Week # 98 - They do have Halloween in Mexico it's just a lot different.

Funny pic 

​there is this really big radio tower here in the area. Its a cool pic I guess

Hey Momma!

So this week it has been fun to loose myself in the work. We were able to take a couple of investigators to church this week. That felt good because we were going on sort of a drought! haha

It was really cool because we have been focusing on 2 less active families here aswell and they both came to church. It was really rewarding for them to come to church after so much time from not being there and for them to be excited to come back the next week. I have come to realize that a lot of people really do want to come back to church, they just dont know how. Its a lot harder then it seems. We could just tell them that they know better and that they should come back, but I have learned that that doesn't really do any good. I have come to realize that as they come to realize the blessings of doing it and as we promise them those blessings they really do feel it. Also our testimony is key. 

So not just telling them to do it, but being there for them also. Its cool how it works. Its almost like youve got to motivate them a little. 

So I actually didnt see that one coming that we would be speaking the same day. don't cry haha. Im pretty sure that I will. Have they assigned me a theme aswell, or not yet?

This week I got a phone call from Elder Bermudez. He said that a Lady that Him and I had found and taught was going to be baptized along with her grandson. It was a really rewarding moment to be there and to whitness such a sacred moment. It definately motivated me to keep going. 2 weeks left!

¡Vamos a echar las ganas y seguir hasta el fin!

Nos vemos en dos semanas, Te amo

-Elder Stockman

Hey Dad!

So this week its been real "Tranquilo". Not in the working sence, but it seems to me that I ran out of things to write about a long time ago haha!

So I dont know if I ever told you this, but the owner of that burger place that I really like going to down here is a less active member of the church. He hasnt been in years and the sad part is that he is an ex missionary. But This last Sunday we took him to Church. He said he felt good, even though he didnt really know how to come back. He didnt ever enter all the way in but that was a lot of progress. We convinced him to give us a discount. And he said no, for you guys its free! WOOO HOOOO! haha

Today I enjoyed a buffalo chicken sandwich with cheese fries and a coke, on the house...

I Really hope that you guys like the souvenirs that I got you, They are pretty cool. They are a couple of Mexican classics.

So this week we were able to bring some really good investigators to church, Leaving the area prepared really well for whoever comes here with Elder Reber. 

It felt good because we kind of had a drought there for a while. Also this week I got a call from Elder Bermudez and he invited me to the baptism of a Lady that him and I had found, and had been teaching, it was a super rewarding moment to see her and her grandson enter the waters of baptism. That really is the best.

Anyways see you in 2 weeks!

-Elder Stockman

(Letter to Grandma Connie)

Hey there!

So Its kind of wierd, right? Its almost all to wierd to believe. After all I have never finished a mission before. I guess that I really dont know how to feel about it all but overall I feel good!

So yes they do have Halloween here in Mexico but its a lot different. They dont really go around and knock on doors and ask for candy here. I think that bad things would happen here, But I have heard and seen that it is a lot more common here in Piedras Negras because its a border town. I remember that in Monclova it wasn't a big deal at all. Only a couple of people ever mentioned it. But I have seen that there are a few masks for sale and also I think I have seen like 2 houses that are decorated. haha

anways I guess I will see you in 2 weeks! love you

-Elder Stockman

Week - #97 " You might actually think that Im Mexican when I get home."

Hey momma!

So this week I have been focusing a lot on the area and leaving it prepared for whover else comes. Its a wierd thought to have! haha

Things are going great, I feel like not much has changed. I feel good and we are not going to give up on finding people to teach and to help them change their lives. Missionary work really is something quite special. I had the opporotunity to speak in church for the 300 millionth time in my mission. Its super wierd because the majority of the time they havnt ever told me before hand haha. They just tell us in the last moment when the other speakers dont show up. But this time they had called us in the beggining of the week so we had some pretty great time to prepare something. All four elders in the ward were given the opporotunity to speak and I thought that it was a really great time. We all spoke about missionary work and the importance of being one with the members. 

I had the opporotunity to find some souvenirs today and I think that I will get the rest next week. 

tomorrow we will be doing exchanges with our district leader.

Actually it is pretty interesting because the zone leaders are in a trio this transfer so President wants them to be on exchanges every day. We have had many great learning opporotunities this transfer to be able to work with other Elders ( or in my case to reunite with an old companion) haha

I feel great! We must endure to the end and focus. I know that the Lord lives and I have a testimony that this work is real. I have seen so many miracles in my life thanks to him. There just simply isn't any way that these things aren't true. 

