Llanos de Santa Maria-Jan 24, 2011

I seriously got hooked up this week from all the emails I got from you guys. Thank you SOOOO much. You guys seriously just made this past week I had 30,000 times better. I love you guys soooo much. So I'll start off by tellin all about my week. Thursday I got to See M Russell Ballard!!!!!! AHHHH!!! I seriously want to write you guys every single thing I felt and heard. It seriously was amazing... I'll sum it up really quickly though. He IS a SPECIAL witness of Jesus Christ being a living person. And I felt that stronger then I ever have. Fact. It's just how it is, so deal it. Singing in a choir of 15 in front of 600 missionaries rocked. We dome rocked it. Elder Ballard said and I quote "those missionaries have something special." I think he was talking about my little head. Awesome. So if you guys are wondering if I sat in the third row on the edge and he and I made eye contact over 5 times....We did. He also gave me a thumbs up, cuz I was crying. But it was awesome!!!!! I love him. Anyways then Friday rolls around and we just worked. Lame day. No one home, but I was happy all day. I feel new from all his talking. Oh! We had a district activity. Everyone just came over and we chowed on pizza. Then shared what we learned from Ballard. I thought it was dope. And the others too. So it was a success. Woot. Saturday was an intense working day. We did our thing and taught some GOOD lessons. Which leads to Sunday!!!! We had 6 investagators in church!!!!!! "Thats the most this area has seen in 3 years" said the members. As Elder Fast responded kindly "thanks to your help and love"....good ensign story eh? Anyways one of them was Monica who went last week. She's getting baptized FOR sure, if her parents let her. Shes 16. And we are teaching her mom, too. They both prayed and said they felt "good" after. DOPE!!!! So we should get them both. The other 4 investigators are people we found here. Julio, Oscar, Juan-Josue, and Hno. Santo.... 4 Priesthood holders!!! 4!!!!! Every SINGLE one of them wants to get baptized. Literally they have all told me. That's seriously is amazing. BUT.... They all are married to another women and living with a seperate women...which is seriously normal here and takes well over 9 months to fix. Super bummer. But I'm helping them all get started on it, and hopefully they can become gospel lovers and never abandon it. So asi es in my area. I'm so happy. We find out changes in a week. This was the fastest change I have had in my misison. I hate that. But i just love it too. So as for a story of this week....uuuuummm... I thought about what im going to do when I get home. and I came to a conclusion now. Well, i have 3 options. Live in either Vegas, California, Or Utah, go to community college and work. So yep. MAYBE get back into soccer and see what this old collar bone can do. Seriously doubt it though. But definitely a possibility...ish. So asi es. Still have no plans and I'm not worried about that. I love my mission and this work. No hay nada mejor!!! Aparte de familias...YO SE! Entonces para dar all my thanks to the letters I recieved I will respond to you guys in this email :) First...Db..Rey.... Sick nasty you got accepted into the top 80 and are seguiring to top 35. I know you will get accepted because you are my big brother and perfect in my eyes. Asi es. The Story about Gavin made me feel like I put off the best example ever. Teaching my nephews style. A little late. But he is THE MAN!! I think Braxton is a mini me as well...cuz he lies sometimes. If he gets to lying all the time he will be just like I was. A rat. haha I love your fam db. Im solo un poco celoso de que vos y db han hecho juntos. Viendo los partidos y toda la casaca. Pero, no tengo ninos y estoy libre :) no tengo que cambiar Panales bwahaha :) Brother, siga pilas. Tengo fe que El Senor te bendecira en tu entrevista. Te amo mucho hermano mio!!! Segundo....Db...Ryan... Your letter seriously was awesome. me ayudo bastante en la chica scenerio. Now siento un poco mejor. Ya entiendo como puedo ser en la mision. So about the story of you batting tenth still made me giggle. Cuz they just sound like chubs who think they are better then my db, pero se esta no es verdad :)I can't wait to go back and play with you. If I do work for you...which is my highest possibility right now, for sure we are playing on the same team...el duo....which means....the duo hahaha I know it's nino. Im excited to see your new daughter. Guarantee she keeps the pretty niece trend going. Our family rocks. Db...Tell your wife i love her and will pray for her specifically. Also tell Clarke and Hudsen I'm the best and I wrestle tigers here in the jungle so they think im cool. Thanks DB. Trecero...Db...Daniel... Dude your letter was FULL of the coolest stories of Emmett I have ever heard hahahhaha. Hes seriously the man!! He sounds fun now!!!! I cant wait to go back and play with him and teach him funny stuff too. Just like Ryan taught Braxton and Gavin how to Buttercup haha. That one other story was AWESOME dude. hahahaha I bet Aubs was just embarrassed hahaha. Or even a little mad. Tell her to chilax. thats the coolest story ever. Mother.. You and Dad sound like youre kicking butt. I love you guys so much. Thats sooooo sick that dad played that song for the Latinos....Tal vez fatal..LOOOVE that song. All the other songs I sent you, you gottta do it. They'd love it. Make sure while they listen you tell them why you have those songs, and lead into the first vision and invite them all to pray and ask if its true. Haha....seriously though. Cuz it is true. That's fun you get to go to Utah. Tell mike and Leora I still havent recieved their address to their home to send their Christmas letter haha...I'll make it a good letter if they send it to me...I only need their zip code. I love you tons, Mom...Thank you so much for keeping me informed on everyone and the sports...the Bowl Game sounded gay. Auburn, really? I'm really not missing anything. Well my times about out! I love you guys so much. Special shout out to Uncle Curt for his past letters. A hand written one will be coming tio!!! Also to Bman out in Peru...sounds like the man. His letters are my treasures haha. Then to Daniel!!! Back from his mission!!!! Tell that fool to write me!!!! I love him so much!!!! Last but First-what? :) To Kallee in Finland...Duh.... Shes the best ever. Asi es. Respect it :) Love you guys... Keep kicking butt. Go to the temple. I'll work hard if you guys do too. Deal. Love you Guys!!!! Elder Fast

