Happy Mother's Day

Well we were able to call and talk to Braxton on Mother's Day and that was wonderful! Braxton is doing great. He does have a hard time speaking English now and has to think of the right words. He speaks English now with a Spanish accent. I didn't realize it was him when I called. LOL :oD

This week the missionaries and I guess ward members were told not to wear their ties. If you think about why it makes sense. Ties have so many germs, everyone touches them and they seldom if ever get washed. They are taking that precaution for the swine flu. He didn't seem too concerned about the flu. His mind was on teaching and baptizing, which they are doing a lot of. He has more baptisms this week. :) We talked about how he would have been if he would have gone to Italy. It was decided by him that God knows Braxton wouldn't have been able to handle the no baptisms and hard work. That's why he's in Mexico. (ummm, God really does know us better than we know ourselves)

Braxton and his comp are being really conservative this month. They have to be because his comp spent all his $$$ on a new camera. (he must have really needed one(;) They can't afford TP so the newspaper is covering for them. (hee, hee, wonder what it's leaving behind on their behinds.) Braxton wasn't complaining, just saying. He loves his mission and all that he has learned. Everyone really enjoyed talking to Braxton.

We love you Braxton!!!

What A Week!

On Sunday Braxton got really sick. He said it was so bad it put him in tears. He couldn't move without pain and didn't have energy at all to move. At one point he couldn't move his hand because it had locked up like it would with a cramp but there wasn't any pain. The family that he was with wanted to call an ambulance, but Braxton told them to call the Bishop first. The Bishop went right over and gave him a blessing. He said he felt a million times better right away. Everyone was still scared though because he still didn't look like himself. (in fact, he said "terrible") The missionaries were going to stay overnight at the Bishops house but Braxton started feeling better and so he was taken home and everything has been fine. He said it feels fine now so not to worry.

He learned a ton this week from staying home and studying. He said "I realize the work wasn't put on hold it was just a needed pit stop that I needed in my mission to learn some things that will help me accomplish more faster." He said he learned a ton from the book of mormon and a lot about prayer. He also said he learned how to learn and grow when the normal help of Church Meetings, and mission work wasn't there. He thought it was amazing and liked the time that he had for reflection. (mentioned that's why he likes hunting so much, the reflecting and quiet that comes with it)

The missionaries had a baptism on Saturday and Braxton said the "spirit" was really strong and so powerful. They couldn't have any members there because of the Flu going around, but the Bishop was there and it was such an awesome night. The baptism was of Juan Alvarez, a guy who had smoked three packs of cigarettes every two days for 55 years. Ahhh, it's all so tru"I'm doing my part, so don't worry." "I'm glad that Christ is on my side."

Braxton congratulated Trichelle and Joe on their marriage but was just a little disappointed they didn't have it at Kamp Kaboom.

also PS pray for Paul Hancock (one of Braxton's friends serving a mission). He is in the Hospital and has diabetes, but his attitude is good.

Love You all a Ton.......Elder Ropelato

Fetchin Influenza

Braxton wrote Sunday Morning from a members house because they just got the worse news ever, he can't leave the house for the whole week. They are wearing doctor masks 24-7 and have to eat a ton of lime...straight....all because of the influenza. 86 people have died already and there's no cure for this flu. He reassures us that he doesn't mean to scare us, just informing us. :) They just need to take all precaution. They have to clean their house every day and stuff like that. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."

Braxton has two baptisms today and will leave for those but has to return to the house as soon as they are over. The government has cancelled all religious services, and school, and even the professional soccer games will be played with no spectators. Again he said "know that I'll be okay, and prayers are always appreciated."

As far as missionary work goes they are baptizing an awesome lady and her son. They were golden investigators. They just accepted everything and the second lesson they wanted to be baptized. (love that when that happens)

Oh, and some druggie came up to Braxton and asked him for money, his watch, and his pen. "Why he wanted my pen who knows." Braxton tried giving him money but he wanted more than Braxton gave him. Then he told Braxton to give him is watch and Braxton told him NO because he needed it. The guy again said "give it to me or I'll take it from you." Braxton wouldn't give in so the guy started leaving. But soon after the druggie turned and started chasing Braxton and told him that he would follow him until he gave him what he wanted. Braxton's comp had ran off and got a guy that they had just baptized last week who was working in the tiangis, the street market. He came and told the druggie off and later his son went and found the druggie and told him to leave the missionaries alone. So, all went well and nothing happened. The next day Braxton and his comp saw the same druggie and the guy just said "hi" and left them alone. (missions are exciting!)

A funny and kind of gross story from the Braxter. "So today we go to eat and the food was good. It was a lot, but not more than normal. Anyway, I ate way fast and didn't feel good at all. I went to the bathroom and couldn't drop anything (that's my boy(;) so we said bye and when I walked out the door I threw up a TON. I felt so, so, so good after. It was amazing had bad I felt, then how quick it all changed." (gotta love this kid)

Well that's about all for this week. Braxton says "all is well and I'm doing great!" He is bummed that they won't be able to go out and teach this week. He said it'll be okay though and he's going to try to read the Book of Mormon again.

