DENGUE FEVER

Guatemala

What’s up everyone, long week this week so that means short email haha. So unfortunately I was feeling pretty sick a week ago Sunday into last Monday and usually sicknesses just go away after a bit but this just didn’t.  It was just a really bad fever from Sunday night all week to Saturday. We think it was Dengue fever which is a sickness from mosquitoes which would make a lot of sense. Mosquitoes have always loved my blood. Not that fun, however we still worked everyday nonetheless. Dengue was a lil boy and doesn’t stop the Lord's work. 

We are in the process of trying to baptize these two little girls who are cousins and their families are inactive. I think this can be a great way to reactivate their families too. Two birds with one stone hopefully. The goal for Silvia and Billy to be baptized is in the next 2-3 weeks. Silvia got some cold feet but is staying faithful and keeping her commandments. 

Not much honestly that I can remember and I am not that motivated to write an email haha. Love all you guys and hope you guys are getting and reading the emails. I absolutely love getting emails from home and especially the fellow missionaries. Praying for you all at home and in the field. 

Scripture of the week:

James 5:14 “Is any sick among you? Let him call for the Elders of The Church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord”

Santiago 5:14 “¿Está alguno enfermo entre vosotros? Llame a los ancianos de la iglesia, y oren ellos por él, ungiéndole con aceite en el nombre del Señor.”

Tortilla making

Us and a cow in the back

Shout out to Condawg Neal

 TOUGH WEEK BUT WE BALL

Billy with the greatest books ever written

 

What’s uppp everyone! I hit 3 months on the mission wooohooo. I wish I could say time is flying right now haha but it’s good, we getting by. 

Honestly not much happened this week. We were supposed to have our baptisms on Saturday but they decided they needed a little more time to prepare for baptism which is amazing. I am so proud of them for being patient and taking this covenant seriously. My companion really is wanting this baptism because he ends his mission in 6 weeks and baptisms in San Martin just don’t happen. We had some rough couple days not seeing eye to eye on this baptism but I am very glad that Sylvia and Billy were able to make this decision on their own. The baptism should happen within the next couple weeks!! They are awesome and they expressed how tight they are on money but they paid tithing on Sunday. Man seeing that was top 3 best moments on the missions fs. 

Anyway I had a lot of lowlights this week so I will keep this email real short. Sickness never gets better and contacting just doesn’t work. However, a big help for me this week was D&C 18. Check the scripture, it’s really cool. I love it so much because missions and life are so hard. They can be very discouraging or sad but, with all we need to do is have faith and gather Israel. It is what our prophet has told us is the most important work today! Even if it is small, one person, 2 people, a lot, or only a small message. We will have great joy living with our father in heaven.

D&C 18:15 “And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father” 

DyC 18:15 “15 Y si acontece que trabajáis todos vuestros días proclamando el arrepentimiento a este pueblo y me traéis aun cuando fuere una sola alma, ¡cuán grande será vuestro gozo con ella en el reino de mi Padre!”

Every bus we take 5 times a week

Geovani

More of San Martin

Me and the Uruguay legend Elder Davis England

I MISS SPORTS

Billy - Elder England

Yo wuddup from Guaties closing my 11th week. This week was good but man imma keep it 100,  I really missed sports this week. Not sure why but all I thought about was Lacrosse and college football. Big FOMO but we good, we’ll make it back to the LAX field

I also found a Classics sweatshirt in a thrift store here! Which if you guys do not know what that is, it is a lacrosse team I played for during high school. Good thing I got my Classics shorts to complete the fit. Chat let me know what you think with an email back!!

This week was crazy in San Martin. Almost everyday this week there was a big event going on. Had to have been some Guatemalan holiday or something. One day there were a lot of fireworks, a big soccer game in front of our house, a fair, parties, etc. On Saturday they literally just cut out the power in San Martin for the fair, and at least that is my theory. So English class didn’t work at all. They came but we ended up just turning on flashlights and making paper airplanes and talking in the dark. Super fun actually. But the fireworks were really cool because they shot out from this guy in a box. I can’t explain it, just head to google photos and check it out, pretty swag.

