Wow Almost Septiembre Wowza!

HELLO FAMILY!! 

Hey so first off i should get the packages this week and i will take some pictures so dont worry ;) hahaha. But sounds like the normal year is starting up again with school GOOD LUCK TO ALL. Better get good grades this year because ill be home next year haha. But interesting with the ward changes. They will all do great. How are you with your calling mom? 

Sounds like you had a good week!! youre right it goes good sometimes and then its hard. But dont worry i got some solid experience now and im feeling pretty good. I love your experience dad!! Thats sick! honestly thats amazing and I love that you focused on the people and not just on them being baptized. Thats super cool. 

Thats honestly how i feel with the Figaroa family. Satan is working real real hard with them. Theyhad a tough trial this week. The daughter is kind of going behind the parents backs and the mom still feels really sick but we went to their house on thursday and they were all crying and we didnt expect it at all. we had just planned to put their baptismal date but instead we talked about the atonement and it was super powerful. the daughter felt really bad and yea but I shared the scripture from Isaiah 1:18 that says even if our sins are like scarlet they can become white as snow. The mom couldnt go to church this week because she was sick and the dad worked but the kids went anyways and we are helping to turn things around. Maybe this family wont get baptized while im here but they have progressed so much and we are helping them. We think the daughter could be a missionary someday. 

Maryanna went to church again with her mom and they are progressing as well!!! President came to Casas Grandes this week and he commented to us that he is pleased because before we got to Alamedas the area and the ward were a wreck and we are turning it around little by little but we are staying humble and working hard. This week i go to Juarez again for the training leader meeting and then we have the stake conference this saturday and sunday which i get to translate. That should be interesting. haha but Elder De Hoyos from the 70 is coming down because we are getting a new Stake president...so we will see what happens. 

So my spiritual thought. Well with some scriptures and quotes and thinking and counsel from president i studied alot about love and here is some stuff i got. 

1.Love is the measure of our faith, inspiration, obedience and discipleship. 

2. Love is the great commandment and should be the central point of all we do in the family, callings in the church and they way in which we gain things in life. 

3. .Love is the healing balm that repairs personal and family diferences and the tie that unites families and nations. 

4 God doesnt need us to love Him but oh how we need to love God!

5what we love determines what we think and do. What we think and do determines who we are and who we will come to be. 

6. Love has been the source of the most sublime happiness and the heaviest of burdens. 

7 Aunque estemos incompletos, Dios nos ama completamente; aunque seamos

imperfectos, Él nos ama perfectamente; aunque nos sintamos perdidos y sin brújula ni

guía, el amor de Dios nos rodea por completo. Even though we are incomplete, God loves us completely and fully. Even though we are imperfect He loves us perfectly. Even if we feel lost and without compass or guides the love of God surrounds us completely. 

8.He loves each one of us even the imperfect, rejected, sorrowful and broken. 

9the love of God is so big and grand that it includes the prideful, egoistics the arrogant and wicked. 

10ur Heavenly Father is infinitely compassionate and desries us to get close to Him so that He can draw near to us. 

11. “ (1 Juan 5:3)

12.  (1 Juan 2:4)

13. The divine love of God converts ordinary acts into extraordinary service. 

14. El amor divino es la fuerza que transforma las palabras sencillas en escritura sagrada. Divine love is the force that transforms simple words into sacred scripture. 

15. El amor divino es el factor que transforma el cumplimiento renuente de los

mandamientos de Dios en una bendita dedicación y consagración. Divine love is the factor that transforms the fufillment of the commandments into dedication and consagration. It guides us. It fills us. and should be shown through word and acts. 

Well thats my letter this week!!!! Love you TEAM MEDEIROS HARD IN THE PAINT!!!

Wooooooooooo WHAT A WEEK! 6 people in church on Sunday!

