Week 5 Happy New Years

Hey Momma!

Hey I'm doing great. That Christmas call was pretty awesome! It was really cool to be able to hear all of your voices and to say hi! I can't believe that I will be in Saltillo in 4 days! I'm actually pretty excited to leave though. Mom they finally got more scripture cases in stock so I got 2 of them! It takes a week for them to do the thing with your name and your mission so I didn't want to risk it and not have them in the end. I got one with The Savior and one with the captain Moroni on it with him holding the title of liberty and doing some war cry or something. I love them so much and I am so grateful that I could get them. I think that the Christmas call was hard but it definitely didn't distract me. If anything it strengthened me. Thank you guys so much for your love and support that I feel. I started to pack today and thats an adventure. I know that the Lord will provide but It is definitely a challenge. So I forgot to answer about Elder Wasden. It was hard to see him go and we are all so close, but we gave him a blessing and that was seriously one of the most spiritual things. I guess that he has been home for 2 weeks now. There are 10 people going to Saltillo on monday. (there would have been 11) Me, Elders... Miner, Loren, Evans, Peterson, Smith, and 4 Latinos that are pretty cool! I'm so excited to go and meet President Rodriguez. Its kind of funny because we have known about Elder Smith this whole time but for some wierd reason he wasnt in our district. The air qualtiy is pretty bad here haha they are always burning stuff or it smells like the sewer. I'm hoping that's a Mexico City thing, but most likely its going to be that way in Saltillo as well. I really appreciated your Christmas Advent, and Stocking of goodies. I promise you I didn't open it until Christmas Day. It was hard but I just put it behind some stuff and tried to forget it.  Im so glad to hear that everyone is doing excellent. 

Love you forever Momma!

-Elder Stockman

New Years Party.

Week 4- Merry Christmas

(excerpts from letter to mom)

Hey momma!

Hey its really cool we get to have our P-day today so that we get Christmas off aswell. I dont have much to say this week. I feel like there really is anything that is different. This week week we were able to learn a lot about the importance of speaking in only spanish it is solo español week. It's kind of like fasting but just with English. I'm so excited that I get to talk to you guys tomorrow. I've been hearing that it's warm back home. It's actually raining outside right now and it has been raining for the whole day. I love you mom so much I cant believe that I will be in Saltillo in like a week and a half. 

Please keep Me in your prayer. I pray for you guys day and night that you will be ok. I know that because I am sacrificing my time that the lord will bless you. I can't believe it's Christmas already though. It seems like it's not because the other day I broke a sweat just from walking around outside. Everyone keeps telling me that I am going to lose a ton of weight and that's fine by me, but I hope I can still fit in my cloths. Honestly it feels like I have lost a little bit of weight. I haven't been going back for seconds unless of corse it is pizza night.

Thanks for the Christmas cake pops those were actually pretty killer good. 

I want you guys to think of all the questions that you want to ask me tomorrow because we only have a half an hour. Love you soooooo much mom!

-Elder Stockman

Feliz Navidad

P.S. If they have bueno bars in the US you need to get them. they are made by kinder. They are like a mix of kit kat, milkey way, and nutella. they have like a hazelnut caramel and the chocolate is real. ooooohhhh they are good.

They put lights on Palm trees down here.

Week 3 "The Root Beer was exactly what I needed"

(excerpts from spencers letter this week)

My momma. I love you soooooooo much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ah but I feel bad because I haven't felt home sick that much. It's soooo amazing here in Mexico. I was sad the first night I was here but past that I havent been. I think about you guys but it's not sad I'm happy for this opporotunity to serve the Lord. I'm glad that you guys are hanging in there. I pray for Heavenly Father to be with you guys night and day. I know that he is answering my prayers. I'm not saying that it is going to be easy but I also know that this sacrifice doesnt go un-noticed if you know what I mean. 

I totally know what you mean by a warm Christmas! ;) haha its pretty likely that I won't have a white Christmas, but at the same time Mexicans go all out for Christmas with nativitys and lights and fireworks of corse.

Thank you soooo much for that package of root beer that is exactly what I needed. And thank you for your letter it was really cool to be able to read it and not really feel like there is a countdown or a time limit like there is in the computer lab. 

Its super wierd that I will be in Saltillo soon. I am really looking foward to leaving though because lets be honest I dont like sitting in class for 13 hours! haha... We got to go to the temple earlier today and I brought my camera this time. They have a really cool little gift shop where I got 2 like authentic Mexican backpacks. Pretty much the same as a poncho design wise. I also got a really sweet zip up tie. My district leader Elder Padilla started that trend. 

I am super excited to call home on Christmas that is going to be really special. 

So my favorite latinos left like a week ago and we finally got new ones in our apartment. They are seriously my favorite! but this time their spanish is a lot faster and its super hard to keep up with them.

I'm happy and doing good I will send pics soon

Love you Momma! 

-Elder Stockman

Crazy garbage truck. 

Just another day in Mexico.

Homes on the "B" mountian. There's a lot of people in Mexico city.

Selfie at the Mexico City Temple. We are not able to go in the Temple it is closed for renovations. We do get to go in the visitor center and spend time on the grounds. I love this Temple!

Look what I found!!! The NACHO bike. Sweet. 

Just another day in Mexico.

Our district visiting the Temple.

Week two -Reuniting with old friends

(Excerpts from letter to mom)

Momma! whew it has been a long week! I love it here so much. My district is awesome too! Elder Robbins is from Canada and we always crack eh jokes and call each other hoser. I hope I get faster at typing because I feel guilty when everybody types like an essay and I only have an hour. Pictures are really hard to send from the CCM because you can´t access any other website except myldsmail.net and you have to send the pictures one at a time. I really do love it here a ton. Thank you for the little advent thing I get excited for it every day. 

