New shoe! Can you believe those used to be the exact same shoe, haha?! They don't look the same, haha!10-22-11 

 In the visitors center in Mexico City 10-22-11

 My new pants that you sent me mom! They are sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 10-22-11

The zone today in the Centro Zocalo! 10-24-11

I Hope You Are All Doing Well!

Hola Familia

   Thank you for the email Kimi and letting me know how you all are! I hope that you are all doing okay. I'm doing good. It was a hard week. Our baptism for this week fell through and that was sad. I just want you all to know that I love you very much. I hope that you can say hi to all the family for me and tell them my feelings for them. The news of Uncle Robert was very shocking. I was in our food appointment when the president called me on Saturday to tell me what had happened. It was a shock and very hard to believe. But I want you all to know that I know that God is a loving Heavenly Father and He does so many things so that we are happy and okay in this life. The very same day, I found out we had already planned to go to the temple to the visitor center. So when I found out, just after I went to the temple less then an hour later and I was there and I was looking at the temple and could remember the plan of happiness that God has for us. I could remember the blessing of eternal families. I know that our families are eternal and I know that we will get to be with our loved ones again. I know that this doesn't sound like much, but it was a blessing for me that I was able to be on the temple grounds that same day. I know God loves me and each and every one of us and I know because of that love He prepared that day so that I would be comforted! And so that I could gain a stronger testimony of eternal families and the plan of happiness! I know that God has a plan for us and I know that this life is just a small part of that plan! I love you all and I hope that you all have felt the peace that I have through the wonderful blessing that we have of the gospel. It truly is a blessing to have the gospel in our lives and to know of this great plan that God has for us. I know that God lives, I know that His son, Jesus Christ, lived and died for us so that we can return to live with God and so that we can have eternal families. I'm so grateful for the gospel and for my savior Jesus Christ, and for the opportunity I have to share this great gospel with everyone around me! I love you all. Thanks for all you do for me. I truly have the greatest family in the world! I love you all and miss you. 

Love,

Elder Despain

The baptism of B.!!! Her brother got the priesthood like 5 minutes before that picture and then was able to baptize her. He was baptized two weeks before I got to this area! 10-16-11

Just a cool building!10-17-11

Hola!!! 10-17-11

Hola Familia! 

   Hope you are all doing great! I miss you all but I'm doing great! I love this area! It is just a promised land for me in my mission. It took nine months to get to it and it wasn't all easy but now I'm here and it is a blessing! I'm having success here and I am loving it! Me and my comp are doing good. He isn't the easiest comp I have had, but not the worst either, haha. I love this work and I'm so grateful to be able to be doing it! I know that it is the work of the Lord and that is why I get to see miracles every day! Yesterday we baptized a lady named B. she is really cool. Her brother got baptized like a month ago and he got the priesthood this week and so he got it and like 10 minutes later got to baptize his sister. It was cool! The mom and the rest of the family is next. It may take time, but I think they will all end up getting baptized! I found out on Friday that one of my packages got to the offices. I still haven't gotten it, but they have it in the offices so thanks for sending me that. I should have it by tomorrow! We had a zone conference this week and the president's wife told us to write home and tell our families if they want to send a Christmas package, then they should start thinking about sending it soon if they want it to get here by Christmas! But I am already getting these two packages so I would say don't worry about a Christmas package. But, I have to tell you what she said or she may get mad at me, haha. I doubt it, she is awesome, but the president might get mad, haha. Tell Jayden Happy Birthday!!!!! Big 8!!!! Tell him I love him and that I wish I could be there for his baptism but that just the happy birthday will have to do this year. But that for sure next birthday I will be there!!! Happy Birthday Jayden!! I love you all! Thanks for all you do for me! Love ya !!!!