 

¡Hasta la otra semana!

-Elder Stockman

Hey Dad!

So this week, you know just the same old same old working here in the vinyard of the Lord. Its some pretty great times here!

I have been thinking about home less and less and trying to convince my self that it isnt real and that seems to be working. its not an easy thing to finish a mission and I'm sure that you know that. But we just got to power through and be the best that we can be up until the very last day. Im excited for what I have coming. There will be a lot of really great experiences in these last 3 weeks and Im glad that the Lord has given me 3 weeks more to work hard and to focus. 

You might actually think that Im Mexican when I get home. Eating habits such as the fact that its impossible for me to eat without tortillas, chile, and limes. Language; today during a little bit of free time I was reading a Liahona and the next thing I remember it falling out of my hands because I had dozed off. I remeber half asleep talking to Elder Reber in spanish and him just looking at me confused. It was great because I realized that I was speaking spanish to him when he told me. "dude I don't speak spanish" it was pretty funny!

I dont think in English anymore haha!

anyways I love you and Im excited to see you! have a great week!

-Elder Stockman

Week #96- 30 days to go.

Some of the local wildlife. 

Hey Mom!

So I was looking back on those pictures that you sent me from when I left from the airport. I think everything has changed everyone looks so different. its cool what can happen in 2 years, right?

So now I only have 30 days left, It's a really weird feeling that I don't really know how to explain. I think that If you were to ask me if I was happy then I would say that I was. But if you were to ask me if I was sad then I would also say that I was. It's like every single emotion at once. Who knows?

So I think that my P-days are pretty much the same. But the only difference is now I have to ask permission to leave out of my area, when before I didn't. But since my zone leader is my ex companion he loves me. 

Actually I will be having my second to last interview with President this Thursday. The last one will be a couple of days before I leave. I'm pretty excited to get to see him again. I am going to ask to take a picture with him and his wife because I still havn't got one.

Quinn's mission home is in Florida? that seems weird to me. 

Tell Abbie she is a boob, but that I am not jealous. That probably wasn't the best experience ever. 

So I actually feel really good about finishing here in 4th ward. The members area  lot more supportive than over there in 5th ward. We have been able to find a lot of investigators and they are pretty good ones. 

Thanks for sending that money to be able to buy some more souvenirs. Ask everyone like what types of things they want me to bring them. I already have a surprise for you mom. 

So this week has seemed to fly. I remember last week as if it were yesterday that I was writing you guys. Weird to think that I will be turning 21 here soon. I wonder if I will have problems with my drivers license because it expires on my birthday. 

Love you lots and hope that you have a great week!

-Elder Stockman

Hey Dad. 

So thanks for that souvenir money. But I don't really know what to get. I don't know what would be a good souvenir or not. 

I had the opportunity to go to a store to print off some photos and stuff like that. I then remembered that a while back when I was in Ramos Arizpe I plugged my camera in to the computer and It wiped my entire camera. I was quite irritated. However Elder Domiciano knew a little bit about recovering photos from viruses like that and he was able to get a couple of them back. And from what I understood is that they were all still on the memory card but the virus changed the format and hid the files. He couldn't ever save all of them due to time. I don't know if you know anything about that. Or maybe you could look into that and see if you know anyone who knows how to debug a memory card. If you could look into that it would be awesome. 

I guess that life isn't really pleasant at the end of a Dog's life. Perro Mestizo. 

I have been thinking because I only have 30 days left in the mission, I think that if you were to ask me if I was happy or sad I would say that both. It has been like a rollercoaster of emotions that is a weird experience. I would say that you would have to experiment it yourself to know what I'm going through but I guess that you have haven't you. We have been working hard to find a lot of new investigators. The search continues on! For a minute there the weather was really starting to cool up here for a second and then all of a sudden it was really hot again. So I'm pretty sure that I will be weather shocked when I get home in the middle of November. After All I have been in the north Mexican desert for 2 years. That might have thrown off my cold survival abilities. 

Love you and hope that you have a great week!

-Elder Stockman

Week #95- "Do me a favor and don't try the chicharrones de res."

Elder Reber and I. 

​This picture of Elder Wiedmeier and I was one day before he went home. Elder Reber actually took this picture. 

Tell CALEB that he better be at my homecoming.

Wow that is a super big reality check. I took a picture with that guy a day before he got home and now you are sending me that!(a picture of you and Elder Wiedmeier) Wow that is super crazy.

