This one is for Bret I thought he would enjoy it. That is why I took that picture, haha! 3-25-11
A big Catholic Church, Haha. 3-25-11
The Zone baptism 3-27-11
Carina in white all ready for her baptism 3-27-11
Monday, March 28, 2011
Letter Home! 3-28-11
Hola Familia!
So this week was a very hard week, but it ended very well! Not like we had planned, but it still was good! We had a lot of hard times at the beginning of the week but we kept working hard and with diligence and ended up seeing the miracles of the Lord. Like when we were working at the beginning of the week, we had days where the only appointment that didn't fall through was the food appointment. So we had to contact and knocked doors all day. That can be super hard at times and the people just weren't accepting. But we knew the Lord was testing us. Well, like I said, later we saw the blessings. Later in the week, we found a girl named Mary Carmen who has a boyfriend who is a member. She is super cool and super ready to accept the gospel. She accepted baptism in our first lesson and every time we go back she has a whole page of questions to ask us. It is really great to see how fast she is progressing! She was going to get baptized this week, like yesterday, but for reasons she couldn't. But she is for sure getting baptized this Sunday! We think that her boyfriend will be able to do it so that will be really cool! I know the Lord hears and answers prayers and helps us to accomplish His work here on earth! So we had a zone baptism this week, well yesterday! We baptized a lady named Carina. The baptism was really cool in the zone. Like 15 people got baptized and the president and his wife came. The president talked and his talk was really awesome for all those getting baptized and then the Hermana sang and it was really cool. Then an ex-bishop sang and played the guitar. It was super cool. The whole program and just to see that many people get baptized at one time, it was really cool! I know that this church is true and I know that our Heavenly Father loves every one of us and puts those in need in our path so that we can help them! This is His work and I'm so grateful to be here doing it! I hope that you are all doing well and staying safe! I love you all!
Love,
Elder Despain
So this week was a very hard week, but it ended very well! Not like we had planned, but it still was good! We had a lot of hard times at the beginning of the week but we kept working hard and with diligence and ended up seeing the miracles of the Lord. Like when we were working at the beginning of the week, we had days where the only appointment that didn't fall through was the food appointment. So we had to contact and knocked doors all day. That can be super hard at times and the people just weren't accepting. But we knew the Lord was testing us. Well, like I said, later we saw the blessings. Later in the week, we found a girl named Mary Carmen who has a boyfriend who is a member. She is super cool and super ready to accept the gospel. She accepted baptism in our first lesson and every time we go back she has a whole page of questions to ask us. It is really great to see how fast she is progressing! She was going to get baptized this week, like yesterday, but for reasons she couldn't. But she is for sure getting baptized this Sunday! We think that her boyfriend will be able to do it so that will be really cool! I know the Lord hears and answers prayers and helps us to accomplish His work here on earth! So we had a zone baptism this week, well yesterday! We baptized a lady named Carina. The baptism was really cool in the zone. Like 15 people got baptized and the president and his wife came. The president talked and his talk was really awesome for all those getting baptized and then the Hermana sang and it was really cool. Then an ex-bishop sang and played the guitar. It was super cool. The whole program and just to see that many people get baptized at one time, it was really cool! I know that this church is true and I know that our Heavenly Father loves every one of us and puts those in need in our path so that we can help them! This is His work and I'm so grateful to be here doing it! I hope that you are all doing well and staying safe! I love you all!
Love,
Elder Despain
Monday, March 21, 2011
Me in a grove of trees doing some crazy stuff, haha. 3-16-11
Me with a funny hat on, haha. 3-17-11
Me in front of Kolob, haha. That's cool isn't it? haha. 3-17-11
On my one year with 12 tacos!!! Al Pastor mmmmhmmmm. 3-17-11
Me about to burn my shirt for my one year! I don't have pictures with it on fire. I took a video but I can't send it. It won't let me so you will have to watch it later. 3-17-11
Our baptism this week, Rosa maria! She is a really sweet lady and her testimony in the baptism was awesome and made me feel really good! 3-20-11
Hola Familia, One Year!!!!! 3-21-11
Hola Familia!