The language is actually coming really easy to me and everyone in my district hates me becuase I have to translate for them. But I think that everyone has their own personal gifts and mine is that.  I can understand everything the people say as long as they say it slow. But speaking back takes a lot longer. I cant wait until I am fluent and can express my feelings. 

We got to go to the Immigration office today and that was anothger adventure out of the wall. It took us about 2 hours to get there with 2 busses. On the way back we got to go to the temple. Whoa it is awesome! it is closed for renovation but we had a really great time at the visitors center. I thought, along with many others that we would just be going to get our visas and be coming back so i forgot my camera. Not to worry Elder Afualo had his and he took some pictures. I will try and get those to you as soon as possible. 

I was walking though the comador(cafeteria) and I heard someone calling my name. It was Billman! haha I gave him a big hug. He looked exhausted! honestly the first week and first day really sucked but once you get to take the sacrament  and have your first P-day its all good. 

Im so happy and I know I'm doing the lords work. I love you and I know that the Lord is blessing you guys while I am sacrificing this small amount of time. HE LIVES. I know that this church is true, I definately wouldn't be here if it wasn't. 

Love you!

-Elder Stockman

(excerpt from letter to dad)

I'm soo sorry I got distracted and forgot about the taco tally. I know its going to be a heart breaker but oh well I guess I have been focusing on other things. The language is not that bad actually it is coming pretty easy, but the hardest part is teaching and trying to learn how to listen to the spirit 24-7. I get lost a lot of the time but I know that because I am being obedient that the Lord will bless me.

It was really cool to be able to run into Billman! I gave him a huge hug as soon as I saw him.

So far I have seen Stephan Nielsen, Birlyn Wilden, Zach Billman, Jenny Wallace, and Courtney Taito. I think I saw Levi Norman but I could have sworn he came next week. I will have to try and find him.

So come to find out that Dec 12th (tomorrow) is like one of the biggest Mexican holidays. Its their celebration for the Virgin Mary. Ok so the other night the hill with the big "B" on it was totally on fire and our teachers said it was for the celebration. They set everything on fire and have a ton of fireworks. They set of fireworks all the time as it is, But one of my teacher Hermana Alonso said that it literally does not stop from 12:00 midnight tonight to 12:00 on saturday. It is always a fiesta haha.

I love it here so much and I'm happy. 

look up Jeremiah 4.19-21 it describes the CCM food. Not really the food is great. I truly am blessed.

 Yo se que la iglesia es verdadera. Yo se que Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador y Redentor. Yo se que el Espiritu Santo puede darnos paz y tranquilidad. Yo se que Dios tiene respuestas para nuestras oracions.

Love you so much DAD!

-Elder Stockman

Pretty great night shot. I have to say my photography skills are improving.

​I know it seems like I'm wearing the same tie in every picture we are only allowed to have our cameras on P-day. I was gone today so I'm sending more that I didnt have the opporotunity to send. I promise I'm happy. 

The "Frozen" game. We like to play.. The Latino elders are the best at it.

Our District.

-Elder Stockman" 

Another view of Mexico City. These are homes and a hospital in the background.

First week "I made it safe and sound"

DECEMBER 4th

Mom!!!! I want to hug you and I keep regretting not looking back at the airport but I would have lost it. I am sooo happy!!! I have never had this much fun in my life but also I have never felt closer to my Father in Heaven. I know that he lives and that he sent his son Jesucristo for us. I am eating well and studying hard. I broke out the family pictures on Sunday night and lost it. I know though, that as I am in the service of my God he will protect me, and you guys. How is everything going with preschool and with home? I kinda miss being home and just talking in that chair up in your room. Make Zach sit in it hahaha! The Latinos are my favorite. I don't even understand what they are saying half the time but they literally make me cry.(in a good way) One of them caught another looking at a group of Hermanas walking by and now they call him a snake. hahah of all the words to know in English they knew that one. It feels like I have been here for 3 months but I'm only here for a week. It goes really slow but that's ok. I'm just a little anxious to get out in the field. Tuesday nights are Costco pizza night and that was awesome! American food is definitely appreciated. I found out that you can get packages here. but they have to be sent to missionarypackagemx.com that is elder Walstroms mom and she sent him stuff. I have been teaching an investigator named Luis. It has been the coolest thing to watch somebody come unto Christ. He lives in Mexico City and his parents are Catholic so that has been the biggest struggle is trying to get his parents to understand. He wants to get baptized but he said he cant because his parents said he already has. We taught him about immersion and he seemed to get it, but you know I don't speak Spanish and he doesn't speak English so there's that as well. I love you and I fell your love and support every day. Mom you are the best

Love!!!!

-Elder Stockman

P.S.

please tell everyone that I am happy and that I will try to write them back. I will also be sending some pictures



I got lucky and got the seat with leg room. ahhhhhh...

Mexico city view form the plane.

Entry gates at the CCM(Mexico MTC).

First Mission Selfie... Look momma all my head is even in the picture.. I'm practicing...

(You have to know Spencer's photo skills or lack of to appreciate this picture...LOL

I LOVE it here!!

Elder Stockman and my companion Elder Miner.

Look we get to have a fun in the CCM too.

Look at my view.. Don't forget it's one of the most populated cities in the world.. Lots of pollution.

Two of my all time favorite people.. Elder Salvador and Elder Arellanes. They are heading to Guadalajara in a week. (Spencer doesn't stand out at all LOL)