Monday, May 28, 2012
Elder Jordan Keele, May 28, 2012
My dear family, friends, and anyone else who happens to read this,
Last
Saturday was probably the happiest day of my mission so far. Going
through the temple with the Beltran family was absolutely amazing!
They´re such strong people, and I´ve learned more from their example
than
possibly any one else´s in my entire mission. I love them so much and
am so proud of them! Just to remind some of you about them, they had
consistently been going to church for about 7 years, but for government
and other legalization issues, they hadn´t been able to get married
civilly, and of course without that, they hadn´t been able to be
baptized. They used to live in a larger city, Pachuca, and in 5 years
had been the main source of over 30 other baptisms! A blessing that they
so much wanted but were unable to get at the time.
Well, a little over a year ago up in Molango, Elder
Castillo and Elder Lucas helped them with all the legal issues and were
finally able to work things out, get them married, and get them their
long awaited baptism. I got to Molango just 5 days after their
confirmation. Within weeks, I was honored with the privilege of
conferring Hno. David Beltran the Melchizedek priesthood. After about 5
months of officially being a member, he was called as the 2nd counselor
in the branch presidency. Only 2 months after that, his wife Clara was
called as the Relief Society president.
While up there, they lived between 2 and 3 hours away,
depending on the mudslides and rainfall. They maybe missed 1 or 2
Sundays in my 7 months there. They both have such strong testimonies and
such faith and devotion. It´s incredible.
Now that you know a little bit about them it just makes
this last Saturday so much more special. President Hicken had gotten
there early to do their final temple recommend interview, (acting as who
would be their Stake President in that case). We got a nice picture
just outside the temple with E. Castillo and me, Pres. and Sis. Hicken,
and the Familia Beltran. Their 23 year-old daughter is named Paola and
has down syndrome. Due to some other unexpected legal issues, Paola was
unable to enter to be sealed to her parents, but the missionaries are
going to work things out so that hopefully in a couple months they can
return and have her sealed as well.
The 2nd Counselor of the temple presidency, Pres. José
Jiménez B. performed the sealing. It was so special. Tears were at the
edge of my eyeballs ready to fall out, but I was able to keep them up
there ha ha. Bro. and Sis. Beltran though had a hard time with that. It
was such a blessing to see some of the other branch members and be with my
great friend, Elder Castillo.
While we were waiting for the bride and groom to enter
in the sealing room, I think there was another little earthquake. The
chandelier was ringing and the floor started rumbling, and then the
famous
words from Joseph Smith came into my head, "No unhallowed hand can stop
the work from progressing...".
The Molangan missionaries explained to us that Don
Chucho, the dueño of the house we lived in up there, finally got baptized last week!
Wahoo! I love that place with all my heart and can´t wait to hopefully
take some of you back there sometime.
There´s so much I wish I could tell you, but just don´t
have the time, (and I´m sure you don´t either :) ). But, I´m sure we´ll
have some nice chit-chats here in the not so distant future.
Bert, congratulations! I´m proud of you and your family.
I
would love to sing in that choir! I´m sure if we let Linda know in
advance they can work things out over there... I hope :) But if it´s ok
with Linda, then sign me up! I do like the beach boys, that´d be great!
We have a lot of work to do still. On Wednesday, as we
were told just this morning, we´ll be in a trio because there are a few
Guatemalans that are coming in. Don´t worry, even if I wanted to I can´t
"die" early because we´ll be with a greenie, and I need to be a good
example for him. I´m actually pleased with that news. It should be a
good week and a half with him.
Thanks to all for reading this looong e-mail, just hope
it was worth your time :) I love you all and hope you have another
wonderful week!
Hasta la próxima carta! (y última :..( )
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Elder Jordan Keele, May 21, 2012
Amada Familia Keele,
Yahoo!! Justine was finally baptized yesterday! Although we ran
through some bumps along the way, she ended up getting baptized anyways.
