Elder Escobedo is a real Guatemalan with his bag.Monday, December 26, 2011
Merry Christmas - December 26, 2011
The call was amazing. I really really loved using Skype and not only being able to hear your voices but being able to see you. I loved seeing you smile. I really hope President lets us do it for Mother's Day and next Christmas. That is a bummer that you both were sick for Christmas. I loved my package with the amazing ties that everyone has commented about and the yummy candy and food I love and the picture calendar was the best of all. Then to top it all off I got to talk to you with Skype. I love breakfast casserole. Tell Nana and Grandpa I love them. How crazy with the weather in Utah. And to think here the day after Cbristmas we are playing volleyball outside and sweating like crazy. It was a good week but at the same time the work here in Magnolia is not going anywhere and that has been really hard on me. But it is really teaching me a lot. I am learning more patience, more faith, more love, and more hope. I'm really trying to put all my faith in the Lord that I can be successful in His work. That is way cool that people are doing nice things like that. I want to do things like President Maravilla as I get older and help less fortunate kids have Christmas. I love time with family and I really look forward to it in a year when I return home. Corinne's kids look so big and cute in the calendar, Kimbree is a doll. Puzzles and movies and other fun things sound so great. I will do a lot when I come back. So changes are next week and I really think I'm going to go. But I want to leave some great stuff in Magnolia before I go so this week is work harder and be more obedient week to receive the blessings. I wish you a happy New Year. I really think time is going to fly by before we know it. Hope you feel better too. I hope sis is doing well I really love her too. You're my family and I'm blessed to have you. I love you so much and love seeing you and talking to you and talking about you. I will try to send some pics from my Christmas time but there is kinda a lot so it might talk a couple weeks. Love you and am excited to talk to you next week.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Christmas Phone Call - December 19, 2011
I don't know exact details about what time yet, just know it's on Christmas. I think today we will get more details and be able to tell our families. I did however receive some news about the Christmas phone call. President said that for Christmas we can skype video chat our families. I will receive more info today and let you know. If you want to skype but don't know how to use skype call David and he even has a camera you can use if you don't have one. He will get you all set up. Will the family be there for the call? I don't know what it will be like, only that we go around to members houses and get lots of tamales and we are planning a zone Christmas meal Saturday. I knew there was a reason I really loved the Bountiful temple, it's because I went to the open house. Guatemala is one of the most blessed countries in central America because they are the only one with 2 temples. The Philippines have 2 temples. I had no idea. There is a temple almost complete in Honduras and I have heard rumor of President Monson going to dedicate it. The temple dedication and culture night were such a blessing to be a part of I really increased my love and testimony of the temple from being able to watch them. Who was the singer for the concert? This Wednesday we get to listen to the church Christmas choir. I'm excited to listen to their performance. The party sounds fun and I'm glad Jess went and the family was together. I love our family and I want to play with the little kids when I get back. You both are lucky, a long trip to the Philippines and now you have off work until the 3. District jobs are pretty amazing. You have such a better job then you had before that makes me very happy. We had the mission Christmas party today and it was in the theater and dining hall of Xetulu, the amusement park. The whole mission was there and I saw Elder Heaps, El Card, and so many other of my new friends I have made. Then we saw acts by each of the zones. The sister from our zone did both her native dances again, another played piano really well, others sang really really well. One elder made his own song and sang and played guitar, he most likely is going to become a star after the mission. There is so much talent in the mission. I really want to learn how to play the piano after the mission. I learned a little here and can play not too bad with my right hand. After the show we talked with everyone and took pics. Then we had a delicious chicken and pasta lunch. I was surprised with your Christmas package and I'm very excited to see what is in it. You spoil me so much. I am very excited and counting down the days until I can talk to you. I can't wait to hear your voice, I have been thinking and talking about it all week. Less then one week. We might even be able to skype if you would like to and I can see your face too. Not sure what will be more of my plans for Christmas but it will be nice. I also heard that Jessica's family is sending me a package too. They really love me and that is special to me too. Changes are the 4th of January and I think I will have some. Oh I heard some cool news from an elder in my last area of Samayac. One woman and her 3 sons that I contacted and started to teach before I left got baptized. That made me so happy to hear that. I was amazed and thought, that is someone I found and planted the seed of the gospel. Made me think about all the times I don't have success. Who knows what my efforts for them will bring in the future, so it is important that I always give my all to them and work hard depending on the Lord. I am filled with happiness right now and know it will be magnified by 100s and 100s when I talk to you. I love you and send my prayers and gratitude for having you as my mom. Until Sunday love you and have a great Christmas.
