FELIZ ANO NUEVO!

We had our P-day on Tuesday this week since we are going to have to be in our houses by 7 pm because of all the drunks and crazy kids with fireworks. And then we can't leave tomorrow until 4 in the afternoon haha crazy Mexico.

I loved talking to everyone on Christmas Day! There really isn't anything to do for New Years (for missionaries) ha we can't touch fireworks, but the kids in front of our house light off really loud bombs pretty much until 12 at night. 

I hope everyone had the best Christmas ever! The members fed us soooooo good ha and we did some caroling from house to house. The faces of our investigators and members were priceless haha I don't think they really do caroling here.

The sister that was going to get baptized this week has some personal problems to work out and says she needs time. We have tried so hard to help her know that if we just look for God's will, everything will work out. Pray hard for her! Her name is Abigail. Transfers are Monday! I don't really want Elder Hernandez to go but the odds say that he will probably be going since he has been here all of his mission (7 months). He knows the area so well and it's HUGE! 

Yesterday morning we had a special meeting where our mission President got us spiritually prepared to be able to meet the expectations that the Lord has for our mission. We have to now more than ever talk with EVERYONE, always finding more people to teach and never leave somebody without teaching them a gospel principle, and a bunch of other awesome stuff. It humbled me a ton because I have a whole lot to improve on but now I'm pumped! This week we found a huge awesome family and it was all thanks to talking to a couple youngsters on the street! Ha What are every ones New Years resolutions?! I'm going to be more careful not to talk or refer to movies or TV this year. It's so hard! The tradition here is to make a big doll made of clothes of your old self and then burn it on New Years. I might have to adopt that tradition haha.

I love you all!

Elder Shurtliff

I'LL BE IN MY MEXICAN HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

FELIZ NAVIDAD! This week I really learned a lesson about relying on the Spirit. I am in no way in control...of anything! Ha this week was so unpredictable because a lot of appointments went through strangely and we had to trust the Spirit to guide us. And he did! He took us to see references that have been on our list forever and they are all really awesome. I don't even know why I thought they would be duds before. DONT JUDGE.

Yesterday we had our huge multi-stake missionary Christmas devotional where all of the missionaries from 3 stakes prepared special musical numbers with cello and flutes and we all sang together so awesome that it gave me goose bumps the whole time. I LOVE MY SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. It made me want to have more love for everybody and especially my comp. Christmas is the best! Oh and President gave us our lines of Priesthood of Authority for Christmas!

I wish everyone a Merry, Merry Christmas! Spend it peacefully with your family!

You already know. Luke 2

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff

9 DAYS TIL CHRISTMAS!

Hola everybody! This week was super crazy because I did a bunch of emergency companion exchanges with my district partly because we had to go buy stuff to fix up the house and partly to clean the baptism font. Surprisingly it gets really dirty! Ha so here's the story of my fastest baptism ever. We got the referral last week for a 18 year old girl named Mileydi (me lady) who already had all the lessons from being taught already for a year or so. We found her, she went to church with us, and my comp and an elder in my district had a lesson with her that week and she told them she wanted to get baptized that Saturday because she's moving to another state haha. So we had the fastest planned baptism ever which was awesome and on Sunday she sent us a message to tell us she was locked in her house so she can't get to the confirmation. WHAT?! I called her and told her to say the most faithful prayer ever so that the landlord comes to let her out or she finds the key or something. We get to church and Elder Hernandez and I go to a empty classroom to pray for a miracle. We had the Sacrament and she still wasn't there. My comp and I went to the bathroom and another Elder calls us and told us she showed up! She was confirmed and right after I went to sit with her during the closing hymn and asked her how she did it. She said she did what I told her and said a prayer and 10 minutes later the landlord sent her a message saying that they were coming back. EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH FAITH.

SHOUT OUT to My Aunt Lyn! Her birthday is today!!! FELIZ CUMPLEANOS!!!

