02/03/2015 - The misadventures of Elder Clark

My week has been crazy.. Rats, sickness, divisions, Q'eqchi', etc. I decided to take my friend Aubrey's idea today and break it down to a daily scale... So welp.. Here's life!

(Horror)

Tuesday, February 24th, 2015 

 (1:30am) I can't sleep. It feels so hot and not even the fan on it's highest can quench my thirst for a nice cool breeze. I get up and go outside and sit on the patio for a bit. It feels nice but I yearn for that sweet Tracy wind I once knew. I go back inside and spread my blanket out on the cool cement floor and lay down. It feels much nicer on the cool floor. I soon fall asleep.

 (2:00am) I hear a sound! A snap? It's a trap!! 

 We have been placing traps around the house trying to get rid of a rat infestation that we have.. The trap must have gotten one.

 I hear the rat squealing and hear the trap scraping across the floor, banging against a empty jug of water we keep under the stove. Still half asleep I could have sworn it was coming closer to where I lay resting and I jump to a sitting position and let out a quite but still horrified screech which wakes up my companion.

 I can't think straight! My mind is still half asleep and now half terrified which leaves me no room for normal thoughts! My mind races through all my worst rat fears.. The horrible rat Rachel Cole used to sick on me in its creepy little ball, stories of rats attacking people under dire circumstances and not to mention kolipoki getting the bottom of his feet chewn off in Tonga! I call for my companion knowing that even if I'm scared of rats he's Latino and is probably used to this kind of stuff.

 He grabs a machete that he always keeps under his bed and his flash light and I grab a baseball bat, then we both go into the kitchen to look for the rat that we both assume should be

dead. As we look we hear rats running around above our heads and thoughts of Willard, Ben and Archimedes come flooding through my head ("rip it, tear it! Shred it!"). After looking for 5 minutes in the dark I'm almost positive that the rat took the trap back to it's place for a nice candlelight dinner but then we finally find the trap.. Empty.. Under the fridge.

 My companion moves the fridge and with his flashlight bends over and pulls the trap from under the fridge. We both look at each other in horror and amazement.. when I see the rat behind him on TOP of the fridge.

 I yell to him "Mira, mira!" ("Look, look") And right then the rat throws itself from the top of the fridge down to the floor as my companion turns. The small light of his flashlight seems worse than a strobe light as he turns around and I just see a glimpse of the rat coming for us. I let out a scream that I, in all honesty, wouldn't consider appropriate under my calling as an Elder (for all who know how I scream you'll understand exactly what I mean.),  jump back and run for the other room as the rat climbs up the foot of my companion. My companion then let's out a sound very similar to mine and kicks the rat off his foot to a place where it magically disappears taking off to what I assume could only be a rats version of Narnia.

 My companion assures me everything's fine for now and that the only logical thing we can do at 2am is go back to bed and sleep. Sleep?! Sleep is the last thing I could do at that very moment. I roll up my blanket and throw it on my bed. Laying down I still hold the bat firmly by my side. I try to sleep but my mind still races and I hear them.. They're not happy.

 (4:00am) I fall asleep.

(Humor)

Wednesday, February 25th, 2015

 (8:50pm) We arrive at home. We had just been informed by Edwin that because of a schooling event he will not be able to meet with us all week and also will not be baptized on Tuesday (what would have been tomorrow). I talk to my companion and we both wonder where his priorities might be placed. I understand that he's a teenager and that 95% of youth would consider school a high priority but I can't help but feel that if The Lord says scripture study is more important than sleep, baptism I somehow feel might be a LIITLE more important than a school event.. But we know he's a good kid and that he truly wants to be baptized so we're willing to let this kid exercise that good (central) American freedom of choice!

