"I'm not complaining" December 17, 2012

Me with my Mission friend Elder Miller in front of the soon to be finished Temple

December is passing by way too fast! I can't believe that it is already the 17th! This week we had our mission Christmas party. It was good, each zone had to sing and then after everyone sang, we went to the temple. Oh yeah, we finally received an exact date for the temple open house! It will be opened to the public on February 8th until March 3rd. I'm excited that we finally have a firm date. So the rest of the time, we had free time to either watch a movie or go out to play sports. The down part was that we had to spend 6 hours that day in total travel time. Its soo hard to work in my area, we only get there in the afternoon because we have to go out to random pueblos to take out marriage papers for everyone. Its good that the zone is getting work in, I'm not complaining! I just like more of the teaching aspect. We are looking pretty good with our investigators. This week is going to be hard to get work in also because we have our 3rd comp going home on Change Day. So I have to go up to Tegus with him on Wednesday night for his Farewell Dinner with President while E. Ruiz stays with the Elders who have Transfers and to organize the transport for everyone. At least I'll be getting a homemade dinner that night!

"The real meaning of Christmas" December 3, 2012

Choluteca East Zone

 

Hey just a reminder, only 7 more Fast Sundays! The time is going by faster and faster. After xmas, the time will just fly. I'm excited but also extremely nervous. It hit me the other day how much I will miss the mission. Just being able to walk around, ride in buses and talking to everyone about the restored gospel. Just being able to teach also, thats one of my favorite parts. The people here in the South are a really humble people and are more outgoing and kind than other parts of Honduras.

Well, this week we had ZL consejo... Now I am absolutely dreading the ZL consejo's now. From Choluteca, we have to take a bus the day before so that we can get there on time. Its a really nice bus, but the bus isn't the problem, The driver is. We just sped the whole way up to Tegus in 2 and a half hours on windy roads in a blazing hot bus. We were only 30 out and I felt like I was going to have to stick my head out the window the whole drive. I had to eat something. Luckily, we stopped and I bought a 7up as I tried to get my head under control from the nausea. I cant remember ever being so sick before. We finally made to Tegucigalpa and I don't know why but I was starving. Its like all of the snacks I had eaten had disappeared. So we went and we ate a ton of good food that night and went to Consejo at president's house and ate more good food. Before I knew it, it was time to get back on that cursed bus. It was worse on the way back to Choluteca because it was night. This time I literally did spend the 3 hours with my head poked out the window. I thought it was funny because the bus guys started walking down the isle handing out barf bags to everyone. But I am glad to say that I got it together and I did not have to use a single bag on the way there or back!!!

Yesterday the ward wanted to go out and do visits with us and split us up so that we could get to know all of the families that are inactive. We thought it was a good idea. So we began to wait for everyone at 5 (as planned) then 5:30 came around. We started to call the first councilor asking him if they were still going to do it. We where told yes and that they should be there at anytime, that they were on their way. We were a little anxious also because we were wanting to be able to go to the Christmas devotional at 7. By the time everyone got there and we left it was cutting it pretty close. I was worried if we were going to make it, but as soon as we sat down in the house of the inactive family, all of the anxiety to see the devotional left me. I began to see the bigger picture and I got to know the parents and I wanted to help them. One of their sons served a mission and is active in the ward. The dad was a funny out going guy. We sat there and talked and the members we were with started the message they had prepared (which was the key point). Of course we began to talk about the Sabbath day and the importance of it. I began to explain the most basic one in the 10 commandments. I began to explain that the Keeping of the Sabbath day was one of the most detailed commandments of the 10. We started asking him questions and he began to see his composure change and he began to take everything we taught seriously and he said, "I don't know why, but I have a really strong desire to go to church next week." We explained that it was through the power of the Spirit that he felt this way (Galatians 5:22-23) After the lesson he thanked us for the visit and we went on our way. I began to talk to my companion and we both felt the same way, that it didn't matter if we missed the devotional, there was someone in greater need of our time. I learned yesterday that sometimes we, as humans, will always have the desire to do the things that we want. The most important thing that we can do is give our own time to help others in need. This is also the real meaning of the Christmas season also. We need to remember the reason for all of the parties and presents. The first counselor invited us over to his house afterwards to catch the end of the devotional and to eat dinner with him and his family. It turned out to be a better night than I expected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Thanksgiving at Pizza Hut" November 26, 2012

This week passed by really fast. We started out on Tuesday by going and looking for new investigators. We had set an appointment up with a Sister who came to church for her first time last week. When we showed up and began to talk to her and she began by telling us that she loved church on Sunday! She began to explain her story of how she has been to a lot of other churches before, but she never felt comfortable like she was out of place. Then one day she was talking to her friend (member) and she invited her to come to church. She told us that at first she wasn't sure because it was so big and a lot nicer than any of the other chapels. But she said after she sat down in Sacrament meeting and after Sunday School she said she felt a great "comfort" and "felt like she was wanted by everybody". She and her daughter are excited to be going to church and are wanting to be baptized on the 15th. I cannot stop expressing how important the role of us as members are! Just through this experience I saw that there are people just wondering where to go, and where the truth is, all we need to do is simply invite them to go to church to see how they feel.

We are also teaching another family who is going to be getting married. We went there for the first time on Thursday and their 3 yr old daughter came up and gave me a hug and started talking to me and brought out her new shoes and toys. So I began to play with her before the lesson as I got to get to know them. The mom told me that she is always active but she never has played with any of the Elders like me before. The little girl jumped up on the couch and reached in my bag and pulled out my hymn book and said that she was ready to sing. Her mom began to explain to me that the little girl was a miracle. I don't know how, but she was born without a belly button! So when she was born, her insides were all outside and they had to do a bunch of surgeries on her. It was kind of sad, she even has to go in next week for another one.

Well just so you guys know, for Thanksgiving we went to Pizza Hut and just ate there. I also passed by the grocery store and we bought some stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn and rolls to make in the night. It turned out pretty good!