I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season! Hasta la proxima semana amigos!

Love,
       Elder Shurtliff

BUEN DIA!!!

This week has been amazingly awesome! We have been so blessed to find so many prepared people to receive the Gospel in their lives. One lady this week called us from her house, asked us if we were from the latter day saints church, and told us she has been looking for us because of the awesome example of her member friend who lives in Guadalajara. Good thing Elder Hernandez led us to a street we never go through! We also found a 20 year old who has received all the lessons but moved and lost contact with the church. MIRACLES! We are praying on getting at least 2 baptisms to give for a gift to our Saviour. 

Yesterday we went to the morning ward and our ward too because two of our investigators couldn't go at one so we went with them and then in between we taught two drunk guys the Restoration. Elder Hernandez with one and me with the other ha. We went to help one family get ready for church and found them breaking a pinata together ha and said they couldn't go today. Bummer! BUT when we passed by the houses of the two new investigators we saw some recent converts heading to church in their car and so we yelled like crazy trying to get their attention, put one of our investigators in their car and then went speed walking to the other investigators house who was waiting for us ready. We got there in a  taxi and were astonished to see all the members talking with the investigators and inviting them to family home evenings. 

FELIZ NAVIDAD! Our church is cool enough to have a real Christmas tree ha

We got the  news that we couldn't go to the Christmas Devotional unless we have an investigator family with us, but long story short, we only got one member of the family to go with us and we got there with 15 minutes left haha. It's alright though cause one member invited the investigator we brought to a NDH to watch it tonight! Sweet!

SHOUT OUTS to Kenzy who completed a year yesterday and SISTER HENRETTY who is now a legit Sister of Israel!

I love you all! Mosiah 5:7-8 read it!

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff

HOLA SANTAS LITTLE HELPERS!

My Thanksgiving week was pretty great! I love a good excuse for eating more! Elder Hernandez and I looked for turkey (that wasn't alive) and pumpkin pie but there wasn't any to be found so we ordered a pizza and some hamburgers and fries haha. The best part of the week was taking time to really think about all the blessings we receive from our Heavenly Father everyday. It always gets me pumped and ready to do some good!

On Thanksgiving we had our first district meeting me being leader and I talked about how gratitude is the source of the attributes of Christ and had everyone say what they are thankful for before I gave them a Quaker cookie haha. (Quakers are pilgrims right?!)

Then yesterday we had a huge meeting with all of the leaders of Cancun to listen to a Seventy of Mexico talk to us about the Work of Salvation and it really got everyone excited. We all split off in the stake center at the same time to have a mini ward council meeting listing off names of the people we can visit that same week. That's what I'm talking about!

My area is doing awesome because we are finding a lot more people to teach and these people are no doubt chosen and prepared! They love hearing that they could be baptized on New Years! Ha I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving and survived Black Friday!

Shout OUT! Sarah Henretty sent me a Late Night with Jimmy Fallon sharpie, postcards from NYC and a letter!

John 8:31

Love,
       Elder Shurtliff

Happy Thanksgiving!

Transfers were yesterday and I'm staying here with Elder Hernandez, but I got my first leadership position as District Leader. I was hoping for a son but I'm stoked to see what I can do for the district. You could send Elder Hernandez anything from Deseret Book and he would like it ha.

Matching Mickey pins

In the Celestial Kingdom

SHOUT OUTS. Happy belated birthday to Natalie Robson! It was on the 17th! AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST MOM EVER!

Mexicans don't really celebrate American holidays even though they are missing out on an excuse to eat a ton haha but I'll for sure try to put in my own tradition to celebrate like turkey tacos ha. During this time of year I love to look around and remember all the awesome blessings I have and it always gives me tons of energy to help others. From being in Mexico I have learned to be more grateful for indoor plumbing, A/C, and streets not made of dirt ha, but more than anything I'm so grateful for God's perfect plan for us and that he is a God of miracles especially in these latter days. The redeeming love our Savior has for us and the Restoration of is true Gospel are things I will always cherish. We are so blessed to be able to live in this final dispensation with the fullness of the Gospel. I'm so grateful for the knowledge that God will always forgive us that I will live with my family forever. More than ever I'm thankful for the blessing of prayer and this promise. Mormon 9:21.