 My companion doesn't want to break the news to the ZLs so the task falls upon me. I call them to inform them of the change in plans when out of the corner of my eye I see (well wouldn't you know it) a rat jumping from the top of the fridge towards a bar we use for doing pull-ups. His jump isn't sufficient and he falls to the ground *splat* determined not to fail (and maybe driven just a little by fear) he climbs the back of the fridge till he gets to the top and then jumps again.... *splat*. I pause in mid-sentence as I talk to the ZLs out of pure wonder and awe and watch this rat try again.. 3-4 times *splat* over and over. I call my companion to come look but as he comes in the rat finally makes it to the bar and escapes to the roof.

 The ZLs are highly confused as to what's going on and while I try to explain to them my companion begins to wash dishes when out of nowhere *splash* ANOTHER rat falls from the ceiling into the pila where my companion is washing! We hang up with the ZLs and call one of the deacons in the branch to come and kill it for us.. We say its because as missionaries we're not allowed to kill animals but it probably is more because neither of us has it in us to kill one.

 (9:45pm) As Carlos (the deacon) comes to rescue us, the rat tries to jump out of the pila but being a rat of small size (in comparison to the rest we've seen) it cannot escape. We take our typical "elder having an adventure" pictures (a must do in every situation you can) till finally Carlos arrives, exterminates the rat and takes its body to dispose of it.

Thursday February 26th, 2015

 We had our district meeting today (Thursday) and the ZLs came over to do divisions with us. I had fun doing divisions and we did some finding and some Q'eqchi' visits.. I'm surprised how much (not very much at all) I can actually understand Q'eqchi' for not even studying or even speaking it! I mean neither me or my companion speak Q'eqchi' so heading out into our mountains to talk to the natives isn't something we do.. Our ZL on the other hand speaks it we'll so we took advantage of it and went to visit some members that we normally can't it was really fun!

 That night we got back and the other area (who were doing visits with the other ZL) came over to finish our divisions.. I got a HUGE migraine which caused one of the ZLs to be a little worried.. Everyone said I looked really pale and honestly I felt like if! It was such a bad migraine that I broke into a cold sweat and was so close to vomiting.. But I did the only thing that gets rid of my migraines and I hit the sack early. Next morning I woke up fine and dandy.

 I'm still trying to decide if sleep is important or not.. When I start to think it's not as important as the work I usually end up sick.. But I also can't over sleep either.. But the normal amount isn't working for me.. I feel so great when I wake up after a sick night cause they're the nights that I get the most sleep!

Friday, February 27th, 2015

(Happy 24th Birthday Logan!!!!)

 Today I bought a hammock. It might have been an impulse buy but I feel like it's definitely worth it! It has red AND black and my comp was able to talk it down about Q120. I went straight home and hung it up. It's the perfect size for two!

Packing list:

Hammock - check

Up next - corte and weepil.

 Later that day we were looking for opportunities to find news.. And even though we didn't get any news today I think we left that good first impression that could be the seed to them inviting the missionaries in one day in the future.

 One such event was a young boy that we found playing alone in the dirt with some old cars. The last time we saw him playing cars he invited us to play with him for a bit but my old companion didn't want to and told him "next time". So this time I decided I'd keep my word. We got down in the dirt and made a city with roads and houses and a bridge and a rock quarry.. That kid was so happy to have someone play with him. Not only that but while we were playing some other kids came to see what all the fun was and decided to stay and play too! He who was once a lonely boy with no one to play with ended playing with 3-4 other kids. We left him a "he is the gift" card and a pass along card that has Christ on it for his mother who he said sent us her thanks.. Who knows. Maybe that kid will always remember the fun he had as a boy with two missionaries.. Maybe someday his whole family becomes members!

 One other such occasion was while we were heading to an appointment and we were passing by the lake (alright I made us go a few blocks out of the way so we could walk by the lake to the appointment). As we passed by a group of teenagers they waved hi and me and my companion felt like we should talk to them, we did and they had some interesting questions! They didn't accept to listen to our message because they didn't think their parents would want them to (they were only 15) but we also gave them pass along cards and left them laughing and with a smile on their faces. I feel like after being able to talk to us in such a casual, friendly manner they'll also be willing to listen to the missionaries one day. 

