The Church is True!

¿Como esta?

I heard it has been raining a lot back home... Come to Mexico, it rains super hard EVERYDAY, and sometimes hails. Crazy huh? Ice in Mexico, but it's true. It's to the point that I constantly have my jacket with me. ALWAYS!!

I've decided that you guys are all going to learn a little Spanish with me. So I will teach you a new Spanish word every week.  How does that sound?  The Spanish word for this week is actually a phrase, Como se frijole?  Which means... How you BEAN?! Ha-ha I crack myself up sometimes!  The Mexican humor is kind of different down here, but it's like how ya been but how ya bean cause frijole means bean.  I'm awesome, I know it. 

I hear some of you have been doing lots of yard work…well I'm not jealous of all your yard work because I do plenty of that down here, well maybe not yard work but plenty of other work, proselyting, teaching, walking, service, waking up early ya know.   We work every day, we walk everywhere and my area is in the hills.  So I have to walk up hills all day, I've lost weight actually, my pants look a little baggy on me. The thing is that I don't have weight to lose!

I have to come to know that my sister Erin is with me constantly because there's no way I’d be able to teach down here without a great deal of patience, and I know without a doubt that she is helping me greatly with that. I love that girl and I know through the power of the Atonement we all have the chance to live with our loved ones again!  We can see them again and love them again, but that doesn't mean that we stop loving them now.   We love them forever and always and look forward to seeing them again. However, this doesn't mean it's just given to us, anything good in this world is EARNED through tons of hard work and perseverance!  We have to work hard, but it's not just about us, we have millions of lost brothers and sisters out there that desperately need our help. This gospel is amazing, because it's true, and I can feel it. There is no way on earth that I’d have stuck it out as long as I have here in Mexico without the truth of this Church. The church is true!! 

So this week was good, all of our baptism dates fell through but one.  His name is Rueben and he really wants to be baptized.  We initially contacted him in the street, and he was really drunk. Like beyond drunk. But he invited us to his house later and Elder Parker was able to teach him...and he came to church yesterday!  I say Elder Parker taught him because we were in divisions and I was with another Elder in another area for a day.
Now I'll talk about my experience with divisions, There is a reason that the mission has rules, to protect us, and because obedience is the way of the Lord. It's an act of faith to be obedient, and this elder is not that. He's a good guy but has no desire to teach or work. For all those future missionaries, come prepared to work, not to sleep in and mess around, to work! You will have fun, for sure, but the Lord comes first. 

Today we had a massive day of sports!  We played soccer, basketball, and volleyball.  Unfortunately no lacrosse, what kind of country doesn't have lacrosse?! Oh that's right Mexico... Also, I bought my first soccer jersey today.   That was fun!

Every day is a little bit better, even if it's a bad day because the bad days have tons to learn from.  This experience is hard. So hard, but I know the Lord wants me here, and I'm doing it!  I can to change my attitude, and I know that I can stick this out.
Also I found out that one of the Hermnas from my CCM district went home and my district leader is in the hospital... Sad news I know.

Life is good here in Mexico, I like Mexico, but don't get me wrong, the USA is the best country in the world and I will bawl my eyes out when I see an American flag again.

I love you all so so much, keep your heads up, keep fighting, keep the faith, and don't ever give up.

Elder Galbraith
Ted
The Man
Ted Nuts
I have many names, oh yeah and the people here, cannot pronounce my name, at all. 

Me and Elder Parker

Words from an Apostle and a Trip to Zócalo

Hello My Awesome Family and Friends!!

Things here are good still. I'm progressively getting better every day.

This week was weird, full of stuff but at the same time not that much. Elder Parker got hurt and was sick so we had to stay in a day, and I hated it! Super boring...

But guess what!? Guess who came to my mission on Friday?! 