So this week I have been working on getting to know all of the members, again... This is the 3rd area in a row with only one transfer there. It is hard to establish any kind of relationship with the members like that but its ok.

Im doing great with Elder Reber. he is really motivated to learn. I dont remember learning spanish being this hard, its definately hard to have to translate everything both ways in every lesson, but We are working hard to find someone to baptize these last 5 weeks. 

Im glad that I get to be with Elder Reber, It is sort of like the motivational push that I needed to finish my mission well. He is a really great guy and he is hilarious. He is the exact opposite from me though. He is always talking about his trucks, and his ranch, and FFA and all that stuff! haha its great.

I really got a lot out of conference. I think that my favorite overall talk was from LeGrand R Curtis Jr.. It was a powerful testimony about the Book of Mormon and about the spiritual power that we can get from it as we read it daily.

Anyways I hope that you guys have a great week!

-Elder Stockman 

Dad,

You punk, how dare you eat tacos al pastor and pastrami burgers without me. What has this world come to? Where is the respect? haha

Dont worry, even though I might have eaten tacos de tripa, or menudo I dont think that I will be craving them anytime soon. Do me a favor and dont try the chicharrones de res. Those really are the worst.

haha

I will tell you guys about all of the food adventures here in a little bit. But Im sure if you have heard that they eat it in Mexico, I have probably eaten it. haha

So i am really excited! I feel like its a great opporotunity to be with Elder Reber my last 6 weeks. He is a great guy and he is really progressing fast. Spanish is a hard language to learn for many. Im sure that you remember those days of not understanding absolutely anything at any time. The good part for him is that his trainer is an American. I remember a couple of times wanting to kill somebody because my companion couldnt speak english. haha but I am grateful for that because I think it prepared me to learn spanigh a lot quicker. 

I will work super hard in these last couple of weeks that I have. I love you. 

P.S. send me a picture of when you had 9 days left in the mission. I want to see if I can duplicate it. 

I remember having seen it but I dont remember much. haha

Elder Stockman

Week #91- I have Mountain Dew coming my way

My apartment. 

Hey Mom!

I get Quinn's letters and Abbie's aswell.

I knew that I would get a picture of Cody this week! Tell him and Andrew that they are just a bunch of Hosers. They will understand why.

I cant believe that its already September! I think that the time is literally just melting out of my hands. But that might be due to the heat here that everyone and everything is literally melting!

Was that picture at the baby blessing of Myriah and Nates Baby?

I wrote sister De la Cruz last week but she didnt write me back this week. She told me that this week she would send me the list of people that she wants me to visit. 

Did Andrew learn Spanish well being in the States? I wonder if he knows all of the Mexican slang that I do. 

I definately understand the situation that Cody is in. I find it easy to speak english with other American Elders because its spanglish. They understand it as it comes out. But its hard to talk to President Cahoon or his wife because they dont understand spanglish. 

This week we went all the way to Saltillo and back. It was great. I got to see a lot of good friends. We will having a zone conference this week with the President and the Assistants on Wednesday. The assistants will actually be staying the night with us tonight when they get here from Saltillo. Then in the Morning they are off to Acuña. They will then come back to stay with us tomorrow night. Then we have the Zone conference on Wednesday. Fun stuff.

Other then that I don´t think that anything really eventful will be happening. Please keep the investigators in your prayers. Especially Maria Luisa, Gabriela, Jose, and Alejandra. I would appreciate it if you could also put their names in the temple. Love you!

-Elder Stockman

Hey Dad!

look up this adress, my apartment is the one on the top left.

 **********************************

Address omitted.. 

it is behind the house that shows up. It is the group of apartments with the red steps and the white hand rail.

I am doing really great, I think that I can 100% relate to Cody. Poor guy. I also agree that I have no idea where August went. All of the sudden its the 5th of September. sometimes I dont even keep track of that I just ask my companion and sometimes im surprised that its a certian date. for example right now its September 5th!

So I have really liked Piedras Negras. Its is super similar to the rest of the mission in a lot of ways but the people are a little different. By the way I have Mtn Dew coming my way this week. Dont worry about me. When there is a will there is a way.

I think that the food here is normal. I rember having told you guys about that burger that I ate, The other night an investigator invited us to dinner and when we showed up they were baking an entire lamb. It was actually pretty delicious, they gave me some shoulder meat and a chopped off part of the neck. That was interesting. My companion got the thigh. 

