New Area, New Companion, New Opportunities

Hola!! We've got some new changes going on around here!! 

Not sure if I mentioned in my last email that I changed areas!! I'm in a new area called Santa rosa! It's pretty cool!! My companion and I have been together for a week now and I can say there's a lot of new changes!! I also forgot to mention, I have a new mission president!! His name is President Aguirre. He and his wife are amazing!! We had a zone conference with them last Friday and man it was so cool! I learned alot and I thought I'd share a few things that I learned with you!!

1. Everything we see is a demonstration of the love that God has for us!

Hermana Aguirre told us that we oftentimes get caught in the net of negativity and are way too focused on the bad thing, but as soon as we change our perspective and break free from this net, we quickly see that even the most difficult of challenges are some of the greatest blessings! Looking through God's eyes to see our situation can really change our perspective of those we serve and the situations we face but it all begins with positivity. I'm going to do a 7 day fast this week. It's a 7 day fast from negativity. That means that before I say anything negative or think negatively about someone or a situation, I'm going to stop and change my perspective to see the good. I tried to do a little 3 day fast from negativity, and i can say that it really turned my whole week around. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!

2. Love everyone!

I think this point goes hand in hand with the "no negativity" thing, but i think it's important enough to have its own little section. During the reunion with President, he asked us, " Do you really care?" "Are the people around you Really important to you?". I told myself YES! These people really are important to me and I really do care about each one of them! But then just seconds later president asked, " DO THEY KNOW THAT YOU CARE AND THAT THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU?" That's a great question right!! Do they know? I know for a fact I'm gonna be better at letting other people know that I love them starting with you!! I LOVE YOU!! You're the best and I'm so grateful for you!! 

3. Be the best you everyday

I don't need to say too much about this, but I love to think that if I'm gonna be here on earth, I might as well strive to be the best person I can be everyday. Not just sometimes, but always. I know that sometimes doing our best is hard, and tyring, but the truth is, we always feel better and we always feel as though we are making our heavenly father Proud! (WHICH IS TRUE! HE IS SO PROUD OF OUR EFFORTS). 

Anyways, I'm gonna work hard this week to see things through God's eyes, love everyone, and be the best me I can be. I know it won't be easy but it will be worth it!! I love you all so much and I miss you all like crazy!! Please have an amazing week and I promise to be better at sending emails on time!! Have a great week butttttt don't have too much fun without me!!

Update!!

Hey everybody!! How is it going?? A lot of people are asking for an email, and I know I’m really consistent about writing (not) haha!!

Let's see, what's been going on??? Ah, first and foremost, I'M MOVING! THAT'S RIGHT PEOPLE, I'M LEAVING PARAJES!! But where you might ask?? I’m headed to an area called Santa Rosa and I will be serving with Elder Ake!! He's a great elder and I'm very excited to work with him! I'll actually be headed over to the area tomorrow in the morning, so that's gonna be great!! 

I sure will miss Parajes a ton, but it will be a nice change of view!! My companion Elder Moya will actually be working with another Elder who served in Benito!! 

Oh also … I want to bear testimony that miracles are real!! I had some pretty amazing experiences this last week with miracles. I feel like the invitation from President Nelson to look for miracles is so important and is so applicable to us today! I would love to invite you to take charge and go for it!! LOOK FOR SOME MIRACLES!! LET GOD PREVAIL!!

I just want to say that I love and miss you all a ton!! Please be safe and have an amazing week but like always, don’t have too much fun with out me!! (BUT IF YOU DO THATS OK!!) 

LOVE YOU ALL TONS

Elder Furner

An Update!!

Holaaa!! 

Sounds like a lot of people are asking for an update ... So here it is!! HAHA

I first want to say, man I love the mission. Sure it's tough. And there's a lot going on, but man I love it. I have had a ton of time to learn about the character of Christ and how he really lived and loved. I have also learned a lot about how I can do the same!! 

So let’s just see. What has been going on here in good old Ciudad Juárez... ?

I think I shared it with you guys, but I'm not sure, I have a new companion!! YEAH!! His name is Elder Moya!! He's from the state of Mexico (for those who don’t know, there is a state in Mexico called Mexico, just for your information!! Haha) With him we've learned a lot and been able to find a really effective form of finding and teaching people, and the secret is … Listening. 

My parents have been trying to teach me to listen my whole life, and for some reason I didn't think about applying it until now!! I'll just say, parents know what they're doing hehe... 

As a result of our hard work, prayers and listening, we had a baptism!!! That's right people!! WOOT WOOT!! I'm so grateful to know that someone else has taken the same steps that I took not too long ago. I learned a lot of things from this experience too.

I'll put some photos below, but I just thought I'd let you all know that I am so grateful for each and every one of you and I love you all so much!! Thank you for helping me get to this point in my mission!!

Have an amazing week … buttttt don’t have too much fun without me!! 

