Wherein Maelynn Tells Us Her "Roses and Thorns".

February 26, 2018

     This week had some pretty high highs and some pretty low lows.  In remembering our family dinner table tradition, I'll tell you in the form of "roses and thorns"...

Thorns:

     Wednesday morning we got a call from an Investigator, Lucia, telling us that Emanuel (another investigator) had passed away. I'm pretty sure I told you about the Lopez family, a family we have been teaching who have a son that struggles with drugs, well it was him.  His death wasn't actually totally drug related, and it was super unexpected, and really hard on his family. He was only 22, and we are hoping that the family can find some hope in the plan of salvation. 

     My comp started feeling sick since she got here on Monday, and basically everyday was in a lot of pain, and she didn't really sleep at night. I just kept dragging her around with me...oops.  But then on Thursday we found a couple members to do splits with us so she could rest a little.  

     Then on Friday, she still wasn't any better, so the mission president's wife told us to go to the hospital.  So we went and the doctor who was checking her thought she had appendicitis so he sent us back to do a bunch of tests, x-rays, blood tests, pee tests, basically everything.  They stuck an IV in her and started pumping her with suero and pain meds . . . . . 8 hours later they sent us home with some antibiotics and told us all she really had was a stomach infection (aka 'food poisoning').  So yeah, that was a fun waste of time, Thanks doc.

Roses:

Having an American companion that literally worked as a model means lots of pics, so you're welcome, Mom.

We have an investigator who can't really walk but really wants to go to church. So we borrowed a wheelchair to be able to take her!! (buuuut we forgot to get a pic with her....oops)

Yesterday we found out that TOMORROW Citlali and Fernando are FINALLY going to get married!!!! We have been trying to make this happen for my whole time in this area! Which means that they'll be able to get baptized soon!! 

Lollipops from a member who sells candy - yipee! (Mexico is a colorful place...we took advantage.)

I think that's basically it! 

Love, 

Maelynn

Wherein Landen Doesn't Have Much to Say!

February 26, 2018

     This week was pretty good.  We are working hard.  The Ruiz family is doing good.  They should be getting baptized on the 11th. Please pray that everything goes through as it should. :)

 I don't have much to say this week.  I didn't crash or anything cool like that.  My comp is super cool, I like him a lot.  The whole mission is freaking out about getting smart phones.  They've been giving us a ton of training on them and such, so that's that. 

Looks like y'all have had a pretty great week.  Good job to the kids for winning at dance. 

I was super sad to hear about Brother Leishman.  Please send them my condolences and love. 

Love y'alls lots. 

Cuidense (Take care)

Elder Bailey

Wherein Maelynn Experiences Her THIRD Earthquake in 6 months!

February 19, 2018

The earthquake... So this time I didn't sleep through it!  It happened at 5:45 in the afternoon!  But I didn't surf it either.   We were in a lesson - sitting outside, enjoying the weather, teaching about the Book of Mormon, and I thought I was just dizzy or something, but then I realized it wasn't just me, but the whole ground was moving.  It was super tranquilo.  We didn't even get up or anything. it just passed sin problemas.  Nobody died this time!  Mexico just doesn't want to sit still! 

     Also, we had a family history activity this week in our branch and we watched a Disney movie called Coco.  And our mission president gave us permission to go!!!!  So I got to watch a movie for the first time in forevvvver!  And it was actually super cute. I suggest it.

     Guess what, today we had changes! I'm staying in Chapultepec, but my comp got sent to another area....and guess what, guess what?  My new companion is American!!   She's from north Ogden.  Her name is Hermana Schmidt, and she has like 5 months in the mission.  Yay for Americans!!

Well - love you.  Bye.

PICS:

My valentines day :)))

I made a cheesecake, but it just ended up like soup....delicious!!

One of my mission friends, Hermana Rosales is going home this week!

My new companion, Hermana Schmidt!

Wherein Landen Reminds Us of the Peace Found in the Book of Mormon.

February 19, 2018

(About my patriarchal blessing...its actually super cool to look at it and already see some things coming to pass.  It promised a lot of blessings about my mission, and reading through those and other blessings that are promised in the future gives me peace and comfort to continue on despite trials and tribulations that the devil tries to throw at us.....)

The Ruiz family is doing pretty good.  She went through a tough time trying to see the purpose of things and getting lost in some things of the world.  We also couldn't get in with them for like 2 straight weeks because they were crazy busy.  So we started just praying for a miracle during those 2 weeks, and when we finally got back in with them she told us about how in her rough times she turned to the Book of Mormon for strength and support, and she found it.  She told us all about her feelings of peace when she read.  An answer to prayers, a miracle!  Hopefully this will all result in a solid conversion. Thank you for all your prayers! They help and are working!

Life is basically just great!

Oh guess what guess what guess what?  Chisme chisme chisme! Our mission here in California just got approved for smartphones!  So unless something crazy happens (like me getting sent back to another mission) within the next two months I will be using a smartphone to help progress the work of the Lord even further!

Okay, thats basically it. Love you all!

Stay suave!

Elder Bailey

Wherein Maelynn Witnesses an Entire Family in The Gospel!

February 12, 2018

      I actually read my patriarchal blessing all the time down here! It helps me feel tranquila (calm), even though there's a lot of stuff that I still don't really understand, it gives me a lot of hope for the future if I'm obedient!

      So the best thing that happened this week is that I got to go back to Pradera for a baptism!!!! Remember when I told you about the family that learned about the church through a co-worker and the missionaries in the temple visitor center started teaching them and etc etc? Well, I got to be there when the dad got baptized, and then a week after I got transferred, the oldest daughter got baptized.  And then this last weekend, I got to go back to see the middle daughter get baptized! 
 It was such a beautiful experience and makes the whole mission worth it to see a whole family in the gospel with the goal to go to the temple! 

