Don't Get Discouraged!!

i think we will plan to talk around 11 am my time on Christmas morning, so that should be 10 your time if i am correct. ps; the zone leaders said i got two or three packages, so they arrived on time. thank you! i will get them tonight.
another week down without baptisms..... both alfredo and manuel didnt have as firm of a testimony on joseph smith as they had expressed to us, and had more doubts, but they said they will do all that is possible to find an answer and get baptized. they both want it, but it just hasnt happened yet. the good thing is that i think i am learning how to not get discouraged: trusting in god! how simple, no? but sadly it has been hard in the past. i think i have really learned to always stay positive, and accept whatever trials the lord sends our way. it is really hard, but after having these 6 weeks of not baptizing, i have started to realize the benefit of the trial. i just really hope that we baptize this week, so i can keep my streak going of never whiting out in a change. but what will come is in the lords hands. we did really good this week on our dats, and im not really sure if its anything we really did. it just worked out, but i think because of these dats we will get really good results out of them.
i also went on changes with my district leader: elder arevalo. he is really one of my greatest examples right now. he is a fun, hard workin guy who really knows how to teach. he learned a lot from some of the greatest missionaries in this mission. he came and really helped me learn what i was lacking in teaching, as well as being bold with people. i thought i was bold before, but he showed me a whole new level! we challenged a lot of people, found few, but also had very many lessons with members present. as well as taught many members a lesson to strengthen their testimony on what we are doing, and to help them realize their part in the missionary work. i was very impressed with this week, as well as i wasnt as near as tired as other weeks, because we did more teaching, and much less walking. elder arevalo taught me a ton in just those two days, but sadly he is leaving the 12 of december. i will really miss him, but he may be my way of getting good new shoes, because in mexico, every thing is super cheap! here is probably the most expensive you will find. except for ties! i can get a tie for 40 pesos, or 4 dollars!!!! and they are good sturdy ties. if anyone is needing ties for mission prep, or which ever reason, i can get it in about any color or design here. so let me know!!! haha. but any ways, today at soccer, i slipped twice and really tore up my legs, i miss playing at timpanogos indoor and getting torn up, but the only reason was because i dont have any grip on my shoes.... so e. arevalo might be able to help me get some good, cheap shoes.
we are doing good, and have 9 people with a baptismal date within this month, but lets see how it works out. in november we had 10 and all of them fell, so lets see how the lord will work with us this month..... i have decided to change the way i teach and plan after being with elder arevalo. he taught me to teach by the scriptures and to what end. also that i need to plan out my own lesson plan with specific scriptures to answer doubts and teach the principles. today, i will go and buy the notebook to start. also how much easier it is for mexicans to learn with an object lesson.......... i felt like i was teaching a class of 8 yr olds, but they really started to understand, and they all accepted a date. so i have started to make my own object lessons for the restoration, and the plan of salvation. hopefully it works as good for me as it did for him.
i have almost finished the book of mormon in spanish, i am in ether 2 right now, and i will finish by the end of this week i bet. i have really found many great scriptures in this time going through in a different language. you really do come across new things every time. especially how much i now love the writings of mormon in the book of mormon. chapter 7 is short but very powerful, and also i really liked ch. 9. both talking about the importance of christ, and how we are able to see and recieve miracles. it is only by faith. maybe its not that profound to you all, but it was important to me. haha. if we trust in god to do what ever he asks, he works miracles. trust is the key. or in other words faith.
lys, you made me laugh when you said that you and el bebito were the center of attention in peru, because just this last week, i was also the center of attention. we were contacting a lady and she went to get her husband to set an appointment, and we were waiting when three of her teenage daughters came out and were completely gawking over me.... they were staring in my eyes and trying to flirt and wanted to take a picture, but i just felt wierd. maybe it was because i didnt have el bebito to take the attention away from me... maybe next time. haha i was happy to hear from a lot of people this week, and i hope all is well for everyone. thank you for your support and love and letters. it really means alot to me, because im not going to lie: the mission is hard! i have never struggled like this in my entire life, but i have also never learned so many important lessons. like the christ like attributes, scripture study, love everyone, discipline, diligence, etc. there are a lot of things i have learned, but i now think the most important thing i have started to catch on to is dont get discouraged! trust in the lord, work hard, and keep the commandments. the commandments seem simple, but review them and your covenants. find at least one thing you can change or make better in your life to keep your covenants sacred and important to you. the lord will bless you tons.! i know thats a true principle, because i have seen it happen many times here. love you all, and i will try to take more pics of whatever i can this week for you. if you have questions please ask me, especially about talking on christmas. cuidense muchisimo.
elder facer