With sweat on my face and my eyes on the prize‏

I make my way through Puerto San Jose. divisions today woop woop!

 

Hola! Hola is Spanish for hello. fyi :) ah pues. How is everyone doing this week? Super fantastical? I hope so because there isn't a single reason in the whole world to not be happy always. If you're unhappy, count your many blessings!

This past week was awesome! We saw a lot of miracles this week. We originally had scheduled the bapism of Angela but we also had another baptism this week too! We learned this past week that there is a ''member'' that comes every week (named Mario Lobos) but turns out when he got baptised, his record never got filed so he doesn't appear on the records of the church. The solution: baptism. We talked to him on Thursday and he agreed so we had his baptism on Sunday as well. We were also planning the baptism of little boy who ALWAYS comes to church with his recent convert uncle BUT Sunday in the morning, he drank coffee. and NOT morcafe. café normal. freak. soooooo his baptism will be NEXT week. Also, there is an area in our zone that was closed (or the missionaries were taken out for security reasons) and before the missionaries left, they had put a baptismal date with a man who wanted to get baptized for the 27th of this month. But then they left the area and the man (Jorge) continued going to church and kept his baptismal date in his mind. So they called us the night before and told us that he still wanted to get baptized. So my companion and I did divisions and my companion went and taught him EVERYTHING in about an hour and a half and then the district leader came and did the interview and he passed! pilas huh? So he was baptized as well this past Sunday. It was a great day. In our district (3 companionships, or 6 elders) we had 10 baptisms on Sunday and 16 for the month of January. So it was a great week for baptisms.

 

Yesterday we went to zone conference, for that reason we didn't email yesterday. Zone conference was great. As a mission in January we had 211 baptisms. Our goal was a lot more, but President Brough says that that is a great number and we should never get disanimated about not reaching our goals. We should just evaluate and plan better how we can reach them the next time. So we are going to be having some pretty big goals for the next coming months that I am really excited to be a part of. It is going to a great couple of months and a great way to go out of the mission. I'm excited.

Everything is going great here. I want to give big shout out thank you to the Fallon 4th ward primary and missionaries that are serving in Fallon 4th ward for the christmas pictures! They were great and I really appreciate them. Also, thank you Grma for the box full of goodies. (secret: she is the best Grma in the whole world) they are great and I'm excited to eat them. :)

My companion and I went to McDonalds on Monday for pday and I saw 2 gringos there! But I was too scared to talk to them so I didn't rendering this little story in its entirety useless. I was shocked to see white people. I'm scared as to how I will be when I get back. Best not think about that right?

Ok well thank you so much for everything. I love you all with my mind, might, heart, and strength. Keep working hard and praying and reading your Book of Mormon before April. You'll be so blessed by completing with this call of the prophet. Much love. Keep strong in the faith and don't fall. Remember that Jesus loves you and knows you. You are never alone. Oh and laugh everyday for me ok? Thanks a bunch and I'll send pictures next week! 143.

 

Elder Yates

''...whether it be by the voice of my servants...

...or by my own, it is the same!'' we got to hear the words of God this week through Elder D Todd Christofferson! cool huh?

Hey, hey! So this past week was great! Let me explain.

First, Thursday we had the great opportunity to go to the capital and hear the words of a modern day apostle! D Todd Christofferson spoke to us for like 2 hours! He had no notes, no teleprompters, no nothing, just his scriptures, his mind, and the spirit, and it was great! Wow. His Spanish is REALLY good too. puchica. He spoke to us about repentence. That really, repentence is a change. it's not just confessing our sins. It's a change of heart, and the loss of the desire to sin. Once we can fully repent and lose ALL interest to sin, we're golden. We will be in the fast lane to becoming like Jesus Christ. But getting there is the hard part. haha. So think for a minute about in the ways we commit sin everyday and ask yourself ''what sin would I give up to become like Jesus Christ?'' Would you give up ALL your sins? Think for a minute. It's tough one because it's easy to say yes, but to actually do it? There's the tough part. Getting to the point where the ''yes! I'll do it'' and then doing it is part of our journey here on earth and it is all thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

The wife of Elder D Todd Christofferson also spoke to us as well as Elder Martino of the 70 and his wife. They were all great too. I took notes on the things they wrote and I am studying those things. It was a cool experience. And even cooler is that north and south mission were there, BUT only those that are serving in the capital. Our whole mission was able to go; even those serving outside the cap (like me!) so that was neat :)

As for hermana Angela. She's great! She is so awesome. We told her about the word of wisdom and she (was) drinking coffee and tea. We told her it was a requirement to get baptized that she leave those things and she said (translated) ''oh heck. this is going to be hard but today is my last day of drinking those things I guess.'' How cool is that? She is a blessing/miracle from our Heavenly Father. Her baptism will be this Sunday and she is really excited. Pilas!

