Area: MTC Mexico City
Companion: Elder Whimpey
Date: August 11, 2015
Hey everyone its week two and things are well!
Its really weird just thinking im in mexico. Me and my companion are like best
friends so i think that is making the CCM a lot better. So my grammar and stuff
is awful these keyboards are a little different. Anyways Ill tell you about the
CCM its 93 archers of fenced off land with huge cement walls. The security here
is pretty gnarly so we are safe dont worry, haha but you do hear gun shots
going off a lot. My Companion had to leave the CCM and go to the dentist, so we
got to go out into mexico and man these are so crazy. The dentist was one of
the sketchiest places haha I looked at Elder Whimpey while he was sitting on the
chair and said dude we need to say a pray ha so we said a quick one before
anyone came back. Dont worry though he is good now. Ill send some photos along
with this of us at the dentist. But ya the CCM has been good actually and I
think its cause me and my Compañero are like best friends. Spanish is coming
along alright it gets frustrating at times cause when we give lessons I have so
much I want to say to help them but I dont know how. It will come over time I
just need to remind myself that.
Some funny stories that have happened are we were with our zone
doing service and our zone leader was standing there and a of a sudden started
yelling and took his shirt and garments off and started running. We were all so
confused and he finally gets out that a spider just bit him by his hip all just
started laughing so hard and the workers came out and asked what happened and
then they started laughing. We looked at the kids bit and you could see two
little fang marks. Then we saw the spider and it was pretty big so it was nasty
but super funny. Another one is I was giving a lesson to someone and me not
know spanish very well asked him Usted tiene sexual releccion con hermanas
which in direct translation means "Are you having any sexual relations
with sisters" and i quickly realized i needed to say Chicas instead of
Hermanas but luckily the guy we are teaching is already a member, so he just
busted out laughing and then so did we, that is probably the fastest way to
drive the spirit away. But ya while I have been here I have laughed a lot which
really helps.
Let me tell you about stuff I miss right now that I always took
for granted. The toilet paper here is I think sand paper and man that doesnt
feel good at all. They call it Chuck Norris toilet paper. I also miss a nice
shower, we take 2 kind of showers here ones that just have warms drops on your
head or a freezing cold one with regular shower pressure. Another thing is my
Mom cause wow she did a lot for me haha so thanks mom for everything Te Amo.
I guess i will leave you guys with a spirtual thought so while I
have been here I have grown to love reading The El Libro De Mormon and I was
reading in Alma 26 it is an amazing chapter! All of Alma is but the part I
really like was Verses 11 & 12 11 But Ammon
said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own
wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim
with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
12 Yea, I know that I
am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I
will not boast of myself, but I will boastof my God, for in
his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty
miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name
forever." I read this and thought to my self how true that is. Me I
am so weak but with my Lord and Savior I will become strong and I have found so
much joy this gospel brings and I cant wait to get to Wisconsin and start
teaching people. I kept reading and then found this Verse " 24 For they said unto us: Do
ye suppose that ye can bring the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth? Do ye
suppose that ye can convince the Lamanites of theincorrectness of
the traditions of their fathers, asstiffnecked a people as they
are; whose hearts delight in the shedding of blood; whose days have
been spent in the grossest iniquity; whose ways have been the ways of a
transgressor from the beginning? Now my brethren, ye remember that this was
their language." I have the ability to convert anyone in this world,
just as long as I have the lord on my side and teach with the spirit. If Ammon
is going to try and teach the lamanites who love murder and blood, then I will
try and look at everyone I teach that they can be saved and brought to baptism
and then the temple. I cant wait for my first baptism I know that will be one
of the best days of my life because of the joy this gospel brings and knowing
that I brought one of the lords children back home to him. I love you all so
much and I love this gospel. I know that the profetas
receive revelation from god! I know Jose Smith has seen Dios and
Jesucristo and talked with them and that the El Libro De Mormon is the most
correct book on this earth! Everyone stay close with their Savior because with
him anything is possible! Thank you for your prays and emails I love hearing
from you all and cant wait to say more next week!
Love Elder DeSantis
Email Sent to Elder DeSantis from his Dad Dave
DeSantis:
Most mornings I love to start the day by reading scriptures,
including scriptural messages from general Conference. As I read this morning I
was impressed by a quote from Elder Ballard who said:
"......I testify to you that the Lord Jesus Christ
can help us fix anything that needs fixing in our lives through His atoning
sacrifice."
In some way each of us needs something "fixed" in our
lives!
For some reason my mind this morning is drawn to a comparison
between two similar principles. This morning I expound and offer insight on the
difference between fixing and changing.
It would still fit, but Elder Ballard could have chosen to say:
"......I testify to you that the Lord Jesus Christ
can help us CHANGE anything that needs CHANGING in our lives through His
atoning sacrifice."
The Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement can help us change or
fix anything in our life. Are there any subtle differences between asking for
our life to change as compared to asking for our life to be fixed? I submit
that there is.
For example, when I find myself in a job, situation, or
circumstance that seems dull, hard, or taxing the first inkling is to ask of
God for an external CHANGE of jobs, situations, or circumstances. Elder
Ballard's choice of the word "fix" has enlightened my mind and heart
to see more clearly wherein I now desire to ask of God for wisdom, strength,
and power to fix my internal thoughts and attitude towards a dull job, tough
situation, or trying circumstance.
May you and I ask of God for a "fix" of ourself before
we ask for a change in others or our circumstance!
Love Dad/Dave
Elder DeSantis response to his dad:
Dad this quote you just sent was needed the second after i read
it! my companion had a friend who emailed him saying things are hard right now
and i told here is a quote i just read from my dad and now it is being shared
with others! I love these small tender mercies! I love you so much dad you are
such an amazing person and so Christ like I think about you guys everyday!
Love Elder DeSantis
