Monday, June 27, 2011


Mi familia,
       I will write you in English this week =) Because I love you.
Sounds like your youth conference was awesome! And props to Bishop Larsen on your breakdancing, I want to see that when I get back! I loved all of our youth conferences, don't you ever take those for granted. I hope your all doing well at home, and in Ohio. Wish I could be there to help with the move, but I know you will all be fine with Chelsea there ;D Congratulations Danny on your degree!!! That is so awesome, thank you for your letter and advice. I love the emails and letters. I wish I had more time to write you all. I have about 2 months worth of letters in our home, just waiting until I can find a place around here to send them off. We might go to El Centro next week, and I can send them all off. I hope everyone doesn't think I've forgotten about them! I really miss you all, wish you could be here!

       Elder Plummer and I had a long week this week. Lots of work to be done, and it seems like there wasn't alot of time to do any of it.
We were short on our goals this week, and 2 of our investigators'
baptismal dates fell because they didn't attend church yesterday.
Elder Plummer and I have been working super hard to strengthen the ward and our investigators this week, and it is tiring! We had a 'Noche de Película' on Saturday night, and besides the fact that almost nobody showed up until an hour later, it went really well! That seems to be the problem with activities here, nobody comes on time.

The culture here is just so relaxed, its hard for me to grasp sometimes. We watched The Testaments, and we talked to our ward about how we're all going to read the Book of Mormon together as a ward.
Everyone was really excited after watching it, I can´t wait to see how strong this ward becomes soon.

       Last week we had a zone conference with President Castañeda. It was awesome. It was a Capacitación, or training meeting. The one thing that really stuck out to me is that we are not here just to baptize people, we are here to build up the kingdom of God here on the earth.
We decided we are going to work towards converting future church leaders. Future bishops, Relief Society Presidents, Sunday-School Teachers, Missionaries. I am excited for this new approach to the work we are doing. We truly are building His kingdom here in Mexico.

       We had a stake ward council meeting last night, and I think its going to help us alot. The only ones there from our ward were the bishop, 1st counselor, and us the Elderes. Elder Plummer and I were kind of disappointed that nobody else came from our ward. We're working on exciting our ward for missionary work, and its progressing.
Slowly but surely. We set goals to have ward council every week, combined activities every week, divisions with the missionaries, and 100 people in sacrament meeting by the end of July. Its going to be a great month, I think these goals we set with the stake are going to help our ward alot. The missionary work is not just for full-time missionaries, but it is a duty of all members, all saints. We all can do missionary work in our own homes, work, school, sports, everywhere.

Just to share your testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ while with a friend, or invite them to mutual or church. Do not have fear to share the gospel. I promise all of you that if you can find one opportunity to share your testimony this week, invite someone to church, or visit a less-active member, you will feel the prescence of our Savior even more in your life. You will find his peace and comfort in your everyday. Your own testimony will be strengthened, and you will have even more power over the adversary and his temptations. I love you all. Choose the Right. Do a good turn daily too. =)

"Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.
Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.
Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.
Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.
Be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen."

Hacer lo bueno.
Vos amo, para siempre. ( I love you all forever)
Elder Knight <3

PS:
Included are pictures of our baptism with Alitelio, me in the back of a truck with the wind, some tagging we found the other day, Elder Flores and I in a field. An example of the ugly family pictures they have here =D Elder Plummer walking to a home of one of our investigators. And the side of a house that says "Dumping trash prohibited." "Don't be a <Pig>" haha I love you all, miss you all. Wish you were here, as always!

P.S.S.
Also, let everyone know that I'm thinking of them often!
How are all the guys? Kristian, Kenny, Ryan, Jimmy? Are Kenny and Ryan working on their mission papers yet?
How are all of our cousins? I miss being with them, there are so many fun little kids here!
And tell everyone I love them. Chelsea, Danny, Haley, Caitlynn, and Reagan!
I love you Mom and Dad!



