My comp., Elder Arrecis.  The paper he is holding is kinda funny.  When we went to our food appointment, the hermana wasn't home but there was a paper that pretty much said just eat whatever you want and can find, haha. (This was on Thanksgiving day no less) 11-27-10

Kimi's rough translation:

Elders, 

In the refrigerator there is food to microwave, sodas, etc.  

YOU ALL EAT WHAT YOU WANT

DON'T PET!

The little dogs can bite, it's not true, but they will go crazy.

Take Care, 

Mateo Family

Noviembre 29, 2010

Hola Familia!
So this week was good!  This week we had a gira misional (literal translation = mission tour, but in English it is referred to as a mission conference).  That is when a member of the quorum of the 70 comes and talks to us and it only happens once a year!  On Saturday we got to hear from Elder Benjamin De Hoyos, his wife, our mission president, President Villarreal and his wife!  Before the conference started I was able to shake hands with Elder De Hoyos and talk to him for about a minute.  He asked where I was from and I told him and he said he and his wife were married in the Mesa temple, which I thought was cool.  It was really cool!  The meeting was so awesome and so spiritual!  I learned a lot of things I didn't know and got other things I did know refreshed!  He gave us ideas on how to have more success and ways to get more references and new people to teach!  He and his wife taught a lot about the Expiación or Atonement and it was really great.  I have been able to start studying a lot more about the atonement because it is something we can study our whole lives and never understand it completely.  I got to thinking as they were talking about a scripture I like to use when teaching about the atonement.  I really like to use these two scriptures 2 Nephi 26:24 and Mosiah 3:7!  I'm so grateful for the atonement and for the opportunity I have to use it daily in my life!  It is such a great gift and shows the true love of both our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ!  They also taught that we should be teaching about the atonement more in every lesson because if people come to understand about the atonement then they grow faith in Jesus Christ and feel of his love.  When we feel of the love of Christ it leads us to act on the faith we have.  For investigators that action is first, complete the compermise we leave them and second, to follow the example of their Savior Jesus Christ and be baptized in his name!   That is something that I learned that is helping me to teach better, to be able to teach more about the atonement in every lesson.  I would like to challenge all of you to study more about the atonement and I promise as you do you will feel the love of your Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ more in every day!  I also sewed for the first time in my mission so I thought you would be proud of me Mom, haha.  My sweater ripped and so I had to sew it up, haha.  It probably wouldn't meet your sewing standards but it worked, haha.  Please tell Grandpa Despain "Happy Birthday" for me and that I love him and wish him a happy birthday this week!  So my Thanksgiving, well there wasn't one, haha.  It was just another day here, haha.  I ended up just eating microwaved food because the hermana just left a note for us to eat whatever we could find because she wasn't home, haha.  But it's all good. I was still able to think of things I am grateful for!  And I am very grateful to have such a great family!!!  I couldn't ask for a better family!  Well, I'm doing good and staying safe!  Thank you for all your prayers for me!  We had 2 investigators go to church yesterday and that is so awesome because the whole time I have been in this area we haven't gotten one to go to church.  So to have two in one Sunday was really awesome!  I love this gospel and I know it is true!  I love this work and I know that it is the work of the Lord!  I am so grateful to be here and to be an instrument in the hands of my Father in Heaven.  Even in times when I am not having lots of success, I just remember this is His work and there is a reason I am here.  I keep pushing forward because I know that the Lord will provide a way for those things that need to be done!  I love you all very much.  Thank you for all you do for me!  I love you and I miss you all as well!  You are all in my prayers daily!  Love ya!
Love,
Elder Despain

