Monday, May 27, 2013

So it´s pday and we didn´t go to Teguc!!! woohoo!!!! We played soccer today, and its starting rainy season almost a month late, so it was drizzling while we played. Beautiful. This week was a little slow, but pretty good. We had 27 people in church this week, and we were missing some, so we are hoping for more next week. The number to beat is 32. That's what we are working towards.

This week there was a festival of mango here in Yuscaran. Its a pretty big deal. Three straight days of people partying and just doing nothing. Its pretty ridiculous. Our member, Luis, was selling food, and he makes some pretty tasty stuff. Its sad, though, because with the money he makes between this last weekend and the puppies his dog had, he is going to be moving back to Teguc. But, he will continue faithful and strong. We have faith in that. He is a good man with an intense desire to learn more about the gospel. But with the festival, came a lot of vacationers and there were parties until three in the morning across the street from our house. So much noise. So glad it's over. But it was interesting to see people get so excited for something. I have also seen more drunk people than in all my mission, all in one place.

We are working with a man named Roberto lately. He was baptized in 85ish in Teguc, but we cannot find record of him and neither can Salt Lake, so he needs to be baptized again. His brain is a doctrinal blender. He has been to Baptist, Catholic and JW churches in these twenty some odd years. He is good, because he reads and understands, but sometimes its difficult to work with him. Not his fault, but some of the questions he asks are hard to answer, and he is never really satisfied with our responses. I have some study time under my belt, and know some stuff, but he asks questions that I don´t even want to ask, because finding the answer would take years!!!! He asked us recently why in second nefi two it says that Eve would never have had children before the fall, if in Genesis 3:16 it says that God would multiply her pain in giving birth. that, in his interpretation, means that she would have had perfect children before the fall, it was the fall that made them imperfect. Well, that tried all my scriptural knowledge. (ps, if you ever teach the plan of salvation to jw, SKIP THE FALL. THAT IS A SORE POINT FOR THEM.) I used 2 Nephi 2:22 and 23. He said that that meant that the Book of Mormon was contradicting the Biblia. He wanted somewhere else where it said that. so, I used Moses 4 something, where Eve rejoices, and her and Adam are blessing God. I don´t remember the reference. but he sort of just left it at that. I am exhausting my scriptural knowledge tank with this guy. I am sure he will get baptized, but he is going to take some time, which is okay with me.

And then....the funny ish part. I had two grown women, sisters, make passes at me this week. One last Sunday, and one on Saturday. The first one is an inactive, and hasn´t been to church in years. Her friend yelled at me that if I liked her, she had said that I could have her. While she was standing there, trying to seduce me with her eyes. At least I think she was, I was busy trying to invent a response. I ended up saying, No, thanks. But that was very nice of you.

Then her sister. I didn´t know they were sisters until later, when I saw them together. Her sister isn´t a member, and started asking us what does elder mean, all that sort of stuff. Then she asked if missionaries could have girlfriends. I said no. She asked if that meant just Honduras. I said yes, that some missionaries have girlfriends in their home countries. She asked if I did. I said no and why are you asking. Para que nos casemos, she said. So that we get married. I just said, thanks, very nice of you, but I am okay single, thanks. For those of you who speak spanish, women in this country are Lanzadas. They sort of jump the gun. Tell you very openly what they want, and they want it when they want it. Its really really hard to deal with. all the yelling, and blowing kisses and all that. But I always say thank you, just to be polite.

And then today, we took another great jalon!!! Photo included. played soccer and came back, tranquilo. We also had zone conference this last week, which was fun. Learned quite a bit, and got some good time to see other elders and such.

Family....

Cody....congrats on band stuff. You better be recording stuff, and show it all to me when I get back. If you are still home. If not, stick it all on my ipod, and then go to the mtc.

Erin...you guys are nuts!!! That is an awesome photo. And sad stuff about losing, but they say you learn more in losing then winning.

Mas, you are a goof and you look old. And good job with bigger or better!! a blowflex!?!?!?! You better be using that to beef up a little, chico.

I love you all. To all my missionary buddies, keep on keepin on, and keep working!!!!!!!

Zach

Cow Tongue.  He ate it and liked it!  I won't tell you what their next mystery meal is going to be. 

This is what he means by a "jalon".  It is the hitch hiking vehicle and they are not all the same.  Pray he is safe while he travels please!!!!

