Huge Missionary Activity Breeds Success

Recent baptism

Another amazing week for sure but thanks to computer problems I`m going to be typing fast. So this is what happened with the changes. My new companion is named Elder Peña from Mexico and has 9 months in the mission so I`m not training again. Also the President has made me....District Leader so that should be fun. 

So what else. Oh I should mention we finally had the coolest baptism of my whole mission. __________ was finally able to baptize ____________ and we had a really good baptismal service. She is so happy and so am I. The cool part to is she told the Bishop that she wanted me to confirm her so I got to do that yesterday which turned out much better than the first time I did it in Zacapa. Oh and Mom I should tell you I`m in the Capital still. I`m not in any small city but Zona 21 de Guatemala. 

So let`s see what else happened this week. We had 7 investigators come to church and we are going to put a baptismal date with two of them this week. I`m seriously loving this area and happy I`ll probably be here until January. Also this Wednesday we had a missionary activity in the Stake Center. We have been inviting everyone to it and a choir from the states came and sung some stuff about the Book of Mormon. We ended up filling the chapel so much that we weren`t able to see it. People were standing up and crammed in the chapel. You know how we have a basketball court in the states in every Chapel. Well in the place of that there is just a really big activities room with a stage and that was full too. Like seriously....full. So they decided to take out a camera and transmit it to another big room with a TV and that room was completely full too. Apparently 200 or more people came who aren`t members and so we had them all fill out a paper with their address so we have a TON of references. So yeah definitely a success.

Oh man I don`t know what else happened. Well a lot happened but I just can`t remember. We had some good success. I`m happy with the week. and now quickly I can answer questions. Weird you`re going to be sending my second Christmas package....way too fast the mission. Just so you know other Elders love that dog thing you gave me last year. It`s hilarious and definitely works.

Ok I hope you get better Mom and can work again. Also good luck on your talk I just remembered right now about the advice thing and now I don`t have time to tell you. But you have Briana and Dad and they`re smarter than me so good luck!

How Member Missionaries Make a Difference

Bowling on P-Day

To start off we were able to teach a lot this week...Well a lot more than usual. We've definitely been getting a lot more support from the ward and it`s helped a lot.

Ok and before I go too far I should let you know what`s happening with changes. Well My companion Elder Anderson is leaving tomorrow and I'll be staying. I've got to say I`m really happy to be staying in the area. One last time we had to push back _________________ baptism but this is the last time. She is so ready and luckily I`ll be here to see her get baptized.

What else happened this week? Oh Sunday was awesome. We completely filled the class of Gospel Principles cause a lot of people came. Also an investigator who hasn't come for awhile came and told us he won't be working on Sundays anymore cause he thought of his priorities and talked to his boss. After that he told us he wants to get baptized in November!! He's the son of recent converts. His parents were baptized like 6 months ago. So yeah in November look for the baptism of ____________________.

Also yesterday we had a big meeting for the third hour with everybody and had a big talk about missionary work. Later that day we did divisions with members. We ended up receiving and contacting 10 people and teaching a lot. So definitely a good Sunday.

This week we had some amazing lessons. Remember ____________ and ____________ who haven't been able to get married and baptized? Well they're working on it but for now everything is the same. He did hurt his leg pretty bad though and they might have to operate so maybe a prayer or two for him would be good. Anyway, we had a lesson with them which was one of the most spiritual in my mission. We've kinda run out of stuff to teach them cause really they know Mormon doctrine better than most members so we decided to share something that wasn't one of the normal lessons. In Preach my Gospel there is an awesome chapter that I have been studying a lot about the attributes of Christ. We taught about hope and patience. Maybe it doesn't sound like it would be so good but really it was so spiritual. We had brought them to a members house so that was cool too.

So yeah I hope you guys all have a good week. I'm still loving life here and next week I`ll let you know what happens with me. I`m hoping to train again but we'll see. Adios!

A Guatemalan Conference Report

Man you guys just made me sad with the news of Shorty. (The Chiechi's dog "Shorty" had to be put down last week. Sad times.) Definitely going to miss him. I guess I`ll have to give them a Guatemalan weiner dog when I get home. There are some funny looking dogs here.

So let`s see. I should start by saying how jealous I am that Briana went to conference. I've always wanted to go and maybe after my mission when I'm at BYU I`ll be able to go. I would have to say I love how much it talked about the family and missionary work. I want to be able to work with the members more. 

Also there was one talk I really liked. When he used the scripture about how the Lord will hasten the work in his time. Then he said "Now is the time". It just makes me think and also it makes me grateful that I`m a missionary at this time. I love the missionary work and I was able to learn so much! (exclamation point) Ha that talk made me laugh. 

I got to watch all the sessions and to make it better they were all in English. It`s weird a year has already flown by since the time that President Monson announced the age change. I was just a new little missionary in the CCM. I only have one more conference in the mission. But I don`t want to think about that right now.

So let`s see. The next Monday we will all know the changes and there is a chance that I could leave. I`m thinking my companion will leave though  cause the President likes to take out the new person. We`ll see though. I really don`t want to leave the area cause I really like it but hey "irè y harè lo que el señor me ha mandado." 

So let`s see I once again don`t have very much time. Really it blows my mind that I`m almost done training for the first time. Those were the fastest changes of my life. In a way I don`t want to train again so my mission feels a little longer.

So yeah that's the week. We're still preparing for ________ baptism this Saturday because she`s really ready. You should have pictures next week. also we're also working still with her friend and she wants to be baptized too. So yeah that`s the week. Love you guys a ton thanks bye. I`ll be able to say more next week.

It makes me happy that I was called to Guatemala

Hello family.

We actually had a pretty good week this week. We found a good amount of new people too this week was exactly what we need. We also taught more with a member this week then without which is really good but let's see.

Glad to hear Mom that you had a really good week at the store even though it was really stressful. Sounds like the store is doing awesome. That should help when I come back so that you can buy me a bunch of stuff :p Also sounds like Briana is having a good time with a ton of callings. Good luck with that Briana!! (Briana has 3 callings in her ward at BYU-I - a counselor in the Relief Society, temple coordinator and temple preparation teacher. Good thing that working and being a full time student don't take much of her time.)

So let's see once again pressed with time. I'll start out with _________. Definitely a stressful week because of her baptism and everything but she didn't actually end up being baptized. She's really ready but what happened is the Bishop never re-interviewed the husband Wiliam just to make sure he's ready to baptize her. Thursday night the Zone Leaders did divisions with me just so they could do everything to force the baptism for Saturday. The thing is they had a goal of 4 families baptized this month and with her it would've been 4. 

It got to a point where I didn't feel like it was best for her to go forward with the baptism so fast especially if her husband couldn't do it. But with the ZL's pressing so hard I ended up having to talk to the President haha and he completely agreed with me and told the ZL's to forget the goal and do what's best for her. I definitely agree and to make it all better an area had a baptism yesterday out of nowhere so we still got the goal. Really I had been praying to know what to do all that day cause I wanted to get the goal to but definitely this is what the Lord wanted.

So yeah interesting experience this week. Also this week we found a bunch of cool places in our area and the people are a lot more humble but I`ll send some pictures. Definitely a cool area and makes me happy that I was called to Guatemala. We taught a good amount and ended up having 14 new investigators with 5 new families. 

As for me and my companion his training ends on the 15th of October and we'll have 3 months. I`m thinking that one of us will leave the area that day and I'm hoping it`s not me but we'll see. So yeah. That's my time. Have a good week and make me proud out there.