 All in all today wasn't about reaping the harvest but more about planting the seeds.. We'll that.. And buying a hammock.

Saturday, February 28th, 2015

 Today was different, definitely not your normal field day. 

 We left the house and as we were heading to an appointment we ran into a less active member of the church at the tortillaria around the corner from our place. I didn't exactly KNOW he was a member at first but I felt impressed to talk to him when he said hi to us.. People that say "hi elders" and aren't members are few and far between. We said hi and he said his name was Hno. Martín and he wanted to meet with us later that day.. The only free time we had was at 5pm and at 8:30pm and he said 5pm wasn't good so we left it for 8:30pm at that very tortillaria before he took his wife (who worked there) home. I invited him to go to church the next day with us and he said that he should be able to.. But that he wanted to talk to us about something.

 Later that day we went to a visit we had planned with a new investigator we have in front of the church. On the way we ran into a few ladies from the relief society who were on their way to church.. The whole way there we talked and they thought we were going to the church with them to clean.. They were just a little shocked when three houses from the church we said goodbye and left them to walk the rest of the way.

 At the house we found out our investigator wasn't there.. But there was a new family moving in ad we decided since we had no appointment we could help them out, so we did just that. In almost no time we had them all moved in and we left them with the promise that someday we'd return then made our way to the church to help clean.

 In the church we were put on leaf raking duty with some kids.. They kids thought it was the most boring job on the planet, I was shocked and thought to myself "wow.. Could it be these kids have NEVER jumped in a pile of leaves after raking them?!" I made it my goal to change their lives forever!

 After playing raking everything up I showed them how it was done.. They were reluctant to suppose throwing themselves into a pile of leaves would be fun so I changed it up a bit.. I had them throw one another into the pile of leaves and well.. After one ripped shirt, one broken name tag, a water fight and a lot of laughs me and my companion decided we should head home to change our clothes before our next visit.

 That night we had a family home evening with a member family who we've been helping keep active the father. We had a great time and learned a lot. We had a great lesson (courtesy of yours truly) and then my companion just started to talk.. And talk.. And talk.. Till it was time for us to leave and go visit Hno. Martín, that appointment we put earlier in the day. I was just about to get us out of there on time when wouldn't you know it.. They brought us out food! My heart sank. 

 If there's one thing you don't belittle here it's members that are willing to feed you. I've been here in Guatemala for almost two years now and I'd say the average amount of times I've been given food by members was maybe twice a month. So we ate the food and started heading home at 9:10pm.

 By the time we got to the tortillaria it was locked up and Hno. Martín was gone. We'd missed the appointment. I felt bad and while grieving my companion just said "I knew we weren't going to make that appointment from the moment you set it". I don't know how things went from there but you all know that from some of the most innocent words can start some of the biggest arguments. I feel bad having accused my companion of not caring about the less active but more than anything I felt so bad for having left Hno. Martín waiting so long.

 (2:39am) I have a dream that the big bell boy is tapping on my shoulder to tell me I can't keep playing in the elevator and as I wake up I realize the tapping isn't a bell boy but a rat scratching at my back.. I shake my sheets and cover my head as the rat runs away. I really want to leave this house!

Sunday, March 1st, 2015 

 I bore my testimony in church. Everyone was teasing me cause it's the last fast Sunday in my mission.. I realize that from this point on EVERYTHING I do will now become "the last time.." I don't know if I like this. My companion reminded me today "just 17 days till you'll be in your home!" I feel like these 17 days are going to be very long and very annoying.

 We got invited to lunch after church by some members.. They said its because I'm leaving and they wanted to invite us over before I left.. Even the MEMBERS are trying to kill me off! I'm not dead yet! But in all seriousness it was very delicious.. Except el mondongo.. I don't like mondongo. 