HAVE THE BEST THANKSGIVING AND BIRTHDAY EVER MOM! I'm so thankful for all you do for me.

Love,
       Elder Shurtliff

Hola AMIGOS!

Sorry i have like no time BUT this week was awesome! I saw tons of little miracles!

Gabriel is doing good because yesterday we got him to go into Primary for his first time and so Elder Hernandez and I spent the second hour of church with the kids which was fun. He's really opening up  thanks to the other kids. So Saturday night we go to contact a referral and guess who we find? Jose! The drunk guy who bought us food the other day. We had no idea where he lived. He let us in and was drunk of course. His wife was crying and so you know what that means. It was the weirdest lesson ever, because the whole time he talked like the whole world was out to get him. Long story short he gave us yogurt and said we couldn't have the closing prayer until we drank it. Yikes! So I blessed his home with all my heart so that no harm would come upon his wife and we ran home. To be continued...

MAYEROS

Thats all for now!

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff

HAPPY VETERANS DAY

This week really flew by! The highlight was yesterday because it was pretty eventful and spontaneous. First we went to the Stake Conference for the Cancun Stake where members and investigators filled up the Stake Center until there were people on the stage in the very back. It was awesome to hear all the messages and testimonies that were all really focused on the youth and families. There was a choir of youth from Cozumel, a ton of flowers covering the podium, and they even put up a camera to broadcast it to Cozumel and other wards that are too far to be there. President Kirkham talked about how he had three special witnesses (apostles) tell him that they and the first Presidency say that Cancun has the most potential to grow and progress than any other city in the world! That's pretty intense. Ha it got everyone excited and ready to share the gospel.

Then at night we had a lesson with a family with a mom, a brother and a sister. The mom and sister are already baptized and so we were trying to help the little 10 year old say his prayers. For like 10 minutes the mom and sister went off about how he always disobeys and how he pretty much never does anything right. Finally my comp finally said, "OK, can you two go in the house so we can talk with Gabriel privately?". They went in and Gabriel told us about how his parents are divorced and only his dad loves him and how he thinks its his fault that they are separated. He said he doesn't want to be baptized because he's afraid of the water and we helped him understand it all. In the end I gave him a HLJ (CTR) ring and told him it would always help him remember to do the right thing. It was sweet! The Spirit was there for sure. Then when we were walking back to our house a drunk guy off the street invited us to eat at a little restaurant off the side of a house. He told us that the last missionaries abandoned him and something about how his wife aborted his baby and went off on his tricycle without saying goodbye. That darned alcohol! Ha well that made the end of an eventful day.

I hope everyone has an awesome week! Make good choices! 

Ha oh and Christmas is coming up!

The mission tells us to tell our families that when they send packages they should just put "books" for the contents and to put pics of Jesus on the outside for safety's sake.

Have you read the Book of Mormon today? Helaman 3:27-28

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff

FELIZ HALLOWEEN Y DIA DE LOS MUERTOS!

Surprisingly there weren't a lot of festivities here in Cancun. I only saw a couple of kids in the streets dressed up, but it was enough to make me miss home on Halloween. I love this time of year! Everything is already decorated for Christmas ha.

Our jack-o-lantern we made for Halloween!

We had the best baptism on Tuesday! There were testimonies, a choir of children, and lots of tears...of joy! The sister who got baptized is the most converted person I have seen when knowing just the basics of the gospel. Yesterday there was a rainstorm and barely any members came, BUT SHE DID. She got confirmed and basically everybody there shared their testimony which made for my most favorite fast and testimony meeting. Afterwards everyone went out to help the members with all the water in their houses. 

