Monday, May 30, 2011

New pictures and experiences...


Mi familia eterna,

Whoa. ¡Espereme! I just finished writing my letter to the President and I'm still in Spanish mode. I love the language down here, and the culture so much. Everyone is so chill down here, its good and bad. We were preparing for our baptisms this last week and it was so stressful not being sure who is going to do what. I love all the members here so much, but their lifestyle is so much more relaxed than ours, it is crazy! But also calming at times. I don't know how to describe it haha. It's crazy, but i've already been here one transfer too. There are some elders leaving our zone, which is a bummer. But I'm stoked to meet everyone else here in the mission! Elder Plummer and I will still be together this transfer as well. We become better and better companions each and every day. We teach more and more en juntos (together). It's amazing how much it helps our investigators!

We had two baptisms on Saturday! They were both so incredible. Please pardon me for not sharing their stories earlier:
One of the two was Liliana, who is 23. We found Liliana about 3 weeks ago while contacting en la colonia Emiliano Zapata. We were walking down the street and randomly bumped into an older Sister that I recognized from the church. We greeted her and she was just like "Follow me." Well, so we followed her. She walked us all the way into the next colonia 3 de Mayo y pointed us to a door. She told us to go teach to family inside. And no joke, we looked back to ask her who it was or why, and she was already gone, disappeared. So we walked up to the door. (And you don't usually knock on doors, you just stand infront of the house and shout "Buenos Días, Buenas Tardes, o Buenas Noches" depending on what time of day it is). So Liliana came up to the door and talked with us in the doorway for a few minutes until an older woman came from inside the house and told us to come in. We didn't know who it was, but turned out that she was an inactive member. She doesn't know why she went inactive, her and her son just stopped going to church one day. Her son, Enrique, is 19 and is married to Liliana, but works all day. So Liliana and her mother-in-law, Elbia, are always together and are like best friends.
Well, long story short, Liliana was so well prepared already and had the greatest desire I have ever seen to learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ. She even taught a FamilyHomeEvening lesson the 2nd week we were teaching her. The only thing is that she is super afraid of water, like swimming. And she wanted to get baptized because she knew she needed to, but she still had a bit of fear. Needless to say, she was baptized last Saturday. It was such a beautiful program. Now I look back at the lady who showed us her house and she was definitely guiding us by the Spirit. I am so grateful for the members here in Mexico.

The other was Usbaldo (Oswaldo). We found him while trying to reactivate families in our ward about 5 weeks ago. It has been so great to see all of his family coming back into the church. His older brother and sister, David and Ruby, have helped us so much. After they returned to the church for 2 weeks, they were helping us teach Usbaldo and reading with him. It is so great to see what the gospel of Christ can do for families.

Well I'm running out of time this week. But I want you all to know how much I truly love you. I thank my Heavenly Father every night for all of the great examples He has given me in this life to prepare me to serve Him today. I am so grateful that I have parents who raised me in the way of the Lord. I truly am eternally grateful for this blessing.

I will write more next week, for sure. But know that I love you all. I am in the Lord's hands, loving every minute of it. Mexico is amazing, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now. The people are amazing and loving. We have an investigator, Clemente, who taught the youth how to make ice cream on saturday. It was awesome seeing him in the church serving others! I've tried to take pictures this week, I always forget I have my camera and I never remember to take pictures. haha, i'm working on it. I love you all! Read and pray, every day! =) Love, Elder Knight

Monday, May 23, 2011

4 months serving....

Mi familia eterna, y amigos eternos,

How great does that sound? That we can all be together for eternity?!
Well if you're not sure how to answer that question, I'll answer it for ya: It's the best thing to know in this world, there is nothing that gives me more peace or comfort than the knowledge that in God's plan we can live with our loved ones for eternity! We had a mission conference on Tuesday and it was so great. Elder Quentin L. Cook came and he was SO powerful. He had to use a translator, it reminded me of my talk in the Las Posas Ward before I left haha. He talked about so much, yet hit every single one so right that I felt so great afterwards. One thing that I loved was when he told us about our families. He said that there is NO better place for any of us to be than here on a mission right now. He said that no matter what was going on before you left, or whats going on now, we are where our Heavenly Father wants us to be. A missionary in our district has parents that are going through a divorce right now at home, and when Elder Cook talked about this subject I knew that it had to have been touching this missionary's heart. He continued to tell us that all of our loved ones are blessed through our service. ALL of our loved ones.

