Endure to the end!

 Hola a todos!

 This is the last email I will be sending out. This week was very uneventful. It was freezing cold and so not many people wanted to open their doors to some strangers. It even snowed last night! But we did have some little miracles that I will share!

 So Wednesday we had a family history appointment. We were going to help this guy set up his account and I was so excited for it. It finally came time, we called, and he said he couldn't and we rescheduled (he ended up not answering later). So, we went to a member’s, Jesse. He is always saying his wife is mean, so this is a two in one miracle. First, we called him and asked if we could help him with family history. We started doing it and he was all into getting all the info right because his sister had previously done it but according to him, she doesn’t know anything jajaj. So, he was feeling the spirit and we talked about patriarchal blessings and temples and set up an interview so he could get both of those. We also helped him reserve names for the temple. Then as we were leaving his wife said she had made soup for us. So, we ate her soup and talked and got to know her and so now she doesn’t hate the missionaries anymore!

 Later in the week we went by a member that hadn't been visited in a long time. This house was in a gated community. Very rare for Rio. It was a big house. Super nice. We knock it and this younger lady answers. We ask for the member and she tells us the member had moved out 10 years ago. But we got talking and she was super interested in what we do and where our church is. Before she left, she gave us chocolate and hot chocolate. It was so good. We had done our Come Follow Me as a mission that day. This was a Friday. And we had talked about the ministering of Angels. She was literally an angel for us. 

 Third miracle of the week is that we haven't been having success with our own efforts. People say they want to get baptized but then fall off the face of the earth. Kayla and Kassy both ignore us and it is sad. But we found 2 part-member families that we have planned to start teaching!

 Last highlight is on Sunday members brought desert to the church. I got mordidad. That means a donut got shoved in my face. Then we went over for lunch and had a big lunch and they put on a little slide show of my mission. It was very nice. 

 Anyways see you all in a few days 😬😬
Elder Tolman

The Restroration

 Hola a todos!

 This week I was pondering a lot on the apostasy and the restoration. There are so many examples of the apostasy in the bible, but people still don’t want to believe that the Church has been restored by Prophets. We stopped by one of our people on date, Third, and while we were talking about modern day Prophets his uncle came up trying to tell us the bible says there are no more prophets. It was sad and frustrating. It led me to think how I can help people understand better and then I remembered how others always ask me well if you didn’t grow up in the church then you wouldn’t be in the religion you are. I've always taken a little offense and then shared that I know for myself and that it has nothing to do with the fact that I was born in the Church but recently I have pondered more on that and I am so grateful I was! If I wasn’t taught by good parents at a young age what I needed to do to be happy and if they had never invited me to act on my own then I would have never received my own testimony. It is such a blessing! I would encourage you to think upon the mercies of God and the times that he has blessed you. Alma 5 has some really good questions of reflection! 

 So this week on Monday we went hiking with brother Peña. He was so funny. We went to the river and took a few pictures. 

 Tuesday, we had a few lessons. We tried meeting with Kayla but she wasn’t home. The same thing happened on Wednesday except we got to her house the same time she got home, and she ignored us so we got the idea she doesn't want to be baptized anymore. 

 Wednesday, we had a zone conference over zoom. I was sad because we couldn't go in person. Then we had a ton of errands to run before we went out to visit people. We taught Kassy and she is so funny. Wants to know so much and a lot of it is things about God that we don’t know. We call that deep doctrine. We had mutual and played kickball, but only Emilee came so that was sad. We still had a good time though.

 Thursday, we had district meeting. Elder Taylor's birthday was on Friday, so we were going to mordida him. As he was leaving the building, his companions were outside with a cake and last second, he limbo-ed under it! Elder Jordan and I were behind him too and had to dodge it. It made a big mess in the church and we told him he had to come clean it up. But we had a backup cake and he wasn’t expecting it so we got him good. Then later for our branch activity we watched the first vision and then painted our own interpretations of it. 

 Friday, we drove up to Zapata in the morning and did a blitz with the elders. I was with Elder Winward. We had a few good lessons. Some of them we had to drop because they weren't keeping commitments and then our last lesson was a family, they we’re teaching and we were planning on putting them on date. They had questions about baptizing little kids and we answered their questions, and we were about to set a date and the dad gets up and starts talking about a whole bunch of stuff. And long story short, goes oh by the way we are also members, you can look in your records. Sure enough they were already baptized so that was awkward. Lol

 Saturday, we had Carlos baptism and then after that we worked on some Facebook posts. We haven’t done a video in a while. Then we went to go out contacting but remembered we had to go find a receipt, so I was making calls while Elder Jordan was contacting. We got to one street and the first people we contacted seemed super cool. Then we got a phone call from a member that she was at the church to give us food super early. We were so sad we couldn't contact more, but the Lord blessed us with at least that one. We took the food to the sisters and ate in the back of our truck. Later we visited Kassy and she said she didn’t want to get baptized. Everyone was telling her she wasn’t ready. Including her brother who is already a member. But while he was there, we asked her to summarize the previous lesson. She did it with ease and her brother was super impressed and said never mind you already know more than I do. So, we were able to put her back on date.

