Hot Hot Hot

This week was so hot! I guess I wasnt counting my blessings when it was raining because without the rain everything is 10 times hotter! We didnt even try and connect our hot water heater because we took cold showers anyways! I guess its tradition here that whenever its crazy hot outside they decide to serve us the spicest food! I made it three weeks avoiding eating anything even a little spicy but this week just about every meal my tongue was on fire! During one of our meals my companion threw up because it was so hot.... That was pretty interesting. 

Turns out we have an area pet! We have a little lizard that lives in our starewell and sometimes we see him if we are lucky! Hes probably a good 4 inces long we havent gave him a name yet but well get on it. 

They just changed the rule that investigatorns now need to attend church 5 times before they can be baptized before it was just 2. It hasnt really made a difference for me because they changed it the second day I was here but it been weird for my companion to adjust to. But we have some amazing investigators. This week 6 of them have committed to baptism either on the 14th of october or the 20th depending on how many weeks they have attended church. Im so ecxited for them. One of our investigators Maria Guadilupe has been sharing the gospel to her friends and family! Its been awesome because sometimes she will come along with us to lessons with her friends and she ends up teaching her friend and testifying to her! Sometimes I wonder if Im the missionary or if she is. 

My comanions name is Elder Robinson. Hes a pretty cool guy and we get along most of the time but sometimes things can get a little heated. We didnt live the same kind of lives back home so our personalities kinda clash a bit but we get over it pretty fast and move on. Hes from Ceder City and has been out for 10 months now. 

Today my comanion left with another missionary that came in the same time as him to Immigration to fugure out some Visa stuff so today has been my first day with a companion that speaks absolutly no english.I was so nervous that I woudl just be lost all day but honestly it has boosted my confidence so much. If I dont know a word I know enough Spanish for him to be able to explain what it is and he can at least understand what I say back to him. 

I hope all is going well in the States!

Love 

Elder Ahlmer

Companions

Elder Ahlmer is serving in a town 20 miles south of Texas border called Morelos Mexico.  The area is Hidalgo B.  Check out the Map on the side, select full screen.

Elder Ahlmer at the Mission Home with the crew from the MTC.

Elder Ahlmer and his companion, Elder Robinson

Elder Robinson with his wet feet and dye from his shoes.  26 days of rain here...

Elder Ahlmer on a split with Elder Rodrigez.  Attached by hand cuffs called "Esposas" which is Spanish for "Wife"!  Makes sense!

Month 2 Done - What time is your name?

Hey everyone!

First off sorry I didn't write last week it was the 16th of September which is independence day here so everything was closed!

I guess tomorrow is my two month mark out on my mission and today is three weeks in Mexico. These past two weeks have been so much better! I can understand everything and I've gotten over my fear of speaking to people! Let me tell ya when you understand what people are saying and can actually respond its so much better!! 

My area is called Hidalgo B. I like it a lot, there is just quite a few differences between here and the states! Like first off the police. The police here drive around in trucks all painted in camo and theres like 4 or 5 sitting in the back all in full SWAT gear carrying fully automatic assault rifles. So basically every time they drive past me I try not to feel like they'll hit a bump and accidentally shoot me. We ate at a members house that is one of the police officers and found out that in spanish handcuffs are called esposas or in English wife!! That basically made my day. Another thing are the taxis they have little green death defying taxis here. Whenever Im in one my knuckles are basically white the whole time. They weave in between semi trucks like they were born doing it. After taking a taxi anywhere I don't feel so bad about walking anymore. Yesterday was the first day that I didn't rain here. That is 26 days of straight rain! I never thought that I would ever love an umbrella but that thing has a special place in my heart. 

Among some of the biggest attractions here is the Bull fighting arena and the Tigers Stadium. Everyone here is either a die hard tiger fan or a die hard rayados fan. Its a little scary when you see someone wearing a tiger jersey and someone wearing a rayados jersey walk past each other on the street. As for me I try to keep my distance. Because me and my companion are both so white, people are always shouting out English at us as they drive by or walk past us. One of our favorite things to hear is What time is your name? I usually tell them about 2:45 but it depends on the day. They love calling us guero or white kid so we get that quite often. 

Luckily here people dont eat too much hot food but I make sure and ask before every meal. Whenever they ask why I tell them that when I eat hot food my hair catches fire and thats why its red. I havent had any food so far that I havent liked. Just lots and lots of tortillas! They literally give them to us every meal and a lot of the time I dont even know how Im supposed to eat them with the food! 

Some people are wondering if Im still sleepwalking and yes yes I am. Just about every night. And its getting worse and worse. Last night I woke my companion up and told him in Spanish that we were late to a lesson. He asked me if I was sleep walking and I told him na man this is for real Its time to preach the gospel. Luckily my comp is patient with me but I need to get this under control! 

We got a boiler today! No more cold water! It came just in time for winter so basically 1 times better than Christmas, But now that I say that Ill probably end up being transferred to a place that doesnt have hot water just before Christmas. 

This Thursday I went on divisions with Elder Wells. He is a redhead as well. So probably the only two red hair people in Mexico were companions for a day. If I thought I stuck out before you wouldn't believe how much we stuck out Thursday! It was really nice to have a break from my companion for a day.

