Christmas y ana neuvo

Monday, December 30, 2013

So, this week was good. Way too many dinner citas, and eating way too much food. I am kinda sick of being full all the time. But hey, who am I to complain?

We had two interesting experiences this week. One was super hard for me to deal with...

Which was our investigator, Conepcion, was very open with us, and really let us into her world and her life. she came to the ward Christmas party, and we had a good chat about the articles of faith. Then the next day, Saturday, we went to her house, and she showed us her `reality,` as she called it. She has been retired for many years, and has lived well off her pension from being a teacher, but she told us that her pension and retirement fund have been canceled by the government. It has left her with literally nothing. Her house is hers, and she doesn`t make payments, but she has no money. Nothing. She hasn`t told her daughters because she doesn`t want them to worry, but she told us all this with tears streaming down her face. I knew at that moment that she was talking with us because it is her time to be baptized, and so we talked about that a little bit. We are doing some service, some secret santa stuff for her, tonight, so that should go well. But it was so hard for me to watch her literally break down in front of our eyes....

The second one was that I found a church history book in my house, and I have been reading it. The restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the fulness of times, but it's in Spanish. It literally starts with Joseph Smith`s family history and goes until like right after Erying got called an apostle. Like 1300 pages. In reading it, I have been able to see how Truly, there was no way that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints would have survived if it wouldn`t have been, truly, the church of God, like it is. The events, the way things happened too perfectly, the protection and the Divine guidance. Everything that has happened in the history of the `Mormon` church is a testimony that It really is Christ's church, and that Christ lives. I have loved reading it, and have come to truly appreciate the sacrifice and the work of those first saints, Especially the Prophet Joseph. I testify that really, truly, Christ restored his church through a modern day prophet, and that it truly is His Church!!! I am so touched that God trusts in me to preach His eternal truths to His beloved children, and to bring them the salvation that they need so much!!!

I love you all!!!!!

Zach

Christmas

Monday, December 23, 2013

Sothiswillbeafairlyshortletter.iwillbewritingwithoutspacestomakeitsmaller.also, I am kidding.

Sooorry, as the canadians say, but this letter will be short, due to the fact that I get to see your beautiful gringo faces on Wednesday!!! But that being said, as I write I am trying the other computers to see if they send pictures, cuz this one doesn't. 

And freaking you people in Scotland!!! Gosh darn lucky people. 

Don`t die on the wrong side of the road.

And enjoy of the snow. 

Well, we can pretty much talk on Wed. I am going to try to get on in the morningish hours, like 9 or 10 ish here. So do the math...I don`t know what that is there. No clue. Probably like 4 or 5, I would imagine. But yeah. We will be skyping from a member's house. So it should be good. They have wifi. 

Pics...me and beesley...and it wouldn`t be christmas without butter cookies and mate, or butter cookies and eggnog. And there in the background is my tree, with my 6 ornaments and the fake snow that Mikelle sent on it. 

That is pretty much it. I did give a talk on Sunday. Sounded like people kinda liked it. It was on mercy. I had like a week to prepare, which is really long notice here. So I had time to actually prepare. I think it went well. 

Alright. That is pretty much it. I will send some more photos, mom....

Love you all!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

love

Zach

Zach and Elder Beesley.

Real Christmas.  Butter cookies and egg nog.

 

ALMOST CHRISTMAS

Monday, December 16, 2013

So, its almost Christmas. Fun stuff. Honduras doesn`t change, so it doesn`t feel like Christmas, but there is a little calender that I have that says it is. Can`t believe my last one in the mission is going to pass soon, but wow....five more months until mothers day.

This week was okay. Sort of uneventful. We had our Christmas party, and I played a piano number with Vellver, it was really cool. An hermana sang to it, and did super good. Was pretty fun. We got to play some soccer, and ate some turkey and potatoes, so it was worth it. Also, we lost a lot of time waiting in the office the next day, which wasn`t fun.

We are in the hunt for new investigators, that family we found isn`t really progressing. We had four baptisms and a marriage this last weekend, so all of out investigators aren`t investigators anymore. I don`t have pictures, but Lars will be home, and he has them, so get them from him. Plus, I have no way to send pictures on these computers. So next week I will send what I have.

Honestly, our week was pretty slow, and sort of boring, just doing stuff for the baptisms, interviews and whatnot. I did meet Manuel Flores, an RM from my ward here who was a translator for your trip, Mom and Dad. He says he got to talk to both of you. Served in Idaho. Speaks super good English. Said that Davìd Gonzalez will be moving to Salt Lake soon, he got a job with the church there, so he will be moving. Sad day. I have not seen Luis Rubio, I haven`t had a chance. I haven`t had time to really go and do that stuff.

