2-25-2013

 

Well to start off, I´m here!! The field is pretty awesome.  I left the MTC on Tuesday morning pretty early.  After that we went to the mission home and met the President and the APs.  The President is awesome!  The more I hear about him the more I like him.  The only problem is... they are splitting our mission!!!  As my mission is right now, we have 10 zones.  5 of which are in the city and the others are in the Jungle.  They are splitting it exactly in the middle.  The city and then all the cool stuff in the north.  President Watts is going to be the president of the city. I don't know which one I go to for another little while.  The mission does not split until the end of June.  

Right now I'm in a trio with two zone leaders, because I guess they weren't expecting us for another 2 weeks.  They are really awesome.  One is from Utah the other is from Chile.  They are great guys and I'm learning a ton!! I'm in Zone Molino and my area is called Sion.  The people here are awesome!!  For the most part every one is nice and willing to take a minute to listen to us.  The members are really nice as well.  We are almost never without a member which is perfect.  The more that our investigators can make friends with the members the better.  There is a talk, I think it is by President Hinckley that says that new converts need three things.. A friend, a calling, and to be nurtured by the good word.  Also, its a mission rule that we never are without a member after 530.

Now about our investigators.  We have two people with dates right now.  One of them is deaf!  Because of this,  I'm learning 2 languages right now.  I'm picking up on a little bit of Guatemalan sign.  It is really hard!!!!  Everything she says, I need to translate into Spanish, then into English, then I have to do it the other way to reply. I probably wont be to great at it because only going to be in this area for another week.  She is having a hard time fitting in at church because it is really hard for her to talk to people. Anyways,  our other investigator with a date is actually a family.  They have a lot of problems.. The parents of the family are not married, which altogether is not all that uncommon.  They are all for getting married, but the mom needs to get divorced from a previous marriage, in which her husband is in Panama.  Were having a good time helping them overcome these challenges. We are also teaching quite a bit more.. We teach about 4 or 6 lessons a day depending on what else we need to do.  

The People here are sooo humble.  I want to help them all but that would be impossible.  There are very few peoples houses I've been in that don't have dirt floors and tin roofs.  Even with all that, they are always willing to give.  In the last week we've eaten with a member 4 times.  Also just about every one we teach are willing to give us something to drink or a snack.  It is very humbling to me to see how they live and give.  Also, teaching the gospel and thinking of others all the time, has a way of blessing your life.  I have learned and grown so much this week.  I think I'm getting into pretty good shape to because we walk all day, and our area is straight hills.  

As far as mail goes, everything needs to be sent to the mission home.  I don't have the address with me right now, so ill send it next week, or it should be in my call.   I was told that now that I'm in the field that you need to right everything that is inside on the front of the box.  If you don't, they have to open it and check.  As far as mail goes, I get an hour to email now, so it would probably be best if you emailed me.  I have no idea how long it will take to get mail now.  The bracelets, I was told that it is illegal to send them the way I was trying, because they had to go through a pouch system.  I decided to just take them out and try again soon.  

Anyways, things here are going great.  My testimony is growing everyday.  The Spanish is coming, I just need some time.  I know this church is true and the Lord has a lot in store for me.  If I stay in the city my whole mission or, leave I know that it is the right thing for me.  I know that there is no better place that I could be right now.  The church is true and you don't need to be a full time missionary to share it.  I miss you all.  I'm sure your all doing great!  Ill let you know more next week!!  Hasta ver!!

Elder Bashaw :)