J.J.'s Mission

29 December 2008

(Red for the Utah Utes against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans this Friday -

GO UTES!)

Elder Green sent us a nice e-mail today. He is excited for "Me voy!" he says. Which in translation means "I'm going". He is being transferred to a new area called Arboledas. His new Zone is called Tenayo. His new companion is Elder Nava. All J.J. has heard about Elder Nava is that "he is really short and little". We'll know more next week and hopefully have a photo of the two of them together. J.J. is "excited for my new area and companero". He says he hopes all goes well. We know it will as J.J. has such a great attitude on his mission.

Elder Green with Elder Leija a "cool missionary" who finished his mission in mid November.

He says last week was very busy and today (Monday 29 Dec.) is even more busy as well. J.J.'s old companion is getting a "kid". His 2nd companion is going to be a trainer again. So on Monday they went to the Mission office to pick him up and they ended up being in the Mission office all morning. J.J. then had to wash his clothes and then pack in the afternoon. We wonder if all his stuff still fits in the three suitcases he took with him?!Crazy glasses Elder Green found at a member's home.

He was able to play soccer again on a "really cool turf soccer field" in his area. Seems there is a very nice AstroTurf soccer field they have been able to play on a few times. He has really enjoyed playing soccer again. He stopped playing at around age 14 and focused on basketball. Nice he is able to play soccer again.

Dana "the cutest girl ever". She was eating cereal when J.J. took her picture. Then she wanted him to take more and more photos!

He says he has lots of photos to send us. We are really looking forward to receiving them. His Dad REALLY enjoys the photos he does send. J.J. said he took a lot of pics at Church this past Sunday wit the members because he was pretty sure that he was going to be transferred. J.J. said "I was sad to say goodbye to my district and ZL's and all the members as well. But it is what it is and I am ready for a change".

J.J. purchased this guitar for $ 20.00 from Elder Crispen - his first companion and trainer.

He is pleased he gets to attend the Temple every six months or so. J.J. said "The Temple was a great experience. I forgot how much I miss going there". They had a Zone activity on 24 December that he says was really fun. They played soccer and basketball and ate tons of food.

At a Ward member's home the night before Elder Crispen moved to a new area.

J.J. was happy for the Christmas care package we sent him. His Mom, Dad, brother and sister went to Macey's and bought all kinds of treats for him. His Dad also purchased a 2009 Beaches calendar for him. He said the package was "perfect - those were all my favorite candies - good choice whoever picked that" .

Morning of "changes". Last time with Elder Crispin.

Funny in that he stayed up until 12:05 AM on Christmas Eve (Christmas morning actually!) to open his package. We told him he could open it either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. But just like his sister he choose to wait until Christmas morning. His sister Amberlee did the exact same thing - waited until 12:01 AM to open her Christmas packages.

Elder Green with Elder Gutierrez his 2nd companion.

Christmas Day they Elders went out and sang Christmas hymns to converts and members. And all the missionaries wore the same time. I guess the whole Zone got the same neckties for Christmas. Now that will be a cool picture he needs to send us! J.J. said he has purchased a nice yellow tie and some zipper ties when he feels lazy to tie a tie.

On Christmas night they met as a District and "ate and stuff, that was fun". He also burned a tie that night - which he says is a tradition at the six month mark. He promised to send pictures of that too. His Dad never burned anything on the six month, one year, 18 months or two year dates. We didn't do that in the Thailand Bangkok Mission. But I had heard that other missions do it.

J.J. said it was a good day overall. He really enjoyed talking to his family and hearing our voices. We told him he had an accent already when he spoke English. He thought that was funny. He said it felt like he had talked to us on the phone like 3 weeks ago even though it was only 5 days ago. Time is really going fast for him. His parents think the same!

He had another baptism this past Saturday - 27 December. Sister Maria del Socorro Elizabeth Reyes Robles was baptized by J.J. He said it was tough to remember her full name in the font but he handled it fine. Her two children are members and she finally got baptized - a fairly old lady too he said. That is 11 baptisms in four month in Mexico City.

Turkey seems to be the food of choice for Christmas dinner in Mexico City. He said he has been eating lots of turkey this past week. "Some was really good, just like back at home, but others wasn't quite as good". He thinks he has a tie of every color now. I guess they buy them at a great price from a Chinese man the Elders call "Chino". J.J. says he now owns some sweet ties. He might count them sometime and send us a picture.

His Dad told him that his parents should plan to take him back to Mexico City soon after his Mission. J.J. can then show his parents all the places he stayed, meet the members and converts he helped come to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and then maybe go to Cancun or somewhere. That would be WAY fun he said. His parents should plan on it!

He is also sending us "pics of my daughter". The young girl who calls him Papa. He also promised to send pictures of the combis he travels every day in. As he always says "Things are going great still, no worries here". He will let us know about his new area and his new comp next week once he gets to his new District.