Monday, January 30, 2012

New Photos from beautiful Cuichapa, Mexico 1.30.2012


1. We were taking a picture the other day with Elder Andrade's new camera, and some kids came down the road and took the picture with us, a little kid took the picture with my camera haha

2. Just a photo of the beautiful area of Cuichapa. I love it here!
 
Hey family! Hope everything's going well in the family this week. I'm doing just fine here in Cuichapa. Lots of changes here in our little branch, all for the better. It sure makes me miss our home ward sometimes. Chelsea and Danny, you two are amazing. Whenever I think about how rad my sister and my brother-in-law are, I just get prideful haha. I hope I can be a cool brother-in-law to my wife's siblings someday, Danny will be my role-model.(Note: I have yet to meet this "Seth" character of whom you all speak about)  Haley! I am soooo excited for you to get your papers in! I can't believe this is happening, its so surreal and amazing. I feel so truly blessed that my family is so strong in the gospel, I know it is what will keep us together forever. And Caitlynn, I'm so happy for you and Seth. Marriage is a vital part in our Heavenly Father's plan for us, in which we can be happy forever. Hooray for starting your eternal family! Reagan, my wonderful favorite little sister, you have always been awesome. "I still remember the days" when you liked to gang up on me with your sisters, ..but the day came when you were all alone,.. and I was your only sibling around bwahahahahahahaa. I sure miss spending time with you, and going to fast food restaurants late at night together. We will for sure keep this tradition going when I get back, I promise...because I want to do it too haha. I hope everything's going well for you in high school, hope I didn't leave TOO bad of a reputation for you at SMHS, but I'm sure you can turn it around! Always remember that you are a daughter of God, our Heavenly Father loves you, forever. And you are never far from his sight, He is watching over us always. Pray, BEG, for His guidance and merciful hand to carry you through this life burdened with evil around every corner. Forget about your problems, love everyone, look for opportunities to serve others, and I promise you that YOU WILL BE HAPPY.
Here in Cuichapa I am learning how to apply everything I have learned in my life to the people around me. Trying to be a blessing, not a burden, and help others to follow the path of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. There is no path that brings us more hapiness and joy, more liberty from our pains and sufferings, more miracles that prove the love of God. Stay on the path, and help others to come unto Him as well.
Christ asks that we follow His example, and serve others in every way we possibly can. What is the best way? Share the restored gospel with ALL His children. This is what will bring true hapiness to all, especially those sharing the message.
As saints of our royal master, we are all enlisted 'til the conflict is over. Happy are we, happy are we.....
I am Elder Knight. Forever will I be enlisted in His army, and I am happy.

Monday, January 23, 2012

January 23, 2012

A member of the Cuichapa Ward, Carlitos (Charlie) doing yard work

Querido familia,

Seems like I never have much time these days to write, we are always in such a run here in Cuichapa. This week has been pretty boring to be honest. Elder Andrade got sick, it was pretty bad too. We were on the way to a lesson Wednesday night, and he told me that he didn't feel too good, but that he wanted to teach the lesson to our investigator. So I told him that if he wanted to leave during the lesson that he give me a sign (put his glasses on the tip of his nose) and we would hightail it outta there. So we were teaching the lesson, Elder Andrade next to me on the table and the investigator at the head of the table, me in the middle. And during the lesson I felt impressed to share the story of the bridge that dad sent me. So I shared it, and we talked with Isis for a bit. In part of the lesson, I looked back at Elder Andrade, and he had all of his stuff already in his bag, and was just about throwing his glasses all over his face haha. So I was like "oh shoot, I totally forgot", and didn't see the signal.. So we ended up the lesson super quick and ran outta there. In the middle of the street, Elder Andrade stopped and threw up alot, (and I was going to take a picture, but thought twice about it, and knew he would get mad, ...so I didn't lol). Anyways, so we spent the next two days in the house, him sleeping watching videos and telling me how sick he was. And I studying, cleaning the house, and taking care of him, trying to cook him up stuff, or help him out to prepare a drink that the pharmacy gave us. And well thats pretty much our week. And the conference with President. It was soooo great! I'm soo glad we could go. I also received a package from Mom and Dad, thank you so much! And almost threw away the box, until I saw the CHRISTMAS LETTER, it is way sweet. Good job!! Also received a package from the Pittmans, you are so great!! "Feliz Navidad" to all of you, thank you so much for the cards and candies, and cereal! You are awesome. And well, another 2 weeks to go in this cambio(transfer), gotta make the best I've got of it.