Me and my comp on our bikes! 11-20-10

 Me and Elder Arrecis, my comp! 11-21-10

Noviembre 22, 2010

Hola Familia!
I'm doing good here!   This week has been a little hard because we aren't having too much success but I'm still pushing forward and working hard.  I know that through my Savior I can overcome all of the problems and hard times that come up.  It is still pretty cold here and still getting colder, haha, but I'm doing good.  I think I'm adjusting to the cold so it's not too bad but it's cold, haha.  I met this hermana that served her mission in the Tucson, Arizona mission but at that time it had like New Mexico and lots of places in that mission.  She said she served in Deming, New Mexico for a long time and she was telling me that there is a restaurant called "Si Señor".  She said it is like the best Mexican food she ever ate in her mission.  I remember that Dad worked in Deming for awhile and was wondering if he ever ate there and if not, if he goes back he should definitely stop and eat there, haha.   I miss you all a lot and I love you all!  Tell everyone I said hi and especially tell all the kids I say hi.  I keep thinking about when I come how they are going to be so big and I'm not going to recognize any of them, haha.  I just want you all to know that I have a testimony of this gospel!  I know that this church is true and that this gospel truly is the gospel of Jesus Christ and is the same church that He established when He was on the earth!  I know that it is only through this gospel that we can have eternal families and have true happiness.  I know that this work that I am here doing is the work of the Lord!  I know that as I work hard, dedicate all my time and have diligence that the Lord will bless me with success because this isn't my work.  It's His work.  I also know that all members play an important part in the work of the Lord.  Right now I am seeing what happens when the members don't give many references.  We as missionaries don't have a lot of success.  The prophet has taught that there is a better way to do missionary work than missionaries knocking doors and it is through the members.  When we knock doors we don't have much success because the people don't know us, but when members present us to people we have success.  Right off the bat they have confidence in us because they are friends with the member.  I love being here in the mission and I know that I am here in this area because there are people here that have been prepared to listen to me and my companion.  It's just a matter of finding those who have been prepared for us.  I know that through members this work moves forward so much faster.  I wanted to share this with you because I know that you can help the missionaries that are serving back at home.  I love this work and I'm so glad I have the opportunity to be here serving the Lord!  I love you all so much and I just want to thank you for all you do for me.  You're the greatest family I could ever ask for!  Know that I am safe and everything is going good for me!  I love you all!  Thank you for your prayers.  I can really feel how much they help me!  Thanks for all your letters!  I love you all!  Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving.  I'm not sure what it will be like here because they don't have Thanksgiving but I'm sure that it will be good, haha.  I hope your Thanksgiving is good and make sure to eat a lot of food for me, haha!  Love you all!
Love,
Elder Despain

Me, my comp, and a family in the ward!  Ya its freezing cold, haha. 11-9-10

 Me and my comp in some sweet glasses, haha.  They were a members sun glasses, haha. 11-14-10

Noviembre 15, 2010

Hola Familia!
I hope everything back at home is going good!  I miss you all a lot!  It's kinda crazy to think that I will get to talk to all of you in a little over a month!!!  It will be a little weird to have a whole conversation in English because even when I talk to other Americans, I talk half in English and half in Spanish, haha, because there are just things that are easier to say in Spanish, haha.   We got a ride from a member this past week and she lived in the states for a year and so she knows English and so I was talking to her and I could talk only in English, haha.  It will all be good, haha. This week was good, but we are still trying to get more people so that we can teach more.  We have some people kinda close to baptism, but I don't know when we will actually have a baptism.  No matter what, we will keep working hard and the Lord will bless us to be able to find people ready to hear this gospel, people ready to accept this gospel!  I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and that He prepares the hearts of people to hear us.  One of the biggest blessings here in the mission is the members.  I can't tell you how important every member is in this church.   Like I have seen so many times so far in my mission, that as a members is willing to be a missionary and share this gospel with a friend, they receive blessings.  Also, it helps us out so, so, so much.   We can talk to 100 people and have 1 accept but almost every reference from a member accepts.   I know that when we open our mouths as members and share simple testimonies of this gospel and always be a good example, we find success and bring people into the light of this gospel.  I know that this gospel truly is a blessing to every person that accepts and lives it!  I know that this gospel is where we find true happiness and my purpose here as a missionary and as a member of this church is to share this happiness I have with all the people around me!   I also know that as we share the gospel we receive even more happiness then we already have!  I'm grateful for the opportunity I have to be here as a missionary and to have the opportunity I have to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to do His work.  Although even when we aren't on a mission, in every moment we have the opportunity to be an instrument in the Lord's hands, touching someone's heart with this wonderful gospel and bringing them closer to their Savior Jesus Christ!  But ya, everything here is going good!   I might have to use some money from my account this week because my area is huge and we have been using a lot of money just to get around.   I'm hoping I won't have to buy another jacket but I don't know if it gets much colder I will have to, haha.  So this past Sunday, yesterday, we had stake conference!  It was a special stake conference and it was broadcast from Salt Lake.   Elder Christiansen, the Area 70, spoke then Cheryl A. Espin* a sister I don't really know what she is, but she was a sister in Salt Lake haha, then Elder Bednar and then Pres. Eyring.  Ya it was awesome!!  It was so great to hear all of them speak!  It was like a mini general conference!  Elder Bednar talked about different ways we can receive revelation and compared it to a light turning on in a dark room, the sun rising, and the sun rising on a cloudy day.   The first is sudden and you know right when you received it.  The next is gradual and the last is gradual but at the time you don't know that you are receiving revelation or being guided by the spirit.  At the end you can look back and see that you received guidance or revelation.   It was a really great talk.   It was also really cool because they translated as they talked like in parts so they would say a line in English, then pause and then the person would translate it and then they would say another sentence.  That for me was really cool because I got to hear everything twice and it was cool because I could understand them both.   Also, it was easier to take notes because if I didn't get a part of it I could hear it again and then write it down, haha.  It was really, really amazing! And Pres. Eyring's talk was really, really amazing.   It would take some time to explain it but it was really great and a really neat experience!   Well, I am good and I hope all is good for you all at home!   I love you all so much and miss you too.   Thanks for all you do for me!   You're the greatest family ever!!!!!!  Tell everyone hi for me!  Thanks for your prayers and know that I pray for you all daily!
Love,
Elder Despain

