Baptisms and Campfires

Hey everybody,

So first off, please forgive my grammar and spelling mistakes. My English is suffering a ton. And, as promised, I should have a pretty decent amount of photos to send to you all, so I might do two emails!

This week was crazy. It was a huge week of highlights. The biggest highlight was the baptism and confirmation of one of our best investigators, Jenny Mendoza. We had to travel for about an hour to get to the nearest chapel to do her baptism, because there isn't enough water in the river in Tetela. So it was an adventure, but in the end of the day, it might have been my favorite baptism in the mission so far. I don't have a lot, but this one was my favorites. Jenny comes from a part-member family. Her Mom is a member, very inactive for lots of time, but is reactivating and is one of the best members here in our branch. She's trying to set a good example for her daughter, and really wants the best for her. During the entire baptismal service, she was crying uncontrollably. Absolutely bawling. The Spirit was so strong, and you could tell just how happy she was that her daughter was baptized. Her Dad isn't a member, but he assisted (attended) the baptism, and was really touched as well. We're going to start teaching him too.

The confirmation of Jenny was really special as well. As the majority of you know, the confirmation for converts is almost always done in the next sacrament meeting, under the leadership of the bishop. Well yesterday (Sunday) we had a very special visitor in our branch. Elder Carreon, one of the members of the Seventy (I don't know which quorum), came to visit and see the progress of the branch. It was really incredible getting to know him, and having him present at the confirmation of Jenny was great. The stake president, and the bishop of the ward Brisas (the ward that we are still technically a part of because we don't have a branch president) came out as well, and the bishop did the confirmation. He asked me, and Hermano Gonzaga (the high council member who is temporarily in charge of our "branch") to be a part of the confirmation as well. It was really neat being a part of the confirmation of one of my converts, and it was extremely spiritual.

One of the other highlights that I had was Tuesday. On Tuesday, my district leader, Elder Davis, one of my zone leaders, Elder Treviño, and our two assistants, Elder Razo and Elder Matos, came out to do divisions with us. I went with Davis and Treviño to do our English classes that we give, and then afterwards we went with Jenny to do her interview. Elder Razo went with Elder Avalos to Hueyapan to visit some of our investigators, and Elder Matos stayed in Tetela with Chischillie to visit the investigators here. It was awesome spending so much time with a lot of my leaders. I got to learn a lot from their teaching styles, obedience, and examples. And I'm very blessed to have extremely good leaders here in the mission. We had an absolute blast.

I also got to do divisions with Davis, and his comp, Elder Lund, last week. I'm going to attach some photos from that day. And the end of the day, we built a huge campfire, and cooked some carne asada. It was such a blast.

But in all honesty, I'm grateful for the leaders i have in the mission. They're very good people, hard workers, and they really care for me.

Well that was my week. I'm going to attach a photo of my branch too. In this photo, first row far right, is Elder Carreon. On his right (our left) is the stake president Ziga. Above the right should of Chischillie is the bishop, bishop Pena. The rest of the people are members and investigators!

I love you all. I'm really happy here in my area. Stay safe this week.

Love,

Elder William Jacob Long

PS all the photos loaded so I'm just going to send them in this email!

Sorry no photos

Hey everybody,

So as the subject line says, I don't have any photos this week either :( Right now I'm in Cuautla staying with my district leader, because we had a zone activity this morning. And I was dumb and I left the camera in the house :( Sorry everybody hahahaha. But don't worry, I'm doing well, and I should be sending like ten or so this next week. The activity was sick today. We went and explored an old and massive abandoned mission here, that the rebels used in the Mexican revolution. It has tunnels that goes off for miles in different directions, almost 200 years old. Some go several miles to the catholic convent here, some go for several miles to distant towns, some tunnels big enough to fit horses, some so small you have to crawl, tons of ruins, and basically the freedom to just explore. i was running around crazy with my zone leader elder Myler, just checking everything out. It was sweet.

We have a baptism coming up this Saturday! I'm so stoked. We also have a bunch on the 8th of April. So expect some photos of us in white, and keep praying for us.

This week was really chill. we spent the time just running around, crazy busy. Our area is huge, and we have tons of investigators. So we've been working just like every waking second. Being in a branch has been a huge learning experience for me, because it has really just put so much emphasis on self consecration to the Lord. Literally every single second of my time is absorbed in working in this tiny branch, running everything, and teaching all the time. Its wild.

I'm really pumped for this week as well, because my district leader, one of my zone leaders, and the assistants are coming out tomorrow to work with all of us. Its going to be so insane. Were going to split up into three companionships, one of two, two, and three. One of the companionships is gonna go do the baptismal interview for our baptism this Saturday, and one of the other pairs is going to stay in Tetela and work with all the investigators there, and the other pair is going to head out to Hueyapan and work with our other investigators there. Should be an awesome learning experience, and a really good chance to spend time with my leaders and see how they work, and learn more on how I can improve.

Well that's about everything as far as news goes. I've heard that my most recent convert, Marlon, is attending actively in Brisas, has an interview set up to receive the Aaronic priesthood, and his Dad, who isn't a member, is listening to the sisters that are there right now, and will be baptized in about a month. Its so crazy. I'm so incredibly happy.