Meaning that during the second hour we realized that the baptismal font
wasn´t filling up because the church ran out of water... so we tried to
hurry and find a place where she could quickly be baptized. We checked
with the local pool place at what would be the recreation center here,
and they were willing to have us do it there! (I kind of had to guilt
trip them though saying that if this person wasn´t baptized she wouldn´t
be able to come unto Christ ha ha). But as it turns out that wasn´t
necessary because the font at the stake center was already full cause
the elders there had a baptism too that morning. So we just all went
over there (like a 10 minute drive... not too bad). It was a great
service.
We´re praying and working hard for another miracle baptism to
happen this week. Joel and his grandma Magdalena are on the verge of
deciding to do it on Wednesday. They just need a little push and it´ll
happen. It truly is a great joy to work with them!
Ha ha I´m sure Louene and Angela both are happy it was a girl! Ha ha funny funny
I love that phrase "Converted to the Lord". When I first read that
about 6 months ago it really stood out to me. Like you said, it´s not
enough to be converted to the church, but to the Lord. After that it
repeats that phrase many times in the Book of Mormon, but not once does
it say converted to the church. That would make a great talk topic.
Today I had the opportunity to meet up with Elders Castillo and
Falslev (my best friends from the MTC, Elder Castillo was my companion
for a time up in Molango), and we went to visit the pyramids in
Teotihuacán for the last time. We were fortunate enough to buy a few
little gifts and souveniers, so all my worrying about that is done.
Elder Castillo and I were told that the Beltran family should be
entering the temple this Saturday. Also I got in contact with José
Contreras, (the one who called you about a year ago :) ), and he´s
apparently preparing for the temple as well. I hope he can before I
leave, but either way I´m super happy for him.
Thanks to everyone for everything. Every prayer in my behalf is
truly appreciated and is a strong motivation for me knowing that so many
are caring for me from so far away. Have a great week!
Love,
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Elder Jordan Keele, May 14, 2012
My dearest family,
Words can´t express how much I miss and love each one of you. What a
privilege it was to speak and see you all yesterday. Thanks for all
being there! The sloppy joes were delicious, along with the jell-o,
onion rings and fry sauce. I love America!
I´m almost positive I remember Mrs. I. . How cool that you got to
see her again doing the Lords work! What a good experience to remind us
to always be nice to people. We never know who´ll end up needing it the
most.
We have been having success, and I´m so grateful for it. It always
makes things feel a little bit smoother. It´s a blessing in so many
different ways to be the Lord's servant, and it´s something I wish
everyone could experience.
I love all of you and sincerely hope you all continue to stay in good health. Time continues to fly.
Elder Jordan Keele
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Elder Jordan Keele, May 7, 2012
Mom and all others,
I´m super excited to work at the SCERA again. I told
Linda that I just felt like it was the right place for me to be
afterwards. I honestly loved it. It´s a great environment, and I feel
like it would be a great opportunity to make a difference in some of the
young volunteers lives. I´m happy to hear that she´s counting on me!
Lots of meetings again this past
week, and lots of things to do. It´s good to keep busy as long as we´re
keeping busy doing what´s right. I´ve had a great week and have really
come closer to my companion in the past few days. He´s a great
missionary and I´ve been able to learn a lot from him. We continue to
progress everyday and are blessed to be helping others along the way as
well.
I was told that the Beltran family will be entering
the temple on the 26th of this month. I´m looking forward to reuniting
with the Molangan branch. I just hope most of them can come. I should be
going home on time then, so no worries about that.
Last week we went to a kid-museum, a technology museum in the
bosque de chapultepec. It´s south of where I´m at right now. Everything
else, (except for the roller-coaster fair), was closed. I wanted to go
to the roller coasters, but of course, we couldn´t. That´s all right. We
had a fun time. Then we made a quick stop to the Zocalo and saw
thousands of people flying kites there. It was pretty neat.
Elder Hoover and I have been really blessed with
some "miracle people" who magically show up to sacrament meeting the
past few weeks. We´re currently working with an 18 year-old daughter of a
convert family that was baptized about 6 years ago. Justine, (the 18
year-old daughter), was formerly a bit rebellious and has never even
wanted to go to church. Well, she´s come two weeks straight and we´re
hoping that her baptism will happen if not this weekend, then soon.