Thats so awesome you guys went to Elder Castletons homecoming!!! Thats so cool you got to meet him and everything. But yea he has had some interesting experiences...y told me a lot about them. But thats awesome i hope he is good and can get his life started and thats so funny about the woman who thought you were his girlfriend...hahah WOOPS. and also thats awesome with Bronco Mendenhall! haha

Andyea grammy told me about the movie...hahah oh man. Thats really so sad though all of that but darn... the ugly cry with snorts and everything. hah she told me everyone was crying.  and dang all that food sounds super good...im jealous.. hahaha but i got good food here too :)

Stake conference here is the 5th and 6th of September and so ill translate with some other american missionaries. Its cause there are some families that only speak english..well at least the kids do so we gotta translate it. Then the 12th and the 13th will be the rededication of the Mexico City Temple so i will be able to see that!

and birthday ideas!! yes! Maybe some more music? Stuff with cool hymn arrangements. Drink mix like fruit drinks or gatorade or chocolate milk.. maybe socks.. a cool book or study item would be cool. A couple photos of you guys would be nice as well!! i just have been seeing the same 20 for a 13 months haha. Also i wouldnt mind hearing more mission experiences from dad!!

Anyways this week was crazy. 

First of all the Figaroa family went to church again!!!! all 5! unfortunately we couldnt find them all together for a lesson this week but we talked to the daughter and she is kind of the type who is into science but she told us that her teacher is atheist and that in a class discussion she was defending God AND His church and she told us that she believes that this is the true church. We were all like yes perfect haha shes already a missionary. 

On saturday we decided to fast to look for an investigador. Someone who was chosen and prepared. We knocked doors and contacted and we were rejected for literally 3 hours straight by 8 different people or families. Then before lunch we decided ONE more. We knocked..and knocked and no one answered then behind us a girl came up and introduced herself and we started to explain a little of the church and the Book of Mormon then she said "im gonna be honest with you guys.." and we thought great shes gonna tell us shes not interested or  shes catholic but she said"ive always wanted to be a mormon. I have frriends and i want to know and be a member...." 

WHAT WAHT WAHTHWAHT WHAT.

 We invited her to church and she went!! and the daughter of the Figaroa famiily was fellowshipping her as well and everything. the girl is named Maryanna and her mom is interested too and we have a lesson with them tonight!! this week we hope to put 7 baptismal dates! crazy. Also i spoke in sacrament yesterday on the missionary work and the Atonement so that was cool. But wow fasting works hahahahhaa. 

Here is a cool scripture i found this week. Its sick and Alma compares the Liahona to the word of Christ and how if we simply follow the Spirit and Him we will not fall. We will not fail. Really the gospel is easy. It blesses us. ONWARD TO VICTORY!!!

 44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word ofChrist, which will point to you a straight course to eternalbliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass,which would point unto them a straight course to thepromised land.

 45 And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For justas surely as this director did bring our fathers, byfollowing its course, to the promised land, shall the wordsof Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond thisvale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.

 46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for sowas it prepared for them, that if they would look theymight live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, andif we will look we may live forever.

 47 And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacredthings, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto thispeople and declare the word, and be sober. My son,farewell.

LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!! TEAM MEDEIROS!!!!

hard in the paint :D

Hurt my ankle a little this week over a rock hahaha but I'm ok now, don't worry

The leaders of Casas Grandes at the hotel

Hotel business yeeee

The Zone!!!

Hey guys!!! I first off want to tell you all thanks so much for the love and support from this last week. Really im so grateful for all the support and experiences and everything. Just strengthens my testimony of the family and yea we are sick. You guys are the best and really cant even say how grateful i am.

grammy sent me how was sarahs experience for her birthday and it made me super happy to hear she had a great experience and that you guys could all get your swimming on. Im also super proud that you guys could do your relay!!! I know thats hard... i remember ragnar...its tough but dont feel bad about time mom!! you did it!! The same result as everyone else you accomplished it!! woo!! Thats so awesome and yea enjoy your summer while you can because the next summer will be pretty busy ;) 

