Week #24- My prayers have been heard. I won't have to die of heat... As much.

I learned how to be Obedient and still have fun with Elder Rodriguez. Nerf guns anyone!!     

Thanks mom!

 Really that was one of the greatest experiences of my life when I got to talk to you!

I hope that you had a great mothers day!

I will be going to Saltillo!!!!! That means I  won't be going to be dying of heat! (as much) it's still hot but not as bad!

I am leaving tomorrow and Elder Rodriguez is leaving today because he is going to be training a new missionary. I am going to be companions with Elder Johnson. In the area La Cañada 2. I'm super excited for this change but also super sad to be leaving because it is basically my home. But I know this is where I need to be. I'm still hating the whole packing thing it stresses me out so much! just hoping I can make everything fit again! I will keep you updated momma have a great week!

love you 

Elder Stockman

Thanks Dad!

 That really was super cool that I got to talk to you guys yesterday! I will always remember that moment that we shared as a family again from across the world. I am getting transfered to Saltillo!!!!!! woooo i'm not going to die of heat I will be going with Elder Johnson so that means that he's American!!!! wooo hahaha I will be in the area of la Cañada 2. I'm super excited for this change!ª and packing still sucks as usual. I hate it! haha 

love you and have a good week!

-Elder Stockman

Best Mother's Day ever!!

Hola me familia. ❤️

This is a top that's like a Yo-Yo that is super popular down here. I have like 6 of them. Elder Rodriguez is teaching me how to do tricks a little dances that you do while playing with them. 

P.S. mom only cried a tiny bit. He was just so happy it was hard not to feel happy too. 

I could not be more proud of Elder Spencer Joshua Stockman. He has always been an amazing young man. Talking to him was such a joy. He has grown so much. He has experienced amazing miracles and seen things that are so scary that he was asked to to share them with him mom. He did tell us with true conviction and testimony that the missionaries are protected beyond ways he can even explain. He has felt the hand of the Lord many time as he has been spared from danger. He said I will be obedient. I want to be a "Consecrated Missionary". 

We had so much fun time catching up with him, he was dying to know what has changed at home and in the community. He loved hearing about his friends on their missions(Trent, Andrew, Cody, and Kimball) and his best friends that haven't left yet like Josh and Quinn. We shared jokes and inside jokes. He laughed and giggles just like the Spencer we know and love. He spoke to us like a native Mexican with a Spanish accent. It was hilarious and we give him a hard time about it. He is forgetting how to speak English. Lol we had to correct him tons. He,he. His dad just laughed. Been there done that he says. 

Right now the temperature is 100 degrees Fahrenheit and higher and 100% humidity. He is sweating up a storm and wearing long sleeves. We said "are you crazy"??? He said "I don't want to die of skin cancer". We couldn't help but give him a hard time... Every other second he was wiping his face from sweat with a hand towel. We have pictures. Lol

We asked if he is sick of wearing a tie everyday... He said "not at all. But my suit coat, I hate that thing! Probably because it so stinkin HOT!"

Chatting with some of his favorite guys. Josh is hugging Spencer good-by. See you in 3 years my friend. 

At the end of our conversation we were able to have Spencer bear his testimony in Spanish. 

Week #23 Jesus plays Coldplay and I screamed like a fan girl.

Elder Jesus Rodriguez playing "Cold Play" on the guitar. I forgot how much I missed it. 

Hey mom! great to hear from you this week!

I was reminded of home alot this week because Elder Rodriguez was jammin on his guitar and all of a sudden he started pulling out coldplay songs. I was freaking out like a fan girl and had him teach me a few of them.  He is one of the coolest people that I have ever met and we get along super well. Well I have 4 and a half months in Tecnologico and usually President RDZ doesnt like to keep us in the same area for more than 3 changes. So I think I'm going to be leaving. I fasted this weekend so that I could go to Saltillo the next area becuase I don't want to have any sun burn problems but where ever the Lord sends me I will go with a smile on my face. It is litterally an oven here and the people are saying that we havn't even started the heat.... ahhhh hahaha Monclova!

Super excited to talk to you guys too! this weekend will be great! looking foward to hearing your voices and seeing your faces. Love you and have a great week!

-Elder Stockman 

  

Dad,

Thanks for those stories that you shared with 

This week We had our zone conference and after all of it when Pres. was wrapping up he asked if there were any of us who wanted to accompany him to Saltillo to bring a movie (meet the mormons) back to Pres. Velez. HAHA our hands shot up first. We got to drive down to Saltillo about 3 hours with the Pres and I got to know him so much better. He is a really funny guy. But he has some pretty crazy stories of some pretty rough missionaries. I'm glad that I'm not the President. HAHa

I told mom haha, it's funny but I actually fasted that my next area could be in Saltillo because I don't want be here when it gets even hotter which still blows my mind that thats even possible. Es que no quiero quemar. 

