Week-#85 Who's hugging my sister...

a cool adddress sign that we found haha most of them here in Mexico are like this.

This one was especially funny because there were two trucks with a big ol' St. Jude in the middle of it. haha what the heck?

Hey Mom!

Yeah Elder Ogden and I are pretty great friends. 

I can not believe that Andrew Trainor is home. That is the wierdest thing that I have ever seen...I think that reality has hit me. because that will be me in 4 months.

Haha that picture with Abbie and Zach is a classic. Zach is a huge dude. And he can get a pretty good tan. Better than Abbie at least.

I am going to kill Ninataype. He seriously put his arm around Abbie? 

haha I think that it is really funny that he told you guys all of my dirty little secrets. I will be sure to tell his parents some of his as well... Pay back.

By the way I think that it was just something in the food or in the water in Ramos Arizpe. Because as soon as I have been here I have been fine. I dont think that it is anything to worry about. 

What is that second to last question even supposed to mean? I dont think that I suprise myself that often

I think that the favorite part of the daily routine aside to going to bed, is when we get to study the scriptures every day. That is a pretty amazing thing. I wasnt as good about that whole thing until now. I think that It wasnt even that hard to get used to either. It takes just a little bit if getting used to but I reall enjoy the fact that I can learn something new every single day. and come closer to Jesus Christ every day.

So this week we are having some short changes in the zone. An Elder in the zone has to go home to work some things out and so now we will be getting a new Elder in the Zone. I have really been adjusting myself well here in this area. It is a fun place. This week we went out to a small little town that is like a 30 minute bus ride out and it is part of our area. There is a Recent Convert out there. The place is called Arteaga. it really is a beautiful place. It is the most cool (temperature) in the whole mission. Actually last year there was snow there. We have been having some pretty good luck with people coming to church. We will actually be baptizing this week on friday. This lady has a pretty dark past she was actually a witch. As in she was participating in witchcraft. She has some pretty scary stories but she is totally repented of that. Actually that was something that all of the members knew about thats why she hasnt got baptized until now. But her daughters all have like 3 months as members. She is a solid convert. She has a pretty stong testimony of the atonement. I think that that has been ont of the most satisfying things about being here in the mission, is being able to help people convert themselves to the Lord and to be able to recieve the blessings of the Atonement in their lives. It really does bring me true happiness. 

Something that is interesting about this ward and kind of unique is that there are a lot of people that speak English. I would say that half of them or more do. It is also one of the biggest areas in the whole mission. I still sont know it all and Elder Johnson was here of 6 months and he never knew it all either. haha

anyways I love you and I hope that you have a great Week!

-Elder Stockman 

Dad,

hahaha I dont understand why you guys think that I am disobedient. I think that its hilaroius. Im pretty sure that I wouldnt be happy if I was disobedient. Tell mom that at least I didnt drive a car into a river (Trent)

Im glad that you are still your innovative self. Thats interesting that they convinced you to watch their dog for them. 

We have had a really great week. We will actually be baptizing an ex witch. haha thats a long story but there are some pretty crazy things that she has done. I will have to tell you some stories when I get home. I have been getting along great with Elder Ogden. Its kind of funn because we have service competitions. Like ironing each others shirt, making breakfast, polishing shoes.etc.... We actually have another family that is progressing really well. We think that they should be baptized next week but we will see what happens.

So I have a question, did you ever make that missionary plaque, if not let me know. If so I guess you could let me know as well. haha

And what do you mean by all of my stuff is gone, I didnt really understand that. Like what is gone that was there before? haha honestly i dont really remember all of that stuff. All I know is that I left that room Spotless. It was the cleanest that it had ever been. It was actually pretty impressive.

I love you and hope that you have a great week!

-Elder Stockman

Week #84- "I promise I've been good...I just really love fire."

New companion Elder Ogden and the serious Elder Stockman. Elder Odgen is from Draper, Utah. 

Momma,

Im super glad that you guys could go and meet those guys that I was with here in the mission. Its funny to remember all of those funny stories of things that happened and I didnt even remember. I promise that I have been good, i just really like fire. hahaha

So this week I have been feeling really good here in my new area with Elder Ogden. He is a great companion and we get along really great! Its always fun to open area because you are usually completely lost the first week. But I can asure you that we can at least find the house now! haha

When 2 companios get to an area together it definately has its advantages, You really dont know anybody so the members show a lot more intrest in you. It has been great to get to know the members here too. I thought that Ramos Arizpe was a strong ward but this is supposedly the best area in the whole entire mission. Of course any area is the best area, it all just depends on your mindset. 

I got to have my first interview this week with President Cahoon. It was a great experience to get to know him and to be able to speak with him face to face. 

Anyways I sure love you a lot and hope that you have an excelent week!

