Elder Call goes to HueHue!

Hey guys, well this week I got changes and I am now in Huehuetenango!  Our zone, Calvario, is awesome.  My area is called Brasilia.  Its a ward and our church building is the stake center.  I can see that there is a ton of potential here but... lets just say my companion and his old companion werent really working, like, at all.  My new companion is 18 years old, has 3 months, is from Nicaragua, and has a cool accent.  He was pretty disobedient with his trainer and they literally did nothing here.  Hes a cool guy though, I think Im helping him out a lot. There are about twice as many people than in San Mateo, so I think there will be a lot of people to teach.

Well this week I did a division with Elder Mcvey, who is a good friend of mine.  We worked suepr hard and had a great day.  I think being a district leader will help me grow as a person and learn a ton.  

This week we mainly tried looking for members to talk to, as well as contacting a ton of people.  There are some really cool people in my area.  The good thing is that here the people are a lot nicer and less fanatic about religion.  We talked to one member who got babtized when he was 16, back when Huehue only had 30 members.  He was later called as a bishop and even stake president.  One day he was checking recomends at the temple when someone walked in.  The man looked at the member funny, and asked his name.  He told his name, and the strange man who walked in looked in a journal and guess what?  The man who walked in was the elder who babtized this member, only 45 years older.  This story really motivated me to find the chosen people and help them accept the gospel.  We are pretty much opening the area, so it will be a little rough at first.  I know, however, that God will help us and that we will be successful.  Im excited to work, grow, and become a better missionary.  Peace!

Part of my zone!

The new baby

Saying good bye to Edwardo and his family-pretty much the best members ever

The winds of change!

Hey guys, there are a lot of changes coming my way!  The other day President called and told me that Im getting transferred.  He also told me Im going to be a district leader, so tomorrow I get a new companion, new area, and a lot of new responsabilities!

I was thinking about my time here in San Mateo.  6 months haha, thats a long time!  When I first got here there werent any investigators, the church asistance was around 80, and the branch just wasnt doing too well.  6 months later?  Asitance averages 125, we have two babtism dates, and we are doing a lot of activities to motivate the branch.  I have seen many miracles here and have really learned a lot.  Missionary work is,more than anything, just love.  If we express our love for everyone, lives change, miracles happen, and happiness spreads.  I think love is so important because if we show our love for others God will show his love for us.  

Its kind of a bitter sweet feeling leaving an area.  I feel happy because I get to meet new people, but at the same time its a little bit sad.  Theres a widow in our ward that we went to visit yesterday to say goodbye.  She just started crying and crying.  Ive been a part of many lives here, Ive seen so many changes and people progressing.  

Im going to miss a lot of people here in San Mateo, but Im ready to move on and help more people.  There are so many humble, nice people here in Guatemala that need a lot of help.  I know that Christ loves us and He will help us overcome our challenges.  The church is true!  My testimony of the Gospel, after talking to Jehovahs Witnesses, Catholics, Adventists, Evangelists, Protestants, and even Atheists, has never been stronger.  I know that we possess the fulness of the Gospel, what a great blessing!  This coming week a lot will change, but my testimony of the truth will never change.  I love you guys!  Suerte y sigan adelante en la obra de Dios

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It's raining, it's pouring!

Rain!  The rainy season has officially started here in Guatemala.  This week it rained a ton!  Its really nice though, it was getting really hot for these past few weeks.  

This week went well, we found a new family to teach.  The mom is catholic, the dad doesnt go to any church.  We had a great lesson with them and we have another one with them today.  We had 4 investigators in church which was awesome!  Rosa and her daughter, along with a lady named Betza and her son. We put a date with our investigator Lupe for the 13th of June.  I would say things are going fairly well here!

This week we had interviews with our mission president.  I really like something he said, "We can fill our day with activities, or we can fill our day with results."  I think a lot of times as missionaries, students, etc. sometimes we feel like we are doing a lot because we are busy.  The truth is though, if what we are doing doesnt help us accomplish our goals, its a waste of time.  We have to be obedient and work hard if we want to have miracles.  The mission is a time for us to change and become our best selves.

I love fasting, I think its such a wonderful blessing.  Its super hard here in the mission because we still have to work, but I sure can feel the blessings. I love being a missionary because we get to help so many people.  Its a great blessing and I know it will bless my family and friends.  I love you guys!

Howdy!

Hey guys, this week was hot!  Our house is pretty small so it really heats up.  One thing we don't have here in Guatemala is air conditioning.  This week was pretty crazy because we were supposed to have a babtism!  We had put a babtism date for our investigator Lupe for this Saturday.  We were pretty excited and so was she.  The only thing is... she had her baby on Friday!  Haha not the best timing.  The good thing is that her baby is healthy and everything.  Her dad came to church with us and he really liked it.  This family is super smart and I love being able to teach them.

Well this week we had a missionary activity.  We watched "17 miracles" and gave everyone popcorn.  It was a success, we had like 40 people come.  During the movie, I put our cellphone in my pocket.  I had a thing of Super Glue in my pocket, and, somehow, it exploded and covered our phone!  That was kind of a bummer, but we went and changed it out today.  

This Sunday Edwardo blessed the sacrament and he did great.  His family is doing super great and they are pretty much the nicest, most devoted members in the whole branch.  One year and they are going to the temple! 

We continue looking for more investigators, but its been really tough.  Our area is pretty burned over, which frustrates me.  We are doing our best though.  I love being a missionary!  Its so great.  Ive been kind of tired lately, haha really tired.  Serving a mission takes a lot of energy, effort, attention, etc.  But it changes us and makes us better.  God lives!  I know there are prophets that recieve revelation.  I know the church is true, this is Gods work, and that we can ALL live again.  

Edwardo entered the water!!

Hey guys, well this week was awesome because we had a babtism!  After 4 months of teaching, reactivating, an extortion attempt, and lots of prayers, we babtized our investigator Eduardo.  It was pretty much the best day of my life.  Him and his family have changed so much.  They are so great.  We held the babtism on Saturday at 5.  President Smith came and gave a talk about the Holy Ghost.  He said something that impacted me: "The Holy Ghost is the best gift that God has given us."  He spoke for like 10 minutes and the spirit was so strong.  Then Eduardos daughter bore her testimony and we performed the babtism.  It was so amazing, the spirit was so strong.  This family went from inactive to a totally active, tithe paying, commandment keeping family.  Their next goal is the temple and we will help them get there!

Now we are looking for new people to babtize... we did have Lupe and her dad come to church.  They are the smartest guatemalans that I have ever met.  They are pretty poor, but have read like 100 pages of the Book of Mormon and understand everything we teach.  The dad even says he likes the Book of Mormon better than the bible because its more clear.  The only problem is that Lupe is pregnant haha and is about to have her baby like, this week.  The dad though could possibly get babtized on the 9th of May, which would be sweet.

Other than that Ive been trying to help my companion a lot.  He cant speak Spanish too well and Ive been helping him teach better.  Its been really humbling, when we pray aloud he always says things like, "Help me be able to know how to use the computer and speak spanish better.  Thanks for letting me become a member of the church..."  Hes a good guy, Ive learned a lot.

Well thats about it!  I love you guys and I love America haha.  The church is true, thats something Ive learned each and every day.  The principles of the Gospel help us be happy.  If we follow them, we are happy.  If not, we are sad.  Its that simple!  Peace!

Edwardo, my companion, and President and Sister Smith

My Zone! 

San Mateo 

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!