18

  So I had changes this week and got sent to the other side of the mission in Huehuetenango in a place called Zaculeu and Im in a trio until tomorrow when one Elder finishes his two years and the other is the person that Im training right now. They are both from Honduras and they are super funny. My son ( what we call the new guy I get to train) came to the mission in 2015 but got sent home becuase he punched his comp and he finally returned after 3 years which is awesome. His is 23 and teaches awesome. He talks tons with all the members and we have found some awesome people to start teaching. 

  Im in the city now and we live with the zone leaders so that is fun because my zone leader from Xela is in the same house with me now and I get to talk with him more. The food here is awesome and I have eaten more food from members in one week than all of my time in Zunil. I might actually gain weight here. The area isnt as big a Zunil but it is still a little hard to memorize in one week. Spanish is going well and Im so blessed to be training. It is such a fun experience, but I tell my comp everyday he is training me becuase he knows more Spanish. HAHA. 

  On friday we went to eat with a lady from San Salvador and she made us some food from her country called Papusas and they are so good. Then she shared he conversion story and it was so amazing how God had prepared her to be a member of the church. Then she said that her other american son/Elder went home so Im her new son and she only refers to me as "hijo" and I say "mama". She is a 70 year old lady in our ward. The ward is about 150 people which is so awesome and the members try to feed us every meal which is so awesome. 

  I dont really have anything else to share so I love you all and I will see you soon. 

The first picture is at the 6 weeks meeting with my son. The second is with my "mama" and the 3rd is in a members house waiting to eat.

17

This week was super wierd and interesting. We found to super awesome investogators and probably the most positive in the area . One is a 18 year old girl from Cantel and he works in a bread shop. The other is this 70 year old guy who lives on a mountain so it is super fun to climb the mountain  3  times a week haha. We are also teaching a family that lives in the middle of the jungle so it is super pretty to walk to their house. On sunday we were sitting in the sacrament meeting and some random dog walk in and the members attacked it and threw it out of the Chapel and I was just shocked. I didnt know what to do but just laugh. Then we saw a dog just chilling floating down the river which was super weird too. I also helped some members dig the foundation for their home but I forgot to take pictures and it was super fun because I like digging holes. I have some blisters on my hands from it but they should go away soon. My comp has had lots of problems latley and  hasnt sleep super good. He also has problems with the member and the other day he lost his temper and threw a chair at  a little 5 year old so I had to call Pres. Diaz and tell him and that was super fun as you can imagine. Sometimes I feel like Im the older comp. Tomorrow I will have changes which is super sad because I have grow to love all the people here in this little town. The members told me the wished that my comp was leaving which made me sad, but I hope to return here and finish my mission. I packed all of my bags last night and will be visiting members until we need to be in the house at 9:30 tonight. I hope that all of you are having a good time at home and I pray for you all everyday. Spanish is fine now just need to learn Kiche. Love you all and Ill see you soon.

1. The zone leader and a member that leaves for the mission today 

2. Jungle where the investigators live

3. An avocado tree I found in the jungle

4. The view from the Jungle

16

Its super fun here now but  I can't wait for changes next week. There are so many different possibilities because I will be finishing my training here. I'm not really sure if I want to leave or if I want to stay another 6 weeks here. Its crazy to think I have been here for 4 months already. Each week goes by faster and faster. My goal for next week is to be training a new Elder because that will mean my spanish has improved enough to be kind of alone when it comes to talking. 
  The weather here as been super good here.  The hottest it has been is only about 90 degrees and sometimes at night it is in the 40s. We are working with and awesome family right now called the Pocol Quixtan family. Also, its been super weird lately because I have started to understand conversations in Kiche but I don't know almost any words. With the Pocol Quixtan Family  the Dad invited us to play soccer with his brothers and I was so bad haha, but I had fun.   So that is all that matters. 
  My favorite food here is the fries that they sell in the street and this super good hot milk drink. Also, we had our Day of a Thousand,  where every first Wednesday of the month as a mission we try to find a 1000 new people. Me and my comp found 27 before 4:00 and went to help other people because the goal is 15 each companionship. 
  My comp has lots of anger problems and hates just about every member that we have in the ward which makes it kinda hard to visit the members, but he doesn't remember where everyone lives so I just don't tell him where we are going and we visit members. We are going to have the interview with President Diaz tomorrow for the month so that should be fun. 