Not just our family at home, but every single person that we care for, every person that we love will receive blessings through our service.  This promise was amazing, I couldn't comprehend it at first. But I know that our Heavenly Father answers our prayers. I know that through my service here, I am not only helping my family, but all of those I love and care about too! This is so ridiculously great, I was on top of the sky for the entire bus ride home afterwards.

Angel, who we just baptized, has such a great family. His mom was baptized when she was 15, she told us, and we're trying to find the records. His dad loves the Bible, and knows so much already. We came over to visit Angel last week and decided to share a message with his dad who was home. We talked and gave him un Libro de Mormón(Book of Mormon) =P We read through the introduction with him and he loved it already. When we returned the next day, he told us he had been reading and praying to know if it is true. And that he had a dream the other night, that he needed to "Follow the Light," in which he told us he could see in the Book of Mormon. It was such a great visit with him, he shared more and more and more of the great testimony he already has of the church after reading just a few chapters in the Book of Mormon.
With prayer, everyone can know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. That through this book, we can all come so much closer to our Savior and receive baptism into His true church on the Earth today.

And it gets even better, at church yesterday I sat behind Angel's family, and Angel is now a deacon and was passing the sacrament.  Watching him pass to his family just touched my heart. This young boy who i had just baptized 2 weeks ago is moving to fast. He has a testimony of this church, and shares it with all he knows. It truly is incredible, the power of our baptism.  During that sacrament, I had such a great experience. Seeing Angel passing the sacrament, seeing our investigators in the chapel with us, I could hardly keep myself from crying it was so wonderful. the spirit was so strong in that chapel as we heard the members' talks and testimonies of the temple. During the Sacrament I was praying. I cannot describe how I felt, but it was strong. I received the strongest desire to never sin again.

I was trying to think of a song I remember but don't remember that says something among the lines of "How many drops of His blood were spilt for me?" I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. He suffered and died for all of our sins. And not only our sins, but also our inflictions, pains, and sorrows. He suffered through and has felt all of our pains. He knows exactly how we feel when we are in pain, because He has felt them before. With this, He also knows how to help us through all of our trials as well, and He will! He has suffered for all of our sins, and will pay for our salvation if we just accept Him as our Savior. For this, why do we continue to sin? Why do we continue to give in to temptation? Why do we continue to create more and more pain for Him to have suffered through? I know this much, that I am nowhere near perfect, but from this moment I will try harder than ever before. I will be faithful, obedient, and endure to the end. I will be more like Him in every action, every word, every thought.

Also this week as I was focusing on being a representative of Jesus Christ, there were so many times where I felt His love all around me.  We were having Family Home Evening with a less-active family this week.  One of their nephews is 2 years old, but is not developing as he should be. As we were teaching he was tossing and turning in the chair he was sitting in and his cousin couldn't control him. Whenever I looked at him and we would make eye contact, he would sit still, and would smile. I don't know if it was because I am white, or something else. I continued to teach our lesson to this family, all the while also being perplexed by what was happening. It was incredible. I know that I am in the right place. This was just one of the many evidences of my calling here. I know that as I am worthy and ready, I will be blessed with a Spirit that can bless others every day. I felt this as this young boy was blessed with peace, I felt like a true disciple of Him.  It was so small, but so strong.

Another thing that happened. Well I finally got sick =) And it wasn't very much fun. Yesterday after church we went to our apartment to drop off our books and teaching materials(because we teach a gospel principles class every week). On the walk back, I felt super sick in my stomach. We got home at 2:00 and I pretty much turned my fan on and fell onto my bed. Needless to say I was using the bathroom often and just feeling horrible for 3 hours. Trying to read, but I just felt more sick and dizzy. Trying to sleep but I couldn't either. Then I threw up, which reminded me alot of Kristian(side-thought ha ha). After that I layed in bed for about another 30 mins and then went outside on our roof where its alot cooler because you can feel the breeze. I was sitting there for about an hour reading. 7:00 came around and I looked down to see what Elder Plummer was doing, he was reading a Doctrine and covenants manual. I walked back inside and said to him "Ready to go?" And he was like "What? Aren't you sick?" And I was just like lets go make some visits.

