Week 41: "I just love being a missionary"

Hello all!

So after a rough one last week, this week was a lot better. We were still imprisoned in our house for the first few days, not allowed to leaving because we needed to be under complete resting situations to allow our bodies to defeat the dengue, but after more time for studying and joking around in the house, we were finally able to leave!

The weather in Hermosillo is starting to be really nice, actually. Given that many of you are now beginning to suffer through the bitter cold of winter, it is a little gratifying to know that I am in nice sunny weather as if it were a warm summer day in Seattle. So although the desert has its punishments in the summer, winter isn´t all that bad :) But there will definitely be no hopes for a white Christmas....

This week helped me realize that I just love being a missionary. Being stuck at the house, with nothing to do really sucks. I realized I would so much rather be outside in the streets talking to people and teaching them about the Gospel, than being lazy and just moping around the house. It also helped me realize the appreciation that I have for this Gospel. Since I am completely surrounded by it in the mission, it is easy to forget what a blessing this knowledge is. But after being deprived of sharing it for a week and a half, it was a helpful reminder to be happy for the privileges that are given to us.

A funny experience that we had this week. We left a lesson with an awesome family that we are teaching, and it was pretty dark outside. As we left, we passed a teenage looking kid in a full on suit looking sharp, but he wasn't wearing a tie. We said hi to each other as we passed, but nothing special. Then, as we were a few steps ahead of him, he yelled to us, "Hey, sorry to bother you, but would you guys know how to tie a tie? Ive got a date tonight..." We looked down at our ties, then back up at him and said, "Nope sorry man good luck." NO JK We were like "Yeah of course dude!" As we tied this kids tie for him, he invited us over to eat this week and said he would like to hear our message. What nice people you find in Mexico! Just a quick encounter with someone and he invites us over for lunch, and wants to be taught. That is why I love the people here, very humble and they make friends instantly.

This weeks quote is from the one and only Rachael Duncan, WHO'S BIRTHDAY IT IS TODAY!!!! MAKE SURE YOU WISH HER A FELIZ CUMPLEANOS!!!

"If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely."
Roald Dahl

Rachael must be thinking good thoughts everyday then!

Love you all, talk to you all next week!
Elder Bernal

Week 40: DENGUE

So this last week was pretty awful, and I will explain why. But I realize that I need to preface this message with a statement that EVERYTHING IS NOW FINE AND THERE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT MOM SO DONT GO AND BUY A TICKET TO HERMOSILLO TO COME MAKE SURE I Am OK. IT IS ALL GOOD.

Great. OK so, here is how it all happened. Tuesday morning, Elder Evans and I had to wake up early to go to a meeting in the mission offices. I wake up, jump out of my bed, and immediately notice that my head is not feeling to great. I don't think much of it, chug some water, and carry on getting ready. As we got to the meeting, it only started to get worse. What started out as a little headache, was now actually really starting to bug me. People were coming up to say hi and catch up, and I didn't want to talk to anyone I just wanted to go home and go to bed....

So finally after the meeting finished, that's what we did. I figured if I could just bust out a quick 30 minute power nap, I would be all good and we could get back to work. But the 30 minute power nap turned in to an hour and a half power outage in my body. I woke up feeling absolutely horrible. Other missionaries in our mission have reported having Dengue, so in fears of that being what it was, I figured we had better go to the hospital.

After HOURS of waiting and waiting for just 15 simple minutes of attention (how sad the medical administration is in Mexico, and that was supposed to be the Emergency Room...), they took a bit of blood and told me that I had contracted the Dengue virus! And in order to get better, I was going to have to stay in my house, without any reason for leaving, for 5 ENTIRE DAYS. ARE YA KIDDING ME.

It was like tortuRe. 5 days, in our tiny little house, not being allowed to leave, with nothing to do, not being able to go out and work. Ugh man it was awful. BUT, we made the most out of it and did a ton of studying and sleeping....

Finally after 5 days, I was set free. Only to find out that my companion has just now contracted Dengue. So, these have been a tough few days, frustrating to say the least. But hey, I got Dengue, that should be a fun story to tell..

Next week I hope to email you all with some more exciting and uplifting stories. For the meantime, pray for my compa so that he can get rid of the Dengue that I gave to him!!!!
Elder Bernal

Week 39: "Look for his blessings"

Hello all!

We had an awesome week. Working with your best friend makes things just so much easier, and a whole lot more fun. Elder Evans and I are too much alike, partially because I think he reminds me a lot of my best friends I had before the mission. The Lord spoils me with getting to know too many great people.

This week, I had the opportunity to see the Lord bless us in many little things, but in the exact right moment. One time we had an appointment cancel on us, and with nothing to do at that hour, we went over to the sidewalk and sat down. We decided to say a prayer to decide what to do, and, no lies, in the very instant that we were about to pray, a Woman poked her head out of her house, and invited us to her house without us even asking. She said she just felt like there was something important going on outside, so she went to go look! Are ya kidding? Proof that the Lord knows what we need before we even ask him (Matt 6:8). Then, when we were going to church on Sunday, our ride fell through, and we needed to walk, which meant that we were going to arrive fifteen minutes late at least. We started walking, and Elder Evans was like, "It would be so sweet if someone came up and gave us ride." And so, right on cue, a member passed by us and yelled, "Elders, hop in!"

I have learned in my mission, that the Lord wants to bless us, and is looking for ways to do so. The catch is that we need to be looking for his blessings, for many of them come in subtle ways, that can easily be passed over as coincidence. His omnipotent hand is more obvious in our lives than what we think, we just often don't have the confidence that it is actually Him. However, the more we strive to recognize his willingness and desire to help us, the more he will poor out the blessings and the more obvious they will be, because of our acknowledgement and gratitude to His forever extended hand.

A HUGE shout out to my favorite girls, Megan and Alyssa Jemley, and Elise Levesque, whose birthdays fall this week on the 4th and the 9th. HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU GUYS!! SENDING LOTS AND LOTS OF LOVE FROM MEXICO!!!!!!!

Talk to you all next week!
Elder Bernal

Week 38

Hello All,

Busy week. Barely had any time to write yesterday so we had to finish up today. 

I wanted to share a video with you guys that I saw this week, and I absolutely loved. Its is about a man who completely dedicated his life to serving God, and the sacrifices he made are incredible. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbWQKmoBcv4

Hope all is super well. Take care!

Elder Bernal