We are doing great with Sylvia and Billy but Kimberly just went rogue on us. Weird, we haven’t seen her in almost a week and she isn’t answering us on the phone. Her baptismal date along with Sylvia and Billy is this Saturday. But if you guys wouldn’t mind, keeping these 3 in your prayers

Other than that, same old and imma keep this email short. Nothing new here other than my Spanish is improving a little bit. It is still horrible though, but progress is progress

Scripture of the week:

Alma 38:9 “And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness”

Alma 38:9 “Y te he dicho esto, hijo mío, para que aprendas sabiduría, para que aprendas de mí que no hay otro modo o medio por el cual el hombre pueda ser salvo, sino en Cristo y por medio de él. He aquí, él es la vida y la luz del mundo. He aquí, él es la palabra de verdad y de rectitud”

Trip to Antigua

English class

Guaty fairs

La palabras De Dios

Classic fit 

Me and Ralph

    BE PATIENT IN OUR AFFLICTIONS

Familia Coy niños

¿Que onda? Another week down. Time is going very fast and would have gone very fast this week if I wasn't sick. Luckily my sicknesses haven't been too serious. And if you know me very well you know I never stop coughing, sniffling, and breathing weird at my healthiest so when I am sick it is bad lol. But we good, just gotta listen to Alma 26:27 which btw is the scripture of the week. It's funny because this scripture was brought up to me so much this week so I thought it would be fitting. Also it's hilarious when Elder Pérez says it in english. But gotta give credit where credit is due, so shout out my sister Macy who introduced this scripture to me first

This week was full of events but here are a couple. We had a multi-zone conference in Patzicia and it was 2 hours away on a bus but I am pretty sure it's like from draper to Salt Lake distance wise, America on top for the freeways. Maps says 14 miles from San Martin to Patzicia😭🤣 but I got to meet about half of the missionaries here. Got to see the OG too which was lit, shout out Dobby. 

Later, after English class we had a lesson with the Santay Family and we put 3 of them on a date for baptism!! November 18th is the special day. The 4th member of Family Santay is actually a member but has been inactive for the past 5 years and doesn't have the priesthood. It's funny how we met him because it was late at night a couple weeks ago and we were walking back to our house and this guy was walking alone towards us kinda eyeing us down and we were like aight how much money we gonna lose rn, but then he got closer and yelled "Elderes". We were like what is going on. But look at us now, he's my best friend here and it was his birthday this week too. Anyway he has been getting ready to receive the priesthood and baptize his family. God's timing is crazy and perfect. 

Making more progress with a lot of more people and references is the key to San Martin. Contacting in the street I don't want to say is a waste of time because no missionary work is a waste of time and the gospel is meant for everyone on the earth. However, let's just say it is a good way for me to practice Spanish and learn new bad words in spanish. We can just leave it at that.

But to end, I am loving it here and the work is going great. I got my Guatemalan friends and family here who I am having so much fun with. They can't replace you guys at home, but man I am lucky, the people here when they aren't drunk are amazing. Especially the kids!! Makes me miss my best friends at home, who btw are getting huge already. Halloween was sad not to be there with the fam. Last shout out, but Brayd and Soph should get money or something for their costume🤣🤣

Scripture of the week:

Alma 26:27 "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success"

Alma 26:27 "Y cuando nuestros corazones se hallaban desanimados, y estábamos a punto de regresar, he aquí, el Señor nos consoló, y nos dijo: Id entre vuestros hermanos los lamanitas, y sufrid con paciencia vuestras aflicciones, y os daré el éxito"

Feliz cumpleaños Geovani Santay

Élder Pérez es mi mejor amigo

Me and Macy

Brayd and Soph, legends

    SIEMPRE ME SIENTO SUCIO

Rain is terrible

What uppp, I am happy to say this past week has been amazing!! We have been working hard here in San Martin and it has been well worth it. I also am loving the city so much. When I first got here my attitude was focus on all the bad things about the city but now I have switched it and I am happy here. It's beautiful and I have friends here now!! I still am not a fan of how dirty I feel 24/7 and eating with my hands is the worst. But all the Élders say you get used to it, I'm not too convinced.

We started English classes this week, which has been so fun. We have been teaching just little classes and none of them are members which was the goal. Obviously we want to teach them English but the main idea is to get them in the church and be comfortable around us. We do them just twice a week and it is hilarious. There are about half adults and half kids. Small classes of like 10. These classes worked to perfection. It's a fun way to have fun with everyone and it is hilarious listening to the adults try to speak English. The kids are way better than the adults. I realize how hard English is to learn though, we have so many things that just don't make sense but oh well. That's not the main point though. We invited all of them to come to church and 5 of them came!! Watching them come through the door was mind blowing. I couldn't believe it

We also had 2 others attend the church. This guy saw a post we made on facebook and he called us and said he needed to talk to us. I am grateful for the modern day tool of technology because otherwise we may have never found him. But we gave him a lesson on the restoration. It was cool because in lessons I usually understand around 10-15 percent of what is said but I just understood everything he was saying. He said he believed in Joseph Smith and that he believes the Book of Mormon is true even though he hasn't even read it yet. He said he could just feel something telling him it was true. Milagrosss. Anyway he and his son came to church and stayed for the 2nd hour and man it just made me so happy. 

