Week #42- ha,ha,ha.... Seems to be the theme.

Hi Momma. 

​Elder Monterroso who was an assistant and he was training a new Elder in my district. He is going home now... he is from LA.

The Mish. 

Elder Stockman and Elder Vasquez.

The Zone leaders brought weird sweatshirts. Ha,ha,ha.

​The Zone Miravalle.

A dead rat ha,ha,ha. 

​I think that I need a bigger umbrella... haha.

Momma,

Got good news I will be staying here with Elder Vasquez another transfer! I am super excited even though the area is really small and I feel like I have knocked every single door. I know that we will have a lot of success this change!

are you speaking spanish in school? hahah

I hope that everything goes well with Abbie and Zach aswell. I always pray for you guys don't worry

This last week I have felt really good! we are working super hard!

I can't believe that Trent comes home in 10 months! It goes by so fast!!!!!

I love you guys and just wanted you to know that I am doing good. They put a super dificult Elder in my District again who was in my District before I hope that I can help him to work harder. 

Can't believe that Da and Grandma have been married 50 years that quite the accomplishment.(actually 53 years)

Today we went Bowling with the Zone Leaders it was a super fun time I won the first game and then Elder Vasquez who had never been bowling in his life won the second game hahaha.

We will be baptizing Diego this week and then in a week or two Rosy. And hopefully at the end of the transfer a Family of 4 that we found!

love you and have a great week!

-Elder Stockman

Hey Dad. 

Well they are going to keep me here another transfer with Elder Vasquez and I'm super excited for that! He is a stud.

I feel like I was here writing to you guys yesterday and now I am here again haha.

I am doing super good. I'm excited because even though we didn't baptize last transfer We will definately see the fruits of our labours this transfer.   

Mom told me that Trent will come home in 10 months and that blows my mind. the time blows by. 

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

-Elder Stockman

Week #41- Monte de Sion

​I didn't know that mount Zion was in Saltillo? hahaha

​Super cool Sun Set.

Divisions with the Zone Leaders Elder Resendiz. 

Hey momma! It's super good to hear from you this week.

I can't believe that I have been in Monclova and in Saltillo the same amount of time that blows my mind. 2 days and 2 months from now I will be completing the year in the mission! or the day that I go home! because I will be coming home on the 9th.

I can't believe that Josh is gone. that is a moment that I have always placed so far away in my mind and the day has come and gone. I guess I will see him in 2 years

Good to see that Everyone is doing good! I can't believe that it's September....

Well I feel kinda wierd because this transfer is about to end. I have loved my time here with Elder Vasquez he is awesome. I really think that I will be leaving this area but who knows? We will see in a week haha.

I feel like I have been here in the zone for too long so that makes me think that I will be leaving. Even though that probably doesn't mean anything but we will see what happens. 

This week was the last week of the transfer to bring investigadores to church because next sunday we have the opporotunity to go to the broadcast of the temple dedication for the Mexico city temple. And obviously investigatores can't go. It was super cool because we were fasting and praying that a family we found 2 weeks ago would come to church. They are a family of 6 the parents and 4 kids. 

They always close the doors for the sacrament and lock them so that we can mantain reverence and they closed the doors and they still hadn't came. They opened the doors and they were all there it was a super huge surprise and I can't believe it that they came. We have an appointment with them on tuesday. The kids especially really liked it and I know that they felt something different.

I'm doing super good and kind of hoping that I can have another american companion so that I can practice my English. Because it is pretty bad! hahaha

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

-Elder Stockman

Hey Papi

That is super cool to hear that you offociated a session. That is something that I would be really nervous to do. Did you mess up at all?

Things are going really great here in Mexico. I am loving my time here and I can't believe that it's September. It's still kind of hot here so it doesn't seem like it all the way. 

Me and My companion get along super great. He has definately been a really great companion these last weeks. 

I really don't have any idea where I will be going my next transfer. I know that I will go there one day but who knows when!?

