Weekly Email!

Dear Family,

  I have no time to write. I have to go! But next week will be a better email. We had a great week of success. Soraya and ALL her family came to church this sunday!!! It was wonderful! We're planning to do a Christmas in July this coming Monday for our investigators and a few members. We'll be baking the peanut butter cookies! Thanks for sending me that recipe! I love you all! I can't believe that this week I complete 10 months on the mission. How soon until Max has his interviews?! UGH.

     Love,

 Elder Mitchell Poirier

MEXIQUITO

Family!
       We were planning on baptizing this Saturday, but we got a call from our investigator (who's about 60 years old) that afternoon telling us that her children found out she was going to get baptized and became infuriated with her. We went to go visit her right away because we thought that it'd be possible to resolve. She wasn't home. So we started walking to the gym (she's ALWAYS in the gym) and ran into her! But she was crying. That morning her sister had a heart attack and passed away. This is the third sibling to have died in this year. She is heart-broken and depressed. We tried anything we could do or say as we walked back to her house, even offering to go with her to turn in the body, but she was too hurt and sad to understand what we were saying. She told us she needed to go cry and shut the door on us. We figured she obviously needs time before she'll let us speak words of comfort to her. We were pretty surprised, but tried not to get discouraged. We kept working even harder.
      Last night we still needed three new investigators. Honestly we hadn't contacted people as much as we should have during the week. The Lord saw that we did ALMOST everything therefore to complete the Standard, so he only ALMOST helped us complete it. We knocked doors in the rain after all our options had run out. It was POURING rain. It's wonderful here! But to be outside is cold and miserable. And in church clothes! Everyone everywhere was watching the Mexico vs Uruguay soccer game, so we unfortunately didn't happen upon the door of anyone whose heart was warm enough to let us in.
       This week I was blown away by my companion! On Tuesday we'd discussed putting a baptismal date with Soraya, a Christian who'd come to church and several activities. My companion felt that we should wait until the next week. We decided we'd see how she progressed during the week. Thursday came and suddenly my companion took control of the lesson briefly to set a baptismal date with her. Soraya easily accepted the 30th as a goal to be baptized so long as she receives her answer that the Book of Mormon is true. She's really excited in fact. I was so impressed with my companion for having recognized that she was ready and for having listened to and spoken with the spirit that lesson. Soraya came to church again this Sunday. We trust the Lord will strongly answer her prayers, or that she'll recognize he's already answered them.
    I'm happy all is well in Stuart, Florida. I love you all! I wish you could all enjoy the wonderful food I eat! I'm trying to collect recipes, but it's a slow process of asking and reminding and reminding again. When I get home I'd like to invent a Mexican pie, which will of course include chili, lime, or salt instead of sugar. Is there such thing as mango pie? I assume so, but only refrigerated pies. I understand that you're going on vacation and all, but PLEASE don't forget to send me emails! I love you!
     Love,
   Elder Mitch Poirier

PS yesterday there was a boxer in someone's porch shivering cold! I wanted to give it some warmth or something, but the gate was locked. Poor thing. And today there's a basset hound wandering the streets for food. Sad! Tell Bentley he doesn't know how good he has it.

PSS PANCAKE NIGHT
   It went really well. We (as in I) made about 60 pancakes. We had a lot of fun. There's a game that's kind of dumb that we played, but somehow everyone really enjoyed it. Especially Salvador... remind me to tell you about that when I get home..   Anyway, the game is that everyone has to write about 3 embarrassing things that they want other specific people to do, for example "I want Max to dance the Electric Slide." Then everyone's lists get collected and the person in charge says, "This game is called 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you'" And everyone has to do the things they wanted others to do. Super funny only because Soraya wrote 7 things! One of them being "I want Elder Poirier to eat all the extra pancakes" and "I want Elder Silos to drink all the extra milk." Of course we didn't make her do it. But Salvador sure did try (to make her do it).... later. I have to act it out for you.

Happy Fourth of July!

