Measuring the Growth of 9 Months

thanks everyone for the letters, it didnt feel weird to be 20 until i read a few of your letters that said youre not a teenager anymore. that was the weird part. so far, i havent had my face shoved in a cake, but i think that will come tomorrow at our lunch appointment.
well ill start off this letter to answer moms question, just so i dont forget to do it. what is the thing in which the mission has changed me the most...... i would probably say love. you really come in contact with a ton of people, and sometimes that is the hardest thing to do, to love and understand them. at times it has been really hard, but at others, it is easy. i am still learning a lot about charity. also another thing would be acting when the lord tells me to. im not sure how many of you remember my story about getting hit by a car the end of my junior year, but at that time, i got hit because i didnt listen to the spirit. i really have struggled to always listen, especially when it is something new, or different or hard, but for that one reason, my parents taught me WE DO HARD THINGS. i hated saying it before, probably because i hadnt really done anything hard, but now it is hard! the lord really knows how to test you, but also how far he can test you without losing you. it is hard to trust in the lord and act, or change, or do something different. i am still working on it, but i have definitley noticed when i act, and when i dont. i have also learned a lot about being positive, even when its hard. especially on new years day, when everyone is either drunk, or not in their house, and fasting... haha. i really dont know if i can say one thing in specific that i have learned, or the thing that has impacted me the most, because there are so many. i thought before the mission i was decent, but now i only feel like i am starting to be decent. (partly because im not an immature teenager) haha jk. i have really learned a ton in these 9 months, and things that i want to change when i get home. i remember elder holland said if you leave for the mission, and return, and do the same things, or havent changed, why did you even go? i am out here to learn, to grow, and to change.
well new years was basic, not much happened. we had curfew of 1030, so we werent out super late, but we did go to a familys house to bless an aunt and uncle that arent members and needed help in all aspects. it was nice, then ate buddin. they say is almost like pudding, but i didnt think so. i thought it was like old cold oatmeal with raisins.... but they made it with love, haha. hopefully we also were able to impact the super catholic grandma that was there too. i was thinking about that a little. how many times in the new testament(because i am reading it right now) they give a blessing, and the person is immediately healed, and how many people that affected. i sure hope i can be a good tool in the lords hands to do that too with this couple we blessed. at midnight, the mexican men have a lame tradition, they go out in the streets and shoot their guns, or pistols etc into the air while whichever person is still walking around, and most of the people shooting or walking are drunk and will most likely get shot. i havent heard of any one dead from new years yet, but maybe it will come up. i slept through the entire night, and didnt hear a single gun shot. the first one in the house asleep for new years in probably 15 years! wow
well sadly not too much happened this week, we found a few good new investigators, and have some member help with them, and the only thing really note worthy(and because im about out of time) is little lupitas baptism! she is the little partly blind girl i told you about, ill send pics, and she was super anxious to get baptized. also, the service went really well and the family is finally complete. they are very happy and hopefully willing now to complete with their covenants....
i just ask that you pray for miguel, jessica, and ulises. we dont have many right now, but we are still looking, and getting more help from the members, so we are slowly moving along. may God bless you all as you strive to complete his commandments and respect and keep your covenants. he is always there and always willing to help, but he only steps in when we show we are willing to act on faith. i love you all, and am so happy to have your support, there isnt a group of people i want supporting me more than you all. youre great, your families are great, and the lord loves us and is here to help. what more do we need? love you all. until next week...
elder chicharito facer