I'm out of time! I love you all!

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff

RAINY WEEK IN CRAZY CANCUN

It was an awesome week here in Cancun! Elder Hernandez and I are doing awesome working with the most excitement in the world! It really takes up our energy too because we are dead tired by the time we get home. The huge blister I have pretty much makes me walk with a limp haha. We have a lot of walking to do! We have a ton of people to teach, but pretty much all of them have to get married ha. They are all really excited though to have an eternal family. With that goal in mind, nothing is going to stop them!

PIGS HEAR NO EVIL

 Oh and I forgot to mention that last week when I had my first week back in the same church as my Bonampak ward I got welcomed by one of my favorite families. Leti already went to the temple for baptisms and the sister that I was getting ready for baptism for 3 months got married and baptized! They looked soooooo happy!

chile amigos americanos with Elder Cornia (from BINGHAM)

Yesterday was daylight savings time but since we are cut off from the world we woke up a hour early and brought an investigator to church a hour and a half early haha. We sent her to the other wards Relief Society and then went to the three hours of her own ward ha. It was pretty funny, but it hurts me to know I passed up a free hour of sleep.

SHOUT OUTS for my buddy Glen whose birthday was the 22nd! My mom, Travis, Baby Prez, and Kenzie sent me the best package complete with hot cheetos and sour patch melons! AND CONGRATS TO MY COUSIN STEPH WHO GOT ENGAGED!

One more thing! I'm making my blog a little more safe by making it private. So tell my mom if you still want to be spiritually inspired every week!

Mosiah 16:9- READ IT

HAVE A SAFE & HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE. I'm going to make a jack-o-lantern now! BYE

Love,

       Elder Adam Shurtliff

HOLA AMIGOS Y AMIGAS!!!

This week might have been the fastest week of my mission! My area is ginormous, but the people here are so awesome! More than half of them just have to get married already! It's no problem though for the Holy Ghost. Been there done that! I already have good relationships with a bunch of them. I feel like there isn't really an awkward getting to know each other stage anymore like there was before. 

Elder Hernandez and I are doing really good together. He and lots of the people here have a hard time understanding me though for my accent ha so I'll be working hard on my Spanish.

 

My mission President told me that there's a reason I'm back here and that it's my job to find out what it is and to get Elder Hernandez excited and ready to work!

Oh and I forgot to tell you about the church open house that we had two weeks ago in Espita! (a tiny village) It was so great to see how excited the members were to get an actual church building and I got to invite people in from the street! Yesterday was my first primary program in Mexico! Kids are fun to watch no matter where you are in the world!

SHOUT OUT for my Grandma Due, Nicole Wills, AND SaraHenretty for my awesome letters and cards!

I love you all! 3 Nephi 13 is rocking my world right now! It's the best!

Love,

       Elder Adam Shurtliff

CANCUN BOUND PARTE DOS

Yup that's right! I'm back in Cancun! I'm in a new ward but in the same building as my last area in Cancun so I'm excited to see what happened with the investigators I was teaching three months ago. To tell the truth I'm a little bummed that I didn't get to train this transfer and that I'm leaving my little city, but I know that the transfers are inspired by God. In every area I have served in I have seen my personal testimony and character grow and progress so I know that being here is going to help me even more. My new comp is Elder Hernandez who has like ten months and so it will be my first time as senior comp. It doesn't really make a huge difference but I'm excited to get working. He's from Puebla, Mexico but he's just as white as me ha. Sorry I didn't bring my camera memory card again so there are no pics but I have a ton of good ones to send. 

I hope everyone is enjoying the fresh fall weather and are studying up on their General Conference! We listen to the talks in the house on my little speaker and I love it!

Scripture of the week: 3 Nephi 9 I can't remember exactly which part but I just read it on the long bus ride and its SWEET!

I love you all mis amigos!

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff

HOW 'BOUT THEM MESSAGES?!