But i'm super excited and i'm super animated! and I'm having the having the time of my life. la verdad!

 

Decidimos que vamos a hacer la llamada a las 4:00 el Domingo. im going to call at 4:00 but I don't have a skype or I don't remember it. 

haha and yeah I totally forgot moms number the only one that I remembered was the home phone haha. I don't even remember what my own number was. AHhh yeah. 

Have a great week!

-Elder Stockman

Week #22 - We made the Guinness book of records for our mission

Momma,

WOOO HOOO 5 months! hahaha I really can't believe how fast the time has gone it blows my mind.!

I really want to go to the temple I feel like a sinner hahaha because I havn't been in 5 months.

Yeah that is a pretty marvelous temple and a beautiful house of the Lord. Referring to our family trip to the Payson Temple open house)

Super excited to talk to you guys in 2 weeks! that is going to be unforgettable. HAHAHA

Elder Rodriguez and I broke the record for contacts in one week that was pretty cool. 

I pulled out the box of letters this week and I have to say that it really helped to lift my spirit a ton! thanks for all that you do for me and all of the thought and time that you put into that care package. 

I love the Family Velez so much!!!  but sometimes it still make me a little nervous because they were mission presidents and all. hahah and you know as a missionary its a little intimadating. I hope you have a really great week mom. 

PS we are starting to find some really great people in this area and we are finding tons of people to teach. It has been cool to see this dead area totally change!

Love

-Elder Stockman

Dad

ps. What the heck man you killed the Mazda. hahaha Abbie ratted you out. That car will always have a special spot in my heart- 

(Lol we didn't kill the Mazda we sold it. It wasn't pulling its weight anymore. Plus Abbie is about as happy as me(mom) because we hated that car. Abbie also gets dads Honda Civic now.)

​Another pic of the monclova sign. I swear that I have been here for every season of the year... oh wait I have! hahhaa

 Picture of some pigs eating trash by the side of the river. hahaha

(Hello major baggy pants!! This kid is dropping the Lbs. Way to go Elder)

Guiness book of world records for the Mexico Saltillo mission. 

Amamos la família Vélez!

Happy Sunday to us!! Right as I walked out of Relief Society I got a message from our favorite Madre in Mexico. She said

"Hoy  comio  su  hijo  con  nosotros  y  esta  cumpliendo  hoy  5  meses !!!;)"

(Today your son ate with us and has completed 5 months!!!)

How blessed are we to have a mother and father in Mexico taking such wonderful care of our Missionary. Even more cool we were able to meet them during General Conference this year when they came to town. We have a life long friendship with this family now. Tender mercies from our Heavenly Father are everywhere. 

Elder Rodriguez and Elder Stockman having Sunday dinner at the Vèlez home. 

Elder Stockman is showing off he's shrinking waistline. (his cloths look really baggy in all these pictures too. He is down 20 pounds.)

Lunch at the Vèlez family earlier in the week. This photo was also sent to us in a sweet message. I was able to chat back a forth with Sister Vèlez when the Missionies boys(missionaries where at her house💕) 

Transferred are just 2 weeks away.  When it's time for Elder Stockman to leave for a new area he will greatly miss the Vèlez family. So will we. What a special friendship we have now formed. 

Love,

Elder Stockman's momma

Week #21 The baptism of Arnoldo.

The Baptism of Arnoldo Lopez. 

Hey mom! 

well this week I had a pretty crazy experience That I told Abbie ask her to tell you. 

I'm doing really well an I'm so grateful for the package that I got with all of your letters!

SO proud of Zach and that he wants to be a drummer what a stud!

I can't believe how hot it is here I really hope that I can go to Saltillo in the summer hahahaha

My shoes are still holding up and I havn't had problems with allergies. 

This week was the Baptism of Arnoldo. This was a really special experience because I found him with Elder Garcia. He was baptized on Saturday by the Bishop and Confimed on Sunday by the Bishop as well. He was baptized because we had varoius family home evenings with members and he has friends that are members now. When we work with the members is when we have success. 

Tell Dad I love him and that I will write him first next week because this dumb chafa ciber keeps glitching. I lost like hlf my time. Love you and have a great week!