Though with Angela, we had a little desafio this Sunday. She was sitting there in church and in front of her were the deacons that passed the sacrament and they were acting a little roundbunctious (sp?????).  She got offended and said that she didn't want to get baptized anymore because she goes everyweek to feel the spirit and if she can't feel the spirit, there is no point in getting baptized. Well we dragged all the deacons to her house Sunday after church and they apologized and we talked about the pruebas that she is going to have and she realized that satan is attacking her in ways she wasn't expecting. So we calmed her down and she is happy and contenta again so her baptism is on Sunday. It should be great.

Welp. That's about it. Thanks so much for everything you do. You are a huge support to me and I love you all like a Reeses Fastbreak (which I have been craving lately). Keep being awesome, classy people and read your scriptures. I just finished reading again about the conversion of Alma the younger (or in Spanish Alma hijo). Talking about the message of Elder Christofferson, Alma really had a change of heart and despised wickedness. He also got to the point where he couldn't bear the thought of one of his brothers not being saved. I will get to that point one day. poco a poquito allí voy. Who wants to come with me? :) Don't forget to say your prayers, do one act of service a day, and laugh everyday. You'll be happier. I promise. Hasta la proxima semana!

Elder Yates 

computers that freeze are going to be the death of me..

because I just had to spend ten minutes trying to get the computer to work. But! I'm shaking it off. I forgive you computer.

Hey everyone! This week has been great! A little weird, but great! So we have 2 elders in our zone who have to close the area, or in other words, leave it and 2 other missionaries are both going to come and have to open it together. We don't know why, we didn't ask. So President Brough told the 2 missionaries to come with us and work with us in our area until they both go to their new areas. One of the missionaries is Elder Satini! The other is his companion Elder Pierce who entered with me. So Elder Acosta and I have been on divisions in our same area since last Thursday. I have been with Elder Pierce and Elder Acosta has been with Elder Satini. It has been fun living 4 in the house but it gets dirtier a LOT faster :/ oh well. They are going to be with us until tomorrow, but 4 in the area has been great! haha. It's going to be quiet again when they leave.

Also, this past week, I had the opportunity to do divisions with the Elders from Puerta De Hierro. I got to go! I was able to return to my old area and see some members and see some converts. I was able to visit Raul and Arcy whom I married and baptized while I was there. Arcy has a calling in the nursery and they are planning on going to the temple soon! and they said that my Spanish was A LOT better since I was there. I feel it hasn't improved THAT much but I guess it has haha. It was so fun to go back and work in that old area. I hope I can go back again soon! :)

This week, Hermana Susana and her kids were confirmed and it was a great experience. They are so awesome and have real desires to follow the Lord in everyhting they do. I also was asked to play the piano this week in church and well, I can't say no to a calling so I obliged. :) I like playing the piano. It was a good sunday.

At church we also had an hermana show up that wanted to get baptized a long time ago but couldn't because she wasn't married and her husband didn't want to get married. But this past month, they moved apart and now she lives alone! This Sunday she came to church and asked us to pass by that same day. So we did and she wants to get baptized! She told us that she told God that if we passed by on Sunday, it was Gods way of telling her that she needs to get baptized and that if we didn't pass by, she wasn't going to get baptized, so good thing we passed by! Her name is Angela so pray for her!! :) Her baptism is set for the 27th of this month.

Well, my friends thanks for everything. Read your scriptures and pray everyday. I love you and need you to laugh everyday for me ok? :) kgood. I LOVE YOU!!

Elder Yates

Elder Yates, Elder Acosta, Elder Pierce and Elder Satini

Eating Pizza with Elder Acosta

                             

La Semana Perfecta‏

Or the perfect week has passed! It was a week where EVERY companionship had to complete with the goals of the mission. And my companion and I did it!! :)

So the perfect week has come to end! The goals for the week were to have at least ONE baptism, 22 lessons and 5 with recent converts, 12 new investigators, 8 investigators in church, and 35 contacts a day for a total of 245 in the week. Me and my companion had 3 baptisms, 46 lessons and 6 with recent converts, 34 new investigators, 18 investigators in church, and 620 contacts. I am saying this not to brag, but to show you the results of a tired missionary. haha. My comp and I decided to give EVERYTHING to the Lord this past week and be faithful and obedient (and wake up at 4 in the morning! whaaaaa...???). We were very blessed! We are blessed when we do what the Lord says, and when we do not what he says, we have no promise. That's what the scritpure says. Anyways, we are taking this drive that we have now and putting it into effect everyday! We have got to raise our game! :)

So likeIi mentioned above, we had baptisms on Sunday! A single mother named Susana and her 2 kids Carlos and Carmen got baptized on Sunday! It was a beautiful service and they were so happy. The mother, Susana, started to cry after her baptism because she was so happy. I got to baptize Carlos. I WOULD have sent pictures but I'm a Forgetful Freddy and I left my camera at home. Oopsy. Next week? You betcha.