Link to where Trevor is currently serving:

Monday, June 20, 2011

His first complete letter in Spanish

Mi familia,

Primero, perdónme porque esta carta es en español. Pero, lo creen o no, es más facíl para mi ahorita. Sé que no es perfecto, pero ya es más facíl a escribir mis pensamientos en español. :D ¿Algiuen puede traducirlo para ustedes? No sé. Suerte con este...

(First, pardon me because this letter is in Spanish. But, believe it or not, it's easier for me now. I know it's not perfect, but it's easier to write my thoughts in Spanish. :) Perhaps someone can translate it for you? I do not know. Good luck with this ...)   Dad is translating this so it may not be perfect...

No puedo compartir todos de mis sentimientos en sola una carta esta semana. ¡Recibí sus cartas y un paquete en Martes! El paquete fue enviado hace 2 semanas, y las cartas hace casí 7 semanas! Claro, los paquetes son más rapido. Pero no se preocupen de este, está bien así.
Gracias, muchas gracias para sus palabras consuelas. Me ayudaron muchísimas a trabajar más duro, sin duda.

(I can not share all of my feelings in a letter this week alone.I received your letters and a package on Tuesday! The package was submitted 2 weeks, and the letters almost 7 weeks! Sure, the packets are faster. But do not worry this is fine.

Thank you, thank you very much for your consoling words. They helped me a lot to work harder, no doubt.)

Esta semana, sin duda, fue el mejor que todas antes. Elder Plummer y yo hubíamos trabajando bien duro para que podemos fortalecer nuestro compañerismo, nuestros testimonios, y más importante nuestros investigadores. Enseñando puede ser más difícil que esperamos a veces, especialmente porque cada hijo de Dios es tán diferente en tantas maneras. Pero cada día, estoy mejorando. Cada día, me estoy fortaleciendo. No voy a mentir, es duro a trabajar de 6:30 hasta 22:30 cada día y todavía ser felíz. No hay un momento aburrido, no hay un momento para descansar. Esta obra, yo sé, es la obra de Dios. Yo sé que nuestro Señor Jesucristo es conmigo. Yo sé que el Espíritu Santo testifica a todos de la verdad. Y que nunca debemos dudar en Cristo.
Él ha sufrido TODO para nosotros. Murió, no solo para nuestros pecados, pero también para nuestros dolores, inflicciónes, y tentaciones también. Yo sé que vive mi Señor, y gran consuelo me trae.

(This week, undoubtedly was the best all before or so far. Elder Plummer and I worked very hard we desired so we can strengthen our partnership, our testimonies, and more importantly our researchers. Teaching may be more difficult to wait sometimes, especially because every child of God is so different in so many ways. But every day I'm improving. Every day, I'm stronger. I will not lie, it's hard to work 6:30 am to 10:30 pm every day and still be happy. Not a dull moment, there is no time to rest. This work, I know, is the work of God. I know that Jesus Christ is with me. I know that the Holy Spirit testifies to all the truth. And never hesitate to Christ.

He has suffered everything for us. He died not only for our sins, but also for our pain, infliction, and temptations as well. I know that my Redeemer lives, and brings me great comfort.)

No bautizamos esta semana pasada, parece como todos de nuestros ivestigadores tienen problemas con todos tipos. Estamos trabajando para encontrar un trabajo nuevo para la Mamá de Alitelio. Ahorita, ella trabaja en un bar, y quiere un trabajo diferente antes que bautizarse. Y estamos trabajando con un hombre se llama Samuel también. Tiene 22 años, y va a 3 o 4 iglesias cada semana. Sabe un bien de la Biblia, pero todavía tiene muchas dudas y preguntas.
Realmente, tiene el más hambre por el Evangelio que he visto hace que vine. Es muy confusado a veces, pero puedo ver cuando él entiende nuestras enseñanzas. El Evangelio de Jesucristo es bien sencillo. Es perfecto, y nos ayuda a entender las cosas grandes de Dios.

