We Had Another Baptism!

Elder Santos, My New Companion on the floor in front.

Paradise/ Trujillo Beach

Local Bug

 

How was your week?

My week was alright!! I'm working hard! We had another baptism! and that was great! And this week we have 2 more! So im really excited about that. We had interviews with president Klein also... we talked for 30 minutes!!  He's a really good President. He really knows who and how to baptize. I learned a ton in my interview.

How is your new companion?

Hes really good! He likes to talk and work!  He is really genuine.  Every morning he pops every bone in his whole entire body. He's a great Elder and I love him.

What is his name, where is he from, what is he like?

I only know Elder Santos.   He like to play soccer. He likes to ride his motorcycle and he does stuff with computers.  He's a really genuine guy though and I like him for that. He's a nice guy and works. He is asking a lot of questions about where are are going and who we are seeing because he is new to the area.

When did he arrive last Wednesday?

10:30PM in the night...

Did you show Elder Santos around the city?

I've been showing him... but our area is massive so he will not ever really see all of it.

Does he talk to you and help you with your Spanish and teaching?

Yes he helps me with both.  he has more vocabulary so we are working on that part.

How was church this week?  Did you have more people there?

Ugh.... no we had 5 because it poooooorrrrrreeeeddd rain.  Gosh I hate the rain lol... and my comp gave my poncho to my investigator I was soooooaaakkkeeed.... and when it comes/starts to rain nobody comes.

How are your people that are committed to baptism coming along?

We have 2 this week and then 2 the next hopefully. The 2 this week are moving along and progressing. Goodness one of them I literally am going to ball when I leave here… I'll show you a photo.

GRILLED IGUANA in Tocoa!!! 10/20/14

How was your week?

My week was good... super frustrating... one girl we were  teaching we found out she doesnt want to be baptized... and the worst part is the littler kids I will never see again.. this is the first time I've felt super sad but happy... I literally have learned to love the people so much. that I felt sad about it.  It was rough.

How is the weather there now?  Is it cooling down?  How cold is it supposed to get during the winter there?

Hahaha you guys… it's Honduras... siempre hot... just more or less humid... lol....

Are there any American fast food places in the town that you are at?

Only one place… Wendy's and we only have ate there one time. Sooo good, but only there.

Do a lot of the little kids come play with you?

Yes... the kids idk why they love me.  lol... hahaha...

Did the lady that was mad about her kids coming home wet and late get over it and let the kids come to church?

Well yes... but as I explained above. ugh....

Is the baptism that was probably happening still a go?

Yes.... luckily. 

What is the city like Tocoa?

In my area its all dirt roads, so in the city Tocoa it's a huge center its called the Centro and all the things you need are here then out from there is poor everything is about the same for most of it but in the mountains and stuff where I serve is really really poor where they have stick and mud houses. But it doesn't bother me cause the people are so happy... and the gospel really blesses there lives...

Everyone has a tv and a radio.  Everyone watches soccer all day, so that's about all there is to it.

The Centro is just like shops like when we visited Mexico - just shops of everything,  and food and internet.  Then out from there there is pulperias which sells food and snacks like every other house. And the rest of the houses are churches lol... and out from the Centro is just normal houses of concrete. Then out from all that is super poor.

Are kids playing soccer everywhere like I've mentioned in Brazil? 

Yes on the street and on the soccer field in front of our house.

Is that Iguana on the grill?

yes it is.  

We Taught 46 Lessons this Week 10-13-14

How was your week?

It was a good week! But a very difficult one.

How's your health?  Are you doing good with your stomach?  Blisters?

My health is good! right now a little sick idk why... probably alot of rain... and my blisters i dont really have any right now...

How are your baptisms coming along?

Ugh............ we have one on track now,  we had so many but now one on track. The people we teach must attend church 3 times before baptism... and a bunch couldnt go yesterday… One, her name is Betsabe we brought her to the zone leaders baptism it was at 6 at night... it was pouring rain... and we had little kids with us... idk why but little kids love me?  I had 4 holding my hand while we walked home when it was dumping rain. The mom got sooooo mad at us cause we were late and her kids were wet so she said they couldnt go to church.  We don't know if that means for good or what... the other kids parents are members who went. He couldn't go to church that day either. Such a frustrating week... goodness... everything fell through.... man life here is a struggle right now.