Well that is everything I think so I love you guys lots and Ill see you soon. 

Photos:

All the YMCA shirts I have found and bought 

A kid of one of the members

15

So this week was super fun with the new year and also with the meetings that we had. My comp & I  spent the new years in Xela with the zone leaders and it was super fun. We ordered pizza and drank lots of soda. Then the next day there were not any buses because of the holiday so we had splits (we split up our companionships and go out with a different comp for the day) and it went pretty well. Then we traveled home and worked the rest of the week in our area. Friday we had a leaders meeting so I went on splits  in Xela with another Elder from my group and we are both in our training and he is a super good guy so we had lots of fun.

   I had the best lunch I have ever had in the mission, but on the way to the lunch the was a fire next to the Chapel and the houses were getting filled with smoke so we ran and helped people get out of there houses. Mainly the old people because the can’t walk fast and we carried them out away from the smoke and fire and then left a statement with the firefighters when they showed up. After this we both went back to the house grabbed some water and ran to our next appointment with the old guy that doesn't hear very well and I started to laugh a little because the other Elder (my comp) doesnt talk super loud and the old guy just kept saying "what, what, what" and it was kinda bad but the spanish was fine. 

After the meeting we went to the hospital for my comp because he had a UTI and couldn't use the restroom without hurting and I laughed super hard when the doctor told him the same this as me..... its because all he eats is tortillas and drinks 7 UP and never water. So he got medicine and he is doing good now and doesn't have any excuses not to work so that’s awesome. This next change one of us will be leaving the area and we arent really sure what is going to happen. I really want to train this next change but its not really my choice. 

I hope everyone is doing good and I Ill see you all soon. Love ya. I forgot my camera so Ill send pictures next week. Here is one from my companions camera.  

14

Hey everyone things here are going pretty well. We didn’t do anything super crazy for Christmas, but it was super nice to call the family and say hi and talk with everyone. Super glad my best friend could be there too. Was a little sad to have to say goodbye again. It was almost harder than in person haha. 

This week we found some awesome new families to teach and Im super excited to share with them. I dont really have any crazy stories for this week but it’s weird and interesting is that there seem to be twice as many dead animals in the street this week ?!  

For the new year Guatemala lights off tons and tons of fireworks and drinks a ton so tonight shound be fun because the drunk poeple love talking to the missionaries. Tonight should be fun though because we are staying with the zone leaders again and the fireworks should be cool to watch.  Last week some missionaries shared a story with us when they were contacting a guy all the sudden the guy stands up and looks out side because he dog is getting in the trash and then the guy is like "one second Elders" he then runs to the door with this fat branch and when the dog enters the house he proceeds to beat the dog over the head until the dog dies and the branch breaks in half. Then after he says "lo siento Elderes perdi mi paciencia" which is like sorry Elders I lost my pacience with the dog. That was the first time they talked to this guy. Now I think this Saturday that guy is going to get baptized in their area so luckly that sin will be washed away. The amount he had to change to be ready for baptism is amazing too. 

 

Thats all I have to share so dont forget to read your scriptures and say your prayers. 

Love you all and Ill see you guys soon. 

Christmas tree is Xela 

My desk 

Me at my zone leaders 

Christmas Day FaceTime !

13 Merry Christmas

We email from internet cafes on the computers there. I have been have a great week here in Zunil. He are teaching lots of people but we are still having trouble getting people tochurch  which kinda sucks but I’ll live. It’s their salvation on the line not mine. HAHA. No I want them to come so bad because it seems like if they come once they will continue to come. We had divisions (switched companions for a day) this week and I went with Elder Wengreen from Utah and my comp went with the other to Elders in our district.

 Thats awesome that you bought a new cat and I think dad is getting soft. 

Our mission president made the whole mission a promise and the promise was if you are obedient to the rules and work hard you will have a baptism this month and if not you have an interview with him to evaluate what you are doing.Luckily  we had a baptism this sunday with a man named Ricardo Poz Chay. He asked me to baptise him and it was such a cool experience. I didnt think he was going to choose me because he has become friends with members at the church but when we gave him all the options he said he felt like I should do it. I love being a missionary so much. Even though at times I cant understand that the heck is going on the work is hard it is so rewarding. Also, during sacrement I sang which was super weird but they asked me to so I was like why not. Probably not going to see these people for a long time so sure. Elder Torres my comp has been doing much better and we haven't had any problems so far which is good but he hates one of our zone leaders and I just laugh whenever he is talking about him. 

