One Last Time (Week 101)

      My last letter, can you believe it!? This week was a good one! Cecilia Baron Arroyo was baptized and man she is very special. She has been so excited in the church and has gone to everything! This week she presented us to a friend and has told us that she is talking to everyone about us haha. We are trying to teach her to read now, haha. She is really receptive to the spirit and is always telling us how she feels. We did a family night as a district zone on Friday and that was very cool as well. And yesterday we went to the temple as a zone! It was very cool to see the lights and everything. Man I love the temple! So it was a good last Sunday on the mission. I also gave a talk! And this Sunday is my homecoming at 11.

                

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

       Well… my time it has come to a close. These 2 years really have been a life changer. I have learned so much. I am so grateful for the time that I have had to represent the Lord. These are times I will never forget. My testimony has grown so much. I really have grown to love the gospel more than ever and to know my Savior as he knows me. Coming on the mission was not an easy decision for me, but I am so grateful that I could complete my duty and give this time to the Lord. I have learned to do what the Lord wants of me and to submit myself in his will. I have learned that that is the way to being happy. I have strived to develop Christlike attributes and have seen great changes in myself. I have been focused on working diligently to help the children of God return to His presence and find the same happiness that I find in the gospel. And I have looked to test my faith by doing things that seem impossible or difficult. I have seen the Lord's hand helping me to accomplish my goals and doing his work. I came on a mission to repay the Lord for all the blessings He has given me and I ended being more in debt to Him. He love us so much that He will always bless us. I cant wait to someday be in His presence and give Him a big hug thanking Him for all the opportunities that He gave to me here in this life. The mission wasn’t easy, but it sure was worth it! I am excited to be able to apply everything that I have learned on the mission in the real world and start the next chapter of my life. We will see you on Sunday!

                

Con muchismio amor, (por la ultima vez) Elder Herman

Last Baptism

Mexico City Temple

Mexico City Temple

Teotihuacan (Week 100)

Elder Herman at Teotihuacan

      Sorry I didn't write yesterday, I was in Teotihuacan and man that place is sweet! We had a tour guide that's a member and he gave us the tour using the Book of Mormon and history of Mexico and man it's nuts! I learned a ton! And the cool thing is that they are still finding things, and more evidence of the Book of Mormon is coming out! But the pyramids are really cool! I want to go back someday! And we had an activity on Sunday night in Tepotzotlan and gave away hot chocolate and man it was great! We talked to a lot of people and had them write what Christmas means for them. And Cecilia came with us and man she is so awesome! She has a good testimony already and she will be baptized this week! Before, she hated her husband, but now everything has changed and she says that in the house with all of her family it has been better, and she is just seeing the miracles of the living the góspel! And she is sharing the góspel too!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      The power of living the góspel is so strong! I have loved being able to help people come unto Christ and see the difference in their lives. These last 2 months I have seen people change sooo much and they are so happy and you can notice it, that is the coolest part! God is so good and sent us His Son to teach us the way to get back to Him. Christ is the perfect example and He has told us His doctrine and we know what we need to do to live with Him forever. Now we just have to live it and share it with others! Reading the Book of Mormon reminds me of how perfect His plan is! Our Father in Heaven is so loving and has given us everything that we need to be happy in this life and in the life to come for eternity! I love this góspel so much and I love sharing it also! I hope we can all be grateful for the birth of Jesus Christ in this Christmas season and live His góspel that He has taught us! I love you all!

Con Amor, Elder Herman

Lighting the World!

The missionaries that are finishing their missions
and will be going home next week.

It's Not Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Week 99)

Santa & Elder Herman

      Good week in the work of the Lord. We celebrated Navidad on Wednesday with our devotional. It was great! President really went all out, haha, he dressed up as Santa! And we did the birth of Jesus Christ so that was fun too. I was an angel and the star, haha. On Saturday we did a little activity to find people in a Pueblo Magico and there were a lot of people and we had a lot of success! I love Christmas we all need mas Christ!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

       Well we had our Christmas devotional and it was really cool. As this Christmas season is starting we have been planning a lot of activities and I just love this time of year! But I love the fact that I can be a representative of Jesus Christ this month. It’s a month were we remember even more our Savior. We celebrate the fulfillment of all of the prophecies of a Messiah and Redeemer. It is also a month of service to others, and like the initiative Light the World, we must give as he gave. Last week was Light the World and now this weeks is Light the Community. I hope we can all look for ways everyday to serve our neighbors and city. I love watching the videos of Light the World they fill me with love and joy, and when I am the one serving I am filled with even more joy! I love this time and I love serving. I hope you have a great week full of happiness and service to others!

