Week 21: "The country is going through an emotional depression"

Hello everyone!

This will be another short letter because the country is currently going through an emotional depression. Mexico lost in the World cup, the only thing that seemed to matter for the last two weeks, and as a result, we have to go cheer them up with a very important message.

Apart from this travesty, it was a really good week. Went by super fast too. Two nights this week, we had an activity at the church where we brought like 20 muchachos to the small court we have and we played soccer! It was soooo sooo fun, and we played for hours each time. The kids seemed to have a blast, a few of them came to church with us on Sunday as well! Also made me realize that I am so bad at soccer. Some of the 11 year olds just smoked me.

I figure that while I am here in Mexico, I might as well just start up a couple businesses of my own right? So in addition to the Mechanic shop that I sent home in the other photo, I have opened my own Papeleria, or a paper store, where I will be making copies of the Book of Mormon and other important gospel readings for all, free of charge. Already put the sign up and everything. Come check it out


Love you all! The Church is true!
Elder Bernal

Week 20

Hello all!

The world cup here is nuts. You don`t even have to watch to know what is going on. Everybody knows the latest scores and it causes lots of conversation. You also know that Mexico is playing because there is nobody in the streets. And then all of the sudden, the city will just erupt and everyone will scream and people go crazy and just like that, Mexico scores again.

Pretty good week this week. Here are some highlights:

1. In a visit with one of the members here, she was telling us how she has been going through a rough time, and that there are just a lot of challenges that she has to face right now. We shared a couple scriptures and tried to cheer her up and give her some advice and remind her that God loves her, but she responded to us with something that really stuck with me. She said, "Don't worry Elders. I know that God still loves me. I know he loves me because he gives me challenges. If he didn`t, I would be worried that he had forgotten about me." Wow. Humble perspective huh? I know God loves me because he gives me challenges? Well geez Lady what are we doing trying to give you advice, you got it all figured out.Cool huh. Job 5:17 Happy is he whom the Lord correcteh, therefore, despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.

2. There's tons of stray dogs in Mexico, and lots of them have babies. We found out that one mother dog had her puppies right by our house, and one night when we were just getting home, they heard our footsteps and like 7 of these tiny little precious puppies just jumped out of nowhere, ran up to us and started playing with our feet. It was so awesome. It was was like puppy therapy but genuine because they obviously wanted to hang out with us because they came to us, and weren't force to be there like they do on college campuses. nice.

3. We have been teaching a family in which the mother has cancer. She has been going through Chemo for the last two years, and isn't doing too well. I don't know if its because of Grandma Arlene or because of everything I did with Relay for Life, but for some reason I just feel so close to this Mother. I really feel for her family and want to do everything possible to help them. In a lesson that we taught them, the spirit was extremely strong, as if you could reach out and grab it. We asked the mother, Augustina to say the prayer to finish. I practically broke down at the words that left her mouth. She prayed for all the sick in the world. She prayed for all her family, and she prayed for us. She told God that she didn't know when it would be "her time," but that she trusted in him that all would work out. Nearly crying at the end, I thought of the Plan of Salvation. I felt comfort in knowing that she had put her trust in the right place, and that all would work out according God`s will. Whether it be in the near or distant future, she will one day be free from all her troubles, where she will see and live with each one of her beloved family members in His divine presence.

Love you all, hope all is well!
Elder Bernal

Week 19: "Best week so far!"

HEY GUYS!

Alright so this week was awesome. Just so awesome. BECAUSE ONE OF OUR INVESTIGATORS NAMED SOFIA GOT BAPTIZED!!!!! We have been visiting her and her Mom for a little over a month now, and this Saturday we had the blessing of being able to baptize Sofi. Her Mom is still working through some bumps to get there, but its all good because I am going to be staying in Guaymas for another 6 weeks so I am hoping to see her enter the waters of baptism as well. ANYWAY, this was my first baptism of the mission, and it was absolutely incredible. Sofi had asked me to be the one to baptize her, and it was so incredible because she is such a sweet and precious little girl with such a high spirit, and I was so happy to be able to help her take this special step in getting to know her Father in heaven. At the baptismal service, as we entered the water together, I dont know if I have ever had a bigger smile on my face. Sofi was excited, her family was there to see her, and it was all just so awesome. So happy for her and her family, and I know that this decision is going to bless their lives. Some pictures attached below!

