Pepto Bismal!

Hey guys this week was pretty cool!  Im going to change up how I write my emails, hopefully they will be more interesting and understandable haha.  Here are my highlights of the week

Highlight 1: Edwardo is getting babtized!

After 3 months of teaching our investigator Edwardo is finally getting babtized.  They are really so great, just a great family.  He wants to go to the temple with his family and be sealed forever, which is just about the best thing ever.  Ive loved teaching him and his family, the babtizm should be awesome, Ill let you all know!

Highlight 2:  I got sick! 

Yes, this week I got a little sick.  It wasnt anything too bad, but I had a fever and stuff.  Being sick in the mission is not fun, but luckily it went away after 2 days.  Now I feel good and healthy, Ive started working out a lot more in the mornings.  Hopefully I get some huge muscles!

Highlight 3:  Branch conference

Next week we have branch conference here in San Mateo.  We helped invite all the less active members and my comp and I met a family that we didnt even know.  This week we are going to go visit them and hopefully help them come back to to herd. 

I love all of you guys!  Its hard to express just home much I miss back home, but Ive come to love Guatemala.  It certainly is different, with tons of corn, mayan dialects, and my favorite Guatemalan song (maybe the only one haha) the "Cerrucho".  See you guys!  Anchor yourselves in the Gospel, never let go.  If you want to be happy, be obedient.  See you all later!

8 Meses!

8 months down!  Its crazy just how fast the mission goes by, I still have a lot to learn, but I have learned a ton.  This week was pretty good.  Its super hard finding investigators in our area, but last monday something cool happened.  We felt impressed to knock a door that we had knocked about 5 times.  This time a bulky guy shook our hands and told us that he was babtized.  He served with the stake, went to the temple, everything.  His wife too, the whole family was super active but for some reason they fell away.  They are super nice and I hope we can help them back to the chuch.

Edwardo is on fire right now, him and his whole family is doing great.  They are doing family home evening and scripture study.  We taught him about tithing and accpeted it without any problems.  I feel the spirit really strongly with him and his family, they are just great.  Plus, he sells chocholate and after the lesson yesterday he gave me a Snickers so thats always a bonus

We had stake conference this weekend.  Edwardo and his family came, so did Rosa.  Rosa is doing well, but she has to get divorced and itll cost like 500 bucks.... which is about as much as most people make in 2 months.  Haha why do divorces cost so much!  Its kind of frustrating but we will just have to see how things turn out.

The temple here is sweet, Ive never seen a prettier temple on the inside holy cow.  In the creation room is a mural of the Guatemalan mountains and Lake Aticlan, which is where they think the waters of mormon are.  I havent felt such a peace for a long time.  I had a really spiritual experience in the celestial room.  I was bent over praying when I felt like someone was behind me with their arms around my shoulders.  Ive never felt something like that, but I sure could feel Gods love.   I think we should all go to the temple as much as we possibly can, and all you who live in Pleasant Grove dont have any excuses!  We live so close to the temple, but I know the before my misison sometimes I wouldnt make the time to go.  The temple is literally Gods house, go as much as you can!  Satan wants to keep us "busy" so we cant recieve blessings.  The blessings are free, so make time to recieve them.  

Well my comp goes home this week, which will be kind of sad but a nice change at the same time.  Im kind of hoping I dont train because then I would be here almost 8 months haha thats a long time to be in one area.  I just want to see Edwardo get baptized, hes such a good guy.  Our area is freaking hard but if nothing else at least he will get baptized.  

Thats about all I have this week, I love you all.  Thanks for the support and prayers, missions are awesome, the church is true and I love being here.  Pongan su fe en Dios y el les ayudaran!

Our "condo" complex where we live

Me and my comp and two drunk guys who love us

At the temple!

4 meses in San Mateo!

