Sabe que??? Mi compañero es Samuel el Lamanita! [He knows ??? My partner is Samuel the Lamanite!]

Dear Family,                                                                             August 4, 2014

I have a companion again! Elder Romero has been nothing but superb this week. We quickly re-initiated the work by contacting various people by our own efforts, and strongly establishing the work here in Barrio Reforma. Elder Romero showed up on Tuesday evening, and is halfway through his mission. He's de puebla, and he is an athlete and a dedicated servant of the Lord.

On Monday I was still in a trio with those Elders de Huertas, and we went to the nearby Plaza and ate Peter Piper's Pizza in the buffet. I ate two whole pizzas! ANIMO! [ENCOURAGE!] haha, and I am grateful for the coordination in the ward, and worked for two days more with priests as my companion. On Tuesday Elder Romero came just in time to here that we basically have no organization of the Priesthood in the ward, excluding the Bishop and his counselors. Yesterday I informed the Stake President that we are working on that. One of the many way that we are contacting new people is by following the assignments of the bishop and the lista disconocidas que nos dio el secretario (unknown list I gave the secretary). I saw flaming pink clouds on Friday night, it rained Saturday, and things are just about normal again in this sector.

Our investigators are doing wonderfully! Alex only need to surpass his problem of smoking this week, Angelito is ready for his baptism on Wednesday, and we have many baptismal dates for September already.  Do you believe in miracles? In ward council on yesterday the Primary and relief society president informed the bishop of a little girl who will turn 9 on Tuesday, who is not baptized, and her parents now want to come back to church. Surprise! A gift from all of our dificultades de este semana, (difficulties this week) and I am grateful to see the blessing of the Lord here and in those who surround my life. I know that when we develop our faith in Christ we acquire greater power than we realize that we posses. I know this Work of the Lord is real, and I find joy in proclaiming my voice unto my brotheren here in Tijuana.

Sincerely,

Elder Tobler

Vamos a Trabajar (Let's Work)

Dear Family,                                                                       July 21, 2014

I do not have much time today, but maybe I’ll write tomorrow. I had many remarkable experiences this week, with my companion Élder Torres, with people, food, and especially with the Lord. We didn’t baptize anyone yet, but we have three that are progressing well. My new companion came today, Élder Ramirez. I knew him while I was in Miramar, he was stationed to the side of my area there. Today he came from very far, from Colorado San Luis cities, and I only have a few moments to share my testimony that I know this church is true. God will protect every individual, family, and country that first puts forth their valiant effort to serve the Lord. Many question the truth of the gospel, and thanks to questions such as these our God revealed to Jose smith the fullness of the gospel. I love you all, and wish to maximize this chance I have to serve the Lord and reflect the indestructible examples of confidence in the Lord.

Sincerely your son and brother,

Élder Tobler

Solo somos dos! [We're just two]

Dear Family,                                                                                      July 14, 2014

First, I never explained my dog story. My companion is extremely slow, unnecessarily slow in most things.  I help him stay motivated and working at pace.  We were climbing down some stairs, I was in front, and we found a dead end. There is dogs everywhere, and their barks and yaps don't bother me. We turned around to climb up, and one dog charged at me. I was on a tire stair beside a wall, and couldn't turn around nor step up because my companion was still taking his next step up, and it didn't matter that I was pushing him up. By the time he bit me, ran away, and I checked to see if it was anything urgent, he had climbed the ONE stair and asked me, "Did he scare you?" in Spanish.  My mind flipped to English in this moment, and was responding, "No, he bit me!" and "That's what I said, he bit me!" "Como?" was his response finally, and I explained what happened in Spanish. 

Hey, scout camp was one of the funnest weeks of the summer! Where did you go with the scouts? And did you go fishing by chance?

I am getting used to the major streets, roads, and alleys, but there are still areas that we haven't even touched. Colorado Hill esta media chafa y feo, (Colorado Hill is mean crappy and ugly) but it's a better sight than dozens of power lines over my head. I have spent nearly three months here in this area, and I love the members here, and wish to see them progress spiritually and receive of the blessings God has in store for them.