A funny little experience that I also wanted to share with you guys. This week Elder Bake and I were doing a service project for one of our neighbors, painting their house white to block the sun a little more. We came back to the house around noonish. Now normally, we always shower and get ready and all that in the morning around 7, but today we did it at noon, after the sun had already been up for a while. SO that meant that for the first time in 4 months, I took a warm shower, because the sun had warmed up our water tank. And may I just say that it was heavenly. But after just a minute or so, I had gotten used to the hot water, and practically forgot what it was like to not have it. The excitement of this hot water, which I had not felt in four months, began to fade in just a brief moment. I stepped out of the shower really quick to grab shampoo, and as I felt the water hit my face again, the warm water instantly brought back those feelings of excitement I had felt just a moment before. In that moment I realized something. Why did the water all of a sudden feel warmer than just a second ago? Why does it feel new? It wasn´t the water that had changed, but my attitude. Even though I had not felt warm water in four months, my appreciation for that water had faded in just a little more than a minute, and I no longer thought it was "that great". But when I left and got back in, I was like "Woah, this really is that good!" What changed, was my perspective of the situation.

How many times do we find ourselves doing this, not only in the shower, but also in our lives? How often do we become accustomed to all the little blessings that we have before been deprived of, but once we have them we forget their importance and take them for granted? Even something as small as a warm shower, or a comfy bed? Brother and Sisters, I would once again like to encourage you to be grateful of all the little blessings we have in our lives. As President Uchtdorf said in his talk this past conference, We should not be grateful for things, but rather be grateful in our circumstances, whatever they may be.

Do not get used to the warm water. Do not get used to the little blessings. If we can only remember what it was like without all these little graces that God gives us, then we can always remember to be happy, regardless of what is going around us.

Life was even better this week, and it just keeps getting better. Take it easy!
Elder Bernal

Week 18: "Life is good!"

Hello Everyone!

Mark the day, Thursday May 29th, Guaymas Sonora just cranked up the heat. Before the Thursday, it was like ok, right? Definitely hot, humid, but like not too bad. you just get used to it. but then Wednesday came and it was all super cloudy and also very humid. It looked like it was going to rain, never did obvi, but just super humid right. So the next day, THE Thursday, it was a nightmare. All of a sudden, it was like yesterday was just a tease with all the clouds and now the real heat was coming... like the calm before the storm.... so basically, ever since then, it has been HOT. Non stop sweating, and its a little gross but hey, hay que trabajar en la obra del Senor, no?

The week was great overall. We brought two awesome families to church with us. Two of the kids were begging us to come visit them every day of the week, and nearly jumped out of the chairs at the invitation to come to church. The other family is super cool too, and invited us to celebrate their daughters 8th birthday. We went, duh, had some fun, ate some cake, had a sleep over, pillow fight, you know how it is. And then we all went to church the next day! It is so happy to see families all together in the church. What greater blessing and foundation can they have in their lives than that?

Another side note, Mangos are maybe the greatest thing ever. I cannot believe that I have lived nearly 20 years without ever eating and experiencing this beautiful opportunity. If you have not had this tremendous pleasure, you have not yet lived. The joy of the juicy fruit as it hits your lips, can only be surpassed by the feeling when you realize that you still have another one in the fridge. So go eat a mango.

Cool quote for the week, "Of all the words of mouth and pen, the saddest of these is, ´it might have been´" Don't let yourself say that. Instead go do it, and then say "That was so awesome."

This is the last week left in this transfer. I am hearing rumors that I might be transferred out of Guaymas, which means I would be leaving to another Area in Sonora, and also be leaving the first area of my mission! Next Monday I might be writing you from another location!

Life is good! Cuidense!
Elder Bernal

Week 17

Hello hello!

So this week went by really fast ironically, since last week was rather slow. Unfortunately, I also don't have too much time to write cause we have a busy day, so I just wanted to share a quick experience and a cool video that I saw this week.


We taught one family that is very christian, very kind, and had an incredible experience. After teaching them about Prophets and the Restoration of The Gospel, we invited them as with everyone to go directly to the source of all truth, even God himself, and ask if the things that we had spoken were true. My companion and I felt prompted to invite them to prayer in that exact moment. We all got down on our knees, and had Juana say the prayer, asking in specific if the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was true. During the prayer, that indescribable feeling overcame me. As Juana finished, my companion asked her how she felt, and what she thought. She responded that she felt it was all true, because of the spirit she had felt since the moment we had entered the house, and strongest in the moment when she began her prayer. With the biggest smiles on our faces, we confirmed her belief with our testimonies and assurity that this is the restored church of the Lord Jesus Christ. We left the house still smiling.

