The Mexico City West Mission doesn''t know what its in for....

Most everyone that knows us knows that Joey is now home and Charlie is now out in the mission field.  He is currently in the Missionary Training Center in Provo Utah and will be arriving in Mexico City on February 6th 2012.  

I will post some or most of his letters from here on out...  just a word to the wise,  there will be no editing on my part, no punctuation marks added,  no words corrected.. just CHARLIE raw !!!

Let the games begin !!!!

30 days left

Well,  it occurred to me that with just 30 days until Joey comes home and Charlie soon to be going out,  I'd better start posting some more important things here..   I have some pictures of Joey and some of his letters I will add in over the next few days... I hope you find them uplifting...

"Thus Ends Mormonism"

Grown Up Christmas Wish

I have sooooo many memories of childhood Christmases..  I remember waking up early to find my brother had already gotten up and opened his presents, and taped them back together.  I remember going to bed early, then coming out and finding my mom and sister and the kitchen table full of "stuff" and being told that Santa had come and that he forgot to wrap the presents.  Our neighbor Colleen Ashton was there as well,  I was convinced that she must have some special "in" with Santa so from that time forward I would always be extra NICE around her at Christmastime.

As an adult we seem to find the ability to recall all those special times when we were children,  but what about now?  Are there ever times when the hustle and bustle of Christmas gets lost and the childlike "spirit of Christmas" is found? 

For me it happened a few years ago. ...

My children and I were by the government's terminology "in transition" .  Others refer to it as homeless.  The home we lived in was lost to foreclosure, I was in the middle of a divorce and we were forced to find housing with my mom.  Even though I was working at the time, I did not know how I could support my children by myself, and I had no idea what we could do about Christmas.  The social worker at the school where I was employed, happen to have many extra donated toys and gifts.  I was over the activities committee at church, and had the santa suit in my possession.  For some strange reason,  I asked my sons if they would dress up as Santa Claus, and an elf.  In retrospect, it was a truly strange request.  We had NEVER done anything like that previously.  Joey was a senior in high school and was in the middle of his wrestling season.  That meant that he was a VERY FIT 150 pounds.  Charlie was a Freshman and already taller than his brother.  They really weren't your typical Santa and Elf.  However, they agreed to try it and so,  we went around to the homes of families in our church who had children and might not be having a Christmas.  We were greeted happily everywhere we went.  Most of the moms were asking if they could put this handsome Santa and Elf on their Christmas list.  The final house we went to was probably the most overwhelming.  We tried and tried to call ahead,  but there was no answer.   We got to the door and our friends 10 year old daughter answered.  The look of shock on her face was priceless.  All of a sudden she started to cry and ran to tell her mother.  That was certainly not the answer we anticipated.  We went in and Santa gave the children their gifts.   The mother came out with tears in her eyes, and started to tell us, that her older daughter had been very upset this year.   They normally spent Christmas with family from Mexico, but this year would not be able to do so.  Her daughter had just told her that this was the worst Christmas she could ever imagine.  There were no presents under the tree and she absolutely knew there was no such thing as Santa.   At that moment the doorbell rang, and there stood Santa,  with gifts for her and her siblings.  We finally understood why she was so shocked !!

We have had other Christmas experiences since that time,  however,  we all agree that no other Christmas experience will probably ever top that one.  The feelings that we had of service and love for our fellowman,  helped us to leave behind our own feelings of depression and helplessness and to find within ourselves the valor to move on and be better.  We might have been categorically defined as homeless,  but we knew that we didn't need to have a house to be able to experience the love of being a family.

Biscuits and Gravy

There are many holiday traditions in our family.  There is the one where we celebrate Christmas.  Strange to say, I know,  but not all people do.   Then there's the one where we eat tamales on Christmas Eve, Ok so this was an acquired tradition based upon the influence from my mission and other life's experiences,  but it's still a tradition, and there are ALWAYS hugs at midnight to go with it !! Forget that going to bed to wait for Santa.. HECK NO!!! We wait up to welcome him!!!
Sooooo with that said,  the final and most important tradition for me, is  Christmas morning breakfast.   I get up extra early and start frying the sausage, then I turn it into gravy over biscuits that I've baked.  This is one of my favorite ways to show my family some love.  Joey and Charlie.. well they can't imagine Christmas without it.  In fact last year Joey prepared it for his mission companions on Christmas morning, and I fixed it for the entire District of  Elders and Sisters who were serving in our area.
What is it about this thick, milky, comfort food of a home cooked meal in a pan that means so much?  Is it the extra sausage or pepper that I add?  Is it the only ever use whole milk technique to assure arterial clogging?  Is it the "pop" in the can of biscuits before putting them in the oven (ok there I let you in on my secret,  I use the canned kind..  sorry biscuit makers !!) or is it....  The love and concern that goes with tradition.  The feel of family and home and knowing where our priorities are in life.  The feeling of serving our family and others from our heart..  The knowledge that the reason for the season isn't so much every little monetary thing,  its the feel of family and the person who's birth we are celebrating.  
My friend Diana's little girl  was so happy for the holiday celebration that she shouted out to her mom  "HOLI-BRATION"  !!  That's what to me Biscuits and Gravy is about..  a total feeling of HOLI-BRATION !!!  

