06/02/2015 - Training.. It's a good thing!

 Well like I mentioned last week I have a new companion named Elder Sierra.. he's actually from Comayagüela, Honduras but Tegucigalpa is almost the same place. I'm finishing up his training and it's great! Definitely no time for getting Trunky! I'm really Happy cause he is helping me keep in line my last change and.. well.. he's helping me learn patience.. again.

 This week has been fun.. I've been able to expound my boundaries and explore more.. Explore techniques and new ideas.. and Logan is making me think harder about new and fun missionary ideas before I leave.. that's really helping. This week we're going to try and do more service..

 Today we decided that P-day is over rated.. so we spent the first half of the day building a house for the sister of a member.. she's not a member but we're hoping that through our service she will be.. and who knows.. maybe the neighbors will see and want to hear more about us too! Plus I just REALLY love getting my hands dirty now and again.

 I've been seeing lots of bugs this last week.. We have rats in the house and one ran under our fridge.. I don't have rat poison so I thought maybe raid would kill it.. I sprayed a bunch of raid into the back part of our fridge and when we got back from visiting we found like 60 dead cockroaches all over the house. In the Kitchen, bathroom, study room, bedroom.. everywhere.. it was gross! I STRONGLY DISLIKE COCKROACHES! (hate is a strong word my little friends).

 well I can't think of much more to write.. I got accepted to BYU-Idaho! So I'm pretty stoked bout that.. I printed out my acceptance letter just so I can read it to my district.. jk I'm not going to do that. Spring/Fall! it's going to be a Blast!!!! (of studying and being responsible that is).

02/02/2015 - Changes.. and new fronteer.

 Well I had Changes.. I didn't get changed but my companion did! My new Companion (Elder Sierra) from Tegucigalpa, Honduras is finishing his training (I'm a mother again!) and seems excited to work.. so I don't see myself as getting too baggy my last change.

 I don't have much time to write.. But I wanted to send pictures of my cake so that you all can enjoy! I'll write more next week!
 ALSO today commemorates 13 years from the day I was baptized! 02/02/2002

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!

29/12/2014 - Christmas fotos

 Well I don't have much time.. I just wanted to let you all know I'm alive and well.. I tried to make the best of Christmas but it's hard when you're not feeling the Christmas spirit.

 I haven't really gotten any Christmas Cheer from anywhere.. our district got into some fights about what to do for Christmas and while we wanted to stay together some wanted to go to one place and others wanted to go others.. and all in all it was just hard. I think this is the first year I can remember that I wasn't able to go Christmas caroling and I really can't say how much I missed that. The whole Christmas spirit of singing songs, harmonizing with brothers and sisters and just really feeling at home. I think I really missed that more than anything.. and there's no way I can go back in time and change that.

 Despite my feelings of sadness and trying to keep my head above the rising water I managed to find a small, even if almost insignificant, way of keeping the almost dead Christmas spirit alive. I dipped into my personal funds and through the last few weeks have been saving up candies, cookies and other treats. On Christmas eve I woke up at 3am to put it all together in little stockings and gift bags together with a card game and a nice tie.. I know it wasn't much.. and because most are latinos they didn't even really get the whole concept of waking up and opening the Christmas presents, for them it's more of a Christmas eve thing.. they were almost confused looking.. but even if it didn't mean anything from them I'm glad I had the chance to do it.

 I'm coming to the end of my mission and I've really started to look back and see all the Lord's done with me. I may not be the perfect missionary.. or even a really good missionary. I suck at teaching, I'm not good at committing people and I think I might be too patient with them. I can't seem to ever get my investigators to pass the "Preparing" stage and move on to the getting wet stage. All in all I don't know if I could honestly say my mission has made a huge difference on all those I've met.. but it most definitely has had an effect on me and on my personal conversion.

 In these past 20 months I've learned countless things about myself and about the gospel. I've learned about the true nature of God, the plan of our salvation and not only that but countless things about what things were like BEFORE the plan of salvation and what things will be like after this plan is completed. I've learned a lot about my mind, my body, my weaknesses and a little about my strengths. I've learned how to be more patient (although I think that will be something I'll always be working on), how to trust more in the Lord, how to have a little more faith, how to be true to what I believe and more than anything be true to myself. 

 My plea to extend my mission has been cordially declined.. so that means I'll be back home no later than March 19th.. probably about 2-3 in the afternoon.. That's if my 7 1/2 months in the office have really paid off. but it's weird to be this close. I don't feel like it's my time. I'm still missing something.. but if they declined my extension it's for something.. maybe the something I'm missing is at home waiting for me.. It'll be like "the Embark.. part. 2".

 Well I gotta go. Hope you're all doing great and that your Christmases were just wonderful.. Make this new year even better!

22/12/2014 -Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps, means a little bit more..

 Well this is a new week.. That's for sure. New weeks mean new
beginnings, new options and new experiences.. I love new things like
these!
 This last week we helped our branch president build his house..
reminded me of the good old times when we were building Amy's house in
Escolon. I thought it was funny when everyone looked at me weird as I
was running around the framework.. the two hired helpers looked at me
like I was a professional! (I kinda am.. I got a Disneyland trip from
helping build Amy's house.. that's kinds like professional right?)
brought back a lot of great memories.. mainly playing tag with my
brothers and sisters running along the 2x4s or hanging upside down
from the ceiling.
 I see a lot of old wrecked cars out here.. every once in a while I
build up the courage to ask if I can take pictures.. they make for
nice gifts ;) I think I miss cars a lot though.
 It's been kinda a quiet Christmas.. I honestly don't feel like its
Christmas at all. I don't know anyone here, even though I'm the leader
I feel like I'm the one being led and I really haven't heard much from
anyone.. no letters.. in months. I hope maybe there are a few
Christmas cards maybe. maybe they just got held back in the mailing
system. I'll be so excited when I get them! It'll be be just great!
 President hasn't told me about my extension yet.. but if I don't get
it I'll have to start working like Lightning on my college
application. that or maybe I'll find a good job for the summer.
 I can't think of anything more to write.. So I think I'll just end my
letter now.
 I miss you all.