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!!!!!!!!!

Sacsuha-March 14, 2011

The wedding of the couple we have been teaching. So pilas. The groom. The bride. The BEST District EVER! So this week was super full and good. We didn't get to get too much work done in our area, but we did what we were suppossed too. Monday we had Pday...ESOOOOO :) Tuesday- Leadership training with President Torres. He's the man. We got to get to learn about our new president that's going to come in July. Also how to be more pilas....if that's even possible for me...oooohhh! j/k. Wednesday- We got a couple married!!! WOOOOT! so that's was a good day. Thursday- Good ole regular day. We found a sick new family. A family of 6. We´re just trying to do what we can so they accept the fecha we have been trying to put. Friday-Good Ole day again! Way good actually. we made a lot of progression with our investigators. Saturday- something blew in my eye and owned me ha ha. worst pain ever haha. But I'm all fresh digity now. I just bought new specs today. Ill be getting them in about 2 weeks.... when y'all see em yur gonna freak. :) I like em. Gross huh? But literally it's like that after everyday...a lot of times worse. But I am getting use to it. :) My eye after something-like a leaf or dirt got in it, and scratched it up. New glasses for me :) Sunday-We got back to work. And had a good cita with an investigator we found 3 weeks ago. Turns out he knows the church is true.....but wont go.......haha oh dear Q´ueqchi´s. He said he received an answer too that he needs to start his own church. I told him how it was and made his mouth stayed closed. were gonna see what we can do with him. Then also last night we had a HUGE district sleep over cuz we had too. Everyone has to go to El estor tomorrow so we had to be close. It was fun. My last time seeing Burden. I left him some little things to give to you Ma and Pa! So you better go to his Home coming!! And stuff. ya know. SO that was my week. More importantly is that I'm loving my area and comp still. which is good considering I'll be with them both 6 more weeks at least. whoo! That'll be good! My district is all pretty much the same still. just like 3 people left. We will find out Wednesday who fills them. So that's me. Story: This whole learning another language thing has kicked my butt. sometimes like a loser i get frustrated that i can learn one language so well and then when im at my peak go start all over again. But I realized why the Lord wants me to do this. I'm not the most humble guy ever. I wish I was. But I'm not. And this experience really threw me down. I guess I needed it. I'm so glad too. I love the fact that our Father in Heaven literally knows us and what we need perfectly....So yea...my story is, is that it really clicked into my head this week. Kinda boring. Anyways...I hope you are all doing super well!!! You guys are bomb!! Elder Fast Shout outs...(como siempre) Daniel- Bueno, I saw the brackets from another Elder...Im not really diggin it this year. All the number 1 seeds are teams that fall bad with me. Im going SDSU all the way bro. And about Emmett...kid is awesome. Hes gonna be pullin the ladies like no other!!! I cant wait to hang out with him in 10!....oh and dude....dont be gay...seriously dude. Aubri- Fun you all got to hang out this week!!! Im glad you missed me. Cuz that day you all were hangin out i was alone in my house swinging on a Hamock in the Dark haha. Cuz i couldnt go in the light with my eye. LONGEST DAY EVER!!!! haha suuuper boring to just sit. but dont worry, pretty soon we will be hanging out doing nothing but itll be fun! and then youll ruin it by asking me to paint your kitchen again. bahahahaha! Love you sis!!! Ryan- Did you go to esky? will you go with me the day after i get back? thanks dear brother. I miss eeeyoooouuuu. Gracias por todo tu haces para mi querido hermano!! disfrutas march madness para mi!!!!!! Sisar McBride- Look at you Kal! Thats seriously so awesome you get to be there and literally see the white field catch fire. be didligent with your fechas...thats the ONLY way theyll go through!!! You're the best Kallee Ann :) haha :) Bman- Dude whats with you rockin Ptown like nobodoys business? Youre the man. I just printed off some fotos for the next novel i write you. Im still waitin on yours to me... crack-ST crack-END---como no voy a entender maje. Claro que lo entendi! Y eso para siempre vos!!! I'm out. Love you guys!!! Laj Tz´unun

