We had a Baptism this week, Eduardo! June 22, 2015

How are things going?
Things are going really well... I'm in La Ceiba still... in Bella Vista a different area... and different zone... I'm with

Elder Whilmer Cruz.... hes a big guy. Hes from costa rica and he finishes his mission next month. 

This area is super big... and the ward is needing help...we are working tons with the members. 

My area is HUGE and we have so much to do... so I'm excited.

How was your week?
It was super super fast...There is a lot to be done with investigators. My comp, he is really a great missionary  and he doesnt want to go home.  He loves the mission he was a zone leader right before.. and all of his comps have become zone leaders. He knows how to do alot of things... He just has taught me to work with members a lot more and how to plan and do things better.  He has so much experience.  We always have more people at church. 

We had a baptism this week... His name is Eduardo... he's 18 years old... he is kinda timid but we think the gospel will  help him... we really saw the change in him these last few weeks... he's a great kid... he should become a missionary and we're praying for him; his mom and his moms side are all members and thats how Elder Saunders found him.  Me and Elder Cruz have done almost all the teaching... he's a great kid... he use to be alot more shy... and now his dad and his dads side of the family want to listen to our message!! WOOT!!

How many other missionaries are in your area?
Just me and my companion.... But in the zone there is 16 or 18

Are there any sister missionaries in your area?
and one pair of sisters...

How was church?
It was really good... super long it went a half hour over... it goes the classes first then sacrament 8:30 to 11:30 but we went til 12.  The attendance was 74 people the highest my comp has seen so far... so we are working really well... We had 6 investigators the most he's seen also in this area... (goodness its frustrating...I know we can get more...) But 6 is good...

How are the families in your area?
We have a family that are working towards baptism that me and my comp found... But the wife Xiomara... needs a divorce so that they can get married.. The problem is here in Honduras... you can't communicate with the other... so we dont know where the guy is... last we know he lives in Tocoa... so we are raising money for her to go to the guy and ask for the divorce but then they all have to come to La Ceiba her exhusband and her kid... to sign papers... then they have to come back in a month to sign again... then we have to get Xiomara married to Moises... and then they can be baptized so it'll take a good 2 or 3 months... and her little girl Ingrid will get baptized with them. 

Xiomara 34, Moises 34, and ingrid 12... so it'll be great!!

Sarahi is waiting on a marriage also... with a husband who works from 4 in the afternoon until 9 in the morning....   he doesnt have the money to feed his wife his 3 kids and his mom who is a member... so things are looking rough... the mom is a recent convert... but they are living there cause the mom Blanca her ex husband burned down her house and all of her clothes and everything was in her house... its sooo horrible..

and now we are working witht the family of Eduardo.. to see how he's doing and his family... his family isn't members. Actually working with his dad and his dads side... but they read the pamphlets and want to listen and we think it'll be very good...

Do people feed you in your new area?
Well we finally have a cook and we eat lunch and dinner on Sundays with someone else... and dinner on saturdays...

On normal days we eat at Hna Rosa she is a great lady... she got divorced  and has 2 girls.. 10 and 3... they are super awesome.

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I feel her spirit telling me to keep pushing! June 8, 2015

How was your week?

It was a rough week... But thats ok... I've been super sick. But thats ok... we literally had no time to personal study which is sooo horrible... we got up and left the house at 7 like every single day this week... I had to go to La Ceiba with Mario and Eduardo for some papers in the judges place... and that was a mess. They weren't going to let them get married this week... but I just like didn't let them say no... I came in there with my mind made up...hahahaha.... I've really lost all of my shyness while i've been out here. I am so like active I never just want to sit. 

This week was super crazy also cause Eduardo got married... but Satan DID NOT want him married... I don't think something else could have went wrong... With the papers and everything... But we got it all lined up... and got them baptized. 

Eduardo took it home on Sunday with the best testimony he could share... saying...

 "I know that this is the only true church on the earth... I know Joseph Smith was a prophet...I know that this is the only church that has been restored here on the earth and has all the saving ordanances... and I know that the book of mormon is true!"

It was a killer meeting... and I shared my testimony also about our Savior Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon... and I told them adios cause I might be leaving... which i am now.

How was your baptism?

It was amazing... they finally were baptized.. the spirit was so strong... I only baptized Saul cause I was in charge of the little meeting we had... and my comp baptized Eduardo and Maria.  It was a great baptismal meeting!

How are your other families coming along?

We had Anna at church... and she is awesome... shes like 56 and really is an amazing lady..  she said she hasn't been to a church that she likes in like 5 years. and now she only comes to ours... 

Is the weather there just blazing hot?

Its not too hot... tons and tons and tons of rain.... so not too bad...

Any other amazing experiences?

No... just the wedding and baptism and church... it was just such an unproductive week with other investigators... we only had 8 at church and 3 confirmations... and I confirmed one in Spanish.  I gave him a blessing and everything... so that was way cool. 

Have you been feeling grandma's presence?