 Mondongo is cow stomach.. I made it through my WHOLE MISSION without eating it.. Until yesterday. I have to say though.. It was much better than the first time I had it, while playing fear factor in young men's, that time it was just plain stomach and at least yesterday it had a little meat flavor to it. (Still felt like I was eating a mixture of diaper and rubber band).

 I forgot to mention that the less active from yesterday's story came to church and that everything turned out okay. We went to his house after church and dedicated his kitchen. So he forgave us for leaving him standing. My companion is going to have to learn the importance of being punctual the hard way I think... It's not one of his strong suits.

 I can't really think of anything else... Oh yeah I got a headache again.. Not a migraine just a headache this time.. It was more just a nuisance than a stabbing pain. I feel like I've almost become numbed to headaches from all the migraines I've had in my life.

Monday, March 2nd, 2015

 We'll that's today! Let's see what life brings!

23/02/2015 - He's one terrific, radiant, humble, thing-a-ma-jig-a-ma-pig!

 Well.. Update from last week we ended up only doing one service project.. But that was still super fun so I'm okay with that. People here aren't super willing to let the missionaries serve them.. Either they don't have anything for us to do.. Or maybe they feel bad making us work but either way we're not getting anymore pickups. Maybe I need to put in practice the whole "don't wait to be asked" method.

 I'm pretty excited for next week! A 16yr old named Edwin has been preparing to be baptized and next Monday, March 2nd, is the date! He's excited and we already have the agenda made with the speakers, hymns and everything. I'll call this a three day late birthday gift for Logan!

 I did divisions this week and while I was gone my companion learned a ton about our area and even found more less actives and a recent convert that we had no idea where she lived. I think he's going to do just amazing after I'm gone. He's really quite pilas at this whole missionary thing! I'm definitely going to recommend to president that he train.

 I got sick yesterday.. I'm not fond of it. I got my usual Migrain with an added bonus of a cold, sore throat and completely clogged nose (and head it feels like). I couldn't sleep all night and used almost half a roll of toilet paper to blow my nose all night.

 I'm feeling completely exhausted lately.. I feel like I'm being beat over the head with 2 years of sleep deprivation.. Feels kinda like a 2x4. It's never been so hard to wake up on time! (You can do it clark! Just 3 1/2 more weeks! You don't need sleep! You've lived two years without it!) Sometimes I wonder if the whole sleep thing is another bodily weakness that we need to overcome.. Like eating.. Maybe every month we should do a sleep fast to learn to dominate our bodies? I hope not. I keep hoping that after this life we'll finally be able to rest but we've just gotta keep working for now. Now that I think about it.. Is that what Sundays are for? Maybe not.. Cause technically we should be out serving and teaching and helping in the Lord's work on Sundays..  Yesterday in church a sister gave a talk about how studying the scriptures is more important to God than sleeping, school, work, etc. I guess sleep isn't all that important then. So when can we actually rest? Or DO we ever actually rest? Who can answer me that question?

 Well.. I'm starting to feel stressed. I have mixed feelings.. I don't want to finish the mission so soon.. but at the same time (especially when I'm so tired) I just wish it was all over. I hate that ending the mission is so much harder than starting it. I'd start a mission 6 times before choosing to leave one once. I just wish I could skip this part.. no final goodbyes, no thinking "it's almost all over", no elders reminding you every two seconds how little time you have like it's funny. Do they really think it makes people feel happier when they tell them they're ending the mission?

 Well.. I'm pooped so I think I'll end this letter.. I feel like it started good but ended bad. Well I'll try my hardest to make next week's email pure happiness and sunshiney delight!

Love you all!

- Elder Hyrum Clark

16/02/2015 - Farfel farfel fifick!

 Dear everyone, like I mentioned last week we've been doing lots of service.. Of course I'll attach photos so check those out cause they're dope! But we've been building houses and such.. This week we got even more service projects lined up. Tomorrow we're going to dig out a septic tank, Thursday finish up some of that same house we were building and sometime this week or next we're going to help move a family in the branch.