 

Ha. Yes it was indeed a glorious conference weekend! Ha I really have received a new appreciation for General Conference on my mission and now every time feels different. It probably has to do with where I am, who I'm teaching, and my own conversion. I loved being able to actually watch in Spanish on the big screen in our church with all my investigators and members. One awesome experience I had was watching the face of one of my investigators that learns really slowly. When he feels the Spirit he has the best smile and kind of a glow about him. I saw this in him while he watched the Prophet talk during the Sunday morning session. I asked him if simply if he liked it and he said in the best way, "siiii!" Ha it was pretty sweet. It was also awesome to see our investigators from Chemax travel to see every session. Every session had at least 3 investigators minus Priesthood. It was SWEET! Ha I really want to share what I learned, but I'll just say that my favorites Elder Holland, Bednar, and Scott never disappoint and the one from the Seventy that talked about teaching. That's some good stuff!

Scripture of the week: Mosiah 5:7-10

Have a good week everybody! Now it's time to put all you have learned into practice!

Love,

       Elder Adam Shurtliff

 

I'M OFFICIALLY A YEAR OLD

To celebrate my year I made an American style breakfast with pancakes (with peanut butter and syrup) and BACON and orange juice. YUM. I also attempted to do a ceremonial pants burning, but it didn't really work out ha. I thought my bug spray was flammable and I ran out of matches. I guess God didn't want me to burn down the backyard ha.

Throwback Monday. Making it rain at the MTC.

Hola amigos! This week was pretty sweet! Elder Terriquez and I did a couple splits with other missionaries and I learned a lot from them like to be more direct with my investigators. A lot of times I let lame excuses pass by easily when somebody isn't reading or going to church, but now I know it's more important to get down to the cause which makes it a whole lot easier to help them do it the next time.

 

Elder Terriquez and area are doing awesome and there were a ton of investigators in church this week. Chemax is progressing great and I'm really seeing the desire of the family there to be baptized. I really want to go into detail, but I'll save that for later. Just know that I love teaching families!

Vallodolid! It's clean here!

We just had a ward activity where tons of members showed their Mexican cultural talents like singing mariachi, dancing with big dresses, and there was even one who imitated Michael Jackson. Ha it was pretty sweet. What was really cool was that when a little girl was singing and forgot the words to the song she got embarrassed and stopped for a bit, but everyone started clapping and she finished the song. It was so awesome to see how the ward supported her and how all the members are one huge family. That's one of the things I love most about the church.

SHOUT OUTS to Aunt Lyn for sending me the best tasting homemade rice krispy treats and a ton of awesome Deseret Book stuff that I can't wait to give out to my investigators. AND one for the Shurtliff family who gave me the traditional group card with all their little messages on it. AND one more for Nicole Wills who sent me an old fashion letter! WOOT GRACIAS

 

Have a good General Conference weekend everybody! NEW MISSION YEAR RESOLUTION. I'm going to start putting a scripture in all of my blogs this year. Today its D&C 88:119-126. READ IT!

 

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff

Flooded streets of Cancun

 

 

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters,

I have some alarming news, but please try to remain calm.

I don't have pics this week either! 'so sorry! I just have been working so hard! Ha next week though I'll have some good ones though I promise!

So this week started pretty slow and not very awesome, but by Saturday we had a ton of miracles happen! Investigators that have never progressed with past missionaries (more than a year ago) are finally reading and going to church! I love it when people say that they have never felt so open with any of the other pairs of missionaries. It's the best! It makes me think how the missionaries who have taken my place in my past areas could be helping out my old investigators that I had a difficult time with. We are like a big team!

 

Chemax is doing great as always, but President gave us a new rule that if we baptize there we have to baptize the whole family. It was disappointing news at first, but I know it's the best for their conversions. You need your family to help you endure to the end, right?! Our goal is eternal families not just baptisms!

 

Well that's all I got for this week (all the time I got). 