Con Amor, Elder Herman

The Good Life (Week 98)

      Another great week in the work. We started off Light the World with a service activity as a mission. It was great! I love Christmas time and I am very grateful I am a missionary during this time. We only have one investigator progressing right now and its Cecilia, the wife of Jose Luis. She is still really excited to get baptized and still talks about how she felt when she saw her husband get baptized. We are working a lot with the zone so we can have more success. Now that they split our zone we are only one district and it’s the one district that struggles a lot, but we are going to see what we can do. This week we saw a lot of improvement so we are hoping that that keeps up.

 Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      Well this week I have been thinking a lot about forgiveness. As I have been thinking I have decided that it is key to have a good relationship with other people. Our Savior is the best example of forgiveness. As he was being crucified and mocked he said “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” If we could learn to forgive everyone quickly we would have more love and patience for others. Forgiveness is also an essential part of our life here on earth. We must repent and be forgiven of our sins by our Father, but if we do not forgive others we will not be forgiven of ours sins by the Father. “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14 and 15. Let us be quick to forgive so that we can live a life without burdens and anger. Jesus suffered for every one of our sins, making it possible to be forgiven. We must understand that and accept the atonement in our lives and understand that others can also change and be forgiven. I am so grateful for this amazing gospel and the great plan that our Father in Heaven has for us. I know these things are true and I love you all so much and hope you have a great week!

Con amor, Elder Herman

Unforgettable Week (Week 97)

      This was an unforgettable week! We had 2 baptisms for 2 very special people! Samuel finally got baptized after 3 years of investigating the church. It really was tough getting him baptized, but the Lord did His work! He had told us a couple of times that he didn’t want to get baptized so we just focused on the little things, and every night at 9:15 I called him to see how we was going with the Book of Mormon. I started calling him like that about 2 weeks ago, after he told us that he didn't want to get baptized, and in these 2 weeks he is in 2 Nephi 17. The Holy Ghost has testified to him and has made him know that he needs to get baptized. He bore his testimony that he knows he can have an eternal family and that these things are true. Pure joy. Then Jose Luis also got baptized. Well, we had been teaching him for some time and a couple weeks ago we actually stopped teaching him. Then we found him in the street and he told us to visit him and that he didn’t want to get baptized because he didn’t have clothes! So we talked to him and worked everything out and boom! But he has a lot of family problems and his family had never listened to us, but his wife went to his baptism and after said that she wanted to be baptized also! We are seeing the Lord's hand in His work! I know that this is the work of salvation and it brings so much happiness!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      Well there are many spiritual thoughts that I have but man, the power of the Book of Mormon is so strong! I have seen the book change my life and the lives of so many others! If you are not reading the Book of Mormon, start now! Just read one verse every day and you will see the difference, and if you don’t, others will. A scripture a day keeps the devil away! We are so blessed to have the Book of Mormon and to have this knowledge. I know these things are true and I am just so grateful for everything the Lord gives us! I hope you all have an amazing week! Hasta Luegoooo

Con Amor, Elder Herman   

Bautismo de Marlen! (Week 96)

Elder Herman, Marlen, Elder, Elder Hernandez

      This week was kinda crazy. So we had another cool experience. We found an old investigator, Jose Luis. We went with him and talked a little and he said the only reason he didn’t want to get baptized soon was because he didn’t have any clothes! So we got all that figured out and he accepted to get baptized this week! So that was unreal! And Samuel has been reading the Book of Mormon everyday, so that’s great. Haha. I call him every night at 9:15 to check how he's going. Then on Friday we had the baptism of Marlen! It was great! She was really happy and excited! But that day I felt terrible and threw up a couple times, but the baptism was good! And this week the zone is looking to complete the standard so that would be amazing! And they are changing a lot of stakes and the mission a little, so this would be the last week that the zone is together so we are going to end it well!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      Many times on the mission I have been so surprised by the power of God. But everything depends on our faith. God works through our faith. Ether 12:12 says “For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.” If we don’t have faith we cant do anything. But if we have faith “ye can do all things which are expedient unto me.” Moroni 10:23 It is so important that we can always have faith and just believe! I've seen so many miracles in the the Lord's work and I have seen how he truly works through our faith! I love you all and hope you have a faith filled week full of miracles!

