2014/3/24 It Bites!!!

   Luckily it wasn't a dog.. but these sancudos (Mosquitos) I think are causing me more pain than the two dog bites I've received combined! I [don't] SWEAR these things leave bite marks as big as dimes! and they itch for weeks!

   The Island started to flood the other day.. we had a "Storm" that was just like a calm Tracy breeze and that with the full moon made the river rise and well.. we had to cross on stepping stones to get home! it's pretty fun out here!

   We did the marshmallow war again today.. I think the district liked it! They were all really happy.. Thank you again Steven Cole for your awesome package that has brought happiness to the lives of many missionaries serving in Guatemala.

   So Somehow our branch mission leader got his hand on a book of Mormon in Japanese.. anyways I decided it'd be a cool photo opportunity and now you can all see how dark I'm getting in Petén.. yes the glistening is me sweating and my hair was getting long.. I cut it today cause I was getting really hot with all that hair..

   My nose has gotten so burnt here... it peeled.. and then peeled.. and then bled.. and now it's kinda scabby don't worry about it though.. if I get skin cancer on my nose I can just get a new one like Michael Jackson! (wow.. that's actually a horrifying thought.) I think I'm going to actually get a tan here! Besides my nose I haven't gotten sunburned yet *Knock on wood* I kinda just forgot sunscreen existed and have been slowly dying from the sun.. Or maybe I'm just turning into one giant freckle!

   I'm super excited! This Friday we have zone conference and Pres. Curtiss is going to be doing interviews! I'm so excited to see him again! I think I might cry from happiness! :' ) I really miss being around him and the assistants and the office.. and the Air Conditioning and the Taxi and the Free food and the computer and the three companions.. but mainly President!

   Well.. I have no Idea how much time I have.. but I'm dying of thirst.. and I have to take a questionnaire.. So I think I'm going to End this.. I'm sorry guys.. but its over! I just can't be with you anymore!

...I think I should've started with "Dear John"...

Oh! PS.

I'm finally learning a bit of Q'eqchi'!!! I actually have time for language study!!!.. (Once a week)

2014/3/14 Cave trouble!!!!

 Well this week has been productive! We've really raised our dats as a district and as a reward I bought them all choco bananos! We also went to las Cuevas de Actun Kan (photo attached) Where we got lost for 3 hrs! it was probably the most fun I've had on a P-day in 7 months.. apart from the mud fight..

   The Island of Flores is pretty cool.. it's tiny but it's gorgeous! (I have no idea how to spell that!) Definitely a cool photo shoot location! Me and my comp sometimes like to study out on the island! (photos attached). We've also enjoyed doing service projects and working hard! It's a whole new world when you're Ariel!

   My companion continues to surprise me with his Spanish.. I feel so lucky to have such pilas Companions! The Lord keeps blessing me! I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve and train him as a missionary! He learns fast and is super animated! He's taken hold of the things I teach and is super gung ho!!

   We've been blessed this week with a bunch of new investigators.. The Lord has noticed our efforts to do better and has given us great opportunities! I'm still trying to help my companion stay animated and see the progress in investigators even when they seem to have big trails attached. He's learning to see them as they could be en vez de como estàn.

   Well.. Today I hit 11 months in the mission.. it's weird to think that in 31 days I'll be halfway done.. I don't want it to be over and just thinking about it makes me feel sad.. so I'm TRYING not to.. but it's hard when everyone says "Feliz Cumplemes Elder Clark!!! YA SE VA!!!" haha it's funny but also weird. Nevertheless I'm determined to enjoy my last 13 months in peace and full fo spirit!

   I miss you all but not so much I want to come home.. just like I'm fine here.. but when I do come home watch out for the deadly hugs I'll give!! :P

Adios Amigos!!!

 

 

 

 

2014/3/14 Extra Photos!!

Yours fortunately,

   Elder Hyrum Clark

2014/2/22 Other Photos

No I'm not actually driving it..

that's just me playing fantasy and the assistants thinking I'm a child.

2014/2/22 Week 42.. I Think.

I honestly have NO idea how many weeks I've been out but if I give myself 4 weeks a month for 8 months and 5 for 2 months I figure that brings me to 42.. I just have no idea if there were really 2 months with 5 weeks.

   ANYWAYS, I have had a great week this last one.. With the office and all my dats have sunk pretty low these past weeks but I'm learning that SOMETIMES the quantity counts less than the Quality.. now that only counts for the missionaries that really have no time.. if you have time and are not using it you're just being Chambone and should get back to work! But really I've noticed that even though I'm not getting as much work done the Lord has been making the little I do go a long way!

   This last week I talked about giving our all even if it isn't much and never getting down.. the hermanas are super pilas so basically the meeting was just to lift myself up.. and it worked! we talked about all our posible baptismal dates and then I committed everyone to invite their posibilities to be baptised during this week. Well I'm not sure how much of an impact it had on the Hermanas but I gave a talk that hyped me up! That same day we visited two of our posibilities and put 3 fechas.. one of them wanted to get baptised that same night but we told him to calm down and we'll get him the 1st of march.. It would have been really cool to do it and we probably could have (In freezing water) but we felt he still needed a bit of growing to do. We also have had uber spiritual lessons this last week and even though our members have bailed on us EVERY night we've found ways to do divisions (Or spilts) with the members 4 nights.

   ...I just got horrible news. Elder Bashaw told me that they announced that the TV show Psych is going to end after this next season. I'm devistated! Look how devistated I am!   :,(

 

Anyways.. I saw the episode of the district about the Hermanas brother dying and how she kept working.. so I think I should keep working even though Psych will be over before I return home.

   We finally did a district activity.. I want to thank Steven Cole for getting me the Idea! (photo below). It really was a fun day and I think the Hermanas enjoyed it just as much as us! I know the Birds are going home full of marshmellos today. We'll probably show up to the baptism today and see a flock of birds just sitting in the church parking lot eating them!

   Tonight I'm baptising the Hermanas Baptism.. (photos next week) Even though it's not my fecha I still feel so happy inside when someone get's baptised! I continue to pray that the baptism for the 1st of march goes through.. It'll be my first baptism in 7 months! (photos in 2 weeks)

   We've had some crazy times in the office this last weel.. The finance elders had their yearly audit this week so they've been in the office from 9am-9pm Monday - Thursday.. yeah.. they've gone crazy and helping them has also made the rest of us crazy as well! (photos attached)

   The Kirks went home this last change.. They've been a HUGE help to us not only in the work but in keeping us sane! they're now gone and a part of them will stay with me forever! I accidently called Hermana Kirk "mom" last week when they made us lunch, totally got made fun of for it. She's amazing! (photos in the next email)

   OH!!! I got a truck! Well not me but the Asistents.. and I just hope to drive it once before I leave! it's super cool and all of you who know one of my dreams is to have a truck will understand how happy I've been just to know that there is a 4% chance I'll drive it before I leave the office! (Photos attached in next email).

  Well I hope you all know how much I love you and that you're in my heart and prayers! It's weird to hear about the changes and people growing up while I'm out here.. I just realized that My oldest niece will be abel to date shortly after I get back! And my oldest nephew will have probably have gone on many! so weird...

   Keep me in your thoughts, Prayers and mail Lists!

Yours un poco loco,