Llanos de Santa Maria-Jan 18, 2011

Me and my Buddy Elder Burden I found "Mator" in Guatemala Elder Saenz in his PJS. I laugh every night I see him wearing them. Goofy, I know :) I buy these everywhere and all the time-Now I have sores all around my mouth... HI family!!! Well right now I'm in Guat k?...k. Well first things first. This week I entered into an older couple's home and it smelled IDENTICAL to Opa's house haha. Man, it threw me back for some weird memories. Like-that's where I got my "Ebie Easter Egg" name. (One of Evan's nicknames growing up) I still think Rey is all jacked up for that. I was 8, and excited for Easter. haha So yeah, I'm going back there this Saturday. So I'll getta smell Opa again. whoo! I had a cool week. Full of lots of good powerful experiences. I really feel like I'm getting put more and more in my place in how to be a missionary throughout my life, not just now. Start will the spiritual, then we will go to the good news. Anyways, So this past Saturday we were walking to one of our citas in the fog of dust...like always. awesome :) Anyway some guy yelled "Elders!" from right behind us, and usually I just turn and wave but I walked straight to him. (This story would be like 5 hours long so I'm gonna give you the short, not so detailed story. Use revelation to fill in spots you don't understand, or just make up your own stuff) So we got to talking and the guy was SOOOO lost. He had tons of addictions...had no clue why he was here on the earth and said this was his fifth life. Anyway he also said he felt something weird to talk to us. I love that. Anyways, he was going at that moment to do dumb stuff with his friends but i told him no and that he should come talk to us. Long story short, the man was.... bestly worded...like...not with God's angels. We talked to him shortly about the priesthood. I bore my testimony about it, and offered him a blessing. I felt really strongly along with my comp that he needed one. We offered and talked to him about how conforming to his faith it will come to pass. And he accepted. I gave him a blessing of comfort. Never in my life have I felt such a strong over powering spirit fill my body. I felt as though I was looking at myself give it. I felt the Power of God so strongly overcome the forces and plan of the adversary. And, I know with out a doubt, he felt it too. After that he had to go. I dunno where he lives or his number cuz he doesn't have one. But he knows where the church is. I don't know what will happen to him or anything yet. But I do know without a doubt in my mind we are in the True Church of Jesus Christ. The Church that was renewed through prophet Joseph Smith. The Heavens aren't closed. In fact they are so very open. And any man worthy to act in God's name has the ability to work wonders. As well as women with sufficient faith. I have been trying and trying to become a missionary like Ammon, or Paul, how they just taught with boldness through the Authority they had. The more I have come to realize the true power of this calling the more success I have had in my calling. Which leads to this Sunday! It was seriously awesome. We had 2 investigators come for the first time which hasn't happened for 9 months in this area. A 26 year old guy Julio, and a 16 year old girl Monica. Julio- we found him 2 weeks ago and we've been teaching him like crazy. He loves our message and says he prayed and feels its true. His problem kills me cuz its literally the situation we have with 3 other investigators. He's been married and now is just living with another woman. That makes me suuuuper frustrated. Cuz.... I wish you guys knew. there are literally 7 people in my area who would get baptized in a heart beat if their "partner" could get divorced then marry them. Here in Guatemala it takes 8 months and 10000 quetzales to divorce...and that's express. Bummer. But it's all for a reason. Our consequences to actions. Monica- A girlfriend of the missionary who just left from our ward. She is dope. She seriously listens sooooo well. And she also prayed and said it's true. She being under the age of 18, has to go to church 7 times before we can even talk baptism with her. Rule of the mission. But she's a good investigator. Her desafio is the parents. Lame evangelicals. BUT!!!! This week church rocked my socks seriously. Just having them there made everything so much better. I'm finding more and more people to teach here!! So that's my area. Cool stories now!!! So this week I get home and I see a missed call from Presidente Torres....Yep that was scary. Anyway, I call and guess what? Yep, they asked me to sing in front of M. Russell Ballard!!!! SOOO cool!!! So in 2 days that's what I'll be doing!!! It's a choir of 15 and we'll sing in front of about 350 missionaries Elder Ballard and Elder Clark!! (of the 70) So I'm waaaaay excited. I feel so blessed I don't know why they picked me. SO the temple today was awesome. I love how Heavenly Father just places schools all around the world for us. LOOOOOVE this Gospel. So this was all spiritual and stuff. Sorry its not full of any funny stories. Anyway, That's about all I got to say for this week!!! I super love you guys tons!!!! Thank you soooo much for all your letters!!!! Elder Fast Mom, I just have 2 questions.... How much is a CTR ring in english someone from my area wants to know...(thank you so much for that info on the scrips.) And also if there is anything i can get for you? :) I love you so much my dear mother. Thank you so much for the emails and support you give me. I'm soooo super blessed. I'll start being an even more sacrificed elder now. I love this work!!! Mother? You seriously are so much of the reason I'm here on the mission. I don't know how you were so perfect for me!!! I love you!! Elder Fast