SHOUT OUTS FOR EVERYONE! Stay safe and invite everybody you know to watch General Conference!

 

I turn a year old on Thursday! FIESTA!

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff

¡¡¡¡¡VIVA MEXICO!!!!

Today is the Independance Day of Mexico! I'm missing out on the festivities though because they only have events going at night. It's a bummer, but I'll get over it. ha I'll try to grab a pic with a big flag or something. Sorry no pics this week! I've been working too hard I guess ha.

We actually have a lot going in Chemax (little village in my area) and we keep finding new people that want to be baptized everytime we go! Ha I want to train my son there, but it would be hard to open up a new area.

The biggest highlight this week was that Elder Johnson (Seventy and Presidente of the Area of Mexico) made the whole mission feel like the people of King Benjamin. Ha we really have changed the fundamentals of how we teach thanks to him reminding us how people not of our Church don't think the same way we do. Like when we say "God" they imagine a spirit of Jesus. Now we are making sure everyone understands the Godhead and what it really takes to be baptized and endure to the end. That last part is most important. There will be no more converts going inactive on my watch!

Shout out this week for two awesome family members of mine! It was the birthday of my late Grandpa LaDue the 12th and of my cousin Stephanie the 13th. FELIZ CUMPLEANOS!!!

I hope everyone is getting ready for conference in a couple weeks! I can't believe its already time again! I want to invite everyone to read this months New Era that talks about how important the Prophets and Apostles are TODAY. Follow them and don't go astray.

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff

ALLLLLLLLOOOOOHAAAAAAAA! Hermanos and Hermanas!

Well surprise! This week has flown by and I'm loving every minute of it! This week we got to go to one of our little villages named Chemax, with the first counselor and we had an awesome lesson with a sister there who started going to church with her son when her husband died. We went back yesterday for Sacrament meeting and we found two more people ready to prepare for their baptisms! By the way, my first Sabbath in a little meetinghouse was awesome! We had our Sacrament with pieces of cracker ha it was pretty different, but sweet! We actually taught our investigators during the talks in the back haha.

Cristina's Baptism!

Cristina's baptism was awesome even though it almost didn't happen! The Bishop or any of his counselors couldn't come and so my comp was getting all stressed out but I stayed calm and we called the assistant (Elder Vrska, my mtc comp) and he said we could still do it! And so, long story short, Cristina looked so happy and gave an awesome closing prayer filling the room with the Spirit. THE CHURCH IS TRUE.

A huge spider on the street!

Thank you so much everyone for all you love and support!

PEACE

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff

HAPPY LABOR DAY AMIGOS

Sorry. This didn't get published last week. ~Monique

Our awesome baptism with Arcadia and the Bishop

There no Labor Day here, but my dad told me Ha.

This week was truly a miracle! Elder Terriquez and I have received so many blessings this week and are sooooo grateful to see how much our area is progressing. We went from having a third of the goal of excellence for lessons with members to one more than the goal in one week! I was also way surprised to see so many investigators in church yesterday for their first time. Our ward is getting more and more excited for missionary work and are helping us out a ton. A new rule started yesterday that says investigators need five times in church instead of three. This will surely help them be converted to the Gospel and not only baptized ready to become inactive after a couple months. I'm excited to see the results! Transfers are today, but I'm happy to say I'm staying here with Elder Terriquez! We have lots of work to do and we are excited for Cristina who is a married 17 year old who is getting baptized this week!

I hope everyone has an awesome week! Dont ignore those promptings from the Holy Ghost to share the Gospel! Trust me, its well worth it to change somebodys life.

Love,

       Elder Adam Shurtliff

Last pic of the transfer with my district in Valladolid!

Como Estan Amigos?!

Valladolid - How I love you!