Con Amor, Elder Herman 

The Good Life (Week 95)

      Hello dear family and friends! This week was a good one! We found a lot of new people and they are really good too! We got Marlen's baptism planned for this week! Wahoo! She is really excited and hasn’t missed church since we started teaching her. Our mission leader is great and helps her a lot. Also Samuel told us that he wants to try getting baptized on the 24 still! So that was a miracle. We read 1 Nephi 8 with him and are focusing to make sure he is reading everyday to be able to have true desires to be baptized. And in Mexico we had a really cool transmission this Sunday and I will talk more about that in my spiritual thought. Also, haha an 8 year old girl wanted me to baptize her, so I did, haha, I had never met her, but it was a good experience.

 Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      So we had this transmission because there are going to be a lot of changes in the stakes and missions here in Mexico. But pretty much every person talked about the gathering of the Israel. Elder Lynn Robins talked about our temple recommends. Our temple recommend literally serves as a passport or visa to enter into God's kingdom. Entering the temple literally represents entering into God's celestial home and is a symbol of our condition as members. We must prepare ourselves for the final test. We do that by going to the temple regularly. As it says in 2 Nephi 31, when we are baptized we enter into the gate and are then in the strait and narrow path that leads to eternal life. In this path are temples. We are baptized and we have to keep progressing by going to the temple to make it to eternal life! I know these things are true. I love the church so much it is so perfect! We are so blessed to have so many temples today and those in Utah are even more blessed to have one so close! Please take advantage of the temple and prepare yourselves for the second coming of our Savior. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Con Amor, Elder Herman

New Rules (Week 94)

      Well this week the mission rules changed a little. Now I wont be able to use Google hangouts so I can just talk through the email letters thingy, haha. SO if you want to communicate with me don’t use Google hangouts. And President told us our second to last Monday he will take us to Teotihuacan! Some really big, famous pyramids, so I am excited about that! Then well this week with our investigators we got good news and bad news. The good news is that Marlen is going to get baptized the 16^th of November instead of waiting until the first of December! But the bad news is that Samuel told us that he didn’t want to get baptized yet…So that was really sad. I was kinda in shock. But we are going to work with him because he just has a couple things holding him back.

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      Well this week I'd like to talk about the scriptures. I love the scriptures! Reading them every day helps me so much. I love seeing the examples of others and see how can I apply it in my life? That is the most important. On the mission a lot of people talk to us that know the Bible, but they don’t apply anything. Maybe because they don’t understand the scriptures. Something that I was pondering about is that we as members of the Church of Jesus Christ have the gift of the Holy Ghost to teach us. If we don’t understand the scriptures we must ask God for the Holy Ghost. That is why it is so important to say a prayer before reading. I have received so much guidance from reading the scriptures and so much happiness and comfort. I hope we can all read the scriptures everyday to become closer to our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ.

Con Amor, Elder Herman

Halloween treats, Mexican style.

Happy Life (Week 93)

      Hello world! This week was a good one! Marlen and Samuel are progressing really well. Marlen is doing everything and just killing it so we are going to move her date for November. She's really excited so that’s good. And Samuel is praying all the time and we are helping him read too and just trying to help him be prepared for the 24^th of November. And this week we found a woman and she started telling us about her problems and she was crying. We could help her a lot and we testified that everything will be ok. I love testifying, it invites the spirit so much and I just love being a missionary! And the zone is getting better each week, so that is great also! Oh. and Sunday we got to church and they asked us to speak! Haha. good thing us missionaries are always prepared! I like talking. It fills me with the spirit and makes me happy!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

       Well as a mission we have been really focused on chapter 11 of Preach My Gospel about commitments. But a part I love is about testifying. As I studied this I saw the ways the people in the scriptures testified. Their testimony is always focused on Jesus Christ. This week as a tried testifying more of Jesus Christ, I could see that the spirit really did testify to the people I teach. Testimony is the most powerful way to invite the spirit. And sharing our testimony makes it stronger. And well, next week is fast and testimony Sunday. So I would like to invite all of you to share your testimony of Jesus Christ. What do you know that he has done for you? How have you seen the power of the atonement in your life? What have you felt knowing the things that Jesus did? And what difference has it made in your life? I know that your testimonies will grow and that you and the people around you will be filled with the spirit. And you will be happy. J I know these things are true. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I know that He came to earth and suffered for every one of my pains, afflictions, and sicknesses. I have seen the power of the atonement in my life by the changes I have been able to make and for the feelings of forgiveness. He has made my life happier and taken off my burdens. It makes me so happy talking about Him and helping others know that importance and the help that they can have by following Him. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Con Amor, Elder Herman   

