Snow in Utah - March 30, 2011

Snow that is crazy. The weather here is sunny and beautiful. I love it. The temple was so pretty, small but pretty. It was an English session and was very nice. This week on Monday we got to go out with our Latino companion and proselyte. It was an interesting experience. I couldn't understand a lot of what was being said and couldn't really say what I wanted all I could do was share my testimony, so I got a bit frustrated. We went a second time on Monday an hour later with different companions and got no referrals that time. I got really down with myself because I couldn't understand or speak as much as I wanted and I was not as outgoing as I should have been. It really hit me hard. Last night was a great devotional talk we watched from Elder Bednar. It was on understanding the doctrine and how the doctrine is the answer to everything. After that, in class our teacher had us write a letter to someone we know inactive or nonmember about how we know the Book of Mormon is true. I believe it's true but I couldn't think of how or write anything. It really depressed me. This week has been the hardest time for me. I feel inadequate with Spanish and the Gospel. I really need to trust in the Lord more. I'm trying to be more positive today and study the doctrine better and pray for help, really rely on the Lord. I'm very excited for conference this Saturday and Sunday. I invite you to watch conference with Nana and Grandpa or Lois and Milt, or even by yourself but to watch it. Then we can share in a letter some of the things we really liked or learned. I love you and know that I am growing and learning so much about myself. I know our family is so blessed. I got Nana's letters which were very nice. That's awesome that you know someone who taught Jessica Stevens. Love you and will keep you and family in my prayers. Say hi to sister and family. Tell them I love them and am going to work more hard. Love the letters. Really love you and hope you are doing great, minus the snow. Look forward to your next letter. They really help.

First Week in Guatemala - March 23, 2011

It has been wonderful here. My Spanish is improving by leaps and bounds now because many people here at the CCM only speak Spanish so I get lots of experience. I also have a Latino companion from Central America that I spend all my time with when I´m not in class with my American companion. I really like him. His name is Elder Ordoñez from Honduras. I also get to teach English to a Latin missionary here everyday for 30 mins so that has been pretty cool. We get dearelders on Thur and that's it. Kinda a bummer when we go from getting them everyday to one day that's after our pday. The food is the best stuff I have had, it´s so good. Thanks for selling my car that is a good deal. I think I have an online account with Geico because I signed up for emails. But I'm not sure if I can remember the exact password. Might have to think on it and write you later. New bishop sounds awesome. Have you been reading the Book of Mormon? I'm glad the screening wasn't serious and they were able to take out the small spot. Hope you two and Jessica are doing well. I have not got anything from family yet but dearelders come tomorrow so we'll see. Not a bad idea explaining to people how to use it. Snow sounds gross. Here it's in 70s usually and blue skys, so pretty and warm. One day of sudden downpour of rain then stopped which was crazy. Love my teachers and the people here. Meeting awesome people and getting wonderful experiences teaching in Espanol. They said I'm doing really good and in a couple weeks if I keep working hard I can be with the group of new Latinos speaking Spanish. I had a day of struggle were I wasn't sure if my Spanish was good and I was having a hard time recognizing if I am teaching with the spirit often. But the next day and today are much better. I just smile, work hard, be myself, and trust in the Lord. I Remember why I'm here. I want to try and send pictures soon but I don't know if I can while at the CCM. I love you so much and love hearing from you. I can't wait to share more of my experiences with you this next week. I go to the Guatemala temple today so you know I will tell you about that. Which reminds me, last week we got to go to the temple grounds, directly across the street, and talk with people there in Spanish. It was way awesome, the majority of them were from El Salvador and took a 5 hour bus ride to get here. Makes me feel very blessed that we have so many temples so close to us. I love it. I love you very much and will keep challenging you. I am going to try and write Jessica Stevens again because I have not heard from her yet and it would be nice. I really love hearing from you and will let you know what letters I get tomorrow the next time I can write. Love you very much, your son.

I'm in Guatemala - March 16, 2011

Hola mi familia! I made it safely to Guatemala. The flight was so early. It is beautiful here and I really love it. The mission home is awesome. The temple is right outside our window, so close I can walk there in less then 5 mins. The mission home is way awesome too. I love the food here. I had delicious eggs this morning with yummy fruit smoothie drink, bread, ham, bacon, and porage stuff that is orchata I think, it was very delicious. Lunch was once again delicious. Rice, broccoli, salad, and a really good chicken with a pineapple glaze sauce. We sat next to two Latin missionaries from Central America and they only spoke Spanish. I tried to understand them, and I got some words but there was a lot that went over my head. Every one speaks so quickly here and they speak Spanish pretty much all the time. Which is awesome cause I will really learn it quickly this way. I have a American companion here for my classes and some meetings and then a Latin companion for the rest of the time. Pday is still wed so that is when I can check email and write home. The address here in case you need it is Boulevard Vista Hermosa 23-71, zona 15 Vista Hermosa 1. Guatemala, Guatemala C.A. I love you very much and will try to send pictures home very soon of Provo MTC and here in Guatemala. The weather is beautiful here and so is the country, at least what I have seen so far, so I am very excited to see more of the country and grow to love the country and the people more. I'm really glad I got to see you yesterday and loved talking to you. I agree about looking forward to getting a closer relation with you through letters. Hopefully Nana and Grandpa will be able to get me dear elders here without problems. Tell the family and the Beus's hi and that I love them. Take care and I will keep you all in my prayer.