Well this week was a great week! My birthday was this week and is was different haha but its all good.  This week we had a zone conference with our mission president.  We talked all about Joseph Smith and the Resturation.  It was super awesome.  I love how the gospel just makes sense!  We also watched part of "Meet the Mormons" which was super cool.  There are so many amazing members in our church and so many cool people.  I started having flashbacks because at one part theres a kid preparing for a mission, going to Mr. Mac, getting dropped off at the airport.  In reality the mission goes by really fast so we just have to do all we can!

We talked with Edwardo this week and he wants to get babtized in April!  I was really really excited for him and his family.  I know that he will be really powerful in the church and do a lot of great things.  His whole family is super happy and they are now praying together and reading every night.  Yeehaw!

This week the Jehovahs Witnesses have been going crazy here!  There have been like 10 of them knocking on doors, they even came to our house haha.  They knocked on our door and when we came outside kind of looked around and got scared.  Its better to just let them do their thing and not try to fight with them.  

We also have been reactivating this family of 3.  The mom is signing up for byu idaho online and is super happy.  Ive had a lot of other good experiences this week and have been feeling the spirit really powerfully each and every day.  My companion goes home in 2 weeks and always says hes tired haha, but we are still doing quite a bit.  I love you guys!  The church is true! 

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Marzo!

Hey everyone, this was an interesting week!  We moved houses, which was a ton of work.  We had to take everything out by ourselves, clean the whole appartment, and unpack everything in our new house.  Our new house is a little condo, its actually pretty nice.  Our other house didnt have any windows haha so things now are a lot better!

This week I had divisions with the zone leaders in San Juan.  In San Juan pretty much everyone speaks Mam, which is one of the Mayan dialects.  Its crazy!  We taught a ton of lessons and we basically put 3 babtizm dates which was sweet.  Its always nice to learn from other elders and what they are doing in their areas.

Well the other day we were teaching a less active named Angel when his brother walked in.  He introduced himself as a Jehovahs Witness and I was like, "Ahh great..." He then started talking a bunch of nonsense about men not being able to see God... then I shared with him a few sciptures about men seeing God haha he got super mad!  Its best to never fight with anyone, all we can do is bear our testimonies and invite others to hear our message. 

Sunday we had an awesome lesson with Pamela and Edwardo.  I kind of thought they would never accept us again because they hadnt come to church for like 3 sundays and "didnt have time" for us during the week.  To my surprise, they walked in to the chapel just after the sacrament and were super happy.  We taught them after church and, wow, they have really progressed!  They were listening to MoTab and watching "The District" when we came over.  We challenged Edwardo and it was pretty much a yes.... but he says he wants to fast and pray.  We are going over Tuesday to see what his response is, so please pray for him!  I know God lives and that this is his church.  Mission work is super hard, but awesome.  I love the cold nights, endless tortillas, and crazy Guatemalan buses.  But most of all I love the people and the chance to serve.  Adios!

God never forgets!

Hi everyone!  This week was fairly good, my companion and I are working better than ever before.  There are always a few problems here and there, but we are moving right along.  

I just read Mckayla Dibbs letter about her mission in Guatemala City.  She said that the people lie a lot haha and thats kind of true!  The people are really nice, so they dont want to offend us.  They say things like, "We dont have time," or "My mom isnt home,"  which is frustrating at times.  At least the people here are pretty nice, I know there are parts of the world where people slam the doors and yell at the missionaries.  Luckily, that doesnt happen here!

Well, this week we have a pretty cool experience with Hermana Rosa, remember her?  Her husband is a less active member and we have been teaching his wife.  Wow, she reads the Book of Mormon like crazy.  She also had a dream of her and her husband happily married and just really joyful.  She is starting to see that the Gospel is what makes us happy.  Next week she is going to come to church and hopefully tonight we are going to challenge her to be babtized.  All of these changes, all of this happened because two weeks ago we felt a small impression to offer service to some people we didnt even know.  Always follow the Spirit, it always helps us out!

