Welcome to Elder Pope's mission blog! I (Johnny's mom) will be posting excerpts from Elder Pope's letters periodically. Check back often and leave some love in the comments! I'll be sure he sees it.
Pres Tervort is having a “read the Book of Mormon fest” and invited us to invite all our family and friends back home to join in. Starting August 1st we will read 5 pages every day (35 pages a week). The focus will be on the spirit and teaching and things that can help in our every day life.
So, hop on the train and find the truth brothahs and sistahs!
Anyways, one year in the mission? Whatever! That went way tooooooo fast!
I have noticed that nowadays, way too many people focus on the negative parts of life and then that makes them sad. I love to look for the positive and then I´m happy. It seems to work quite well so I´m trying to get people to do it. It is just much more fun for every one! There are definitely some bad things about Mexico, but there´s bad parts about the US as well. When there is bad, there is also good. It all depends on where our focus is. The brain is a powerful thing. It reminds me of the "Desire talk" by Dallin H. Oaks. Go get em! See whatcha love and love watcha see! Heck yeah!!!
Well, this week we knocked A LOT without getting into any houses, but I know all is going to be awesome. In the mission, I think the most important thing that I´ve learned is the love that God has for all of His children. He loves us enough to send His spirit to guide us and comfort us. He loved us enough that He sent His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ to save us all if we but follow the gospel that he brought. The love of God makes us united, which is the purpose of the gospel: to be one with God, Christ and the Holy Ghost. I know that God loves all of His children and all of those wonderful children can feel His love for them as well. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church on the earth that can fully access the love that God has for us. Jesus Christ died for all of us, and no matter the problems, we can be clean and comforted by His sacrifice for us, which is the greatest demonstration of the love of God. I love the mission and I love what Heavenly Father has done for me, even when it´s hard. I know He loves me, and that He loves all people.
Love ya!!!
John Pope
Hola-sations (English),
It rained a bunch here. Every day it rains, sometimes super hard. It keeps ya guessin´. A couple people that we had taught big time, who had really felt the spirit, decided that they didn’t want to hear more due to the stuff other people said to them about it all. It hurt a lot to see people reject the awesome feelings that come from the Holy Ghost. We’ll keep on it though, don’t you worry!
Oh, we had transfers. I’m sticking with Elder Coulter. The zone should be loaded with spirit because 5 missionaries are training - that’s five units of spiritual greeny-ness! I’m excited to see what this change brings into the zone. I have been in this zone 8 months today - that’s pretty cool.
I am in an area called Cuauhtémoc (say that five times fast!) We found some cool people that came to church and really liked it. Another family, that we were preparing for baptism, kind of fell through with their commitment. The young dad got a job on Sunday. We encouraged him not to do that! Blast! We’ll see if he has the faith to leave it behind. His mother in law and her friend come to church. The mother in law says she won’t get baptized, but she is a faithful goer to church and her friend wants to be baptized. We’ll get the mother in law soon though. She knows it’s right. It’s just a matter of leaving her traditions behind.
I love you all, and I know that this church is true. It’s just pure happiness, even in tough times! I love it!
Independence, America, and Freedom (and eagles!)
Those are some of my thoughts about today, and with that, here’s some observations of Mexico:
1. We had food after church with the ward yesterday, and the food was all there on the tables and when the hermano said ¨amen¨ everyone just went for it in a mad rush to the table. Heck with the lines. Even the stake Pres was like ¨Get in there Elders or there’s not going to be enough food!!!¨ He said it as he dove into the crowd towards the table. It was pretty sweet! Lines are boring anyways, right?
2. The same thing happens in the metro. It makes for quite the adventure getting on and off and once there’s enough people on board you don’t have to hold onto anything, because there’s not enough room to fall, let alone move. Sweet!
Well, this week was wet. I guess Mexico City has a rainy season that last until August or September. Every day it rains, some days all day it rains. It feels really nice, and it is much better now that I’ve bought an umbrella. Elder Coulter and I had a classy movie-like moment. We were on the sidewalk, walking in the rain and the wind picked up and blew his umbrella inside out and then a car drove by and splashed a huge puddle all down my side when I turned to check out his umbrella. Pretty cool.
On Sunday we got a new bishop, and yes, his first name is Moroni. He’s going to be sweet! It was a wet, but good week here in the beautiful, quaint village setting of Mexico City.
Stay sweet!
Much love and freedom! (and America)
John Pope
On Saturday, after lunch, we started our fasts and then had a string of spiritual lessons. We could feel the spirit even before we were teaching and extended some baptismal commits, but in each one something interrupted the goodness. On one, the daughter and her son were ready to accept, but the Catholic grandma made quite the fuss, etc. It just feels so good to have the spirit helping us. That’s the only trio companionship that is fun I’d say. I can’t imagine living without it. The spirit is such a great gift. It moves us to do good things and is so worth the effort to get it and then keep it with you. Just so cool. I love you so much and really do appreciate your prayers in my direction.
