Bienvenidos a Reforma (May 5, 2014)

Before I get to James’ letter let me apologize for not keeping up with this blog more. I’m hoping to get one letter posted a day in the order they were sent to us, so everyone can keep up with what has been happening with our Elder in Tijuana.

Dear Family, friends, missionaries and misioneros, queridos hermanos y amigos de Tijuana,

These past two weeks have been busy.  I was showing Elder Serpa every corner of the sector, and we were just beginning to baptize again when I got called to serve in Reforma with Elder Torres.  Officially I only had two baptisms in the ward Miramar, but I achieved much in the work of reactivation and brought about many constructive changes in the ward council.  I learned many ways how I could apply the same work with a different perspective with my unceasingly funny companion Elder Serpa. Neri, María y familia Ornelas tiene un futuro de oportunidades espitiruales. (Neri, Mary and family Ornelas have spiritual opportunities.)

This past week for our P-Day we celebrated with Elder Cortes, my old Líder de Distrito, (district leader) who returns home to his house tomorrow.  He has been an amazing influence and a great example of how one can follow the rules and find excellence in this great work.  We went to a nice barbecue joint in Independencia to eat hamburgers.  I gave him the Xolos playeta (shirt) that I bought a while back, because he needed to get one before he returned honorably home to Morelos.  Yesterday and this morning Hma Nancy y Hmo Rafa wished us off as we left that corner of Tijuana.  Muchisimas gracias Elder Cortes, Éxito!  Y gracias para la influencia de los miembros y para el trabajo del Obispo Mora. (And thanks to the influence of the members and the work of Bishop Mora.) I received a few gifts from the ward members, regalé varios corbatas y cosas, (I gave several ties and stuff) and I'll send a few pictures in the following weeks. Hma Nancy dropped me off in her red Mystery Machine, and here I am with Elder Torres.

Normalmente, yo escribo un parrafo describiendo las comidas nuevas y platos interesantes de la semana. (Normally, I write one paragraph describing new foods and interesting dishes of the week.) Well, thus far in my mission I have eaten a lot of different kinds of food, both familiar and unfamiliar. I did get the package from The Vinsons, thanks a ton for the Jerky. Mis compañeros y Hmo Rafa les gustaron la carne seca de alce. (My colleagues and Hmo Rafa liked the moose jerky.) I have already eaten the Elk Jerky, and this week I will munch on the Deer Jerky (carne seca de venado) this week.  I know I am writing this late, sorry Mom, but if you wish to include snacks like Rolos, Twizzlers, Pretzels, Hershey's, the Hostess Cupcake or any chocolate peanut butter mix.  I have eaten a lot of different kinds of food here.  Yo como comida mas picante de cualquier de mis compañeros. Tengo chile en mi sangre! (I like spicy food more than any of my classmates. I have chili in my blood!) From rice with milk (arroz con leche), stuffed fried peppers (chile rellenos), new fruit like guavas, rice like Grandma Tobler, Chicharón, and giant meatballs (albondigas); there has been quite a variety. 

Elder Serpa was a hilarious companion. He can read English, so the majority of this part will be in English, no se preocupe (do not worry) Cami. Funny enough, he listened to music from "Two Steps From Hell" as well before his mission, and went every Friday to the movies with his dad.  The theatres here are so much cheaper!  He enjoys the music from Zelda and other orchestral pieces, although he really only enjoys practicing solo, not playing in a group.

This week I shared multiple times with the members the importance of the Family History Work.

This is my brief message of love and servitude, and I love this chance to serve in the final harvest of the Lord, and for the unending prayers I receive from my family.

Sincerely you Son, friend, Amigo, misionero,

Elder Tobler

Mi compañero es un bromador

Dear family,

This has been a great time here in Tijuana.  We currently have an awesome zone who works hard and plays harder, even if they prefer to play soccer over basketball. Oh well, no importa, all of us are here in this blessed opportunity to serve our Lord.  We climbed, walked, preached, and did a fair amount this week in helping our investigators understand this gospel and the importance it has on their lives.  When Thursday came and we went to pass datos, we realized that most of our work does not always translate into numbers or progress that our leaders can see on paper.