On Wednesday we played basketball with all the young men and ONLY in Mexico would I be the star player! They were all asking me if Im going to play in college and stuff when I get back..... I may have stretched the truth and told them that Im probably playing for the Jazz when I get home. I just left out the whole Junior part. 

Love, 

Elder Ahlmer

Am I in Mexico?

Hey everyone!

So this week was my first week in Mexico. It has been crazy! I stick out like a sore thumb here! I mean missionaries get enough attention as is walking around in a white shirt and tie with slacks in 95+ degree weather; but add on crazy white skin, red hair, and speak English here, and you might as well be a marshan! people stare me down like no other! Living here for a week has helped me appreciate how clean the States are! The whole city is just covered in trash. Its pretty sad because the mountains here are way cool! It has rained everyday I have been here so far and when it rains here its not like Utah, when it rains here it really pours! All the streets flood and its impossible to get anywhere!

The food here is actually really good but the eating schedules are different. We have a small breakfast at 7 every morning then we have our big meal or La Comida at 2 in the afternoon. The church set up a system for members to feed us la comida every day which is really nice because we don't exactly have any time to cook! And then we don't eat dinner until around 9 to 10. So basically I'm hungry 24/7. They have the Trix cereal here has the shapes like they used to! I didn't think that they made them like that anymore! Maybe they don't and the cereal that they sell here is just really expired..... Well either way it tastes better here!

My companions name is Elder Robinson and yeah hes white..... I guess I lied about only having native companions! Hes pretty cool and its nice that he can speak English or I don't know what I would do! Maybe I should clear up some things that I thought I knew before I came here. No I guess I wont have all native companions. I haven't been chased by any dogs theres quite a few dogs here but not so many strays and they're all either Chihuahuas or pit bulls! Theres no in between!

The the day I arrived here in Mexico I was sure of one of three things either, they didn't teach me Spanish at the MTC, they don't speak Spanish in Mexico, or I'm not in Mexico! I was so lost the first few days here! They talk like their mouths are all on fire! All I could do was smile and nod! I don't know what I was expecting when I came here but they speak Spanish and nothing else! I guess I was thinking that I would give my lessons in Spanish but the rest of everything would be in English! I'm still waiting for at some random moment everyone in Mexico to all start laughing and start speaking English. I hope it comes soon!

Elder Robinson and I opened a new area this week and its been pretty interesting. We had no information on anything! No idea where the church was, when it starts, no idea about anything! So we started from scratch. The first day was basically all contacing and sharing a quick message about what we believe in. Well Elder Robinson did I just smiled and nodded. But now we have three investigators that seem pretty interested! Two of the families came to church yesterday. That made me feel like what were doing here is actually helping people.

I had to give my first talk in Spanish yesterday. If you guys thought I was nervous for my farewell you have no idea what I looked like for this talk! I considered running out the door but I figured that wouldn't leave the best impression to the ward and investigators.

Well that's the update I hope all is well!

Elder Ahlmer

Monterrey

Well I'm alive! 

I traveled safely to Monterrey! I love it here it's so pretty! It reminds me a lot of Utah but more dirty and more graffiti ha ha. Pero I love it! Its pretty hot! The people here are all so nice! I love trying to talk  with them in my broken Spanish. I'm sure I'll get annoyed at times but that just gives me more motivation to learn faster! 

I'm so glad that I got to talk to you guys! I found out that I can both receive packages and letters! It takes about a month to get them though.

Everything here is todos spanish my head is buzzing from all that I have been trying to remember. I love my mission president I can tell that he truly cares about my wellness and success. Well I can't wait to email you guys next Monday which is my Pday! 

Me amo ustedes mucho mucho mucho!!! 

Elder Ahlmer

Left for Mexico!

Well, Elder Ahlmer called us today around 6:40 am to give us an update on his mission.  He is leaving with 5 other missionaries to the same mission.  He sounded great and talked about how much the MTC and the Spirit has changed him.  "The Spirit is so strong there and guided my learning of the language.  I have never been able to learn so quickly in all my life."  He could not believe that a bunch of 18 yr. old guys could handle sitting in a class room for more than 10 hours straight per day studying the gospel.  He told us how much he loves the scriptures and that the 2 hour "morning personal study is the best part of my day."  "The scripture mean so much.  Never have I felt so close to the Lord, he answers my prayers, I am right next to him.  I know he is with me and loves each of us."  He also said how he cannot wait to be out walking and not sitting most of the day.

Alyssa and Ammon were able to conference call in while camping at a family reunion.  Ammon offered more ugly brown ties to send and Alyssa is felling great with new little Gracie coming in a month.  Elder Ahlmer was able to get the ugly tie exchange happening with MTC and hopes to have fun with this on his mission.  Alyssa asked to hear him speak spanish and it sounded good.  We did not know what he said but it sounded good.

Addie was able to tell about her 10th birthday and getting an ant farm and Oreo cookie balls instead of cake.  Bridger talked about changing to a new junior HS and Savannah about losing her way at HS and getting her gym closes and shoes stolen.  Samantha talked about her Home Coming dance coming up next Saturday and her experiences sharing the gospel.

What a great Morning!!!