Missions are still very tough haha, but wow, the spirit really does his job well. If we all just do our part in anything, the spirit and God will take care of the rest. I testify that this is true.

Scripture of the week:

Mosiah 2:21 "I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants"

Mosíah 2:21 "os digo que si sirvieseis a aquel que os ha creado desde el principio, y os está preservando día tras día, dándoos aliento para que podáis vivir, moveros y obrar según vuestra propia voluntad, y aun sustentándoos momento tras momento, digo que si lo sirvieseis con toda vuestra alma, todavía seríais servidores improductivos"

Clases de inglés gratis

Our little English class

Jesus (this little kid) is my best friend

Me and Perez on top of San Martin

OG pic

    GOTTA LEARN PATIENCE

San Martin

Hello all!! I hit 2 months this week. Wow anyone who says time flies is wrong. Just kidding but not really. This week went by a lot faster than usual though. My first full week here in San Martin has been full of ups and downs, this place is crazy.

We have 4 really serious investgators that have so much potential and other contacts that I think could get to this point with a little more work and effort. We have been working real hard trying to turn things around here. There have been 3 baptisms here in 3 years before it was closed down for a year. No one here has heard of missionaries or the church before and most people are Católico and Evangélico. Usually when they have a religion they are so nice and hear us out then decline and say that they can't change their religion (which I don't blame em), I wouldn't change mine either but we still try and tell them they can. lol. But Sunday proselyting is real tough. They do not appreciate when you try and talk to them about another religion after they just had church. It's kinda funny cause they get mad at me and my comp and I don't understand a thing. I think it's a good thing I don't speak the language good because afterward I always ask Élder Pérez what they said and he always types it out in google translate for me. Sometimes I'm like wow, good for you for being kind and patient with them because some things they say are offensive and bazar. If I understood, I would probably take a jab back at them. So I gotta learn patience too by the time I get good at Spanish.  I'm thinking I have got plenty of time lol.

We gave talks this last Sunday that went very well. I spoke on the Holy Ghost and was trying to think of a good story to tell them. As I was thinking I thought of some crazy and funny stories with the boys. I realized that we had some close calls on life a couple times. I'm thinking home was more dangerous with my friends than walking dark streets at night in Guatemala. Although, I haven't been held up at gun point yet. Shout out ELDER GROTTYHAT on not dying. Legend

Go Utes too!! Caleb Williams es un niño pequeño

Love and miss you all like crazy!! 

Scripture of the Week:

Ephesians 1:4 "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love"

Efesios 1:4 " según nos escogió en él antes de la fundación del mundo, para que fuésemos santos y sin mancha delante de él, en amor"

Muy enfermo

Tuk Tuk 

I miss watching read football

First fade of the mish

    PANDA EXPRESS?

Hermana Clida Ines Perez' baptism

Wow what a crazy week. Ok so to start off, Guatemala has been actually going through it. The blockades got a lot worse and weren't very peaceful in some places. It is really sad and we weren't able to leave the house one day. Then we could go out but weren't able to be out past like 6 pm. But by the end of the week we were back to normal. Now that I am writing this, I'm realizing WOW it has been a very long week. We always come out on top though. On Friday we received the news that the road opened up and we were able to go to San Martin and not stay in the office. I'm gonna miss that place though, it was always a good time with all the missionaries there.

I had the opportunity to have "my" first baptism this week! I met with her once before she decided to get baptized but my comp Élder Pérez did all the work to get her to this point. The baptism was on Saturday and it was such a cool experience. I'm not sure if Élder Pérez really wanted me to baptize her or if he just didn't want to get his temple clothes wet, but whatever reason it was. I'm glad I had the opportunity to baptize her. After the baptism we had English class and I love it. It's the best, cause I teach them and they realize how hard it is to learn a language. I always get made fun of being a "Gringo Guatemalteco" and it's funny. So it helps them understand how hard it really is. But the people are so so nice and are always willing to help me with my Spanish. My comp is especially good at this. He doesn't speak much English and I don't speak much Spanish so it's great, we learn a lot from each other.