*Note from Kimi - Sister Espin is the second counselor in the Primary General Presidency.

Pictures of my area.  See that big cloud in the fourth pic.  Ya, that is just making it that much colder and that is why I have to sleep in a sweater, sweat pants and gloves, with 3 blankets and am still cold.  I never knew a place that didn't snow could get so cold.  Everyone here says its because there is a big volcano next to us and there is snow one the top and that's why it's so cold and that is why the wind is so, so, so, so cold!

 

11-2-10

   

11-3-10

  

11-3-10

  

 11-3-10

 

If you look above that house there are some cool ruins I am hopping one p-day to get to go up there because my comp said it is super cool, all the ruins and stuff.  It's going to be tight! 11-5-10

These are the gloves and scarf that a member made for me in my last area and I'm very glad she did.  This was right after coming home.  Yes, that's what I look like out walking around, haha.  I look so weird but it keeps me warm, haha.  It's cold here, really cold! 11-5-10

My first day, in my area.  That's my comp. and we are with a hermana that is a new member we were sitting in the sun because it was cold.  So the hermana gave us sombreros to wear and mine was really goofy, so I put it on backwards, haha. 11-6-10

cooking in my apartment some hot dogs, longanisa, cheese and tortillas, mhmmm. tacos 11-7-10

Noviembre 8, 2010

Hola Familia!
So everything is going good in my new area!  Although it is super, super cold!  And everyone here is saying that this is nothing.   It is going to get way colder, haha.  So my new comp is good.   When I got to this area it was super dead like there were no people for us to teach but we have been working very hard and are starting to have success.  We have got to the point where we are teaching 4-7 lessons every day so that is really good.  My comp said he has never taught that many lessons in one day in this area so its good.   It is a big change though, haha.  It was like going from living in downtown Phoenix to living in Snowflake, haha,  But it's good.  It is weird to be senior comp. because now I have a phone and have to talk to people on the phone all the time.  I have to report numbers and make more decisions but its all going good!  It is great to be an uncle again, haha.  And the pictures are awesome!   He is a very cute baby!  Although it is weird to think that the first time I will see him in person, he will already be walking and stuff but its all good.   I really love it here serving the Lord.  At times it is hard but the Lord always blesses me to be able to push through and overcome anything that happens!   I know that as we follow the spirit we are blessed!  I have come to find out more and more that as I open my mouth and just start talking, the Lord always puts the words in my mouth that I need to say.  I have had experiences here that I have no clue what to say or how to answer a question but I just open my mouth and start talking and the words always come to me that I need to say!   I know that that is a tender mercy of the Lord.  I know that this is His work and as we strive to do it He will always help us.  I am starting to feel a lot more comfortable with my Spanish.  I have gotten to the point that a lot of members here, when I first talked to them thought I had a lot more time in the mission.  I know that without the Lord's help I would have never been able to learn Spanish, but through His help I was able to do it!  I still have a long ways to go in my Spanish but it is a lot easier to get by now, haha.   I don't have to struggle to speak and a lot of the times now it is easier to talk in Spanish then English.  It was really weird in the cambios (transfers) there were a lot of new American elders and so I got to talk to them and I really finally got to see how far I have come in my Spanish.  I felt like I hadn't progressed a lot but then when I talked to them it helped me to remember how far I have come ! My trainer, or dad in the mission, Elder Higuera, got another American to train.  