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

Pictures from Other Blogs

I borrowed this picture from Elder Howard's blog. Isn't it hilarious??!! Elder Smith, Elder Howard, Elder Fast just being themselves! Love it! We are blessed to have Sister Torres, the Mission President's wife keeping a blog for the Guatemala North Mission. She posted these pictures from a Zone Conference a few weeks ago. Thanks Sister Torres-you're the best! Hungry Missionaries... VERY Hungry Missionaries! Ummm... Best District EVER!

Sacsuha-March 28, 2011

Family!!! Gangster...I got some way good letters this week. You guys seriously are the best. So to answer all your questions de una vez... Getting changed to learn a new language after a year does kinda throw you for a loop. But! It really does feel cool too. It's keeping me on my toes to stay humble in the mission, and trust in the Lord. I'm a tiny bit upset the BYU lost. But more so that SDSU lost. I'm going Butler all the way though....they were my number 2 pick...I told you guys that right? haha. Also the Q`eqchi` took a huge jump this past week. I realized a TON!!! seriosuly i went from teaching nothing and only sharing my testimony to teaching about 5 minutes every lesson. It really was cuz your prayers im sure. We had some decent days of work this week. We did 3 divisions.... aaannnd I was trashed after. But, it was good. It really helped me seeing 3 different elders and how they spoke and stuff. It was also a lot of fun too. Its like doing a sleep over with a friend haha. So this week was pretty eventful. OH! coolest ever! These people here dont play sports...nothin...nada....maak`a`!!!! Except soccer. And while Elder Mortenson and I were just contacting we found 12 of them playing VOLLEYBALL!!!! we couldnt believe it!!! I was seriously so excited. and it was SUPER weird cuz they knew how to play the rules the whole kaboodle!!! SOOOOO we played :) They seriously thought I was the greatest thing sinced sliced bread....but what's new? haha kiddin. But, we played with them and everytime I would spike it I would yell and they all just laughed. It was fun. We ended up puttin' citas with 4 of them. That was cool. I'll let you know how that went. This week we found 2 pilas families. Seriously way cool families. We will see how they progress. They didn't go to church this week so thats pretty lame. BUT!!!!! We got a family-Familia Vividor to come to church!!! They hadn't been in over 3 years or so!!! It seriously was so awesome. And they felt way good there too :) And the Branch Pres was super buena onda and gave them a biblia! So to show their gratitude for us they invited us over for carne asada and guacamole and beans wednesday.....oy. my mouth literally is droolin thinkin of that. I LOVE THE FOOD!!!!! So yea...It'll be a good week...and not only that! its gonna end with GENERAL CONFERENCE!!! I seriously can't wait...I love thinking how cool it is that we are all watching the same program at the same time!....not to mention the prophet of God chats it up with us. So that was pretty much my week. Thanks for all the apollo ustedes tiennen para mi. Les amo mucho. Welp, I love you guys all tons!! Keep on chuggin! Elder Fast Laj Tz`unun or laj Tortrix or Laj Iso-max or Laj Sajunpaat...who knows i got like 300names here haha choose whichever you want. Momma, The people here are so amazing mom. Their lives are really hard. It really would blow your mind some of the things they have to go through. But soooo humble and giving. I hope to steal those traits from them. Oh! just so you know I sent you the bracelet home like you wanted today :) hopefully you get it...I really hope. It's really pretty I think. I really forget sometimes to put all my trust in the Saviour. Your letter really hit me hard about that. Thank you so much mother. Thanks for taking time out of your day to think of me and to give me advice. So I guess I'll just share my feelings with ya....I'm loving the mission...I seriously couldn't be any happier. This really has become the peek of my mission. I hate saying I have 15 months. I dont like how quick it's going. Mom and Pa...I love you so much...I pray for you guys daily. Take care and be careful with your knee, Dad.Keep being a powerhouse priesthood holder! Mother, thank you for everything. Keep supporting Dad and being the people Heavenly Father wants you to be. I'm so lucky to have you guys for parents!!!!! Well my dear mother, I better go. Just know I'm soooo thankful for everything you do for me. thank you for sacrificing so much for me. I love you!! With muuuucho amor! Elder Fast