I love you guys so much. thank you for all your prayers and support.

Love,

Elder William Jacob Long

PS bonus reading D+C 105:1-6

PPS My "Branch" (we still don't have a branch president) is crazy. So we have all three hours in Sundays at 9:00. I lead the music, and I pass the sacrament (along with the only deacon in the branch), and my comps bless. I would say about every three weeks or so we give talks. The members have been giving talks as well, and they're doing a great job! During second hour, the missionaries (us) teach gospel principles. The other people in the branch split off into gospel doctrine, primary, and Sunday school. During third hour we split into relief society and priesthood. We switch off teaching priesthood, along with the high council member who presides the meetings (speaking of which, that's who presides and conducts the meetings. His name is Hermano Gonzaga). Were still waiting on getting a branch pres. We also bring the majority of our investigators to the meetings. so super early, we leave and make the rounds to their houses. the investigators who live in Hueyapan are brought to the meetings by the members who live in Hueyapan. the members say the prayers. And yeah, that's the life in the Branch. we count the tithes and fast offerings, and run the place pretty much.

News from the Tetela Trio

Hey guys,

Another week went by, and its crazy how fast time is flying. 6 months ago today, I reported to the MTC in Mexico City, starting my mission. Six months is a lot of time, a lot has changed, but it has gone by crazy fast. Including my time in the MTC, I have now gone through 6 companionships, Ive had four areas, three baptisms, thousands of lessons, contacts, and much more. The workload that we take as missionaries is pretty formidable. Right now I am "working" 75 hour workweeks, completely focused on finding and teaching people, and losing myself in the service of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Its been a life changing experience for me, and its pretty wild thinking that Ive only got 18 months left. Time goes by way too fast, and the mission is way too short.

This week was a good week. We have a lot of work cut out for us here in the area. We still don't have a branch president, which makes things challenging, but the problem is there isn't enough people paying tithing for us to become a branch. So we've been working a ton with the members, teaching them about well everything. Every single person in our branch was less active or inactive before the formation of the branch, so they really don't know or understand how to be members, run the church, stuff like that. And on top of that were working and putting just about all our time into our investigators. Right now, the person who is running the branch is a high council member from a town two hours away, so hes never there, only in Sundays. Its rough, but its so awesome. Every Sunday is super spiritual, and during the week, we work like crazy (Sunday too). Its a good deal, and we should get a branch president during this cycle or the next cycle.

I'm doing good. Our area is good. This week we had meetings with our president, short ten minute interviews one on one with him (mission president). It was really great, and i really enjoyed it. It was funny, because every time elder Avalos has interviews with the president, the president always tells him his transfers. And we always have our interviews in the first two weeks of the cycle. So the poor guy has to work the next four weeks, knowing that hes not even going to stay in the area. President told elder Avalos that Elder Avalos is going to go to chalco in these next transfers, and that Elder Chischillie is going to change too, and hes going to be a trainer. I'm pretty happy because I'm going to stay in the area. I honestly wouldn't mind staying in the area for a longggggggg time. Like months. Because honestly our area is really amazing, and I'm really happy here. There's still four weeks left in this cycle, and everything can change. Who knows whats going to go down. But that's my funny story from this week.

Other than that, it was really uneventful. I miss you guys a lot. I hope you all are safe.

Love,

Elder William Jacob Long

Sorry no photos this week, I'm currently staying with my district leader, because we have a district meeting tomorrow, and this computer in this cyber cafe isn't working well :(

First Week In Tetela

Hey everyone,

Well its pretty safe to say that this week was crazy.

First, its extremely hilly. I would be really interested to know the elevation of Tetela del Volcan (If someone with more internet access than me wants to send it, that would be great). It's right underneath Popocatepetl (one of the biggest mountains in the world), in the foothills. The topography is crazy. It's a massive cloud forest, with huge pines and eucalyptus trees, massive gorges, huge, towering, steep hills, and tons of rivers. It's completely different from Cuautla (rain shadow, high desert, little to no vegetation). And we burn tons of money here. The bus is incredibly expensive. And we have to take it to get to any of the other four towns in our area. And every week we have to drop down all the way to Cuautla for our meetings, which takes about two hours and costs a fortune.

The area, from a work standpoint is great. The responsibility that we have here is huge, and I feel very privileged and inexperienced and not good enough to be here, to be honest. But God knows what He is doing, and there is a reason I'm here. We have only four or so families here in the branch. It's incredibly small. We almost had more investigators in church this Sunday than members. But the members are incredible, they feed us everyday, give us references, and really sacrifice to help us. They were all extremely less active before the branch, so they don't really know what they're doing, but their hearts are in the right place, and they are making an effort here to really help the growth of God's kingdom.

Our house is great. It's the nicest house in the entire mission, literally. It has five bedrooms, two living rooms, a walk-in closet, three vanities, three full bathrooms, a kitchen, a fireplace, and tons of land with a river and avocado trees. It's incredible. Next email I'll attach more photos

My legs are killing me. My feet are blistered. My comp has athlete's foot. This place is gnarly. Arguably it's the hardest area in the mission. There was never, ever a branch here, or missionaries, or just about everything. And it's so hilly, and huge. It's really difficult, but I feel like the Lord has tremendous trust in me, and I am so humbled to be here.