We also saw a tornado!! It was crazy!!

It's been a while ..

Hellooo, man how time has flown by!! I have officially been out on the mission for 10 months as of Saturday!! Crazy right??!! For me at least haha. I've gotten a ton of reports this last week saying that I need to write a mass email, soooo here I am. Sorry it took me so stinking long to get this out haha!!

Let's see, what's been going on... well this last week, we had a lot going on, kinda. We had a ton planned this last week but sadly, most of our lessons fell through, and we didn't get to teach very many peeps. Which is okk!! There's ups and downs to this ya know!! We may not have been able to teach a ton of new people, but we were able to spend some family home evenings with some families in the area!! So that was pretty cool!! 

I think I've mentioned before, our area is the biggest area in the mission. (so I'm told) With that, it means that we have a lot of responsibility. That's a good thing!! I actually really love this area!! The people here are great and there are always things to do!! It's awesome!! 

My companion is almost done with his training. I hope that he is ready to be a trainer pretty soon too, but until then, he's stuck with me!! Hehe sucker!! 

Anyways, this week has been great and I'm so grateful for all the love and support. Have an amazing week but don't have to much fun without me!!

My New Companion!!

Holaaaa!! Cómo ha estado?? Espero super bien!! Hi!! How have you been?? I hope really well!! It's been a superrrrrrr long time since I last talked to all of you, so I think it's about time that I share all of my new adventures!! 

As you heard from my last email, I have a new companion!! His name is Elder Buenfil, and he is amazing!! He is an excellent missionary and an amazing friend. I am so lucky to be his first companion in the field!! That's right, I'm a trainer!! And with ‘great power’ comes great responsibility. Haha!! It's crazy to think that I was, not too long ago, walking in the same shoes as this elder. 

I was unsure of what to do, where to go, nervous, all that stuff, but I'm so grateful for the example of my trainers, Elder Garcia and Elder Anrubio. They helped me so much, and helped me recognize the importance of every missionary in the field. My new companion has a far from perfect trainer, but I'm super grateful to know that he is doing well, feels good and is building his faith in God!!

And that's pretty much it... haha!! So I guess I'll share a scripture with you!! One scripture that I love is found in the book of Mormón, another testament of Jesus Christ. It's found in Ether chapter 2:25. About half way through the verse is a sentence that I love, it says, "...ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea." When I read this scripture, it reminds me of how important it is to recognize, that our temporary trials are for our benefit. They are here to help us, because without the small things, great things cannot come to pass.

This has been a great week and I can't wait for another!! Have an amazing week but don't have too much fun, without me!!

A New Companion!!

Buenos diássss!!!

Man this week has been pretty slow to be honest, but its’ nice to have a day off!!

There isn’t to much going on here, other than... I’m training a new missionary this next cycle!! I’m not sure what his name is, what he looks like or where he is from. All I know is that Elder Luna is off to another area and I’m staying here to train!! Woot woot!! A little nervous to be honest, but of course, I know that, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me"!!

Hmmmm what else has been going on?… I learned how to cut my own hair... learning... I’m learning... haha!! 

We also extended a baptismal date to one of our friends we are teaching. I’m not sure if I’ve already mentioned him... but hey, nothing’s wrong with reminders!!

This email was pretty stinkin’ short, but it’s something!! I’m doing really well and I’m super excited to train a new elder!! It’s going to be a super exciting cycle, and I'll tell you allllll about my new companion next week!! 

Okie dokie, have an amazing week, but don't have tooo much fun without me!!!

Off to Villa Ahumada!!

Woot woot!! Another week gone and another one coming up!! This week was awesome, but why?? Well, for absolutely zero reason other than, I love the mission!!

But seriously, what happened?? Well, we started the week strong with 4 new referrals and a new family to teach!! Woot woot!!! They are awesome!! They live pretty far away from us, which makes it pretty hard to visit them. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t willing to walk the 2 hour walk!! Whatever it takes to bring another person to the light, let’s do it!! It reminds me a lot of when Christ traveled miles just to visit people who needed to hear his message. 

I can imagine, how heavy his feet must have felt as he took the walk to the garden and how long it must have felt to carry his cross up the mountain. Christ would have walked 100 miles just to carry my cross, so why wouldn't I be willing to sacrifice a small moment to go carry the cross of another? I think that’s one of the greatest blessing of being a missionary, I can actually walk with those I teach, and they can come to know Christ better as we walk together. Just something that I've been thinking about. 😁

Now at the beginning of another week, I had the opportunity to visit my dear friends in the far off land of Villa Ahumada!! I can say, being there with them again, really made me miss my little town, Bonito Benito!! (Bonito means beautiful) Anyways, but it was nice... 😁

Okkkkkk well it’s time for me to go, but I just hope everyone knows that I love each and everyone of you very much!! Anddddd like always... have an amazing week, but don’t have to much fun without me!!