Sacsuha-April 25, 2011

Well...this was a quick week I felt like. Long story short... We had one investigator in church...aaaaannndddd that was about the only decent thing. We got owned. Maria wants to be baptized SOOOO bad....but can't cuz her MEMBER husband doesn't want to get married!!!!!!! I couldnt believe it!!!!!! I was really josk. He (Otto, Marias partner) told us 3 months ago that they were going to get married-buuuut he said, "it hasnt entered into his soul yet.". When he said that I about started flippin' the money changer tables. I reminded him that he has 2 kids already with her and never in his life will he become a man unless he makes the decision to pray and follow what he feels. And that feeling WILL BE marry her ASAP. It just makes me sad cuz Maria is the most pilas Qeqchi I have ever met. He should be super dispuesto to marry her. But its alright. She will get baptized in the next little while cuz we are praying for that. So...that was my vent haha. So as far as changes go Elder Turek is going to the Capital. I'm staying here in Sacsuha! WHOO!! AND 3 Elders will come in to split the area. Saber who will be my comp-I'm bankin' on some homie of mine. But, probably not. WEeeeeelllllpppp..... Story, just now I was sitting here typing and this Hermana V in my district (she's 27) Just said " usted ha cambiado esta cambio" (you've changed a lot this change) and I said "de veras? como?" (really? how?) Then she said "no se...solo es que usted es bien creido ahora." (I dunno...its just you're really prideful now)......... Ouch. I don't know where it even came from. So I guess this change I'll be working on my humilty. haha. I dont even talk to her. So saber...maybe thats why. SO this week was Semana Santa. Prettty rediculous. It's where they carry all these huge floats around the streets and blow stuff up, and bath in the rivers. Weird. And EVERYONE esta this stuff called pacaya... gross. AND fish...we ate soooo much that day I was stuffed. I sent you pictures but it doesn't look like it's gonna work... Anyways, this letter was lame. Just know I'm loving it here! I'll have a lot to write you next week!!! I love you guys!!! Hey mom!!! So I got to see that picture of you, Elder Turek's mom and Elder Smith's mom :) I liked it a lot!! I have the best mom ever. Thank you SOOOO much for my boots too!!!! they'll be my 8th pair of shoes in the mission haha. So the stories about Dad killed me hahahaha I love him. That was the best. He said "In-n-Out" hahahah My dad rocks!. Also, Mom thank you so much for everything you do for me and to support me on being here. I seriously feel so blessed. Shoot...I dont have much more time...I should get going!! I'll let you know a ton next week :) I love you guys!!! Elder Fast

Sacsuha-April 18, 2011

Most of our District at our Zone Conference Holy smokes I got so many letters this week. You guys seriously are awesome!!!!! Thank you so much. (I'll give you shout-outs at the end.) So it's only been like 5 days since I last wrote! That feels weird! But, a lot of good has happened!!! Our investigator Maria will be getting baptized in the next week or two. Esoooo! This Girl is seriously soemething else. She understands our lessons. It's seriously is not Q´eqchi´like to understand faith and repentance and she understands perfect the Plan of Salvation. The difference between God's elect and others is no small measurement. So today was seriously the best day ever. We did a combined zone activity and played Football!! There was 21 of us. So we did 7 vs. 7 and first one to 3.....BEST PDAY EVER. I seriously was eating alive every play. I haven't had that kinda sports fun in a while. But fun!!! SO, we found a new house here in Sacsuha donde estoy. Andddddd it will be for four Elders living in the same house. We will see how it goes. We find out changes this Saturday. I'm pretty sure I'll be staying in Sacsuha. That makes me happy. I love it. OH!!! Story about my Q´eqchi´... On Friday I was just bustin' out language study soooo hard...and not ONE THING was stickin'. I was gonna punch a wall (lies). But, I was frustrated I couldn't get it. But I said a prayer in my heart, And we go out and first guy I see, boom, I contact him. It seriously was amazing. The Q´eqchi´ just was flowing. I contacted with no thought, and put a return appointment with no thought too. The lame part about me is that I didnt even notice how blessed I had just been to speak like that until like 10 minutes after. It then made me think of my Spanish. How i treat that like nothing now cuz it's fairly easy for me. I felt really silly. It made me think how often the Lord has blessed me and I don't even notice. Makes me feel Sheepish. Because, I know for a fact the Lord is in every second of our lives. He truly guides us. Anyways, short lame letter. But I hope you guys are doing well. I love you all so much. My mission is da best para me!!!!! Pops- Thanks for the email pops! best ever. except im a little hurt you didnt think I knew what a tibia was....who do you think I am!? Ulna, radius, tibia, fibia...look I'll bust em´ out all day if you want. As I was playing Football today I was thinking about you. And how youd be proud of this guy. I'm getting better. eso. Mom!!!- Thank you so much for your letter to me! And what you wrote Dilworth!! I don't know what it said but seriosuly he loved it. Also about the package thank you so much...that sounds AMAZING!!! I seriously can't wait to get it. Thats fun you get to see Elder Turek's Mom!!! Have fun!! Take a foto too!! You know the drill! Man, I feel like I have so much more to tell you...poo. I just really got to go. Sorry!!! Just know I love you so much!!! I'll catch you up next week! I love you my dear mother!!!!!! Elder Fast!!! Laj Iso-Max