My American Family!
  Why doesn't anyone celebrate the Fourth of July here?! Nothing! This week was wonderful. I didn't tell you, but last week the Assistants to the President called me and basically asked, "what's wrong with your dats?!" and "you're an example to your companion and your district" etc. But in a super nice way. Still, it made me feel horrible because we didn't know what the deal was, why we were having such little success. But the night before that phone call, we decided to sit and talk about what we need to do differently (proof that i recognized our error before getting called out by our leaders). If we wanted to be able to tell the Lord, "we're doing EVERYTHING we can, please do your part" then we had to do EVERYTHING we could. We made a list of things we need to change. To be perfectly obedient we needed 1) call for permission to get home later that 9 PM, 2) Exercise every morning until 7 AM, 3) Study like we should on Pdays and Sundays (when no missionaries study), and other things that are complicated to explain, but basically teach in the way that President wants us to teach. This week was a total turn around. We completed with the Standard of Excellence! I wish I could describe all the miracles that we saw, though small. The Lord knew exactly how he was going to help us reach our goals.
 Soraya came to church with her daughter Karina!! Whoop whoop! They arrived a little late, JUST as Hno. Pedro (a CRAZY old man) was bearing his testimony. Ugh fast and testimony meeting. But after that the testimonies were fine. And they went to Sunday School where we learned about the Holy Ghost and how Christ was going to give it to the apostles. Soraya really enjoyed it I think. Tonight we are making pancakes for ALL of our investigators (of course not all will show up..). We've invited a few members as well. Good ones. President wants us to do things with our investigators that we'd do with our family. Things that will show them we actually love them. We're not just teachers. Did I tell you that my compy, Elder Silos, is only 18!! He turned 18 in January. He's younger than Max!! SO weird. Anyway, I hope Soraya and her family come tonight! I'll send photos. We haven't really had anything to take photos of. Sorry.
  This week the mission did a Mobile Visitor's Center (like a temple visitor's center, but brought to a park in our area). We invite people walking by to do a 10 minute tour to learn more about Christ and our church. It was SO FUN. The members were the ones who had to approach people and invite them to come in. I got such a kick out of watching them muster the courage to go talk to people. I tried to imagine mom and dad doing it. As we were taking it all down, the rains came POURING. I love it. It basically has been raining everyday from 4 PM until the morning when we wake up. And did you know that there's such thing as colored lightning? Yes. I saw green lightning that night. Look it up and explain it to me because I'm SURE Aleksi and I did NOT learn about that in our Extreme Weather class ("sure" because it was I who tried to pay attention everyday).

  I love you family!

Happy Birthday Max!!! Get your butt out on a mission ASAP. Don't you realize that if you don't leave before September 22 it'll be more than 3 years before we see each other again?! What is taking you so long?!!

Love,
  Elder Mitchell Poirier

Mecsicko

Familia,
  Voy a escribir esta carta en español obviamente. Esta semana tuvimos poco exito. Pensabamos que a lo menos 7 personas iban a venir a la iglesia el domingo, pero cero vinieron. Estamos enseñando a una Cristiana que tiene miedo del Libro de Mormon. Es lo que dice ella, que tiene miedo. Supimos que era porque penso que el Libro hablaba solamente de Jose Smith. Facil de corregir. Ella es muy padre. Ha estado orando para saber la verdad. La cosa es que Dios nos puso en su camino, pero no quiere aceptar que puede ser la verdad. Dice que queria ir a la iglesia, pero no quiere que su esposo quiera continuar yendo alli. Su hija tiene 19 años y si quiere leer el Libro de Mormon y quiere ir a la iglesia tambien. Es una familia muy especial y queremos mucho que se bauticen. Sabemos que es posible, solo que todos tienen que leer, orar, e ir a la iglesia. Tenemos tres otras familias tambien que son MUY especiales, pero tambien tienen sus problemas. Nos frustra un poquito. Pero esta semana nos dimos cuenta que si en realidad les amamos, tenemos que cambiar y ser mejores misioneros. Tenemos que hacer TODO, ser PERFECTAMENTE obediente a todas las reglas. Estoy agradecido que tenemos otra semana para empezar de nuevo.
  Se que ya les dije que hay unos niños que me llaman "Chicharito" (el futbolista famoso de mexico) y siempre quieren chocar la mano, pero esta semana otra vez pude hablar con ellos cinco. Tendran como 8/9 años. Me hace feliz que aqui soy un heroe, el guerro que no puede jugar muy bien jaja. De hecho, si jugamos un ratito con ellos en la calle. Yo digo que un dia, cuando tengan mas años, van a querrer hablar con los misioneros. Sembrando semillas. Pues, espero que mi español no sea feo. Es diferente escribir en español por computadora que por mano. Les amo mucho!

   Elder Mitchell Pollo

What a Week!

FAMILY!
  What a week! We had Zone Conferences Wednesday through Friday. They last until 2 PM and then we have to rush back to our areas to make it in time for lunch with the members. Carne en su jugo. Look up a recipe because I think the hermana just bought it instead of cooking it. SO delicious. President told us a lot of things that we need to apply better in the work, but my favorite thing was when he told us we need to show our love for our investigators by doing things with them that we'd do with our family. He told us to cook them dinner. Bake a pie (!!!!!!). And be creative thinking of other things. So we're going to bake a pie with one of the families we're teaching. I wish I had my recipe book (that Reagan got me)!!! And we brought a pineapple to visit Israel. Basically it's HIS kitchen, so he made US the pineapple water. How? Easy. Cut the fruit. Put it in a blender with water and sugar to taste. Then add more water after it's blended, but in a bucket or a pitcher. So refreshing. Do it with strawberries. Or cantalope. It's one of my favorite things about Mexico. Anyway, he told us that we can never get discouraged. That we need to be EXACTLY obedient if we want to see miracles. "Obedience brings blessings. Exact obedience brings miracles." We did find an awesome family this week! They are looking for the truth. It's sad. A year ago their young baby passed away. The Catholic priest didn't give them the time to come and visit, or to baptize the baby. They felt hurt and rejected by their own religion. But we taught them that yes, baptism is required to enter the gates of heaven, BUT children don't have sin. They therefore have NO need to be baptized (Moroni 8), and should they pass away, they go STRAIGHT to the presence of our Heavenly Father. It was a very special lesson.
Last night was the end of this transfer. I can't believe I've been training an entire transfer! But Elder Silos and I are still companions! Another 6 weeks!
I love you family! I'm so happy that Max's papers will be sent tonight! How crazy! WOOHOO
Love,
Elder Mitchell Poirier