No clue who the Elders are,  but the pic is proof of the tradition..  Glad to say that I don't have to have Pepto on the table when I cook !!!

Blog Challenge....

For those that are interested, I've enrolled in a Blog Challenge with other Bloggy Friends..  Every week for awhile we'll be posting something that follow a theme... Check us all out !!!

Charlie Football 2010

Charlie is playing his final year of high school football at Apollo High School..  Here are a few Pics of him and the shouting part of his team...

blogging repentance

This is Teri writing to all who are interested....
I am a horrible horrible mother and blogger..  I forget to update this blog, cause I keep thinking there's not much to share,  apart from the fact that I share sooooo much on facebook  :)  Well,   I am seeking to repent of my misdeeds and be better !!  I will try and update this blog weekly !!

I am also working with my friend Jennifer and others to blog some really cool and interesting topics,  so you won't want to miss out on our blogging challenge..

Ok with that said..  Let the blogging begin............

SundayApril 25th

 hi maam am excited for world cup but i might be transfered out of
south africa and mission is taking us. these are cool photos of you and my brother charlie,  i think
i will get married to awhite gal how is that maam? well i had awosome; week we had the conference and i love the president uchtdorf talk  about uplifting those who are in need like you maam your uplifting me
always. but all conference was nice. on mothers day its on saturday we
 have transfers on the 6 so i might be transfered in my new area so now
 am still confused what to do but i will let know on monday. i love you
 maam. and my bro charlie. here are some photos for baptism.

4/26/10 Pictures

Ok so I am sending you some pictures I hope that you like them.  The first one is one of our baptism with jorge.  He is the one standing in the middle and them names from left to right from that pictures are Elders Cutler, Seymor, Allen, Jorge, Me, Elder Sorenson.  Then of course the other two are the biscuits and grazy breakfast I served on the conference weekend and then the family that is going to get baptized this week.  They consist of Me, Abraham, Najelly, Timmy, Swani, Luis, and Elder Cutler.  I hope that you like them truthfully I need to take more pictures. 
With Love
Elder Gamez,

PS. I did get a military cut, but that was because I cut my own hair and messed up.  So I had to fix it lol. It's alot better now.

sunday eve 3/08/10

Dang, a brand new bishopbric.  That is so tight.  Well this week was kind of hectic.  See in New Jersey the different wards are trying to establish something called the Wheel.  Now the wheel consists of the missionaries helping the ward create a ward plan so that the missionaries have people to teach through the members.  It is really crazy.  Especially when the wards don't do any of there home teaching.  I don't know if they do that is Arizona but I would say that if you are a home teacher or visiting teacher.  Do the work. :)  I love this new place mom.  I really like the people of the church.  They are so dedicated to the cause.  It is so spectacular to see members participate in this work.

  Ok so lets start explaining a little about my new area now that I have a better knowledge.  Passaic and Clifton, New Jersey are two cities that me and my companion cover.  We have alot of spanish people, but the work is different.  See these hispanic people live so far spread out that we have to drive to almost all the appointments.  Well I have really been trying to meet the ward memebers out here.  Some bomb people I am taking with are The familia Bravo, Jorge, familia Miranda(yes another familia miranda) lol, and I would basically say all the youth in the ward.  The familia Bravo are a family of Mexicans who are recent converts.  They have 3 kids one who's 9 named Jenny, another who is 6 named Ingrid, and last is Christopher who is like 4.  The mom and dads names are Salvador y Hortencia.  They are such humble kind and loving people.  They kind of remind me of Noemi and Pepe.  But younger a bit.

