Emails Monday, June 21

I'm going to a cafe to email in about an hour :) Sorry it took so long today I had to come down to the capital...and I saw Elder Toolson and Elder Jennings...It was awesome. I also received the gift card today...let you know more in an hour...I love you Mother. As time goes on a mission, Evan was not able to write again on Monday. BUT, I did receive these 3 emails from Missionary Moms. It was great to hear what Evan was doing and how his day had gone, even though we hadn't heard from him. Elder Schone and Elder Fast Elder Schone's Mom sent me these pictures that were taken at Zone Conference last week. Elder Toolson's Mom sent this: Thanks! Grateful for your son! This just came in from K.C...(Elder Toolson, Evan's MTC Companion): "Don't worry to make up for the crappiest week ever (He just explained that he has been sick all week and it's been cloudy) today Elder Fast came to the capital so we met up with him at Pizza Hut and it was just an amazing reunion and made everything so much better for me! We just ate pizza and told stories and showed pictures and stuff. It was just what I needed to get me out of this funk that was in. It really was so good to see him, it was weird tho because he looked so different..." Elder Mays Mom sent this portion of her son's letter: " Our house is like the home base for missionaries. Yesterday Elder Victor stayed at our house until his flight home today, he had his mission extended and so left later than his group. Elder Fast and another elder are staying at our house today so they can get ingrown toenails removed." Love love love the Missionary Moms that keep a watch out for our Missionary.

Zone Conference,Coban Zone June 16, 2010

The road to Coban. Isn't it absolutely beautiful? Road work. Look at the drop to the right-scary! While waiting for the road to be open, President Torres tells the road workers about the Book of Mormon. Sister Torres handing out Jolly Ranchers! Evan (right) patiently waiting his turn. He LOVES sugar! Elder Fast on the right. It's fun to see him so happy! Elder Tanner and Elder Fast. Elder Fast has been buying Guatemalan ties for 50 cents. Looks awesome! Elder Fast Receiving Mail-Woo Hoo! Coban Zone-Can you spot Elder Fast? (I love the package of Jolly Ranchers in front!!) Sister Torres posted these pictures on the Guatemala City North Mission Blog. She is so wonderful to share pictures of our missionaries with us! She usually posts them within 48 hours of taking them. What a sweetheart! Thank you Sister Torres! You are the best mission mom!

June 14, 2010-Semana 23ish???

Fam! So this week was good. Very plain and no rocking stories like I usually have. I just worked this week. But we also had a lot of success. It was real good. more then anything the story of my life is the Mundial.....World Cup. EVERYONE watches it. we are allowed to work during it...but basically a waste of time. But not really. Cuz I was able to catch glimpses of the USA game :) oooooooohhhh :) But yeah...That's all people are talking about. Anyways....My first baptism is coming up this Thursday the 17th! With Kimberly. I won't be baptizing her... It will be a member from the ward! Which is SOOOO awesome. It's rare for stuff like that to happen I guess. But it's really good she will have that member forever to look up to. I'm SOOOO excited for her!! So cool!!! I'll take a lot of photos mom. Promise. Other success we had was we had 8 investigators assist (attend) church this week. Which was amazing. 2 families. And one of them just told us they want to be baptized so we go to put a fecha...or date with them tonight. They are a kekchi family and wear the corte and everything. The dad is a menos activo...freak I keep writing in Spanish, sorry. a...less active. and its a Mom... and 2 daughters. Which will rock. The area is reeeeaaally improving! I love it. So this Wednesday I have interviews with my Mission Pres. I think I'm gonna ask to be the next AP hahahaha jk. I love the mish. I have a great companion that works hard. Man I don't have any cool stories.... Umm... All is well. No problems with money... I have a LOT of ties that I buy for about 50 cents each! Which rocks and I really am just in love with my mission. I couldn't be any more happy. Man, I'm boring this letter. haha Hang on...It gets better from here on out. k... So all the successes.... We are helping 2 families in my area prepare to enter the temple!!! Both will enter in 6 months each!!! And a third family! But we have to wait a year with them! It's amazing. When I thought of a mission I never thought of how much you would be helping the members. In a branch, the missionaries are a really key part. It's awesome to see their desire to go make new covenants with the Lord. More then anything I'm just happy. OH!!!! Okay cool story! Last Friday when we were walking, me and my comp couldn't decide what to do... so we sat down for 10 minutes offered a pray about what to do. We sat thinking and I felt to go contacting on the street we were on. and I asked my comp what he thought and he said the same. The very next house we knocked....or yelled to. (sorry I never told you this...but you don't knock...you just yell BUANAS!!!! And then they come out...or close all their windows haha.) But the next house was a young man and his brother. Both about 23 ish. And they accepted the lesson and were really excited about it. AND wanted us to come back. In fact they asked us... Which is super rare here. But it went well. And we're going back tomorrow. I realize because I'm so closely surrounded by the spirit amazing things like that are happening everyday. And I start to take them for granted and I'm not grateful. So that was my lesson learned this week. Because of success its easy to get caught up in your own heart. And remember everything is because the will of the lord. Shoot. I'm sorry this letter was so boring. The truth is I was so grateful for all the letters I received. I felt the love in each one and it surprised me. I forgot I have so many people cheerin' for me back home. I'm super blessed for that. You guys are the best. And there isn't one week that goes by where not one of you isn't thought of by me. Thank you for your examples. I love you all tons. Keep doing what right...Elder Fast I asked Evan if they had seen the man with the sores on his feet. This was his reply: Yes!!! Why didn't I tell you about that! I took pictures :) Eww! But it's okay!!! And hes doing a LOT better!! And above all he has a date for baptism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The 18th of July!!!! How cool is that!!!??!?!?! Mom... I love the mission.

