Awesome Father's Day!

The World Cup is EVERYTHING to these people

This week we tried to do the same we did last week and even better. The good thing is that one of our long-awaited investigators is finally getting baptized this Saturday! And we have been teaching Rocio in a park again. She has quit smoking and is working toward her baptism too! She just needs a miracle this week because she needs a job and a place to stay by Saturday or she has to go live with her sone in Puebla. Please pray extra hard for Rocia this week please! 

 

Everyone here has World Cup fever! so that means more excuses not to open the door to strange missionaries when the game's on haha. GO USA! 

 

Elder Oliver turned 21 on Thursday and "bit the cake" haha it was so funny! We have been eating the smashed cake all week and more for people sharing their fathers day cakes with us. YUM!

Elder Oliver got his face smashed into his birthday cake!

GUESS WHAT?! I'm officially going home on August 20th! That means next week starts my last transfer! WHAT?! I'm only a greeny!

I hope all the dads out there had an awesome Father's Day! Use that Priesthood and bless the world! 

I love you all!

Have a good week everyone!

Me and a puppy!

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff

FATHERS DAY IS COMING!

Gary Oreos

This week we had the most assistance in church since the ward split! There were 99 people! Ha so close to a perfect 100. There were a ton of less actives and a full class of Gospel Principles! It was so awesome to see the joy on the members faces as they saw so many people there. It's all thanks to the members too because we did divisions like four times this week and they did awesome teaching with us! It's also awesome to help less actives take part because they rise to the occasion and help themselves as well.

A view of Cancun from 8 stories up.

THAT'S ALL I GOT THIS WEEK! I LOVE YOU ALL!

 

 

HAVE THE BEST FATHER'S DAY EVER EVERYONE!

LOVE,

         ELDER SHURTLIFF

Flowers that were sent to our ward mission leaders daughter

Just the Beginning of the Pressuring of the Work of Salvation Here in Cancun

Elder Oliver and I are doing really good. This week was really rainy and hot, but miracles always happen when the weather gets rough. We had our zone conference with president and he talked a lot about how important to know how each of us are children of God. He said that we need to start doing divisions with members almost every night to get the work of salvation to the next level. Yesterday we did divisions and we went to go look for a guy we talked to on the street while he worked on his car. He invited us back, but didn't have time but we talked to his 18 year old son who is awesome! He understood the Restoration super well and I could even see his eyes light up when we answered his questions. He's like, "So I'm pretty like this Joseph because I have been to lots of churches too and I have no idea which one is true". It was awesome!

The other day a lady who I contacted on the street months ago found us again and she asked if we could talk. We went to the nearby park and she told us her story about how she's an alcoholic and she even drank and smoked in front of us. She only seemed to want to hear a message as a one time thing kind of deal so we just invited her to church and gave her a Book of Mormon. On Sunday morning we pass her by on our way to church and I made a joke to Elder Oliver saying that she's on her way to church too. Little did we know that she would actually walk into Sacrament Meeting during the testimonies. She absolutely loved it! We are going to see her tomorrow tonight!

I hope this is just the beginning of the pressuring of the work of salvation here in Cancun.

SHOUT OUT to the Peterson family! I forgot to shout them out last week for taking part in my awesome package! THANK YOU SO MUCH for my awesome custom ties and dvd! You have all gotten so big!

I love you all!

Elder Shurtliff

HAPPY DAY OF MEMORIES!

This week has been awesome because it really gave me a smack in the face of how hard I have to work right now.

Tulum

Elder Oliver and I really have to work hard this week because our ward is in a crucial state right now. President just gave me a pep talk that made me realize even more how important we are in helping our ward AND STAKE stay alive. Leaders are literally counting on us to get the work going and working together with the members do what the Lord has visioned for Cancun. We had a meeting yesterday with a Seventy that got me pumped and I know that I'm going to work the hardest I have ever worked in my whole mission. Please keep the prayers coming to me, Elder Oliver, and the Maya ward! Gracias! 

Last week we got to go to Tulum where theres lots of ancient Mayan temples. We learned a lot about the dangers of idols and got to see the  beach! Best day ever!

SHOUT OUT TO THE FULTON FAMILY! They sent me a package with pretty much my top favorite things. jellybeans, reeses puffs and peanut butter! GRACIAS I love the ties and drawings too. I love you all!!!

