Much To Do in Pescadero

Todos Santos

2 Nephi 28:30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.


This is such a great scripture! This is a wonderful promise from above to His children who hearken unto His precepts. That word hearken is a verb that means listen. Not only hear His words but we have to respond and act according to what He tells us. His counsels are good. He knows what is best for us. I know that if we do this, we will learn wisdom. We will be blessed with a knowledge and testimony through the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Teaching this promise to our investigators gives them hope for a better life because they will know what to do when they don't know what to do. Our Heavenly Father is willing to lead and guide us, all we have to do is hearken to His word (through the living prophets, Book of Mormon, Bible, prayer, etc.) and obey!


Hello!


This was a pretty crazy week! There's so much to do here in Pescadero. I love being in this small pueblo and seeing the progress in the branch. In 2009 is when they first put missionaries here in Pescadero and now we are seeing progress due the past and present efforts to establish God's kingdom.

Chuleta a la BBQ

Basically we are branch leaders of Pescadero. We are the first and second counselors to the Branch President, we help count tithing, we are branch mission leader, we teach seminary, we do home and visiting teaching, we set up, pass, and bless the Sacrament, we choose and direct the hymns, we give talks and family home evenings. We have lots of responsibilities! And then we have all of our other missionary responsibilities to take care of. It's a little stressful at times but I know that I was prepared to come to Pescadero and be a light for others to follow.

Lights went out in the whole town- so we ate by candlelight

It's been fun being district leader! I enjoy watching over and taking care of the sister missionaries in my district. Each one of them are great servants of the Lord and giving my training meetings has been a fun job as well.

Junta de Zona

This last week we had splits with the Zone Leaders, Elder Escalante and Elder Tapia! They are fun and such good examples to me. We then returned back to Pescadero and we worked in our area and had good success! We are in the process of helping a couple be married so they can be baptized. It's a long process haha. We were able to put a baptismal date for their nephew, Hector for May.


We had an awesome activity on Saturday in which we invited lots of people in Pescadero to the church and we gave them clothes, food, cake, and toys for the kids. It was fun to see the smile on each of their faces. Some members from Los Cabos San Lucas came down and helped with that and it was great success! We are now going to teach some new investigators that attended.


We now have bikes! We had to buy them with our own money but we now have a way to move faster to visit people.

Coin jar I've been saving- 230 pesos

Hope everyone has a great week! Adios!


Elder Bennett

Newborn kitten

Easter & Holy Week

2 Nephi 9:21 And he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men, yea, the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam. 22 And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day. 23 And he commandeth all men that they must repent, and be baptized in his name, having perfect faith in the Holy One of Israel, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God.


Gorgeous View

I wanted to share this scripture in honor of Easter and Holy Week last week. This has been a scripture that I have loved to share with the people because the Atonement that Jesus Christ accomplished for all of us gives us hope and peace! We are able to receive new strength through his infinite sacrifice. I know that my Redeemer lives!


Hola from Pescadero!


I have really been enjoying my new area here in Pescadero and Todos Santos!



It's a small beach town that has lots of hills and palms trees and cactus and sand!




We are in the process of buying bikes to get around a little faster.




No hitchhiking actually- they take the bus to Cabo

On Mondays, we have our district and zone meeting in Cabo San Lucas and so every Sunday in the afternoon we go to Cabo San Lucas and on Monday we write here and buy our groceries.


This has been my first area in that we don't have food every day. Normally the members have given us meals in the middle of the day, but here there are not many members and those who are members don't have the means to buy food for the missionaries and so we have to cook for ourselves in the house.


We go to a Pueblo Magico that has the Hotel California every Wednesday and Saturday. It's so beautiful there! There was a lot of tourism this last week for Semana Santa and it's a tradition here in Mexico that everyone goes to the beach.


Hotel California

There was an Easter activity on Sunday where the Branch Pte and his wife had an Easter egg hunt. The Branch Pte and his wife are from California so they brought that tradition down here where Easter activies are not really popular. It was fun seeing all the little kids running around and enjoying finding the colored eggs.


Elder Yzquierdo and I have been working hard. We had several investigators attend the Sacrament meeting and we will have baptisms here soon. We are finding lots of new investigators and it's fun working in a small town again!


Elder Bennett

A New Adventure in la Baja!!!

Hola a todos!

Jacob 1:19 And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.

Scenic View of Maza

Today I gave my first District Meeting here in the Baja California with my new district! I shared this scripture to highlight the importance of being diligent in missionary work. When we work hard, and do what the Lord would have us do, we receive the remission of our sins. We feel peace, joy and forgiveness. I know that as I labor with all my heart, might, mind and strength, I will be well with the Lord and help my brothers and sister come closer to our Savior.


Hello from the Baja California!


Right now I am in Cabo San Lucas. I was transferred Saturday in the afternoon which was odd because normally the transfers are on Mondays. I received a call from the Zone Leaders in Mazatlan on Friday morning telling me that tomorrow I will have to go to Culiacan to go to the Airport and fly to the Baja. I didn't believe Elder Finkner when he told me but I later realized that it was not a joke haha. So my last few days in Albatros were crazy. 

Packing Up!

With Elder Simister and Brother Tanner

Leaving Maza

I said goodbye that everyone that I could in Mazatlan and taught my companion Elder Gonzalez the area before I left and so it was a little hectic. Elder Gonzalez is going to train a new missionary in Albatros and I am so happy for him.

Elder Gonzalez

We got really close, he has been one of my favorite companions. We had planned an activity in Albatros that I sadly could not attend which was a bummer. It was really sad to leave there, I had 6 months there so it felt like home. 

But I was happy because now I think I have gotten to meet all the cities in the whole mission. I have 3 transfers left, 4 months and a half so it is very likely that I will end my mission here.


