanding of different cultures changed in the last year?

     Well, I would say that Talmage Spackman hit the nail on the head perfectly when he returned from his mission in Mongolia.  The cultures change, but the people don´t.  I can appreciate Mexican culture, and Guatemalan, but the truth is that it is a mistake to classify a person by their culture.  There are smart people everywhere, as there are lazy ones, faithful and incredulous, humble and arrogant.  I really love these people for who they are individually - independent of cultural differences.

4.  How many missionaries are there in your Branch?  Just your companionship. The Jax Beach Ward is up to two companionships. One Elders and one Sisters.

    just a pair of gringos.

5.  Please tell us about an investigator..

      We have so many awesome investigators.  This week I´ll tell you about Darwin.  He used to have drug and alcohol problems but he overcame those. He works two jobs - welding and helping out in Alcoholics Anonymous.  Our last 3 lessons with him we have been explaining the plan of salvation, which he loves. He yearns for the peace that only repentance can bring.  He´s gone to church twice now and will be baptized the 15th  of Feb. 

6  Describe what you see as you look around from where you are sitting right now.  What does it smell like?  What do you hear?

     I´m in a dark corner haha.  It doesn´t really smell like anything.  The computers here are in little cells with seafoam green walls.  I hear the people selling stuff on the streets.  (I´ll have to imitate them for you next time we talk) and that's about it. 

Love you dad!

Mom - haha your Sunday School lesson sounds excellent :)  Just kidding that's a bummer.  But anyway.  Keep working out - it makes you happy.  I miss going to the gym, and swimming a bit, but it's worth the sacrifice to be here.  Last Monday I played basketball and my legs were sore until Friday haha.  I feel old.  I always love to hear about your meditations and reflections over the scriptures.  You are a great example to me.  I saw a video from Elder Holland this week that I think you would enjoy a lot.  He answers questions from a small group and has some really profound comments on the scriptures.  Perhaps you can find it on YouTube.  It's called "For Times of Trouble". (I was able to find a shortened version) I love you mom!

Andee - never complain about something being too Americanized  haha.  I wish Mexico was a bit more Americanized sometimes  haha.   :) It made me smile when you said that you will always support Roy in his callings.  That's what it's all about.  Thanks for that.  I hope your final semester keeps on rocking!  Love you AD

Roy - you are ambitious but rubbish   :) I hope you're enjoying your volleyball class.  I can´t help but remember the good times from our class 2 and a half years ago.  haha  I almost always woke up late.  Good times.  Your schedule sounds much easier than it has in semesters past.  Which major did you enjoy more?  I realized that I have no idea what I am going to do when I get back.  I guess I´ll think about that when I finish.  Love you bro.

Well thanks for your support.  I treasure your weekly letters.

Have a wonderful week,

Elder Roth

Week 73 - D & C 58:4

Hey!

I am so, so happy right now!  My new area (pronounced oco so kwowt la, more or less) is so awesome!  Dad asked me a ton of questions about it in his email so I guess I´ll explain it all in that part.  If you haven´t read the scripture from the subject line it says, ´´after much tribulation come the blessings.´´  Well, suffice it to say that I consider the 7 months in Central and 6 months with my companion to be the ´´much tribulation´´ and my new area to be the blessing.  ha.  I´m in love with this place.  In fact, the first night I was here I was so enchanted by it all that I told my companion that I want to live here.  I´ve changed my mind somewhat, but I still really love it. 

I´ll get on to your emails:

Dad - Thanks for the sports update. It's cool that Florida State won, I´m sure my friends will be pleased. 

1. Tell us about your new Branch.  How many people?  Did you get to play the piano, etc?

     - It's awesome!  69 people went this Sunday, I did indeed play piano...and gave a talk...and taught priesthood haha.  The members are wonderful.  There are a ton of young women and they are all super committed to helping the missionaries.  They´ve given us a ton of referrals and are always asking when we can visit their friends.  We have a branch president, a branch mission leader, and an EQP (unlike Central haha).  There are 3 missionaries that returned in December and one more comes home in February.   It's so genial!!

2. Tell us about your new flat.

     - Another great difference from central.  We live in a house with a functioning bathroom.  I have a chair to study in, we have a washing machine (best invention ever), and many other improvements.  We even have a couch!

3. Tell us about your trip to the new area.

    - haha I was hoping you would ask.  Well, I left at 3 from Tapachula in an ADO GL bus. (they`re nice). 

 There are a ton of stops for immigration and all that, so it takes about 6 and a half hours to get to Tuxtla.  We arrived at 9:30.  I met my new companion (description upcoming).  Then we had to wait 3 hours until the next bus to Ocozocoautla (which is also called Coita BTW, that's easier to say).  So at 12:30 in the morning my comp and I hopped aboard the Rapidos del Sur bus

 (which is the preferred bus for the shady people).  We got home at 1:30 in the morning and it was probably about 40 outside (and inside the house haha).  I was so happy not to be sweating.  But yeah, that was my adventure this transfer.

4. What is the most interesting thing you ate this week?

     - I can´t think of anything too weird. I ate McDonald's for the first time on my mission.  It was really good.

5. Did you have any investigators at church today?

     - yeah we had 5. Our investigators rule!

6. What is the church building like?  I tried looking it up on the Church website, but it kept giving me problems, and I eventually gave up.

    - It's new, they dedicated it about 6 months ago.  It smells really good (like cedar). There isn´t a picture of it on lds.org, it just shows the land that it's built on.

7. How big is your area?

    - Massive.  If you want to get an idea, i'ts everything between Berriozábal to Cintalapa.  We pretty much just stay in Coita though.  It's about 20 blocks by 20 blocks.

8. How will you get around your area?

    - Walking and in mototaxis.   Those are sweet! They are little 3 wheel taxis with motorcycle engines and controls.  Look for a picture of them.