Love,

Me and Elder Oh

       Elder Shurtliff

IT'S RAINING GATOS AND PERROS OUT HERE

Water Balloon fun

Hola amigos! Its raining today and we are going to visit an awesome touristy site! Woohoo! I'll send pics.

#flattireproblems

Elder Oliver and I are working on finding to people to teach with the members. The other day an awesome sister took us to go see her neighbor friends and we set dates with both of them to share a message, but when we went back they either said no thanks or they weren't even there. Oh well! We have to work more on finding people in the street. Elder Oliver hates talking to people in the street, but I tell him to point out the people I can talk to because he can spot the ones that look like they would listen. So he picks them out and I talk to them ha. We make a good team! We are working better with the members too now and they like coming with us. It's just a little hard with their schedules, but it's all worth it in the end because the lessons go so much smoother and the members get a whiff of the missionary spirit.

Costco!

SHOUT OUTS for my big bro Travis who turns a quarter century old TODAY! FELIZ CUMPLEANOS!!!

Go out and share the good news everyone! CHRIST LIVES AND PAID FOR OUR SINS!!

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff

I LOVE MY MOMMA!

Singing praises to moms

Happy belated Mother's Day everyone! I got to talk to the best mom in the world yesterday with Skype! I know that thou shalt not covet, but you can be a little jealous ha. I finally got to explain to her what the Mother's Day card that I sent her last year really meant, because it was in Spanish haha.

President gave us an awesome talk from Elder Eyring in October 2003. I invite everyone to read that talk because its the true essence and "secret" to successful missionary work. It helped me see how natural it should be for all true disciples of Christ. In this week I have tried hard not to ever pressure anyone, but rather listen and teach with love. Transfers are today and President told me again that the Lord wants me to stay with Elder Oliver, because I'm "helping him to be a missionary". I'm honored with that heaven sent calling! We are going to do awesome this transfer I know it.

 

Transfer day! Here are all the sons and daughters arriving in Cancun from the MTC.

Yesterday I gave a talk in church after being asked to talk twice before but never was able to talk because the people before me took all the time. (Typical Mexican ward ha). I talked about the 8th chapter from the Teachings of President Joseph Fielding Smith, The Kingdom of God. I finally fully realized what that last paragraph means from the introduccion of the Book of Mormon. I have a testimony that we are truly in God's Kingdom here on Earth. The Church is directed by Christ and all of our leaders are called by our Loving Heavenly Father. 

THE GOSPEL IS TRUE

Mother's Day- They didn't have money for real flowers so they made flowers out of felt.

SHOUT OUTS! My little big brother turns 18 today?! Crazy! He and I are going to college together next semester! Elder Hussey also turned 21 on May 10th! FELIZ CUMPLEANOS!!! ALSO! Congrats to the newlyweds Mr. and Ms. Lisman! (My cousins Steph and Blake!) Always remember to pray everyday together!

Have a great week everyone!

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff

Costco  Dogs for Sister Garcia and her comp. from Costa Rica

Costco dogs for me and Elder Oliver

We went to Costco and I scored these awesome strawberries!

 

FELIZ CINCO DE MAYO!!!

AYAYAY ARRIBA ARRIBA!!!

I don't know much about cinco de mayo but I know that it had to do with a war in the state of Puebla. Anyways ha this morning we celebrated by going to COSTCO. I would send pics, but this computer doesn't want any of it so I'll have to wait til next week. 

 

I told President that I wanted to go back a month early for school. I heard and read a lot of good reasons to extend or not, but in the end I want a head start on my life mission! I know I'm going to miss the mission and it will be hard to go straight to school, but I'm way too excited for my future. I'm going to have to pretty much go with the missionaries in Cedar City for a month to adapt better ha. 

 

Yesterday we had an awesome devotional about the archeology of the Book of Mormon in Mexico. Nephites are Mayans! I don't remember a lot, but all I know is that I need to pay more atention to the cultural parts of the Book of Mormon too. I'm psyched to come back as a tourist.

I hope all of the "madres" have the best Mothers Day ever on Sunday! I know my mom will because I'll be skyping her!

Even the moms of the 2000 stripling warriors knew everything.

And shout out to my cuz Stephanie and my soon to be cuz-in-law Blake! What an awesome step in beginning your forever family! Congratulations! 

 

Have a great week everyone!

Love,

       Elder Shurtliff