Hmmmm guacamole. that is some good stuff. Haha there is an Elder from Peru in my ward and we always make fun of him because he says "Palta" instead of "aguacate" do they say that in Bolivia aswell?

I don't know why you are torturing yourself. GO TO WENDYS haha

We had a ton of success this last week. It hasn't been easy these last couple of weeks but I know that the Lord was testing our Diligence. We were able to bring a family of 6 to church and that was an absolute miracle. They are also reading the Book of Mormon. Ojala que siguen progresando.

I have to say that the time here in Saltillo has gone extremely fast I feel like sometimes I wake up in Monclova but then I realize that I'm here in Saltillo. hahaha

Tell everyone that I love them and that I will see them in 14 months wooo! haha have a great week! 

🙌

-Elder Stockman

Week #40- A Unicorn!!

What!!

​Dead unicorn Piñata hahaa and me killing it with a pen.

Scary doll head I found in a construction site.

It's an alley way that we always take in my area its like a short cut.

Hey momma!

I'm doing super great!

We have actually been able to have a pretty good number of new investigators. It was a test of our diligence but now we have been able to find a lot of people who are more willing to listen.

We get fed every day but Monday. This week one of the members canceled on us and just gave us money to go and buy something. But they are more on top of it then the members in Monclova hahaha. The people here in Saltillo are actually a lot more closed. It's a bigger city and almost everyone works in the factories for car companies. Almost everyone here works for Chrystler, Whirlpool, or General Electric. 

Transferes will be on the 15th of September in 2 weeks. We have 6 week transferes and right now we are just starting week 5 of the transfer. I sure hope that I have the opporotunity to work closer to President. That would be pretty awesome haha. I don't know if that will ever happen though who knows. President already has the transferes done. He knows and has it all ready from like the first or second week of the transfer. It is all done through revelation. He and his assistants are constantly praying and fasting and then the last couple of days of the transfer he makes last minute changes. Elder Monterroso who was an assistant is in my district right now, he is training and he has told me a lot of stuff that they do. 

Elder Vasquez and I are doing excellent. We have both been praying that we can stay together another transfer that would be excellent. 

He leaves 6 weeks after I do. We were in the CCM together but he goes home after I do because they were they less timeso their time there doesnt count. 

He is from Oaxaca, Oaxaca the capital city. He is always talking about the cheese from there evidently it is super mind blowing. It's like the Tillamook of Mexico. He speaks one word in English and its NO, haha it's the same in english and spanish. No yeah he is trying to learn and I am trying to teach him but I don't like teaching him because I would rather be speaking spanish hahah. No but I am helping him we have an hour each morning to study language. The ward is going through a lot of changes right now. My first week here they released the Bishop because he moved to Mexico. But they are still trying to fill the organizations. We just got a ward mission leader and he is pretty cool. He always gives us a lot of food. He has only been married 7 months and he came back from his mission like 3 years ago. 

But I am doing super good right now and I am super happy! Love you guys and I hope that you have a great week!

-Love Elder Stockman

PS: I saw some sort of technological thing and it freaked me out. The world is changing super fast and when I get home I will be in for a surprise hahaha love you

Dad,

Haha why are you torturing yourselves. I tell you what has really helped me lose serious weight and that is being a fulltime servant of the Lord. Walking and walking and walking and walking. Oh and did I mention walking hahaha

I have a question for you dad. Would you sell your soul for a dunford donut. haha that reminded me of the conference talk that the guy said he passed off as an 11 year old when he was really 12 just so that he could have more chocolates when he went to the movie theater. Don't worry I know what you meant. 

Tell Zach that I really appreciate that he is thinking about me and that the Lord will bless him if he keeps paying a full tithing. Tell him to prepare himself because according to him when I get home he is going to clean my clock. haha love that guy!

I miss the Temple but hopefully I will be able to go in 11 months with my converts from Monclova.

They also just told us that we will be able to go to the rededication of the Mexico City Temple. They will be having a broadcast here in the Stake Center in 2 weeks super excited for that. 

I have been studying the Book of Mormon in depth and I have been able to find some really great stuff. I love the scriptures. 