Early in the morning twice this week it was a bit foggy.  Elder Serpa was astonished, but I was here in January and February when every morning the fog was even more dense and wet.  

When was the last time you saw a Peter Pan Flute?

On Monday we had a Ward-Wide Family Home Evening, and there is where we meet a large group of Americans who were building houses.  One of these blessed families who received a real house has desires to learn about our church, and already we have put two baptismal dates with them.  It is cool to return back to the house and find Mars in the night sky, even though of all the places on Earth that I've seen, the sky here is probably the ugliest.  Nor do I have plans to visit China.

We contacted SO MANY PEOPLE THIS WEEK.

I really got to go, but I love my family and the lessons that my parents have taught me aboiut hard wrok and about self-reliance.  The real trick is teaching your companion a few of these things as well. Both of us have less than a year under our belts, and are building the other up to work in the grand harvest of the Lord.  I am grateful for this chance to be a missionary in these latter-days, and I know that I have been called to serve here, because these individuals need help from a Track Runner who likes to think from the Salt Lake Valley. Let the Lord shape you, but as well remember that you are in this place because of your talents and skills.  I have seen how my parents, grandparents, and other heroes have remained spiritually strong and have maintained their personality and traits that make them such grand rulers, leaders, and teachers.

Este obra esta bien suave

With my Love, 

Elder Tobler

Suprise Picture

I recieved this email a couple of days ago and was so excited to see James' smiling face. I just had to share with you all.

Hi,
I am a member from Seattle, wa. My family was in Tijuana this week on a trip and we met your sweet sons who are serving there. They are both doing well and were a delight to talk to.  I though you might like a picture. 
Have a great day!

El reloj esta volando!

Dear Family,

I heard that there was a big earthquake in Chile this past week.

As for food, a little bit of carne asada is good for the soul.  My companion was surprised when I ordered a whole chicken from the rotisserie place across the street for lunch this week.  

Oh and for Brother Brent Thomas I learned a variety of words very quickly with the scar on my wrist, but equally I am grateful for those triangle red pencils that you brought to church years ago. I still have one in my Hero's Satchel that I throw over my shoulder every morning.  Other odds and ends that I carry that have come in use or very easily could be needed are some band-aids, my large handkerchief, Neosporin, my flashlight, and the classic mission supplies- folletos, a Book of Mormon, some Liahona's, the very scare pass-along cards, and my very colorful spanish set of scriptures.  I always joke with my companion that while the Testigos de Jehova have umbrellas and sunshades, we carry flashlights.  Elder Serpa does not have a watch, and with the alarms and timers I have on this watch that lasted through the last part of track, we can always coordinate and maintain the missionary schedule.  I will be fine with shoes, because on Valentine's Day the Familia Torres gave me a pair, her husband discovered that they did not fit him anymore. I also received on other recently from a family from Guatemala who live in the ward, plus the three that I brought. All are good shoes, and will last me for a while. 

The weather here has been all to normal.  At least in the first couple of months it was cooler in the morning and normal in the afternoon and evenings, but now it is always a comfortable climate. 

Scripture Masteries rock! Pun not indented (Helaman 5:12)

March 24

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Cami Luke 12:24 Raven- Cuervo

There are a million ways to eat half of an agucate, banana, and eggs fro breakfast.  This week for food was normal, and the pizza business here is as crazy as it is everywhere.  They stack two pizzas in a special box, and there are always coupons and notices for food around the sector.  I ate some cheesecake or frambuesa, but as for food that is it.