Also,for the cat( this next part is for Chase) that is a terrible name.( okay back to normal)

 I hope that all of you remember what we are really celebrating tomorrow. The birth of JesuCristo and the sacrafice that he payed so that we can return to heavenly father and live with our families forever. Yo se que la Iglesia de Jesucristo es el reino de Dios in la tierra y el nos dio familias para aprender y progresar. Y se que los templos son las casas de Dios y nosotros podemos vivir con nuestras familias para siempre. Yo se Jose Smith fue un profeta de Dios en nuestro dispensación. El restauro el evangelio y tradujo El Libro de Mormon.

Translation

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ is the kingdom of God on earth and he gave us families to learn and progress. And I know that the temples are the houses of God and we can live with our families forever. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God in our dispensation. He restored the gospel and translated The Book of Mormon. 

 I love you all and I hope you have a great Christmas. See you soon. 

12

So this was my first week with my new trainer Elder Torres from Mexico. He doesnt speak to much english, but we have been teaching lots of people and never really have a minute of down time which is good.  Also, he has helped a lot with my confidence in Spanish because he says I speak the best out of all the new missionaries in the field which relieved a little stress.

 Today was the 6 week meeting with all the new missionaries from my group to see how things are going. I can tell who has been working hard and who doesnt really like it here. We have a Multi Zone meeting this Thursday and we are going to have games food and a gift exchange. This week I have been training my trainer you could say. He was training someone else before me and there were lots of problems with him sleeping in and returning at 5:00 to call it a day. So not only am I showing him the area I am also helping him break his habbits and right now things are going good. He makes super good torillas which is a plus.

  I have been feeling a ton better. No more pink eye and no more Strep but I am still finishing my medicine as advised by the nurse. I do have a little cold now but compared to last week I’m 200 times better. I’m not sure what the plans are for christmas but I will let you know for sure next monday. We haven't received the plans for this christmas but I cant wait to talk to you guys. 

We might have a baptism this week Ricardo Poz but it depends if he approves the plans for the baptism but I think he will. I know this church is true and that any challenge you have you can overcome with the help of our loving heavenly father and his son. Because Jesus knows exactly what our pains feel like and I know He loves us more than we can even fathom.

 Love you guys lots and Ill talk to you this next week. Sorry I forgot to take pictures this week. 

11

This week has been really exciting you could say. Yes, we do have running water but still not warm water. The milk does taste weird and it comes in a box. We aren’t allowed to drink any soda with caffine so I do drink soda but not any of the good ones. HAHA. We have a lot of rice beans and eggs and I like to buy avocados for a snack.

 For my brithday we bought a cake and some candles. Then that night we had an appointment with the Elders quorum president and it was actually a surprise birthday party with another cake and the super good milk and rice drink.

   On Saturday we had a branch party and there were tons of games and food and piñatas. It was a lot of fun. One of the games was a potato bag race and they had trophies. I got first and my comp got second so we kinda have these two trophies in our house now. On Sunday we had an investigator attend church and we were able to set a goal for the 22nd to get baptized. He tells us every week he wants to get baptized so he just needs the okay to get work off that day and its a done deal!  I am so excited for him. 

  Now for the super interesting parts of this week, On Tuesday I woke up with pink eye and it was all swollen and I wasn’t able to get medicine until today because our area doesn't have good pharmacies. Also, on Saturday I tested positive for Strep and last night I had food poisoning and was throwing up and was on the toilet untill 2:00 this morning. Then to top it off my trainer has changes so I will be getting a new comp to finish my training. So I have to show my new comp where everything is in Zunil because he probably doesn't know this area. But today I got all the medicine I need so I’m all good now. 

The scripture I found this week was Moroni 7:48 "pray unto the Father with all the energey of heart, that ´(you) may be filled with this love" 

Love you guys lots and I’ll see you soon. 