Mutual these past weeks have been very fun. The Relief society finished making decorative binders for their Family history, and this past week was a fun summer activity with water balloons, potato sack races, and volleyball. I was able to see this because our ward mission leader could not attend these weeks.  It is very nice to see several people assisting ward night, and the attendance has increased more substantially there then in the Sunday services.

As for food, I am still trying to figure out the difference between gelatin of water (jello), milk gelatin, and flan. Besides that, the ground sausage here tastes delicious! In this ward there is not many fancy or special foods, but those members who are willing to serve us give us A LOT. Yesterday, we drank three pitchers of watermelon lemonade. Yeah, there are a few recipes and ideas that I can bring home to the kitchen.

I only need four (4) generations, but thank you very much for doing this for me. Hnita. Patty Lara is in charge of the family history in the ward, and is very effective in her work and supportive in our work as missionaries.

This past week the bishopric and the youth were very centered on FSY, which is being held in our church this week. As an assignment from the bishop we invited multiple less active and recent converts to participate in this activity.  We have plans to visit their families this upcoming week to help them apply this spiritual experience in their homes. Alex is progressing very well, and we are currently finalizing his baptism. Also to serve the bishop, we are preparing four members to receive the Higher Priesthood and encouraging temple attendance. Two of the men are less active members that we found ourselves, and the other two are ward missionaries right now. We have made invitations to every family, and are animating them to join the ward as they journey to the temple in the next state over for the last time before the dedication of the temple here.  The bishop asks various things from us, and although we are only two, we can accomplish all.

This week we found a senior couple who are beginning to listen to us, one of whom could be an uncle of my deranged companion. Oh, and is anyone else besides Ryan Hall watching Mundial, or the soccer world cup? We heard the final goal passing by in a taxi, as several houses erupted with noise. As for my soccer skills I still play like an amateur. Last night I helped a less active member with her car, thank to my skills working with the truck at home.

The Lord requires sacrifice in all that we do. Our ward mission leader is still amazing and helping us with our most confident investigator, but is passing through storms in his family, They can't find his son, and it has been nearly two weeks. His wife is acting like a headless chicken, and his other kids were already battling to go to church. But I know that the Lord is watching over his and is very prod of the changes and service he has done in order to follow the Lord. That kind of service is what we need from every member. If you are willing to sacrifice just a little more, we shall receive of the blessings the Lord has promised us. I love my family, and I am very grateful for this opportunity to serve My Master. I know that if it weren't for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we would we worthless, life would cease to have a purpose, and we would be lost. I am grateful for the chance to partake to the Love of God, and to share this love through my service to God's Children here in Tijuana.

Sincerely,

Elder Tobler

Here it is!

My dear beloved Family,                                                                             July 7

Ha! rain and Hail at electric lake. Actually it has not been so rainy here, and many people here have not seen hail or snow. It is good to here that the fish are waiting for me to come back, then I can catch and eat all I want! 

What business did you have in Manti, Mom? I never recieved the 4 generation chart from Livi, could you send it again? Keep working in the sprinklers, although the weather is not too extreme here I can take the heat when I get back. I hope everyone had a fun time at the Tobler reunion, and thank all of you for your support and interest. WHAT! Everyone forgot it was Father's day??? The ward had a nice activity a few weeks back to celebrate the occasion. Anyway, it is good tpo here tha world is still turning there in Utah. And speaking of which, I don't recognize the night sky in the summer! it's all shifted and new.  Except the bugs, they are still eating me, but at least I can sleep. Oh, and I would LOVE to buy some peanut butter, but it is expensive and I don't have much time to fiind it. Keep having a fun summer camping, sewing, reading, and have fun in the sun!