Every day I read the Book of Mormon I am more and more convinced that Im serving among the Lamanites.  Its super crazy, if I ever get discouraged I read in Alma and his challenges while serving this people.  I love the Book of Mormon, without it, people are just so confused.  It is such a great book and I know it is from God.  I love the Church and I love being a missionary.  Adios y que Dios les bendiga!

Hola!!

Hi guys, thanks for the emails!  I finally got my backpack.... THANK YOU!  I have no idea why they all say to bring a side bag because backpacks are soooo much better.  My back thanks you, mom.  Plus, that candy is pretty much gold.  Its pretty much gone, but chocolate here is worth its weight in gold.  Thanks!  Dad, glad you are doing better.  The flu is nasty!  Luckily I havent really gotten sick yet, even though I probably should!  I know the Lord blesses us.

Well, Elder Andy is back haha.  Apparently after we had changes, he went to another mountain for 6 weeks.  He complained, so he got put in another mountain for 4 weeks.  This week he got put with the zone leaders here in my zone... poor guy.  I hope hes doing ok.

My comp is doing alright, I have learned a lot from him.  Hes kind of like Trevor, a Trevor from Peru. 

Im about to finish my 5th change as a missionary!  Ive been thinking about all that Ive experienced here and have been able to accomplish.

For the past 6 months Ive done more service than ever.  Cutting wood, picking corn, painting houses, washing dogs, and teaching english are just a couple of the things Ive done here.  Its amazing how service can open up peoples hearts.  Sometimes we feel busy, but if we slow down a little and serve, we will be a lot happier!

Ive also taught a lot of lessons.  Teaching less actives, inactives, and investigators is all part of the work.  A lot of people dont listen, well maybe they listen but dont exactly understand.  Teaching so others understand is vital.  It takes a lot of work and obedience, but most importantly it takes the Spirit to teach well.  If we teach well, we can change lives!

These are just a few of the things Ive been thinking about.  This week started a little slow, but in the end, like always, some great things happened.  We found a family, a new family from Guatemala City.  The dad was babtized, but went inactive.  His wife and daughter arent members but are really receptive.  We are doing a family home evening with them tonight, I feel that we can help them a lot!

I keep feeling the Lord guide our steps every day.  Sometimes our appointments fall, then our backup plans fall too.  Then we just look around, talk with someone, and pretty much always get a return appointment.  If we are worthy of the Spirit, He will guide us to those who are prepared!  I love you all and I love the work!

I love you guys, thanks for everything you do.  Keep on being awesome!

 

 

Downtown San Mateo

Our Area-It's really pretty

Travel Guatemala style

My companion, Elder Yataco holding a turkey

 

HOLA!!

Hey everyone, another week down!  Its crazy just how fast the time starts to fly.  This week was a little crazy.  Tuesday night we were at a house when the sister missionaries called us.  "Run Elders to Sister Sontays house!"  they said so we started sprinting.  There is a widow in our ward who has diabetes and the sisters went to visit her.  She had like a diabetic attack or something and was in pretty bad shape.  We gave her a blessing, she went to the hospital, and luckily everything was ok.  Still, a little bit of a shock!

Well, this week was a little hard.  It seems like we are cursed right now haha.  Whenever we go to an appointment, the people arent there.  We missed like 2 appointments due to time and now those people are mad at us... Sometimes my companion doesnt quite sense what time it is which is kind of hard.  Other than that, it was a pretty good week because we had a BABTISM! 

Ok, so theres this lady named Martha Julia in our branch.  She went inactive for like 3 years and didnt want anything with the church.  Within the past 3 months, she started returning to church and asked us to babtize her son Jose.  We taught the both of them and this Saturday held the baptism.  I forgot how good it felt to babtize someone, its so awesome and a great blessing for everyone.  The service was great and afterward we had some yummy cake

There are changes in the next 2 weeks and our president is thinking of closing one of the areas here in San Mateo.  Its been pretty hard finding people to teach here, but I have learned a lot so far.  My mission is slowly becoming who I am.  I love serving, preaching, and working to save as many as I can.  Adios!