 

Love,

Elder Despain

Me and Elder C. with I. at his baptism 10-9-11

 Cheap and yummy tacos al pastor 10-10-11

I Love You All! 10-10-11

Hola Familia!
   This week was a good week! I was getting to know my area and it went good! We had a baptism on Sunday, yesterday! It was really great! He is a really cool kid named I.! We don't have a ton of people that we are teaching right now but we are finding new people and I think that we are going to have lots of success! I am really enjoying being in the DF. I have always loved the tacos in the DF more and I'm really enjoying eating them again, haha! I'll send you some pics of some tacos al pastor that we were eating outside of the metro! They are good and really, really cheap, only 5 pesos a taco, haha! Who knows where they get the meat from but it tastes good, haha! I got to go on exchanges this last week and I was with Elder G., who is my zone leader, and I went with him to do some interviews for him in his area! We found a lady on the side of the road that was selling hot wings so we bought some. They were so, so, so, so, so, so good! Not even close to American hot wings, but just the fact that they were wings and had BBQ sauce on them, they were like heaven to me! It's been a long time since I have eaten hot wings and even longer since I have eaten hot wings with BBQ sauce on them!!! They were good! Me and Elder G. were laughing because it looked like we were two starving kids on the side of the road because we were eating them so fast, haha, like we hadn't eaten in a really long time. But ya, it was funny. We like devoured them, haha. We both miss good hot wings! We are hoping to have a few baptisms this week as well, so that should be awesome! It has been raining again, which is weird. Everyone had said that the rainy season was over, but I guess not because it has rained like every day for the last 4 or 5 days, haha. But it's all good! Well, I love you all and I hope that you are all doing well! Let me know how you are all doing! Thank you lots for your letter Mike. I will read it right now, haha, well print it and then read it, haha! I love you all! Thanks for all you do for me!

Love,
Elder Despain

Mensaje del Presidente (Message From the President) 10-10-11

Attached to this is our reading calender in the mission! I wanted to send it to you all so that if you would like you could read with me and finish the Book of Mormon in 3 months. I'm a little ahead of you because I wasn't able to send this to you last week, but I'm sure if you wanted to you can catch up easily!

Love you all,
Elder Despain

(Elder Despain sent us the letter in Spanish so I translated the important part to English. For those who speak Spanish I also included the Spanish letter. Let me know if my translation is correct.)

My Dear Sisters and Elders,
It is with great joy that I write this week. A good friend once remarked that he likes the "changes" because it is the opportunity we have to "change". It is my desire to take this time to make "changes" that they know are needed to improve as missionaries. In doing so, we will be worthy of the companionship of the Holy Spirit.
There are some points I want to play with you so we can improve as a mission:
Let's read the Book of Mormon as a mission. I promise that if we search the Book of Mormon with all our heart and as a mission, we will see our spirituality and successes increase. One of the best ways to teach the gospel, is by "inspired questions." Besides that we draw closer to the Lord by studying this sacred book, I want you to mark and ponder all the questions made by the prophets and the Lord, found in the Book of Mormon. Doing this will make us reflect on what we do, and also give us "questions" that we can use when we teach God's elect. Attached is a calendar for what to read each day. We will finish the last day of the year. Continue to read only that which is indicted each day. I know that there will be a great power that will come upon us to be reading the same verses each day.

As you know, last month ended with more than three hundred baptisms, and I know we can do even more. You still have not reached anywhere near the limits of what can be done in the Work. It is important to our mission that we love more than ourselves or our companions. We still have missionaries who are not 100% compliant and do not want to give everything they have for the Lord. (The disobedient and lazy you know who you are). When we think that we do not want to give everything, let us remember that the Lord gave everything for us. I feel that as much as what you give to the Lord; We will receive that same amount from Him. It is an honor to be working alongside you in this great work. Keep firm (Stay Strong). We love you all and pray for you.   President V.

Mi Estimados Hermanas y Elderes,

Es con gran gozo que les escribo esta semana.  Un buen amigo una vez hizo la observación que le gusta los “cambios” porque es la oportunidad que tenemos para “cambiar”.  Es mi deseo que tomen este tiempo para hacer “cambios” que saben que son necesario para mejorarse como misioneros.  Al hacer esto, seremos más digno de la compañía del Espíritu Santo.

