I finally got my other shoe. These are the same kind of shoes, just one pair is almost 2 years older. Bet you couldn't tell at all. 11-16-11

Yeah, my package finally arrived! 11-16-11

 Our baptisms yesterday. 11-20-11

  The baptismal font? (Randall didn't say exactly what this is) 11-20-11

 Filling the font 11-20-11

Hola!! 11-21-11

Hola familia! 

   So this week was a great week. We worked hard and when it was Friday night, we didn't have anything to show for our work. But, on Saturday the Lord gave us miracles! We had two baptisms. It was really great. We were not expecting that. Starting the week, we had no one that wanted to get baptized, but it all turned out great. The Lord truly does miracles and blesses us for our efforts! I was supposed to go to Metapec this week, but we missed the last bus on Thursday, which is at 7:30 at night. We got to the bus stop at 7:35. :( We had to leave Thursday night to go to Zitacuaro, get there 2 hours later, sleep there in the night and then leave early morning to go two more hours to get to Metepec for the meeting I was supposed to have for District leaders. But, we didn't make the bus so I had to call the presidente and tell him I wasn't going to be there, haha. He wasn't too upset, haha. But he told me, "Since you aren't coming, that means you have to baptize this week." I said, "Okay I don't know who, but we will find someone, President." He said, "But Elder Despain, one doesn't count. I want at least two from you this week." I said, "Okay, I will do all I can. But, as of right now we have no one." Well, ending the week we had two baptisms - the second one at 8:30 at night on Sunday! Haha, it is great to be part of the work of the Lord because He truly does bless us! I love this work and I love where I am right now. It is a challenge, but I am loving it and what I love most about here is that I really get to see the members grow as well as our invesigtors, because almost the whole branch is new converts. Like this week, we taught 12 lessons to members which normally we teach at the most 5 a week but we have to teach the members here because they have to teach other members on Sunday. The teacher of Gospel Principles has about 2 months as a member, the teacher of adult class (Gospel Doctrine) has about the same and many other members who have big callings in the branch don't have much more time as members. But it is really cool to get to teach them and see them grow and to see their progress and see their knowledge growing! Also this week, I got stung by a bee in the armpit, haha, weird I know! Don't know what it was doing in my shirt, but when I got stung I put my hand in my shirt and pulled out a bee. It was weird, haha, but I guess now I have a little more sympathy for Julie and her Jamba Juice in the armpit, haha, because I don't get food there but bees just like to hang out and sting me, haha. I love this work and I am so grateful to be here and to be in the service of the Lord! I love you all and I miss you all! Stay strong and stay safe!!!

Love,

Elder Despain

Hola! 11-14-11

Hola Familia  
     Hola, hola!!! Well, this week went good. We had the baptism of B. It was really cool!!!! He didn't want to get baptized for a while and then he almost did last week when his mom got baptized and then this week he finally decided to do it and it was really cool! Also, this week came with a big surprise to me! I only have been in Culturas for 6 weeks, one change, so I was almost sure I was going to stay there. Well to my suprise, that was not what the Lord wanted! The president called me on Saturday to tell me that he had a special assignment for me and that I would be going to Maravatio, Zona Zitacuara, Estado de Michoacan (the farthest away area in our whole mission.) He told me that I will be working in the pueblo or small town of Maravatio. It is just a branch and the branch is just a part of a District. It still isn't part of a stake and there are no wards near by. He told me that I am in charge of making sure that everything is being done the way it should be and if there is something getting done wrong, to fix it, haha. Also, to keep baptizing so that hopefully in the next months they can choose a place to build a church building. But that will only happen if the assistance rate in the branch goes up, so that means we got to get baptizing! I'm super excited to be here and I hope that I will be able to do all that the president wants me to do! It is a very big change to go from the D. F. to a small town like this, but I like it and I think that me and my companion are going to have lots of success! My comp is Elder R. He is a really cool kid! I will also still be a district leader out here. I have two other elders in my district but their area is over an hour away from mine, haha. So that will be interesting, but it will be cool. Just means I will be traveling a lot to do interviews! So this will be a really fun a great experience for me! I think that I will probably be here until I finish my mission, but we will see you never know, haha. Anything can happen, but I feel like most likely I will be here till I finish!

Well, I miss you all and I love you all a lot, but I will have to cut this short because after 5 hours of traveling I don't have much p-day left, haha and I still have to wash all my clothes. And it's great I get to do it by hand again, haha. Good, good old fun!!!! Who needs a washer when you got hands, haha! I love you all and I hope you all are staying safe! Love ya!

Love,
Elder Despain