 Sunday, we visited members all day long. Found out this one guy who comes almost every week isn't baptized so we are going to ask him this week. 

 Love you all!
Elder Tolman 

Last time at the Rio

Painting the Restoration

Hiking with Brother Pena

Michael got baptized!

 Hola a todo!

 I hope you all had a great week! I can’t believe it is already February! This week was a roller coaster full of ups and downs. 

 Monday, we started off the week teaching Rigo and we set a BD with him. But then for the rest of the week we never saw nor heard from him and every time we went over to his house or called, he wasn’t there or didn’t answer. We also stopped by a few recent converts and invited them to our activities. 

 Tuesday, we had meetings all morning. Later went out to visit a member taught her about patriarchal blessings. Then later the sisters were having some lessons at the church, so we had to be present for those. Afterward Michael asked Brother Peña to baptize him. So, we called Bro Peña to tell him and he answered saying don’t ask me to talk or nothing. We told him it wasn’t that and that Michael wanted him to baptize him. He gasped and yelled, "that's even worse" we knew he was excited though. 

 Wednesday, we mowed a lawn early in the morning and then helped at Casa de Esperanza. Then we prepared for our youth activity. It was a scavenger hunt. We had 4 youth show up which is a record for us. They are all super crazy and stayed at the church until 9 but we had a good time. We also went by Kayla. She is a girl we were teaching a long time ago but then she went to Mexico. She is back and we were able to put her on date for Feb 9!

 Thursday, we had District Council and then went to McAllen for my companion’s doctor appointment. We got back right before our Branch activity. Sister Babcock was able to help get us a virtual tour set up of Carthage Jail. We thought a lot more people would show up but not a lot did so that was sad. Also, our video system just decided to not work so we couldn't hear or see most of it. But I am so grateful for the sisters and their efforts because we had a recent convert and an investigator on date able to grow from watching it.

 Friday was just crazy. All I remember is that it didn't go as planned we found some members that we didn’t know before, we talked to a few people but weren't able to teach anyone until super late and when we went over they just talked and talked and talked and never let us share anything so we spent an hour of just listening. It was very sad and they said they felt the spirit telling them to listen to us but then they didn’t come to church so that was an emotional roller coaster in and of itself. 

 Saturday we were busy all in the morning again. Then we planned a training we have to give later on in the week. So, we didn’t get out to work until 4. We went by some people and none of them were home, so we just went to the baptism of Michael. We had a musical number and I had to give a talk last second because a member couldn't. We taught brother Peña how to baptize and it went super well! Then President Vélez took us to Chili's to eat. They sat us right under a speaker and were playing some really good music but President Vélez being older thinks the music is dumb and was mocking the younger generation and how they dance, and it was hilarious! We were with Brother Peña and Sister Langenstein also, so you know I was just laughing the whole time.

 Sunday Michael was confirmed. We had a church audit afterwards and so we were at the church until 3. We tried to go visit some people afterwards but like I mentioned earlier, people were being flaky. Third and Rigo who are on date didn’t come to church. Kayla said she couldn't because she was sick. So, she attended online church. Billy didn’t come just cause he didn’t feel like it even though he complained about flaky people because he sells insurance. And Billy cancelled our lesson! I was pretty grumpy. We went to Third’s and he just isn’t progressing. Doesn’t want to act on anything. At the end of the day, we went by Kayla’s because she wasn’t answering phone calls. She wasn’t home so we are thinking oh boy what a liar. Our only person on date that is willing to act is dodging us now. I was mad. But we found out she went to her cousin's house who also is a recent convert. We went to his house. Found Kayla and talked to her. We said she has to come to church and meet with us every day. We told her satan doesn’t want her to get baptized and she used the examples of her going to Mission and getting sick but then being fine later. So she knows and things were starting to look better. And then out came her other cousin and was asking a million questions and we would begin to answer one when she would spit out another. Long story short Cassy, her cousin, also wants to get baptized and we put her on date for March 7. The Lord is so merciful and so good! I may not be able to see the fruits of my labors from now on, but I count myself blessed to be able to at least plant the seed and have the privilege of working alongside my Savior. I know He lives and is the one who is the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and He directs His perfect work!

 I love you all! Have a great week!
Elder Tolman

Brother Pena

Exchanges!