Sacsuha-March 21, 2011

Thanks to Elder Turek we have the first 3 picturesAfter the rain. Elder Fast and Elder Turek at Rio Dulce THE Zone at Rio Dulce Me and Elder Jennings on divisions. The chapel That's me marketing for a drink. Only sold in the Chik baby! Some drunk guy on our porch. haha Hey hi! Super good week. Well, decently good. My Q´eqchi´ is getting slowly better. I'm teaching a tiny but now. But literally a tiny bit. I miss that most. But I know when my time comes to be able to teach again to my full potential it'll be even sweeter. So, normal week pretty much. Nothing to grande happened. Actually that's a lie!!!!! COOLEST THING EVER!!!! On Sunday during the Sunday School lesson that I clearly don't understand...I answered a question!!!! YEEEESSS!!!! Everyone looked at me and said Chabil´at...that means ´´you´re good´´ haha i felt like the man. anyways.. Good story....I guess I haven't really had that much of an opportunity to explain to you guys what its really like here other then really primitive. And honestly there is no better way to describe it. Well the kids here are super crazy. and if you get around more then 5 of them they get all wild and excited. And if you show any emotion around them they love it.....SO...yes...everyday I have little Indians going crazy with me. literally when they get excited they yell like Indians...it always gives me the chills. I love them. Anyways...this week Turek and I just got done with a lesson and there were a TON of kids outside waiting for us. And one little kid threw a berry at me from a tree......sooooo....I threw one back. hahahaha. Best decision ever. Next thing I knew I was getting mangoes thrown at me, corn, and little sticks hahaha. I got owned. So Turek and I started to run away down the mountain. But obviously it was super rainy and muddy...like ALWAYS (i love it). Anyways as Turek tried to cut a corner he slipped and fell super hard into the corn field and trail. So I tried to dodge him by going into the corn field but my foot got caught on something (I'm thinking a corn husk pile...I'll never know) But it threw me forward and I just landed on top of Turek hahaha. I seriously couldn't stop laughing, but I had to get up quick cuz the little Indians kept coming after us. They didn't even have pity for the fall. haha. Gangster. I love the kids here. Anyways, stories are kinda lame through email. just know it was cool. (add in whatever special effects you need to, to make the story good) As for my area we are struggling to get people to progress. It's the weirdest thing. We have found some of the most pilas people but they aren't praying or reading or anything. So we are just doing our very best with them. And REALLY looking for "news". We found 12 this past week. That's alright. Cuz really only 4 were super pilas...but who knows! Every seed can grow! Even the lamest of ones that don't read the Book of Mormon when I tell them to. haha. So that's about all I got to say...cuz I wanna send a few shout outs. Just know I suuuper love you guys...but this mission is seriously the best thing in the entire world. Learning a third language...no...but, being amongst Korihors great, great, great, great, great, great (times 632 greats) grand children is pretty cool. I love you guys. Thank you so much for the letters you keep sending me. You have no idea how much they lift me. Shout outs.... First to my new ward's primary!!! I got like 75 letters at once haha. That seriously was super awesome...I guess thank who did that, Mom...and I'll try and be buena onda and write one back for them! Then to My mom and Pops....I got the St. Patricks Day package ON ST PATTY'S DAY!!!!!! I was SOOO happy!!! I had literally just got done telling Turek how dope my mom was for always making the little holidays big, to show love to us...and KABOOM! St. Patty's package. THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!!!! Now just to POPS!!!!! 56!!!!!!!!!! WHAT!?!?!?!?!? I was thinking a couple of days ago. Remember his 54th birthday? and when I missed it.......I'm so lame haha. Just know I had it all in my head this time. The only thing was I thought you were going to be 55. So mom gave me that help. Other then that, I was all solo. Props to me. I love you dad!! Eat In-n-out for me....please? That WILL be the first thing I eat when I get home. Daniel- Thanks for the Updates... I'm loving two mountain west teams in the sweet 16!!!!! ESO!!!! Of course Florida beat UCLA. They've never beat them before.....wait........haha Dude keep 'em coming!!! It sounds like a good year!!! Aubs- A Garden!?!?!? YES!!!!! I will eat ALL of your cucumbers. =Thats seriously awesome! Dope. Make sure you send me a foto!!!!! For reals. I wanna see your yard. Kallee- Seriously your letters are the best!! Thank you some much!!! Mother-Dang mom I ran out of time again.,...Im sorry... And I bought you a cool bracelet today like you wanted. :) And that I cried in some of the stuff you wrote me. Thank you so much mom...Tell Virginia I love her and her family so much. And that was seriously so kind of her. Tell Page I Love her Family and when I saw those fotos I freaked!!! THEYRE HUGE!!! And TAJIA IS GETTING MARRIED!!!! That seriously is SOOOO AWESOMEEEE!!!!!! Please let her know that I'm super happy for her!!!! Know that you seriously are the best mother ever. And thank you for the package. EVERY little thing in it is perfect. I LOVE THE TOWELS! THANKS!!!!!! Also....I'm doing better at Q´eqchi´! And...that i will write you in one week :) I love you guys more then anything!!!!!!! Elder Fast. Ninnaw naq li Dios naxb´oqeb´ li profeet sa´ li kutankil a´in!!!!!!!!!