This Week in the Mission

                                                           Israel's Baptism

                                                                   

Dear Family!

  We baptized Israel this week!!! Woohoo! He has had such a hard life, but has come a long way. Really, I wish I could tell you about all of his experiences because they really are powerful and inspirational. We'd asked him to write "his story" during the nights that he had to stay awake by the hospital bedside of his godfather. Those twelve sheets of paper are something I'd like to share with you five when I get home. Salvador received the Aaronic Priesthood this Sunday! And Blanca stayed for sunday school! We didn't have the Gospel Principles class because it's so unprepared and boring and small. The Gospel Doctrines is taught like mom would teach it, fun, participation, learning, laughing, spirit. So afterwards, Blanca said, "que padre" which interpretted means "how cool." Oh yeah, Salvador bought us each a sombrero! So nice of him! But now we have to carry it around the rest of our missions. It's huge!

Salvador and me

 I don't have much time, but we brought Janeth this week to an FHE with the Lopez family. She really felt the Spirit as she watched the short Restoration video. She cried during the First Vision. We really want her to get baptized, but she wants to wait until her sister who is mormon comes in september to visit. Janeth's (janette) husband is awful to her, so she's also looking for a job so that she can move in with her mom and support herself.  Basically it was a great week, but our numbers were awful. I feel like I DON'T know what I'm doing as district leader nor as a trainer. Aye. I love you family! I miss you!

Love,

Elder Poirier

Love from Mexico

Family!
  ¡Que tal? I miss you all! I wish I had gotten some more emails to read (hem hem Max, Cassie, Dad). But anyway, this week was really fast, but SUPER stressful. Basically, it all had to do with Israel, who we were going to baptize this week. But before I talk about that, I have a funny story. Last Tuesday I got TWO packages from you all! The first said that it contained deodorant, vitamins, and other things, I can't remember. But when I opened it, there was a dress, a necklace, and a card addressed, "Daughter." ahahah WHAT? I thought that mom must have mixed up packages to Aleksi and I. But I opened the card and it was not for Aleksi. I got a dress and a necklace all the way here in Mexico that was intended for some girl in Rhode Island. How? Well, the post office must have put the customs form on someone else's package! The other package I received had candy, deodorant, vitamins, etc. but it didn't have a customs form. Funny. So now I have to mail this dress back to the sender. Aye.
  So anyway, Israel has been caring for his padrino (godfather) in the hospital for almost a month now. The padrino is named Eduardo. Eduardo fell the other week and fractured his hip. He's been waiting in the hospital for the operation since. But because he has other medical issues, there has to be somebody to watch over him 24/7. Eduardo's real family has ditched him, so Israel is left to care for him. This week we went and visited Eduardo in the hospital, made him laugh a lot. We gave him a blessing. On Friday he had his operation. Israel told us that everything went well. He was really content. But at 1:45 AM Israel texted us that Eduardo began convulsing and his life was in danger, and basically that he wouldn't be able to be baptized Saturday. We were really bummed. What do we do? 1) Get everything ready to have the baptism and convince Israel to still do it, or 2) just wait until the next Saturday. We couldn't agree as a companionship what to do, so I suggested we kneel and pray to arrive to a conclusion together. After the prayer, we both meditated over it for a little to feel the Spirit's answer. When we shared our feelings they were the same, that we should get everything ready for the baptism, but let Israel decide. When we went to visit him, he looked awful. Very exhausted and overstressed. Basically he decided to wait for this coming Saturday. Poor guy. But we visited again yesterday and just talked about a bunch of normal things to give him company and let him be a little distracted. I pray that this Saturday nothing will go wrong and that he'll have a beautiful baptism!
  Family, the mission is the most stressful thing ever. But it's alright because it's very worth it. And it goes by ridiculously fast. And I haven't even completed my year mark yet (they say that after a year time disappears).
  I love you and I'm glad to hear that two of you are doing well!
Love,
  Elder Mitch Poirier
Brother and Son