Piggy Back Ride-June 2, 2010-Salama

Streets in Rabinal Evan had his debit card stolen from his home, so we were able to email back and forth trying to decide how to handle the situation. This is the email he sent after our discussion: !!!You can forward this part to Kal and Fam and Friends: Me and my companion are amazing. We love each other and teach very well. Last night we found 3 new investigators and put a baptism date with a 13 year old girl Kimberly for June 19. Also last night, he said his legs were tired walking home up a huge hill. So I gave him a piggy back ride and started running and we were just laughin'. Then he got off and said, "Let me give you a turn now." hahaha He's 5'8", maybe 155 pounds. So I hopped on and he started running and we were just laughing then he fell over with me on him and I landed on him and we were just laying in the middle of the street at night about 8:45pm (late here) laughing so hard, we couldn't breathe for about 5 minutes. Then I started coughing I was laughing so hard and then I threw up because I couldn't breathe. Hahahahaha. It was so funny. We couldn't stop laughing!! It was so fun!! What an amazing day yesterday was! The Lord has really blessed me with this companion. He has crazy patience for me and helps me so much! I'm learning tons from him! I really gotta go now!! I LOVEEEE YOU Elder Fast

Salama-June 7, 2010

I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SAY HOW AMAZING THIS WEEK WAS!!! K, mi actually do....but seriously....wow. I, first I got my card stolen. Awesome. Then I talked to my President's wife on the phone about what I need to do to fix my card situation. Then she told us we have to move.... So....then it begins..... So I moved ALLL our stuff Wednesday to our DLs house about 6 kilometers away...and it was TINY literally not enough room to fit four beds. Hahaha and hot as a mug. with one fan....I hated it. but whatever haha. So then Saturday we found an amazing house right next to the church and moved there. All while working a ton with investigators in-between. Cool. We have a baptism for the 17th. A 13 year old girl Kimberly. She is super pilas (cool)!! She asked us to be baptized and is coming from inactive parents who we already activated....and the reason we started going over there is because she sells chocolate-covered frozen bananas....Oh which are EVERYWHERE here..... and she gives them to us free. Then we activated her, then her husband and now the daughter wants to be baptized! This was all over the past month.... I've helped reactivate quite a number of people...I just have never told you. sorry. like the Blanco family.. Lucella... Lorgea.. and Josue.. and that's just my first area... here the Boytos fam.. a kekchi lady...the Caal Family and I'm working with another family Jeronimo... and a man Josue here. So I'm having amazing success. I just don't tell you...sorry. Super lame of me... anyways. About Kimberly! She should be getting baptized by her Dad I hope! That would be amazing!!! Ahh!! That makes me so happy. And we also have 3 families all progressing right now! So the work is going well and there is constant improvement here in Salama. It's amazing to be here serving....k speaking of serving...this is the story I wanted to get to.....it kills me. It is the opposite of me, but i was so happy to do it. And didn't even mind... K, so there is a family in our area... a kekchi family...and when that is said, it means not intelligent...poor...and speak kekchi! :) i LOOOOVE them. Anyways last Thursday we passed by there house and only the wife and kids our there and we're talking to her about her husband's work and she says he has REALLY bad foot infections.... so me, of course am grossed out. And my comp says, "We will come by Sunday at four and I have medicine for exactly that thing"..... so we go back Sunday.. the first thing we see in the house without walls is a man sitting there with his feet up on a chair and he's crying... I knew exactly why..it killed me. And the very first thing that popped into my head was the Savior feeling the same pain as us. We go in and the foot infection has maggots that were eating his foot from the inside out. The visible wound was about 1/8 of an inch deep and the size of a nickel. But the eaten part of the foot inside that was like mush and purple was about the size of a tennis ball. He had that on the top of his left foot, and 1 on each side of his ankles of his right foot...those