The Good Life (Week 92)

       Another great week down here in Bella Vista! This week was a good one! And well… found out the day I am coming home.. how crazy. But my return date is December 29th. We found 2 people Marlen and Samuel who are for sure going to get baptized! They both went to church which is awesome and they both want to get baptized. We are really focused on testifying and promising blessings and it is so cool! I really have felt the spirit so much and I know that it is testifying to the people we teach. Also, we had zone conference which is always a good time and I loved it! I got to know the zone a little more and it got me pumped! The zone is progressing a lot and we are expecting big things in the month of November! I truly love the misión and everything that it has taught me so far!  

Spiritual Though Of The Week

       President Urrea in our zone conference talked to us about the Restoration. Man how I feel the spirit when people teach the restoration! But he did it in a cool way. He literally had memorized Joseph Smith History 1:20… He told it to us and then testified that he has never met Joseph Smith and all of these things, but that he knows that in the spring of 1820 Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. As 2 separate beings. And that Jesus Christ counseled him and told him what to do. I felt the spirit sooo much and I just know that this church has been restored. This is a message that we share everyday but sometimes I feel like I don't give it too much importance. The message of the restoration is so important and so amazing. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that through him Jesus restored the same church that he had established in his times. I know that today we have a true and living prophet in Russell M. Nelson and that he receives revelation directly from Jesus Christ. This church is perfect, and I am so grateful to be a member and a missionary for The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. 

Con Amor, Elder Herman

Long Time No Email, Sorry (Week 91)

      Well sorry for not writing the last 2 weeks. 2 weeks ago we were at President's house celebrating, 'cause we completed the standard again! Wahoo! So that was great, I really love my zone! It's the first zone to complete the standard 2 months in a row! But ya life's been pretty good. I love the misión and all the opportunities there are to get better! Also this week we had transfers. I got sent to Cuautitlan. A zone full of Sister missionaries pretty much, haha, so that will be fun. Someone very wise said that the Lord is testing me for my future wife, here with a ton of Sisters, haha. And it is the biggest zone in the misión. And president wants us to complete the standard here too because it hasn't been done. So it will be a good challenge!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

       Well I really liked what President Nelson said in his talk last Sunday morning. That we are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! And we should not take out the name of Jesus Christ! The name has so much meaning and it is a name the Savior chose. I liked the part where he said that if someone asks us if we are Mormons we should say “If you mean a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, then yes!” We should be so proud to say that we are members of the church of Jesus Christ! The same one that he established. I feel like I need to repent big time for saying I am Mormon my whole life! But I sure do love telling people I am from His church. Because if we were from the Mormon church it would be the church of Mormon! But we are the church of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only perfect being that has been on this earth. I hope we can all embrace these things and that we can all apply what we learned in general conference! I love you all and hope you all have a great week!

No Letters for Weeks 89 & 90

No letters from Elder Herman for the last two weeks.  Last week he was celebrating another standard reached, the third one overall and the last two months in a row!  And this week he forgot the cord to upload what he wrote.  So next week there should be three letters.

He is being transferred to Cuautitlan and will continue to be a zone leader.  He is excited for the change and looking forward to working hard these last two transfers of his mission.  No news on the date he'll be coming home though.  I'll post pictures and the letters as soon as I receive them.

Temple!!! (Week 88)

Victor's Baptism!