Elder Bermúdez is a great guy. We really do get along great. The President put me with his this transfer so that I could teach his the ropes of being zone leader I guess you could say. I guess I completely forgot to mentiont that. They put me back as L/Z 2 to help him as L/Z 1. They actually did that with almost all of the zone leaders in the whole mission.

I kind of understood that my assignment wouldnt last for that long so I hope that I can finish training a new Elder. That would be really awesome. the dream come true. Haha. Afterall I do need someone to Pass on all of the Stockman Legacy. 

I really want to eat the Horchata flavored ice cream. That sounds rediculiously good. I drink Horchata everytime that the opporotunity presents its self. I love it. I would say that its probably like once a week or somewhere around there. 

I hope that you have a great trip!

-Elder Stockman

Week #90- I feel like the witch on the wizard of Oz.

​Elder Bermúdez and I.

God bless the USA! That is a golf course in Eagle Pass Texas. And I'm standing over here in Mexico. 

Hey momma!

SO this week it has been really hot in Piedras Negras! one day it got up to 110 degrees farenheit. which is about 44 celcius. I feel like the witch on the wizard of oz- 

Hey you gotta tell all my friends hi and that I expect them there at my homecoming!

A lot of things have changed back home right?

I was thinking that the time really has been going quite fast. I got an email this last week from my first companion in the field Elder Garcia. Can you believe how much time it has been since we were together! I told him to be in the airport in Mexico City we'll see if he goes. Right now we are actually preparing to go to Saltillo again. We will be leaving Wednesday morning, the assistants have planned an epic basketball match for thursday morning. Then we will have the leadership council and I will be back to Piedras Negras Friday in the early morning. 

RIght now we have been looking for a lot of new people to teach. I can kind of see what sister de la cruz was talking about. There are a lot of problems with the law of chastity here. also we have been finding people here and then they just randomly disappear. Then out of The blue they come back and say that they went and tried to cross the river "de mojado" into the united states. Its kind of funny. But its crazy how many immigrants there are here. Always asking for money. always!

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

-Elder Stockman

Hey Dad!

so remember when I had that sweat rag the first time that we spoke in Monclova. Yeah I have to take 2 sweat rags with me here. It is so hot man I am literally melting. I have already lost another 3 or 4 pounds just being here! haha

Today we went and played basketball in the morning with 4 other Elders in the church ( here we live 4 blocks away) and we actually got to the point that we stopped sweating! haha when we went inside to get a drink the sweat came pouring in again! haha

Last week it got up to 110 farenheit about 44 celcius. 🌋

But Im loving it!

My new companion is a really funny guy. we get along great! And the funny thing is that we will be going to Saltillo again this week! can you believe that! We leave Wednesday morning and then we leave from Saltillo Thursday evening, We get back to Piedras Negras Friday at like 2 in the morning! 

Right now there is a lady that we are teaching. Her name is Maria Luisa and her daughter is 9. Her name is Gabriela. Maria Luisa got together with a really less active man and they were living in free union. He was previously married and never bothered to get diviorsed. So that was a really long process that we finally finished was his divorce. Now we are in the final stepps to get them legally married and then Maria Luisa and Gabriela will get baptized. They are really great people! they understand sacrifice... They come to church every week without fail. I have learned a lot from the people that I teach. 

Anyways that all for now

have a great week!

-Elder Stockman

Week #89- I've never felt so much heat in my entire life.

My new Zone in Piedras Negras.

I tried to do a burger challenge here and I totally failed! it was so hard!

Momma,

I am here in super hot city of Piedras Negras. Wow, I have never felt so much heat in my entire life. I think that I am literally melting haha!

So Everything is good with the new companion. We basically didnt do anything this whole last week because Elder Valenzuela from the 70 came and we were the ones in charge of getting it all set up. I also had the opporotunity to go to Monclova to a leadership Council and he taught us how to have better leadership councils. Elder Bermudez is currently on the bus on his way back from Saltillo. He had to ship out yesterday at 10:30 and he got to Saltillo at like 6:00 am. He has to go sign some stuff and get his fingerprints and actually now he is back on his way. 

So there isnt really much else that is happening. I cant believe that Zach is now a grown man and he is in Middle School. That blows my mind!

We should be having a baptism this weekend of a Sister and her Daughter. The sister has to wait on a divorce to finish so that she can get married to the man that she lives with to be able to get baptized. Its a complicated situation but its also unfortunate how common it is here. But we keep our heads up high. 