Ovesons are good. Baggy (which is just thinking of home.) Lars doesn`t sleep much anymore. Super nervous. Oh well. And Stephen is super sick poor guy. Ear infection, cough, everything. Sucks to be him right now.

I also saw Beesley for the last time on my mission. I will miss that guy alot. Love him to DEATH. Sad day...but he needs to go home. It's time. Same with Lars. It's about time.

Me and Lars were talking about the time we were in mission prep together, and Brother ________ was teaching it...he remembered the time when Brother _______ was telling me that I had to take it for another semester because I wasn`t ready yet, and Lars told me, ``you pretty much smirked and like, `well, that should be difficult, becuase I am going to college, so...whatevs'``.  We were both laughing. It's amazing to think how much I have changed since then. 

 

Good to hear all are well. Just gear up for the cold!!! Enjoy it for me.

I bought butter cookies and eggnog last week, and I had to pour the eggnog into a cup and mix it with milk because I heard mom's voice tell me too...to make it last longer and more value for my money!! I will be enjoying those butter cookies with mate soon, pops.

I love you all!!!! until next week!!!!

lñiasfioparoaroawjer waoerjiwar

I am so excited to talk to you peeps I can`t even type!!!!

Love

Zach

Another week gone ................

Monday, December, 9, 2013

So this week was pretty good. Long, but very short, if that makes any sense. Being with the Ovesons is pretty ridiculous. Stephen practically can`t walk anymore, and so that makes it hard for them to work. But they are somehow still managing to baptize five people in between last weekend and this coming weekend. And a family.  Which is fine. 

We spent last week working. Wednesday we had to go to Consejo (council), it’s for the mission leaders and stuff. It was relatively short in comparison to what I had heard in the past. Which is fine. They gave us food and stuff, so it wasn’t bad. The mission hasn`t been baptizing well lately, but we are slowly picking back up. 

We found a new family this week, Juan and Ana. They are pretty cool. References from the ward mission leader. 18 months, and this is the first real ward mission leader I have had in my whole mission.  He leaves with us two to three nights a week to be able to help us, and is super cool. He has a little van, and he uses it to pick people up for church for us. super pilas.  Up here in the city, there is much more order. People here are a little bit more centered, and the leaders here are a lot better about their jobs. They actually do stuff. 

I am also experiencing a little bit of what it is to be a parent. When you are a zl, people in your zone come to you with all their problems. And when I say problems, I mean with whatever they deem is the slightest incommodity to them. Most of the time it really isn`t necessary, but they make it our problem. I am also learning that you can`t give people whatever they want, because then they walk all over you. Which isn`t good either.   

But for the funny and spiritual side of this week. 

Saturday the elders had a baptism planned with una hermana, Maricruz.  She has been an investigator for 8 years, but has never been able to get baptized because her husband never wanted to get married.  Her children, daughters, are members, and she has been coming to church for all this time. Well, her husband is also just a stubborn man, and wouldn`t get married unless he could do it in his own house. This is the first time he had considered getting married. He also changed the date last second, and poor Oveson had to run around like a crazy man. But they got it all done, so we took the lawyer- ummm other story.  ….. Then on Saturday, for the baptism, the bishop told us that he would fill up the font for us and set up the chairs. super nice of him. Well, he got back and told us that he didn`t have time to set up the chairs, so just the font got filled. So we went over to the church.

And oh, was the font filled.

He left the water on!!! There was 3 inches of water in some parts of the chapel. So it was 230 and the baptism was scheduled for 4. So off came the shoes, socks, and tie, and on with the brooms and mops!!! We spent a solid two hours, my comp and I, getting water out of the meetinghouse. It had filled most of the hallways and some of the classrooms and the chapel. Quite the chore. There was nothing we could do other than laugh about it. 

Then was the baptismal service. I gave the message on the holy ghost....which was interesting. I talked right to her, and tried to really help her understand, even though she has been coming to church for 8 years. Well, partway through, I felt the incredibly strong urge to promise her that if she was faithful, her husband would soon follow. I didn`t want to say it, but the words forced themselves out of my mouth. The last time I felt that strongly about promising somebody something was the man who afterwards committed suicide.  So yeah. It came out, and then the bishop also said it in the confirmation. So I feel like it will come true. Just sometimes we have to have a little bit of faith in the Lord that he will fulfill the promises that he makes through his servants. 

I had a decent birthday.  Nothing special.  Thanks for the gifts and all, I loved them!! It sucks that real lost though.

Well, that’s pretty much it for this week. I got nothing else. 