Monday, May 20, 2013 (11 months in the mission!)

(Paula's note:  Don't miss the pictures in this letter.  They are a tender mercy to us at home!)

This has been one of the hardest weeks of my mission. Without doubt. We are going through problems here in this little branch that I never thought I would have to deal with, and less at 20 years of age. But I absolutely am confiding in the Lord, and just hoping everything goes right. We are doing everything we can here, and need that promised help right about now. (Paula's note:  There are four missionaries in Zach's area.  These four make up the branch presidency.  So, in addition toregular missionary work, they also handle all the branch issues, which apparently are more than just the normal duties.)

We have been super involved with the branch this week. Meetings, correlations, new callings, fixing stuff, inactives, you name it. I have said it before, and I will say it again, I am learning so much about how the church works that it scares me, mostly because this is all in preparation for the future. Yikes. That future scares me.

Tuesday we went to Oropoli for a partida de solteria for the wedding of somebody. We went 45 minutes hitchhiking and 30 walking to get there, in the bumpiest ride of my life and then we found that it was incredibly difficult to leave that place. We talked to a lady who told us that she had spent two hours waiting and had had no luck, and no more buses were leaving, so she showed us the hotel there. Ha. But this whole experience was a testimony of the power of prayer for me. We prayed before we left to be able to go in and come out quickly and without problem. Well, we did what we needed to do, and left, and started walking. We were blessed with a miracle.!!! We took a jalon in the back of a corn truck, that was closed and dark and hot and dusty. About an hour we were in there. But that is in difference to a whole day spent walking. I really saw the power of prayer in that whole experience, and how when it is the Lords work, stuff gets done. he makes it possible. (Well you all now know his main form of transportation.  Please pray more than ever for his safety in his travels.)

I also am at 11 months. 13 to go. I remember celebrating hitting one month in the MTC, and I just laugh at myself. This is something. I am getting some serious time and feel like I have barely done anything with this year. Hindsight is 20-20, and you really realize looking back how fast it´s all gone. I am starting to gear up for year two. It will be better than year one. I am getting back all that fire from the MTC and adding to it my years worth of experience. It should be a fun time. I am hoping to just be the best missionary I possilby can while I am still here.

Clan....family....

Erin, I know you will do great. Trust Cory he is a good guy and will help you a lot.

Mason...you are an animal. I don´t know where you got all that. You are definitely part.....something. I don´t know what but something.

Mom and dad. I am good. I have gotten all three of those packages, and grandma has a letter that I just sent to her, so in about a month and a half, it will be there. and mom....love you. you are the best mom ever. I told you to wait to read it after because I know you...:) Funny side note, got a letter from Tayler the other day. surprised?? I was, Thanks for asking. Interesting stuff is at work here. She said she saw you guys at Daniels farewell. Small world. haha.

Included are pics from our baptism!!!! THIS KID IS PILAS!!!!! We gave him a white shirt and I donated a tie, and he goes on visits with us and shares his testimony with EVERYONE!!!! It helps me to be a better missionary, being with him and he loves wearing that shirt and tie. I don´t think he will be able to serve a mission, but he is so sincere and has such a tender spirit, its hard not to feel the spirit with him there.

I love you all!!!!!!!!

Zach

That is pretty much it for this week. 

No this isn't Zach, it's Cody, but if you look closely you will notice it is the same baptismal font. 
We visited the people of this branch in 2008 and shared a sub for santa of sorts with them.  Cody was here long before Zach got there.  It is a sweet blessing to be able to visualize where Zach is. 

Monday, May 13, 2013

Well, sorry, because off the bat, this letter won´t be much, seeing as how my parents were spoken to by me yesterday. But some of the highlight stuff.

We did a HUGE mothers day activity here in the branch, and we now know how the elders here in the past brought lots of people to church. They promised them activities with food, and then they would get them to promise to come to church. In my opinion, that is not how the game works. But we can modify it so that we don´t always do food, or so that they feel more of the spirit to be able to make it there on their own. it was a lot of work and a lot of stress, but it went okay. Mostly.