"Love you all and take care, and don't worry. Doubt is the opposite of faith." "Once again, I love the crap out of all of you." "Talk to you in a few weeks." (hooray for Mothers Day!)

Doing Great!

Braxton celebrated his birthday with 3 different families. Everyone likes him so much. I put the pictures on his birthday post. Looks like he had a lot of fun. He said that at the second party and little girl named Carol,who is like 10, won 80 pecos from a slot machine at the store by her house. Braxton just thought that was funny. (how old do you have to be to gamble? at least 10 I guess) Carol also was going to make chocolate covered bananas but when she was melting the chocolate she also melted the bowl. Braxton's comp thought he'd have some of it anyway, and by the time Braxton was blowing out his candles his comp was throwing up from toxic poison. Just another little lesson learned. They also made sopes with the family, and Braxton said they are delicious.On Saturday they were able to baptize four people and he said there should be more this week. Braxton said "things are straight up and sweet." He did say that one of the ladies he baptized was terrified of water and she had to be baptized three times. He said they had to baptize her face first. I'm thinking that was the final time. The first time her foot came up and the second time her elbow and so Braxton said he pushed her down really hard the third time. His arm was red from her grabbing on so tight. (poor thing) (The things you have to go through sometimes.)

Braxton loves his mission so "flippin" much. Oh, and remember the police horses, well he has pictures. (I think that made his day)

Oh, and just a little tid bit of info about Mexico. There are so many cars that they are building roads above the other ones now to try to accommodate them all.

Braxton is being obedient! That's the only advice his dad gave him and he said that has kept him from doing some crazy things.

Braxton's Birthday!

Today is Braxton's Birthday and he said he didn't get a card or birthday wish from anyone except his dad. I sent him a Birthday Package, and his Aunt sent him one too and so I guess that's all. If you read this and are feeling bad, then write him a little Birthday Wish. (go to dearelder.com, it's free and fast and easy)

Happy Birthday Braxton!!! We All Do Really Love You!!!

He had a few celebrations in Mexico!

I Still Got It

"This week has been sweet. We put like ten baptism dates and things are looking beautiful!" "It's been really cool. I'll tell you the names after they are baptized."

Braxton and his companion got on a trampoline the other night and Braxton said "believe or not, I still got it." He was able to flip and do all the tricks he could when he was younger and lighter. He did confess that his back hurt afterwards and he thinks it might be from the extra weight he is carrying. (I think it might be from not warming up) He loved it and thought it was fun though.

His comp got a "Dear John". He was really down and it really slowed the work down. (see why you shouldn't have girlfriends?) Brax said that things got a little better each day though. "Easter is........well........they have a Holy Week, and this is when they don't eat meat. They have a play of the day Christ was crucified, and that's about it."

Sunday Braxton celebrated his birthday with the Zamudio Family. He said it was sweet. The family put one of our family pictures in a frame and gave it to him so we could all be there with him. (ohhhh) They also gave him a mask, a tie and a cake. (like he needs another mask) He loved it and they even let him take the car for a spin. He will be celebrating his birthday, on his birthday, with the Cruz Soto Family. "All is good, I feel great, I'm working hard, and I'm Happy!"

1000000 degrees here!

"So yeah, Conference was just awesome once again. I love Conference, but the Spanish session cut out after the second talk and would only work in English and there are only 4 white Elders in the Zone. I've been here the longest so they had me translate at the pulpit and it was the first time in my mission I spoke perfect Spanish without stuttering or pausing. I was using words I didn't even know I knew. It was just the most amazing thing ever. I can't explain how it all worked other than earlier this week was April Fools day and I didn't get to play any jokes on you, so there it is." "The session worked fine and I didn't translate a word. Ha, ha, ha."

Braxton said he really did love the Conference.

The longer he is in Mexico the more he finds out how corrupt it really is. He saw a really bad protest with some college students and the police. One of the police officers told Braxton that the only way to make a living as a cop is to let people pay you off. (Braxton-"hmmmm, I wonder why there are so many bad people in the streets still.")

In Iztapalapa (where Daniels family is from) they have a theatre where they reenact the last week of Christs life. Someone plays Christ and they are really beat and then they are nailed to a cross. After the play that actor is rushed to the Hospital. (it's all voluntary too) It's just wicked and wrong! But, that's the life in Mexico, the real life.

It is really hot in Mexico right now. The paper said it was hotter than Cancun, Mexico.

Braxton was asked out on a date by a girl that was even cute. He thought at first she was just inviting them to dinner, but then she started talking about the whole day. Spending time together to go ice skating or to six flags and she was even going to invite one of her friends. That's when Braxton realized she was asking them on a date. The sad part is that she is a member and should know better. Braxton said "don't worry I told her know and thought it was ridiculous."

Braxton was wondering how our dinner at LaFerrovia was because he said he didn't eat on Saturday!

Oh and ps.... "I need tide pens for my ties and shirts after I eat." Same ol' Brax!