Monday, May 30, 2011
So So Week - May 30, 2011
That is awesome! I'm excited about the package. My week has been so so. We are struggling getting new investigators and contacting people. Also our investigators are not really keeping their commitments and coming to church too. So this last week we were feeling a little down but we are not going to give up and will keep trying to improve and do our best. It has rained everyday after 3pm and it rains a lot. The boots have been my best friend haha. To answer about our house - we have running water in the toilet but it doesn't flush paper very well so we have what I call the ppb, poop paper bag, kinda gross but better then a clog, especially because we have not seen a plunger anywhere here. Our sink is in the back of our house outside and it also has running water except in the water are floaties. so we don't really use it for much except cleaning and then I use a Clorox solution to rinse the dishes. Our church is maybe a mile or so from us and it is over an hour to get to the mission home. We have a branch here in Samayac with lots of members but most of them are inactive. A normal day is wake up at 6:30 and eat. Then we usually only have one or two actual set appointments and the rest are people we are going to try and visit, members for references and other investigators. There are many days when none of our plans are working out and the whole schedule is changed. It's very frustrating when investigators and people don't keep their appointments. I really enjoy Elder Card. We get along very well and are learning a lot. He said I'm his best companion so far. We both struggle with contacting but we are trying to work harder and do what we are supposed to be doing. Now that I'm getting to know him a lot more he is warming up and we have a lot of fun. The interviews are postponed again. Last week President's wife fell and got hurt pretty bad. But the interviews should be this week. I will let you know how those go. This is one of the toughest things I have ever done, so many days I feel like we are finding no one and have really no investigators. But I try really hard not to get down and to stay positive. I try to make sure I'm doing what I should and then I just tell myself, it is your first area and only your first month in the mission. In time you will speak Spanish really well and teach and find really well. The letters from family and friends really help. I sent a letter this last week to Corinne, David, and Tyson. If you happen to talk to any of them let them know and let me know if they get it or not in a couple weeks. I love you a lot. The weeks go by pretty quick. I've been in the field for a month. Crazy! Love you and hope you are staying safe and doing well. I'm glad to have such a wonderful missionary mom that loves and supports me so much. Look forward to talking to you next week like always. Love your son!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Rain Rain - May 23, 2011
Yeah it was way cool to do the baptism. And this last Saturday Elder Card baptised her husband so now I have 2, and it is a family which is way cool. It has been raining, I should say flooding there is so much water, everyday. On Saturday it rained and the power was out. We did the baptism almost in the complete dark. But it was awesome. I want to see Pirates it looks so good. Buy it and I will watch it when I get home. I really love Mondays cause I write home and read your letters. Our church is a ways away from our house, we have to do some walking. I do a lot of walking, some days I walk way far. Several hours of walking. On Pday we have to walk to the main park and take a 15 to 20 minute bus ride to Mazate to email and play some sports. Then buy food and take it back on the bus and walk home. Our house is on a hill so at the end of the day it is so tiring to walk up the hill. I didn't wear my boots yesterday and my shoes got soaked, not so smart. They take forever to dry. Tomorrow the President should be coming to our house to do interviews. That is exciting I really like talking with him. I'm sending a letter to Corinne so I hope she gets it. If it is her old address will it get forwarded to her new home? Also will you ask Grandpa for his priesthood lineage if he has it. I want to trace my priesthood from him and all the way back, who it came from. What is the name of the Elder that is here that his mom works with you? I can't remember his name. The rain is so much I have never seen it like that it is crazy. I love you and hope you are doing well. I measured my pupils and hope I did it right. I got 2.7 inches about or about 6 cm. Would Standard Optical know it for sure? I am still trying to think of anything I need and I don't know. Oh one other thing. When it was raining Saturday the power was out all night. I read my scriptures that night by candlelight. I thought this is how people did it for hundreds of years. Makes me very grateful for electricity and modern lights. Such a difference. I am discovering many many things that I am more grateful for now. I'm always grateful for you and love you so much. Can't wait to write you next week. Love you Mama.