not as bad...but still terrible. And he cant go to the hospital because he has no money...a man of about 40 years of age was crying because of pain. I didn't know what to do other then pray for him. anyways...my comp pulls out his first aid kit, and tells him first you need to rip off those scab and clean the infection with a rag and soap with water, then after pour hydrogen peroxide on it, then liquid bandage and then ace bandage it up... and yes for a side note you could see the maggots crawling in and out.. gross. so my comp knows this because he had the same problem with that infection earlier in his life and had to do the same thing... My comp sits down, takes out all the stuff....AAAAAAAANNNDDDD then hands it to me and tells me to do it...... i about wet my pants...first of all this man is crying...I hate disgusting feet...i hate germs.... and i don't want to hurt him more....... Anyways....I do it. I took off the scabs...rubbed it with soap and water did the hydrogen...then bandage...then ace bandaged it.... The thing was the whole time all I could think about is the Savior's love for this man and how he felt the same things. The man after I was done, kept crying. And I couldn't understand why. We were sitting around him all his family and everything singing a hymn...(they aren't members) and he was just crying. Then finally after the 15 min. lesson about the Savior's ministry and atonement (obviously appropriate) we stop and ask how we can help. In a broken voice he just said "thank you".... my eyes started to water as i thought of this man's situation.... This family can hardly work. They didn't go to school. They don't have walls. They dont have shoes. Just a few of them have sandals. They don't have food other then the wild fruit and some chickens they have. And they don't have money to take care of health matters. And 5 weeks ago when we first contacted them they didn't even know who the man Jesus was. Because they cant read and they're so out of touch. but I thought of how significant they were to the Savior and how we were able to show them they had significance. They were so grateful they offered to feed us.... they gave me a cold bowl of soup with leaves from a tree. as well as raw chicken..yes raw. with the skin and everything. And 2 tortillas. this sounds disgusting..and in all honesty, it was...but it was the most enjoyable meal I've had my mission. I know the Lord truly watches out for each and everyone of us. I know we have such great significance in his eyes. these people here are in dire need of the truth and I'm so grateful to be here serving them. How cool is that story!?!?!?! I get to experience the coolest things!!! And eat the grossest stuff!! Which is why i didn't want to come here haha...but i love it. The animation i have for this work i don't ever want to leave! Refer everyone you know to hear this message! do it! don't be shy or worried!! If anything, it'll only strengthen your friendship! ahh! I love it! this church is true. My comp is amazing and helps me so much. I'm so grateful to be here. Plus ill send you the prettiest pictures in 2 weeks of the hike I did...I live straight up in jungle :) Keep working hard family! And amigos! i hope my animation can be shared with you as well to share the message about Jesus Christ! i am so grateful for your examples and letters...best ever. i love you all tons!! Elder Fast! P.s. Guat IS amazing! just wanted to throw it out there

Zone Conference

Elder Burden and Elder Fast, High School friends, now both serving in the Guatemala City North Mission. This is the first time they had seen each other in over a year. It was a tearful reunion. When Evan heard he was going to Guatemala, he said, "Mom! I think that is Garrick's mission!" Sure enough, it was! (In our conversation on Mother's Day, Evan told me when they first saw each other-they literally looked at each other from head to toe in amazement that they were seeing each other on their missions. They, then hugged and it was as though time had not passed between them.) The Missionaries are fed both spiritually and physically at every Zone Conference. Can you spot Elder Fast? Elder Fast is in the bottom, right corner looking at the camera.(I love this look and smile. I can't help but think about Evan's smile everyday.) The Coban Zone. Elder Falabella spoke to the missionaries. Along with President and Sister Torres. (Evan is smack dab in the middle with the blue tie and big smile)