(No baptisims this past week, seems like all of our investigators have many different problems. We are working to find a new job for Mom Alitelio. Right now, she works in a bar, and wants a different job before baptism. And we're working with a man called Samuel as well. He is 22 and goes to 3 or 4 churches each week. He studies the Bible, but still has many doubts and questions.

Really, he is more hungry for the Gospel that I have seen in a long time. It is very confusing at times, but I can see when he understands our teachings. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is very simple. It's perfect, and helps us understand the great things of God.)


También, tuvimos la oportunidad para ayunar Viernes hasta Sábado. Aquí en Mexico, nunca pensaba que fue a ser tán difícil. Sin comer, está bien. Pero sin tomar, ¡casí murí! Cuando llegamos en casa de nuestra comida en Sábado, casí caímos en el piso. Y tomamos 2 litros de aqua solos jaja. Ayunamos para que nuestros investigadores con fechas bautismales pueden recibir la fuerza que necesitan para seguir y bautizarse en sus metas. Ya sé que ayudará, porque nuestro Padre Celestial contesta las oraciónes de Sus hijos, y va a ayudarnos con cualquier problemas tenemos aquí. Esta semana, ¡espero que todos tuvieron un díe de Papás bien suaves! Gracias para sus oraciónes, puedo sentir de su amor cada momento. ¡Hasta luego!

(Also, we had the opportunity to fast Friday to Saturday. Here in Mexico, I never thought it would being so difficult. Without eating, fine. But regardless, I almost died! When we arrived at home on Saturday I almost fell on the floor. And we consumed 2 liters of water alone... haha. We fasted for our baptismal dates and investigators so that they can receive the strength they need to continue and be baptized and achieve their spiritual goals. I know it will help, because our Heavenly Father answers the prayers of His children, and will help with any problems we have here. This week, I hope you all had a very happy Father's Day! Thanks for your prayers, I can feel your love every time.Bye!)

Les amo,  (I love you all)
Elder Knight

Monday, June 13, 2011

Mi familia,



This week has gone by so fast! It seems like just yesterday I was writing you. That´s awesome that Tyler had his Court of Honor! I remember how awesome it was to have mine with Riley, although we didn´t have Sis Fullerton´s salsa. I will tell you a bit about what we´re eating here every day. Believe it or not, I have yet to eat chips and salsa, or any dip. Elder Plummer and I were just talking the other day about how we were expecting big burritos and awesome tacos and stuff. But its not like that here.. haha. I´d have to say we eat 3/5 of the time chicken and rice. Sometimes we have tacos with just a bunch of random stuff in it too. We´ve had 'mole' quite a lot these last two weeks, its chicken boiled in this sauce that takes like 2 days to make or something. Everyone talks about it like its a specialty, but for taking 2 days to make, I don´t see the big deal... =D haha but it is pretty good, don´t get me wrong.

It was Elder Vaquez's last week here last P-Day and we went to BurgerKing downtown to 'celebrate' because he had been in the same area for 7 months! It was weird, it was like we walked into America again haha. But there's never Dr. Pepper here, its replaced with this apple soda called Manzana Lift. Also, we don´t drink 'Coca' here alot. Everyone else drinks it alot, but President told us not to buy it or drink it unless an investigator or member offers it to us. Probably because its so hot here and we´re walking all the time. But we´ve had it a couple of times. And here, when somebody offers you here something, YOU TAKE IT.  No matter what it is haha. If we really don't want something, or can't eat it, we've found its just easier to take it or else the person gets offended. Reminds me of when Mimi would buy me stuff in drive-thru's anyways when I would say I didn't want anything. Haha


We had another baptism this week. It was crazy! We baptized a young man named Alitelio who has 18 years. The whole time we've been teaching him it has been so exciting just to watch him learn. I can already see him serving a mission soon, its awesome! He has so much faith, his mom has taught him alot growing up. His mom's name is Teresa, and his dad left 10 years ago or so, and Teresa has been working alot to support themselves. We found them, actually through the sister of Usbaldo who we just baptized last month. Alitelio is the boyfriend of Usbaldo's older sister haha. But his whole conversion has been totally seperate from the fact that they're dating. We were talking with him thursday night about his baptism and set an interview appointment with him the next morning and he was so excited and ready to get baptized! But something must have happened because when we came with the Zone leaders that morning he kept saying he wanted to wait until school ended in september. We were so confused. But Elder Plummer and I felt like going back to his house that afternoon to talk to him, and he told us that he still has a lot of doubts, but it was hard for us to believe because we already saw how ready he was!