Hay algunos puntos que me gustaría tocar con ustedes para que podamos mejorar como un misión:

Vamos a leer el Libro de Mormón como una misión.  Les prometo que si escudriñamos el Libro de Mormón con todo nuestro corazón y como una misión, vernos que nuestra espiritualidad y éxito aumentara.   Unas de las mejores maneras de ensenar el evangelio, es por medio de “preguntas inspiradas”.  Aparte de que nos acercaríamos mas al Señor por estudiar este Libro sagrado, quiero que marquemos y meditemos todas las preguntas, hechas por los profetas y el Señor,  que se encuentra en el Libro de Mormón.  Al hacer esto nos hará reflexionar lo que debemos hacer, y también nos dará “preguntas” que podemos usar cuando ensenamos a los escogidos de Dios.  En un archivo adjunto se encuentra el calendario de lo que debemos leer por día.  Terminaremos para el ultimo de este ano.  Siguiera que todos leamos solamente lo que está indicado por ese día.  Yo se que habrá un gran poder que vendrá sobre nosotros al estar leyendo los mismos versículos cada día.

Como saben, el mes pasado terminamos con más de trescientos bautismos, y sé que podemos hacer aun mas.  Ustedes todavía no han llegado ni cerca a sus límites de lo que pueden hacer en la Obra.  Es importante que amemos a nuestra misión más que a nosotros mismos o nuestros compañeros.  Todavía tenemos misioneros  que no son 100% obedientes  y no quieren dar todo lo que tienen para el Señor. (ustedes los desobedientes y flojos saben quienes son).  Cuando pensamos que no queremos dar TODO, recordemos que el Señor dio TODO por nosotros.  Siento que en medida que lo que damos por el Señor; recibiremos esa misma cantidad de Él. 

Es un honor estar trabajando a lado de ustedes en esta gran obra.

Sigan firme. 

Les amamos a todos y oramos por ustedes.

Presidente V.

 Baptism of J. 10-1-11

 Baptism of M. 10-2-11

Me with cake on my face. They made me a cake to say goodbye. 10-2-11

Hola Familia! 10-3-11

Hola familia! 

  So, I don't have much time today because today was changes! But I wanted to send out a quick letter! I got changed and now am in a new area! My new area is in the same zone as my first area in the mission! The zone Culturas, in the area de Culturas! my new comp. is Elder C.! I'm really excited to work hard and have lots of success! I love you all and miss you all too!

I wanted to tell Christi Happy Birthday today!!!!!!!!!! Hope you have a great day! I am really so very lucky to have such amazing sisters! Thank you Christi for the example you have always been for me and for all that you have done for me! I hope you have a great Birthday! I love you! Also, Happy Birthday Becca on the 7th and Happy Birthday Andrea on the 8th!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Big 10 years old! You are so big!!!! I can't believe you are already 10, that's crazy! I hope you have a great birthday and I hope you know that your Uncle Randall loves you! and wishes you a very Happy Birthday!

I hope you all enjoyed conference. It was really great, I loved it! I loved Tad R. Callister. His talk was so powerful about the Book of Mormon. It was awesome! I also loved the talk that was about how it is never too late to start making good choices and it is never to late to repent! That was great too, but I don't remember who gave it, but it was on Sunday!

We also had the opportunity to baptize two people this week and it  was a really, really great experience! J. on Saturday and then on Sunday, M.! It was great and I love seeing baptisms! It is a truly great experience! I know that this is the work of the Lord and that every baptism is a miracle of the Lord! I love this work and I'm so grateful to be a part of this great work of the Lord! I know that our Savior, Jesus Christ lives and loves us and I know that our Heavenly Father loves us and He reallly does hear and answer our prayers! I love you all and I miss you too! Stay safe and make good choices and every day try to become closer and closer to the Lord! 

Love,

Elder Despain