"My Best Two Years"

I will just put a copy of his final email home, and hope I will not get in trouble :)
He is so private that I have had to be careful to put personal things he has said on this blog. BUT, I thought this was a good way to sum up his mission.

"Anyway, I really am grateful for my mission and the time that I have had to
serve the Lord. They have been the best two years of my life and I am surely not
regretting for doing it. I have learned so many things that I am going to use
throughout my life. Im grateful for the support that everyone has given me
through letters or through your simple prayers. I know that these small things
helped me get through the hard times of my mission. I love each one of you and I
cant wait to see you again on Thursday night.
Until Thursday,"

Will post more with pictures- thanks again to Elder Moyar!

He's Feelin' Trunky!

Finally our first email saying that he is starting to get trunky! They watched the "The Best Two Years" today, and he said that really hit him and he was excited to get home to see all of his family, and watch sports, and he added, "that is just how I am" meaning, he is ready for his sports!
He and Elder Moyar have really had a great few weeks, and he is ending his mission in a fantastic way. I received pictures from President Hansen, and a note telling me they are setting a record in their area. Tyler never tells me anything like this, so this was great to hear.
They are a great companionship!
His letter today told us that he rode another donkey, and this is how he told the story.
"This week I rode a donkey again. But this time I actually rode it and went on a
little 15 yard trip. It was hilarious. I have it on video. I started going and I
didnt know how to drive a donkey and we were in the middle of the street. I see
a big truck coming and I didnt know what to do and then the donkey just stopped
right in the middle of the road on the yellow line. I was so nervous that the
donkey was going to go backwards and then we were both going to get hit by the
truck . The donkeys owner started running over there shouting my little donkey
dont move little donkey. Ill just have to show you the video when i get home in
9 days."
Can't wait to see that one! But I'm wondering, did the man care about Tyler?!
A couple of weeks ago they baptized a man whose wife left him and he is raising his 9 and 7 year old sons. He barely has any money to feed them, and he wanted to change his life so he could be a better father. He had to make a drastic life change, but felt like this was the answer to what he has been looking for.
His sons are Alexander and Jimmy- yeah, Jimmy! Not your typical Spanish name.
The youth in the ward are really helping them and love to go out with the missionaries, I know Tyler really enjoys this.
Here are a few pictures, thanks to Elder Moyar and the donkey ones are from President and Sister Hansen- thanks!!!




P-Day spent at the ruins.

When I first saw this I thought it was Tyler and Elder Moyar bungie jumping. The white shirts threw me!

Tyler with Elder Moyar, who has become a great friend!


Here with Elder Garcia



Here at the baptism of Alberto and Jimmy

Here is Alexander who was upset because he wanted to get baptized too! When Jimmy was in the water, Alexander ran up to the font and screamed, "no he can't swim!"
They calmed him with cookies!

0 to Go!

Their Baptism with Jesus. His brother baptized him.


Would this guy not make you laugh everyday?!!!

Tyler usually begins his letter at the end or beginning of the month with how many down, how many to go, our email this week was no different.
Except it had the nice little 0 at the end. It was his last Fast and Testimony Meeting in Mexico!
He spent it in Vega de la Torre, at the smaller "House of Prayer" because they have another investigator there, which is getting baptized this week, and he is excited because they will baptize in the ocean! I think he has always wanted to do that while being there, but has not been in an area for it.
They did baptize a 12 year old boy named Jesus last week, and his mom and brother were baptized a couple of weeks ago. They are a good family, and Elder Moyar's blog has a good story about their conversion.

Sad news this week from him was that their greenie left the mission. He said he just couldn't do it anymore. He got really depressed and started being very negative.
Tyler and Elder Moyar really tried to help him, but he was just really having a difficult time.
So as Tyler said, he has "killed" two early (remember the first one went off and got married :)), and Elder Moyar has killed three early....
Are they working them to death?
But it looks like in the picture E. Moyar cracks the whip on them!
And that is good :)

Does he want to come home at all?

Elder Moyar and this is just one classic picture I found of him!


Tyler is so happy I am not sure he wants to come home! But having Elder Moyar and Castillos as companions is making it more tempting to stay and helping him not be trunky.
He really likes his area in Martinez. They actually have two areas there and he goes over to Vega de Torre on Sundays to the "House of Prayer" ( it is smaller than a branch).
Elder Moyar is from Payson Utah, and is hilarious. I found his blog and cannot stop laughing. Tyler said in his letter that Elder Moyar just keeps him laughing everyday.
I don't doubt that at all after reading his letters on his blog!

Elder Castillos is from Mexico and he is a brand new missionary at the age of 23.
Mexican elders can go on their mission at the age of 18, so he is an older missionary. Tyler said he is a humble, laid back guy but a good missionary that has had a really rough past. He was a member of a gang, and I am sure Tyler and Elder Moyar are really hearing some interesting stories. Tyler really wants him to do well on his mission, and he can see alot of potential in him.
They had a baptism their first week together, and Elder Castillo baptized her, so Tyler said he is hoping that will be a good start for him and get him going.

He really doesn't even talk about coming home, and I am glad that he is not thinking of that so much. He told me he would give 100 percent until the end, and it sounds like he is.
So thrilled he is happy!