We also had a baptism!! Cristian, 20 years old. I forgot my camara and so there will be no pictures, but next week, I promise. We are still trying to deal with all the branch problems that seem to be magnifying and getting worse in range and scope....all sorts of people that we don´t even know are involved apparently. But the church is guided by revelation, so that´s how it works in the fourth floor of the temple and thats how it works in Yuscaran, I guess. We will figure out and be helped to a solution and to fixing this, but time will tell when.

I hope all of you missionary buddies out there are doing well, and that your families are too!!! I love you all, and thanks to all my buddies from school, home, the mtc, what have you, that I have met, because you have all made an impact in my life. Pretty much, it means you get my emails, so....if you get my emails, you made a positive impact in my life. So thanks. Love ya all!!!

I gotta go. Happy mothers day to all the moms out there, and love ya fam!!!

It was good to talk to you yesterday, and mom...I hope you enjoyed the letter.

Love to all!!!

Zach

Monday, May 6, 2013

This week was crazy. It started off with no changes, which was a good thing and an okay thing. Sort of rough, but I will live. I do love most about my area, its just one little thing that makes me want to leave, but we shall see.

We went on Friday to visit an aldea about 3 walking hours outside of Yuscaran. We found a hitch for about half of it, which meant that Friday morning we spend about 2 hours traveling to get there. Its an older guy, Don Gustavo. he has 8 kids, over 50 grandkids, and over 60 ggrandkids. Its nuts. He had an amazing dream that was exactly like the spirit world, and I am sure will be baptized at all costs. Becuase they live so far away, that is a need to get them to church, which means bussing out there to bus them back. Then return them home. This brings stress number one.

We had to go get them in the morning, and were supposed to leave at six am, which means 5 wake up. The bus dude told us 1600 limps for the trip, which we thought was great and reasonable, and we were going to pull it out of the branch money. Well, getting up at five was bad. Horrible. Exhausted for Sunday. Then, on top of that, we didn't exactly understand them, and when they said 1600 per trip, they meant to go there and back. So to go and get them is one, go and drop them off is 2 trips. 3200 limps. We flipped a bit, and told them that that just wasn't going to fly, because they didn't explain themselves clearly. Granted we didn't ask, but its whatevs. Then on saturday at nine something at night the district drops another bomb on us.

That on sunday at 2 there will be a mandatory training in teguc, and all the auxilary presidencies have to go. Well, we are the presidency. So we took luis, our convert, and went, as he could well be the next bp here. We had to leave at noon, we got there late...and the worst part is when we called to see where the bus was that they had promised to pick us up in, a church bus, the bp of another branch told us that they just weren't going to go. Only the district presidente. So we called him and then HE told us that HE wasn't going to go....and we were already mid camino. I was so frustrated. Never again will I complain about going to a training at six in the morning with two weeks notice. Never again. All in all, I learned a ton. It was for all the presidents of all the organizations, so esparza went to the relief society one and I sat in on the sunday school one. And I am so grateful I went. I literally learned enough to better and reboot our entire system here, and I am so grateful for it. Saw the area 70, which was kinda neat, but didn't talk to him.

All of that, and I forgot to eat that morning. and then we didn't have time until later. So I bought (bad, right) cookies and a juice box for all three of us, and then at the thing the RS gave out cookies, and the juice box, so we snagged some of those and then bussed it home. It starting raining and so we took shelter in the police station at the desvio and chilled waiting for the bus that was never going to come, so we ended up talking with the police officer. She was nice and gave us mangoes. We finally got a jalon, at like 730, and got to the pueblo at like 8ish. So I didn't eat real food until 830 ish.  Then there was no power, because whenever it sort of rains, the power goes out.

Then today, was Teguc and just nuts. Running all over, trying to get stuff going, and planned for activites for mothers day here. Cinco de mayo isn't celebrated here, thats just a mexican shin dig.

Congrats to Cody on making state!!!! Jordan soccer, we love it!!!!!! Good luck to all those boys this next week. Petey, you will do fine. Erin and Mas, enjoy psych. I miss that show. And erin, you win some and you lose some, but don't get discouraged. Don't talk to them, just play next time, and let your feet talk.

Sort of busy and stressed right now still, because we have a ton that we have to do with the branch and all that. But it wll all work out, I am sure of it. I just need to learn more patience and faith, apparently.

Love you all!!!

Hope that you all have a great week, and a wonderful mothers day to all you mothers.....