 Hola a todos!

 This week was pretty busy. We had to do a few exchanges and so I was barely in our area! But we were still able to teach a lot of cool people!

 So, on Tuesday we had a meeting with some of the leaders in the mission. So, we had to drive to McAllen for that. That basically lasted all day.

 Then on Wednesday we had a zone meeting and then some people to visit. We taught this one family, and they had a lot of questions and weren't quite understanding well. In the end they did but it took over an hour to get through it. We rushed over to a member’s house. They are the 1st counselor in the branch presidency and relief society president. They are our strongest members but because they had COVID-19 we haven’t done much with them. We got some names of families to work with and they said they are going to work more diligently too! I’m so grateful for them. Then we had a lesson fall through and we were supposed to have a member present so instead we brought the member to someone else. We taught the restoration for the third time to him. Hopefully he understood it this time. Then we had mutual, but we had to leave early to do our first exchange.

 So, all day Thursday I was in Raymondville with Elder Allred. I missed being with him and we had a good time! We also set someone on BD! 

 Friday I was back in Rio, but we had to go to McAllen to get the state inspection for our car. They ended up changing tires and oil too so we didn’t get home until 5:30! That was not fun. We did a lot of Facebook and were supposed to have two lessons over Facebook, but they fell through. We went over to a guy named Sergio. Him and his wife came to church last week and we taught them the restoration. They had doubts about Joseph Smith and what they had read online, but we invited them to read and pray and so hopefully they get their answer. 

 Saturday I was in Roma. Back with Elder Taylor and Elder England. They are super good missionaries, just both super young in the mission so their Spanish is still progressing. But they had 2 people on date and while I was with them, we were able to put 1 more person on date. It was pretty exciting!

 Sunday, we had Frank come to church. He didn’t want to but we convinced him to come. So he might not be the most progressing person right now but we hope his attitude will change. Sergio and his family didn’t come which was sad. After church we ordained the sisters recent convert a deacon and then had a little meeting with the branch president. After that we ate lunch and planned our activities out for the month. Then visited some members. We were able to visit someone Elder Jordan had taught while I was gone his name is Rigo. We stopped by and his friends were over and talking about how they can never be happy, and they wouldn't believe us when we said they could. It was sad. But in the end, they left and we just talked to Rigo. He accepted to be baptized on February 13. We are excited for that!

 I hope you all had a great week. Remember God loves you and is always there for you. As we strive to follow the counsel of President Nelson to hear Him, then we will see so many more blessings and miracles in our life!

 Les quiero mucho!
Elder Tolman

Keeping busy!

 Hola a todos!

 This week has been good. I feel like we keep getting busier and busier every week that goes by. 

 I'm also now trying to remember everything we did this week, but I am drawing a blank. So, this email is gonna be a little short. 

 Tuesday, we had a lot of meetings. We also had an exchange with some Elders. Elder McGregor came to Rio with me and Elder Taylor. We taught a lot of restoration lessons. We had a return appointment with Third but we weren't able to finish because he had to go to the bathroom super bad jaja so we ended with a prayer and left. Sister Langenstein invited us over for dinner and we helped her set up her Roku and take down her Christmas tree. 

 Wednesday, we had a lot of return appointments and met some cool people. A lot of people seem really cool on the first contact but don’t keep commitments so that is sad to see. We played gospel Pictionary on Wednesday for our youth night. My team was winning and then we did last point wins and so we lost. 

 Thursday, we had a movie night and watched the new movie soul. It was a good movie and can relate a lot to the plan of salvation. 

 Friday night we started exchanges with the APs. I went to their area for the first time. We dropped off a missionary at the airport. He was going home and then we had a day contacting in the streets. Had some pretty cool lessons and got to give a lady a blessing. It was a good day. 

 Sunday, we had a family of three come to church! We were so excited. Slowly but surely our branch is growing. We had a member who was less active right before I got to Rio. My first week here was the first time the missionaries had been over there. He came to church in colored shirts. Then we started having him bless and pass the Sacrament, so he came in white shirts but never ties. And now he comes in a suit and tie! His sister is also now giving Come Follow Me classes. Our Relief Society president and first councilor are Covid free so now they are ready to get to work and help! We are excited for the coming weeks. We are also setting goals to work better on Facebook. We also met a guy on Sunday, and it was our first time talking to him. He committed to reading the book of Mormon and we even set a baptismal date with him. So hopefully Frank will continue to progress!

 Well, there are some highlights for you guys. Hope you have a great week!

 Elder Tolman

New Transfer

 Hola a todos!

 This week has been a bit wild and lasted an eternity, but looking back at it it passed by super fast.

