Pictures - Nuevo Laredo House

The front of ElderWilcox's house in Nuevo Laredo. 

                                            Bedroom

 
 
Bathroom

Pictures - Elders in Nuevo Laredo

Email 1/31/17

Getting information from Brett is ridiculously hard. But those of you who know him, know he is not the most talkative person.  Thank goodness I can be on email at the same time he is so that I can ask questions and fill in his general email with a little more details. He did send a lot of pictures though!

I asked Brett about the highs and lows of his mission so far……….

The best part about the mission so far is that’s its super fun and it’s awesome when you actually understand what people are saying sometimes. 

The worst part is 90 percent of the time I don’t know really what’s going on. but I know that it will come in time 

I asked him to tell me about his week……………….

Um… we had some super good fried chicken and potatoes that a Hermano cooked for us. I will try and send a picture. The food is pretty good so far, but I haven’t really had like anything super amazing yet. Which has kinda bummed me out. I though we would eat more tacos, but we haven’t really! lol 

How was church yesterday? 

Church was pretty good. Like I said I still dont really understand most of whats going on but I can feel the spirit and that’s all that matters.

Are you teaching anyone?

We haven’t really had any new investigators. but we have one named Crispin, who has a lot of questions about everything. He has come to church and yesterday he came to church with his sister.  He’s like 60 something and lives with his brothers. Oh and he only has one leg.

How do you get referrals?

Mostly we ask for referrals from members.  When we teach people we always ask if they know anyone else that would like to hear our message or if they know anyone is sick or something like that.

Anything else

It’s been so cold the past couple of days.  But nothing really happened this week, I do get discouraged about the language barrier sometimes, but it is nothing spiritual.  I just pray my heart out and look for simple things to be grateful for. That’s what really helps is praying and being grateful I am here. I have also been really trying to read the scriptures in Spanish.  Sorry, I don’t have enough time to send pictures and tell every detail of my week. Plus I forget a lot of stuff that has happened. All the days kind of blur together. 

Today was a pretty good day. We cleaned the house, went shopping and then made burgers in the park with Elders from another District.  I tried to find a guitar, but I can’t find any worth buying yet.  I asked President MacArthur if I could have one when I got to the mission and he hasn’t said no. He said the Area 70 told the Mission President in the Monterrey Este (East) Mission (Brett is Monterrey West Mission) that they can’t have musical instruments, but no one told our Mission that we can’t. I can get one I just can find a decent one to justify buying. We always play soccer at 6PM on P-Day. We play with a bunch of people in the Ward and we invite a bunch of people when we knock doors! So after we email today I’m assuming we will just ride our bikes home and change to go play. Our house is not that far from the cyber café, like only an 8 minute bike ride.  Or maybe we will go to a member’s house, I’m not sure.

 I only have a minute so I probably won’t respond after this! But I love you so much and I miss you!   

Elder Wilcox

Email 1/23/17

That’s awesome about Lindsay’s mission call!

Our baptism was awesome. I felt the spirit so strong! I messed up the prayer in Spanish so we had to do it over, but it all worked out! It really didn’t hit me till we got home and I had time to think about it! 

This week I learned that I just have to let go sometimes when I’m trying to understand everything... it’s been really hard. But I know with faith I will have the gift of tongues and that it’s not gonna come all at once. 

I’ve have also come to learn it is so important for us to really endure to the end. Especially as members who know that we have the fullness of the Gospel. We have that knowledge that makes the consequences for not sticking it out even worse.

I do notice when we are guided by the Spirit while we are knocking doors. This week we weren’t having any luck then we stopped had a prayer. Then we knocked on a door (it’s really all gates) and had a really good lesson with two older ladies. 

Our days are pretty much the same every day. We get up, work out, then cook breakfast. (We just have a stove top no oven.) Then we study from 8-10. After that we either go to an appointment, or we go contacting. Every day at 2 or 2:30 we go to a member’s house and have lunch.  Most people work so I don’t know why its lunch and not dinner, but it’s just like a thing they have for sign ups in the church building  After lunch we go to our next appointment.  At like 730- 8 ish we usually get home then plan for the next day. 

Our ward mission leader is so sick! Hermano Chopin and his wife seriously do so much for us! They buy us food all the time, like tacos and stuff! And take us places in their car! And it’s so awesome! When we are with them they always buy us something, like waters from the gas station or stuff like that.  There is also Hermana Alicia who gives us so much food! She is so awesome! But she talks so fast.... I don’t even know how she moves her mouth that fast. 