Have you gotten any families you are teaching that need to be married?  Have you had to work on marriage for some?  (I know that Connor has had to help some of his converts married and so did Carson, so you may want to study up on what they have to do)

Um we have one for november 12 is the goal... the husband really wants to but the wife eh... well i wish but my comp drops every person who isnt married... so.... great... we don't...

If I send you a big flash drive, could you copy your SD card onto it and mail me your SD card?  

Yes i can do that..

Dad, Wow both emails were really awesome!! President Eyring man!! So humbling... being in the presence of a prophet I'm guessing you could just feel the spirit so strongly - man crazy - and the reunion con su mission friends is super awesome. Man that'll be me after this... super crazy to think about...

How are your families that you are teaching?

The families we are teaching are eh...  we usually only teach one person... even if a whole family is present I try to bring get attention but my companion prefers to teach just individuals ... We are teaching alot of people we taught 46 lessons this week. I hit on a ton of doors. I really have been working my guts out... but im trying so hard and we arent having much success...we have about 30 investiagors now so thats super nice.

Can you take more pictures and send them along or is it dangerous or whatever?

Yes I forgot my adaptor today... its hard to take pictures cause its dangerous and stuff.. so I take them when I can... but I will send some more I promise.
 

I'm glad your callouses are built up so you are doing better with blisters.  Do you wear tennis shoes to work in?

Yes im super glad also... they are doing much better. Yes. I wear them.  The only problem is when it starts pouring rain, my shoes get ruined,  life of honduras.

Is there a bishop in the ward that you are in or is it a branch?

It's a branch. We have a branch president.  

Do any members have cars?

We do... but only 3ish... and they can't help us take people really cause they don't want to or they can't. So we need to teach people with cars.  The only problem is literally everyone goes to a church... there are probably 1,000 churches in my area.

Are there any americans that live/work there?

Umm not really... solo personas I have talked to is people that have been deported.... hahaha... they tell me about it all the time.

Have you talked to missionaries that have worked on Roaton?  What do they say about it?

Yes I have... they like it a lot at first... but then they said its kinda lonely you see the same people everyday, nothing changes.

The Gift of Tongues is so Real 10-6-14

How was your week?

 My week was great!! As usual! This week was really hard though. This guy in our ward helps me alot... his name is Diller... he is such a big help and I talk to him a ton on what to do... he just gives great advice... and I've learned how to be a great missionary from him and from going on divisions.  

The gift of tongues is so real.  When I really have the spirit with me I literally can speak and understand Spanish for the most part.  if its not with me its a wreck. But really its been a good week. Its hard and God's preparing me ... to help other people.  Because really I've learned alot here... maybe not the best way to learn things but I have been learning them..

 

How are your families progressing?

Eh... we have probably 5 baptisms this month with dates... so im excited for that... they are all teenagers though... and I really think we need to start focusing more on families. 

 

Did you know that this transfer coming up is for just 4 weeks (that is what Judy Roberts said)? 

Yes this is true. So lets hope I learn what God needs me to learn.  I've really learned so much here from Him, and really this is preparing me in different ways. Mission is not all about baptizing… it's for ourselves too. To learn to live with someone, learn many things,  how to communicate, so much.

 

 Is the weather cooling off there?

 Umm no not really Tocoa,  the place of dust, heat, rain, Welcome to Tocoa.  Today we hiked to a waterfall though!! Super sweet!!. Man it was awesome!

Did you get to see conference?

Yes. I learned so much, alot about the prophet.  I thought he was gonna say something super important... well he did obviously but like super. Alot about the Fasting and Tithing.  Because we need to give to the poor, it's crazy because I have been reading scriptures a ton about this, and wow.  Elder Holland blew it away. 

