26/01/2015 - Duh-duh-duh-HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (Oatmeal!)

 This week was a fairly normal week.. sorry I didn't really take any pictures.. just on of the GIANT mosquito bites here.. they really kill! I got a pretty good foto of two on my arm.. they grow to the size of a quarter!

 I got some great birthday pictures to send you guys.. Now that I'm old and wrinkly at the age of 21.. The pictures are curtacy of Melissa Nichols (My wonderful sister) and I'm sure her crazy little kids who love to fotoshop my face. They're pretty good pictures even if I am getting wrinkly.

 We didn't end up doing anything today. We were supposed to have interviews today.. but they changed plans last minute and so here I am.. doing nothing. I did make myself a delicious Birthday ice Cream Cake.. well I assume it's delicious but I haven't eatten it yet.. or taken a picture of it. I made it on saturday and left it at the other Elder's house cause we don't have a freezer big enough to keep it alive. We're going to head over there to eat it later.. I'll take pictures so you can see my amazing creation next week! (I went a little all out for my last birthday.. I figured I'm old now.. my birthdays aren't going to be important anymore.)

 Next week is changes.. My last change. I'm pretty sure I'll stay here.. I'm just not sure if my companion is staying or if I'm going to train like everyone thinks.. I don't think I'll train but we'll see what the Lord has in mind for me this last (and most fun) part of my mission.

 I love you all and will try to write more interesting stuff next week!

19/01/2015 - Storming the castle!

 Well this week I got back my old pep and took my district to a cool place like I used to in Peten.. This week's adventure.. Castillo de San Felipe!

 The Castle was AWESOME! I mean it's kinda small but for being so small they fit a TON of stuff in it! There were secret passageways, tunnels, the four turrets, and like 50 cannons! it even has a drawbridge! (we tried to raise it but then we got in trouble.. I guess it's too old to be raised.. but they should honestly put up a sign or something! :P )

 This week was quite a good one.. combined with a bunch of stuff I never had a chance to write about last week.. make for a pretty (I hope) interesting letter!

 We went to Cobán last week for a medical examine.. my companion had his appendix removed about 4 months back when he was in Petén (actually quite common in this mission.. not sure why) and so we went to do a quick examine to make sure he's not going to die any day.. but it looks like the mission nurse never got the results.. I hope we don't have to go back cause I'm broke!

 I had another rock thrown at me this week! that makes twice that I've almost died from drunk people throwing rocks.. only this time it was a lot smaller and due to the darkness of the night I was saved. Our door was not so lucky. I found a dent and the rock the next morning.

 We've been finding lot's of success this last week working with less active families.. I was telling Logan that we've been focusing a lot more in them and we've been seeing a bunch of fruits.. some of these fruits being 3 non member wives who are now listening to us.. and 2 of which have fechas for baptism! just saying.. less actives have a lot more potential than missionaries sometimes give them credit for!

 I'm really excited for all the craziness I'm getting to in this last two changes.. I'm excited for these families that are coming back and for their wives that are getting to know the gospel! I'm catching fire these last few weeks.. I think I might just burn El Estor to the ground! (but then I'll put it out with water from the baptismal font).

 Well.. anyways.. it was actually kinda a short letter.. but I'll throw in lot's of pictures to make up for it.. Next week is my birthday.. and interviews.. and the week after that is changes.. so I won't have any exciting P-day adventures to write about for a few weeks but believe me.. If I stay in El Estor I'm not going to let a single P-day go to waste before I'm gone!
p.s.
 Forgot to mention one last thing.. last week when I went to Cobán, after taking the test's we went to the office.. when I got there I said hello to my Good friend and Old companion Elder Gomez (From Argentina) who Like me went back to the office.. when I walked into the room Elder Willits (The other pouch elder in training) said "Hey!! Just the guy I was looking for!" and immediately asked me for my passport number... and then to which airport I would like to fly home to.. long story short I ended up asking for my own ticket home.. which should be arriving within two weeks.. I'n not Baggy (trunky) but that was definitely a unique expirence!

05/01/2015 - New week, New year.

 I'm feeling that cool new years spirit.. I never really felt a difference in tany of the new years before.. just a new day like any other.. the biggest change for me was always remembering to sign the date with the right year :P but this year I feel that cool inviggorating feeling that comes from new determination and a new chance to go at it again!

 I feel like maybe a big part of my excitement has to do with the fact that I've been able to see and feel a little of the fruits of my work. I mean it's not a numerical dat that will get seen by president and make me look good but its a group of living souls that are, in their own way, growing closer to God. The explination? This week we were able to find, visit, teach and commit two less active families to come back to church. in all we had over 12 less active members attend church yesterday and as a nice side note and blessing we also got 4 investigators (2 of which are new references!) THe investigators are really nice but to be honest I enjoyed more seeing the happiness of the less actives who were able to come back after such a long time and feel the spirit once more while partaking of the sacrament and renewing those covenants they made with our Eternal Father.

 Our branch here in El Estor is suffereing from a huge lack of priesthood holders.. so we (as a companionship) have started to focus more entirely on finding and helping those less active members who are ready to get their act together and shake the dust from off their scriptures.. THEY will be many of the future leaders here if they will just see their potention and stay true to the covenants they've made!

 I'm excited about all the stuff I still ahve the chance to do before I leave.. but I realize there are a lot of things I won't be able to do in the time I have left.. I'm thinking about writing a letter to president of ways to help better the mission y the leadership from a district leader's point of view.. not in a presumptuous sort of way but just a sort of "Hey this is what I've seen and this is what I think." if he want's to he can take the advice or if not he at least knows I'm willing to help.. Right? or is that a bad idea? I just want to help out a little before I leave!

 Well I hope your new years is as energetic as mine! make sure you're excited and ready for anything.. 2015 come 'n get me!

Photos:

 A picture of a "Polochik" tie.. it must be fat and it must be stiff.. the stiffer the better. (Look Dad, I have a normal face in this one!!!)

 We have scorpions here.. it reminds me a lot of Sayaxché.. we killed scorpions almost every night!