*Quick side note* When we were helping build the house for the members sister the little stream that passes by was a weird red color.. I asked why it was red.. And why it stinks.. Then jokingly said "is it blood?".. I'll leave the rest to the picture below.

 My companion is growing on me. I see a lot of me in him.. But I also see that he's so very different.. But así es la vida. I think he helps keep me concentrated.. To be honest I don't feel like I'm going home. I mean I'm completely conscious that I'll be home in 4 weeks.. But I feel like I'm just passing a normal change.. Nothing's different. Even Elder Hawks from my district says things like "Elder you're no fun.. You don't act like you're going home at all! I feel like you are just going to Petén or something." I guess I'm doing okay then?

 My companion prefers making food in the house, he says that it's cheaper and that he never gets full after eating in comedors.. I agree so we're eating in this week. He actually cooks really good.. And I also cook okay.. So we eat pretty well for a lot cheaper. Great things come from greenies! I remember when I first came I always had ideas to save money.. Like washing our own clothes.. But that didn't work out too well. Let's just say he might be a little smarter than me.

 Question. I honestly have no idea how to do this whole college thing.. I'm completely lost.. I just realized this week that I was supposed to go and take a track questioner like 2 weeks ago.. I freaked out cause I thought I might have completely lost my place in BYU-I and I called to get permission to check the questioner out.. I guess someone already took it for me? Whoever it was Thanks!!

 These last two weeks we've been working with a really cool kid named Edwin.. He's the BF of a YW in the branch and when I asked him the classic question "What do you expect from our visits?" He said "I want to become a member." I looked at my companion and then coolly said "Do you know how you become a member?" And he said "I think you have to be baptized.. right?" And I said "That's right! So when do you want to be baptized?.. .. .. Feb 28th sound good?", "Sure." ¡¡¡¡SCORE!!!! The plus side is that he's already attended church like 4 times! He's not living with anyone so we don't have to get him married (huge plus here!) and he has no addictions! He's definitely one of the chosen ones. 

 On the down side all four of the fetchas we had before fell through.. One still comes to church every week.. But her less active husband isn't getting pilas. She said he started drinking again and he really does have any desire to change. It's so sad to see someone so great not be able to get baptized just because the husband is chambone! But we're hoping to at least get them married so that SHE can start getting the blessings that The Lord wants for her and her amazing daughters. Step by step boys!

 Fun story this week starts like this: Wednesday we had zone meeting and on the way home in the bus... Wait let me explain something real quick. 

The bus ride to and from Teleman is 2 hrs of complete dirt road.. That has been passed over by hundreds of huge trucks full of dirt, sugar cane, rocks, etc. in short you leave in a nice clean black suit with shined shoes and you come back in a brown suit and shoes that look worse than before you shined them. (It's dusty)

 Back to the story.. Planning ahead for the trip I brought a handkerchief to allow me to breath through the two hour dust cloud that is the trip to Teleman. In the bus a Qawa'chin (q'eqchi man) sat down next to me and after observing that I was covering my face with a cloth said "naab'al li poqs" (there's a lot of dust). I had had no idea what this guy was saying to me and smoothly said something to try and fake my way out of sounding like a total idiot and said "Wan ut nawulak chiwu li poqs", which means something like "there is, and I like the dust." He just looked at me and then asked "Can you speak q'eqchi?" To which I honestly replied "Not much". He then laughed and later I found out from Elder Hawks that I told him I really like dust.. Let's just say I'm still learning. I'm actually surprise how good I answered!

 I want to thank my family for the pictures you sent! Everyone here loved seeing my huge family! They laughed that you sent me a buch of old christmas cards.. but I definitley loved seeing and hearing about Maynard y Janice's families! Thanks so much! I still have to read all the letters inside.

 Well I'm all out of witty things to say so I'm going to start writing everyone that wrote me. Thanks for listening and come back again next week!

Peace off, 

-Elder Hyrum

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!