Llanos de Santa Maria-Jan 10, 2011

Well hi! This week was super awesome! It consisted of interviews with Pres Torres and divisions, and 5 investigators in church. That's the most Llanos has seen in over a year. DOPE! Anyways, My interview was good. No more then 10 minutes I think. He just talked to me about the mission, and how it can improve. I super Love that man. Divisions were with the ZLs...Worst division I have ever done working wise, but best for most fun wise. It was kinda lame cuz I planned out a pilas day, and literally every single cita fell. I have never had a day like that. That even includes plan Bs. So we contacted like 78 people and found a new family. Which was good. They just don't know how to read, or pray, or understand that there is a God. Kinda like I'm back in Salama again. But I love them. We already taught them how to pray. Hope it sticks though. I don't know what I'm talkin about...of course it will. Also, for the divisions we bought cream SODA!!!!! That stuff doesn't exist here!!! So crazy. So we drank it and!!! Yeah, real cream soda doesn't exist here. When my comp and I finally got back together we were able to kick some major butt. We did divisions a lot this week with members and just worked hard. Feels good to have weeks like that. Our fecha is suuuuper complicated cuz its a lady who wants to marry her husband but shes from Nicaragrua (how do you even spell that?) Anyways she doesn't have papers to be here... like every other Guat...bugs me. if you don't have papers to live somewhere at least go to the STATES!!! Only logical right? But she's so cool! Good lady and reeeaaallly understands what we've taught her. She passed the baptismal questions like it was nobody's business. cuz it's really not, I don't think. Anyways, we had a lot of people come to church cuz we've been laying the smack down hard on that. Thats our new goal. Well I'll be honest. Mine. But my comp likes it too..so ours :) Anyways. Coolest story of the week. We got our electricity back on! Did I even tell you guys I was livin' without electricity for 2 weeks? Just candles. So yeah, Second coolest story. Well, I dunno. A lot of fun stuff goes on every single week, but just little things. Things that make my mission what it is. And you guys don't really see that, or hear about that. The jokes me and my comp make, the funny things we see (like awkward stuff you'd seriously only see in Guat)...like a 400 pound lady on a scooter with not much clothing on. Just weird things. But they give me laugh. I love it here. Kind of a weird thing to write after that scooter scenario. I love the people here. I'm getting the kind of friends here in Llanos that I had in Salama. I love it. Oh! this coming Monday I wont be able to write I'll be working cuz Tuesday we are going to the Temple! But! Tuesday I will for sure write you guys. I'm way excited to go to the Temple!! And then two days later M. Russell Ballard is coming to talk to our mission!!!!! YEEEAAAA!!! I'm sooooo excited!!! I seriously can't wait. SO that's what's new here! Oh!! Shout out to Mel for her bday the 6th!!! Sorry I missed it... I'll be back the day of, I think a year from then :) Also to Serretta the 12th! What what. Dope! How old are you gonna be? 23? Weird. I was at your 21st bday party at Olive Garden...Wasn't opa there? haha I love him. Speaking of, how's Opa?? and Grandmizzle Dot?? More shout outs to Stephanie, Daniel, Rey, Kallee, and Mom for writing me this week... You guys rock. Anyways I'm all out of things to say... Love you guys tons!! Elder Fastazo Hi ma!! That seriously sounds freeeeezing there. I'm not jealous at all. It's like burning up here though. I'm gonna die when I get back to the states. So about the Book of Mormon. Don't send it. I just needed to know the price for a guy in the ward who wants to learn English. He wanted me to ask you. So this week I had a crazy intense moment that made me think of you. There is this waaay cool kid in out ward Nevin who just left on his mission to Peru. And his mom is the nicest lady in the world. And the day he left, we happened to stop by her house and she told us to come in and she just started crying. Saaaaad. Made me think of you and how you felt the same. So we comforted her the best we could and then left. It made me think of you all day. I love you tons mother. The mish is going smooth. The district too. Changes aren't for like 2 more weeks. I love my comp and area. But I always like to see changes. It's fun. My mission has been good to me. So I tried to send pictures again but theses computers arent working. Lame! Next week I'm hopin for sure. So thats about all mother. I love you super tons. Thank you for always writing me. I love you mom. Thank you for being so giving. I loooove you. Elder Fastito

