Day 4

“Mi Pueblo Es Tu Pueblo”

“We knew that we were in for a long day, but I never imagined that Jeff and Spencer would spend the past 16 hours helping the students with their individual businesses.”

            Our day started at 7:20 am at the church building. Several of the students arrived nearly an hour early so that they could meet with Spencer Wilcox and Jeff Brownlow. Yesterday, Jeff and Spencer told the students to bring all of their personal and business papers to them so that they could create a format and template which would improve their current financial systems in their respective business.

As Jeff and Spencer sat with the students, sometimes for two to three hours with just one student, I can’t express the physical transformation that transpired in the faces of those students who walked out of their “coaching meeting”—I could see their hope, their faith, and their confidence had grown from the experience. If nothing else, those students who worked one on one with these great men knew that they were one step closer to reaching success. This is why the concept of offering internships for students appeals to me more and more—I know that returned missionaries who are studying at diverse colleges would be able to replicate this process.

I want to specify the great help Spencer and Jeff have been. On more than one occasion, I had students come up to me privately and say, “Jeremi, thank you for having these two men come and educate us. They have done so much. They are so great. They have changed my life. I just learned that I was spending thousands of pesos on things that were unnecessary; I just learned that I could save ten thousand pesos.” Perhaps the most touching comment came from Jesus Gonzales, a 41 year old serial entrepreneur and previous bishop:

“‘Mi casa es tu casa’ is the most recognized Spanish phrase. Now, I will say, ‘Mi pueblo es tu pueblo’ (my people are your people). The prophets long ago promised my people that the gentiles would assist my people, but I never thought it would be so direct. I can still remember 26 years ago when two young American missionaries taught me the gospel—that changed my life. Now, today, two young American business missionaries taught me the doctrine of business. This is something I will never forget. Having been a bishop in this stake before, and now that I work in the stake with other bishops, I can’t wait to send my returned missionaries to the Foundation in the future. I know this will help save my people from poverty and bring us to the next level!”

Jeff and Spencer never got to hear that expression, they were in the back of the building working with other students, but Jesus did say this in front of all the other students. They were touched, tears were falling, lives were blessed; the Holy Spirit of Promise and Hope was felt. Souls were changed; a pueblo has begun to rise.

The object lesson for the day was about money and feeling. One of the ways I like to talk about money is that it is a tool, something used to help in transactions. Obviously transactions don’t require cash or money (they can be done with trades) but we talked about how money/cash is what will help as they grow. We taught them that “Nothing happens in business until something is sold!” Then, I asked a student to come up (Jared) and I asked him which money he wanted. He had in front of him money from all around the world and didn’t know which bills were worth the most. Then, I laid out thousands of pesos in front of him (hundreds of USD) and I put them in his hands. The purpose of this was to show the class the physical reaction that Jared would have towards the money. I asked him how he felt—it was obvious that he was happy; he had a huge grin on his face! All of the students noticed his reaction.  In fact, all of the students were having a similar reaction—you could physically see it in them. After the emotions were settled, it was a perfect time to show the students that money has no feelings, but is used as a method of exchange. They learned that money is not a respecter of persons: you can be fat, skinny, ugly, pretty, young, old, white, black, Mexican, American, Filipino. This was a great way for them to learn and understand money!

Lars Hamilton also taught an exceptional lesson. His project has been to be the accountant/recorder of the progress of the “Rock Activity”, all of you will receive a report on Monday of how the activity played out. However, to whet your appetites now, I will say this: as a class, we have generated (in cash in hand now) almost $1,000USD. Lars has been truly outstanding. His talents and gifts have been used each and every day. He is detail oriented, he is consistent, and he is incredibly humble. I am grateful that he has taken the time to come and fulfill a promise he made to one of his favorite converts from the mission. If you don’t mind, I will share it briefly:

Lars Hamilton served in the Guadalajara South mission. While on his mission he encountered a woman who was living with a man. They had been living together for more than 10 years. After many discussions and the power of the Holy Ghost, Lars and his companion were able to marry and then baptize them. In fact, her entire family was eventually baptized.

Many months after her baptism, Ruth (the mother/wife), who had previously been diagnosed with cancer, called Lars and told him that she felt she didn’t think she had much longer. Lars’s mission president heard about the situation and with great enthusiasm worked through the logistics of requesting an early temple endowment due to her terminal illness because of her exceedingly great faith and works. This was granted to the mission president through the authorization of the Church. Ruth eventually made it to the temple and her life was eternally changed. After attending the temple, Lars received a phone call from Ruth.  On the phone, Ruth said, “Elder, I don’t have much time left. I can feel it. You have been my angel. I can’t thank you enough for what you have done for me and my family.  You have brought me the greatest blessings in my life.  Thank you so much for sharing the gospel with us.  Now, please, when you finish your mission, come back.  Come back to my country, to my people, and help my people get jobs, help them lift themselves up out of poverty; teach them how to become self-reliant.”

Within a few days, Ruth passed away.  Lars finished his mission and returned to his home, but he never forgot those words.

            As Lars was telling me this story, prior to arriving to Puebla, I saw in this great man the love, the respect, and the desire to fulfill his promise. Then, what a miracle it was for him when, upon arriving to the home we are staying at for these two weeks, he realized that it was the extended family of Ruth; Lars was deeply touched. He feels that he has begun to fulfill the commitment that he made to this woman and he desires to continue to do even more.

            The longer I work here in Mexico, the more lives I come in contact with, and the faster the time approaches to launch The Academy in Mexico, I can’t help but testify of the providential intervention that we have seen over the past several years in Mexico. Great men and women, like all of you who support the Foundation, are the reason the Lord is able to bless the lives of families. I have witnessed miracles in the lives of these students. I see the newly found and restored hope that these saints have now. I see the way they look toward their futures with vigor. I am humbled each day as I kneel with different families in prayer and see the tender mercies of the Lord. My gift is with the Latino people; I love them, they love me, it is sacred and special. I hope that when my time comes to an end as the director of the Foundation in Mexico that I can always stay close to the people, serve the people, and learn from them. The power of the curriculum is true. Every single visitor this week has mentioned that this is like the mission.

            Thank you all for you do. We thank the Lord for His love. We recognize His hand in these successes. We look forward to establishing the first Chapter of Mexico here in Puebla on Sunday of this week. We pray that the Lord will continue to bless each of you and your family members. Again, thank you for your time, your talents, your resources, and especially your love. We know that generational poverty will end little by little as it is replaced by generational prosperity.