Love Son
Love Son
Monday, December 12, 2011
Temple Dedication - December 12, 2011
Saturday was the cultural night for the temple. I got to watch the video. There was 2,050 or more kids from all around Guatemala and each stake did a different dance with traditional clothing. It was so awesome. Very colorful. The kids did so well. President Uchtdorf said after the first session he and his wife wanted to go to the second and they wanted a third it was so good. He kept saying if people say we the Mormons can't celebrate then they need to watch the video of the cultural night. Sunday was the dedication and I went to all 3 sessions in the stake center it was so good. I saw the corner stone ceremony and learned that it has a space to put in artifacts, not sure what is in there but there is stuff. So I started thinking that I think every temple where it says dedicated and the year is a space for things, crazy. President Uchtdorf was so funny with the cornerstone. He kept making little comments that had me laughing a lot. He would say oh yeah this is coming along nice, I like this. And call someone else over you got to try this, you're very good at this. He was a hoot. Then in the session it was so amazing. Stories of the sacrifice for the temple and the love of the people here in Guatemala. He said on one trip here outside of a church his wife found a member in normal clothes and said what a beautiful shirt, the guy took off his only shirt and gave it to her and they never got his name. What love and service. The dedication prayer was amazing. Every session was spiritually powerful and amazing. I'm so glad I went to all 3 and can't wait to go to the temple again when I get home. He said come to the temple and always have a current recommend. He also told a story by a famous author but I can't remember who but it was about Martin the shoe maker who was told the Lord was coming to him but he never saw him. He later discovered that he had come in his service to people outside his shop that needed help and by showing his love for them he showed his love for Christ. And read in the new testament if you have done it unto the least of these you have done it unto me. So wonderful. I remember going to an open house as a kid but I can't remember which one. Which one was it? and did we go to a dedication ever? I want to say I remember part of it. The Christmas party sounds way fun. I'm glad you liked it and Jess went too. How cool that Jess is friends again with Diana, Tara, and Andrew. Sounds like a very fun time. I'm excited for the package. You spoil me. Jessica and her family said they are sending me one too. How loving they are to me too. I love In-n-out Burger. That is great that he liked it, how could you not. Nana and grandpa went with me but only I ate because it was later. We need to take them again. I still can't believe all the damage either. Have you taken pics? You were very lucky with only the fence that is easy to fix. The Stevens only had a little to their fence and some shingles off the roof but were blessed too. Crazy Utah weather gets more and more loco (that's crazy) every year. The months are going very fast. I almost have a year in the mission. It feels sometimes slow but more I feel that when a month starts it is almost over. Only 2 weeks til Christmas. I will miss breakfast casserole but I will be thinking of you and the family a lot. I am so so excited for our call. I can't wait. I heard we are having a Christmas party for the mission and also a lunch party as a zone. So I will let you know how that goes. I keep trying to work hard to make you really proud. I love you so much and all you do for me. You're the best and I love you and I'm eternally grateful you're my mom and we can be an eternal family. I hope you are working on going back to the temple soon even if for now it is only to do sessions. It will be a big blessing and prepare us for when we are united again and you can come to the temple with me. I would love that. I love you and send all my love. Oh and last week I mailed a letter to Corinne. Love you and hugs and kisses. Love Son
Monday, December 5, 2011
Missing the Cold - December 5, 2011
I have really missed talking to you too. It was very nice of Nana and Grandpa to write me while you were gone. I can't wait to hear about your trip. Sounds like you had lots of living conditions like me, poop bag, bad toilets, washing clothes by hand and drying on lines, and not rinsing under the tap. I did it one day last week and the next day I got really sick and threw up but now I am much better and back to boiling my water to rinse my brush and mouth after I clean my teeth. 3,000 sea life, that is amazing. And the weather sounds perfect. I'm actually missing the cold, can you believe that I actually miss cold. I am still sweating everyday. But 32 sounds so cold and I still don't think I like snow. 100 mile winds and state of emergency sounds so crazy. I can't believe all the damage and craziness. You are very lucky that it was only parts of the fence and nothing to the house or pool stuff. It´s crazy that more and more storms and disasters are happening. Really makes you think about where this world is headed. Well I'm glad you're ok. I could not remember my bank pin number. I really don't use my card that much so it was hard to remember it. I finally remembered and took out 500 quets about 62.50 American. So this week has been another really hard week. I am worrying about our area. We contacted people and they don't have much interest and will not commit to a visit. They always say that they don't know if they will be leaving that day or if they will have something to do, I say that is why we are planning ahead. The appointments that we do have people cancel on us and almost always say another day or they just are not home. And we are having no help from our Branch Pres. I don't know how to work better with him to do more with the branch. But I'm keeping my head up and trying to take different approaches in contacting and teaching. I'm trying to work harder and show more love, relying on the Lord