October 22, 2012- LOVE

Hello family!

This week I learned a Little something about sacrifice. We met with a member who has been having many difficulties with her husband, raising her son, finding means of supplying for the family etc. Despite all that has been going on her life at the moment she invited us to visit a nearby less active teen and her nonmember mother. Together we made a visit to see how they are doing, if we could be of any help, and to invite them to Church. Our visit was brief but I felt the Spirit. The family came to church the following Sunday and I learned a valuable lesson. The member who is in the midst of hardship and could have easily found excuses not to make a visit to her neighbor, reached out in love and did what she could to help this family in the Gospel. Her faith and determination to do what is right is an inspiration to me and a great motivator.

Another investigator attended church and although hesitant as first, began to open up and communicate during the classes. In my eyes his participation is a step closer to Christ, to gaining faith and moving forward towards a more Gospel centered life. His desire to learn and follow Christ has inspired me.
I am so grateful for this wonderful day, my wonderful family, and the wonderful people that I am getting to know here in Mexico.

I love you all,

Elder Peine

The church in Macuspana (an hour from the branch here)

Patricia and Maria Ugenia

 Manuel

October 15, 2012- Be Strong and of Good Courage

Thanks for sending me letters! I love hearing about Hawaii and how you are all doing! Keep up the good work!

There were changes yesterday but it turns out the my companion and I are both staying, which I'm fine with.


This week we went to a members house to teach her sister and when we asked her sister why she wanted to learn more about the Gospel she said because I want to be like my sister who is calm and happy. I am grateful for the good influence of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the power to change and the power of forgiveness.

 I am so grateful to me a missionary and do be able to see the Gospel taking part in the lives of so many people. The members are strong and have to support a lot considering not many of their neighbors or family members are members. My heart has been touched as I have heard the testimonies of these loving people. They are pioneers in there families, the first to accept the Restored Gospel. I have been thinking about the early pioneers and how they had to be so firm and so sure of what it was they were doing, to be able to leave everything behind and head out to an unknown territory to start a new life. What courage! What strength!

 I pray for you all and love you very much. I hope we can have the strength, hope, faith such as that of our ancestors had. Thank you for the support, have a fantastic week!

Love.

Elder Peine

Villahermosa

District

David (future missionary)

October 8, 2012- Joy

I hope that everyone had a wonderful conference weekend!

On Friday afternoon we held a baptismal service for Rodolfo. It was a special service and I feel very grateful that I could have been a part of it. Many members of the branch came to support him and his family just got bigger. He came to General conference and it was a great joy to be seated next to him as we listened to the words of the apostles and prophets.

So much has been happening I really don’t know where to start or how to begin and now I don’t have much time. But I just want to say how grateful I am to have been born in a time where we have a living prophet and where we can be guided. I think it is such a blessing, one that I have certainly taken for granted. I am grateful for the missionaries and for the mission work. I know that this is the work of the Lord. I am grateful for my parents who have raised me and helped me grow in the path. I think of my ancestors (whom now more than ever I want to learn about) and the lives they lived to provide me the opportunity to be here. I like what Ann M Dibb said, I’m a Mormon, I know it, I live it, and I love it! I feel the same way and am happy to share it. I have to go but I hope you all have a fabulous week, I love each and every one of you and hope you know that I care about your well being, even if I’m not the best letter writer or birthday remember.


Thank you for all of your love and support.


Love,
Elder Peine

Baptism of Rodolfo!

Baptism of Rodolfo!

Baptism of Rodolfo!

Sunrise

October 1, 2012- Temple Blessings

Hey family!

How have you all been doing? I hope that things have been going well and that your all have a terrible amount of success in all that you do. Things have been going well down here in Mexico and to start I would like to share about our trip to the temple.


Saturday we left bright and early at 4am for Villahermosa and the branch enjoyed a wonder day in the Temple. It was a wonderful experience, especially as we had the opportunity to accompany a future missionary we went through for his first endowment session.


Sunday morning was testimony meeting and everyone bore their testimony of the temple and how wonderful their experience had been. An investigator, a 70 year old, also stood up to bear his testimony, he commented how he has felt very alone in his life but also how grateful he feels that the members have been helping him. He also shared his desire to be baptized! A 15 year old girl then stood up and spoke directly to him testifying the he is never alone, that God is with him and that everyone has a purpose in life and no one is useless in His eyes.


Also, the Saturday night as we were walking in the streets, exhausted, we saw a shooting star, something that my companion had never seen before. This small blessing of God gave us the desire to press on and keep working. I know the Lord loves me very much and has granted me this grand opportunity to teach his Gospel. I know that the Church is true and that this is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all so very much and am grateful for your love and support.


Love,
Elder Peine

Temple

The branch!

Brother Luna

Temple

September 24, 2012- Great day in the nieghborho​od

Hey family!


What a great day in the neighborhood! (as mom always says). It truly is a great day. I just feel happy and good to be alive. Thank you all for helping me through your prayers, letters, and photos.
I am doing well doing here in city of Pemex. The branch is progressing. We will be headed to the temple this Saturday and we have 30 scheduled to go, which is a pretty good number considering only about 40 show up on Sunday. I thrilled to be able to go with these members and visit the House of the Lord. We have had several interesting lessons this week and have enjoyed teaching the gospel to as many people the Lord puts in our path. I have been teaching Sunday School and have enjoyed preparing for the Sunday lessons each week. I have now been in an area with a ward, an area with two wards, and now a branch. I think of the Cyprus branch and the Karen tribe branch (basically ward) and am happy to be in yet another small but precious area of the world where the Saints are gathering.


Dad, may the Lord be with you as always as you assume your new calling. I love you so much. Mom, I love you much more than 50 planets. You are all wonderful and I pray for you always (Moroni 8:3).


Love,
Elder Peine

Mexican tradition, cake in the face if its your birhday!

Elder Flores and I

When the camera moved as we tried to do self timer. haha