Today, literally on the way here to this cyber café, we were walking and there are dogs everywhere in the streets. There was a Chihuahua that was barking at us through a gate and I said to Elder Kirkman (the one from Utah)  "dang that thing could literally fit through the gate". So then I yelled at the dog "YOU WONT"! Then right after that another dog, that we didn’t see, ran through the gate and attacked me! Hahahahahahahaha it didn’t actually bite me but it tried. It got super close to me and I almost had to kick it! I’m not afraid to kick a dog here. There are some pretty sketchy dogs, but this one was soo funny! 

So you asked about packages. The president and his wife come up to Laredo, Texas once every month and get packages. Then they leave the ones for Nuevo Laredo at our house, then we take them to our zone meetings, which are every Tuesday. Then the Zone Leaders distribute them. I got a bike by the way! Ha-ha I almost forgot about that. Its super old and kind sketchy but it’s so cool! The bikes were donated to us from a ward in Texas. So we only paid like 175 pesos which is like almost 10 dollars!

I will have to take picture next week! 

Also my stomach is good and don’t worry about the water.  We have these huge 5 gallon things of clean water. Everyone does. And sometimes bottled water too.  We also have a filtered water bottle the CCM gave us so we can get water from the sink to drink too.

I love you! I’m hoping you can send the things I need by our next package delivery. 

Elder Wilcox

First email from Nuevo Laredo 1-16-17

When we first arrived at the mission office last Monday we had some food, just like muffins, then we hung out and had interviews with the Mission President. He is super awesome I like him a lot.  He is super nice, funny and just great all around.

 

They let us take a nap but I couldn’t sleep. Then in the evening we went tracting with some other Elders that were there for transfers. We finished around 7 and came back to the Mission Office. We ate then we stayed at this really nice house that is for the missionaries. The house was next to the offices. Tuesday we met our comps and then took a bus to Nuevo Laredo. The bus ride took about 2 ½ hours. The roads aren’t that bad they are pretty run down but the drive was okay. The traffic isn’t as bad here, but there are way less people compared to Mexico City.

My new companion is Elder Elizondo. He is from Panama and he barely speaks English. He’s super funny and nice! He is helping me a lot but it’s so hard because of the language barrier between us.

Nuevo Laredo is right on the border. I can see Texas from my house LOL. The weather is kind of hot and it’s pretty humid. Especially compared to Mexico City! 

I haven’t seen anything super sketchy. The area is honestly not that bad. I mean the houses are just really bad. It’s a pretty poor area, but the people here do with what they have, which I think is so awesome. For sure it has humbled me already.

I almost got attacked by a dog though hahaha we were just walking down the street and there was like a car shop/yard thing that was just open and this dog came flying out.  It almost bit me but it stopped like a foot away because the guy yelled at it.

We saw a newspaper in a liquor store that showed someone’s head got cut off... but it’s okay. Other than that we haven’t heard too much about the drug wars. We are supposed to be home by like 7:30 because after dark is more dangerous around here. We can be in by 8:30 if we are driving with a member. We have our whole area and they haven’t told us anything about not going anywhere. 

I am learning that this area is super good for baptisms. I’m baptizing a little girl this Sunday her name is Melba. She is 10 and her family are members but less active, they just came back to church.

My first Sunday at Church was honestly really bad. I didn’t understand anything and it was super frustrating.  We had to share our testimonies and that went well. I have one of the guys from my district living with me too. It’s me and him and our comps. 

The ward members are nice from what I can tell. I can’t really understand what they are saying so that’s fun. The members that we have gone contacting with are super nice. There are a couple of kids that come out with us and they are super funny and awesome!

I have already taught a couple people. The biggest success so far is Melba because we are preparing her for baptism. I invited her and she said yes! so we are super stoked! We have taught a couple other people but no other baptisms yet! But we are trying!

I live in a house and it looks pretty good for what our area looks like.  I took a bunch of pictures but don’t have time to send them. We have to email from a cyber café so my time on the computer is timed. I will send the pictures next week.

Today for P-Day we just cleaned the house and did laundry and went shopping for groceries.  The store is pretty big and it’s kind of like Albertsons but a little different. We bought cereal, bananas, apples and cleaning supplies. We didn’t really get that much food.  Pretty much every day we have lunch with the members, so we just need to make breakfast and dinner.