Yes... just when I get sad or something... I feel her and the spirit telling me to keep pushing on and not think about it cause it won't help really... so I just keep pushing... and she tells me everything is all good and she is happier.

They are Really Changing .. It's So Amazing! June 1, 2015

How was your week?

It was a great week!! Me and my comp are working our butts off... heh!! We finally hit 72 lessons again... we were struggling for a bit... but we are figuring it out... We are working our hardest... 

Edwardo went to the border of El Salvador to bring her papers... and he stopped in San Pedro to bring his papers... and he didn't have a chance to bring them... so it was pretty sad... So they didn't get baptized yet... but they will get baptized... They want to and everything... They are SOOOO ready to be baptized and be members... but God has his purposes in all.  So we will see; I love this work!

Then Jerlin and Joseline... They are nervous their baptisms are this week... they love church so much... they are so amazing.. They are really changing... it's so amazing... when you can see the change ... its so amazing to see fruits of repentance... and they actually feel that the message is true... 

Then Perla... She is 17... she has been to church and everything and should get baptized this week but her mom is concerned now. 

We challenge all of our investigators to baptism and we discuss Acts 2... and it is sooo amazing... We challenged like a lot.. and it is so great... we are so excited about that... Me and my comp love this new way that we challenge people to accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

Did your baptism go through this week?

Nope................. they fell............... again.............

Any new finds for investigators this week?

We found 21 people.... its a better week.... not like my last area... my last area we had like 35 new investigators a week.. but we recently found a lot of new investigators... and now they are progressing so thats way good... 

I love this area... but it's hard.

How was church this week?

10 in church!! We had 35 in all minus our 10 investigators... 25 minus the 4 missionarys 21 minus 6 of our converts 15 and 2 people from la ceiba 13... wow, we have some work to do. 

Are you eating more food now - not just lunch?

Yes... cause we are good missionarys and God blessed us with food from investigators and recent converts. 

Today is my comps bday also... so I woke him up and gave him cake that I bought.... cupcakes and it was good... then we went to little ceasars in La Ceiba and we ate a whole pizza each... then came back and ate chinese rice someone invited us to... then we ate cake... and we are soooo full... and they are giving us more at night... freak hahahaha

It was a week of Miracles - February 16, 2015

How was your week?

It was really good! We had a good week!! We worked super super hard... It was a week of miracles also.... for example... so there is a guy we started teaching has diabetes.... he can't walk very much cause he has so much pain in his knees and such.. and has heart problems... but my comp was like we are going to heal him.... so we gave him a blessing... and he came to church... we walked with him to church.... and before he couldn't walk...so we can just say God needs him in the church... he has.. 7 kids... also... but he needs too get married first... so we are finding a way for them to get married... it'll cost like 3000 limps... so we will see... but if we do... we will have 8 baptisms... our goal is 11 this change... hahaha... but he came to church and like he said he's changing church's to our church and everything... because he knows it's true... this church is the church with authority of God.... so I'm excited about that!! now we just need to baptize them!!

How is you apartment this week - is the water all taken care of?  (dad said it flooded)

Yes... we swept all the water out so woot woot!!

Do you have any fast food places there?  If so, what places are there?

We have.... nothing... hahaha.... we don't have fast food here.... we dont have like anything the bank is in anther pueblo 30 minutes in taxi away.....

Did you find some people to teach this week?

We have like 25 investigators... but this area is alot harder to find prepared people.... like nobody understands here... we broke the record of asistance here... we had 43 at church... and that was definitely the max.... and like we had 8 investigators... but the people are so different and cant read and dont understand as much here...

Where do you hold church?

we hold church in a members house outside on like a patio..

How many pairs of pants do you have that still work?

all of them are working ish.... I keep finding people to fix em up!

Do you play music at your apartment?  Does the IPOD and speakers still work?

Yes... but I'm searching for new church music and such...

Are you able to watch DVDs?

Yes... we have a small dvd player...

What have you done for your P-days there?

Washed clothes... slept... went to San Juan Pueblo to buy food to cook in the night... cause we dont have members... so we cook... and write.... thats about it...

What is the city like there?  (farming, city like, types of businesses, etc.)

Its all like farming... horses.. cattle.... stuff like that... there are no businesses really... just super small things... we have paved roads well not all but alot.... it's like a small farm town...

Do the young people there go to school?

Yes they do... 730 to 12.... so not tons but yes.

I see and know the joy they are missing out on. May 25, 2015

How was your week?

It was a very hard week... I won't lie... we worked really hard...but just our fruits we wont see them always... We just keep on working to make the Lord happy with us... We found a lot of news and we have been working really hard to help some of the less actives... there aren't very many... but we focused on them a little bit more because weve talked to everyone... there is only like 4 less actives.. and we got them to go to church this week...