"The Lord's time is always perfect, we must make the best of that which He has given us, for it cannot be wasted."
My thought for you this week, something that has really inspired me these last couple of days:

"And speak freely to all; yea, preach, exhort, declare the truth, even with a loud voice, with a sound of rejoicing, crying—Hosanna, hosanna, blessed be the name of the Lord God!  Pray always, and I will pour out my Spirit upon you, and great shall be your blessing—yea, even more than if you should obtain treasures of earth and corruptibleness to the extent thereof.  Behold, canst thou read this without rejoicing and lifting up thy heart for gladness?  Or canst thou run about longer as a blind guide?  Or canst thou be humble and meek, and conduct thyself wisely before me? Yea, come unto me thy Savior. Amen.

Los quiero, a todos, más que se puedan imaginar (I love you all more than you can imagine)
..Elder Knight..
Trevor and his companion Elder Andrade on the way to do laundry

A member of the local ward at his butcher shop with Trevor

Monday, January 16, 2012


Mi querido familia,
¡Espero que todos estén bien! Estuvimos trabajando muy duro por toda esta semana pasada. Bautizamos esta semana, a la hermana Valeria. Una jóven quien es la prima de la prima de un miembro jajaja. Fue un servicio muy bonito, compartimos un video que se llama "El regreso a la virtud". Está en la página de la iglesia de los jóvenes. Es super bonito, y me inspira cada vez que lo veo. Espero que todos ustedes también serán inspirados por este video.


(I hope you all are well! We have been working very hard throughout this past week. We baptized this week, Sister Valeria- A young woman who is the premium of the premium cost for a member lol. Service was very nice, we share a video that is called "The return to the virtue."  It is super nice, and inspires me every time i see it. I hope that all of you also will be inspired by this video.)
Whoa, didn't mean to write in all spanish, but after finishing my email to the president, it just happened. Anyways, translate it Dad and everyone should watch the video.
Reagan! Enjoy your new room, you are so stinkin lucky hahaha =D
Caitlynn and Seth! I still can't believe you're getting married... I don't know why not
Haley! I am so excited for your mission papers! When can you turn them in?!?!?!
Chelsea and Danny! You are awesome! Don't ever forget the Christ is in control of our lives, when we give our hearts and soul to Him. Ask Dad for the story "Is your hut burning?"
Mom! Keep being the best mom in the world! EVERYONE loves and appreciates you, even people here in Mexico who don't know you.
Dad! I love you so much! You are so thoughtful and amazing. Best dad in the world. I seriously took my parents for granted before my mission. I never realized how much my dad taught me as a child, until I came on my mission. Spiritual things, that I never even deciphered. I don't know how you did it, but I am so grateful to have been blessed with a father like you.
And in other news, I have been studying alot this week in conference talks and these videos for youth that I found on the website and copied onto a dvd disc. We share the videos with less-actives and some investigators and they are all so powerful. I have come to realize in all of this, that the church is focusing SO much in the youth of these days. In conference, in all this work put into these awesome videos, in all the activities that the church is trying to put on. I think, WOW, we should be super worried for the youth too. Satan is so powerful right now, and is working so hard to destroy the youth of this generation. I saw it happening as I was in high school, even in middle school, some even in elementary school! It is crushing to see the world changing so fast and the people growing so wicked. And its even scarier to think that its only going to get worse. We as saints have the responsibility to be defenders of the faith, and defenders of virtue. We must be lighthouses of righteousness, beaming out into the rest of the world. Literally calling out to the rest of God's beloved children the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Only He has the power to save all mankind, and protect us from the harms of every day life. He has the power to bring back those who are lost, and keep those close to the edge from falling, and guard us safe in His loving arms. And we, as His saints, must be within His arms, to be able to bring others in too. I encourage all to be examples to the rest, to be guardians of the virtue. To spread this light of love and truth to all the world. We should be serving Him in every single minute of every single day. You don't have to be on a mission to do so, but just be righteous all the time. Keep your thoughts clean, keep your language clean, stay away from bad places, and treat ALL with love, patience, kindness, and respect. Every single person on this earth is a child of God, we have no reason to treat anyone less than that. I know that as we do so, this world can become cleaner, this world can become kinder, more beautiful, more easy, more heavenly. It is my prayer that we continue doing righteous deeds, being examples, and following Christ in everything we do. We will change the world, even if its one soul at a time. The worth of EVERY soul is great in the eyes of God. Never forget. Oh, and take care of the youth =) I love you all! -Elder Knight

