30 October 2017

So the ward I'm in is called Cuyotenango or something like that. Yeah basically all the church buildings have super tight security, there are bars on all the windows, steel doors, 10-foot fences all around the building, and they all have some kind of spike or wire at the top of the fence. They are basically bunkers. But it makes sense, cause the clerk's office alone has more wealth in it than most families here. and nobody has an over, If it was easy to get in there, it would be an easy loot. Most people don't have cars so they don't need much parking, my ward has 3 spaces for cars in the front on a little grass field and in the back there is a half-sized basketball court, I think people park there too. Most people that don't take the bus use motorcycles because gas is too expensive. the buses are basically full-sized vans that they pack people into, and I mean they PACK people into these things, it is the most uncomfortable thing ever, and traffic laws don't exist, you can basically do whatever you want as long as you don't kill anyone, I'm pretty sure its bad if you kill someone.

(Flora Speaking Here:  We found his church building here on google maps.  Check out the street view. )


We usually have lunch with the members, and it is pretty, good, they have this plant that looks like a bigger banana, but it's not, its called a platanum or something like that,  but they don't eat it like a banana, it is always fried. At first, they made me gag, but now I love them. Other than that, the weirdest thing I've eaten is shrimp in a tortilla, shells, feet, eyes and all. Other than that, I haven't had a problem with the food, the members are always surprised to hear I haven't gotten sick yet, or that I don't have a list of foods I don't like.

I thought I sent you a picture of my compañero, his name is Elder Sunday, and he is from Utah. At first, I was a little disappointed cause he is a gringo, and he is a bit awkward. But he is the most dedicated missionary I have met thus far, and he is the best trainer I could have asked for. We already have 4 baptisms, and we are learning all the time. You might think you are doing everything right one day, and then you get a spiritual slap in the face, and realize, you have so much to improve on.


Here are me and my companion.

Here are some pictures from our last baptism, there is one of Melany and her mom, and one of Osman and his family. Osman was baptized by his friend from Guatemala City, and Melany by a different ward member. My companion is in there too.

This is from my first baptism. That is Tyler, and Carlos, and the older brother of Carlos Steven, who performed the baptisms

23 October 2017

Hello family,

Well, I had my first to baptisms last week. Their names are Carlos and Tyler, they are both around 10 years old, and super awesome. Tyler is from a member family but he hadn't been baptized yet, I'm not sure why, something to do with their parents getting divorced. Tyler's older brotherStevenn wanted to baptize his brother, so we just had him do both of the baptisms.

I'm learning very quickly, that it isn't us that does the baptizing or the converting, or really anything. All we did for Tyler and Carlos, was teach a few lessons and pray a lot. It was the Holy Ghost that converted them, God that led us to them, and it was they who excepted the message. God literally doesn't need us, because without Him, we couldn't do anything. But he always uses people to accomplish his work.  Isn't that interesting?

We are here to learn.  God sends out the weak and the inexperienced to do his work so that they can learn.  It makes sense though: we are on this earth to learn and fulfill our divine potential.  How could we do that without doing his work?  If we were only here to baptize, the Spirit would always lead us to people who are completely ready, and just about to jump into the water. But sometimes the Spirit leads us to the most Catholic people imaginable, and it is all so we can learn.

It is interesting to me, how everything God asks us to do is so we can learn; and while we're at it, we can help further his work in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

16 October 2017

I'm in a town called Cuyotenango, which means get this, Whosville.

I never really realized how hard it is to be a missionary. It is super hard but also super rewarding.

9 October 2017

I'm sorry I didn't get to write to you last week, they made me go to Guatemala city to sign my visa on p day, and I didn't get a chance to use a computer.

We haven't baptized anyone yet, but we have two planned for this weekend. One is Tyler. I don't really know him; his brother just came up to us one day and asked us to help him organize a baptism.  It was a pretty awesome miracle. The other one is Carlos, he is 11. And we have been teaching him and his family for a little while.  I think they missionaries before me had one lesson with him and his grandmas. We seriously have a miracle every other day, it is so awesome.  Maybe I'll just tell you about the ones that get baptized though, cause I still don't have a lot of time to write.

But I need to tell you this story real quick. We were teaching these 3 kids we found in the streets, they are awesome investigators by the way.  We were teaching them it the street at like 8 o'clock.  Not many people were out. This drunk guy comes up. He said,  "So you guys are the Jehovah's Witnesses right?" (in English) and we were like "no were the Mormons" (in Spanish) and he was like "I didn't come all the way out here so you could talk to me in Spanish, I'm from new york. but I want to know what you all believe. Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?"  And then we answered some questions real fast, and he walked off. I said we'd be happy to answer more questions if you have them. but he said, "I doubt you can find me, I live way out in the hood!!!!!"

There are a lot of drunk guys out and about, especially in the evening, it isn't uncommon to find them sleeping on the sidewalk. The other day we contacted a lady in the street and we were interrupted by a drunk guy.  So I pulled him to the side so my companion could keep teaching the lady.  Then I gave him a pamphlet, taught him a thirty-second lesson about Jesus, and asked him if he wanted to be baptized... just for fun.  Then he walked away. It was so funny though.