So I actually still dont have a picture of me with my companion because he suddenly left but next week I will get one. 

love you have great week!

-Elder Stockman

Hey Dad! 

So I actually do know Hermana Aragon. She was a sister training leader and I would see her in the leadership councils. I have never been in the same zone as her but she is pretty cool!

Its a small world right?

You say that at least you dont live in California, and I say at least you dont live in Coahuila! haha Its is a blaze of heat over here. I have never felt so much heat in my life time. 45 degrees celcius with like 100% humidity. Its life threatening. haha

So Elder Bermudez doesn't speak a lick of English. haha. But we are working him on that one. I am teaching him some phrases and so on. We get along great. He really is a great guy. 
I actually still dont have a picture with him though. last nigjt he got shipped out to Saltillo to fix his visa. It was another Elder in our zone from Bolivia also had to go with him. So the whole day I have been with Elder Hall. We went to this place called Gula Burger. It is a really good burger place. I got prideful and thought that I could eat their challenge and not have to pay. There are a couple of Elders that are on their "pared de pecadores" haha. I totally lost. Elder Smith tried it with me but we failed. I have been having a great time this week!

We should baptize two people this weekend. She has to wait on a divorce process to finish and then she can get married to her husband. Its ufortunately a pretty big colture problem here. But Anyways that is pretty much what has been going on with me. I went to Monclova for a leadership council with the area 70 Elder Valenzuela. It was some pretty great revelation recieved. He also came up on Friday and talked to both the Piedras Negras and Acuña zones. 

I love you, have a great week!

-Elder Stockman

Week- #88 I'm going to Piedras Negras.

a picture of a lot of my ex companions. I was pretty lucky to snap this pic.

Elder Hernandez, Elder Johnson, Elder Ogden, me, Elder Vaszuez, Elder Villeda, and Elder Miner

Momma,

Transfer Alert!

Im being shipped off to Piedras Negras Coahuila. I will be serving with Elder Bermudez from Costa Rica. I am finally going to Piedras Negras! I have wanted to go there my whole mission!

Now it will be easier for me to send stuff home so that my luggage can be lighter. That is a great advantage. It is also awesome because I can have Mtn Dew and cool american treats!

WWOOOOO!!!

but on the other hand I am sad that I will be leaving the Aurora and Elder Ogden. we were both here only one transfer! they are shipping him out to Monclova again haha!

Im so excited to see all of those rascals!(cousins at home) thats hilarious that they actually look up to me that much. Who knew?

So I only have 12 weeks left as a full time missionary. I think that it is insane how fast the time has gone! That means that in a couple of weeks here they will be calling me to ask to which airport I will be returning home and I will have my flight plans. AHHHH!

So Elder Wiedmeyer extended his mission and he is now with Elder Johnson and Elder Domiciano in a trio. haha I thought that was interesting. 

Well Im going to start the long and tedious packing process and I dont know how but I seriouslt have like 50 ties. I dont understand but they actually do take upa quite a lot of space. 

So this week we will be having a Multi zone conference with Elder Valenzuela from the area presidency. Acuña and Piedras Negras will all be getting together in Piedras Negras stake Center.  And then on Saturday we will all be traveling to Monclova to have a leadership conference with Elder Valenzuela. Its going to be a crazy week this week. haha

anyways I hope you have a great week, I love you, and see you later.

-Elder Stockman

Dad,

Off to Piedras Negras I go... WOO!

I was here such little time, its crazy! I was only here 6 weeks with Elder Ogden. The craziest part is that neither of us are staying. He is going to go to Monclova again! haha

My new companion is Elder Bermudez from Costa Rica. I know him really well. I was actually his first distcirt leader when he was born into the mission life. haha he is a great guy but he talks super funny! like instead of rolling his r's he just says them like an uneducated american would. haha

So its some pretty melty weather up there in Piedras Negras right now. I am super ezcited though to be on the border again. I totally didnt take advantage of all to cool things up there in Acuña last time. But now Im getting the Mtn Dew on again! Woo hoo!

I was also thinking that I will be sending home a package with some heavy stuff in it like all of my books and papers and stuff. 

haha thats pretty funny that you said you would give Milo 9 mm led poisining. that made me chuckle a lot actually. But if he dies you should totally get a new dog. life is boring without a dog. It makes things more intertaining. 

Anyways Im going to get to packing and not enjoy it haha!

love you have a great week!

-Elder Stockman