July 18, 2011 letter

Dear Family,

Yesterday we had the baptism of the other Manuel.  His last name is Cardona and the Manuel I baptized last week is Vela.  We won´t be seeing a baptism this week because the husband (less active) of the investigator wants to be present for the lessons so he can learn also.  He works for 2 weeks straight and gets back on Friday, so hopefully we will get them ready for the following Sunday before he heads off to work again.  The other investigator hasn´t been going to church, and isn´t at home when we pass by.  Last Tuesday we passed by a family that hasn´t been to church since Elder Portillo has been here.  They came to church yesterday, and tonight we are going to have a FHE with them.  They have a little restaurant in their house, so hopefully we should be getting some good food.  Can you hold off a week for the care packages?  I´ll send a list next week of what I need.  Sorry, I have to cut this letter short.  We spent a lot of time cleaning the house becuase the Mission President is coming.  It´s time for the district meeting.

Love,

Elder Gubler

Manuel Vela's baptism, with Elder Portillo and Elder Gubler

Elder Calvert and Elder Gubler

July 11, 2011 letter

Dear family,

It looks like you had a great trip to Washington.  I wish I could have gone.

Transfers were yesterday.  Right now I'm writing from...Champotón. (Ed didn't get transferred, although he has been in Champoton for 6 months. He is still with his 2nd senior companion, Elder Portillo who goes home next transfer).  Yesterday we had the baptism of Manuel.  We forgot to fill up the font on Saturday, so we woke up at 4:30am to go fill it up on Sunday.  We slept on the chairs in the church for a little while.  We had the baptism before sacrament meeting.  I got to baptize him.  I was still changing out of my wet clothes when sacrament meeting started.  I got changed and walked in right when they were going up to the stand to confirm him.  I walked up and then the branch president had me confirm him.  The following Sunday we have another baptism for a different Manuel.  Both of the Manuels are in their early 20´s and look a lot alike.  We have a few more investigators that we are going to try to prepare for the last 2 weekends in July. 

The chalk board picture I sent last week was from our activity we had in June.  I thought I had talked about it in another email.  We did an activity where we are flying a plane and it crashes and everyone dies and gets to see the 3 kingdoms.    Pablo´s last name is Hernandez Espinosa (last week's baptism).  The girl is his neighbor.  She was baptized about 3 years ago.  She just happened to be wearing all white that day.  We haven´t taught any of his family yet.  I don´t know if they want to listen or not.  The zone conference was held in the stake center in Campeche.  President Salinas talked, and then the wife of Elder Tonorio, and then Elder Tonorio.  We didn´t interview with any of them.  You only interview in conferences if you make an appointment.  I´ve included a picture of the baptism yesterday and Elder Calvert and I. (Manuel is wearing a girls blouse because it was all we had.  There used to be lots of white clothes, including jump suits, but it magically disappears from time to time.)

Love,

Elder Gubler

Pablo Hernandez Espinosa's baptism, Elder Portillo, Elder Gubler

Zone conference June 2011

Class instruction