-Elder Stockman

Hey Dad. So I dont think that it is fair that everyone is telling Elder Stockman stories while I am not there! haha

I got busted...

Im glad that you like those guys. They are some of the greatest people that I have ever met. I know that I can work hard and still have fun. Thats what I hope to do. 

( by the way I probably wouldnt have called the mission offices for that question, had I known that Ninataype was there.)

Yeah it is super wierd to see all of those pictures of you guys with them because I was just with them on Tuesday.

Anyways it is going really great here this week with Elder Ogden. We are having a blast! We are opening area so we basically dont know anybody. And we were pretty lost this whole week. But those are experiences that I wouldnt have traded away. Im really gald that I have been sent here, It was kind of a shock at first, But I am really liking it here. The ward is full of really powerful families. We have a family that is progressing. They are a family of 5 that should be getting baptized in 2 weeks. The dad is a member from a long time ago, but his wife and 3 daughters aren't. However they are a super powerful family. I am sure that they already have their testimonies, its just the question of getting wet now.

But we are doing super good, dont worry about me!

love you have a great week!

-Elder Stockman

Week- #83 "I ratted him out for ratting me out"

Our District this last change! (evidently Elder Smith likes touching my face in both pictures.)

​The last Zone picture in Republica.

This is a sewage pipe (shortcut) is was fun. It was over a river of poop....

Still a kid.

Snapped this pic because the airport was close to my area here in Ramos Arizpe. It will be fun to fly those bad boys.

Hey momma!

So I got the transfer notice today in the morning. I will be going to Saltillo again! WOO HOO, that actually really excites me because I wont get horribly fried in the northern heat, woof... I feel bad for Elder Miner up there in Acuña, or Elder Wiedmeier up there in Monclova haha. Can you believe that He finishes in 6 weeks! crazy huh!

Anyways I Will be going to Aurora 1 in Saltillo. It is supposedly one of the best wards in the mission. It is in the stake Valle de las Flores. That is where the president spends most of his time because he is from that stake. However I think that the most exciting thing about my transfer is my new companion. Elder Ogden. We are super good friends. It is going to be fun we are going to be opening an area too. I already called him and ratted him out for having ratted me out. He laughed pretty hard. Im super excited for what is coming. 

mom. I promise that im obedient. 😇 We got hungry and he(Elder Ogden)didnt have any food. If we would have left it would have been breaking the ruled thats why it was delivery- haha

I have really come to love it here in Ramos Arizpe and it will be a little sad to leave here. Its going to be sad to leave Elder Hernandez aswell. I have really come to love him a lot and we had a lot of fun working hard this last transfer. The good thing is that he isnt too far away and I get to see him every month. 

Super crazy that you guys will be going to all of those peoples home comings. Its crazy to think that everyone is going home. 

I hope that you enjoyed your 2nd son's favorite holiday, the 4th of July is the best. I really do miss fireworks. 

So I got to meet President Cahoon this week, He is an amazing man and as soon as he first entered the room you could tell that he is a man of God. I know that he was called to preside this mission for a reason. I hope that he can continue to adjust well and his wife too. She is also a really nice person. I feel bad because she is completely lost in Spanish. She will learn though. 

I love you guys and Hope that you have a great week ( lighting off fireworks in memory of me)

-Elder Stockman 

Hey Dad!

So this week I got the transfer notice. I will be going to Saltillo again. WOO HOO! hahaha I will not get fried in the sumer heat in the north!

I will be going to Aurora 1 which is in the stake Valle de las Flores. It is actually the zone where the President usually is and where the APs are and all that stuff. And I have to say the best part of the change will be my companion, Elder Ogden! Im sure mom and his mom are friends but he is seriously one of my best friends here in the mission. Im pretty pumped to get to work with him!

Got to meet President Cahoon this week. When he entered the room you could feel the spirit really strong that was testifying that he is the right man for the job. He is a really great guy, you can really feel that he loves you already. HIs poor wife doesnt speak a lick of Spanish. And actually he is brushing up on his. He also served his mission in Bolivia, However he spent 21 months of his mission speaking a dialect that was up in the Altiplano. I told him that you served there and that you also ate those horrible feet potatoes. His wife overheard and started to bust up a little. You saw the smile on his face turn into a horrible rememberance of that food. hahah he laughed pretty hard. But he was in the altiplano for 21 months can you believe that?

Anyways just here packing up and saying goodbye to all of the awesome people that I had the opporitunity to meet here in Ramos Arizpe. Its sad that I am leaving, However I feel good with what I have done here. I will miss my brother Elder Hernandez as well, he has been an amazing companion that has taught me a lot. The funny thing is that his new companion is Elder Hernandez. another one that you guys have never heard of. We were laughing for a little while about that one and then I was teasing him saying that Mexicans needed to be more creative on names. 

Im praying for You all and I love you 

-Elder Stockman