On monday we continued working with Alex, as he and his wife arrange the papers for their wedding. It is so interesting teaching him, because often he responds in english, because he spent most of his life just outside of San Diego. Then we had a fun family home evening with the Valdez to strengthn the connection there. Working with electronics in mexico as a missionary is alienish, and there is never a simple or fast solution.  One of our youth investigators is still battling with attending church, hopefully this week we can clear up some of his concerns. Our ward mission leader is fantastic, energetic, and especially he is a spiritual fighter. He is overseeing the working the ward very well, and thanks to him the recent converts are progressing substancially.  The bishop gave us a list of members to contact in a distant canyon in our sector, and we have contacted many people there. we'll keep working on a plan to get them to church, but I am excited to see new faces who want to hear our messege. iqually we are working with the priesthood organizations to get four men in particular to recieve the Higher Priesthood. Yesterday in our mission work meeting in the stake center, we could see once again htat we are not faltering in any point in particular, but that we can strive for better results in all areas.

On Friday I had the opportunity to meet my new mission president, Presidente Garcia, From Hildago Mexico. I really did miss the Fourth of July traditions we have, but I am excited to work and hasten the work with this man chosen by God to lead me. He is very strong spiritually, and has a desire to become more enfocused in the simple and clear doctrines and principles that are contained in Preach My Gospel. Also, I hope everyone at home pays special attencion to the letter the First Presidency sent out, that we can bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of every indiviual who has the chance to hear us.

On Saterday we held an Open House, and this past month we were inviting people like mad to attend.  There were several members, even those less active members, and we contacted five people who could accept our messege.. in the neighboring sector. The reality is that it is not important, what is crucial is that the work progresses en every end of the earth.I know that this is the truth, and that we can continue to raise our voices with pride and share this gospel with everyone. And as missionaries, we can only do this if we have studied and understood the lessons contained within the scriptures. I know the scriptures are true, and that Joshep smith was calle as a prophet of God. I know the Book of Mormon can answer the questions of the soul, and that I cannot deny the truthfulness of the word that I have been taught since my childhood.  Thank you everyone for your prayers and your love.

Sincerely,

Elder Tobler

"Me mordio?", "That's what I said!" (It bit me)

June 30

To My Dear Family,

This week is a good example of why it is important to have your key indicators in check.  We were blessed with multiple chances to invite people to follow the example of Jesus Christ, and even those who did not immediately accept wish to listen and learn more. One week ago, we had only three committed to baptism; now, we have ten with opportunities more some more. La Norma is ten, so we are going to fix our other datos primero.  Although we have many baptismal dates and people that we have in contact, those who are progressing (both investigators as well as less active members) are minimizing.

It is nice to have the help of the ward, even on weeks that are only half-successful.  On Tuesday evening, we met up with the priesthood leaders to make a few visits. My companion and I went with the new bishop, but we didn't find anyone. The presidenta of the relief society joined us on Wednesday morning, but our first appointment needed a lot of clarification, and thus we were choked for time to follow all of the planned visits. Mutual that night was great, we had a good turn out from the young men's and had a few newer investigators and reactivating members there. This week we have been fulfilling assignment that the bishop has given us, and finding "lost members".  This helped us in many aspects, to encounter other less active members and to work in different areas, to contact new people and advancing the work.  On Saturday one of our youth investigators who has a baptism drawing near introduced us to the family of his girlfriend, and we are now beginning to work with them. Yesterday the church attendance dropped, but various non-members were present.

This past p-day my companion and I went to a small zoo that they have, not too far from the temple. Half the place was closed, but it was still pretty cool, I had the opportunity to see what a xoloitzcuintles looks like. I got bit by a dog on Thursday, it was stupid but I'll tell you about that next week.  I am grateful for this chance to be a missionary and I am here to help these people be baptized and go to the temple, specifically the temple that is here in Tijuana.