Sacsuha-March 7, 2011

Me in a little part of my area :) Me and the mara...sweet kids. I love talkin' to them...they teach me so much of this Lamanite language!!! me today...this guy just shined my shoes. so I returned the favor! WHAT UP!!! So climax of the week Im guessin' is that the kid broke the BYU honor code. I think every elder in this room was talking about it. Not me...it's kinda typical. hahhaa That's what Pa would say!!! Here the story of the week for me was the fact that i did divisions with ELDER Burden! Best day ever!! we got tons of work done too. It was way awesome...picture included. Elder Garrick Burden and Elder Fast We found some sick new families who are dispuestas to recieve a fecha. I'm lovin my area...I found out changes next week. I'm thinkin' nothin' will change where Im at....Burdy goes home...I'm gonna miss him. Tommorrow we are going to Senahu...that place it I guess it's really pretty-never been there. But we're going to have a meeting with THE President Torres...Best man to ever walk Guatemala grounds after Moroni fled from here. We had the baptism of Waldemar this week. It was good. The best part about it was the fact that In Llanos a person I found...Margarita got baptized at the same exact time :) cool. The Baptism ofWaldemar. I'm vering some frutos de mi trabajo. This week I killed a HUGE turantula...the little dude was on my BED!!! I hated it. gross. But asi es. OH! good story...this week i was running up a super steep cement hill and at the top there was a water pipe and i used it to pull myself up...worked perfect...then i did it a second time and broke the water pipe.... brilliant. And so i had to go to all the houses... 3 or 4. haha But still and tell them they wouldn't have water until the morning cuz it was like 645 pm when I did that. Snd I wouldn't be able to fix it till the morning. Anyways... I learned a butt load from this experience.... I was super scared to go tell them...I figured they'd all get mad. And I'm a missionary. lame.' Anyways...I went there...and to keep the lame story short...They were all soooooo nice about it. They just laughed...and one lady felt bad for me!!! cuz i got wet when the pipe exploded...... I looked back just now at the story I just wrote and it was SO undescriptive hahahahha im sorry...make sure you guys ask me about it in 10 months...its a good one. haha Anyways...I love this work...im never been so excited to wake up to just study before...I love the people more then anything...these people would seriously blow your minds...I know I say that lots...but they are just the most amazing people ever....They seriously have so much charity. I hope I come back as much like them as possible. I love you fam...thanks for the letters and everything this week. I love you all so much. Elder Fast Aubs- Remember when you fell and broke your sandal? hahaha Daniel- I cant WAIT to play nintendo with you man haha seriously though. haha Dad- You're a stud...I love you sooo much..keep on chuggin' dad. Mike and Leora- WHATS THIS NEW BUSINESS THING!? I wanna hear from you guys!!! Bman in Ptown- When you get home I expect you to go to D. I. and buy all the N64 games there is...me entiendes mi vida? :) Mom- I saved the best for last :) I love you!!!!