Wow, Steph, I´m so super proud of you! Eres una campeona! On and off the field :) Congrats on the wins!
Wow, Steph, I´m so super proud of you! Eres una campeona! On and off the field :) Congrats on the wins!
About
Sunday, I´m just going to say 6:00 my time will work out well. I´m
sorry I
don´t know what that is your time. I think 5:00? Anyways, I´ll probably
be using an account of Jodene Paulsen, so if you see her, be sure to
accept the call! If there are any issues, I can probably just use her
"Magic Jack" to call and make sure all is set up right. So we´ll be in
touch. I love you all and can´t wait to see you on Sunday! If you can't
work it out with Derek, no worries. It would be neat to see
him for a few minutes, but maybe it´d be best not to be as hectic as
last time. But
either way I'll be happy to see you! Nos vemos el Domingo! 6:00!
Elder Jordan Keele
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Elder Jordan Keele, Apr. 30, 2012
Mom,
I know we're late, but I figured it'd
be better to let you know that I'm safe and sound here in Mexico City.
We had an extremely busy day, partly because we had been invited to go
to Chapultepec by a member, and with permission from Pres. Hicken, we
were able to go and have a good time. Then after we got back we were
busy with some appointments and changes and things, so, yeah. That's why
I'm late.
Maybe you could
look of the food "flautas"... essentially taquitos but with sour cream
and lettuce and aguacate. It's really good. Great thinking!
I'm sorry I haven't thought of a time for skype... probably like 6:00 my time if that's alright.
I
promise you I'm trying to be as obedient as possible. I know you would
rather have me say that than I've baptized 5,000 people in my mission ha
ha. I'm trying. I love this work and there's nothing I'd rather do.
I love you mom, I want you to know and to feel that.
We need to be a light of positivity to all around us. Thank you. Have a
great week!
Elder Jordan Keele
Elder Jordan Keele, April 23, 2012
NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
The secretaries mailed me a form that I have to
fill out titled "Go home info". Yeah, that was real nice of them! ha ha
I'm not worried about it though. We're still doing well here and just
as it hadn't hit me that I was going on a mission until the day I entered
the MTC, I'm sure it won't hit me that I'm going home until I get
there... at least I hope that's what'll happen.
Other than that we had a great week. We've been
"hanging out" I guess you could call it, with Jeff Thomson who is
studying at BYU right now. He married a girl from this ward, and they're
here in town visiting her family. Jeff came with us to play soccer with
another zone this morning, followed by some delicious Carnitas with his
Father-in-law who really knows how to cook. I LOVE TACOS! Cynthia,
Jeff's wife, cuts hair in Provo and gives scalp massages. I told her I'd
totally go have her practice on me! ha ha free stuff!
That was nice of you, and of Derek to write his trainer. I'm sure they're getting along great, just as they should be.
Another long Utah story: Sis. Jodine Paulsen,
from Saratoga Springs, UT has offered for us to use her computer to skype
home. She married a Mexican and they are here living for VISA issues of her
husband. Once they get it they're heading up to live in the states. I'm
sure we'll probably skype later in the afternoon on Sunday. I agree also
with the separate skype thing. It got a little complicated last time.
Steph, I knew you'd be great at track! Congratulations! I'm proud that you stuck with it. Good luck at Alpine days!
Nathan... I don't have anything to say to you ha ha.
The Stake Aragón is where the temple is. We go
to that building all the time... in fact, we're going again tonight to
drop off some pouch stuff. I haven't served in that stake, but I guess
you could say I know it pretty well. At least some parts of it.
Thanks again for all that is done for me. Do as
EL DEReKEELE says: read and pray, every day, and just be a happy people
:) I guess you could say that's my advice for today. Love and hugs! (No
kisses though, because I still can't do that yet ha ha jk).
Elder Jordan Keele
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