-Elder Stockman

Hey dad just a quick message I love you and I hope you have a great week. I'm keeping you in my prayers and I hope that Grandpa is ok. By the way don't freak out about the story I told abbie. I'm ok! hahaha

(To all that have ready this post thus far.. The big scary story Spencer wrote to Abbie is an experience he had administering a blessing to someone who is dying suffering from cancer of the face. It was a very hard site to see and to see him suffer so much. The spirit was so strong it physically drained him(Spencer). He expressed how much he listened to the spirit and said what the Lord wanted him to say, not what he would like to say. He had to share with the man that he would be passing and leaving the cancer and other fears behind. The description of the man was quite graphic and he asked us to not share all those details. He did express that he had a testimony of the power of a priesthood blessing before this experience, but this was an experience he will never forget. His testimony and witness grew beyond his comprehension. The power of the priesthood that he was able to share drained him physically and emotionally. What a beautiful gift he could give this man before he went to our Heavenly Father.) Our Missionary is growing so much. If you are writing to our Missionary please don't ask about this sacred experience. We have share all the details he wants to. Thanks. 😊

Week #20 Oh dad and his dam tee shirt.

 ​

Conference Selfie with Elder Evans. There was an english broadcast phew.

Hey momma! 

first of all thank you soooo much for the package. I am gratefull that I can be part of the best family in the world! thank you so much for all the love and time that you put in to the package mom it really means a lot. Im pretty sure that the shark tie is the coolest thing that I have ever seen in my entire life! hahahahha

I hope that Dad had a good trip and that everything went well. I saw that you guys sure had fun in the sand dunes that looks like so much fun! 

I dont understand Zach caught a lizzard or he didnt... either way its hilarious

I will pray and fast for Elder Taylor Davis! I hope that everything will be ok!

Elder Rodriguez is one of the funniest people that I have ever met! haha we get along so well! I just cant believe that we are already almost half way done with this change. I have learned that you can work hard and be obedient but you can also have fun. We sit and laugh and play pranks on each other, good times.SO all of a sudden everysingle kid has this thing called a "trompo". Its like a spinning top and a yo-yo mixed and Elder Rodriguez is teaching me how to "dance" or to do tricks with the trompo. He also has like 4 nerf guns and we play war. I also taught him how to flick playing cards like Abbies friend taught me so we play skeet shooting with nerf guns and playing cards. Its a blast!

This Saturday is the Baptism of Arnoldo Lopez. He is super cool. He is a carpenter and he has a business in the back of his house. He makes really beautiful pieces. He is 53 years old and is a grandpa. I actually found him with Elder Garcia and he loves going to the church. He even loved the conference. He has changed since we started talking to him and I have been able to se the gospel change a person. Also his wife is starting to want to listen to us because she has seen this change in her husband and she went to church yesterday. 

I'll probably leave technolopgico in 3 week which makes me sad but I feel like this area has changed a lot for the better. 

Elder Rodriguez is helping me to prepare to be a senor companion next change or a trainor of a new missionary. We´ll see how that goes. But if I can improve my lessons I got it! haha

Oh and the Familia Velez says hi hahaha love you and have a great week!

Love

-Elder Stockman

Hey dad! first of all I have to say that you are one lucky dude that the iphone is ok. But im happier that your ok. Im doing really great and Im so happy!

I got the package and loved everything thank you so much for all of your time and effort to send stuff to me! haha

I have to say the highlight of the family picture is your dam t shirt. I cant believe you would wear that dam tee shirt again! haha

thanks for including humor in my package!

Also I have to tell you that Brian GIbby sent me a letter that said " hey maybe by the time you get back your dad will have the deck done" hahahahahhaa i seriously laughed for like 2 hours on that one. 

Elder Rodriguez is the best ! hahaha we get along so well and we are still obedient and working hard. 

He is from the estado de mexico like 40 minutes away from the CCM and he has a ton of funny stories. Most of them from the mission haha the things that missionaries do... 

I wish you could come and hang out with me in Monclova but its starting to get hot so you should probably stay inside your nice air conditioned house ( haha i miss AC) 

I also Love the book of Mormon and the Prophet Joseph Smith is definately on of my heroes. I love this church and Im actually really starting to miss the temple I havent gone for like  months now. Man its like im going inactive or something. But hey promise me that you and mom will go for me ok. I want to challenge you guys to go once a week I know you can do it. 

Love you so much and have a great week!

poof no eyebrows

love

-Elder Stockman

( the tee shirt Spencer is a shirt bought at the Dallies Dam in Oregon)

​This is the Big stadium that is close to our house.

Elder Rodrigues is mad because he put on sunscreen and then this happened. hahaha sucker.(rain)