May 24, 2010-Changes & Shining Shoes

Salama, Guatemala. We, as a family enjoy this picture. Early on in each of our son's mission's they have taken a picture with their hands on their hips. These pictures are framed and displayed in our home. This picture will be that "one" for Evan. Elder "Gangsta" Romero and Elder Fast just before saying good-bye at changes. Branch Party in Salama Elder Fast-lookin' fly...The Moral (purse/bag) is from Evan's high school friend, Garrick Burden, who is serving in the same mission and zone right now. (Did you notice it is orange?) Shining shoes in Rabinal, the coolest activity Evan has done so far. Soooooooo..... I had changes this week!!! Yes!!! I'm staying in my area! I'm super grateful for that!!! And I got a new comp!!!! His name is Elder Vazquez! And he's hard working and SOOO cool!!!!! YEEEEAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited and happy! It really is a huge blessing! So I'm up here in Coban waiting for him and I'll take him back to Salama tomorrow morning at like 9 am. Then we will work! I'm super excited...but sounds tiring cuz last night I slept 3 hours. :) I'm deathly sick still. I have parasites still and they're eating me alive...literally. but I feel a lot better than I used to. I got so weak last Wednesday I couldn't even walk. haha The whole time I just wanted a shake that dad makes and to watch a Disney movie. hahaha I love it. The last week still went well. I feel mucho mejor. much better:) My Spanish isn't great but it's going well. I could understand everything with no problem in the letter Uncle Curt wrote me. (muchisimo gracias mi tio...un serio, tu eres el hombre) But awesome news... this coming week i have 2 baptisms!!!!!!! YEEEEAAAA!!!!!!! It will be completing an inactive family and we have reactivated the mom and the children but the dad is sketchy. I'm nervous about them going through because of the dad, but I have faith the Lord will do His will. We also have two other families with dates in June. and things are just going well. i can teach all the lessons fairly well now. I guess I have improved...its just hard to tell when you have nothing to compare it too. This past week we had an activity in Rabinal...an area about an hour away from mine, and we just shined shoes for 2 hours for free and contacted and received referrals...I loved it. Easily the coolest activity I've done so far. We got a lot of people interested. Funny how the tiny things of service really change a person's day. I've been eating mangoes like crazy, and fruit and beans. I love it. I'm skinny again. Especially from being sick... speaking of don't stress it, I have pills and am fine. I weighed 206 in the MTC and now i weigh 183 hahaha scrawny. but better then chubby. This past week for a story, i had to buy new shoes and they're all about 300 quetzales here, but no one has over size 10 NO ONE!!! haha So I had to special order size 11 and a half and they were 527 quetzales. Ridiculous. But they're comfortable and I plan on making them last the whole 2 years. My last shoes were worse than Rey's when he got home...just to give you a vision. (Rey is Evan's older brother that served in Monterrey Mexico) When I told you I walked 7 miles a day, I meant to say hiked. Salama is the hilliest, dirt mountains you'll ever see. I love it. It really is perfect here. I'll try and put in some pictures later. The work is good. It truly is by the small and simple things. For everything, for Satan's plan and Heavenly Fathers plan. One thing I've realized is the importance of 100 percent obedience... so important. Do the little things correctly. It's worth it. I'm grateful to be here. I pray for you all every night. The Lord has blessed me more then I could have ever imagined. I'm so glad i have 19 more months. I want more time. You guys would love the Guatemalan people. So loving and desiring to give. And the ladies wear really pretty skirts. That's why its better then Mexico Rey :) Oh also! LOOK UP THAT SONG!!! TRONO DE MEXICO: TE VEZ FATAL!! I LITERALLY hear it every day!!! So good! It makes me happy. Anyways, take care. I love you all. Thanks for your prayers and letters. I really appreciate them. I'm excited for my new comp!! Dios le bendiga! Elder Fast After I had read Evan's letter and received the pictures, I got one last email from him that day: Mom? I just love you. I miss you. I'm proud you're my mom. And more grateful for you than you'll ever know. Elder Fast.. YOUR missionary