  Jorge is a investagator or as we like to say an internigator who just broke up with his girlfriend after a couple years to join the gospel.  He is getting baptized on the 19th of next month.  It is kind of crazy his whole story.  Basically he was in an affair with his ex- girlfiend and choose to do the right thing and break things off.  In the process his girlfriend got him arrested and he will be going to court soon.  I know crazy!

  Then there is the famila Mirandas.  They are from Honduras.  They have alot of kids but only live with 2 of their daughters.  It is kind of sad actually.  Hna. Miranda's ex-husband Died and then she meet Hno. Miranda and know they  live together.  Hno. Miranda is our ward mission leader.  He is an older guy around his 60's but he is so bomb.  He just got out of the hospital from taking the wronge medicine that caused his heart to pump blood to fast through his body.  At that same time that happened he got a stomach infection which caused his stomach to swell up like a balloon.  He is so faithful.  He two girls are Rocio and Rosana.  Rocio is 15 and Rosana is 13.  They are two of the most funny girls I have ever met lol but at the same time.  They try really hard to mess with the missionaries. 

  I guess if I was going to say anything about this week mom it would be that we had this activity at the church called Noche de Talentos.  It was so hilarious.  I obviously didn't have any talents I could share considering I can't sing in spanish.  So I decided to eath 7 hot dogs in 7 minutes.  Surprisingly enough I did lol I didn't bring my camera so I didn't get to record it but I will try to take it from Elder Cutlers memory chip.  Yeah I have no time in this place.  It is really frustrating in this place on P-days because we have to drive everywhere for long periods of time to just get things like food and wash clothes. 
I just want you to know everything is going great out here mom.  Really working hard.  I worry about you guys alot lately.  Mainly because I know that you have alot of new obstacles with the house and new job.  But I love you mom and I am doing my best to make you proud.

With Love,

Elder Gamez

Feb 1st 2010

 NEW EMAIL ADDRESS:   joseph.gamez@myldsmail.net

Dear mom,

 Ok so this week was pretty long.  Mainly because of how crazy the week went.  We are helping the ward leaders work together on being more effective planners.  They really haven't ever met and planned anything numerically, so we are meeting with them consistently to teach them how to effectively do it.  Also, on monday we had a Noche de Hogar.  We held it at the church like always, and we basically played a game and watched a movie with the families.  Well the 2 families that could come.  So tuesday me and elder unga went on another split and I taught the family Gladys.  I got them to commit to come to church this week.  It was kind of crazy actually trying to convince them the importance of waking up lol. 

FW: Pictures

Elder Gamez, Elder Sopena, Elder? Elder MacDonald

Brotherly Love !!

Unga and Gamez...in the car and with the Thanksgiving meal !!

Letter about this week Monday 12/14/2009

 So were to begin about this week.... well let's start with tuesday. On tuesday I went to visit a couple of inactives in the area. One in particular was a sister named xiamara(zi-a-mar-a) sho has been struggling with her driving test. She apparently needs her license. It was so funny actually because her husband wants her to get it so he doesn't have to worry about laundry anymore lol. So anyways

Elder Ssesanga Dec 14th

thanks alot maam am doing good and my comp is okay last week on tuesday and
wensday we had our x-mas party and we had a training from elder hill the
area seventy for south east area and the stake president of hill crest stake
and they were talking about the x-tics of the savior it was very nice to
have 4 hours learning about the savior. and we had lots of fun. i love u
maam bye i hope u get good week.

pics

Pic of me and a pic I took on the mission hike we had of the Book of mormon. All the other elders liked it :)

Dear mom 11/10/09

Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009

Dear mom,
Ok so this week was the bomb diggity as of monday me and the missionaries went on a mission hike after e-mails and let me tell you what it was so fun. We got to see the country part of the Garden state and it was b-e-a-utiful!!!! I was so happy to say that I got to meet the other missionaries in the field. Ok so on tuesday we had district meeting and it was on being perfectly obedient.... I really can't spell in english any more

ON wednesday we visted and helped Gabriel and Yawdy perpare for their boda(wedding) it was so bomb! I am so happy for them.  Finally on saturday, we had the wedding and let me tell you what, It was so flippin awesome. No puedo bailar pero yo come mucho comida lol. :) It was so special. I could really feel the spirit their. I know that this union isn't for eternity but it helped a man who was confused in his life find some guidance as well as a companion.