We had 12 People to Church - 9-29-14

Apt in Tocoa

Churchhouse in Tocoa

How was your week?

It was pretty great! The best day this week was the day I went on divisions with Geovani! My spanish was so good! I found a family of 4 and they came to church and are really interested in our message.  I can do most of it all on my own now... Its been super great. I really love this gospel.   

We had 12 people at church this week. We did work this week. and we met our needs finally of 35 lessons this week… that's the goal. so we met it, but we can do more.  Things are going good I contact by myself alot... and find people in the street... I talk on the phone with investigators, my spanish is starting to come.

Did you have any baptisms this week?

No mario hasnt been at church for a while... we dont know where he lives either... so we cant teach him unless he's at church, so we are trying.

How are the families of the 3 that you baptized doing?  Are they taking the discussions from you?

They are doing well! Geovanis family isnt interested but thats ok... then yajaira isn't either.  And after her, the Yosseth family is but we didnt get to teach, because they were gone. 

How many times a week do you get fed by members?

Everyday usually... if not I eat cereal and my comp buys food off the street. 

Did you say that a lady does your laundry?  If so, how much do you have to pay her to do your laundry?

yes. 50 limpiaras.

How is your bed there?  Pillow?

Eh. Its not bad, I have 2 pillows I bought one,  cause at 4 am every morning the roosters that are next door decide to wake everyone.

What is your church building like?  How many people will fit in your chapel?

Its huge! 2 story, AC,  It's nice. 150 could fit, maybe we havent filled it yet; close but no. See Pic above

Did you get you new shoes?  If so, how good are they?  How much did they cost?

Eh I bought to pairs of tennis shoes to wear,  75 bucks.... so we will see, I think they are good... 

What made you start using a straight edge razor?

Well its super awesome haha Idk I've always wanted to.

What does that fruit taste like, pandera? 

It was sweet I've only had it once it is fuzzy like a apricot and tastes... idk its weird... sweet like just sweet. creamy sweet not sour at all.

How many discussions are you teaching each week? 

Well I've been pushing for 40 but my comp is fine with 30 to 35 my goal by the end of my mission to average like 45 a week.  Super big goal but I can do it.

How is your heel? Healing up, still open wound? 

Eh, I got an in grown toe nail which is healing this week... and the blister is calloused now luckily, finally.  So its coming along.

Are your shoes/Boots helping the blister situation?

I wear tennis shoes now they help quite a bit im searching for a really good pair of goma shoes.

Any new families to teach? 

This week we found 4 people to teach and they all came to church and I'm hoping they progress the work here is super hard cause there is like 1000 churches. I really want to find a family to teach.  So bad, like a family of 5+

We had a baptism this week! Yosseth 9-22-14

Baptizing under the bridge in the River

Huge blisters on my foot! ughh

Trying to shave with a straight razor

How was your week?

 My week was eh... but its getting better!! I dont know its a huge roller coaster out here!!

 Did you have another baptism yesterday?

 Yes of course hahaha jk... Yosseth... Hes 18 we are doing splits with him tomorrow my comp with him… I'm going with Yobani the other boy we baptized... 

 

Were there problems with the electricity last week?  (It seemed like we weren't getting responses back when we were emailing and then just no more emails)

 Yes... super bad... idk here is super weird electricity just goes out for hours then back on..

 

Are there transfers next week?

 Yes… We'll see how it goes.

 

Have you had any meetings where you have had interaction with the mission president & his wife?

 Nope not yet..

 

How's the weather there?  Rainy how much of the day?

 It is crazy... so it will be perfectly clear for the whole day... then just clouds every where and just pour like pour... all day... its crazy...

 

How are you feeling about your Spanish?  Understanding?  Speaking?

I'm feeling super good... I get frustrated alot... I understand a ton... and I can get across what I want... but its getting easier... somethings I dont understand... I can teach whole lessons now no problem... but I still need to figure out good questions...