(I was chatting with Brett over email and asked him if the people took siestas in the afternoon)

Not right now, they don’t take naps. I think that starts in the summer when it is really hot! 

(I also sent Brett a scripture and a quote from one of our church leaders, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.  It is below and I have included a link at the end if you would like to read the whole talk he gave at BYU several years ago)

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

I submit to you that (John 14:27) may be one of the Savior’s commandments that is, even in the hearts of otherwise faithful Latter-day Saints, almost universally disobeyed; and yet I wonder whether our resistance to this invitation could be any more grievous to the Lord’s merciful heart. I can tell you this as a parent: As concerned as I would be if somewhere in their lives one of my children were seriously troubled or unhappy or disobedient, nevertheless I would be infinitely more devastated if I felt that at such a time that child could not trust me to help, or should feel his or her interest were unimportant to me or unsafe in my care. In that same spirit, I am convinced that none of us can appreciate how deeply it wounds the loving heart of the Savior of the world when he finds that his people do not feel confident in his care or secure in his hands or trust in his commandments.

Just because God is God, just because Christ is Christ, they cannot do other than care for us and bless us and help us if we will but come unto them, approaching their throne of grace in meekness and lowliness of heart. They can’t help but bless us. They have to. It is their nature.

https://speeches.byu.edu/speakers/jeffrey-r-holland/  - (You will see a list of talks by Elder Holland. The title of this one is Come Unto Me. There are some other good ones on this page as well.)

Brett replied

That scripture really helped me. I’ve been struggling with the language and it’s made me pretty frustrated and stressed. I’m pretty homesick right now too, so it helped to hear that the Lord doesn’t want us to be sad and that He is always there. I already knew that but it helps to hear it again. 

I have a list of some things I need.  Can you send me some mini scriptures? My bag just gets super heavy with all of the books. I also need my black Dakine backpack, I think it is at Nana’s. We can wear backpacks here in my mission.  Also I need a tie hanger.

And photos of you guys!!! like a bunch of physical photos that I can have to hang or something! 

I love you and miss you guys!

Love,

Elder Wilcox

Remember the best way to communicate with Elder Wilcox is through email at Brett.Wilcox@myldsmail.net  He may not always have time to reply, but he would love to hear from you.  You can also email him pictures.  I will be preparing a box to send to him.  If you want to include something in the box, (at my expense, within reason) let me know by commenting on this post below.  I believe the next package pick up isn’t until next month so there is time.  

Elder Wilcox meets his trainer - pictures 1-11-17

Elder Wilcox meets his trainer, Elder Elizondo and heads to his new area, Nuevo Laredo.  

Again photo cred to Monterrey Mexico West Mission Blog

Arrival at the Mission Home - Pictures 1-10-17

Thank you to the Monterrey Mexico West Mission Blog for sharing these pictures of Brett's arrival at the Mission home yesterday!

Please join me in LAUGHING OUT LOUD at the billboard next to Elder Wilcox's head! Great tip for the newly arrived Elder.

We're here! Fresh off the plane!

Elder Bradley, Brett's CCM/MTC companion looks very happy!

Heading to the Mission Home.

 Elder Wilcox con Presidente y Hermana McArthur.

 The new missionaries, ready to get to work!

Looks like a swearing in ceremony, but no!, we don't do that. So I have no idea what this is, probably a welcome/orientation meeting.

Poor Elders! They have been up since 1 AM and they are wiped out!

Taking over the couch!  Hmmm maybe the other Elder should have said "tap, tap no swoops" when he moved.

"Yep I'm from Southern California! Just in case you couldn't tell from all the 'shaka' signs I make in pictures!"

Elder Wilcox! We miss you!

¡Bienvendia a Monterrey! 1-9-17

¡Hola!

I'm here and I’m super exhausted. We got up at 1 this morning and we didn’t go to bed till like 12. We got to the airport really early and my flight didn’t leave until around 6. I only slept like 15 minutes on the plane.  The flight was really smooth, I just couldn’t get comfy to sleep.

I had to pay for my companion’s extra bag, just so you know that I spent the money. But I’m pretty sure I will get reimbursed for both of them. 

To answer your question about sending the curry rice mix, yes!  that sounds amazing. I was actually thinking about that being a good thing to send. I will think of other stuff that I want to make and ask for the recipes too. 