Leaving for Guatemala - March 15, 2011

Time is Ticking Away - March 9, 2011

I have less then a week here. Can you believe it? We got our travel information this last week. On March 15 we report to the travel office at 630pm. We leave the SLC airport at 945pm and fly to LAX then go from LAX to Guatemala and arrive there at 526am. So early. That is going to be a long day. I have been doing great. Learning lots and lots. I'm working harder at teaching better with the Spirit because I have seen the incredible difference it can make. My companions and I taught our teacher as an investigator. His name was Hermano Andres. He is an old man whose wife died a year ago. This was our third meeting. We taught about the Book of Mormon. This lesson was so different from our previous lessons. I really felt the spirit as we taught. We worked better as a trio, which is really difficult working as a trio, everything just flowed from one person to the next. We smiled a lot and really felt a love for Andres. We committed him to reading some chapters from the Book of Mormon and to prepare to be baptized. He accepted our commitments and I felt so happy and amazing. I want to be able to experience that every time I teach. The joy and love were so incredible during that lesson. I will try and do that more. Spanish is coming along very well. I was impressed how well you did translating that purpose of a missionary. A couple parts were a little off but the main point was there. Hope you are having fun on your cruise and that Jessica is doing better. I love you all so much. I don't know if i will be able to check my email again before I leave. But I can still get dearelders. Tell Holly thanks for the letter it was very nice. The MTC is great and I love the people here. I hope you are reading from the Book of Mormon every day. If not I challenge you again. I love you so much Mom and family. You are in my prayers. I'm really learning who I am and my personal relationship to Heavenly Father. I have loved all the food here and eat a lot but haven't really gained any weight. I think I got one or two pounds on me since I've been here. I eat really healthy here but I feel like I'm eating all the time. I am going to try and send a few pictures soon so you can see my companions and friends. Love you all!

First Week In MTC - March 2, 2011

I am used to my first name of Elder. The hard part is not saying "guys", we refer to groups as elders. Also in my district there is a Elder Jensen who has become my good friend. When I'm close to him and someone says his name I have a hard time not looking in that direction and responding. That is awesome the info on the MTC. I love it here. Each meal I drink one glass of 2% milk, one glass of choc milk, and one glass of delicious juice. I eat very healthy and always feel full. I feel like I am always eating. When it is time for the next meal I think, "What? I just ate." My district and branch is so wonderful. Everyone is so nice and I found out many people have a similar background to me so that makes me feel more comfortable here. I did get your letter saying I have been here for a couple days. I wrote you a letter and hope you receive it soon. I will share some things that are in it now. I was called to be district leader for our group of 9 missionaries. It was a little scary cause I have never had a calling and I want to do well. but I love it so far and am learning a lot. Yo amo mi distrito. The district presidency said it was an obvious choice and they believe in me. Spanish is coming along very well. All my prayers are in Spanish, I am working at being able to say more during my prayers but the main stuff is there is Spanish. I also am able to bear my testimony in Spanish, need some more vocab but its coming along. I can say my purpose as a missionary in English and Spanish. There have been some very powerful spiritual experiences here and during meetings. I want to get more and learn all I can. I leave in 13 days for Guatemala, Crazy! but excited. Oh, one of my companions that's going to Gua Retalhuleu, one of two besides myself, knows Jamen. He went to school with him. Elder Andrew Meoño. What a small world. I Love you very much and keep you in my prayers. I challenge you to read the Book of Mormon every day. Keep me updated about Jessica and tell her I love her very much too. She will be in my prayers also. Yo sé que este el Evangelio puede bendiga nuestro familia. Yo sé que Dios ama nos. (think is might have done that part a little wrong). Yo sé que Jesucristo es nuestro el Salvador y nuestro amigo. Yo sé que el libro de Mormón es la palabra de Dios y otros testimonio de Jesucristo. I love you so much and hope you are doing well. Look forward to hearing from you again soon. P.S. my P day is on Wed right now so that is the only time I can check my email, but I can read hard copy letters or dearelder.com letters every night. Love you more!