 

Well Family and Friends - super.... super... fast week... I went on splits with Elder Lopez he's a super great guy... he taught me a lot about how to be patient and how to be a good missionary... how to contact... how to be better.. he's our District leader.. Then I came back and worked with my comp all week-  hard, hard week... Nobody wants our message.. 

My comp and a lady were going at it in a bible discussion... and the lady goes... does your comp even speak or know the gospel… I chuckled... cause they were arguing about how women don't have the priesthood and not everyone has authority.  The lady thinks every person has authority from god.so I said,  "so what your saying is everyone has authority given from god? The lady replied,  "yes"... so I said, "this means every single church on earth is true because every single person has authority from god." The lady was like, "well no!"  I said why?,  because only people who obey the commandments have authority?"

 She said, "ok then". I asked, "then every church that obeys the 10 commandments is true? The lady said, "well… no!"  I said, "exactly". The she got up and left the room... goodness people... I get really frustrated with arguing with people who only want to argue about church and it's not helping us - though I am learning alot about the bible... and I've learned alot about the BOM cause I've read so much. 

We had a baptism this week! Number 3, Woot! And it was Yosseth.  His whole family is interested and he loves the gospel... hes going on splits with us... so I'm stoked... me with yobani and my comp and him... then we meet with his whole family to teach them. We will see. 

I am getting better out here. I love my District!!  - like so much... We dont have tons of investigators ... but we are finding success…   but it was a frustrating Sunday... we had 0 at church... super upsetting... ugh… 

I love you guys!! how are things!

Elder Shepherd

We Give A lot of Blessings and People get Healed 9-15-14

How was your week?

It has been a rough but good week!! I went on divisions with my zone leader Elder Lamb and learned what a real mission is like and how to work and contact and such...  He is sooo cool... and such a good missionary… 

And then we had another baptism.. A girl named Yajaira ... That was on saturday.. and it was awesome.. I'll send pics next time.. we had to write at a members cause... 3rd world probs... and NO electricity... and today is Independence Day for all of central america so its crazy... And awesome.. 

Yobani and Yajaira were comfirmed also.. Thats super good.. We have another baptism this week.. And i am super excited. Things are really good though i shave with a straight razor and i have awesome members.. I love Monday Tuesday Saturday and Sunday cause I see Elder Lopez and Elder Lamb..   Ive learned alot out here. I study for an extra half an hour now in the mornings.. 

Did Yobani show up to get confirmed this week?

Yes he did.

Does it rain every day there?

Yes for the most part it does.. 

I am going to put together a Christmas package for you in the next couple of weeks.  What do you want to request for me to put into your Christmas package?

Ok just some things i really need.. I need a book of mormon and a bible  in english separated.. I need alot of ear plugs... i need an English hymn book... ok dad has a water proof bag a blue one that you roll and buckle its like a legit water proof bag.. i need one.. cause it rains... but it doesnt just rain... like the streets are full of water its crazy... umm another journal like the black and grey one…

How are the boots that you bought?

They are really nice i need to buy feet pads for them i've been looking not really today…

Are your clothes and shoes getting trashed with the rainy streets?

Ah... yes... but its ok it happens to everyone..

 Is the lady you were teaching that was going to get baptized still on?

Umm maybe she needs to get married first.. thats one of the main problems here is marriage and stuff.. 

Who else have you been teaching?

This week is Joseph hes 18 and attends church and meets with us alot.. hes really active i hope he does good... idk... then the next week we baptize Mario he doesnt live here he lives in another city but attends church here and we teach him every week.. Then we have Yolani who is the next thats the one needing to be married... we gave her a blessing and she got better.. so its crazy the power we have.. we give alot of blessing and people get healed..

What is your apartment like?  One or two bedrooms?  A twin bed? Washer & Dryer? Kitchen?

We have 3 beds a bunk and another across I sleep on the bottom bunk and he sleeps on the other bed.. We hand wash our dishes.... its bad water so we just have to use a towel to wipe them out after washing with soap... then we have hermana Nunoz do our clothes there is no dryers here and no dish washers.. our house has a small fridge and we go buy water jugs, like 5 gallon ones, and carry them 300 yards to our house..