Llanos de Santa Maria-Jan 3, 2011

Elder Wixom and Evan. Elder Wixom finished his mission a few months ago. Ya estoy hablando con mi familiaaa whooo!!!! Well... let's just get this thing straight.... I got a year in the mish. Dope. k, now on to the real stuff. So this week was actually really effective minus the 31st and the 1st of the month. Cuz people were to busy for the Lord's representatives. Cinchaaaazooo!!!! oooooooh! Anyways realy though not too many people were home. But, it was still a really good week. Tuesday I was able to do Divisions in San Pedro (a DYING area...seriously about to be shut down.) and while we were contacting there we found a Dude of 23 years and he is ORO!!! (gold) And we put a fecha the first visit for febuary 5th. His name is Ricardo. He said he was waiting for us! WHOOOAAA!! So cool. It really was an amazing experience. So that area is back in business. Too bad he doesn't live in my area. But I'm super happy I got to be a little part of his conversion! That will happen. Anyways in my area it was chill. Gabriela decided she didn't want to get baptized. At first I just had desire to go and give her cincho....(Planchar in Reys Mexican terms) But, instead we just bore our testimonies and dropped her trash. We got people who wanna get baptized now. Hno. Salvador, and Margarita. We just gotta wait on both of them. Hoy mismo (today) we will find out if we can dunk Margarita whoooo!! And we gotta wait 20 days for Hno Salvador. He's the man. SO that's the latest with Llanos de Santa Marizzle. So what the heck?? I have a new neice? Weird. Doesn't seem real. I just saw Jace for like the second time in a photo...even weirder....and Leora is about to bring a new spirit to this world tooo!!!! Whhaaaaaaat? I don't even get to see them crecer. Sadness. But it'll be So good to see them when I get home in about 12 months. Fun. I never think about when I get home. haha. That's a lie. Anyways, I took some good fotos bet you guys wanna see them...buuuut, my camera/computer isn't workin sorry. That's about all here. This is probably the lamest letter I've ever written. Sorry. I'm a little distracted. I'm all thinking about going to a paca close by here to buy new church shoes for 4 dollars!!! WHOOO!!! I'm in super need of new ones. It'll be my sixth pair. Yep. I walk so much and so quick, I just burn 'em out. It's whatever. Anyways. Send my love to the new family members I have. Tell them thanks for the help they gave me down here before they came. Weird to think but tal vez true. Anyways.. I love you guys tons!! Take it easy Staters. Elder Fast