Monday, May 16, 2011
First Baptism - May 16, 2011
This week it was raining super hard almost everyday. Saturday I got to wear my boots and my raincoat. The boots were a very smart choice, the water was flooding the street and the boots saved my feet. The raincoat worked nice but it is not as waterproof as I had thought, thanks Mr. Mac. I sprayed it with some water proofer spray we have here so hopefully that helps because my arm was pretty wet. Although if I didn't have the coat I would be extremely wet. Sunday we had an investigator that was supposed to get baptized before church but she didn't show up, how frustrating. Luckily she came to church and we moved the baptism to after. I got to baptize her in Spanish. My first baptism. It was exciting and cool. I look forward to many more on my mission. This week we are really going to work with her husband to get him baptized and have them be a family. As we were standing under shelter from the rain yesterday, we were kinda bummed because all of our appointments had fallen through again and a lady across the street waved us over to come in from the rain. We talked with her until the rain died down. They agreed to learn more and I really hope the family turns out to be good investigators. Once the rain was less we made our way home. I think it rained hard and our appointments had fallen through so we would be there at that time to see her and talk with her. Tomorrow the president of the mission is coming to our house and other areas to do interviews so we have to clean a lot but it is exciting to talk to him. That is funny that Scott got his hair cut from Lori. I had no idea. I like Lori. What a small world. That´s exciting that they got a house. Next time you see her tell them I say hi. I really love the movie "The Best Two Years". I want to watch it after the mission. Also Survivor Guatemala again, haha. Things are good and I love the emails and letters. Dearelders don't come as often because they have to come from the main office but I got a couple today. I love you and look forward to writing you again next week. Good luck with the job. You're in my prayers everyday. Tell family I love them as I know you always do. Lo amo mucho!
Friday, May 13, 2011
President Maravilla
Jose Ernesto Maravilla, 43, and Susana Jeanette Hernandez Franco Maravilla, three children, Guatemala Retalhuleu Mission; Tezoatega Ward, Chinandega Nicaragua West Stake. Brother Maravilla is a former stake president, district president and branch president. General manager for Nicaragua, Cause for Hope. Born in Chinandega, Nicaragua, to Salvador Reyes and Eufemia del Socorro Avendano Maravilla.
Sister Maravilla is a former ward Relief Society president, seminary teacher and gospel doctrine teacher. Born in El Viejo, Chinandega, Nicaragua, to Ernesto Walberto Hernandez Rodriguez and Ana Maria Franco Chevez Hernandez.
Sister Maravilla is a former ward Relief Society president, seminary teacher and gospel doctrine teacher. Born in El Viejo, Chinandega, Nicaragua, to Ernesto Walberto Hernandez Rodriguez and Ana Maria Franco Chevez Hernandez.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Teachers - Hermana Stevens and Hermano Duarte
Hermana Stevens on the far left. Elder Cox and his teacher Hermano Duarte.
Mother's Day Card - May 2, 2011
This is from my mission president. He wants to express his thanks to my wonderful Mama. I love you.
First Week in the Field - May 2, 2011
My Pday is Monday. It has been a pretty good first week. My comp is Elder Card, an American from Washington. We are in Mazatenango, area Samayac. It is so hot here. I have never sweated this much in my life. I'm always drenched and it makes me not like glasses cause they slide on my face when I'm sweaty. My companion had his birthday today too. He is nice and we are trying to find our grove of working together. My house is nice, makes me think of a little cottage. We have a hot plate and little fridge and our sink is outside. My Spanish is improving but still needs lots of work. The second day here I ate or drank something that did not agree with me and in the middle of the night I started to lose stuff out of both ends of my body. The next day I was so tired and my whole body was sore. I got a blessing and slept a lot of the day but now I am fine. We taught a few lessons and one of our investigators came to church yesterday. Now we need to get him baptised. Yesterday we walked up a dirt road to church. It was good. Pretty nice building. We taught a lesson that night about the Doctrine of Christ and it went really well. We invited her to be baptised and she said she and her children already have in another church. We read Moroni 8 about no need to baptise children and we invited her and her family to church this coming Sunday, I hope they come. We are trying to baptise her by the 21st of this month. Things are pretty good. Just getting the hang of things and my way around. This is hard work, but it will be rewarding. Tell Nana and Grandpa happy birthday and give them a special Guatemala hug from me. Tell them I love them and think about them a lot. Their letters have been wonderful. I am interested to hear about your Cinco de Mayo. Glad you're doing well and the scuba trip sounds amazing. I want to go somewhere cool after my mission. I keep you in my prayers and I am so grateful for you. I love you so much Mom and I can't wait to talk to you on the phone.
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