Zach

Monday, April 29, 2013

So this week was interesting. Most of our time was spent preparing for our two baptisms, only one of which actually happened. It was sort of crazy. Our one investigator, Jose, passed without problems, and was baptized just fine. The other one, Frank, or Pato, was stoked, totally pumped. H passed the interview and then from one day to the next, just ignored us. Saturday and Sunday. Didn´t even want to talk to us. We think what might have happened is that he spoke with a man who is very anti mormon, and whom he works with sometimes. This man has slammed doors in our faces, yells at us, rips up invitations that we give to us family in front of us, everything. Its rough. 10 months ago, I would have wanted to contend, make him feel stupid and dumb repent, practically. But I realized in time here that there will be someone else who will do that....Him. He one day will answer for what he is doing against God´s kingdom, and I am no judge. So for now, I will see him as what he can become, and less of who he is.  One day....one day he will have to definitely accept or reject the gospel. I really feel pretty bad for him, he doesn´t really understand what he is doing or anything.

And branch stuff. Well, I gave a talk on Sunday about gossip, and elder Gomez, the bp, gave a talk on choosing to not feel offended. He talked about how if we are ¨Offended¨ its because we choose to be...which I have believed for some time now.  He used Elder Bednars talk. I took dad´s advice and read both of those talks, and they helped me a ton. I also looked up all the scriptures that pertain to gossip. I didn´t even realize in the scriptures how many places it talks about that. A lot in proverbs. one or two other places in the bible. My favorite is one in James 4...11-12.. I think. read it, it´s good. I used it twice in that talk. It wasn´t too much of a point at people, it was a hopefully touching some peoples hearts. And Gomez gave a fantastic talk as well. We know that some members felt something, because one member that has chosen to be offended got up and left. Another one moved seats. is really interesting to see how people react. Then, instead of teaching primary, like I normally do, they asked me to teach a mixed third hour. Which I did, talking about the same. I used the stick of consequences example, which I LOVE. In the mission I really have grown to understand that example, and how consequences really do affect us. (the whole you can´t pick up one end of the stick without picking up the other side. Super helpful with inactives, for those of you on missions or leaving shortly.) I really hope some of the members got it a little better.

Apart from that, it was chill. We played some soccer today, and there is a pic included, and have been working hard.

Funny moment. We were eating dinner, and the tv was on in the Golosinas, which is a place that makes homemade fast food, pretty much. So good. They had a soccer game on, and the players were wearing ribbons on their sleeves. I asked why to the Mexican, Gomez, and he told me that it was for a campaign against obesity.(As I am writing this, I am realizing more and more that Dad will be the only one to get this joke.) I said, Obesidad? Eso me cae gordo.....

haha. explanation. in Spanish, if you get along with somebody, or you are friends, you don´t get along, you fall well together. for example, elder Jarvis me cae bien. He falls well to me. If someone doesn´t get along well, its no me cae bien. and in some places, me cae gordo,(fat), means it falls not well with the person. so, the obesity campaign falls fat to me.....its a double play on words.

and you all probably won´t get it.

Well, That is pretty much it. I don´t know what will happen with me this week, so Tuesday night will be stressful. I am getting p90x discs from another elder, so I am going to really start Excersing in the mornings instead of my lame 50 situps and however many pushups I can half do. BRING IT.

Love you all!!!!!!

Zach

 

 

Monday, April 22, 2013

 

So this week was good!! Mostly. some fun....eh, more or less fun stuff happened. We are running into bigger and bigger problems with the branch, its now ridiculous. We had been progressing very well, but last week was terrible. We had 14 people in sacrament and we started with us four and three investigators, one and possibly one more will be getting baptized this week. It has been rough. We are starting to work in a part of our area called an Aldea, its like a little tiny pueblo. Smaller than towns. It is 45 minutes to get to the entrance walking, about 15 by bus. And then it is an hour and a half to get to the people there. Missionaries most likely have never ever been there before, and we found all sorts of fruits waiting to happen. There is an evangelical church there, but the writing on the church says ebangelical. That is a really common error here, the b for the v, and all sorts of that stuff. But seriously, the pastor writes it like that, and they go to listen to him?? It´s like finding a hair in your food, it makes you nervous to eat the rest of it (plenty of times here). A church with that title makes me nervous to go into it. but we find lots of people there who are willing to go, but it being so far away makes it really hard for them to go to church. So we are going to see what we can do to help there. We find a lot of really good people in really remote places here, so it makes it hard to work. But we are going to troubleshoot to see what we can do to get them there.