Its really great being with Elder Avalos and Elder Chischillie. I love them both a ton, and I get along with them really well. It's so fun being comps with Elder Chischillie especially, because hes only 5"1 and I'm 6"5. The difference is hilarious.

We have tons of people to teach here. It's a very safe area, the people are very receptive to us, and we should have our most successful cycle this cycle. I'm so excited for everything.

One of the biggest highlights was yesterday. We had sports day, which is an event that we do every six months in the mission. The entire mission gathers in the Stake Center in Chalco, and the zones have a competition. Each zone makes jerseys, and we compete in volleyball, soccer, basketball, and dodgeball. I love playing sports, and I'm super competitive. My zone is very disadvantaged (we knew we weren't going to win it all), so we came in with an underdog mentality, and beat the biggest and best zone in volleyball. It was crazy. We played best out of three, and we were tied 1 game to 1. We were playing against a zone of 24 Elders, which is the biggest zone in our mission. When one of our assistants, Elder Matos, found out that we actually had a shot to beat them, he came over and made a deal with us that if we won, he would treat us all to pizza. It was absolutely crazy. We smoked them in the last game, 21-14. I scored the winning point on a spike, and my zone went nuts. I went running and screaming with the entire zone (reminiscent of a soccer team after scoring a goal). They finally caught me and we jumped up an down in a huge group mosh pit screaming and yelling in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, for like five minutes, yelling ourselves hoarse. It was extremely great. The only sad part was that it was the only event that we won. But one of the benefits of having a day with all the mission was that I got a ton of time to talk to my dad, Elder Ramirez (sorry dad). He got made a zone leader in one of the zones in Cuautla, so I haven't seen him much or had much time to talk to him. Spending a lot of time with him catching up and reminiscing was great. I miss him and love him a ton. I also got to spend some quality time with Elder Child too, and catch up with him. Hanging out with my friends was awesome.

I'm doing well. The language isn't a problem for me at all. I'm learning tons every day, but I can talk without any problem, understand without any problem, and that's so nice. It's such a blessing. I can honestly testify in the gift of tongues.

I miss you guys so much. I'm gonna attach some photos of my area, house, and sports day. I hope you all are doing well. thank you for all your emails and support. I love you all, and can't wait to read from next week's emails.

Love,

Elder William Jacob Long

Last Week in Brisas,Tetela Ho!

Hey Everyone!

First of all, please forgive me for not having any photos, this computer isn't working :( 

You guys can all imagine, the computers here aren't the best hahaha. But yeah.

This week was crazy. There is no way to describe it. Absolutely crazy. Well I'll start by saying that our Assistants are headed home tomorrow, and the all the secretarios  (Elders working in the office) got released as well, so they pretty much revealed all the transfers a week early. Pretty dumb to be honest, but I'm not complaining. So I've known my transfers since last Tuesday. It's crazy.

So my area is huge, right? It's the biggest in my mission. There's a town about an hour away from my house (still in my area) called Tetela del Volcan. There's a ton of members out there who don't have enough money to assist (attend) the ward here (they have to pay a ton in bus tickets just to get to church). Well about two weeks ago, we heard some rumors that they were going to open up a branch there in Tetela. We got the heads up from the zone leaders this week that we were going to get transferred out to Tetela. Well, yesterday, we went to the first church services in this branch. Our mission president picked us up early, and we drove out all the way to Tetela. The branch is holding its services in a little house that's only half-way done. It's so small that we have to have the majority of the classes outside. Well, we got up there, and the branch president was there. We got to meet him, and then the entire stake presidency came too, and a whole bunch of other people. While we were setting up, our mission president broke some crazy news to us. He told me that we were going to be in a trio with my very good friend and comp from the CCM Elder Chischillie! I was super pumped to hear that. Being in a trio is so crazy. Then the branch pres told us that Elder Avalos and I are going to be councilors [counselors] (sorry I've forgotten how to spell in English) in the Presidency. Super crazy.

So they're splitting my area. All the towns that are gong to be a part of the branch will be in my area. Elder Avalos, Elder Chischillie, and I are going to go live in a house in Tetela. It's the nicest house in the entire mission (Even nicer than the assistants' house), which is super sick. There's no baptism font, so we're going to do all our baptisms in rivers! That's super sick as well. Honestly, this transfer is crazy. This town is super prepared too. We're going to baptize a lot this cycle.

Jacob served first in Amecameca, then Cuautla, and now is heading to Tetela del Volcan.

So all in all I'm pretty happy. I'm sorry i don't have pics, but don't worry, there's going to be a ton next week.

Oh, I actually might not get the chance to write next week. So if you guys don't see an email from me, don't freak out. Everything is all good. The mission is holding a big sports day event in Chalco that's mandatory, so I have to travel several hours out to Chalco next Monday. I don't know if I will be able to write. But cross your fingers that I can.

I miss you guys a ton. My mission just got a heck of a lot crazier. I miss you guys.

Love,

Elder William Jacob Long