Hello all,

What a week it was; a lot of ups and downs, but nevertheless it was a great week. Have I mentioned how fast the weeks go by? Our nickname for sunday is "gameday" and we try so hard to get all of our investigators prepared for gameday throughout the week and it never feels like there is enough time. Saturday always comes so quick and it's always one of the toughest days of the week. The tough day this past week was Friday though. Let me explain...

We ate at a members house on thursday night and the food was great, just possibly undercooked. My piece of chicken looked perfect but Elder Stone's piece looked like it had just been freshly pulled off the chicken. He ate a little but then politely asked for a new piece that was a little better cooked. Anyway, we finished off the night just great. The next morning during studies my stomach started to feel a little uneasy. I didn't think too much of it but as time went on it got slightly worse, but I just kept going through the day like nothing was wrong. We went by a few investigators' houses and then around 1pm we got a call to stop by a ladies house for lunch. She's catholic but claimed to always have the missionaries over for lunch so we wanted to go and see what the deal was (and see why the heck she wasn't baptized yet). The two other elders living in our apartment went with us as well.
On the way over there (by the way, I'm the driver. Elder Stone's license expired) I told all the elders that I'm not eating because my stomach kind of hurt and they were like "You know you can't deny food from mexicans!" and I knew I was in for trouble. Anyway, I ended up eating a full plate of food and my stomach was not happy with me. After eating and sharing a little message, we headed back to the apartment to pick up a couple things and by this time my stomach was really hurting. Elder Stone eventually convinced me to call the President's wife and just let her know.
She told me that quite a few missionaries had gotten the stomach virus lately so that's probably what it was, and she told me to go to the store and buy some imodium. So we go to the store and we pick it up and as I'm waiting in line, I realize that we need to get back to the apartment pronto. We were in the 10 items or less line, yet the two people in front of me had a hundred items in their cart. I was freaking out.
ANYWAY, we buy the medicine and fly back to the apartment. We get to our door and Elder Stone was taking forever to get the door unlocked, so I push him out of the way, unlock the door, and dash into the apartment and manage to flip open the toilet seat before vomiting everywhere. It was terrible. I haven't thrown up in a long long time and I forgot how miserable it was.
I continued to throw up the rest of the day and then I was perfectly fine the next morning. We worked extra hard on Saturday and Sunday and made up for the little lost time and had an overall great week; just a little food poisoning to throw a wrench in it all. It was great.

Okay, I'm not sure why I told that whole story. I just thought it was sort of funny. But I'm totally fine now, and things still are going great. Thanks for all the emails and letters. I tried to send an email last week with pictures but it didn't work. I think the best way to do it is to use a USB flashdrive. Mom, I should have a couple still at home. If you aren't using them, could you send them? If not, I can just buy one here. Elder Stone and I have taken some awesome awesome pictures and I really want you all to see them.

Anyway, y'all are the best. Thanks for everything. I'm always praying for you, and thanks for all your prayers.

Con amor,
Elder Brett

PS - dad, Elder Monson is actually in my zone. I've talked to him a couple times. He's really good at drawing. And what's up with March Madness??!! I've only heard a couple things, but is it Kentucky, UCONN, VCU and Butler???

     mom, thanks for the pictures of Buddy and of your award! I saw all the pictures. That's awesome. I'm still not so certain about buddy's hair...

Hey all,

 

Every week we have to send a short letter to the president and I just thought that I'd send it to you as well just for fun. (I don't take time to put in accent marks, I apologize) (I also don't have a dictionary, I apologize for that too)

 

Presidente,

Gracias por un otro companero. Pienso que voy a tener cada misionero en este mision como mi companero, porque ya tenia once. Pero realmente Presidente, estoy muy agradecido por todo lo que aprendi durante mi poco tiempo como un misionero y un sirviente del senor. Estoy muy animado por lo que va a pasar en Rio Grande y yo se que Elder Stone y yo vamos a poder trabajar bien duro juntos en esta area. El es bien obediente y diligente, y le gusta trabajar. Pues, yo tambien y tenemos los mismos deseos en esta area.

Esta Domingo pasado, tuvimos 2 investigadores a la iglesia y yo estaba un poco triste al principio porque tuvimos planes para tener mas, pero averiguamos algunos de las dudas de nuestros investigadores y vamos a trabajar esta semana para resolver sus dudas y ayudarles a entender la importancia de la iglesia y tambien la espiritu santo, como ellos van a sentirlo, entenderlo, y la funcion del espiritu santo en sus conversiones.

Me di cuenta que hay personas que estan listas, quien Dios ha preparado, y estamos aqui para ayudarles en esta jornada. Mi meta esta semana es para depender del Espiritu para decir las cosas que van a ayudarles lo mejor, y no por mis propias palabras. Mi espanol es mejorando pero no quiero creer que porque yo puedo hablar mas, yo voy a poder convencerlos. Todavia, y por todo de mi mision, necesito depender del Espiritu.

Tambien, Elder Stone y yo vamos a enfocar mas en los conversos recientes, miembros menos activos, y las familias que todos no son miembros para recibir mas referencias y fortalecer esta rama. Me encanta Rio Grande. Es triste que tiempo esta voliendo (flying?) Estoy animado por la conferencia de Zona esta semana, y escuchar a Elder Holland (de la CD). Pero muchas gracias por todo Presidente.

-Elder Mecham

Well, it was another wonderful week. Rio Grande City is awesome. Thanks for everything.

Con amor,

Elder Brett A. Mecham

Another awesome, crazy, tough week...

 

We are still in the process of building up our area. We go tracting for the majority of the day and we are seeing slow progress. We found a family and the mom and dad are the nicest people in the world, although a little quiet. I hope they progress! I got my bike today and now I just have to assemble it. I'm in a car area right now but every saturday, we are required to use bikes from 11-4; just a way to save miles.

 

The past two weeks were finally the first two regular weeks of my mission, in regards to a companion. It was just me and my trainer Elder Anderson. But, guess what happened today? My companion just got called, mid-transfer, to become the Zone Leader and I'm getting a new companion on Wednesday, Elder Stone. I've heard he's a really good missionary and has been here for a while so he's experienced. I'm excited, but it means that I'm taking over the area. I need to show him around the area and introduce him to all of our investigators and ward members. I was really starting to enjoy my first real weeks of being a greenie. And then they take it away. It should be good though.

 

It's starting to get hot again. It was in the high 80's low 90's last week and it was a tremendous respite from the sun. Have I told you how excited I am for summer? Ugh. 

 

I haven't gotten bitten by any dogs yet. Most do, so I'm just waiting. I always let my companion go inside the gate first. They like to chase missionaries on bikes though so I am looking forward to this Saturday.  

 

Well, I think that's about it. Thanks ya'll for your emails and dear elders! I know I mentioned this before but we check our mailbox everyday! Oh, and friends can send emails as well. I just have to respond by snail mail.

 

Love, Elder Brett A. Mecham