Sunday was even more spiritual. I talked in church about obra misional. It was like Idk but some how some way I was able to translate to the congragation and they understood me lol I was so happy. They after we had Gabriels baptism and I haven't seen that many tears since grandpa died. It truly is a blessing we( me and elder sopena) have had to teach these great people.

ok Elder sopena was born in Rhode island but lived in puerto rico his whole life. He is about my height and loves to play soccer. He also loves to eat. And he has a girlfriend serving her mission in brazil

It's all about love mom

This week was really all about expressing love to the different members of our barrio. Baically, On tuesday we had our usual District meeting but after that me and elder sopena took some candies we had purchased the day before and visted every member possible. Every single one that we visted was like bomb!!! I mean you would never believe how dedicated these members really are. I am so grateful for the members that I do have.

We teach english classes on tuesdays apparently so me and elder sopena and another member of the ward Antonio (recent convert) taught some inactives and some potential investagators. It was bomb it is what the ward needs also. Well on wednesday we had zone conference and let me tell you what!!! It was the bomb- digity. Elder Macdonalds companion elder brox is going home this transfer. In approximately 4 weeks and sadly to say he gave his final talk in front of the missionaries. I really felt the spirit once he spoke. At the end of that me and the elders that I live with sang in a choir that will be singing in december for all the missionaries. I am excited and I know it is a bomb opportunity to invite investagators :)

On thursday me and elder sopena visited some other members in our area and gave them pass along cards and taught them how to give out pass along cards and invite people to church. It was a really good feeling. I think that teaching people how to teach is so vital to help the church progress.

On Friday we had to return to the house way early because is New Jersey they have what is called Mischief night and Halloween. Where traditionally the gangs from Newark and farther into the city go out and kill people. According to last years reports and what president Bahr told us. on the 30th of october 30 people were killed and on the 31st of october 31 people were killed. Basically it's a terrible thing that happens in New Jersey 61 people killed. So we go home early 6pm to be exact.

Well saturday was interesting to say the least. Alot of interesting people in our neighborhood but basically it turned out that we went over to some potential investagators house and bam talked with them for the longest time about this life and when we die. Answering questions of the soul. It was really great.

Love, Elder Gamez

Ssesanga- Nov 2nd

HI MAAM
It has been along time without my reply but it is not my fault is because
my email was timing me out b4 I send the message to u but I always read
your messages thank u you very much for that………am doing well for now and my
companion is elder kuamoo from California and am still in my first area….I
get to see elder mandenhall and he is in my zone now ………I am really exited
for my area because every thing is going on well the lord is taking us those
who are ready for the gospel and baptism and on the 8 nov we are having 3
baptisms and we are getting many investigators from our investigators
because they love the message we teach them and they send it to others. To
day I don't have much time but I love mama and thank u….and my birth day is
14 days from am get old mama so ….. I cant wait

10-26-2009

Shoop da woop for Charlie!!! I am so proud of that boy. His team is number 6th in the entire state! That is crazyness. I think that he is just going to play football? Idk but I am glad he is doing so well. Well anyways, Things here are going great.
 wednesday was pretty awesome we got up early because we wanted to visit some other inactives in our ward. But they weren't home. But it was like heavenly father was guiding us because right there on the street we saw them and talked to them. They didn't even have the day off or at least they didn't plan it to be off. Just something was wrong at their job and got the day off.

Well we went out and visited some of our members and gave them some thank you cards for all of their help. Also, I made more of the brownies which like I said before are a complete and udder fake that tastes delicious.  Well afterwards, we went over to another lady Noemi Leon who was so happy to see us and fed us. It was crazyness actually. She has an addiction to black tea. And so we made an agreement. I have to give up english until december 31st and she can't drink tea anymore. It is kind of hard because if I say one word in english I have to do 50 push up. I have already done 500 just in this week for talking. "sigh" but hey she hasn't drunken tea in a week. I am so happy for her.

WEll on thursday me and elder sopena planned for the week in the morning and went finding. We probably knocked 200 doors that day. WEll around here it is more like we rang 200 bells and then climbed 100 sets of stairs. LOL

Then saturday we got this call from Hna. Earnest in the morning and apparently she told us some day this week that we had to bring stuff that represented america which honestly I had no clue but it's chill. So anyways we left and bam! got stuff from the house... because honestly what really is american lol. And bam made my completely fake brownies lol and bam!!!!!!!! attended the event. It was great. Every single pais was there, they had dances and cultural biographies, but my favorite was the food :).........

So next we went and vistited one of  our other members Isabel a recent convert and she was very happy to see us mainly because we are so great but those are her words.

With love,
Elder gamez