Sacsuha-April 13, 2011

My zone...I have never seen the pic so saber if its good. Elder Vasquez my third comp is an Assistant now.. and look what he brought me!!!!!! ROOT BEER AND A PUDDING!!!! You seriously cant find that stuff ANYWHERE in Guat, SO nice of him! That's us in Senahu....look at the tie....it's orange....and YES...that is a towel. BEST TIE EVER. Well this week I feel like my mission basically changed. I've never had such an attitude change so quickly here in the mission. On Monday, we had a conference and interviews...then Tuesday another conference...it was really amazing. My area is being split in two. And we are now called to be the warning voice of something big. Elder Hinckley from the Seventy came down 4 days ago and told President and Sister Torres D&C 88:92-95 (or so) is going to come to pass. And we the missionaries are to be the warning voice. The spirit was very strong. Who knows when it'll (the split of the area) happen. It's just...well there is a lot to it that I can't type. I just want you guys to know that we really are blessed to have our knowledge we have. Satan really does have a blindfold on most people. Does this even make sense to you guys? ha ha Weird way to start off a letter. Anyways We also heard a talk that Elder Holland gave in the MTC on Jan. 11th (the day after you left Kal!). And it seriously is one of the best talks I have heard. He talked about the reality of dropping everything to ´´Love the Savior´´. I dunno what I wanna share with you guys! Just know, I know this church is true. My calling is something sacred to me...and I love you guys. That's all. So stories about my week.. I caught a big ole´ lizard that lives in our house. And he just chilled on my shoulder, I kid you not for 30 minutes. haha Seriously awesome. His name is Rodrigo...and he loves the scriptures. Gangster. Also I did divisions with the ZLs again. It was really good. OH!! good story! SO there are a bazillion (real number....maybe.) rivers in my area. And so I always make my comps have boat races with me haha. (You remember Pa? like we always did.) Where you take a stick and throw them in at the same time and then race them down to a certain point in the river? Anyways I was doing it with Elder Howard. And I made up this new rule that you can throw rocks and the other person's boat to make it wobble and slow it down (good rule) and everything. So we raced 2 times...and I won both times. Then he decided he wanted a rematch...Clearly I took it. So we start and not 5 seconds in I grab a rock that is a little bigger then a soft ball...(note I will make no exaggerations...mal escrito...in this story) I go to throw it at his boat...which he named Dartanian hahaha. The kid's awesome. So I go to throw this rock and out of NO WHERE he threw a rock that was literally the size and shape of two footballs put together. Clearly throwing it with two hands....and cabal! BOOM! It hits my hand!!!! And so it smashed my finger between my rock and his BOULDER....well...bigger rock. Oh man, oh man. It hurt real bad. BUT!!!!! Don't worry guys.... I won the boat race. OH!!! About my interview...President is the man...BEST MAN EVER: fact. He was just kind to me. Then Hermana. Torres....hijo le...She is so awesome. What next... I guess that's it.. OH!!! I slept in a hotel!!!!! That was super amazing to me!!! AND!!!! I got a almost luke warm shower!!!! Best EVER. So that's about it. I gotta go... hope you like the photos...I LOVE YOU GUYS TONS!!!!!! Elder Fast

