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 #94b Surprise post with new companion and final assignment

Hey Mom!

I am here with Elder Reber. He is from Mesquite Nevada. He is actually bigger than I am! haha

Being here with him reminds me of the good old days when I couldn´t speak any spanish. From what I can see he has a really great desire to love the people and he is super excited to work hard.

I still do have a camera and I have been taking pictures and everything, however I have forgotten to send them. I am sorry. I will try to send all of the most recent pictures to you!

I dont have much time this week I am sorry, But I just want you guys to know that I love you. have a great week!

-Elder Stockman

​this was one week ago...

​This was the last zone in Piedras Negras. One more transfer to go

Week- 94 I'm a father

Mom and Dad,

The long waited time to be a father has finally come. I am going to Saltillo in 1 hour to recieve a new Elder. I have no idea who he is or where he is from. The funny thing is that I will still be here in Piedras Negras but instead of 5th ward I will be in 4th ward. I will let you guys know when I know more. I am so excited, this is actually exactly how I wanted to finish my mission. I think it was the little boost of energy that I need. My time is really limited today but I know that i can make it 6 more weeks!

I love you guys so much!

love 

Elder Stockman 

Week 93 Its a lot of fun to experience something so horrible.(heat)

Hey Mom!

So this week it has been soooo hot! hahah

just when I thought that it would cool down a lot more it has gotten hotter. Its a lot of fun to experience something so horrible. It helps me to appreciate having been born in a calm climate. 

I think that there is a lot of exciting stuff going on back home. A lot of stuff has changed I think that I will go into a little bit of a shock haha!

I think thats great I get to talk in the other wards. Im grateful for that.  I think that I have learned to appreciate it a whole lot more now that I have been a missionary. I used to really hate giving talks and I sucked at it but now I dont mind. 

So the reason that I am writing so late today is because the Lugos came up from Saltilo. They are a senior couple assigned to be in the mission offices and they were sent to check the houses of the mission. they didnt really know how to get around so we sent the whole day with them, I learned a lot from them. And I think that best part of the day is that we got a lot of free food! haha

Tell everyone that I love them and I am doing great. I feel really good. I have had an amazing transfer with Elder Bermudez. I have learned a lot and had a really great time. We have a lot of funny stories together. 

This is my last week of the transfer and now I guess monday I will find out who my last companion is and where my last area will be. 

I love you and I thak you for everything that you do for me. I feel your prayers for me And I appreciate it more then I can express. Tell Andrew whats up from me. Tell him I want him to write me because it seems like he has forgotten that he has a brother in the misison. 

-Elder Stockman

Hey Dad

Tell brother Echols that I am in the 5th ward (barrio cinco)

I think its cool how many people come to know who God is and what the truth is by simply praying in a sincere way. Not being to fancy or eloquent, but sincere, real.

I hope that You and Zach can enjoy your little get away. Where do you plan on going? What do you plan on diong?

So the reason that I am writing so late today is because I was with the Lugo's today. They are a senior couple that works in the mission offices and they were sent here today to check in on the houses and everything in the zone. We had to acompañy them because they really didnt ubicate themselves here. Afterall they have spent the majority of their time in Saltillo. The good thing is that We got a lot of free food. they actually let us come into their Hotel and eat at their breakfast buffett with them. that was AWESOME! after that we checked all of the houses, if they were clean, gave them supplies that they needed like ironing boards or cooking pans. Then they took us to eat some Carne Asada, which is one of the things that I will most miss from México. 

Its been a really great week. We are working really hard here and we still havnt given up on finding someone to baptize. I will endure until the end!

-Elder Stockman