16 DAYS TILL I CAN TALK TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love 

Zach

Changes .............

Monday, December 2, 2013

Well, shoot, I got changed.

Sucks.

I am in the city in zona Tegucigalpa with Elder Fielding, from Idaho Falls. I am in La Reforma....and zl. but I have learned that means nothing.

Also, I am with..........

.drum roll..................

OVESON.

and Stephen.. 

 

(Editor's note.  Oveson is an Elder whose is from our Stake.  He and Zach met in the mission.  Stephen is Oveson's brother, who attends the ysa ward where Nelson serves.  Stephen got permission to spend the last month of his brother's mission with him.  He was kind enough to take Zach's bday and Christmas to him.  Who knew they would spend a month together.  I think Oveson and Zach are the tallest kids in the mission at 6'5" and 6'4".  Go giant elders!)

So yes, I got the backpack. We are in a foursome right now, so its super interesting. But I get to hang with Lars and Steve for 3 weeks, so its super fun. Our house is freaking tiny. Like, literally the size of my room at home. Maybe smaller. But like, without the closet, and the bathroom is smaller too. It's really crammed with four of us in there. More like an apartment than a house. But the ward is good. We get dinner every night, and lunch like some days of the week. So it's not bad. Its freaking FREEZING right now, though. I came from Cholu, which was like 95 daily. And here, its like in the 50`s. Everything is cold. And our hot water heater only works a little because the water is SO COLD that it can`t heat it up any more. So its like living in 50 degrees and showering with Camp Frontier Uintah water. Cold, to say the least. But doable. I bought a HUGE hammock, and can put it up on our roof, so it's chill. I spend some time there every day. It's super relaxing.

As for my last comp, Smith is training. So that is cool beans. Also, we made steak and potatoes last tuesday with a legit salad and ranch dressing. And welch`s sparkling soda. I would send pics, but there is nowhere to connect my camera or insert the card. So some other time. Also, I sat next to Justin all bus ride to Teguc, which was a ton of fun. We talked about old memories, and whatnot. about his ``bull`` cut. haha. bowl cut. and also, I am cold.

We have spent the weekend trying to get to know the new area and ward. Seem pretty pilas, and the food is good. We have some positives for this month, so it should go well.

I know there is nothing really interesting, but it's been a short week. I can`t play with fireworks or my slingshot anymore, so that's sad. And there is member in my area who got shot a few months ago, so he has some dope scars. And we are teaching a ------. But nothing really progessing there. He is nuts and his wife is full of apostasy, and they are really close minded. And the ----------------- never stops talking, which is kind of a problem.

That is pretty much it. Not much else to say.

Hope all are well....

Zach

SURVIVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

So, this week was way, way overhyped. I couldn`t believe it. Literally nothing happened in Choluteca. We were locked inside for three days to sit and bake in our oven house. It was bad. Not one thing happened. Well....apart from the elections, a lady got murdered in our area. But nothing election related. I did a lot of nothing. We told the people in our ward that we wouldn`t be able to leave for three days, and they brought us food for three days straight. I also grew out my beard. I had to shave it this morning because it was too much to wear in public. After only a week. It rivaled Cody`s for a little bit. So there is a photo of that. We also cleaned the crap out of our house...it had stuff in it that had been there for over two years. It was pretty gross. We burned a lot of things. We also played with firecrackers. You can get like 20 for two limps....pretty great. And we also like read the scriptures and stuff...and laid and did nothing. Before that the week wasn`t super productive. We are still in search of new people to teach, and we are having little success. But it will get better. 

It's also almost Thanksgiving. Which is awesome, and sort of weird, because that means that my birthday and Christmas are right around the corner...and that means that 2014 is coming. Super weird. I can`t believe that the time is going this fast. It's too crazy to believe. And freaking colby and tally....holy cow. It seems like an eternity since I have seen them. 

 

This week is changes as well, so we will see what happens with me and my child, Smith. He has really been my favorite comp so far, and I have loved being with him, and would love to be another change with him. 

That is sort of it. Get it ReAL!!!! That is what I am talking about...so sick. SALT LAKE TILL I DIE. Tell me what time the game starts so I can sing the fight song with everyone.....

and I will see if I have any pics for the Christmas card....

Okay that is literally the only decent pic I have. It will have to do. All my old ones got erased....so yeah. Oh wait. Do the temple one. That would be sick.

 And I send the last one just to see who turns their head upside down to see it. hahahahahaha.

I LOVE YOU ALL

Zach

 

And I send the last one just to see who turns their head upside down to see it. hahahahahaha.

Three days on "lockdown" and he thinks his "beard" is "sick."

 

Week done ......

