Teeples, Dallin

Merry Navidad and Feliz Christmas! Gotta say, Christmas without snow and away from home really is such a different experience, but the joy that comes from being a missionary at Christmas time makes it all worth it! This past week has been filled with lessons about Christ and His birth, Spanish Christmas songs and caroling, lots of good (and some bad) Christmas food, and even some cold weather (Texas cold, so no snow). Spanish is coming along, and more than a few times I've been teaching and have been shocked at how much and how fast I've been able to speak. Miracles have not ceased and they're not just confined to the Christmas season. When we have faith, we can see the miracles the Lord has given and is giving us. Our pal Raul, who has gotten a job as a truck driver, is doing very, very well. He's staying faithful and continues to allow the gospel to change his life for the better. He called us and let us know he's got a week off in January and wants more than anyt...

This week I gained 7 pounds. It's fine, I'm fine. The food down here is good (usually), and people love to feed us and get offended when you don't keep eating, so I've been stuffing myself and having an average of 5 meals a day. If you know this week's movie quote, then you'll get how it relates to my situation. One house we went to, the guy was grilling a ton of meat and asked us to stay for dinner. We told him we couldn’t because we had another appointment. He proceeded to make us plates to take home and loaded them with every kind of meat we could imagine. His wife brought him tortillas to give us with the meat, and he told her in Spanish, "No, they're white, they want bread. White people love bread." We told him that tortillas were perfectly fine, but he asked us how to say bread in English. After we told him, he used what little English he knew to yell, "I love bread!" while he barbecued. It was so funny, but we ended up with tortill...

Hey everyone, don't have much time because I had a really busy P-day with dropping off Elder Wilson at the airport to head to his original assignment in Peru and then bowling with the zone. The title pertains to the fact that we had to say goodbye to Elder Wilson, which was really hard, and that Elder Wilson and Elder Young got me to buzz my head, so my hair is gone too. I know I look silly with basically no hair, but it is much easier to maintain and helps with the heat down here, because my body is not used to heat in the wintertime. This week was tough because my trainer, Elder Dahl, got even more sick, and so did Elder Fulwider, another Elder in our apartment. It was tough because we couldn't work our areas as much, but I know the work we did and all the efforts we put in were worth it. I love the work and helping others grow closer to their Savior and serve as He did as we remember His birth this time of year. Love y'all and Merry Christmas season, Jesus loves y'al...

Only the missionaries, masters of bringing the gospel of Christ, could help them, but when La Joya needed them most... they baptized! That's right! We had a baptism yesterday, and not just one, but two! The Spirit was so strong, and I'm so glad that we could help Kevin and Vidal follow our Savior's example and get baptized. I know that if I hadn’t been delayed, I wouldn’t have been here to help them make that step and learn the things God needed me to. I was able to help them be baptized by water and fire (see what I did there), something I know will bless their lives. Their brothers haven’t received all the lessons yet, but hopefully, we can get them baptized soon. Keep Omar and Ivan in your prayers so they can receive the answers they need. In terms of the mission overall, I’m starting to adapt to life here and the daily work. We can’t drink the water here, and it’s pretty hot despite it being winter, but the people here are great. My Spanish is getting better every day...