Missed it, by that much- that is exactly what Alex Haueter likes to quote when success is a breath away. This past Wednesday, we had a baptismal interview for Marcela in order to baptize her that evening, but that morning she drunk coffee! ... We rescheduled her baptism for this Wednesday, and are praying for her and the other investigators we have for Saturday and April.  Has anyone heard anything exciting about the upcoming conference? If so, send me something so that I may share it with the Zone.

This week I have been working hard introduce my sector to Elder Serpa, and it has been exhausting.  He was in Ensenada and Otay, both places are not nearly as poor or as hilly as here, as he has clearly discovered.  It is difficult to remember appointments and to focus our efforts on those who are most important. Although it has been rough baptizing and finding new investigators who wish to progress, the reactivation in this ward has been remarkable.  The majority of this is due to the efforts that I have already done, and the ward has adapted so much to the Work of the Lord.  I did not entirely understand how much these people view us missionaries as superstars, until Elder Jiménez left. The other elders in our barrio had a baptism this week, and the new Zone is working hard and is very effective.

We found a few very ancient investigators this week, and they appear that they wish to listen to our messages again.  If ex-misionero Suave Chad Burrup has a family he would like us to contact, visit, or just to see if they are still living here in Tijuana, feel free to send us a reference.  The next translados [transfers] in the end of April I will probably switch sectors.

I would love to write more, but I just wish to tell everyone that I am grateful for everything my Mom has taught me- how to be clean, how to work with people, and the importance of family time.  This principle of families is normally how we begin teaching our investigators, and daily we share this lesson of the love, unity, and strength we have felt within our families with the Lord's Gospel. I Love my Mom, and I will keep reading your letters.

Sincerely your son, 

Elder Tobler

March 17 Elder Jiménez se fue a MexiCali, y Elder Serpa es mi compañero mayor

Dear Family,

This week was full of Stories! Let's begin with the changes in my Zone.  After beginning his mission here, my trainer Elder Jiménez left for Mexicali to be a senior companion over one of the missionaries of my MTC district.  Elder Cortes is still training Elder Anderson in Miramar 2, and Elder Cortes will return home in the last week of April.  Elder Brown de Brigham City, Utah is still my Zone Leader, but Elder Nina left for Ensenada.  Elder Jiménez was a fantastic trainer, and was beginning to lose his missionary focus after being left in the same sector for so long, and I learned a lot from this missionary from itzapaluca(?), Estado de Mexico.  Now I am Elder Serpa's first minor companion, who's has been a bit of everywhere in his first 6 months of the mission.  He is also del Estado de Mexico, and also recently graduated from el Benemerito en Estado de Mexico.  This school is basically BYU on a High school level, and the majority of Mexican missionaries graduated from this school.  That's fine, nearly every Americano es de Utah. :P  

Fantasms! This week while finding a referral from a member we had a ghostly experience.  To begin, I had forgotten many thing in the apartment that day- my tiny Spanish notebook, my pen, my planner, and my flashlight.  That Thursday evening we had a couple of meetings at the church, and in Las Laureles below us is where this address is.  We found the street, even the house (quite a feat to accomplish at times) and we began talking to one of the neighbors, we found out that he was an antiguo investigator from a few years back, and was describing his neighbors up the stairs, in the same direction where we were bound.  " I don’t know exactly what they believe in, but whatever it is it's dark and doesn't feel good at all," he said, but we climbed up the stairs anyway without a flashlight.  We knocked on the door, and a little while later a shadow at the bottom of the stairs we had just climbed said in Spanish that nobody's there, I responded okay and turned around, my companion heard nothing.  We saw another shadow, but as we left the street, nobody walked into the light to confirm ghost or human.

I gotta go, but I love this work and I know that I am guided by the Holy Spirit in all my actions. 

Sincerely your Son,

Elder Tobler

Quickly with my love and strength.