It was awesome, we felt like Supermen haha. He kept asking me as we were walking if I felt alright and i was just like "Yeah, lets go! I feel great!" We visited a few families. We then went to an investigator's home, Liliana. And we caught her husband home too, which never happens! And we shared a message with them and they want to have an FHE tonight. It was incredible. I know that I was blessed with health because we needed to visit this family right then.
He will always prepare a way for us to do His work. I know it. I know that this gospel is true. This church is the same church that Christ established while on the earth, and it was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet called of God to lead and guide us in these times. This is the true Church of Jesus Christ. We invite all to come and know for themselves. This is my testimony included with this very long letter. In the name of our beloved Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

With love from Elder Trevor Knight

Monday, May 16, 2011

My lovely family,
How great it is to know that we will be together forever. That has been on my mind so much lately. I don't know if it's because I miss you all so much or because of the great families that I am teaching here every day. I just want everyone else to understand this amazing plan that our Heavenly Father has for us. How much He loves us, that He has created a way for us to live with the ones we love here on earth for the rest of eternity! Truly, How Great Thou Art. This week has gone by so fast that I feel like I just wrote you all yesterday. I don't even know what to say.
I honestly don't know haha. There is so much. But Elder Vasquez in my district told me to make sure I tell you all one thing. We had a zone activity this morning and we were playing gringos en contra de los Mexicanos. I scored 2 goals against a bunch of Mexicanos. I must be working hard, because it was a miracle haha. I love it here in Mexico.
I love the people. I love the culture. I love the beauty here. I love this mission. I seriously love everything. I can't wait until I can speak perfect(or close to perfect) spanish because I can feel so lost at times here haha. Well know that I love you all. One of my best friends told me something recently, that has stuck with me since. This friend told me "Stay close to the Spirit"
This counsel has helped me so much. I just wanted to pass it on to you too.

Nos vemos,  Elder Knight

Monday, May 9, 2011

Trevor's first baptism!


Querido familia,

       ¡Fue tán incredible a platicar con ustedes ayer! No puedo
esperar para la próxima vez, ¡voy a marcarles esta navidad! Que padre
=D El barrio paquital esta bienísimo, y les amo todos los miembros.
Son tán amigable, y me ayudan con mi español cada día. No puedo pedir
por un barrio más mejor. Hoy vamos a tener una noche de hogar con la
familia Mesa Cruz. Crean pizzas mexicanos, y estamos muy animados a
probarles. La hija, Yuleidy Yamiletn, va a enseñarme más español
también. Pronuncia su nombre como "Jew-lady Jaw-mi-let," pero los J's
son un poco diferentes acca.
       Y la próxima martes, vamos a tener un conferencia misional.
Elder Quentin L. Cook va a decirnos. Tenemos que despertarnos a son
las 5 en la mañana esa día. Vamos a tener que dormirnos más temprano
la noche antes entonces tendremos energía. ¡Estoy animado porque voy a
ver mi districto del CCM otra vez!
Hoy jugabamos fútbol para siempre. Ya tengo sueño hoy haha. Un elder
en nuestro districo aquí es Elder Vasquez de la costa este. Hablabamos
mucho, y es un bueno amigo. Estoy feliz que le tengo en mi districto.
Me gusta hablarle, él es como yo en muchas maneras.


       And well, I figure I´ll write to you a little bit in English
today ;) It really was so great getting to talk to everyone yesterday!
Thank you all for being so incredible. I miss you all greatly, and I
can´t wait to hear from you all in your letters. I really don´t know
anything about sending mail from here at all. Nobody gets mail here
where I´m at, and I don´t think anybody sends mail either. So I´ll
have to ask the zone leaders tomorrow at district meetings. Today I
got my haircut. It took about 30 mins, and it´s still not much
different than it was this morning. But it was free and thats pretty
darn good. I also went to a few different places today, we walk ALOT.
I took some pictures for you all. There aren´t any ruins or anything
where I´m at right now in Minatitlan, just Mexico stuff I guess. I
don´t know how to describe it, I guess you´ll have to wait for the
pictures =)

Congratulations to Elders Marshall and Hernandez! That is
so great that you both have your mission calls! I'm SO proud of both
of you and I know that you are going to be such great missionaries.
The Lord knows us all, He is preparing those that you are going to
teach these next two years of your life to receive the gospel. Prepare
yourselves to be ready to find them. You both are so awesome.
       Anyways, Elder Plummer and I are doing great. We had a baptism
this week! I had the privilege of baptizing Angel. He´s 12 years old,
and he´s super smart. His mom is interested in the church, and has
told us that she was baptized about 30 years ago but we haven´t found
any records. His whole family is great. It was a beautiful program. I
love baptisms, the spirit is SO strong. If anyone ever has doubts
about the truthfulness of this gospel of Jesus Christ, go to a
baptismal service and the spirit will testify to you that it is true.
       Baptism by immersion by a person holding the proper authority
is an ordinance necessary to enter into the Kingdom of God. The
Celestial Kingdom, which should be everyones´ goal here, is truly
eternal life.