Monterrey is really cool so far. While driving to the mission home it honestly looked a lot like Joshua tree. It was super, super cold this morning! It was like 39 degrees when we landed. (hahahaha California boy’s idea of super, super cold)  I don’t know anything about my area yet, we have to get interviewed by the president. We don’t find out till tomorrow where we go, I think. I also don’t get my trainer/comp until tomorrow so I will have to tell you all about that next week. I thought we might get to call today, but that isn’t gonna happen.

But my Mission President and his wife are really cool, they remind me of Greg and Ellen (Clifford) When we got here we took pictures with the President and his wife. We will have meetings with him today and then they we are going to go contacting tonight, but I don’t know when.

So far I still haven’t eaten any good food. I got this chicken wrap at the airport that wasn’t really very good. L  

I have to go now. I love you so much and I miss all of you guys. I’m grateful for everything that you guys have done for me!

Love, 

Elder Wilcox 

Email 1/5/17

Brett is down to his last few days in the CCM.  I asked him a bunch of questions, the first one was who he directly reports to, as I figured with over 400 missionaries in the training center they can’t all report directly to the CCM President.

Besides our teachers there is a guy named Elder Eves who coordinates all the temple trips and other stuff like that. But he just tells our District leader. If we have a problem we usually would go to one of our teachers.  But if we have to go to the doctor we don’t have to tell anyone, we just go.  

New Year’s was super loud! It was a little hard to fall asleep but honestly I’ve gotten used to it.  So it wasn’t too bad.  Mexicans love fireworks! We didn’t do anything special for New Year’s. We didn’t even have a program or anything. We drank one bottle of the Sparkling Cider you sent right away and then I saved the other one for New Years! Nothing special New Year’s day either, just church. 

I forgot what you said about keeping a scripture journal but I do write pretty much every day in my journal. I’m recording my steps, miles, and stairs from my Fitbit so I write that down then I talk about my day. But since all the days are pretty much the same I write like every other day.

I think I have grown a lot since I first got here. My testimony has grown so much already by teaching people why the Gospel is so important in our lives. It’s literally the only way that we can be able to live with other Heavenly Father again, and some people have no idea about that. And our jobs as missionaries is that we inviter a las personas a venir a Cristo. We invite every person to come unto Christ. And when we do this we get to see the changes and the blessings in people’s lives. I’ve also learned more about having to deal with people that are hard to get along with. Which has been tough. I’ve also learned that when we have a positive attitude towards the things we do, even when things are hard, it makes those things seem a little easier. 

I feel the spirit the most when I bear my testimony to investigators because I find myself saying things that I normally wouldn’t. One example is when we had a thing called TRC which is when either members or investigators come in and we teach them.

We taught about prayer, and it was right after you had told me about Auntie’s tumor getting smaller. I had prayed for her to get better and literally the next day I got your email saying that her tumor had shrunk. And sometimes I’m not the most open person but I told a random lady I had never meant before, in a language I still barely know, about how real prayer is and how much our Heavenly Father loves us and hears our prayers

  

My stomach is kind of hit and miss still. There are some days where it is good and other days like right after I eat that I have to go.

We heard that there are some protests going on in Mexico because the gas prices went up overnight to super high. So yesterday we heard a lot of sirens and stuff and then we had heard them again last night so we asked the members who work here (because they live outside this compound) and they said it wasn’t too bad. They said Mexico is always crazy ha-ha so I’m not worried. I know you might be worried but remember that the Lord is with us always.  We were supposed to get to go to the temple again today but they don’t want missionaries out right now. It’s nothing serious but they are just being safe.

We went to the temple last week and it was super awesome!! The grounds are kind of like temple square because it is all gated off. It was super cool though. They have a little store that I bought a ring, a couple tie pins, and a mochila backpack) at it was really cool!

I leave here this Monday, January 9^th. My flight leaves at 6:05 AM, and they told us that we will be going to the airport at 2:30 AM.  I might get to call from the airport but I don’t want to wake you guys.  (I told Brett I would take an early morning call! I don’t care what time it is).  I’m a little worried about my bags weighing too much.  I don’t want to have to pay for that. The Church is going to reimburse us for the extra bag fee, but if they go over the weight all that cost is out of our pocket.  I’ll try my best not to go over but please make sure there is money in my account because I might get food in the airport before we fly out and probably again when we get to Monterrey.  hahaa  I miss good food! 

I love you guys and miss you a ton!