We left to San Martin and got to our apartment at 2 am and in bed at around 2:30. You could say I could've slept on the way but it was terrifying. To put this into perspective. It was super winding roads. Think about Big Cottonwood Canyon. My driver, anytime there was a straight away, (which was pretty often) would gas it til the very last moment. Not exaggerating we got up to 120 when I decided to look over at him when there was a turn coming up. He really really wanted to get there fast. So there was no sleeping on the way and Sunday was a very very long day. This place is a lot different than San Lucas. It's a lot more poor and the culture is a lot different. The culture shock is crazy right now and I feel gross all the time but it's good because I need the humbleness.

Today for P-day we went to Chimaltenango which is far so we took a bus to meet our district. When I asked what food they have there my comp names off McDonald's, Burger King, Dominoes. You know all of the classics. And then he goes, "You need to try this place called Panda Express". So I played along for a sec and was like nah sounds gross what even is that. Then I told him they're all over. Élder Pérez is la cabra. 

Love you. Miss everyone like crazy right now/ Everyone says this but right now I would absolutely love to hear from everyone!

Scripture of the week: 

Moroni 7:13 "But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God"

Moroni 7:13 "Mas he aquí, lo que es de Dios invita e induce a hacer lo bueno continuamente; de manera que todo aquello que invita e induce a hacer lo bueno, y a amar a Dios y a servirle, es inspirado por Dios"

Heading to a lesson in San Lucas

I get to look tall for once in my life

San Martin

Jonah and this Nino would get along real well 

Panda Express?

    MADE IT TO GUATEMALA

Giving away Book of Mormons

What's upppp! I finished up at the CCM and headed out to Guatemala last Thursday. So much has happened since my last P-day on September 28th. First of all, General conference was freaking amazing. That was the first time I have ever listened and studied all 5 sessions. There were some quick 5 minute naps in there, I can't lie, but overall it was amazing receiving so much knowledge from the leaders of our church.

There is soooo much that I could talk about but I will keep it short. My new comp is Elder Perez and he is one of the AP's and a legend here in the mission.  I love him.  Right as I was assigned my companion (the night we got here), President Probst said you have a lesson that you guys have got to get to. So I jumped right into it. We were able to meet with this family and they were sooo kind. It was funny introducing myself to them because they wonder why I can't speak Spanish but I am Guatemalan. Then I tell them that I was adopted and tell them the whole story, haha they didn't believe me! hahaha. About half the time everyone laughs at me or is like that is sooo cool. No inbetween lol. They were the kindest people ever though and fed us and we had a whole testimony meeting in the dark. Could I understand a thing, nope, not really, but the spirit was there and it was such a cool experience.

I am assigned to go to the San Martin area but have been serving in San Lucas because here in Guatemala there have been many protests against the Government. I don't really know that much but I know the government won't step down and give power to the people elected. I dunno, it's about some crazy stuff. But the streets are blocked everywhere and a lot of us are stuck where we are. We are perfectly safe, just can't drive places, that's all. Nothing to worry too much about. We have been able to serve and proselyte with no problems. Me and my comp Élder Pérez have been serving in this nearby town called Santiago Sacatepequez. Everyone is super kind and a lot of people want to learn more. They are also very patient with my Spanish which is so comforting. We have a couple people who are pretty interested and others who we have their contact info. We have had people shut us down of course but they always want to hear what we have to say and are very kind to us. They kindly reject receiving the Book of Mormon. 

In my assigned area San Martin was "closed down" because there are about 15 members who are prolly not active, there is no church, and there has been no success so they shut it down. Me and my comp are going to reopen it and hopefully turn things around. It is going to be very tough work but we are good, it's not a mission if it's not hard. 

Hasn't all been sunshine and rainbows. You guys hear all the good stuff but there have been a lot of struggles so far in the mission and at home. I pray so often and it really helps. The language is really tough but I am learning quickly and am trying to be patient. I just feel like I can't connect to the people nearly as much because I don't understand them and I don't know if they understand me but our Heavenly Father doesn't give us trials that we can't overcome. As long as we have faith

D&C 103: 27-28: "27 Let no man be afraid to lay down his life for my sake; for whoso layeth down his life for my sake shall find it again. 28 And whoso is not willing to lay down his life for my sake is not my disciple."

DyC 103: 27-28 "27 Ningún hombre tema dar su vida por mi causa; porque quien dé su vida por mi causa, la hallará de nuevo. 28 Y el que no esté dispuesto a dar su vida por mi causa no es mi discípulo.

First Lesson

A lady we met today - Cutest little girl!

Dogs and drunks love their sleep

Elderes in Guaties

Gourmet meal - Elder Sargent misses American food

I miss my dawgs