Conference re-cap

October 6, 2014

My dear family,

Conference was awesome! Salma did attend the sunday morning session, and we ahve plans to involve and invite all of her family this week in our lessons. unfortunately, even though we called, passed by, and called some more people until we ran out of credit, she was the only investigator who went to the stake center to see General Conference.

Even though he didn't attend conference, we did recieve a gift from michoacan a lil' while back. Cristian was working wiht the missionaries down there when suddenly his family came to Tijuana. With his family condition and his job, he is not progressing all to well, but is someone more to help out when they put Elders in Barrio Palmeras. 

Ties and tie clips can wait for christmas, but a new mesh laundry bag would be nice. Food is always good, especially peanut butter, but my shirts are fine, every now and then I fidn pants or shoes for super cheap or given to me, but we bought a lot of durable stuff. My wristwacth is aging, but the battery hasn't died on me yet. I have been giving several ties away, and the extra hymnbook in spanish I am going to give to Ceaser, who we baptized recently. Many things like spanish bibles (with lds references), triple combonations, hymnbooks are asked, but really the members can get them if they need them. Soccerballs for the church building are always nice, I have booted a few in mutual or with other missionaries, but there are always someone who has one ready. I don't have a jumprope, but many missionaries have those. Altos honestly es un poco fresa, or one of the higher end sectors here in the mission, which makes it different and difficult to serve like I learned in other sectors.

After the Mexican independance, everything in the streets and in the stores changed to Halloween with a hint of Christmas as well. Everything and anything, between Mexico and California, can be found in this theme. I am looking forward to eating dead bread this month, since it looks like I might not be in Mexico the last week of October 2015.

Mom, do you remember which way is east? I know I mentioned that this current sector was to the east of my first one, so I am more for central Tijuana than the Playas (beaches). I still get the cooler ocean air here, but it hasn't rained nearly at all in Tijuana, even though Cabo San Lucas was hit by a storm a lil' while back. This conference weekend we had a 'heat' spell, but the night are cooling down.

I have a list that I am looking at with things to write about, but not all of it can come out in one hour.

I love to listen to the voice of our prophet. I know that the Lord has a perfect Plan for us, and if we are faithful to that plan, we can truly be unstoppable, unsinkable, and invincibile. I know that each servant of the Lord testifies of the same teachings that He gave us during his ministry here on earth. I know that each one of us are loved by a Heavenly Father, and that he knows us personally and individually.

Sincerely, 

Elder Tobler

Pocho de Bochos- take two

Side note from Jennifer 

James email last week was also labeled Pocho de Bochos, but it was a weird list, mostly in Spanish, and didn't make much sense, until the very end in which he said he finally recieved our package sent in July and "I FINALLY GOT YOUR PACKAGE! I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER"

September 29, 2014

Dear Family,

All right everyone, here’s the lowdown for these past weeks. Back in Reforma it appears that a family that I left there was baptized- the mother and three daughters- along with reactivating a youth who is working on his family history. Here in Altos/Palmeras it is a little tough, this is the first area I have had that every street is paved and all of the houses are normal, many nicer than ours (from the outside). Also, I am currently working between two wards, both of which are trying to kick-start the participation of the members in the Work of Salvation. Last week we baptized Caesar, who has plans to enter the temple with his wife and his one (soon to be two) kids in a year. We were teaching a lesson with him this week, and we were explaining the part were Nephi separates from his brothers, and Caesar’s response was," How great! They were always fighting and arguing every lil' while even when an angel appeared to them and everything! Well, if I saw an angel even once that's all I'd need for a lifetime!" Hahaha, We are helping him hold weekly family home evening. The less active members are having a difficult time reactivating, and we are almost to the point that Palmeras can have its own set of missionaries again. We have only a handful of investigators progressing, but it looks like for there near Halloween we will we a baptism. Guadalupe is attending church, and even though she can't read, she is progressing very well. Ilda, the wife of a less active member, is also attending, but is reluctant to commit to baptism.

This morning we studied English with Laffy Taffy wrappers, and it is a blast having a companion that has the same spanglish mindset. Speaking of language, we had a meeting with Elder Arnuflo Velensuela, of the first quorum of the seventy, and he mentioned to us that in this general conference there will be a talk given in another language that isn't English- I have heard other things rumored, but that is the only part I can confirm. For any missionaries or those who are preparing to enter the field- STUDY the mission language AND ENGLISH every day. They say that I speak like a half-blood, or someone who is half American half Mexican, that I speak like a Pocho.

This past week was a little tough, but things are looking better. A "chilango" roughly defined, is a Mexican redneck; it doesn't quite fit, but it's close. This Wednesday, we were present in a bus where a chilango was driving. There was a stop sign in the road and- guess what he did? HE RAN IT OVER! There are missionaries like this too, usually one or two for every Zone. In other events, I love breakfast- whether it's pizza, eggs, milkshakes or que sea it is a very happy part of my day. Last week on Monday we ate Chinese for lunch with a member who has a lifetime full of stories, from leprosy to world traveler, and lives alone. He is in Utah right now, waiting anxiously for General Conference. We went to buy tortas that night 2 for 1 near our apartment and a kind less active member paid for us. Sometimes, it's a little frustrating finding so many inactive members, but nearly all of them are so generous to the missionaries.

On Tuesday the 16 it was hotter in Tijuana than in Mexicali- 102 degrees F! Also, Marco, my first convert in the neighboring ward, is going to receive the melquisedic this next month. I would love to eat peaches and tomatoes, please make sure there are some there for my homecoming. Many days my shoulders hurt, one for carrying my shoulder bag and the other for all of the slug bugs we see, but only the Bochos, the antique styles. I am grateful for this chance I have to serve a mission here in Tijuana and I know the Lord prepares the way for everyman to achieve his full potential, if we confide in him. I love all of you, and have more to say, but I gotta go! Until next week. 

Sincerely,

Elder Tobler

Gira Misional, Foto

This is me and my Zone, my mission president and his wife as well as a General authority Elder Valensuela of the First presidency of the Seventy and his wife. He is the 2nd counciler Area México.

¿Adonde voy?

September 1, 2014

Dear family, y igualmente algunos hermanos del Tijuana, [and also some brothers from Tijuana]

Estoy en Altos, A lado del sector donde empiezo la mision. I´m in Altos, just a lado de Miramar, to the east. [I'm Altos, A side of the sector where the mission start. I'm in Altos, just next to Miramar, to the east.]

I´m a little sick again, but i have read ALL that you have sent me, i´ll respond in better detail in the following week. I recieved two cards from grandma Tobler, but the package surprisingly enough did not arrived this conference with the Presidente on Friday.

I left 7 people, who are progressing unstoppably in Reforma. Alex was still smoking, Anahi and her three girls are making while Elva and her two tiny ids have not faltered a week. Jacquelyn has a keen interest in the Book of Mormon, and she made it to church with her four kids- All, under the age of six. That bishop was an ideal model for Hastening the Work of Salvacion, and I´m excited to see what Altos will give me according to my diligence. I love our savior, and more importantly than his life and ministry, than his brutal path to his death is that he lives! I know it, and I cannot deny it. Jesus Christ has resurrected, and his hand is eternally outstretched towards us, if we accept him as our Lord and King. Thank you everyone for your prayers and love, and I’ll report more completely next week.

Your son, amigo, y misionero,

Elder Tober