Gifts From Guatemala

If you remember this picture below, you will also remember that Elder Burden went to high school with Evan. They were buddies and played on the same HS volleyball team. They both ended up serving in the Guatemala City North Mission together. Elder Burden came home from Guatemala a few weeks ago. He also brought home these gifts Evan sent with him for us. Don't you just love this box? It's handmade-the heart melts me... The tie is ALL handmade-the fabric is all hand done. Then the colors are woven through the fabric. The jewelery was handmade by a Bishop's wife in Llanos, Evan's last area. The "Worry Doll" is completely handmade! EVERYTHING. A few coins. The largest is worth about 8 cents. A closer look at the tie and coins. Can you believe the handwork on the tie? I placed the "Worry Doll/Good Luck Charm" by Evan's picture, along with a hummingbird nest from Evan's Granny. Evan's Q'eqchi' name is Laj Tz´unun. Meaning Hummingbird. Thanks Garrick for bringing home gifts from our missionary. Thanks also for spending so much time with us. We loved hearing about the culture, your love for the people, the living conditions, and your companions. We enjoyed listening to your experiences, and hearing your bold, strong testimony of the Gospel.

Sacsuha-April 4, 2011

Me and a road...haha Me and this random family...we are now teaching them this Saturday :) Albardo Coc and Olivia Ca´al Elder Smith and my new Dodger hat that he bought me! Organizing our week. AND My new spectacles! Hi there hi there ho there! So yep...this week was Conference. I got my spectacles. I played a lot of phase 10 at nights. I got a new hat. I got a letter from Kallee and Opa. I learned some Q´eqchi´. And just about 3 seconds ago I saw Emmett's first poop in a toilet. (Our grandson) Best week ever. First Conference... I dont care who you are, Elder Christofferson had the best talk ever...minus the Prophet's talk in priesthood session. It was seriously awesome-the Elders I was surrounded by during all the sessions too. there were 12 gringos....Elder McPhee, Smith, Turek, Mortenson, Snow, Howard, Legua, Dilworth, Thacker, Hexem, and Tanner. FUUUUUUN. Everyone yes made comments on my glasses...most good ones. I feel like a giant nerd haha. But I feel like they fit me too. I'm like my pops when he was in high school. esooo. Friday, Saturday, And Sunday night we had Elders sleeping over to watch conference the next day or couldn't get back to their areas. So we played Phase 10...Super fun...turns out I get frustrated when I lose lots. haha. My new hat!!! This came outta no where!!! Turns out Elder Smith being the most gangster Elder Ever, saw this hat a few weeks ago and just bought it for me cuz I have like 30,000 things that are LA Dodgers. (thanks to Kal, and Ryan) So he just boguht me a Dodgers hat...Yes I love it. Now I gotta get him something. saber que. Letters...thanks a ton! Seriously were awesome too. Felt good to read them and hear from you guys. Everyone that emails me and writes me, seriously thank you so much. Some Q´eqchi´ I learned...Well I'd share it...but it would serve you guys none. haha. This week we had a decent week of teaching. We have this really amazing mother of 2 who is going to marry a member this coming month and then get baptized. we are just waiting on the guy(Otto) to get home. He is working in the Frontera of Mexico. Coolio. This week we hiked about 5 hours up to the very top of a mountain. Hard. But we did it for service. I had to carry Leña....wood...or sticks, suuuper far. Good though. I'll talk to you guys about that with all the deets on Mothers Day...when is that by the way? Storrrriiieeess....well this week was just good. I pretty much just filled you in on everything in a nut shell. We are really struggling to get this area up and running. We have literally been contacting the wahzoo outta this place. It just hasn't been clickin' with anyone. I'm not too worried or frustrated though, The field is white. Maybe I'm just not thrusting my sicle good enough. Ouch to me. But I sure feel like I am. Something will click. Just more work. I really am loving more and more the Q´eqchi´ people though. They seriously would blow your minds. I cant wait!!!!! to tell you guys about them. I was thinking the other day how Apostles came to hold the highest of trust in God's eyes. And how they became such good men...I realized most likely none of them before being an Apostle had the great light appear to them like Saul or Joseph. It was through the dedication to scripture study and prayer. I realized that I can be that... I don't mean an apostle. But a person dedicated like them. I really wanna be one of those men. I know that Apostles are men of the Lord. They see him. They talk face to face. And they are just normal people. They just put the correct priorities in their lives. Well, this letter was short...just know I love you guys. You are all seriously the best for the letters you write me and the support you give me to be here. I love you all!!! Elder Fast Laj Iso-Max