So, this week was awesome! I completed a year, and we had a great, great week! I taught more lessons this week than I have taught in any other week in all my mission! We are tearing it up! And we also baptized again! And they say that you can't baptize in Toluca, it's a lie! We are working super hard and having a lot of fun doing it! We also have another 3 or 4 baptisms for this week! It's going to be sweet! We also saw a dog fall off a roof. It was a big dog but don't worry, it hit a car on the way down and so it broke its fall. So don't even worry, it's all good. And the dog lived. We also saw a dog with its head through a fence and another dog trying to bite its head off. It was crazy! Also, when I was burning my shirt for the one year, i almost caught the house on fire. But don't worry, I'm an Eagle Scout so I was prepared with water close by and I put it out quickly and nothing happened. I got it on film. My comp was freaking out but I stayed calm and it all turned out good! Also on Sunday, we were going to baptize Rosa Maria but the font was broken. And the water was really cold, because Satan works super hard so that we can't baptize. But we just went to another church at the last second and we still got her baptized. It took me and my comp to baptize her because she was kinda big and had a knee problem, but with the both of us we got her baptized. It was cool this week when we had passed by her house she didn't want to get baptized, but we taught a super good lesson and the spirit was really strong. And then, she was like "I know I need to get baptized." Then in her baptism, she talked about that lesson and how she didn't want to get baptized but after she did it was really cool and it made me feel good! I love this gospel and I'm so grateful I have the chance to be here! It's awesome and I love it! We are just tearing it up! Well, I love you all and thanks for all you do for me!
Love,
Elder Despain
So, this week was awesome! I completed a year, and we had a great, great week! I taught more lessons this week than I have taught in any other week in all my mission! We are tearing it up! And we also baptized again! And they say that you can't baptize in Toluca, it's a lie! We are working super hard and having a lot of fun doing it! We also have another 3 or 4 baptisms for this week! It's going to be sweet! We also saw a dog fall off a roof. It was a big dog but don't worry, it hit a car on the way down and so it broke its fall. So don't even worry, it's all good. And the dog lived. We also saw a dog with its head through a fence and another dog trying to bite its head off. It was crazy! Also, when I was burning my shirt for the one year, i almost caught the house on fire. But don't worry, I'm an Eagle Scout so I was prepared with water close by and I put it out quickly and nothing happened. I got it on film. My comp was freaking out but I stayed calm and it all turned out good! Also on Sunday, we were going to baptize Rosa Maria but the font was broken. And the water was really cold, because Satan works super hard so that we can't baptize. But we just went to another church at the last second and we still got her baptized. It took me and my comp to baptize her because she was kinda big and had a knee problem, but with the both of us we got her baptized. It was cool this week when we had passed by her house she didn't want to get baptized, but we taught a super good lesson and the spirit was really strong. And then, she was like "I know I need to get baptized." Then in her baptism, she talked about that lesson and how she didn't want to get baptized but after she did it was really cool and it made me feel good! I love this gospel and I'm so grateful I have the chance to be here! It's awesome and I love it! We are just tearing it up! Well, I love you all and thanks for all you do for me!
Love,
Elder Despain
Monday, March 14, 2011
Letter Home! 1 Year!!!!!!!!!!! 3-14-11
Hola!
So, I'm doing great! I love my new companion! It is so, so, so awsome to have a campanion that knows what he is doing and wants to work! I have had more lessons, more contacts, more news, more everthing in one week than I have ever had in a week! We are just doin' work!!!! And the best part is we are working so hard but having so much fun doing it! I love this work and I love being able to work hard and bring this message to all those who are in need of it! We also had a baptism as you will see in the pictures I sent home!! I just love it here! So, it is really crazy that I will complete a year this week. The time has really flown by! It's crazy! I know that the time will only go faster this last year, but I'm so glad I get to be here!!!! Mom, you were saying that you hope I'm writing all my experiences down and I am. I have written every day of my whole mission in my journal. It the longest I have ever written in a journal for, but I hope to continue doing that every day until the end of my mission! So, all is going really good here! I got a package today from Cortney!!! Tell her thank you so, so, so much! I loved it so much! Tell her I love her and thank you for it and for the letter and I will try to write back as soon as possible! I love you all! I got a testimony of having a good attitude this week. Like we were just working our butts off but at times we get like down and discuraged but like everytime that happened this past week, me and my comp just tried, like, giving the other like encouragement and like "animo" (encouragement or courage) and when we did that we were just able to pump each other up in hard time and ended up doing really good. Like one of the days that was the best days last week, was also one of the hardest. Like, we kinda got down at like mid day and then I was just like I'm so pumped and ready to find people and teach and then my comp got pumped and we ended up teaching like a ton of lessons and getting a ton of contacts that day. It was awesome! So like ya, the attitude makes all the difference! I'm so grateful for this gospel and I know it's true and I truly know that anyone that accepts and applies this gospel in their lives will be blessed and have more happiness and I'm so grateful that I get to bring that to all the people here! I love it! I love you all! Thanks for all you do for me! Stay safe and choose the right!
Love,
Elder Despain
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Me, Elder Plata, Hermana Weber, Hermana Garcia. my district! 3-3-11
My Whole Zone! 3-3-11
Me and Elder Plata in Nacho Libre masks 3-6-11
Me and my comp., Elder Plata. Yes, we are that cool, haha! 3-6-11
More Replies to Birthday Wishes
Kimi,
Thanks for sending me all of those! And no, I didn't baptize her (Jenny). She was in my first ward and I have no clue why she wrote me. That's weird. I don't even know her. I talked to her like 2 times when I was in Constituyentes, ha. But ya, she's weird and what she wrote is even weirder. But thanks for sending them to me! I love you. You're a great sister! Thanks for everything!