Elder David A Bednar! He came to Chalco! It was a once in a lifetime experience! I still can't believe it! He's sooooooo cool! He delivers a powerful message too, the spirit was so strong. It felt so good, I can't explain it, but it was so amazing. He spoke about being an agent and not an object. When we ask the Lord for stuff, he isn't going to give it to us if he can help us learn it, you can give a man a fish and feed him for a meal, or you can teach him to fish and feed him for a lifetime. All the Lord asks is that we show a little faith and act. That's what it means to be an agent and not an object. An object waits to be acted upon and an agent acts. David A Bednar is the man!!!  He is super funny too! He was trying to use the few Spanish words he knew and we were laughing so hard at some points, but in a totally reverent way at the same time. He spoke about how nothing we own is really ours, but it's because the Lord allowed it and blessed us with that, so for that reason we need to be willing to sacrifice even if it's not convenient. I cannot believe that happened!! Elder David A Bednar, the golden eagle, in Chalco, teaching me. I love that guy!  That’s my spiritual 2 cents with Elder Ted. 

I'm slowly starting to make some friends outside my zone, I'm pretty tight with my zone but I don't really know anyone outside them and I’m trying to change that.

I went to a baptism the other day; a former investigator of Elder Parker's and It got me pretty excited to baptize someone now. I need to work really hard though, because in this area, it's gonna be a little more difficult, but I’m up to the task! 

Today we went to the center of the city, Zócalo, with all the big catholic cathedrals and all that jazz.  It was super cool, but we made the mistake of taking a tourist bus and we broke down, man I really have bad luck with buses! Then we got stuck in traffic and got back to our area late... But I still had fun! Below are  some pictures. 

In front of the G & A church...

Trying to take a selfie with a Mexican monument

I'm trying my best to keep my mind focused on the right stuff, and like I said, I’m getting better but it's a process and it's gonna be just a tiny bit longer before I’m 100 percent efficient in my mind. The Lord helps me out so much down here, you have no idea, and i know it's cause I got my family and my own personal fan section at my back. I love you guys! 

Investigators are good, we have one who's been coming to church, but I guess her memory is bad because she's been a member for 7 years and didn't remember... We checked her records and sure enough! She's a member... so that’s weird. But one of our other investigators Esteban and his family are slowly progressing! They seem super interested and have slowly started keeping commitments, but won't come to church! We gonna keep it up with them though! 

You guys mean so much to me, which is why I need to stick this out; I know I can do it. It'll be rough and hard but I wanna do this. I couldn't be doing anything better with my time, and I know you guys will grow and learn along with me, even though we're not together. This is only possible through the Lord. 

I love you guys so much! 

Elder Ted

Elders Darcy, Faz, Parker and me of course!!

Elder Parker and me taking a selfie

Week 2 in el Campo Misionero

Hello My Dear Friends and Family!

It was super good to be able to SEE and talk to the family on Sunday. It hasn't made it harder on me it actually helped me out a ton. Every time I read one of your letters or talk to you it helps me!

This Church is so true. It is the only Church that is this true; I know it without a single doubt. No other church can offer what this church can offer, no other church can offer the peace and tranquility that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints offers, because, although, it is a church, I know it's so much more than that, it's a lifestyle and it's the kind of lifestyle that I want for my family now, and my future family. I love this church. I know it's true because without the truth I would have been right back on my doorstep at home after I got in my accident en la CCM. Without the truth of this iglesia (gospel) no one would be converted or feel the spirit.  We would all be lost without knowing it!

I never realized how much I would be walking as a missionary.  We walk EVERYWHERE!!  My shoes have already started to come apart.  I also never realized how much I would miss music.  I think that at this point I would even listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  I need music.  

So some have asked about how Cinco Do Mayo was.  Just wait until you hear this.  Nothing happened.  It is not a Mexican holiday at all.  It was a regular day of missionary work for us.  I know not what you expected.

My favorite food down here is the Tortas! They take bread, cut it open and jam meat, tamales, and just about everything else in there. They're amazing. I also really like the gorditas, they're just as mouth-watering. I freaking love the food down here. 

Have I gotten rained on? Gee let me think.... ABOUT EVERYDAY!!! It rains like crazy down here.

Traffic is loco, literal insanity, I don't know how people survive on the roads here, and there is no order, no lines, stoplights, or crosswalks. You just kind of go and pray you live down here. 