9. Describe the area?  On the map it looks like it is outside of TXG and kind of isolated.

    - It's about 30 minutes from Tuxtla in one of the city buses.  It's a bit far from everything but I like it that way.  We go to Tuxtla every week for a leaders meeting and to Cintalapa every other week for our district meeting. 

10. Tell us about your new Companion.

    - My compy is named Elder Shelley.  He is from Farmington Utah and is a riot.  Everything he says sounds like it comes from Brian Regan.  We get along super well and are just loving every second here. 

11. Are you happy?

     - This has been the best week of my misson. I am so happy!!

I could go on and on, but I will give you a break...

    - thanks haha :)

I did indeed guess my Braves hall of famers.  That's cool.  Everyone knows they deserved it.  Love you dad!  Have a good week!

Mom - Is your life also similar to the book of Exodus?   haha. It could be worse  -could be like Leviticus.  I was wondering about Henry and Karen, there is a huge family here with the last name Trujillo.  The Gospels are excellent. Bruce R McConkie said something about how valuable they are to learn about the character of Christ - it starts, ´´would it surprise you...´´ I read it in Spanish so I´m not really sure how it goes . Look it up though.  I´ve wanted to learn Txotzil but that is looking unlikely.  It's cool that MD is learning a dialect.  I am healthy, happy, and all that jazz.  Don´t worry about me!  Love you Mom!

Andee - I´m going to kill your husband if he doesn`t start writing me.  haha. jokes.  I know he is busy, but thank you for being so kind as to write me every week.  haha.  I don´t remember that happening but I believe it.  My first two weeks at BYU were marked by lots of walking, trying to find buildings, and trying not to look like an idiot.  Both of those pursuits generally failed.   ha. I remember that I once walked for more than an hour looking for Cougar Copy which is only a block from campus.  Good times.  As a matter of fact, my companion and I are doing the same thing right now.  We get lost all the time.  Yesterday we were lost for about 30 minutes, so we had to climb a hill and look to see where the city was.  Good times.  I hope you are loving your last semester.

Time is my enemy.

I love you guys! 

Elder Roth

Week 72 - I Live a Charmed Life

Hi!

 

The computer I`m on right now is really terrible, so I hope you don´t mind that this will be a short letter.  I hope you enjoyed your New Year´s celebrations.  My New Years was exceptionally dull haha.  The streets of downtown Tapachula were utterly deserted, we walked a solid 10 miles only to teach two lessons.  But that's how it goes sometimes, no worries.  Ya just gotta sing ´´pioneer children sang as they walked, and walked, and walked, and walked...´´ until your companion gets mad - that always spices things up haha.  just kidding.  I try not to bother my companion too much :)  Speaking of my companion, he won´t be my companion tomorrow.   "Why?" you ask. Because I got transferred!  Woo! I´ll be heading but up to Tuxtla tomorrow. I`ll be in a branch called Ocozocoautla. (don´t worry I can hardly pronounce it either.)  

The Road from Tapachula to Ocozocoautla

I´m super excited.  These last 7 months in Central have been good to me, but I´m ready for new challenges.  My companion humorously described the work here like the book of Exodus - lots of plagues, lots of blood and sacrifices, lots of walking, hard to understand, and full of miracles. I think that is the best description of missionary work I´ve heard.

 

Anyway.  Hope all is going well back in the land of my forefathers.  Enjoy your last semester Roy and Andee!  I´ll get on to answering your letters.

 

Dad - I´m so glad you are finally back in PVB.  Due to my computer's follies I can´t read your email as I write so I´ll do my best to remember what you asked me.  I hope you don´t fall asleep on your conference call again!  haha. How did the college football season end?  

4.  What are some of the tougher questions that are asked by investigators?

Umm, I can´t think of any really hard questions any investigators have asked me.  One of the only ones that really required a knowledge of the scriptures was related to 1 Nephi 4. "Why is God telling Nephi to kill Laban if he said thou shalt not kill?"  But that one is not too tough.  Open to any page in the books of Moses, Joshua or Judges and you´ve got your evidences that it has always been so.  To be honest I don´t remember the other questions, and this computer is really frustrating.  Sorry. Love you dad have a fantastic week. 

 

Mom - I hope the roofers don´t bug you too much.  I´m glad to hear that you had a good week in the temple.  I miss the temple - after these two years I won´t be leaving it again.  Thank you for your prayers.  30 minutes on the importance of scripture study eh?  It won´t be hard for you to fill the time, the trick is figuring out how to explain it in so little time.  On the title page of my Book of Mormon I have written several quotes that highlight the importance of scripture study. such as (paraphrasing): ´´no member of this church who has not read the Book of Mormon prayerfully can stand before God and be approved of him.´´ (Joseph Fielding Smith), ´´it's not the book that's on trial - its readers are.´´ (Spencer W. Kimball), President Benson has several quotes "there is a power in the Book of Mormon that will be begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book", and of course the classic quote from Marion G Romney (I think...) I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness. (it's a long quote buts it's fantastic.)  Now as for personal insights: I have too many to write.  President Packer spoke on its importance last conference.  All I know is that those books open a communion with God that is beyond value.  The scriptures will tell you what to do with your life, what to avoid, and they will give you the faith to do it.  No priesthood leader, teacher, auxiliary president, missionary, or member can expect the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost unless they treasure up in their hearts the words of eternal life.

 

Andee - I would do anything to be in that weather for a day haha.  I wish you and Roy the best in your last semester at BYU.  I´ll be missing you guys next year.  I love you guys!

 

Well dearest family, I hope you have a fantastic week.  Next week I´ll be writing you from Ocozocoautla!

 

Love, me,

 

Elder Roth :)