I have been able to have a lot more spiritual experiences this week. I have been fasting and praying a ton to be able to have a stronger spiritual influence and to be able to help the investigatores feel of that spirit. We have been able to feel that influence in our lives a lot stronger and literally felt guided to certian people who have clearly been prepared by the Lord. People that have asked us how did you know to come here and Knock on my door, in a moment when they had felt totally forgotten the Lord showed them his guiding light. I love that and it literally never gets old. I absolutely am a fan of missionary work. My testimony is so strong that I have been thinking about all of the opporotunities lost before my mission. But I have made promises and covenants with the Lord that I will never close my mouth. Look at Mosiah 18: 8-9 it says...

 "  8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

 9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—"

Te amo papi y ruego al Padre que les bendiga mucho. Cuídate mucho y se valiente.

Week 39- Things are going great

It started to rain a lot this week. 

Things are going great!

Hey momma!

I'm doing really well. I have been happy and working hard. I was thinking a lot about how before I left on my mission that we were talking about how Abbie would be graduating when I am here in the mission and I can't believe that it has started. When she graduates I will be home in no time at all.  haha

I can't believe that Zach will be a Deacon and that he will have the Priesthood, That absolutely blows my mind. 

We also had stake conference this week end and President Rodriguez spoke with his wife. They are the coolest people ever. I couldn't even imaging other mission presidents but that is an unfortunate reality that I will one day have to face. One of the ex-assistants to the president is in my district because he is finishing his mission soon. He is finishing training a new missionary and He has told me so many cool stories about how President truly recieves revelation. I know that He is a man of God and I sustain him. 

Anyways I'm doing super good down here in Mexico and I feel great with my companion still. Keep us in your prayers that the investigadores will progress to the waters of baptism. We are almost there! 

Tell Da that I love him and appreciate him so much. 

That's cool that the Neffs are having a baby again! How many kids do they have now? and tell Scott that I love getting his primary class packages. They are fun! How is Christian Lee doing? tell him that I say hi!

Love you and have a great week!

-Elder Stockman

Dad(Regan was telling our visiting authority at Stake Confrence President of BYU Elder Worthen that our son is serving in the same mission he served in and he said is it still the Detroit of Mexico and we said yes.) Just so you all know it's a steel town. 

Well that's pretty much the way that I would describe Monclova aswell. It's funny because that dog whistle was a life or death situation up there in Monclova but down here in Saltillo there aren't nearly as many dogs or as much garbage. The investigator pool is filling slow and steady. Each area is different, but we have 5 baptismal goals right now. Let's hope that they all follow through with this decision. I can't believe that I have been is Saltillo like 4 months. I remember being in Monclova yesterday haha.

I had a very similar spiritual experience when Elder Pieper visited the mission. He is in the area presidency and he also started his mission in Monterrey but started here in Saltillo. He just knew the scriptures and knew how to use them. I feel similar about my mission president. We had an opporotunity to listen to him again this week because he spoke in a stake conference and just so knowledgeable. 

Thanks for writing me this week and I hope that you guys have a great week!

Tell Andrew that I extrañar his ciber voice. haha

love

-Elder Stockman

Week #38 - I pretty much have 9 months mom

Hey momma!

This week I have been really good. I can't believe that they are going back to school this week and that means that you will be going back aswell. I wish you all the best of luck. Please keep us in your prayers specifically so that we can find new investigators. I can't believe that I pretty much have 9 months mom. It blows my mind it seems like every time I come to the internet cafe I am telling you the same thing, and it seems like I am coming here every day but it's every 7. 

I am super happy with my companion he is a super funny dude. He makes me want to stay with him more time but the zone leaders have been asking me a bunch of questions about him like he will be having a leadership position aswell so that means that we most likely won't be companions next change. 

It has been really hot these last couple of days and I am just glad that I am still here in saltillo. But I don't know why I feel like I will going to Piedras Negras really soon. Well who knows I will go where ever the lord calles me to go. 