Well I feel the Lord ever day here.  Every day is hard to wake up as early as we do, but I do it somehow. The Lord helps me learn Española which isn't as easy as I once heard, he helps me to work hard, The Lord gives me experiences to help me grow and learn and I have literally grown so much already, I can already tell. 

Favorite spiritual experience was Saturday night. We got a call about a girl who was "Possessed" with a demon, and when we got there she was convulsing and wigging out.  She literally started freaking out and saying some pretty crazy things that I won't repeat, and it kind of freaked me out. So we gave a blessing with some other missionaries, the bishop and one member. We blessed her with the power of the priesthood.   I felt the spirit strong. When we were done, she was normal again. I now know that the adversary is very real, and we need to live accordingly so that he can't hurt us. 

Favorite scripture this week is Mosiah 2:41.  Read it and you will know why.

Elder Parker is good! I love this guy, he teaches me so much and he's literally more of a friend than a companion. I was very blessed with him. He hurt his ankle yesterday so keep him in your prayers!!

I want you to know that I will complete this mission.  I will do it. Thanks for all your letters.  Your advice keeps me going.  I can't wait to hear from you again and I'll be needing your prayers MUCHO! Mission life is super hard but it's super rewarding, I've gained an enormous testimony and my Spanish has improved mucho! I'm doing pretty good con mi espanol (with my Spanish), I actually have started to forget some English, and my companion tells me I talk in my sleep…sometimes in Spanish!! Which makes sense because I dream in Spanish!  I love Spanish; I can't wait to be fluent, Spanish rocks!

I'm feeling better about myself now, a little bit more sure and whatnot.

I love you guys so much and I'll send some more pictures, keep me in your prayers!

Your boy 

Ted 

PS...Enjoy the pictures from the CCM!  I haven't taken many in the field due to the crime rate.  Welcome to Mexico City!!

Like my Raincoat? Haha

Impersonation of our instructor
Hno L. Palma

I love the glasses!

Our district with our Instructor

I'm the Cheeseball in the middle!

This week has been kinda crazy!!

Hello my Dear Family and Friends,

Here are a few pictures from the CCM before I left for the mission field.

Me and Shawn Cates, Director of the CCM

Our District standing in front of the CCM sign

This week has been kinda crazy, leaving the CCM and getting to the field, were all just some small parts of the process of my week. My comp/trainer is Elder Parker from Sandy Utah. He's a pretty cool dude. He's like 6 foot 5 I think, flippin tall. 

My area is Ayotla, Ixtapaluca. This place is crazy, it's dirty, it smells, there are a TON of people here and the weather is unpredictable.  One day it could be hot and the next it's cold! And sometimes it changes hourly. My transition has been kind of rough, and the language is alright, I try to speak Espanol a lot but the people talk so fast.  It's kind of hard. I keep trying though.

Today we did laundry and this how we do it.  

As for blessings…today actually we got locked out of our casa and we had to pry the lock open but noting was working, so I said a tiny prayer and somehow someway my companion got in! 

We've had 5 or 6 lessons/discussions this week... kind of low.  But each one I felt the spirit strongly and was able to teach in my broken Spanish.  I have seen how strong of a hold the Catholic Church has on these people, and it has made me muy muy muy happy and glad that I am a member of this church, porque es (because it is)sad when people won't listen to us because their family has been catholic for generations.  I'm trying hard to learn to love this people but it's a work in progress. 

Challenges huh?

Well I guess it's time I be perfectly honest with you...

The transition has been rougher than I thought, I find myself often thinking about how freaking long 2 years is and I keep wishing I could go home. My companion has been out for 21 months and is all ready to go home, and I only have a month and a half in the mission field. I'm losing it down here! I miss my home, my house, my family and my friends!!  I miss music, I miss white people, I miss being able to understand people. I don't know how I'm supposed to make it 2 years down here... I'm so jealous of everyone that is done with their mission.  This is super tough, I pray so much and I have felt the Lord here but I'm still struggling, I don't know what to do. I want to come home but at the same time I don't. It's a constant emotional battle.   So there you have it!

I love you guys so much!  Please pray for me!!!

Mexico City Taxi

I love you,

Love Ted