      Another good week on the mission! This week Victor got baptized! Haha, it was funny cause Tuesday his grandma was saying that they might postpone the baptism, then Wednesday was his interview and Victor was saying he wanted to get baptized this Saturday, so he did, haha. It was really cool because his grandpa, who is 86 years old, baptized and confirmed him! So that was a special experience. Then that same Saturday, as a zone, we went to the Visitors Center at the temple again! We filled up two busses and took 27 investigators! So that was amazing and a great time. Not gonna lie I cried a couple times. Its just a special place! So that was really fun:=

Temple Trip!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      Well this week I made a goal to write in my journal better. So I have been writing spiritual experiences lately and it has helped a lot. It is so important to recognize the things that God does for us. One day I was talking to a missionary and telling him that I didn’t know if there was a spiritual experience in the day, because it was a tough day. He told me, well Elder that can be a spiritual experience, the Lord is testing your patience. I liked that a lot because it made me realize that hard times can usually be the most spiritual experiences that we have here on earth. It's when the Lord molds us to be the people we need to be. I also realized that we don’t go one day without having a spiritual experience. And we need to look for these experiences to feed our spirit and to strive more. I love this Gospel and I know that God loves us and wants us to be happy and return to his presence! I hope you all have a great week!         

Con Amor, Elder Herman 

I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus (Week 87)

Zone Conference Fun!

      Another good week. We had zone conference and that was a good time, and also September 16^th is independence day for Mexico. So the 15^th we had to be home early because everyone is partying, haha. But Saturday we had a cool experience. We were calling people from the area book and we said a prayer to find someone that would accept us and want to go to church, and the first person we called said we could go visit him that day! So that was really cool. I know God answers our prayers! Also, Victor went to church and we have taught him everything, so he is ready for his baptism! Wahoo!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      In our mission right now we are very focused on the attributes of Jesus Christ. Man I love studying His attributes so I can strive to be like He is. Something I love is hope. Hope makes life a lot better because we are more optimistic and positive. Many times we can be happier and endure trials better if we have hope. How can we have more hope? Studying the scriptures and finding the promises that God has made with us, and seeing the bigger picture. Hope helps us to endure to the end and to be righteous. In Doctrine and Covenants 59:23 it says “But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.” If we keep our eye on the prize we will be motivated! Also I love the scripture in Ether 12:32 “And I also remember that thou hast said that thou hast prepared a house for man, yea, even among the mansions of thy Father, in which man might have a more excellent hope; wherefore man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared.” We must have hope in Eternal Life, and that if we do everything we need to here, we will inherit this place that the Lord has prepared among the mansions of his Father. Hope makes life happier! I hope we can all have hope that one day we will all be with God again, living happily with our families!

Con Amor, Elder Herman

Elder Grimaldi & Elder Herman

I Love Being a Missionary (Week 86)

Elder Grimaldi & Elder Herman

      Another good week here in Mexico. The area has been a little tough lately. We have a big challenge cause church starts at 8! But we can do it. On Wednesday we got to celebrate last months achievements with President at his house, so that was super fun! I love my zone so much, they are all really fun and excited!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      Man it's so cool being a missionary! This week we saw the importance of recognizing that we are called of God and that we have authority to do what we are doing. We had cool experiences as we went on the street talking to people and testifying that we are people called of God to help people come unto Christ. The power of a testimony is so strong! I know that I have been called by God to preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I love being a missionary, it brings so much happiness. I hope we can all be missionaries and always have the words of Christ in our mouths! I love you all! Que tengan una bonita semana!

Con Amor, Elder Herman

Elder Nava & Elder Herman celebrating a record month!

Zone Celebration at the Mission President's House.

Life's Good and a Happy 21st Birthday for Elder Herman (Week 85)

Birthday celebration with Omar and Monica, Elder Herman & Elder Grimaldi!

       Another great week in la obra missional! I am having a good time with my new companion Elder Grimaldi, haha. He's really funny. The area has been kinda tough, but God always provides. Nothing too special this week. Oh, but I had my birthday! I am now 21, how crazy is that! Kitula from Chilpa brought me some tacos and a cake so that was great and nice of her. And then on Sunday Omar and Monica came and visited me from Tultepec and we ate cake, so that was also great, haha. I love them!

Spiritual Thought Of The Week

      Yesterday we were knocking on doors and we found a girl who doesn’t believe in God. Whenever we find people like that it just makes me think a lot. I don’t know how someone could live without knowing that they have a Heavenly Father that loves them and wants the best for them, or that there will be life after this that will be 100x better! I just don’t understand how someone could have hope for the future and strive to be better everyday. But let me just say that I know that God lives. I know that He loves me and that I am His child. It gives me so much hope and happiness knowing these things and its also makes me so happy testifying of Him and the happiness that I have because of Him. I know that these things are true and that it changes lives! I love being a missionary!            

Con mucho amor, Elder Herman

Birthday cake and tacos from Kitula!