Love your little bro,
Elder Despain
P.S. Tell Stephanie felicidades! for her call and wish her the best for me. And tell her to work hard every second because the time just flies by, and also tell her never to forget her purpose of why she is out on a mission and never forget that we are out serving the Lord through inviting people to come closer to Christ through faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. If she works hard and always thinks of that, she will have tons of success and bring many souls to their Heavenly Father.
Christi,
Thanks so much for your letter! I'm glad to hear that all is going good for you, and that you are doing Pampered Chef. That sounds really fun and something good for you. I'm sure that your kids are really big. It's crazy that I have been gone a year, haha, but I'm glad that I am here. I hope that you can continue to have success in your shows and that you all can stay safe! I love you so much! I couldn't have asked for better sisters. You all are so amazing! Thank you for all you do for me and the great example that you have always been for me. I love you and miss you. Tell your kids and Jason that I say hi!
Love your little brother,
Elder Despain
Thanks for sending me all of those! And no, I didn't baptize her (Jenny). She was in my first ward and I have no clue why she wrote me. That's weird. I don't even know her. I talked to her like 2 times when I was in Constituyentes, ha. But ya, she's weird and what she wrote is even weirder. But thanks for sending them to me! I love you. You're a great sister! Thanks for everything!
Love your little bro,
Elder Despain
P.S. Tell Stephanie felicidades! for her call and wish her the best for me. And tell her to work hard every second because the time just flies by, and also tell her never to forget her purpose of why she is out on a mission and never forget that we are out serving the Lord through inviting people to come closer to Christ through faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. If she works hard and always thinks of that, she will have tons of success and bring many souls to their Heavenly Father.
Christi,
Thanks so much for your letter! I'm glad to hear that all is going good for you, and that you are doing Pampered Chef. That sounds really fun and something good for you. I'm sure that your kids are really big. It's crazy that I have been gone a year, haha, but I'm glad that I am here. I hope that you can continue to have success in your shows and that you all can stay safe! I love you so much! I couldn't have asked for better sisters. You all are so amazing! Thank you for all you do for me and the great example that you have always been for me. I love you and miss you. Tell your kids and Jason that I say hi!
Love your little brother,
Elder Despain
Letter Home 3-7-11
Hola Familia!
So as you know, another 6 weeks has went by. Well, it doesn't feel like its been 6 weeks but it has. We had changes today! I am now in Toluca, in the area Universidad. I had to go from my other area to here by myself. It was about 3 hours and it was really weird to not have a comp right next to me. It's the first time in a year, haha. It was weird but I got here good, even though I had no clue how to get here when I left my area. But it all turned out good, I found my way. My new comp is Elder Lindstron. It's my first American comp. I'm so excited and we have about the same time in the mission and we are going to have a ton of success. I am so excited for this change. It's going to be great. He is from Idaho. He said he has family that knows me and the name rings a bell, but I can't remember their faces. He's the Zobells nephew. I know that I know them, but I can't remember. But I'm sure that you remember. So this week, we baptized Lorenzo. He is 81 years old and is like the funniest guy ever. And after I baptized him, I was like, "How do you feel?" and he said, "Great!" and then started doing exercises in the font, haha. It was really funny and definitely the first time I had seen someone do exercises in a baptismal font, haha. I also had the opportunity to baptize a little girl named Machelle. I was able to interview her so that she could get baptized. She was an investigator of the Hermanas in my district and she asked them after the interview if I could baptize her, so that was really cool to be able to do that! I really love doing interviews. The Spirit is so strong and the words that need to be said always come to my head at the right time because the Lord is truly helping me and His Spirit is there very, very strong. I'm truly grateful to be here. This is the best experience of my life. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to be here serving the Lord. I'm so grateful for the atonement of my Savior, Jesus Christ. It is the greatest sacrifice that anyone could have ever done. It is something I try daily to understand more, but I know that I will never understand it completely. But I am so grateful for the atonement and the ability I have to use it daily in my life. I know that we all make mistakes and all have faults but for that we have the atonement to change our lives and overcome our weaknesses and make them strengths. I know that this church is true and that it is through this gospel that we can have happiness in this life. I know that this gospel is the path that will lead us back to our Heavenly Father. I know that if we do the things that we need to in this life, we can return to our Heavenly Father and we can have eternal families! We are truly blessed to have the gospel in our lives and I'm so grateful to be able to bring it to the lives of others! Well, I am doing great and I'm staying safe, so no worries. I hope that all is going well back at home! I love you all. Thank you for all you do for me! Love ya!