Monday, January 9, 2012

from: Cuichapa, Mexico

Querido familia,

Hope everyone's week went well! I'm still super shocked that Caitlynn is engaged, not that she wouldn't get married or anything, it’s just weird to me for some reason. (You know I love you, Caitlynn) I can`t wait to meet another brother-in-law! Daniel has been my first brother ever, and a very fine one at that. Seth's got some work cut out for him, but I'm sure if Caitlynn's down for marrying him, that he'll be cool with all of us too. I trust in you all. Oh Caitlynn- what temple will you be getting married in? (I promise you that it should be the San Diego Temple. But do whatever you want of course). And Haley, I am so excited to hear your mission call! I can't wait to have my favorite sister (you can all fight about it) on her mission with me. I know this is the work of the Lord, and that He blesses us as we strive to keep His commandments and build His kingdom here on the Earth.

This week in Cuichapa, has been very good. We helped Lourdes prepare for her baptism on Saturday. She understands everything and was so ready for baptism, but on Thursday a brother of hers said that he wouldn't support her if she got baptized in another church, because her family is catholic. And this discouraged her a lot, as she was expecting her baptism to make her family life happier, as it does. We spoke with her a few words, and the story of Thomas Marsh in D&C came so directly to my mind that I felt so impressed to share it with her. With about 5 minutes of searching my scriptures (because I couldn't remember in what section the Lord counseled him) I found it and shared with her verse 2. She was extremely disappointed and did not want to go on.. "Behold, you have had many afflictions because of your family; nevertheless, I will bless you and your family, yea, your little ones; and the day cometh that they will believe and know the truth and be one with you in my church." I know that when we are worthy, the Spirit really does guide us. Especially in the work of the Lord, he will put the feelings in our hearts, thoughts in our minds, and even the words in our mouths in the very moment. Later that evening we returned to visit Lourdes, in which she notified us that she knew she needed to get baptized. Even so she told us to make sure we scheduled the baptismal interview for the next morning.