 The church is true. If it wasn´t, these young
missionaries would have destroyed it by now. It´s a sincere gospel,
inviting all to come unto Christ. If you´re a member, you should be
inviting a friend or family member to sacrament meeting every week. It
is such a simple way to share the gospel, and they will feel the great
spirit of peace
in the chapel and just know without a doubt that the
church is truly the church of Jesus Christ himself. It is the same
church he organized while on the Earth, and He leads it today through
our prophet Thomas S. Monson. The spirit is so strong when we are
worthy of it, strive to be worthy of the constant companionship of the
Holy Ghost every second of every day. You need it, you cannot feel
true happiness without it. When in doubt, testify. I do it all the
time here (haha)

       I want you all to know that I love you so very much. The
knowledge that our family will be together forever brings me so much
joy. I am here serving with all my heart, might, mind, and strength
because I know it is the work of the Lord.

Elder Trevor Knight


Send Trevor a letter or small package via Priority Mail Internation to

                                              Elder Trevor Knight

Monday, May 2, 2011

Mi familia amorosa,
       This week has just flown by! It seems as if I was just typing a letter to you yesterday. Elder Plummer and I are in an internet cafe type place and it feels so good because there is air conditioning in here haha. You sweat literally 24/7 here. We have fans that we put on top of our chairs to keep us 'cooler' during the night haha. We have sisters in the ward who wash our shirts, socks, and pants for us, and then we have to wash everything else ourselves by hand on p-day. Its not bad, it doesn't take very long. Elder Plummer and I have been cleaning up our home lately, it was pretty nasty the first few days.
People live very simply here, I love it. A house is simply a big room.
Their beds, kitchen, and everything are all in the same room most of the time. And they are all totally all right with it! I met an elder from the MTC here at a zone conference and he was mentioning how surprised he was at how everyone lives and how spoiled we were in the states. And then he mentioned that he thinks he's in the ghetto part of our zone. Until another elder overheard and notified him that its like that everywhere in southern Mexico, and we're all in the ghetto haha.
       I've been eating some sketchy stuff here, thank goodness I haven't gotten sick yet. I just have to make sure I bless everything before I eat it haha. Tell everyone at home that I said hello! I miss you all so much. I wish that all of my friends out there could experience how great this work really is. Keep being amazing! IT sounds like everyone is doing great. Thank you for all taking care of my family so well.
       We really are blessed SO much, everywhere I think. Even though we don't have as much here, the Spirit can be just as strong, if not stronger. We had testimony meeting yesterday during sacrament. It was one of the best I've ever been to. I don't know if its like this every week, but almost everyone got up and shared their testimony. I was going to but I wanted to give the ward members time to share theirs.
       One thing that I really loved this week was a sripture I was reading during personal study. Alma 37:6-7. I was reading it the other morning, and I've read it a million of times. But I remembered this time a moment when I was little. I remember having a bad day after trying to help someone but them not appreciating it at school. And then later that night mom shared with me one of her favorite scriptures, Alma 37:6-7. And the importance of doing good things for others, no matter how small the act may be to them or to you. It doesn't matter. Our Heavenly Father put us all on this Earth here together. To help each other through each other's times of trouble. To lift each other up when they are feeling down. I know that Heavenly Father sent me here to Mexico to help these people find their Savior.
Through faith in Him, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end we all can live happily with Him for eternity.
       During the testimony meeting yesterday, I surprisingly understood most of it, except for a few new words here and there. But one thing I could understand 100% was the comfort of the Spirit.
During that meeting, I felt so loved, I felt that I was in the right place right now. I felt a reassurance that my Savior Jesus Christ will be with me every step of the way. I felt so much love for and from my family at home. I know that I was sent here on this Earth with the family I have here by my Heavenly Father. He showed me before I came down who they were going to be, how great they are, and how much love they will have for me. He reassured me at that time that they would be there for me when I needed their help. He would give them us all gifts so that we can help each other during this life. He knew exactly who I needed in this life to help me return to Him when it is over. I know this. I know that families can be forever. I know that I will never be without them again.
       As a missionary, I am physically away from them for these 2 years, but it is nothing compared to eternity. My time away from them will be spent helping other families be "forever families." As the families I teach and help here come to find the gospel and the truth of our Father's plan, they will come to feel these same things that I do now.
I know that we have a Father in Heaven, I know that he loves each and every one of us. He gave His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to help us return to Him again. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer, and yours too. I can feel His spirit with me every day, I can feel His love every moment. I can see the love he has for all of us when I teach others of it.
I love you all so much. Thank you for all of the blessings I have received through you, my family, my entire life.


Elder Trevor Knight