Leaving Xalapa with a BANG! And he is going "to die" in Martinez de la Torre

****DISCLAIMER---the "he's on fire" saying in this post is not a bragging quote, but to tell you he doesn't want to give up, not trunky, and not ready to come home.
I HAVE SOME TOUGH CRITICS THAT DO NOT ALLOW ME BRAG ON THIS BLOG!!!!



What a couple of weeks Tyler has had! Two weeks ago they had two baptisms, and this past week four! He was so very pleased with all of them, but felt like the last week the four that they baptized are "really going to be good members and help in the church".
Elder Judd joined them last week, because his companion went to the office, and Tyler said "it has been the most fun he has had on his mission".
He really enjoyed being with Elder Judd again (last time they were in the office together).
He said the baptism last week of the four was really sweet and the three of them even sang. One of the new members played a hymn on his guitar and Tyler said that was really good. One of the new members is playing the piano at church on Sunday now.
He was so happy, and so happy in Xalapa, that when he wrote us last week that he was leaving, I was a little worried about getting a down letter this week.... BUT NO WAY, this boy is on fire, and his heart is in the right place. He is going to Martinez de la Torre, and it is HOT there! Over 100 degrees last week. And the area is new to missionaries, and is a small town. But he is very excited to get there he said.
His companion is Elder Moyar from Utah. Tyler really likes him and says that he is really funny and a really good missionary. He is also going to train a "greenie" so it will be the three of them for awhile.... and of course he will "die" (mission terms)in Martinez de la Torre and will return to the arms of his mother!
He is so happy, and loves his mission so much, I sometimes feel guilty wanting him home, but am so grateful for everything he has experienced.
I know he will miss it too.

Here are a few pictures of the baptisms this past week.

Missionaries We Love!

No new pictures of Tyler, but he is still sending great emails, and really focusing on his time left. They are working with a few people, and one really good lady, whose husband joined the church in Canada.
He loves Xalapa, and the people there, but if the members took you to the country club to play tennis, have their housekeepers cook for you in your "mansion", and treat you like this, you would love this area too!
The members are so good to them there.
He told us about zone conference last week, where he and Elder Minetto had to teach a lesson on getting commitments and how to "ask". They got a little creative, got Sister Hansens' purse and pretended like they were a couple and the guy was asking a girl on a date. Well, this is the boy that said "I am not dating until after my mission, because why would I want to waste my money on someone elses' wife!"
Yep, not much of a dater.
But they were showing how to approach people the correct way.
I so wish I had a picture of this!

Here are some pictures we have received lately of some of our favorite missionaries.
Elder Chris(Bulgaria) sent us some in his letter, but I can not get them to open up, but I am so excited to see them. He is always having fun!




This is my cousin's son Derek leaving for Uruguay. Going out into the "unknown"
He will be great!

Here is Derek with his mom Sheila, and Meagan,and Colby.
Sunglasses needed... wish I would have thought of that!


Here is Elder Dallin(Anaheim CA) with children in his area. Little children always love the missionaries! And of course Dallin!


Here is Elder Jason(New Delhi India) with his new friend- Cobra-YIKES!


Elder Jason with a precious family. He is back out as a "normal" missionary now, and loves it. He is teaching seminary and institute now and loves that too!

Indian men and let's just say "Peace Out"

Elder Zach Buehner(Bangalore India) at a sweet moment on his mission.

We love hearing about all the missionaries we love!

Just a Glimpse...

I sure hope President and Sister Hansen don't mind me taking from their blog, but I get a small glimpse of what it is like for the missionaries in Veracruz by looking on their blog, and boy is it ever inspiring!



In President Hansen's words:
"On May 26, Elder Oscar de Jesus Ortiz Bustamonte was set apart to serve a full time mission in the Mexico Cuernavaca Mission. It is the top baptizing mission in Mexico. Elder Ortiz is from San Andres in the Los Tuxtlas District. He has been serving as branch clerk and will be a blessing to his mission president. He is pictured with his aunts, mom, sister, and dad. The family is basically not active, but have returned to a degree of activity as Elder Ortiz has prepared for his missionary service. The women all wept in the short testimony meeting we held before the setting apart, and could not talk. The dad was brave and the missionary tried to be. His mission is a long way away to these folks. They have no car and don't often leave Los Tuxtlas. Cuernavaca is about 8 hours from their home, but that is two years and one world away. He is the first missionary from the family and is a convert of about 3 years. The other young men are friends from his ward and Elder Page, North Carolina, who served in the area."

If only Elder Ortiz could find our "Mexican family"-Goya's family, that we love in Cuernavaca!
Maybe Tyler told him about them, or maybe he can write Elder Ortiz and give him her address. Goya always loved Tyler, so maybe she would listen to the missionaries if they know him-- I hope so!



Tyler's companion Elder Minetto leading this sweet young girl into the water.
I Love this picture!




Elder Minetto giving her instructions, and I am quite sure calming any fears.



And of course... who wouldn't want this sweet lady taking care of their son!
I know she makes an impact on not only the missionaries in Veracruz, but the sweet, good people who live there too.
We love Hermana Hansen!