July 18, 2011

So, this week are the CHANGES. BIG NEWS... I'm going to POLOCHIC TO LEARN q'eqchi' 

...just kidding.  We don't know who goes where or who our companions are until Wednesday. I don't have a change, but Elder Nelson does, So, this Wednesday I will officially get my second companion in the mission... I don't know if it will be a Gringo or a Latino... I'll let you all know next week... But for the record, I AM getting a new companion this week. 

So, Monday night we had an FHE with the familia Godines... it was absolutely awful. There were so many things that went wrong it's not even funny. But, on the way home we stopped by a member family´s house because it was the daughter's 6 year birthday. So, upon opening the door, little 6 year old Kimberly saw us, walked right up to me and hugged me around the waist. It was so cute and it melted my heart! I felt bad that alll I had to give her for a birthday present were some cookies, but she was so happy and it literally made my day! 

On Tuesday, we had a really good lesson with Jessica that night in which she told us about some of the problems she has had and has at home, and so we shared a couple scriptures with her to help her out. I shared Moroni 8:26(look it up) which tells us how the Spirit of God can fill us with hope and love, to comfort us in times of need if we pray for him to be with us. Elder Nelson then shared Alma 7:11-12(look it up) to talk about how the Atonement of Jesus Christ covers ALL of the pains, trials, and afflicitions we have in this life, so that Christ knows EXACTLY how to succor us (give us comfort and aid). 



I had a cold on Wednesday-Today, so I don't have a lot of stories from Thursday-Today, but I'll share what I have. On Thursday night we took the papers for the familia Beltran to get married to a member, Javier, who has been helping us a little with the marriage. We were at their house for about a hour and a half and it just so happens that Javier has a guitar... and he let me play it. It was SO fantastic!!! I really miss playing the guitar. It felt like home for a minute. 

Friday (the 15th) was my HALF BIRTHDAY! That's about it. We saw a few people, but no experiences to share... However, Saturday was the MARRIAGE OF THE FAMILIA BELTRAN! They have been waiting for almost FIVE years to be able to get married and We were FINALLY able to get it done. Francisco and Marisol have been married and this Saturday, the 23rd of July, at 6 pm, they will be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and on Sunday morning they will recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost. How incredible is this church? They are a testimony to ME of the truthfulness of this gospel. They have waiting SO long for this opportunity because they KNOW that this is the only true church on the face of the earth and one year from This Sunday, they will be able to go to the Temple of God and be sealed for time and all eternity. I am SO happy for them and I feel blessed to have been a part of their incredible journey! They will forever be a testimony to me.

Sunday was a big day back home, and not too big here in Guatemala. Several times I thought of my best friend, back in Idaho Falls, getting ready to give his farewell and giving his farewell, and getting ready to come here and spread the gospel with me! I know that he did great and I am so proud OF him and excited FOR him. For thos of you who don't know him or didn't go to his farewell, he shared an incredible story that I want to share with you (Brock, I hope I do it justice).    There was an olympic runner, who had been training for this race for years. He was leading the back as he rounded the corner for the last 100 meters, when he collapsed on the track and could not finish the race. The man's father jumped down from the stand and helped carry his Son across the finish line. What an incredible story. We are all the olympic runner and Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are our Father to help us finish the race. When we literally can go no farther, Jesus Christ, through the Infinite Atonement, will help us cross the finish line so that we can finish the race and return to our Heavenly Father.

I promise that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real and that through this incredible gift, we can be comforted in times of joy, or in the moments of our deepest despair. Jesus Christ is our Elder Brother, Our Savior, Our Redeemer, and Our Advocate with the Father and He is ALWAYS cheering us on until the very end, and if we seek Him, He WILL help us.