Well, he doesn't know much English and so we were on the bus going out to Taluca and Metepec and I was able to translate so the the new missionary knew what they were going to be doing when they got off the bus and stuff, haha.  It was funny!  Well, everything is going good here with me!   Other than the cold, ha, but it's all good.  I am always praying for you all and thank you so much for your prayers for me!   They really do make a difference!  Tell everyone back at home I say hi and tell Grandma and Grandpa I say hi!   I will be sure to keep Grandma in my prayers!  Well I love you all.  Thanks for all you do for me!  You are the best family I could ever ask for!   Thanks, I love you!
Love,
Elder Despain

Me eating some chapalinas! grasshopper taco!!! ummm! 10-28-10

 

  

 

Me and My Area 10-29-10

  

Mi, me and a family in the ward! 10-31-10

  

 Saying good bye, it's true there is a lot of temptation in the mission.  The devil is always right at our side, trying to get us to do something wrong, haha.  But don't worry, we always win and don't give in, haha!

Novembre 1, 2010

Hola Familia!
First of all, Mom I used some money to buy Burger King for me and my comp, haha.  Sorry, but our food appointment fell through and we had no money so we went to Burger King and ate.  I bought my companion's food as well, haha.  So thanks for letting me use that!  Well, everything here is good but the 6 weeks have past and cambios or changes are today!  I got a call on Sabado (Saturday) from the president and found out where I am going!  This will be my first change of area in Mexico.  I'm pretty excited, but sad to leave this ward!  I found out that I will be going to Metepec and my area is called Atlatlahuca.  Don't worry, I couldn't say that at first either, haha. My companion is going to be Elder Arrecis.  When I talked to the pres., he said that my companion can teach really good but is having trouble following the rules.  So the pres. said that he was putting me out there because he knows that I will be obedient and help my comp.  This was a compliment to me and I was glad that the pres. feels that he can trust me!  Also, I am getting moved up to senior companion.  There is a junior and senior comp.  I have always been junior but this change I will be senior, which means I have more responsibility.  I am a little nervous, but I know that this is where the Lord wants me and that He will help me to overcome anything that gets put in my way.  I have really had the opportunity to feel and see the power of prayer and gain a testimony of it!  I know that we can pray and ask anything as long as we ask with real intent and with faith, the Lord will answer us.  I have seen many times that as I have prayed to know things in the mission, that as I ask with faith the Lord answers me.  I was able to pray and ask if this is the right area and right companion for me to be going to.  I received an answer that yes it is!  I already knew that because I trust my pres. and I know that he receives revelation for us missionaries.  That helped to strengthen my testimony that no matter how small of a question it is, the Lord does hear and answer!  I hear that my new area is really cold this time of year, but I think it will be alright!  A lot of missionaries also say that it is harder to baptize out there, but I know that if I work hard and have faith that the Lord will prepare people for me to teach and baptize!  My area right now is almost in the DF (Distrito Federal or Federal District) like our church building is in the DF so it is really close to like Mexico City, city!  My new area is way out in the State of Mexico and I guess it is just little villages or little towns so that should be cool, haha!   Well, I love you all so much and thank you for all that you do for me!  I am staying safe and everything is going good for me!  I am praying for all of you and thank you for your prayers.  They really do make a difference!  I love you all and miss you all!  Tell Julie good luck.  I am praying for her and send me pics when she has the baby!  I love you all!
Love,
Elder Despain