Anyways Im glad you could enjoy that video i reccomended. But yea this week went better. First of all this week we went so hard with the Figaroa Family to get them to church and we committed them and everything and just taught with power. Their problem is that the mom named Vivianna has a stomach problem and she is facing an operation soon and cant be seated for a long time. Me and my companion were outside waiting for them to arrive and they were going to arrivfe 15 minutes before the sacrament meeting started but they were late and we thought they blew us off again so i was all hey comp lets say a prayer so there outside i offered a prayer asking that they would arrive and literally as SOON AS i said amen and opened our eyes i heard "HEY HERMANOS ELDERS" and they pulled up right next to us. haha wow the Lord answered that prayer quick. Then after the bishop gave her a priesthood blessing and it went really well!! I hope they can progress and i think we are gonna try and put the baptismal date this week.

oh and i should probably mention that we had transfers last night and im staying with Elder Castro for another cycle as ZL!! so we are pumped to go hard in the paint. 

This week we also went ot Juárez for a training meeting with Prez Derbzzzz for some instruction and today we give our zone meeting today for Casas Grandes. Lets see what else cool happened this week.. oh i was asked by the stake to translate Stake conference for the people who only speak english in september so im pretty excited about that!! haha super cool. And other cool thing is this week we had a bunch of fruit and we had like lime juice on it and chili powder and its soo goood like watermelon or melon or pineapple or whatever.. haha or mango so that was great. haha sorry but just a bunch of cool random stuff. 

Last thing is that these weeks i have really lost the fear of testifying like full force. Like i never want to offend everyone in their beliefs but ive learned to testify boldy and with the spirit and respecting others. But this week teh Lord gave me lots of chances to testify with my heart that this is the Church of Jesus Christ. This is the truth. We hold the priesthood authority of God. Christ recognizes this church. Me and my companion went about like Alma and Amulek this week and we left lessons edified. This week we taught a bunch of university college kids and the majority were atheists and just wanted to argue but we didnt succumb to them and left our testimonies and left them silent and i declared that they cant take away what ive felt and seen. 

As i reflect on this past year im infintely grateful for this mission. I knew the church was good before but i never took it like full on 100% seriously. Obviusly i wasnt a bad kid but now ive changed and if theres two things ive learned its to love everyone no matter what. the Apostle paul says that love is the fufillment of the law. and two. I need to rely on the Lord. I read an excerpt that the grandparents sent me that we need to stay close to Christ. AND THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILIES. I feel like im the same Josh and different...like improved...i think? Who knows but im great and i got 11 months left but im giving it all because they say the second year passes faster than the first..

TEAM MEDEIROS!!!! LOVE YOU ALL!!! hard in the paint ye ye ye

This is Isaias...he accompanies us

One year and I'm so so tired but it's k

WOWOOWOWOOW. haha sounds like you all had quite the interesting week there!! Well mom for sure but haha tahts good. thats so cool!!! wow NYC! the big time!!! hahaha yea mom of course id love to go with you!!! that would be way fun. 

Sounds like the kids like the mission impossible movie!! And andrew is busy as usual haha sounds like me as i was finishing up high school hahahaaa. Hey andrew how was that sour candy? haha sounds rediculous. but yea this week we had some crazy lightning storms as well!! I love hearing from the kids by the way!!!! haha it makes me happy. Im glad sarah could relate me with one of the scriptures in the ant man. hahahhaha que bueno. And tell jenna im for sure wanna play that game when i get back haha. 

and hey also good luck with relay!!! I hope that goes well for you guys. Yea you guys deserve a rest next year that way we can spend time together when i get home! haha We need for sure go back to boston someday!!! and maui hehehehe. 

Anyways truthfully this week was really hard. Haha im absolutely dead physically we worked so hard to find new people and really gave it our all but the results werent obvious on sunday. The Figaroa family didnt go to church...or anyone for that matter.. bleh that kind of stinks. We put a baptismal date on Jonathan!! but we had to pass him to another ward because he lives out of our area... so yea that wasnt to fun. bleh haha. but nevertheless we gained a friend who we are never gonna forget. Really hot this week and yea. 