10

Hey family things are going great here. We have so many investigators  that have progressed so much but they need to attend church in order to be baptised and it frustrating when they dont keep their commitments but I guess me and my comp are doing all be can. This last week has been absolutely crazy. We had to sleep with the zone leader twice this last week because we had stuff in Xela and there are no buses back to out area after 8:00 .  Also I was talking with a couple of the guys from my group that have been having trouble with their trainers not waking up until 9:00 (supposed to wake up 6:30am)  and not doing the 12 week training program with them.  I had to call and talk with president so that they could get switch to better trainers after their interviews with President last wednesday. My interview went good and ¨President Diaz said my spanish has gotten a lot better so that gave me some confidence which was nice.

 This Saturday we had our service as a mission and it was cleaning up all the garbage off a hill to this park at the very top. When we got to the top a lady locked her keys in the car so me and a couple elders had to pry open the door in order to hit the unlock button with a stick. Yesterday we went and watched the Christmas devotional  and it was super good and we got to watch it in english so I understood every thing which was nice. Today we woke up and got to play basketball some member and my vertical has increased from walking up so many hills and I can dunk now which is cool. After that we went into Xela and went to walmart and I bought all food I could ever want which was awesome and then we went to the Mega Paca and I found a BYU shirt for like $4 because I only have 3 shirts with me because Im dumb and didnt bring more. We also got to do some service on tuesday where we ripped all so part and this ladies  roof and then fixed it. So thats about it, I love you guys and I hope you are reading your scriptures. See you soon. 

week 9 more picts

Washing hair :) 

Week 9

I have been having a lot of fun here lately and we have been working super hard. We have about 12 people that just need to attend church so they can be baptized and they can all come to church this week they said! So, that is awesome. 
We didn't really do anything on Thanksgiving because we had a multi-zone meeting and that took us most the day. But for lunch at the Multi-zone we had turkey and mashed potatoes. The turkey was terrible but it's the thought that counts. Last Tuesday till this Saturday we have no running water in the house so.  So we got to take bucket showers. On ¨P-day (preparation day) we normally wake up do our studies then go buy groceries. After that we normally have a district activity that takes up most of the day and then we write and start teaching lessons after that. For laundry a member picks it up and cleans it for us which is a blessing because we have no time. (or running water)  Spanish is coming little by little. I am starting to speak a little better. I understand everything sometimes and nothing others. Today we went to Xela because I needed to buy a backpack and there were tons of deals at this place called Mega Poc which is like this Goodwill Ross place. I bought 2 new ties for like 20 Q  which is like $3. Also, most days for food I boil eggs the night before and eat cereal. Any ways things as super good and my comp is super awesome. Hope you all are reading your scriptures every day and praying. If you haven't ever read  Joseph Smith history I strongly encourage you too. 

Love you all see you in 22 months.

Also the birthday and Christmas package you sent.... 

I already opened everything except the drone for my companion you sent.   I love the side by side book of mormon thanks a ton. There was a week we had nothing to eat so I was a little desperate but I didn't want anyone to worry.  Food is all good now.   My comp said I don't need gifts. He said to make you send me money to buy random stuff hahaha.   

 service and messing around

Week 8

Hey guys so there is a new rule of no chatting back and forth through the email so I can send this one and then answer all your questions in another before I am finished. So, we have been do a lot of stuff here in Zunil we are teaching about 12 different families every week and we have about 4 or 5 lessons every day. I have been doing a lot better here with the food so thats good. I love the people here a ton and I wish I could bring some of the little kids home with me. Today we had a multi zone meeting and then after we went to lunch with our district and then after that we had a district meeting. Yesterday I had an interview with the mission president and he doesn't speak almost any english but he is an amazing man.My comp is super funny and we are laughing almost 24/7. Tomorrow I have to travel back to the capital to sign some paper and then I will sleep at the CCM or MTC next to the temple in Guatemala city. Als,  my comp about a week ago had a parasite and had an accident in his pants right after a lesson so he had to take a shower. Sounds bad but, it  was suuuupppper funny.  Anyways I hope that you all are enjoying  your time in the states. Also, Happy Birthday Dad have fun being older. 

Love you lots and Ill see you soon. Don't forget  to read you scriptures.

Picts of Zunil & bowling