Love, Elder Andrew Anderson LaPray

July 4, 2011

So, this week I finally have more time in the field than I was in the MTC/CCM combined! I will complete 10 weeks in the fieldthis Wednesday if I am not mistaken. That seems like a lot, ish.... By the way, HAPPY 4th OF JULY AMERICA! Obiously, we don't exactly celebrate that here in Guatemala, but the gringos (white people) have been enjoying it. I celebebrated the wonderfulness of America by singing patriotic songs, saying the Pledge of Allegiance to a flag in the bus, and eating a nice delicious McPollo(McChicken) from McCdonald's with large friends and a sprite. God Bless our country (and the work in Guatemala!)

It feels like I was writing home just yesterday and that there isn't much to add... but I guess I'll tell you. I can't ever remember what I wrote in the week before, but obviously I mentioned that I went to the temple and that it was awesome, right? I love the opporunity I have to attend the temple and perform the work for the dead and learn more about God's plan for His children and it helps with Spanish too! 

So Tuesday night, Pday last week, I went to bed at about 9:10 and slept like a rock! It was wonderful! At 8 a.m. on Wednesday we went over to the bishop's house to do some service... we used shovels to move a pile of sand, gravel, and a whole bunch of other junk from a pile in the center of the roof to a pile in the CORNER of the roof. Such a Guat thing to do... afterwards his wife, Paola, made us breakfast... blended black beans, eggs, and bread, the Guatemalan breakfast. I am finally being convinced that the mission has changed my eating habits. Anyone who knew me before knows how picky I was and that I barely ate anything... now I eat like a pig and I'll eat MOST anything if someone gives it to me(not that I like it, just that I eat it). But I'm still not a fan of beans. 
     We also got a new Elder in our district today. His name is Paul Wadsworth and he is from Ammon, ID!! That's right, represent! I didn't know him before the mission, but we know a LOT of the same people from Hillcrest so that is pretty cool and his grandparents I believe our in our home ward, or at least in our stake (Jerry and somebody Wadsworth?) Today we put a baptismal date with the family Hernandez for the 16th of July! Hna. Elsa is really ready to be baptized! We've been working with them since my first week in the field! Wednesday marked the official change of Pres. Torres to Pres. Watts!

So Thursday evening we had a lesson with Jessica, our recent convert, and ended up reading from the Book of Mormon with her in Alma 7 talking about the Atonement and how it can help us with our everyday problems and challenges. Afterwards we asked her how she could ask for Heavenly Father's help and like usual she just sat there and kind of giggled and after about a minute her old aunt said, (in a loud irritated voice) "La oración, vos!" which roughly translates to "Prayer, Dude!" with an implied "duh!". It was SO funny and we made jokes in vos after that (which is informal speaking, but it helped ease the situation to talk in the informal "you" instead of the formal "you"). Good times!
   I also had an interesting experience with blessings that night. We gave 4 that day, one of health to a little boy named Oscar, (Jessica's nephew), Francisca (jessica´s old aunt) and then one of comfort to Jessica. After that we gave another one of health to Hna. María José... however I couldn't bless her that everything would be just perfect and that all of the health would return and the stuff you usually expect in a blessing for the sick, but I wasn't prompted, however I did bless her with comfort and to turn to her Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ in all of her trials and difficulties. I hope that was right? I felt prompted to say those things...

On Friday we had a great companionship study about the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is really everything in missionary work. If we have not the Spirit we shall not teach. And when we study and treasure up in our minds the words of life, the Spirit will fill our mouths in the very hour that we need it. Furthermore, when we DO teach by the power of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost will carry our message unto the hearts of the children of men and testify to them of the truth. Hence, the Spirit is really everything in this work! After studies we met President and Sister Watts and had interviews with them. They are GREAT people and I am VERY excied to work with them! After we got back we stopped by a recently reactivated family and I want to share a great story with you. Hna. Enriqueta makes tortillas. She used to make tortillas on Sundays but she stopped making them on Sundays to go to church and she has seen an increase in her tortilla business during the week! The Lord really does bless us when we keep His commandments! "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy!" and you will receive the abundance of the earth!

Love, Elder LaPray