This week i have been doing a lot of fighting like leaving an example always being happy and humble and helpful. the triple h. hahahaha but yea i really enjoyed my studys this week. Im rereading the book of mormon and i just started Alma and im reading Jesus the Christ again and im about halfways done! So yea thats super good. hahaha This morning a super rich member gave us a sick american breakfast and im nice and full. haha

But yea with Jonahthan we taught him the word of wisdom and now he is leaving cigarettes behind and yea. But we are fighting! We go to Juarez this week for some meetings for leadership and we got transfers in a week and we will see what happens!!

I really loved the words to this hymn from this week. 

1. Abide with me! fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens. Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!

3. I need thy presence ev'ry passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's pow'r?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Thru cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me!

good stuff and its true. Sorry this week was a little bleh compared to others but ALL IS WELL ALL IS WELL!! TRUE TO THE FAITH AND HARD IN THE PAINT!!!! TEAM MEDEIROS!!!LOVE YOU ALL!

 My comp's b-day...everyone gave him the goods and cake!

What's up chillins'

JENNA!!

How was Zermatt?its sounded like a lot of fun lucky. I wish i was there too!! Less than a year and ill be home to play!! haha We can play smash bros ok? And i will teach you spanish. HAve fun in mission impossible!

LOVE, Elder Joshua Medeiros #TeamMedeiros

Yea official hump day! isnt that somethin? the truth is i got nothing planned...its actually the same day as my comps birthday and we are probs gonna work. haha. hahaha thats crazy cause i still feel new and what not but whatever ahha im not anymore. I got some solid experience now kind of hahhaaha. Anyways well im glad you were all able to get the anniversary up and going. Sounds like it was pretty crazy...haha like alot of planning...like wow.. haha that sounded crazy. like wow. haha im glad it was fun and the family was able to get together even though its crazy its always sweet. Nothing better!! 

And mom keep it up with the calling.. its hard but they are so fufilling! And good luck with your relay comin up! i miss running super often.. oh well haha!

Anyways here are two highlights from the week..or a few haha

Jonathan was able to come to church again this week! On tuesday we meet with him and i think we are gonna put a baptismal date with him as well. We are also working with the figaroa family. We hit them with everything we had this week. We visited this family of 5 with members and taught with power and were THAT close to go to church but they had to leave...hahah we were SOOOO close. 

We also had the baptism of a kid named Osmin that we taught and we reactivated his mom so that was super cool!! a nice experience. We had interviews with President on friday as well. haha it was really fast cause basically he had interviews with everyone cause he wanted to clean the missioin so i walked in and he was like "ok sins" and i was like none. haha then diligence and i said 100% and then we talked about my assignment as ZL a little bit and yea haha that was it. 

But as im heading into the second half of my mission this whole week i did a huge self evalution(by the way i got your packages!! THANK YOU! PERFECT!!! haha new garments feel so good lol and sour patch) and the letter mom wrote me made me start to think as well. So this whole week in my studies and my actions i was thinking alot and i just felt immensely grateful for this opportunity to serve and what its done for and to me. On friday it rained SUPER HARD and we were walking then it started and we had to run and it was sick and then we found cover and watched the lightning for a little and i just had this sick feeling and i was like.."Im in mexico preaching the everlasting gospel in a different language. I am a servant and disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. " it was super cool!! Then today i read a scriputre in Acts 5 when Peter and John were persecuted that says

38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it;

 41 ¶And they departed from the presence of the council,rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shamefor his name.

 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

So yea!!! that was my week!! KEEP IT UP FAMILY!!!! GO HARD IN THE PAINT!!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!

Outside the family history center in Nuevo Casas Grandes

It rained super hard and we found some patos...ha ha, ducks!

Osmin's baptism and some ward members