November 15, 2022

Alrighty everybody, we're back!

After a little less than a week in my new area... everything is chaos. :P I received the assignment to manage the Facebook Page for the mission. So I'm now doing that, on top of training, on top of being a District Leader, on top of whitewashing an area. I've got a bit of a full plate, you could say. So forgive me if this email is a bit short. Also, no pictures, because yeah. :/

Although this week has been pretty crazy, it's also been full of cool experiences! We were able to find two new people to teach last week, and we've got a great ward here, they're very supportive, and have helped out a lot with getting to know the area, who we can go visit, stuff like that. Hopefully we'll be settled in real soon. 

To wrap things up, I haven't shared a spiritual thought in a while! (I know, I'm a terrible missionary ;) The other day, while going over Preach My Gospel to plan companionship study, I was reading a part in Chapter 10, about Teaching for Understanding. And the thought struck me that taking time to truly understand the Gospel is quite probably one of the most essential things that we can do. But how, exactly, do we come to understand? Well, obviously, we need to study. But also, we need to experience it! So what can you do to experience the Gospel? Go think about it. That's your homework this week.

Anyway, thats all out of me. See you next week! 

- Elder Blankenbiller 

P.S. You can start the countdown now, there's only ten more of these emails coming!

November 9, 2022

Hey Everyone!

Surprise! Bet you didn't see this one coming. Due to circumstances beyond my control, yesterday was actually not P-Day. But today is, so you get an email one day late. Hope that didn't cause too much of a panic. ;)

Anyways. The reason we have P-Day today is because yesterday, we had transfers! And this time, President had us wait until Tuesday night. So yesterday at about 4:30, I went to the temple to pick up my trainee (oh yeah, I'm training now), and then we got in a van and headed off to drop off some other missionaries. And yeah. That’s about it. :P I'm in a new area now, we're whitewashing the area of the old Technology Specialists. (Fortunately, that assignment did not pass on to me) And we'll see how it goes. 

Last week was kinda crazy. On Tuesday morning, the AP's stopped by for a visit, and called my companion as a trainer. They had their meeting on Wednesday, which I didn't get invited to. And then on Friday, President gave me a call, and said that he had forgotten to tell me that I would also be training. So. That happened. 

We got the actual transfer news on Saturday, and, as always, that made Sunday kind of painful. Too many goodbyes. :P But hey, I can always visit again soon-ish. But yeah. Crazy week. I'll let you know how this whole training gig goes. Have a good one!

- Elder Blankenbiller 

Photos:

- The temple

- A sunset

- A few goodbyes

November 1, 2022

Hey everybody! Happy Halloween, Feliz Día de los Muertos, whatever you decided to celebrate this year! It's been an eventful week, so let's run it down, shall we? 

First up, we had Stake Conference this last weekend, which was really cool, because I got to see a whole bunch of people from the other wards I've served in here in the stake! They were all quite surprised to realize that I've only got three months left, haha. It was nice to see old friends again. Plus, our Mission President showed up, and gave some great advice to the members about helping out with the work, and letting us wash their dishes. (Speaking of, let the missionaries wash your dishes or something. They'll thank you. :)

Also this week: A service project! We went and helped clean out a member's seafood restaurant, which had gotten rather... greasy. :P But hey, we got to throw water around and use brooms to clean the ceiling, so who am I to complain? ;)

Overall, a great week! Looking forward to this next one, to wrap up the transfer strong. See you around!

- Elder Blankenbiller 

Photos:

- Tall dead lady #1

- Tall dead lady #2

- My companion opens a pizza shop

- <3

- Expensive Chocolate tastes better 

- Don't ask what's in the bag

- Zone Halloween photo

- More Día de Los Muertos decorations 

October 25, 2022

 Hey everybody! Hope you all had a great week, and if not, enjoy hearing about mine, because I did. ;)

First up, we had companion exchanges with one of the companionships in my district. I stayed in my area, and Elder Barrios came to visit. He's from Guatemala, and he's got about six months in the mission. And we had a great time! We had a great lesson with a new investigator, a Family Home Evening with one of the best families in the ward (don't tell the ward I said that), and the Hermana is actually from Guatemala too, so they had a grand old time talking about stuff from home. I also got to try a drink that they simply call 'cafe', but isn't actually coffee? It's a grain based drink, and it was honestly really good. I'll have to see if I can find some more somewhere. All in all, successful exchanges if I do say so myself. Also last week, we had Zone Conference! Always fun to see people from across the mission, it isn't too often that we get to do that. Plus, a whole bunch of people gave their farewell testimonies at the end. Eight people are going home in two weeks! Crazy. 