Satan is kicking butt here... so hermana Rubi the best member we have here... told us about what happened to her this last week, shes leaving this week... and so really our branch is struggling now... man I've never felt satan work sooo hard... we had 2 people fall with a date to be baptized... a girl named Elenor her baptism was this week... and she fell. She is working with her mother. 

How is Mario doing after his heart attack or whatever it was (do they know what it was)?

He had a heart attack... he is ok... we gave him a blessing and he walked to church.... he walked to church... I still can't believe this... nobody can... he has SO much faith... and in church... he recited the whole first vision and macheted everyone in the class we had... everyone was saying we just  need to ask someone who knows alot to know what church to go to and he was like no!!! We must ask God! Joseph smith asked God! He asked nobody else! Don't you guys get it! We must ask God everything!! He's going to be a branch president if he lives... I love that man with all of my heart...

Did Edwardo and his family get baptized this week?

They went to Tegucigalpa to bring there papers on Sunday and are still there... so they will get married this week or the next and be baptized this week or the next...I'm praying... I love them so much...

How was church this week?
It was ok... we had 1 investigator.... shoot... record low... ugh... but we had 3 people that havent gone to church the whole time I've been here ot come to church... so thats way way good... I pray they keep coming... we will see... It was justa rough go... ugh... we worked soo hard...and nothing...

Did you have any family activities this week?
No... not this week but every Tuesday we are starting a family night thing in the church...

How's you health? 

It's good... I'm always super tired cause we dont have tons of food here... but im good..

Sorry for being bad at writing this week... my computer stinks... but its ok...

I asked how he is feeling when their message is not accepted?

  It's just like I've never understood soo much about the gospel and they come so close to having a chance to make it in the kingdom of God then they say no... and I see and know the joy that they are missing out on... and it makes me sad...

Edwardo and his family getting baptized May 18, 2015

How was your week?
It was a great week... weve been doing some activities... just like giant family home evenings we started with all the members and investigators and that was an amazing turn out... so we are super happy about that... heh.... 

And this following week have Edwardo and his family will be getting baptized... Hes an amazing guy... He asked for some time to talk to us in one of the activities and he prepared a talk to give... He read... 2 Nephi 23 through 28 and talked about how satan won't have power over us if we pray and do all that we can... He did it all on his own... we havent taught him like everytthing yet but hes like the best member we have heh... hes amazing... and hes not even a member yet... LOL... But we taught him about baptisms for the dead... and he loved it... he doesn't even like resist he knows it's true... and he wants to go.. heh... we are so excited... Hes an amazing man..

Mario... ugh... this week he had a heart attack... he almost died... He has diabetes... but there isn't pills or a cure or a help here in Honduras... wow the effects heh... He told us that hes never felt so much pain before... and he couldn't come to church because of that... And during this lesson while we were teaching him Satan really works on you as a missionary... he makes you think of everything to make you feel unworthy... I had never ever felt his presence sooo strongly.. and we asked Mario if we could give him a blessing... and he said yes... and my comp did the oil part... and he asked me to do the blessing... he said the spirit told him to make me do it... and I did it and satan just left... heh... it was sooo crazy... so powerful.. 

Then we talked to the presidency of the bishop and told them to come visit him and they gave him a blessing also... heh!

Any baptisms this week?
Nope...... ugh...........

How far is the temple from where you are (for Mario to go)?
Its like 6 hours... in bus...

How was you church attendance this week?
Only 43.. it went down cause of Mario... we only had 7 investigators at church also... and they are going to be baptized.. we found 2 girls of 11 and 16... and her mom... but her mom can't be baptized right now but she will in the future... but the 2 girls have come to all the activities and 3 Sundays at church... heh!! we are so excited!! And a girl named Andrea came... and her sister... there family could be great leaders but only Andrea and vivian want to listen right now... so we are working with them... 

 

Have you been playing any soccer?

Not recently we have been so busy we are trying to get this family married and everything heh...

When there are Soccer games, they close everything down May 11, 15

Do you hear about the NBA there? Do people know or even care?

No we hear nothing... nobody watches anything... hahaha

What about soccer, do they follow that and close down shops to see their team play?

Dude always... they close down everything and dont let anyone in... like its horrible hahaha...

Is there a walmart there? lol

No... we have like a family store... but i found out people here, like nobody goes to the super market - they just go to there neighbors house who is selling food for like 5 more dollars... lol

What about product that are made in Honduras, what are they known for?  Shoes, leather goods? Cigars?

Dole... like ALL the bannanas in the states... all of it comes from here... all the fruit... everything... 

What do people do for work that do have jobs?

They cut things... like grass or palma... palma is a tree and everything is made with the oil it makes.. so usually that... or they sell things out of there house... but EVERYONE wants to come to the states... SOOO many Hondurans... I think there is more Hondurans then Mexicans in the states.. lol

What types of cars do they drive? Take some pics of roads, cars,  etc? 

They use ford Hilux its a  truck... or corollas..

Do they use a bus system? or is there one that you can use to get around town etc?

Yes they have sooo many buses thats the only way we travel..