Other than that, we have one baptism coming for this week, Fran, or el pato. He came to church on Sunday, and he is golden. We just have to throw him in the water!!! I think he might be scared of drowning, but we should be okay with that. I know I already said it, but teaching him has helped me to see that the gospel is for really everyone. We are excited to see this happen.

Poor Luis, as well. He has a 16 year old daughter that was living with a dude in Teguc. Well, they went to see them, and he decided that the guy wasn´t taking care of his daughter the way that he should be, so he brought her here. Holy cow, I have not seen a more angry and anti social teenager in my life. She is super angry, and I think I know why. Its one of those that she wants to be treated like an adult but doesn´t want to act like one. Granted a 16 year old girl shouldn´t be living with a dude anyways, but still. At least she isn´t a mom. I will say that. makes me realize that the commandments are really to protect us, and to keep us safe. 16 and ¨in love¨. yeah right. President Kimball said something to the effect of when we think its love, lust often times sneaks in the back door. Law of chastity, folks. Live it. It does you worlds of good.

Speaking of that law, I had the opportunity to teach it many times this week, and I thought of something...okay, I fully came to realize something incredibly true. WE HAVE THE POWER OF GOD TO CREATE LIFE. Like Elder Bednar talked about last conference. God gave us part of his power to procreate. It is something so INCREDIBLY sacred. Shouldn´t something that sacred be treated correctly??? And here, Its amazing how mistreated that power is. Its like the two national past times here are soccer and fornication. Sorry for how that's worded, but that is what it is. Y lo siento a los de honduras que los estan leyendo en mi blog, pero en serio. Its nuts here. This country will never truly leave third world status until all that breaking of this law stops. It is impossible. This is still the promised land, and the promises still apply because they are living here, but if they don´t keep the commandments, they will keep living the way they are. Its not all their fault, some of it is ignorance, but still, they are breaking laws of the land, let alone laws of God. Until this changes a little, they will be the same.

Different notes. Happy birthday Erin!!! May you have many more. Cody, tough one on SBO, but you will get SCO. and good luck with the music stuff. Mas, you just are permanently hurt in one way shape or form, aren´t ya? haha. dad, thanks for the tips, I will try to see what I can do.

We climbed a mountain for pday today. It is huge. took us two hours to scale and climb and then 30 minutes to come down. It was honestly so legit. I loved it. Super tired, but glad I did it. I made a video up there, and you will see it when the card gets up there... most likely with me. but it was so COOL!!! Total Indiana Jones mixed with Nephite and Lamanite history, because I can totally imagine this being part of the Book of Mormon. it was so cool. I am sweating a ton, cause it was hot. We took sandwiches and some water and some chips and just chilled for a while. It was sweet. I am glad to be down though. Helped me to realized that this planet is incredibly beautiful, and that I am in God´s creations. Love it.

That´s pretty much it. Enjoy the photos!!!

Love you all!!!

 

Zach

15 lempira Mango (about 75 cents), worth every cent!

"Total Indiana Jones mixed with Nephite and Lamanite history."

P.S. to April 14, 2013.

I asked Zach if in their mission they had goals to baptize a certain number of people and if it seemed like there was at times competitions between zones and missionaries regarding baptisms.   I thought his reply was so good and his motives so pure.  Here it is for you to read.

That´s funny. Well, to start, PMG says that we shouldn´t compare ourselves with other missionaries. So I try not to. God has a different timeline than we do, so I don´t feel bad if somebody else is baptizing a ton and I very little, because it swings both ways. Also, that whole beating people is a numbers game, and this is a work of saving souls. They don´t have numbers, they have lives, and names and stories. My comp told me that I was crazy that I didn´t have a goal to baptize x amount of people on my mission. But I don´t think so. My mission is about helping the people I have been chosen to help and baptizing if it comes to that point. Conversion is a personal process, I can´t force it on anybody. So if they so choose, I would love to help them make the necessary steps to enter God´s kingdom. My other goal is to convert myself to the gospel. I am my most important convert. That doesn´t mean we don´t have goals and stuff for our investigators, and all that stuff, but it just means the numbers come as the souls do. I can´t rush it and shouldn´t try to.