 

This week has flown by way fast. It was a week full of rain, which kinda made it hard on our appointments with members present. When it rains here everybody pretty much goes into hibernation mode haha. Elder Terriquez and I have been working really hard though. We are starting to make more goals and more importantly we are reviewing our progress and changing what we need to so we are more successful. I think that's what I tend to do a lot. I make goals and get all excited to follow them through, but then forget about them little by little. Set goals AND review your progress everybody! I also learned this week how powerful prayer can be. I have seen the blessings again and again thanks to faithful prayer not just in the morning and night, but in every moment I need some help from my Heavenly Father. Which is a ton by the way!

 

The biggest pot of corn EVER

So ya Elder Terriquez and I are getting Arcadia ready for her baptism this Thursday WOOT. We just had a lesson when our member that speaks Maya couldn't make it and so we tried our best to teach with simple words so that she understood. I felt the Spirit so strong when I saw the look on her face as I bore my simple testimony about going to church. She's the best! Me and Elder Terriquez adopted her as our little Mayan Grandma.

 

Yesterday was also Stake Conference so I got to go back to Tizimin to see all the members again and my converts that I was teaching, but didn't get to see get baptized because I got transferred to Cancun! I was sooooooo happy to see them! It was like when Ammon saw the sons of Mosiah again haha. It was the best.

My first family of my mission!

Luis Angel - one of my converts in Tizimin

SHOUT OUTS for my Mom and stepdad, Ken, who are celebrating two years together this weekend! Also my brother Robbie is doing awesome in football! Woohoo! AND Miss Kenzie got an awesome job in St. George! Congrats!!! I'm stoked for you all!

I love you all! Have an awesome week and remember to do your good turn daily #BOYSCOUTPRIDE

Love,

       Elder Adam Shurtliff

Sukumes y Kiks! (Hermanos y Hermanas) (Brothers and Sisters)

Life is good here in Valladolid! It's been hot and humid, but with a whole lot of rain. It was awesome to see so many members come to church in our ward yesterday. We had a full house! I guess everyone came back from their vacations because today is the first day of school for everyone. Right now we are teaching a little old lady named Arcadia who only speaks Maya and we have members help us out in communicating with her. I want to learn Maya so bad now! I have a Book of Mormon in Maya and I always love learning little phrases to tell the villagers. Malo Sukum! Ha Arcadia is awesome though because even though she can't understand much in church she still goes and feels the truth by the power of the Holy Ghost. Thats the Spirit! Ha Elder Terriquez and I are preparing her for baptism next week!

This week we also had our first Zone conference in the brand new Tizimin zone with President Kirkham. Meetings with President Kirkham are very casual and we even start having discussions which help us learn from the Spirit how we can really progress. Sister Kirkham says we have to help our comps learn more English . Will do! I'm starting to give English classes at the church! Wish me luck!

President and Sister Kirkham

I hope everyone has a good week and good luck to all those who are starting school! Study hard! Play hard!...safely Ha. BYE

Love,

       Elder Adam Shurtliff

ALOOOOOOHA MIS AMIGOS AND AMIGAS!

Handing out Books of Mormon

This week has gone by way too fast! Elder Terriquez and I are working hard as always, treading through the rain and heat. It rains so much here and I always pray that we are in a lesson so that when it does rain so that our books don't get drenched. We are having a little trouble getting investigators to church because it's a lot harder to have daily lessons here which really helps them keep focused on keeping their commitments. There has been a lot of changes too, like the days we plan and of our district meetings. We now start working at 6am on P days instead of going to district meeting and then only teaching one lesson the whole day. More Family Home Evenings! WOOT!

I make the BEST tortillas!

 SHOUT OUTS! For my pops who sent me an awesome package full of music, art, preach my gospels, and COTTON CANDY.

At the museum

The best part of the museum

Ha. It was a little more like rock candy when it got to me, but still so sweet! My grandma Shurtliff also sent me the best birthday card! THANK YOU!!! I love you all! AND My stepbrother Kammin Avery is going to the MTC soon! Spread the word buddy!

That's all for now brothers and sisters! Have an awesome week and remember to have your family prayers!

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff

Our district