 Monday, we went to a lookout over the Rio. Saw some people get picked up by the border patrol. 

 Tuesday, we went to McAllen to pick up Elder Taylor. There wasn’t too much happening in our zone transfer wise so we were able to get on the road again pretty quick. 

 Wednesday, we met with our new zone over zoom and got to know each other. Then later we just had a ton of lessons planned. A lot of them fell through. Then had dinner with a member named Sister Portillo. She showed us how to make tamales and then we ate Rosca. Which is sugar bread that has little baby Jesus hidden in it. Whoever got the baby had to make tamales and throw a party. Elder Taylor ended up getting it. Later we had our youth activity and we painted books of Mormon and wrote our testimonies in them. 

 Thursday, we ate with Elvira in the morning, she is such a sweet old lady. Then we went over to another member’s and helped her clean her house and put her things in boxes so she can move out. We were able to have a few more lessons that night. 

 Friday, we had MLC. That took up most of the day and then on our way back we called the other elders who live 20 minutes from us to see if we could do splits because we had lessons and branch work to do. So we made three different companionships. I stayed and did branch work and then a couple hours later we got a call from a member inviting us to eat at Chili's with them. So we got there as fast as we could. They joked that we said we will be there in 20 minutes and it only took us five which is an exaggeration, but we were hungry jaja. 

 Saturday the sisters baptized a guy named Christopher. Again, just a whole bunch of different lessons. Some over Facebook, others over a phone call and others in person. We met this guy named Third. We were trying to teach his sister’s family, but they always were "too busy".  We talked to him and shared about baptism. He asked how come we had never talked to him before and seems super excited to make a goal for baptism next lesson. 

 Sunday we again just ran around like crazy getting ready for church. We had 33 people there, the most ever! I confirmed Christopher. Then we had to do tithing, but a member forgot theirs, so we had to go to their house, and they live far away. Then we did tithing and finally were able to eat. Had some lessons and contacts on Facebook and then went to dinner with a member. After that we had a zoom meeting with all the branches before we were finally able to go home. It was super crazy and stressful. 

 Hope you all have a great week!
Elder Tolman

Happy New Year!

 Hola a todos y un feliz año nuevo! 

 It’s so crazy to think we are in 2021. I feel like just yesterday I was in Ecuador. That was almost a year ago! Crazy how time works. 

 This week we did a lot of contacting and it paid off. On Tuesday we had meetings in the morning until 2 and we were able to go out with a member and walk the streets for a few hours. She knew like everyone we talked to. It was pretty cool.  Later that night we had a lesson with 3 guys that all work together. They are all in different stages of what they believe in but were all willing to listen. We gave them a Book of Mormon each and they accepted the challenge to read from it and pray about it. 

 Wednesday we had service in the morning and then a meeting later on so we had little time to contact but talked to some good people. Then had dinner at a member’s house. We had our youth activity later and played some games. 

 Thursday, we went to eat with Elvira in the morning and then went to Walmart to find Martinelli’s. They didn’t have any! Then we went to some lessons. One was Raul. He is helping a buddy remodel his house, so we helped him out for a minute then shared a lesson. He asked a lot of questions. We had to be back in our house by 7 so we went to eat with a member and his family. They made tamales and menudo. For those of you who don’t know, menudo is cow stomach. Then at home we stayed up playing card games till 12 and celebrated New Year’s Ecuador style. 

 Friday, we had district council and then our mission Come Follow Me. After that we all went and got tacos. Then we had some lessons to go to. Invited a lot of people to church! Dad likes to pray for people so here are some names: Vicente, Doria, Juan, Juan, Beatriz, Isaura, Omar, Iram, Armando y fam, Yesenia, Yanelly, Albert, Lilly, Raul, Araceli and fam.

 Saturday, we helped Raul again and then taught him the Restoration. He takes too long to formulate his thoughts, so the lessons go way too long. Then we had lunch and a meeting and then a pass off lesson, but he left right as we pulled up. We ate at Subway with Sister Langestein and then started a Zone fast. 

 Sunday no investigators came to church but some members who haven't come in a while did. They shared their testimonies, and it was awesome. I have really grown to love them so much. We had a Come Follow Me over Zoom and then we went to a member’s house to give them the Sacrament and a blessing. They talked to us forever after. Then we called people from the church while we worked on some Facebook posts. It's been a while since we have done one. After that we had dinner with Anniah and Joe. It was a good way to end our fast. Their daughter was taking lots of pictures of us because she just learned how to use the camera on her mom's phone. 

 Oh I also forgot to mention we have transfers! Elder Jordan and I will be staying and receiving a new elder who will stay with us for a few weeks before going to his assigned area. His name is Elder Taylor. 

 Have a great week!
Elder Tolman