Sacsuha-Feb 28, 2011

Dang...I got a ton of way good letters from you guys. I even cried at some haha... I wish you guys knew how excited i am to see you again. Thats the only reason I'll come home. If it werent for that I'd be here forever. You guys are all super progressing too! All your families even sound bigger and more fun...cuz they are. But it doesn't seem real to me. haha. Gosh I dont even know where to start... Well, we have a baptism this Saturday. With Waldemar. 14 year old. Hes way cool. I'm going to be doing divisions with Garrick Wednesday so he can do the interview for the kid. So Wednesday will be the best day EVER. Seems unreal everytime i see him. I love it though. His parents and you guys will be surprised I think when you see how much he's grown...spiritual wise. He's still scronny haha. Stud. Today was the best pday since ever. We played football!!!!! 6 vs. 6!!!! SOOOO fun!! my team was kicking butt. I was q-b then we lost one player so i became all time q b for both teams. and I havent lost my touch well say :) I was droppin' them like nobody's business. (prideful?) oh well. I heard like 15 comments how I had an arm. So the New Years football is going down when i get back. :) This week we had a lot of good succes in finding news which we so desperately needed. we dont have anyone thats been completing the things weve left behind. or wants to progress. So we are looking for the oro ones. GOod stuff. I have grown to love contacting. I literally like it now. Cuz I can say like 6 lines in Q´eqchi´ now in a contact haha. Im getting comfortable with all the bugs....I guess. not really haha. But ive got a ton of weird bug fotos. ill show you in 10. My area is still gorgeous. everyone is poor. but more loving then anyone ever. We get inside EVERY house we contact. not an exhaggeration (not how you spell it huh? dang.) Everyone gives you river water with some mashed up corn in it. not good. But itll do. wither that or burnt tortilla coffee...literally what its called. They burn a tortilla till it's crispy black, then crumble it and throw it in a cup with sugar and water...SOOOO good seriously. My favorite drink here. You gotta try it back home. With corn tortillas. Bomb. Elder Turek is a good companion. he helps me a lot with my Q´eqchi´. He always lets me paricipate when I can too. Way nice of him. I understand a lot already. I know the Lord is helping me. But its cool, I can get he drift of most everything. But I still don't know jack. haha Also, the stuff you wrote Daniel didnt make sense. sorry bro...but para que sepas... maak´a means nothing or none...sa´ means tasty, inside, or happy. and your verbs were your house or something...the smart q´eqchi´ dudes couldn't understand it so I definitely can't either. haha Youre too good! So...what to tell you guys... well that third picture is for Aubri... That kid is SOOOOOO cute. he's mudo. but his family is SOOO sweet to him. They're members. I love them. they live way up in the mountains. Im lame...I literally read your letters you sent me and left no time to email...im mala onda...I PROMISE write a ton next week. Dad- You seriously rock for that letter. Thats going in my journal. I wish you knew the pride Ihad in you. when i talk about the rolls of priesthood holders i use you for an example. I love you so much dad. Ill write you next week for sure. Mom- YOU ROCK!!! I eel so lame that I don't have time to let you in on some stuff this week!!! But I got too excited from all your letters and read them instead of printing them out! I'M SORRY! You are seriously the best for taking so much time to write me. I Could not BELIEVE some of the things you told me... Ill comment on them next week!! cool! Tell Elder Anhder He's the man,and by pure luck Igot his letter quick!! tell him I'm Polochik and the mission is going great! I love that guy! Also... Mom...I ove you. Thank you for your example of time and dedication to the Lord. Seriously Thank you... And for the money...you rock mother. I will for sure send something home with Burden. Rey- best letter ever. I love hearing the updates. Tell Melanie shes seriously the best ever. I hope my wife is Gangster like that. Gavin? what? dude...I'm gonna enseñar him how to really be good at sports. Kallee ann- Look at you!!! your emails are seriously the best! Didnt you just have changes?? what happened!?!? also let me know if you got the written letters I wrote you to Finland in like January haha :) Aubri- Emmet swore hahahahha that was the best story ever. Im SOOOO sorry youre sick! take antibiotics!!!!!!! In guta they sell antibiotics for 1 quetzzal each haha awesome. that's like 13 cents. i always buy them. Daniel-Most gangster bro I have. Get slammin' in bball!!! Thanks for the updates on the sports...keep that comin!!!!! I lvoe you man. I cant wait to see you bro!! I love you!!! WORK HARD. Elder Fast. I love you guys. next week will rock. promise.

Sacsuha-Feb 21, 2011

Can you see me at the very bottom? Ive got some rockin news to hit you guys up on this week...so get ready. First of all we have a baptism here in about 2 weeks..kids 14..his name is Wayldemar. They lost his papers from his first baptism so we gotta do it again. WOOT!! Second...YOu guys will never who just came up to be my disrtict leader here off an emergency change.... yep GARRICK BURDEN!!!!!!! WHAAAAAT!!?!? when I found out I literally got off my bed with a 102 temperature and screamed with my hands up like Rocky. It seriously is so cool. So I'm just chillin with him all day. We will probably do divisions this week too. AWESOME!!! Third...I dont know if you guys remember Monica and her mom Elbia from my last area (Llanos de Santa Maria) But they are both getting baptized this coming Saturday!!! Im so excited!!! I callled and talked to them thursday. They were SUPER excited to hear me! It felt way good to feel the love they have for me too. SO thats seriously just awesome as well. Fourth.. Weve got a bunch of investagators kickin butt and getting married. We have one set for like the first of April to get married then baptized...thats for sure going through. And then another marriage we are going to do in about a week. SO its going really good here. As foe the language slowly. but yes i practice everyday. This past week we didnt get almost anything done it felt like cuz I got hit with a huge fever for a little and We did like 7 baptismal interviews in other areas. But this comin week we should get rollin again. So that's the good news here in the mish. Oh! yea I dont know if I mentioned..but im junior companion again. weird. haha but i have to be cuz i dont know the language here. Its been kinda frustrating cuz im not used to the whole not be in charge thing. But its good for me. Ive been learning a ton. I swear this was pure revalation to have me come here. its really teaching me so much. As for spiders...I dont have too many cool stories. I only killed 12 this week. It's been rainin' a lot lately so they've all been hidden. I miss dem. I'm doing really good. Im super happy, all healthy again, the whole caboodle. this computer isn't downloading the photos so I'm gonna try and fix that anajwan. (right now) Anyways thats all my exito here. I love you guys tons! thanks tons for your letters and apollo!!! Yo Amo Laa´ex!!! Thats 3 languages baby :) Elder Fast (Laj Tz´unun)