And then his mom called us friday night crying, and when we went over she told us that her husband came the night after we left and there was a big fight, but that she knew that Ali should get baptized. And so we talked with them both again on saturday morning. And we left Ali with the decision to make of when he was going to get baptized. He called us an hour later after having read his Book of Mormon and praying to his Heavenly Father, and said that he wanted to baptize himself that night. It was incredible, and alot of work for Elder Plummer and I, but it was a beautiful baptismal service.

It's crazy to see how Satan just works on people like that when they are preparing for baptism. He just throws so many obstacles in people way, because he knows how much more power that person will have over him if they get baptized, and he doesn't want that. We must follow the example of our Savior in all things, and resist those awful influences of the Adversary. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and He is your Savior too. I love you all. Until next week!

Elder Knight

Monday, June 6, 2011

My dearest family,

 

I love my mission.

This week, I have been learning so much. Every day is another opportunity to learn something. One thing, I love how I can feel thelove that our Father and Savior has for us. It is by far my favorite thing to share with people. I was teaching a class about the Holy Ghost on Sunday, and right before I began I just felt like dumping my entire lesson plan and sharing my testimony and having a discussion with the class. So I did, and it was incredible. Elder Plummer and I have this tiny little classroom that we teach gospel principles in, and we had 3 investigators in our class yesterday. After my testimony all of the members started sharing their experiences of how the Spirit has influenced them to make right choices in their lives, and has helped them through troubling times. One sister told everyone how scared and insecure she felt before baptism, and how all of her feelings were swept away once she received the gift of the Holy Ghost.


All I can say is that I am so grateful for her testimony, and for the spirit that we all felt while in that tiny hot classroom.


I've also been thinking alot this week. I don't know where I have found the time, but I have haha, there is always something to do, someone to talk to, someone to help with the message of this gospel. Elder Plummer and I were talking about miracles the other day. And he had some crazy story about how he could have died one time, but was saved by some miraculous occurence. I couldn't think of anything huge.  But that night I was just thinking about everything the Lord has done for me. And I am so grateful, so unworthy, so eternally in debt for everything He as done for me. Just all of the STUPID things I have done in this life, somehow I got past them. Somehow, I am not in jail.


Somehow, I am alive today. I don't know how to describe it any other way, except I just know. I KNOW with all my heart that my Lord has literally saved me. He has spared me from Satan's grasps, and for this i owe Him everything. I truly believe that He has saved me for this very day. For this very place. For this very mission that i am on today.

There is someone here in Mexico just waiting for me. I can feel it with every spark of my being. I know that I have a special purpose here, to bring the souls of my Father in Heaven's children back to Him. I know this way is through the gospel of Jesus Christ, and through His church which is led by Him, through our prophet Thomas S. Monson today.


I am so grateful for my parents. For my Heavenly Father having put me here on this Earth with these specific people. And having given them the knowledge and spiritual promptings as to what to do with me here, how to raise me, how to help me return to Him. How to help me, to help
others to do the same. I am so grateful for you. I love the plaque on the back of our front door. I remember looking at that every day, whatever mood i was in, I always made it a goal to do very this.


"Return with Honor."  

And that is exactly what i am going to do. I know
that I promised certain things to our Heavenly Father before coming onto this Earth, and I am going to do the very best I can to remain faithful to those words. I will Return with Honor. And I encourage you all to do the very same. I love you all, may the Spirit of God be with you this week as we all try and better ourselves to return to Him. Forever your son, brother, cousin, grandson, uncle, friend.

Elder Knight