Everything is going good here really. Today is already the 8th (19 months today! say whaaaa...???) and I feel like yesterday was Christmas. Time is going by so fast. That just means I need to take advantage of everyday! Lo haré! :) I'm excited for this change. We are having lots of fun and working hard and sweating up a storm! (and not just because we are on the coast!) so it's good. Just know that I love you all and invite all of you to read the Book of Mormon and pray everyday. Listen to the spirit and laugh everyday. And as Travis Woodburn said in his farewell talk ''be kind to people, it's a happier way of life.'' HEARRRRD THAT! and there is so much truth to that. Love you!

Elder Yates

sooooo I don't sweat when I sleep anymore!

Because I now have a fan! and I put it right at my head when I sleep so I'm alwayssssss cooooooooolllll :)

HEY!!!!!! So sorry this is coming a day late. Yesterday was our internet day but after district meeting, EVERYTHING was closed. Everything. The streets were empty (except for the passed out drunks) and there was nothing haha. Happy New Year Guatemala. Sooooo they changed it to today. But better late then never right? :)

We had a baptism this weekend!! Her name is Vicky. Her parents want to get baptized too but the father needs to get divorced first from his other wife so he can get married to his wife now; a long and painful process. So their daughter, Vicky, decided to get baptized on Sunday. The baptism went great but getting her to that point wasn't easy. She had the biggest coffee addiction so we gave her morcaf, but she didn't like it. So she had to stop ALL together (like people in the states! eeek! How do they give up coffee without Morcaf?) and she did it! Then she had another big problem but she refused to tell us what it was. So we kept asking her inspired questions and listenting to the spirit and had an AWESOME lesson with her Saturday night. She said that she wanted to get baptized and that the spirit had told her to get baptized, but that she wouldn't get baptized. BUT WHY?? Finally her mother spilled and said that Vicky was worried about having to wear skirts to church after she got baptized and she wasn't to down with that. We told her it wasn't doctrine or anything like that and she was back on board haha. if we had only known.....

I also got to travel to Puerto San Jose this past week to have a meeting with the elders there! It was SOOOOO weird to be back. I feel like I was just there haha. and puchica. The heat hasn't changed a bit. I was sweating the minute I got off the bus. haha.

So I lost a companion this past week. Elder Satini has officially left us. An area opened up and he and another missionary were sent there last Saturday. que triste. But thats life. He is going to be a great missionary there. It's quiet now in our house with just 2 of us. haha.

 

Life is going great. I am working hard and having fun. Enjoying the heat. We have a lot of investigators that are progressing but they aren't married. So we need them to hop on the marriage train and get hitched. It'll be a better life we tell them. and we also tell them that all the cool kids are living the commandments. Most are on board. Now time to actually fill out the papers.... its going to be fun!

I heard rumors! rumors rumors are no fun, they say. oh no wait. Thats secrets huh? oh well. These are fun rumors! So I heard that through all the changes that are happening in the mission, Elder Finch's companion got changed and now Elder Finch is training!! haha. I'm a grandpa! How weird. pilas pues. I also heard that he put a baptismal date with Rodolfo Valles and also the other son Nicxon, who was NEVER in the house when I was visiting them. I'm so excited for them! yay! So pray for them! I love the Fam Valles. they are such a special family to me.

 

Well friends family and extra-terrestriales thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed. Keep reading the scriptures and saying your prayers. Have a happy new year and make it your best year ever. I hope everyone made goals for this year. Listen to the spirit and laugh everyday. See you all in about 5 months! :) 143.

Elder Yates

Oh hey palm trees!

wait what? I'm back in the coast!! haha. Oh hey Escuintla. I've missed you.

