February 19, 2018 (Week 21)

A week of highs and lows!

This week started off a bit low when we had to spend another night in the hospital for Elder Lozano's knee, and I had to sign all of his papers, which is a bit difficult when they ask for your companion's full name when all you really know is "Elder Lozano" But it all ended up fine, and they got him all fixed up with medications so he doesn't feel any pain anymore.

The most spiritual moment we had this week was when we were with the Chavez family and 7 year old Antonio basically told his mom the first half of the plan of salvation.  Kids really do listen and understand!  Anyways, we're going to be able to baptize both Estella and Xiomara Chavez this next week, it'll be great to have a complete family of converts!  Also this week Brenda finally was able to dump her work on Sundays and come to church, it was so great!

Also this week we had to give talks in church with our new ward mission leader, Oscar Martinez, who is himself a convert of less than a year!  Thanks for all your prayers, the work is going great down here in Barrio Retornos!

Elder Varney

February 12, 2018 (Week 20)

This week had lots to be grateful for, and lots to learn from the Lord. 

Almost all of our plans this week seemed to fall apart or got changed, but that's o.k, it just means that the Lord wants us to do or learn something else.  We were in the hospital on Wednesday this week for Elder Lozano's back, and the problem turned out not to be his back but his knees, we'll be heading back tomorrow for an MRI to see if his meniscus needs surgery; a symptom of too much basketball!

But anyways we were blessed very well this last week because all of our investigators with a baptismal date were strengthened, and Brenda Mendosa says that she will be able to stop working on Sundays!  Anyways on P-day we went to the festival of chocolate (just about the only interesting thing going on in San Luis), and I got some Cuban chocolate. 

Thanks for the prayers, they're doing their work!

Chocolate Cat

Chocolate Shoe

Also we found out there is a Freemason temple in the center of San Luis, I took a
 picture of the statue of the priest outside their temple, hopefully I don't get cured by them

February 5, 2018 (Week 19)

This was a great week of trials of faith!  First off this last Tuesday I got my new companion, Elder Lozano, and we got back and went right to work.  On Tuesday we found a great new investigator, Paco.  Paco loves to talk a lot, but it is okay because every time he starts one of his stories there are always the principles of the lesson we want to teach, so all we have to is connect them at the end!  I guess the Lord works in mysterious ways... 

Also this last Wednesday we visited the Chavez family, Estella Chavez's only problem is that she works on Sundays, but when we got there at the end of the lesson she said they had already made the decision the night before for her not to work on Sundays anymore!  Wooo! 

Brenda Mendosa has the same problem of working on Sundays, which is the only thing holding her back from baptism, and her boss doesn't listen to her, so she said she would fast with us to find a new job!  On Friday we went around almost all day visiting old investigators and contacting, but we got nothing, which was discouraging, but the Lord just wanted to teach us patience, because the next day we found seven new investigators! 

Anyways, it is still going good down here in San Luis Potosi, just please pray that Brenda can find a new job!

-Elder Varney

January 29, 2017 (Week 18)

This last week was full of strong impressions and great results.  First we had the opportunity to go out on splits with all the ward's priests and the bishop this week, I remember being the nervous priest out with the missionaries so now its funny to see the other side of the perspective, but it ended up being very well, we got more news and lessons in one day than we ever have before.

Also, this last week we got to have the baptism of Antonio Chavez!  Antonio and his family are all so great, Antonio smoked ever since he was fourteen, but with the spirit and his determination, he overcame his addictions in two weeks. 

Next we want to baptize his wife and daughter, Estella and Xiomara.  Antonio's mother was baptized two years ago, and she shared how after two years of praying for her son her prayers were answered and the spirit was so strong! 

This next week we have cambios and Elder Flores is heading back to Aguascalientes, and Elder Lozano from Puebla is coming down to San Luis Potosi with me in barrio Retornos, it will be a great time.  Thanks for all your help and prayers!

-Elder Varney

Elder Varney, Elder Flores and Antonio Chavez

The Elders and the Chavez Family