Teeples, Dallin

Buenas morning/afternoon/evening! Not sure when you're reading this, but I invite you to pick the appropriate time of day that correlates with what time it is and what time zone you're in—or just whichever one you prefer. To start things off and explain the title this week, I got sorta sick again. Something I ate made my stomach pretty sick, and I ended up having to excuse myself during dinner at a member's house to go and throw up. All I can say is, "So uncivilized." I felt so bad because I couldn't really eat the food she prepared for us, but she was really understanding and gave me some medicine, coconut water, and a cup of ice. Despite the difficulty of feeling sick for a day and a half, this week had some real highlights and tender mercies. One that was super small but super cool was that, while we were doing studies, I saw a guy in a Snowbird hoodie. I complimented him, and we talked a little bit, wished each other a good day, and I went back to my studi...

¿Qué padre, cuñado? Not very much happened this week, but somehow it was eventful at the same time. I got a new companion, Elder Tanner, who only has eight weeks left in his mission. He's also my fourth companion, and this is my fourth transfer. Mostly because I started in a trio, but it's weird to think I've had as many companions as I've had transfers. Guess I'm just meant to stay in the same place but with different people. (Before I move on, please view the frog painting in the pictures at the end of this email. It's my favorite.) I can tell I'm getting much more used to the heat and humidity here. At the beginning of the week, I was completely fine in 90° weather, but toward the end of the week, I was sort of cold when it got down to 55°. When it gets like that, all the people dress like we would for below-freezing temperatures. It's pretty funny. Not the best for biking around and talking to people outside, but the Lord provides a way. Despite the ...

Probably wondering about the title. Well, we had transfer calls last night, and I definitely thought I was going to a different area, but it turns out I'm staying a 4th transfer here in La Joya. In case you're unfamiliar, a transfer is 6-7 weeks, meaning that I will have spent about 24 weeks/6 months/a quarter of my mission here in La Joya. I know the Lord still has a work for me to do here, and even though I don't know what it is, I know this is where I need to be. (He's tricky like that.) Even though it'll be a long time in this area, I'm actually so hyped to be staying. This ward is growing at an amazing pace, my Spanish is getting better daily, and the people here are so ready for the gospel of Jesus Christ! Just last night, we were able to teach this woman named Armadina a really cool lesson about prophets and why the Book of Mormon is so important. Right before that, we met her sister, who Armadina had told about our message. Her sister said she wanted to ...

This week's title will either be really easy to guess or you'll be completely baffled. But I'm finally feeling better and am not battling a violent cough at night. I've found it's much easier to sleep. Big news this week, Eduardo got baptized! After working with him for almost my entire time here in La Joya, from thinking he'd never come to church, to helping him quit his bad habits, to helping him find a job, and resetting his baptismal date five times, the progress he's made is truly a miracle. He just about gave me a heart attack when, on the day of his baptism, he texted us that he couldn't be at church and therefore couldn't be baptized. He then sent us a video of himself in the chapel. That vato really got us there. El gran bromeador sí mismo. The only sad part is that his son Luiz wasn't able to be baptized because his mom thought it was too soon for him. But he already passed his interview and really wants to be baptized, so hopefully nex...