I just got news a couple of weeks ago that one of my converts from Monclova, his wife just got baptized. That means that in a year from now if they work really hard they can go to the Temple and I would be able to go with them to Monterrey. That would be a once in a lifetime experience and I'm hoping that they work hard. I know that This gospel is true and that the Lord has blessed me a ton. I know that I will never be able to pay him back for all that he has done for me and all that he continues doing. love you and have a really great week!

-Elder Stockman

Hey Dad!

Well that's cool that you guys had a fun week. That is absolutely crazy that Christian Lee comes home this week!

Tell him hi from Spencer.

I'm doing really good. The mission is an experience that I could not possibly ever describe in human words. Good thing that you have experienced the same so you kind of know what I am talking about. The time is flying by dad it freaks me out I don't like to think about it but when I stop thinking about it it seems to go even faster. Did you ever have leadership in your mission I remember that you told me you were a secretary in the offices. But I don't really know how to explain that either. Its difficult, but it's been one of the greatest lessons that I have learned in my life. Giving capacitations isn't all that fun. last week I assigned my companion to help me so now I owe him a pizza hahaha. He was glad and willing to help me. Super glad that he is my companion. I really get along well with him hes great, We are always joking around but we are working really well as well. 

Misión Mexico Saltillo es un poco duro. Pero es porque no hay muchos bautismos y poca retención. Vamos a tener un bautismo en como 1 semana. La dificultad que tenemos es que las personas dicen que van a acompañarnos pero no vienen. Es un poco difícil eso pero es la cultura. Como sabes muy bien cada area es muy diferente que el otro, todos tenemos desafíos y beneficios. Pero vamos a perseverar y cosechar. 

I don't know why I started talking in Spanish but that's just how my mind works. I guess I will be speaking to you guys for Christmas before we know it. Have a good week Dad

-Elder Stockman

Week #37- My new best friend in the mission

Elder Stockman and Elder Vasquez.

Studying hard. 

My first zone leaders, and Elder Macias´s dad who came to pick him up because he finished his mission. Super great missionary. Sad to see him go.

Hey momma!

This week Was a huge change for me. I went from super low to super high because I absolutely love my companion. He is a stud. He is super funny and he loves staying obedient and working hard. Actually since Elder martinez left I have seen a huge change happen in the area. I have seen that all of a sudden the people are going to church and that We will be baptizing shortly. It is an absolute miracle. I love Elder vasquez so much I think that he is definately one of my best friends in the mission. 

Glad to hear that everyone got back home safe and sound. I can't believe that my birthday is coming up that fast! that blows my mind that Zach will be passing the sacrament. How cool to see that everyone is all of a sudden grown up. I will be 20 years old soon, sorry to remind you but you and dad are old hahaha.

I love you and I have been thinking a lot about you guys this week. Recently I have been listening to a lot of mo-tab and it really helps me to calm me down.

I just feel a lot of peace right now knowing that the lord is always on my side. 

Yeah I know Elder Hopper he is in my zone. He is a character. hahaha he is Elder Rose´s son. That means that Elder Rose was his trainer. haha he is a really great guy. 

That's cool to see how small the church is but how big it is aswell. I love you so much mom and have a really great week! 

love

-Elder Stockman

Dad,

Glad to hear that you are back from Puerto Rico safe and sound. I cant believe that they still give you the discount there at Panda. I miss good american chinese food. They suggest to not eat the chinese food here and I found out why the hard way. Hahaha

I am absolutely lovin glife right now with my new companion. He is a character. But sometimes he just impresses me with his knowledge of the gospel. We joke around in the house and stuff but I love him because when it is time to work he works. And when it is time to be obedient he is obedient. 

I also really liked that analogy that you gave me about Heavenly Father. That really put it into perspective didnt it. 

Well we should be seeing a couple of baptisms here shortly. That is definately a blessing of when both the companions are obedient and both of us know why we came here. 