In other news, I have gotten a lot out of these letters that Dad sent me, this adventure that I have put myself into. I love it. It gives me so much more purpose in every day. I think it was Wednesday, we were going to an appointment with Elizabeth. She's a new investigator we found last week, 23 years old, but she hadn't come to the church because her dad is from a different religion. We thought she was chosen and prepared for baptism, but things were not going to well since she wasn't keeping her commitments that she made in our previous lessons. Arriving at her street, I felt the urge to keep walking past it a bit, and stop in a cluster of trees on the side of the road. Elder Andrade was like "We passed her house!" and I was just like, "I know, we're going to go over here for just a moment." "Why?" "I don't know, but let's go" (haha). Upon reaching the spot I saw, I stood for a second, and saw that there was nobody around us, so we decided to say a prayer. We were really stuck on how Elizabeth was going to progress. We asked that the Spirit help us to decipher whether we should continue visiting Elizabeth or not, and that he give us a clear answer in the lesson as to what we should do. Arriving at the lesson, we taught the Restoration SO clear (because the Spirit was teaching), and so undeniable. She told us that she felt everything was true, ...but that her father didn't want us to return to their home. It was taught, but we left her with the invitation to come to church any Sunday. She was one of 4 investigators we have left so far this week, and it has been rough, because we have felt like there is no hope. But I feel that some of them will return, but with time. We are planting seeds for other missionaries to harvest. And I have faith that if we keep working, keep teaching, and keep being obedient to the commandments, God will bless us with success in this area, and this small branch will grow.
We didn't have very good numbers this week, in lessons, and I don't feel very good about it. But all the time we put into the branch is actually effective, as a few members invited their friends to church this week. And the assistance in the church went from the usual 40 up to 55 yesterday. With a new member, Lourdes. and a young man who nobody recognized, Miguel, who upon presenting myself with him in front of the church told us that he was a member from a long time ago. (Some other members told us that he is a drug addict), but upon arriving in the church, he told me that he felt something pulling him towards the church from his home since last night. I'm sure that it wasn't drugs, but the Holy Ghost, helping him in his return to Christ. We also started a Gospel Principles class which Elder Andrade and I are teaching, and he wasn't all there, but felt the Spirit and answered questions correctly and inspired when I asked.. The Lord watches over all of us, I know that we are never lost. We are never far from His sight, He knows us all personally and has a plan prepared for each and every single person in which they can return to live in His presence after this life, and more so to achieve happiness in this life right now. The path is the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we invite ALL to come, and partake of this true happiness. Wherever you may be, or whoever you are, the Lord loves you, and He wants you to follow in this path. There is no happiness in this world greater than knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior. "Come unto Him"
I personally invite all to do so. As well as I invite all who are invited, to invite the rest of His children. And I do so with love in His holy name, even Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior, amen.

-Elder Knight
 
Photos by Trevor of his new area

Trevor cleaning the baptismal font in the chuch in his new area...yuck!

Monday, January 2, 2012

I'm now in Chiuchapa, VERACRUZ, Mexico!

Well, ¡buenas tardes familia Knight!
Hope you all had a good week. Totally forgot to tell you all last week. I've been transferred to Cuichapa, Veracruz. Its a little pueblito (little town) pretty well off from Coatzacoalcos. Its like an hour bus ride from any other missionaries, and the branch only has 35-40 people attending church every week. Needless to say, it has been a blast getting to know all of the marvelous members here, and working with my new companion Elder Andrade. Who is from Mèxico City, 18 years old, and has 3 months in the mission (I am now a Senior Companion and a trainer). He is excited to work, and knows the city pretty well, since this is where he started. Things have been pretty well great here, but looks like its going to be a LOT of work. Elder Plummer called me last night (who was my trainer, and now Assistant to the President) to congratulate me for the 8th week baptizing in the area I had just left. And to inform me that Presidente knows this area needs a lot of work, and that I should do all I can to move the work here to show the Lord what I am capable of. I'm pretty stoked, and know that with the Lord's help and guidance. This area will start moving. There have been 2 baptisms in the last 4 months here, and neither of them are active. And the branch president works all week in Reforma Chiapas, and is only here on the weekends. There's no 2nd counselor, his dad is the secretary. No Elder's quorum presidency, no Young mens presidency, and no presidency in the mission work. Well, it'll be quite a blast to see what happens in these next few weeks, but I'm sure there are a lot of miracles in the path ahead of us. Pray for me, my family. I miss you all!
Love, Elder Knight
P.s. I'm smiling alot. Congratulations Caitlynn and Seth! May 12th is going to be legit. I'll find a way to celebrate it too somehow, don't worry. I hope everything is going super great at home. You are always in my prayers. And hurry up Haley! I want to hear SO BAD where you are going to go on your mission!!!!!!! You are such great examples to me, all of you. Keep living according to the gospel, search for ways you can be more obedient, and the Lord will see your efforts and bless you all.
Scripture of the Week: 1 Tim 4:9-16    <3