¡¡¡¡¡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

 

Little, Old Pueblos Are My Favorite

I'm doing awesome here in the old pueblo with Elder Terriquez! I really do like the peaceful villages here in Mexico. Unlike Cancun, it's a lot more chill because the streets are about half the size (more than half of them being dirt) and the people are either working or just hanging out at home. Elder Terriquez and I are getting on really well because of how alike we are. He's from a state of Mexico called Sinora and just finished high school before he came, but he wants to study medicine like me. He has 9 months on the mission and is waiting for his girlfriend to get her own call soon.

Cleaning the Font

Reyna's baptism

Our baptism was pretty awesome. The girl that got baptized is named Reyna, and is 25 years old and teaches kindergarten. Shes from an inactive family, but thanks to her new RM boyfriend she found her way back to the church again! They had me share my story of my own baptism which I haven't thought about in a long time. Ha it was way awesome.

SHOUT OUT this week for my Grandma 'Due who sent me an awesome birthday card that I just got. THANK YOU! Thank you everyone for all your love, support, and prayers. Right back at ya!

I hope everyone had a good fast Sunday and you are all working towards spiritual goals that will strengthen your testimony. FASTING IS THE BEST!

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff

Pouring rain!