On Saturday, a family from Utah helped us missionaries out a lot, they gave us rides, took us out to eat and gave us money. They were a great blessing!

Breakfast with the Tanners

 I traveled alone to Culiacan and there I went to the airport and traveled with Hermana Calvillo a sister missionary from Mexico City. We both were headed to our new areas in the Cabo San Lucas zone and the only flight was for Saturday. 

My new area is a ranchito similar to Tanques and Teacapan in Sinaloa, called Pescadero. We have another little touristic town called Todos Santos that apparently has the Hotel California that they sing about in the song. 

New Area

I am with Elder Yzquierdo, he is my grandson in the mission. Elder Tineo trained him and now we are companions. He is from Peru! He is such a great missionary!


The Baja is waaaay different than Sinaloa. It's like a whole new mission here. It is more dry here and not as humid. In Mazatlan I was always hot and sticky. Here it is just starting the hot weather, and the sun burns a lot. I love to see the beaches and the palm trees here! 

I am the district leader of all sister missionaries and my companion. It will be a new and exciting adventure here!


Elder Bennett

19 Months in the Mission

Highlights from la Conferencia General Abril 2017: 

Mi companero

Christ's perfect love allows us to press through our fears - Pte Uchtdorf


There is nothing that helps us come closer to the Lord than a desure to change - Joaquin E. Acosta


Things work out when we stand firm in the trial of our faith - L Whitney Clayton


We must act on the FIRST prompting of the Holy Ghost - Ronald A. Rasband


It is not easy to recognize Heavenly Father's love when we look around with spiritual eyes - Yoon Hwan Choi


A testimony is maintained by obedience to the commandments and fervent prayer - Pte Thomas S. Monson


As your look for the Savior's power as bad as a drowning man wants to breathe- you will receive it. Pte Russell M. Nelson

Conferencia General at the Stake Center

Elder Simister and I watched the sessions in English! All except the last session :)


Hey Everyone!!


It has been a great week! I just reached 19 months in the mission! Hard to believe! We have been struggling my companion and I with the attendance of our investigators to church even with all the efforts we have made so they can benefit from God's promised blessings. Lots of times I have learned that it is really easy to just give up and not go back and teach those who don't accomplish but something I learned in the conference is that my ministry as a servant of God does not end until those who I teach repent- or until they take the necessary steps to demonstrate a true repentance. I have learned patience and love for each one of them!


This week was tough, we have been finding various people to teach, and we have a new young couple that are progressing well! They are named Ariel and Lizbeth! They have lots of questions about the Plan of Salvation. I loved to hear several Authorities talk of the Plan of Salvation! They are learning about our Heavenly Father's plan in the Book of Mormon.

Eating at Panama- a sit down restaurant

We ate in a nice restaurant called Panama today, my companion and I to celebrate our last P-day together. The next Monday are transfers and it is most likely that I will be transferred. I am hoping to train a new Elder again. This transfer 17 new missionaries will arrive.

Eating at a "real" restaurant

We had splits with the Elders in Villa Union again this last week! I was able to go with Elder Quezada, my district leader which was great. In their area they have a lot of ranchitos and we went to visit a family in Concordia, which is a Pueblo Magico, and tried their famous snow cones.

Mi distrito

Being Silly!

I am grateful for a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, who leads and guides us today. I know that the Lord is hastening His work in these lasts days. I know my Savior, Jesus Christ lives! I have come to know and love Him and His perfect Gospel.


Elder Bennett

Pday fun- thanks to Elder Simister's Mom for the picture

There is nothing like Missionary Work

Moroni 9:6 And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.

Genaro's Baptism

This last weekend we had our Multizone Conference here in Mazatlan, and when we were talking about following up with our investigators commitments, we were instructed that it is a big responsibility for us to help them repent. We always repeat Section 4 of Doctrine and Covenants and I like the part where it says "O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day." President Gabaldon tells us that Always means Always and All means All! It's a great reminder for us to be diligent. There's lots of distractions sometimes and I know that if I continue serving the Lord with perseverance and persistence, I will be blessed and those we teach will see miracles. I love missionary work, there is nothing like it!

Genaro's Family

Hey everyone!


What an exciting week it has been!

This last Saturday, 25, we baptized Genaro! His mother and 3 of his brothers and sisters came to support him. It was a very special service. I felt the Holy Spirit present and joy in my heart to see the determination this youth has. The water was green! It was a scary to see the water dirty but we threw in lots of chlorine to help the situation haha. The bishop's first counselor baptized Genaro and has had much support from the members here in Albatros. Genaro is a great young man who is very willing to follow Christ. He is going to attend seminary and EFY in summer. He is going to be a good example for his family. They also went to church on Sunday but only for the sacramental. Juana, the mother of Genaro, said that after they went to church, her husband and she fought and they are going to separate. We are about to teach the 5 lessons again to Genaro and so it will be a good point to speak of how the Gospel can bless families and also of eternal marriage.

Sushi with the Young Single Adults

The multizone conference was a great boost for Elder Gonzalez and I! Sister and President Gabaldon talked a lot about repentance. I love this principle of the Gospel. It is one of God's greatest gifts to His children. I learned that each of us need to carry out a PROCESS of repentance. That means that we need to make CHANGES in activities or habits that aren't in accordance with God's laws and choose to act or think better. We need to ask strength to overcome our challenges and weakness so that we can become perfected in Christ. Moroni 10:32. I loved the part when Sister Gabaldon said "Never think that repentance is going to bring more sadness than the remorse that we feel when we act badly." That is so true! Each of us need the Gospel to clean us spiritually so we can enter worthily in Heavenly Father's kingdom.

Pday Basketball

More Pday fun

Thanks everyone, have a great week!


Adios!


Elder Bennett

Sushi- yum!