Sincerely, 

ElderTobler

A CIEN! y Dos hijas entraron las aguas del bautismo (A HUNDRED! and two daughters entered the waters of baptism)

June 23

Dear Family and Friends,

I want to talk briefly about he importance of meetings.  This ward was very fragile a few months back, and then they began to have all of their reunions and presidency meeting and are bettering themselves. Now we have organization, and we have a method to monitor our plans to bring to pass His marvelous Work. The same applies to missionaries.  In the junta that we had, almost a week back, I had the chance to apply simple solutions to complicated situations. It appears that we meet oft, but we can save our efforts for those things that most require our attencion.  Another way to keep to the fundamentals is to change up the situation, or the area.  Every time I have intercambios,(exchanges) I enjoy the opportunity to work with a different elder, and many times in a different sector.  It just confirms that the church is organized and if you have a strong trust in the Lord, you can serve him wherever you're needed. 

I hope you have some summer plans as a family; many of my companions and members ask me how it is to camp and hike in the spiritually strong state of Utah.  I enjoy the summers there, but the summer here is pretty smooth too!

If you wish to send a package, here are a few Ideas.  I like pretzels and swizzles. I would ask for batteries, but the button on this flashlight is just about shot. I bought a camera, but I need to resolve an issue with a memory card. My companion is interested in singing a few hymns in English, and if you would like you may include a hymnbook.

How goes the outgoing and homecoming missionaries there in Utah? What are Nate Edmunds (6th ward) and Jayne Starkie up to? If there is any other big news, keep letting me know. Thanks!

Nobody here knows how to count! They think there are eight days in a week, fifteen days in two weeks, and they refer to three days in the future as the day after tomorrow! It just makes my mind hurt, correcting the math in my head in a different language. That, and the neighbors like to watch the little mermaid at night.  Between that and the partying, I've used the earplugs about once a week in order to sleep.

We have a bishop! The previous first counselor was called as a bishop last week, and we had a sacrament meeting attendance of 105 that day! The attendance dove down a bit yesterday, but there were two new members in the congregation. This past weekend Lourdes and Bernice fulfilled their desires to begin their path to return to our Father in heaven.  We had to dunk Lourdes nearly ten times to do it, due to her phobia of water, but we did it!  We need to find more people to work with, we only have a handful of baptismal dates for July, but as a ward we are increasing every aspect of the Work. We'll keep working hand in hand with the ward mission leader.

Sometimes, breakfast is just the best! A great way to start the day, and begin your labors. As for food, I tried water of sugarbeat, which is supposedly very good for you... quien sabe (who knows). A week and a half ago, I had Tingas at the activity for Father's Day.

I gotta go, I love you all!

Elder Tobler

Semanas 4, 5, y 6 - y voy a ver si es más aquí en Reforma [Weeks 4, 5, and 6 - and I'll see if it's here on Reform]

June 9

My Dear family and friends,

Father's Day! I love you Dad, and think of you often!

I do not enjoy the Little Mermaid

Food: Atole, a nut- milk pudding/ Moyetes, beans and cheese on bread

Some member mentioned the other week that I look like the Crocodile Hunter.  That is really a question for John Taylor to decide

Alright, so to sum up these past three weeks it look something like this- Although the ward is small and can't do everything, the are doing everything the can.  Only 2 of the 6 investigators whop were baptized in the last six months are very active in the church.  On the 17th we baptized Merary, and the following Saturday we baptized Perla. We are working with many new people and various part members and less active families. The Ward council although incomplete is awesome.  Last week I stood beside the temple, I'll send pictures when I've worked that out. We have three baptisms coming up, and these three are for sure going to become members. The activities for Districts and zones have been temporarily cancelled, but we played dodge ball and basketball for the last activity a few weeks back.  My companion ripped his pants playing volleyball at mutual the other night.  We are progressing the work; we only need to hasten the work just as the Lord has asked us. There was a dog that could have been Bolt's Father, and nearly bit me! We found an elderly lady who gave up believing that happiness exists, and we put forth our efforts to help her out.  She hasn't received us since.  As missionaries, we are completing the minimum- now let's surpass and break records! I gave away a shirt to a less active, or he was less active.  Our lider missional is so smooth!  One of the missionaries of the Ward plays League of legends, I guess David and Jaren aren't too crazy. I swear he's a member- but there is no record.  Making cupcakes with recent converts is a blast!

His Truth is Marching on 

Advanza su verdad

Elder Tobler