more, and being more obedient. We did have a good thing this weekend. We have a little girl that is 9 and is such an amazing girl. She actually had a problem with cancer in the past but is doing well now and very smart. She was super receptive and remembered everything we taught. She was baptized and even bore a wonderful testimony Sunday. I was so proud of her, I am still proud of her and hope that Estrella (that is her name) stays active. That is baptism number 20. Not too bad. Because our zone baptized 8 people this weekend we got to play soccer again. It has been prohibited because of an injury but we got to play and it was very fun again. Sunday was incredible. I shared a spiritually powerful testimony. I'm trying to share my testimony every month we have testimony meeting. All the testimonies were great and because there was so many people sharing there testimonies the meeting went for 2 hours. That is crazy and kinda long but it was great. This sunday is the temple dedication and I am so so excited to be a part of that and go. I will tell you about that next week. I am so glad to have the blessings of temples and after talking with people that have a crazy idea about religion and the church from the bible and other preachers I'm so grateful for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This is the true church and Jesus Christ is always there for us doing so much. I'm blessed with you and my family and have so much love for you all. I'm ready for our phone call and anxiously awaiting to hear your voice. I love you mom and can't wait to hear from you and about your trip. I'm glad you are my mom and we have the gospel and blessings of the temple. Love Son
Cultural Dances - November 28, 2011
That is crazy that your plane caught fire. No luggage is interesting but you're on an island and diving all the time so it's not a huge problem. Sounds so awesome right now with waterfalls and 3 dives a day. Lucky! I'm glad you are safe and having a great time. I had false changes again. They told my companion and I we have changes then at 10:30 at night they called and said we don't. But it's ok. We had a stake activity and some missionaries did dances from their cultures. There was the haka from Samoa or one of the islands, a Hawaiian dance, and a sister missionary from Arizona that is Navajo did 2 Indian dances that were really cool and made me think of Peach Days when they dance in the parade. Last was the cultural dance from the kids here that they are doing for the temple. Fun and very nice. It's been a pretty good week. Hard work with not a lot of success but I'm trying hard. I am trying to live the 3 a´s of my mission and avoid the 3 c´s. Adaptar, adoptar, amarlo (adapt, adopt, love it) that is for happiness and success and to be happier avoid criticar, condemnar, complain. Tell hi to the Beus´ and that I love them. I hope you all are safe and loving your trip. I want to hear more. Love you Mom. Love Son
Xela Temple - November 21, 2011
Wow that is so exciting that you are off on your trip to the Philippines. I hope you made it there safe and have wi fi also. It was a very weird week but now I have a companion from Honduras but it is kinda funny cause he is in our zone, he came from another area here in Coatepeque. He has had 6 months here in Coatepeque and has had 3 emergency changes here but can't leave, kinda funny. He is ready to get a new area but I don't want to show everything to another missionary again. We are getting along very well and we like to laugh and have fun. So my experiences this week were wonderful and exciting. First thing exciting but not really good was that I was using the bathroom in the morning and I had the lights off because I could still see with the light from outside. I saw something streak through the air. But I have no idea what it was. I looked around for it but could not find it. Now remember that at this point my pants are down as I'm in the bathroom. I felt something on my thigh, and panicked. I shook my leg and pretty much tossed my shorts off. A moment later I saw a cockroach crawl out of my shorts. A cockroach flew into my pants, a COCKROACH FLEW INTO MY PANTS! Crazy! The temple was so amazing. Xela is a little cold and made me think of Utah cause it is about the same feeling. The temple is so pretty and is on a hill looking over the city. We watched a video first about temples and the church in Guatemala. Before there was the Guatemala temple members traveled to Arizona for the temple. What a sacrifice, once again we are blessed to have so many close to us. In the room with the video I felt like I was going to Disneyland, I felt like it wasChristmas, I felt like I was going to Disneyland atChristmas. I was so happy and excited. I saw the Salt Lake temple and the Bountiful temple in the video and I thought of home. In the temple it is so beautiful and amazing. I really did not want to leave. I really miss being able to go to the temple every week. But such a great time I was happy and really felt good there. Sunday was stake conference but it was different with a great surprise. We had a video broadcast from Guatemala with the area president Don R Clark, Cook the president of young women's, Geoffrey Holland, and Pres Uchtdorf. The talks were about the temple and missions and increasing your testimony. It was so powerful and amazing. I could listen to them all day. Elder Holland even talked in Spanish for a couple minutes and was really funny about it. He said his Spanish is horrible and terrible and to help everyone he will talk in English with the Spanish translator that is much better. I loved it. Changes are this Wednesday and I have no idea what will happen. I will let you know next week. I know how you feel with no Thanksgiving turkey. They don't celebrate it here so it is from Halloween straight to Christmas. Thanksgiving and Christmas will be very different this year. Hope you are having an absolutely amazing time and are safe. I want to hear all about it. Sending my love and prayers.
Love Son
Love Son
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)