2015-06-22 Never Been Happier in My Life

Hey guys, well this week went well.  A lot of things have been going on in the work.  We found a lot of people and they are listening to the lessons and progressing.  I think the biggest problem that we have here in the area is that the people just can't and have no time to go to church. 

Puerto Barrios is one of the few places in Guatemala that there is actually work for everyone.  No one complains about not having work because they all work in the ports here.  But at the same time that creates a problem because they work on Sundays and can’t attend church.  It is hard to tell them to give up their work on Sundays to go to church because they have children and families to feed and a lot of times they really want to change and listen, but they are just held back by their work. 

Other than that things are going good.  Had a lot of really good lessons with investigators and It is interesting to see how the gospel changes lives and works for the better in them. 

 I did a division with the ZLs and I went with Elder M from my group at CCM.  We entered the mission together and in the night after the division we just sat there talking about how 2 years has gone so fast and how it seems just like yesterday that we were sitting in the CCM not knowing Spanish and thinking about how far away things seemed.  We both agreed that we are kind of scared and nervous for the future and that it is kind of a leap into the darkness after the mission, but it is a leap that all of us have to take.

They told us last night no one has changes, so I guess my final resting place is going to be Puerto Barrios.  I am happy to be here.  I have never been happier in my life.  It really is true that when you lose yourself in the work of the Lord you find yourself... I am having the time of my life.

Well I hope all is well there.  Things are good here.  I love you all!  Take care!

2015-06-15 What a Privilege to Teach and Help our Brothers and Sisters

Hey guys well another week has passed quickly and a lot of things are happening.  I can't even remember some of the things that happen because it passes so quickly.  I just know that it was great!  My companion has asked why time goes by so fast, and I told him the mission will fly if you are working hard. 

This week has been good, we had to go to the city to sign papers for the visa of my comp.  We had to ride into town for 7 hours on a bus.  We went to bed at 10:30 woke up at midnight to get ready then we hopped on the bus at 3:00 in the morning to get to the city on time.  We got to the city at about 10:00 in the morning and we signed papers for 15 minutes and then we headed back to the bus station to wait for the bus to go back.  We had to make the journey with another pair of sisters in my district so it wasn't that bad because we had people to talk to, but we didn't get back to the house until 10:30 at night.  It was suuuuper long and suuuuuper tiring, but at least we got some things done and to make sure my companion is legal here.  

We had a super interesting visit with this man that has been progressing so much lately.  His name is A.  He has been married to his wife for 6 years and they have been trying to have a baby the whole time.  She is now expecting and she is well into her 9 months of being pregnant.  We found them a few weeks ago from a member referral.  They didn’t know what gender the baby is going to be.  So the member friend predicted and prophesied that they will have a daughter and was so sure about it and that he said he even dreamed about them having a baby girl.  So she finally gave birth towards the end of last week and it was a baby GIRL!

Last Sunday we had a cool visit with them and it was super spiritual lesson.  We taught them about the Plan of Salvation.  They are very receptive and we extended the invitation to be baptized.  He accepted and committed to be baptized in July!  He has been going to church.  It’s an awesome feeling!!!  I love what I do as a missionary… It is a privilege to teach and help our brothers and sisters on their journey of finding their way back to our Heavenly Father. 

In the Book of Mormon I am just starting the book of Alma.  Mosiah really impacted me a lot and I loved it.  The sermon of King Benjamin, the reign of King Mosiah, Abinadi and the conversion of Alma, Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah... I love the Book of Mormon! It is a book that can change lives if you heed the counsel that it contains!

Well have a good week guys, I love you all!

Here are a few pictures from Las Pozas

 

 

 We cooked some breadfruit.

2015-06-8: A Voice Calling From The Dust

Well this past week has been good.  Just working hard.  It has started to rain here in Puerto Barrios.  A good change from the usual hotness, but sometimes I feel like the rain just makes things more hotter, and humid.  We have been finding a lot of people to teach and getting the branch to help us with the work here.  We also have been seeing miracles recently.  We are teaching a family named C and P, and they have been listening to the missionaries for 2-3 months now and we will hopefully be able to have 2 baptisms for the family the first week of July.

Things have been looking up here in the district.  A lot of things are progressing and the investigators are answering well to the message.  I feel good.  I am always tired, but I feel good.  The last few months in the mission is when you have to go at things full blast, not hold back, but apply all that you learned in the mission.  I have been reading the Book of Mormon again from cover to cover, and I am just starting Mosiah chapter 1.  2nd Nephi really is a great part of the book because it has a lot to do with the gathering of Israel and the restoration and things like that in the last days.  I feel sooo honored and grateful that the Lord has called me to preach to these people.  It says that the BOM would be like a voice calling from the dust, and that is what it does to these people.  They are super receptive and ready to listen to this message about their ancestors, and their fathers that came before them.  It really is an inspired book and teaches and contains the words of God in it. 

Well have a good week... we have been 3 weeks without water, but only thing to do is keep going! hahaha well love you guys! take care!

2015-06-01: Things are Great in Puerto Barrios

Hey well glad to see that everything is going great on that side of the world. Congrats to Michael on his mission call and for the opportunity to serve the Lord.  There is no other cause greater than this, and the Lord is grateful and happy to have a soldier like you among his ranks. 

Congrats to Breiden! I knew that you would be great! Haha I can hardly believe that time has passed so fast! We were kids a few years back drumming and eating spam musubis at UH games during halftime, and now you’re growing into someone great! Keep it up, and remember always to stay close to the Lord!

 We always ask people if there is anything we can do for them.  One lady said we could wash her dog.  It was fun.

This past week has been great. We had a hectic week and a lot happened.  We have been working hard in the area, kinda crazy to see how fast time flies especially in the last part of the mission.  We had a baptism this past Saturday for A.  He is a great guy and has been looking to change for a while now.  He said that he came down here to be with his family.  4 weeks ago he was praying and said that he was telling God that he was willing to follow him, but needed to know where to go.  The next day the family invited him to church, and we were getting to know the members the day after we got here, and he was there.  We have been teaching and helping him since then and he has progressed so much.  I am grateful for the opportunities that the Lord gives me to see and help lives change.  People like these are the reason that I am here.  It’s the reason that I love what I do. 

The rest of the things that passed in the week was crazy fast!  We did a division with the ZLs, Elder M and Elder M both from Utah.  It was good.  Working hard and enjoying it here!

 

Well love you guys, keep it up, have a good week!

Some pics from last week.

Beast on the Beach!

 

 

   My Companion and yours truly.

 

Time sure fly's when you're having fun.

  Time to get back to work.