Dear Mom, Dad, Kenzie, Cami, and Livi

How is life at home? I have been told that it is mostly the same, Cami is experiencing the greatness and the difficulties of High School, Kenzie is a Senior and already staring at her adult life, Mom and Dad I understand that you both are doing fine and thank you for all of your support.  And Livi! She is growing up, and being a kid.  I received the package you sent for Valentine’s Day this week.  I also have received the letter from the Cases and a second Letter from Sister Johnson, who lives in the Villas.  Please remind them that if they wish to send more letters, it would be cheaper + faster if they sent it through the US mail address.  How is the Ward doing? I am understanding that the structure of the organizations is at times a bit peculiar but has grown.  I am interested to see the needs of our Ward are addressed from this perspective. 

Elder Jiménez has been a wonderful companion and trainer for this past weeks.  I do not have time today to describe him more, but this next week I will have transfers and odds are certain that one of us if not he both are going to be changed.

The Language is at a temporary standstill, but I am working hard in constructing the lessons, scheduling appointments, and keeping Elder Jiménez focused in this area.  I can understand the people, I can learn new words, but I still fault fluency and connection in my sentences, much less the accent.  As for the scriptures and the lessons, I can for the most part answer the random or the critical questions that are asked by my investigators.  All I can do at this point is to continue to read the Book of Mormon in Spanish along with the Liahonas that we have to give away.  And man! There were two stacks of old Liahonas from the previous year when I arrived here, and within the past month I have personally given away all but the two in my Hero’s Satchel!  The messenger bag I carry around is very durable, at time a little small or big, but it serves me well.  A member who joined us for a lesson with a progressing investigator referred to my scriptures as two pistols- in one hand the Stick of Judah, the other the stick of Joseph.

Sunday was one of the most successful days of the mission! And it is not because of the numbers.  We left our apartment an hour and a half before church, waking people up and inviting them to church.  It began a Little sketchy. When nobody came with us inside the chapel, but through our efforts the night before, that morning, the members, and the desire the Lord has sparked in this Ward we had five investigators and five different less active families assist sacrament meeting, and a few more showed up in the following hours.  All of these names listed were just people from our half of the Ward, the other missionaries also had people arrive at church.

Alright, the list of food that I have eaten these past two weeks- Chicharon (fried pigskin), Birria (shredded pork or roast), mini tacos for 5 pesos, Menudo (if you want to know what that is, look it up), and panbasos.  The chicharon is very tasty, and if it was not so caro I would buy some to eat in the evenings with the jerky Dad sent me. XD The birria is meat that just falls apart and is quite delicious with whichever kind of tortilla.  The mini tacos I ate today, and even though they are cheap, I was still hungry after eating eleven with a soda.  Yeah coach, I said soda, but here in this Mex-American clash of culture, the community live on punch and soda.  Panbasos are, well, a mix between our French Dip, a sub sandwich, and enchiladas.  And the Menudo is one of the many soups that they eat here, it is not extremely common.  I liked it, but there are many tastier dishes and soups to eat for Comida.  The Ward had been very nice to us, and they know us missionaries very well, especially My Companion Elder Jiménez. He will be transferred this upcoming week, but he has completed seven months within this sector and has honed his skills to the point of applying them once again in another part of Baja California. 

I am grateful for this chance to be a missionary, and now after this first twelve weeks [in the field] I pray that I may apply all of the newly retained knowledge and work even harder to invite souls unto Christ. We were watching the Preach My Gospel Videos for Ideas on how we could help our investigators, and I realized that before my mission these videos seemed erratic, and jumpy, skipping from one investigator to a random Less Active member that may never appear again.  And far too often the Field is just like this, and more.  Extremely busy, very involved, and there is not a lot of time for learning what you missed before your mission.  I am grateful for the lessons I have been taught in seminary, for my Sunday school teachers and everyone else who have supported my spiritual growth before my mission.  Much like Mormon, describing maybe the hundredth part of the events that are happening, even within these stories I am glad to express the spiritual strength, humor, joy in being part of this army of spiritually armed brethren, bringing people up to the mountain of the Lord.

Until the following week, your Son and Brother,

Elder Tobler