The work has been going really well, at the moment, we have eight people in teaching, with several potentials lined up for this week. Without too much trouble, we should be able to keep things going strong. We've also seen a lot more effort on the part of ward members to be actively involved in missionary work. They even send us messages sometimes asking if we have any lessons that they can help out with! It's really cool. (Also, go help the missionaries in your ward. Trust me, they'll appreciate it a lot. And make them wash dishes or something, they're there to serve, after all ;)

Have a good one!

- Elder Blankenbiller 

Photos:

- The best tacos in Mexico City 

- Photogenic Bridge 

- Family Home Evening during exchanges 

- I'm something of a celebrity myself

- See above explanation

- Chocolate cake for five bucks 

October 18, 2022

Hello again! 

This week was absolutely crazy, we did so many things, I'm not even sure where to start. :P 

For starters, we had an amazing temple trip with a recent convert, where we managed to sneak into the session with a bunch of MTC missionaries. It was very strange, seeing so many white people in one place again. :P On the way out of the temple, I actually bumped into my MTC teacher, Hermano Gallegos! It was cool to catch up a bit, especially now that I can talk to him in Spanish. ;)

Also this week: We made pizza with the Elders Quorum, had interviews with President, and one of our baptismal dates almost gave us the slip by moving to Aguas Calientes. (She called us on Saturday, and told us that her sister came to get her, and she wouldn't be able to see us anymore. And then on Sunday, she called us again to say that actually, that's not true, she couldn't leave because work. So... we're still good!) 

Also, I tried a new food this week! They're called Tlayudas, and they're from Oaxaca. Imagine a burrito, but folded like a quesadilla, with a toasted flour tortilla, and cooked in lard. In short, they're delicious, and you should try them. 

Lastly, a spiritual thought: This week, I was studying about studying. (Redundent, but hey) Something that really stood out to me was the emphasis on continually learning no matter what stage of life we're in. And an important part of that is building on precious learning. Of course, in order to do that, we need to remember what we've already learned. And something that really helps with that is keeping a study journal. So. Do it. :) 

That's all for this week! 

- Elder Blankenbiller 

Photos:

- Making Pizza 

- The Pizza 

- Pumpkin Spice pancakes 

- Tlayudas (a dish from Oaxaca)

- Temple trip!

- My MTC teacher who I randomly bumped into at the temple  

October 11, 2022

 Hey everyone!

 Another busy week! We had exchanges with the Zone Leaders, had an incredible number of miracles in our area, and this week might top it! So let's get right into it, shall we?

On Friday, we had companion exchanges with the Zone Leaders; I went to their area to work with Elder Santos. It was a pretty great day, we found a handful of people willing to listen, a couple less-active members, and even bumped into their baptismal date while wandering around the area before lunch. And, as is now sort of tradition, we slept over at their apartment and played Catan. (With a bit of illegal gambling on the side between Elder Santos and I. And that's the story of how I won a Tamale and Atole by winning Catan twice. ;)

Sunday was awesome. We had three of our investigators come to church, and by the end, they all had baptismal dates! One of them, Hermana Elizabeth, gave the most powerful testimony, and the members were practically falling over each other to offer her a ride to church, or to go visit her, etc. We're super excited to see that the ward is finally starting to pull its weight. :P

That's all from me, have a great week!

- Elder Blankenbiller 

Photos:

- Mario's looking a bit out of it

- District Catan

October 4, 2022

How's it going everybody? 

Welcome back to the soon-to-expire series of weekly emails in the life of Elder Blankenbiller. They're basically limited edition, so enjoy them while they last. ;)

Anyway. While everyone else was dealing with the chaos of a new area and a new companion, my companion and I just kind of carried on with business as usual. It was kinda nice, not gonna lie. Plus, we've got lots of plans for this ward, and I'd have been really put out if I wasn't around to see them through. We even put a baptismal date this week! The work is going well. :)

Also, we had general conference this week! (I mean, I'm sure most of you noticed) We got a whole bunch of temples announced right near the city! Obviously, I won't be around to see even the foundations laid, but still. :P 

I hope you were all taking notes, there was certainly a lot to get out of this conference. One of my personal favorites was the talk by Elder Schmitt, about learning the names of Christ, and applying them to ourselves. (Fun fact, Elder Schmitt was the San Diego mission president several years ago). 

Anyways. I've got to go play volleyball, so enjoy your week, and I'll see you later! 

- Elder Blankenbiller 

Photos:

- Conference meme

- That's it, I didn't take pictures this week. :P