Monday, November 18, 2013

Editor's note.  Please forgive me for the delay.  Sometimes Zach writes things that I need translation help with so I don't get his letters uploaded as quickly.  The translation near the end is well worth the wait...  haha.

Wow. Weeks keep flying by. I can`t believe all those guys are home....holy cow. (Referencing Tally Wilsher and Colby Oliverson) I remember when they all left. That is too nuts...sounds like all is well and normal at home. Mom, I would love to help you with that book, but...uh.....squirrel. haha. No. I live in an adhd world here too. Except here it is everywhere. Not just three or four. Everyone here has adhdhdhdh. I sort of lose control with the dh combo. 

Normal week here. We are doing a lot of finding with members help. We go to the members house and tell them to take us to their friends houses...and it is working. We have to invite ourselves to meetings still, and do all of that stuff. But we found a sister who is from Teguc who actually gets it...and isn`t full of apostasy like a lot people are. I realized that a lot of ..... here almost get excommunicated...most of them actually. It's sort of sad, but nobody here as access to the manuals of the church, which are super SUPER important. And she gets it, along with her husband. She is the first Honduran member that I have met that doesn`t buy on Sundays....yeah. 

We dropped all of our other investigators, and are teaching a fair few of new ones. 

I also was asked to play the piano for the Saturday sessions of stake conference, and it went fairly well. Honduras played Brazil during the priesthood session Saturday night....there were 32 men there. Wow....Would a man sell his soul for a soccer game?? As much as I love it, I have learned here that the church and callings and responsibility take first place in my life. Smart men learn from their mistakes, and wise men learn from the mistakes of others. Wise moment on my part. 

Speaking of soccer, Pres gave us permission to play again. So we did. And I am sore all over. It was hot, and long, and I am dead, but it was tons of fun. 

And also, one of the elders that lives close to me played for byu football. I know...it was byu. But he is super cool. Anyways...he has me sort of working out. Like 50 pushups a day. And he says two things constantly. 1. I am the hardest person to motivate he has ever seen. And 2. I have no muscle. Big surprises....really shockers. Anyway...I spend time doing as many as I can, and then he lifts me up and down for the last like 20. Sort of ashaming. But whateves. Get swoll. hahahaha. That will never happen to me. 

Okay. pay attention to this next part.

This next week, I will not be able to email on Monday. We are going to be experiencing Honduran elections, and we have to be inside Saturday to Monday. I will email Tuesday. PLEASE DON´T FREAK OUT MOM. Everything is fine. Just precautions. Being careful. So I will email TUESDAY. And I am sending a Christmas package soon. So be looking. It might get there after Christmas. But it is for Christmas. It brings gifts. 

and Dad....I found these in the supermarket here. Pensé en ti, entonces los tuve que comprar. y despues me los comì. fueron ricos. hay con blue cheese, y creo que los voy a comprar tambien. (I thought of you so I had to buy them and afterwards I ate them.  They were good.  There are some with bleu cheese and I think I am gonna buy those too.)

Spiritual experience and funny moment for the week.

Spiritual experience for the day was yesterday. We have a pilas guy who is the stake exec sec. Jonatan. He is an rm, served in Guatemala, speaks English, super cool. He brought me a kid name Eleazar, and said that he has been going to church, mission prep, and that he wants to be baptized because he prayed and got an answer that he needs to be. So I got super stoked. It would be my first baptism since May. Then they told me where he lives...in the other elders area. 

It was sort of sucky, knowing that I am pretty obedient, and work hard, and try my best, and can`t baptize like freaking anybody, and the baptism that falls literally from heaven goes to someone else. But God has something for me to learn in all this, and whatever it is i gotta learn it. It was a definite blessing from God, even though it wasn`t for me. 

Funny experience. 

We went to find a reference from this same Jonatan. We went to the apartments, and saw a lady and her five year old outside. So we went to talk to them just to ask if they knew which apartment they lived in. The mom sat where we couldn`t see her, and made her kid straight up lie to us. What five year old is going to be home alone with soap operas on and fresh laundry hanging on the line?? Never in a million years. So he just keeps telling us that nobody is home, but you could here his mom telling him to tell us. Then his dad pulled up on a bike and looked at us like what up with the Mormons....walks in the house and looks at his wife and asks her Por que estas alli?? (Why are you there?) and the kid says mami se escondio por que vinieron los mormones y and then the dad says callàte no sabès que estan afuera?? (Mom hid herself because she saw that the Mormons are here.) It was super funny. 

And I love Brandon Estrada. super good kid. Love him to death. Tell him hi for me. 

Love you all

Zach

Zach's purchase that made him think of his dad.