I have been really impressed with him. We have found a couple of new people this week and we were super surprised with a miracle on unday with 6 different investigators in church. It was cool because this week all of the youth in coahuila went to EFY and one of them is an eternal investigator. He and his mom were going to get baptized the same day but at the last minute he didnt get baptized. That was in pril and he said it was because he felt like he needed more of a testimony. Well he came back this week from EFY and bore his testimony and it was actually pretty simple but powerful. fter church the Bishop talked to us and said that iego had talked to him and that he now would like to be baptized. Its really cool to have been able to see the lord's hand in the lifes of these people and the coolest thing is that I get to see it every day. 

anyways Im doing pretty greaty and I hope you have a great week!

love

-Elder Stockman

Week #36 I'm the only one in my district that speaks English ha,ha.

My first district as district leader. I'm the only one who speaks English haha.

La Zona de Miravalle. 

The monthly money of 2 missionaries. haha inculding the rent.

Old comp Elder Johnson! Miss that guy he was such a great companion.

Momma, 

I am changing companions! phew...

I will be staying here in Lomas de Lourdes 1 and I will be companions with Elder Vasquez. I was with him in the MTC. he is a pretty cool guy.

of corse I don't know him that well because I didn't speak spanish back then but I remember he was cracking jokes with all of the Americans haha.

I am super excited and I feel a burden lifted off of my shoulders. One of my favorite people in the mission is Elder Monterroso who was assistant to the President these last 3 transfers. He is only going to be here 6 more weeks before he goes home. he is from LA Cali. But he will be coming into my district this transfer training a new missionary. I'm happy that I get to work with him this transfer. 

We have been working hard this last week and he taught a ton of people. We have a couple of baptisimal dates set up for this transfer and I'm actually pretty excited. I hope that I could learn what the Lord had prepared for me this last transfer with Elder Martinez. He is changing areas within the same zone. I will still see him on tuesday mornings in the district meetings. I also saw that Elder Loren will be coming to Miravalle ( the zone ) I was with him in the MTC. I hope that he is still as funny as he was back then. HAHA

I am doing really good and glad that I won't be changing areas because I actually really like this area. 

I forgot to mention that Elder Muñiz came with us this last week. He was assigned to come with us from President. He is such a good missionary and he taught us a bunch of stuff! 

I'm sorry that everyone ditched you this week. Just remember to pray because God is always there and ready to listen. 

But say hi to Seth Thomas for me tell him !take off eh! tell him he is a hoser haha

How are you liking your new calling? Is it hard being in young womens?

Oh PS I got brother Neff's Package. Thank his primary class for sending those letters to me. And also thank him for the M&Ms they were delicious. There is an Hermana in our ward that will be coming back from Texas this week and She will be bringing us MTN Dew I'm super excited you have no idea! haha! love you and have a great week!

-Elder Stockman

love you momma pray for you every day.

 Just remember only 5 months untli we talk on skype haha!

Elder Muñiz came with us for 2 days. He is an assistant but he doesnt have an assigned companion. He will be finishing his mission tomorrow. But he came with like 13 companionships that president assigned him to. He is the best missionary that I have Ever meet! 

Hey Dad,

 Thanks for taking the time to write me this week!

I'm glad to hear that you are having fun there in Puerto Rico. Say hi to Sadie for me. 

I'm glad that you want to go home mom told me that everyone ditched her this week. Except the mutt haha. 

I will be staying here in Lomas de Lourdes 1 with a new companion!!! Elder Vasquez form Oaxaca will be my new companion. I was actually with him in the MTC kinda funny. He was always pulling jokes on the American Elders. I actually don't know him that well because I didn't speak spanish back then hahaha but I guess I will get to know him pretty good. 

I have actually been able to strengthen my testimony Of the Lord a lot this last transfer. Because I felt so alone I decided to get closer to God. I know he lives. I know it. It's my pure testimony thats all that I got right now but I know it. I know he loves us and that the church is true. I know that Christ Lives and that he is the savior and redeemer of the world. Have you ever read the Bible? if not do it there is so much interesting stuff in there. Honestly I had never read it before but It's full of such great stuff. 

I love you Dad and get home safe. Have a good week 

-Elder Stockman