Here is the video, its only about 3 minutes so give it a look!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr8xvw0cgw0

Have a great week!
Elder Bernal

Week 16: "Keep laughing"

What's up everyone?

Alright so I will be straight honest and just say that this seemed like a long week. Now that its over, it seems fast, as does just about everything, but honestly this one was a tough one. A tough one with the language, a tough one with the work, and lots and lots of chastenings. But as we all read from earlier, "despise not thou the chastenings of the Almighty" am I right am I right?

As my brother has helped me learn, some of the best remedies to anything tough is to just Keep Laughing. SO, this week, something funny happened with my Spanish when we were in a lesson. One lady was asking about who Joseph Smith was and if we prayed to him and such. As we explained that Joseph smith was a prophet like all the rest that God has called, I then asked her, a catholic, "Tu oras a la papa?" What I was trying to get across was that does she as a catholic, pray directly to the pope? But in Spanish, the word Pope is EL Papa, NOT LA Papa. So what I actually said was Do you pray to the potato? And let me tell you this lady DIED i mean she would not stop laughing. Like literally, we had to stop the lesson and just finish there because she just thought it was that funny. So even though they just ripped me apart for not being able to speak Spanish, it still got some good laughs.

Passing through an interesting time in the mission. Lots of work with lots of people, and lots and lots of lessons to learn. But the people here continue to be so nice and loving, always willing to lend a helping hand to strangers. Always brings a smile.

Attached are some photos of me and a few of the Elders here! Elder Bake is my companion and he is the tall one, awesome awesome guy. And in case you are wondering, yes, all of these pictures are absolutely candid and real...

Have a great week! Keep Laughing!
Elder Bernal

Week 15: "Get up and win the race"

Feliz Dia de Las Madres!!

To Kristen and Rosy, my beloved mothers, I publicly express my love and gratitude for you in my life. Thank you so much for all you do and know that your son sends his love all the way from Mexico! 

Once again, another killer week. I cant keep up with all the blessings and miracles that happened this week but things are just going awesome. One thing that really sticks out to me is how kind and polite the families here are. So many families here will drag us into their house and beg to let them give us food or water or anything just to be courteous. Good thing too because I'm always hungry and can never get enough of the carne asada. Its almost becoming a problem.

Speaking of Mothers Day, I got to talk with the rest of the family! So great to see you guys and hear your voices!

On a spiritual note, we had one lesson this week that was very special. We met this one man and his wife who were super cool, and the husband was telling us about how how really wanted to turn his life around and had always admired the standards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We met them one evening, taught a lesson, and invited them to make the change in their lives, accept the gospel, and be baptized. The husband accepted almost instantly, without a single doubt, but his wife was a little hesitant. As she explained why, she broke down into tears and realized that the reason she was feeling that way is because she was scared, but in that moment realized it was the right thing to do. Upon the second invitation, she accepted. Her husband closed with a prayer, and gave thanks that the elders came to help change their lives. When we opened our eyes, his wife was still in tears because of how powerful she felt the Holy Ghost. It is moments like these that me so happy to be doing what I´m doing, and to be a missionary for the Lord. To be able to bring happiness to the lives of others watch it all happen is an incredible, incredible thing.

Lastly, my companion says he hears me talk in my sleep, so one night he woke and up and wrote down all the things I said. Its kind of long but I wanted to share it with you.

So in reality, my cmpanion showed me this poem and I thought it was awesome, and that it was something that we all might like to hear. Just like the scripture I shared last week, we will all have challenges, struggles, but they only make us stronger. No single person in the history of the world ever lived a life without falling. In fact, those that were successful and reached their potential probably failed countless times. But what separates the two is those who decide to get up. We are all here participating in the race of life, but the catch is there is no finish line, no first place, no competition amongst others. It is a journey between us and our Father in Heaven. The way we will know if we have won first place, is if we always "get up, and win the race."

Have a great week everyone! Run hard!

Elder Bernal

P.S. Check out this weeks adventures!