Love,
Elder Despain
So as you know, another 6 weeks has went by. Well, it doesn't feel like its been 6 weeks but it has. We had changes today! I am now in Toluca, in the area Universidad. I had to go from my other area to here by myself. It was about 3 hours and it was really weird to not have a comp right next to me. It's the first time in a year, haha. It was weird but I got here good, even though I had no clue how to get here when I left my area. But it all turned out good, I found my way. My new comp is Elder Lindstron. It's my first American comp. I'm so excited and we have about the same time in the mission and we are going to have a ton of success. I am so excited for this change. It's going to be great. He is from Idaho. He said he has family that knows me and the name rings a bell, but I can't remember their faces. He's the Zobells nephew. I know that I know them, but I can't remember. But I'm sure that you remember. So this week, we baptized Lorenzo. He is 81 years old and is like the funniest guy ever. And after I baptized him, I was like, "How do you feel?" and he said, "Great!" and then started doing exercises in the font, haha. It was really funny and definitely the first time I had seen someone do exercises in a baptismal font, haha. I also had the opportunity to baptize a little girl named Machelle. I was able to interview her so that she could get baptized. She was an investigator of the Hermanas in my district and she asked them after the interview if I could baptize her, so that was really cool to be able to do that! I really love doing interviews. The Spirit is so strong and the words that need to be said always come to my head at the right time because the Lord is truly helping me and His Spirit is there very, very strong. I'm truly grateful to be here. This is the best experience of my life. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to be here serving the Lord. I'm so grateful for the atonement of my Savior, Jesus Christ. It is the greatest sacrifice that anyone could have ever done. It is something I try daily to understand more, but I know that I will never understand it completely. But I am so grateful for the atonement and the ability I have to use it daily in my life. I know that we all make mistakes and all have faults but for that we have the atonement to change our lives and overcome our weaknesses and make them strengths. I know that this church is true and that it is through this gospel that we can have happiness in this life. I know that this gospel is the path that will lead us back to our Heavenly Father. I know that if we do the things that we need to in this life, we can return to our Heavenly Father and we can have eternal families! We are truly blessed to have the gospel in our lives and I'm so grateful to be able to bring it to the lives of others! Well, I am doing great and I'm staying safe, so no worries. I hope that all is going well back at home! I love you all. Thank you for all you do for me! Love ya!
Love,
Elder Despain
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Birthday Wishes to Randall from Facebook
Happy Birthday Randell!!!!!
Feliz Cumpleanos Hermano Depain!
Happy birthday Randall Celebrate missionary style!
Randal... breffress.
happy bday
Nanette Brinton
Even though you can't read this, I want you to know I am thinking and praying for you everyday. Happy happy birthday. Love you bunches!
Happy 20th little brother! I love you!
Louigi De
happy bday brother!!
Jenny Arroyo
hola muchas felicidades por cumplir muchos añoste jiji que sse la pase muy cien
Missi Jo
Happy Birthday Randall!! Miss you!
Happy birthday cousin!
By the way, did you baptize Jenny Arroyo? Is that why she friended you on facebook?Happy Birthday!
Love,
Kimi
Replies to Birthday Wishes
Hola Kimi
I haven't had time to read your email but I am going to print it and read it! Thanks so much for writing me and for sending me Birthday wishes. It's pretty crazy that your little bro is 20 isn't it, haha. And that he has almost been gone for a year, haha. Well, I love you so much. Thanks for your letter. I couldn't ask for better sisters or a better family. We truly have the greatest family ever! Love ya!
Love your little bro,
Elder Despain
Hola Julie,
Thanks so much for the package and for the email and for the Birthday wishes! Haha, I know I'm getting pretty big!!!!!!!! haha, but I don't feel any different. Really it doesn't even feel like my birthday, haha, but I love it here and I'm so glad I get to be here. But I do miss you all ! I love you so much. Thanks for all you do for me. You're an amazing sister. I could ask for a better sister! (he meant I couldn't, but we have to tease Julie since he said he could ask for a better sister) I love you! Cuidense!!! (Take care) and make good choices, haha! Love ya!
Love your little bro,
Elder Despain 
Hola Familia!
Well, I don't have much time to write because I had a lot of letters to write back to! But thank you so so much all of you for your letters and for the Birthday wishes! This week was a good week but it ended a little sad. We had a man ready for baptism on Sunday but on Sunday morning he showed up and said he wasn't getting baptized because his family said they wouldn't talk to him if he got baptized. But we will continue to work with him and I hope that he can get baptized soon. We also have 3 other people that have a baptism date for this Sunday! I'm so grateful to be here and to be in the service of the Lord it's a true blessing! I love all these people that I am here serving and I grow daily through their testimonies and experiences. I know that I am where I am supposed to be and it's a true blessing! I love you all and thank you so much for your letters and everything you do for me!
Love,
Elder Despain
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