 So yep. I'm back in Escuintla. Another coast Christmas. haha. But it's great. I actually forgot how much I missed the coast, and it sure is a ton different than Santa Elena (and not just for the weather!). But, I really like it. My new companion is named Elder Acosta and he is from Tampico Mexico and I am going to kill him. haha Just in the mission though. This is his last change so he is going to ''die'' soon and I am going to be his asassain (sp?). He really wants to finish the mission hard so I am going to help him do that. BUT we are in a trio. This past change, about 40 missionaries entered and President Brough didn't have enough areas to put them all. So my OTHER companion is Elder Satini from Tonga. haha. So between us 3, we speak 3 different languages. It's weird being a trio buts its pretty cool. I like it at the same time. But, Elder Satini is just temporary right now because there are a lot of missionaries that are waiting for visas and things like that, so when a spot opens up, he may be the first one out. But we'll have to see. It's going to be a fun change.

 

We have a lot of investigators here! I forgot about the people in the coast and how easy going they are. They are always like ''yeah! come on in!'' its great and we have quite a few people coming to church so we should be having some baptisms next weekend. I'll keep ya updated on that.

Nothing else too exciting is happening around here. Just trying to get to know the area and the people because I will be getting a new companion next change. I may actaully finish my mission here! How weird, if I do, I will have spent half of my mission in the coast. I guess I'm just a coast missionary! I have always loved the beach....

My Book of Mormon reading is going great! I loved how after Nephi has the vision that he asked to see that his father saw, it says that he came back from ''speaking with the Lord'' and I got thinking, are my prayers a 2 way conversation? We should remember when we pray that it is a conversation between us and the Lord, and not just a one way, us telling the Lord everything, type prayer. We need to talk and listen and respond. In that way, prayer is not only used, but benefitted from. Keep reading your scriptures and let me know of any insights that you have and pick up on! I'd love to hear them!

 

Well, have a great Christmas everyone. I will be doing the same here in good ol Escuintla. I love you all! Tell someone you love them, give someone a suprise, and pray for someone. Let's think about others this Christmas. Yesterday I had to give a suprise talk and that is what I talked about. Focusing on others during this season when many think about themselves. I promise you'll be happier. :) Until next week! Say your prayers and laugh everyday!

 

Elder Yates

 

Jazz

 

time for my son and I to part ways....

Because we have changes tomorrow! And the word is in: I'm leaving!

So yep, after 5 changes in Santa Elena Barillas, I am finally leaving. It's bittersweet. I AM ready to leave but it makes goodbyes THAT much harder, but I'm excited. It's going to be good. Stay tuned for my email next week to find out where im going!

This week has been so busy, but its been great! Tuesday we went down to the Zone Leaders area in Prados and worked there for the day because Wednesday we had to be in the temple SUPER early. So Tuesday was great. We had fun. Then Wednesday we woke up at about 2 in the morning to get ready to go to the temple because we had to be there about 5 in the morning. But the temple was great. I felt rejunevantated espiritualmente. After the temple, we did service. Last year, we cleaned a school for the Christmas activity, this year, we painted the same school. It was lots of fun. After, we ate and played soccer and just hung out and played games. It was a great day. The best was when we got back to area, we went with Familia Valles and Hermano Rodolfo was able to change his papers!!!

So Thursday we woke up and went to Renap in Villa Canales and got all the papers we needed for the wedding of Familia Valles. We sent them later that day and got everything sorted out witht the Lawyer. Then Sunday, WE HAD THEIR WEDDING AND BAPTISM!!!! Everything went great. They were so happy and everything went great. As for the baptism, only the mother Maria and her son Ricardo got baptized. We know that Rodolfo will soon follow. He just said that he didn't feel super ready yet. But he knows that he needs to do it. So that was a great day. Ricardo asked me to baptize him so my companion baptized the Hermana Maria. It was a very busy day but a great day :) Great way to end the change yeah?

So we got word that an Apostol is coming to the mission! I can't remember if I mentioned it in my last letter but D. Todd Christofferson should be here the 17th of Janurary. Stoked!! haha.

So during the christmas activity, Hermana Brough announced that she feels that as a mission, we should read the whole Book of Mormon together before Aprils General Conference. So we started the Book of Mormon this week. I invite you to read it with me!! Try and be done before General Conference in April. It will be fun! I'm excited. I just read about the obedience of Nephi and Laman and Lemuel. Who was more obedient? many say Nephi. But they all 3 were obedient to the commandment to go back and get the plates. Only Nephi had a MUCH better attitude. So how many of us do things were are supposed too, but maybe complain first? Are we like Nephi who say ''oh if its a commandment, I'll do it no problem.'' or are we like Laman and Lemuel who complain first, and THEN do the commandment? something to think about. :)

Welp, that's about it. I hope everyone has an awesome sauce Christmas. Remember the reason we celebrate christmas: to get gifts!! haha. Just kidding. It's to remember Jesus of course. So remember him and spend the holidays nice and safe with your fam bams. Oh and read your scriptures, pray, and laugh everyday!

Elder Yates