     Carolina was so emotional in the water, and afterwords, she shared her testimony and talked about how she didn't believe in God (when I first met her) and her journey poco a poco (little by little) to feeling the love of God and gaining the desire to be baptized and join her family in coming closer to Christ. :)) I love this family! 

(...and also they made some killer tamales and atole! boo yah!)

Love, Maelynn

Wherein Landen Shares His Favorite Scripture

February 12, 2018

Yeah, my new comp is chill.  His name is Elder Moloney.  He is from Washington DC and has about 6 months in the field, were working hard togetrher and had a pretty good week together. found some coool people who accepted invitations to baptism, so were working with them now. 

Bad news though: the Ruiz family fell off of their planned baptismal date. They were supposed to get baptised this sunday but backed out and texted us that they couldn't. apparently they have some doubts about baptism, and the dad still wants to baptize their new born baby in th catholic church. so we have to go talk to them about this stuff, help them to understand and do good. please pray for them! 

pero de todos modos, we will always overcome whatever satan throws at us, we just need to be strong. in the spirit of the LDM thing that maelynn is doing I also want to share my favorite scripture from the LDM with you guys: ether 12:27

"...doy a los hombres debilitades para q se humillan ante mi, y basta es mi gracias...que hare que super debilidades sean fuertes a ellos" I dont actaully have it memorized, but it kinda even goes along with confidence. Christ can help us overcome our weaknesses and make them strong unto us in all things. we just need to turn unto him.

Love you all so much!

Elder Bailey

hey mom, i already wrote dad today for you all, i hope you got it, looks like things are good back home, sad to hear about sheila.

i also need to ask you if you can put some money on my account. my bike needs some maitainance and I dont have any personal funds to fix it with. idk how much it will cost, anywhere from 20-80 dollars, you can just pull it out of my savings?

thanks mom, love you!

Landen

Wherein Landen Writes A Quick Note in Español.

February 8, 2018

    Pues, probablamente no voy a escribir mucho, apenas llagamos del Templo, y ya tenemos q irnos para la cena. entonces tengo un total de 15 minutos para escribir a ustedes, y el presidente, poner nuestras nuevas metas, y verificar los referencias.   Entonces, no tengo nada de tiempo. pero para q la sepan, estoy muy bien, mi nuevo companero es super chevere, y fuimos "doubled-in" en una nueva area (todavia en moreno vally), todavia en los bicicletas.  Eso fue porqueria, pero vamos trabajando y vendo el mano del Señor en todo. Dios es real y ama a cada uno de ustedes.  El ama a ustedes solo un poco mas q yo les amo.   Cuidense mucho!  Prolly voy a escribir mas la praxima semana!

Les amo!

Elder Bailey

P.S. oh, y dile a Seth feliz cumpleanos! Gracias, bye!

Wherein Maelynn Testifies of the Power of a Book!

February 5, 2018

      That'll be fun to have more people at home to speak Spanish with! {By the way, I need to start giving the mission my information about when I go home, like which airport I will be flying into. So....whats our airport called again? and also my bishop and stake president's names, etc.}   

      Basically life is good! Citlali and Fernando are hopefully going to be getting married on Feb 14 (because marriages are free that day, woo hoo!) and hopefully can get baptized a couple days after that!   The Lopez family is going mas o menos, they haven't been able to come to church yet, which is the biggest problem for most people.  The financial situation down here is pretty rough right now, basically no one has any money. People just live day to day, which makes it hard for someone to give up working on Sundays to be able to come investigate a church.  Even some of the members struggle with this.

     Recently we have been hearing a TON about the Book of Mormon!   From prophets and apostles, and we had a conference with our mission pres just about the BoM,  Then last week we watched a missionary broadcast that talked about the same thing!  Also Mexico's 'plan de area' this year (and last year) says that 

          "El tiempo ha llegado a que busquemos las bendiciones que nos han sido prometidos de profetas modernos y antiguos." 

      And basically just that it's time to find the blessings that have been promised us in the Book of Mormon and start doing what we need to do to be able to receive them. So this month we have been focusing a TON on the Book of Mormon with all the converts, less actives, active members, and investigators we have been helping them be able to read the Book of Mormon EVERY SINGLE DAY - even if all they read is one verse! 

       The book literally changes lives!  After just a week, a member told us "Thank you so much for helping my family start reading again. I have been able to see a huge change in my daughter, she doesn't hit her kids anymore, and she's a lot happier!"  And some investigators told us about a spiritual experience they were able to have when they decided for the first time to read to book together!  Our mission president's wife always tells us "El Libro de Mormon puede convertir a una persona sin la ayuda de los misioneros, pero los misioneros sin el libro, no pueden."

      READ THE BOOK!  Read it as a family.  Read it personally.  Read it with your friends.  Read it with strangers.  Read it out loud.  Listen to it while you're washing dishes.  ...And then watch how it changes your life! I

t's changed mine! It's changing our branch, and if people will read it, it will change the world! 

**talk with your local missionaries for a free copy to give to someone :) maybe that can be the family's goal!

Welp, this has definitely been the longest letter I have written my entire mission, so peace!

Hermana Bailey

pictures:

LANDEN, LOOK WHO I MET!!! (What a small world! She was in Landen's district in Puerto Rico, and just got home from her mission last week and is in my stake here!)

Bailey's chocolates :) (don't worry, I didn't eat them.)

Be grateful you have hot water!