Do you remember that feeling we had when we stepped of the plane in Puerto Rico for the first time? That's how I felt when I stepped of the bus in Petén at 12:11 a.m. H-O-T!
Going backwards... Well, I forgot my journal, so I'm not going to have awesome detail, but Monday and Tuesday were absolutely JAM PACKED with information... Haha, that reminded me of the movie "Space Balls" when Dan Akroyd's ship's radar gets "jammed" and he says "Raspberry!!" HILARIOUS!
On Monday night Elder Flores and I went to see Hermelinda and Jimena and it was an absolutely heart touching visit. They showed me their idaho ID cards and a whole bunch of pictures from Dora Erickson, mostly school pictures. I also showed them my Idaho drivers' license. From there, we began to talk about the gospel and Hermelinda told us how it was that she came to church. It's a really long story, but I'll try to get it all out there. First of all, Hermelinda knows Preston and Lesly Poulsen(spelling?) the ones who lived by us in Georgetown Ct... well, Sis. Poulsen picks up her daughter, Camilla, from school every day. Camilla is listening to the sister missionaries in Idaho Falls. Here in Zone 2 of the capital there is a missionary couple from Idaho Falls name of Call, who are serving as dentists. Preston knows them and so they called the Calls and asked them to go find Hermelinda and give her "For the Strength of Youth" and "Personal Progress" because Camilla is learning about those two books. They also told her that our church was close by and thus, on Sunday, she came to church. Luckily my companion and I were still waiting to enter meetings with the bishop or we likely would have been gone already. And that's how they got to church on Sunday. Without going into a lot of detail, Hermelinda and Jimena have been prepared to receive the message of the Restored Gospel like you cannot imagine. We shared with them more about the Book of Mormon, where it came from, and left them a chapter to read, 3 Nephi 11.
When I told them that I had received a change and I would no longer be passing by, Jimena started crying instantly, which absolutely broke my heart. In the blink of an eye, the incredible happiness that we all 3 had felt was swept out from beneath our feet. I testified to them of the great love of our Heavenly Father in permitting us to meet each other on that fateful Sunday, July 29th, what we learned would be my last Sunday in Las Victorias. Although it could sound absolutely ridiculous to some, I believe that God has a wise purpose in having them both here, in Zone 1, and having me in Las Victorias for those 4 changes. There is no way that it was "chance".
Tuesday was full of goodbyes and a lot of tears from different people. I can't describe it all. I said goodbye to Gilda and Marian, to Gloria, to Otto and Karen, familia Relac, Ulises, el Gato, familia García, familia Jiménez, Hermelinda and Jimena (which was also a lesson), and Hna. Oliva. It was a busy day and a very sad day, but the Lord knows what He is doing in His vineyard (see Jacob 5).
Wednesday was change conference. I cried when Elder Nelson gave his last testimony. It was a very personal and touching experience. In the new 12 week training program in the instructions for trainers it says something to the effect of, "The effect that a trainer has on his companion sets the stage for his whole mission and life". That has never been more true than it has been for me with Elder Nelson, and I hope that Elder Hatch feels for me what I feel for Elder Nelson. A profound gratitude that can never be repaid. The rest of the day was spent in a bus and was SUPER tiring!!
I didn't get to Sayaxché until Thursday morning at 11:15 and we were absolutely EXHAUSTED from the trip. My new companion is Elder Castillo from Mexico. He has been in our area for 2 changes already, but he was waiting for me in San Benito when we arrived on Thursday morning at 12:15 a.m. where we slept in the ZLs house and left San Benito for Sayaxché at about 9:30 a.m.
As I said earlier, it is HOT here in Sayaxché and I sweat like you would not believe! It's a small branch of about 50 active members with another 30 less/inactive if not more. I have been walking around pretty lost here. It isn't city, at all... but the word "village" is a misnomer. Country doesn't quite work either. It's relatively flat and very green, like Nevis... I have a picture, but it is also misleading... Little by little you will get photos and realize what Sayaxché is like.
Love you all!!!
Elder Andrew A. LaPray
Going backwards... Well, I forgot my journal, so I'm not going to have awesome detail, but Monday and Tuesday were absolutely JAM PACKED with information... Haha, that reminded me of the movie "Space Balls" when Dan Akroyd's ship's radar gets "jammed" and he says "Raspberry!!" HILARIOUS!
On Monday night Elder Flores and I went to see Hermelinda and Jimena and it was an absolutely heart touching visit. They showed me their idaho ID cards and a whole bunch of pictures from Dora Erickson, mostly school pictures. I also showed them my Idaho drivers' license. From there, we began to talk about the gospel and Hermelinda told us how it was that she came to church. It's a really long story, but I'll try to get it all out there. First of all, Hermelinda knows Preston and Lesly Poulsen(spelling?) the ones who lived by us in Georgetown Ct... well, Sis. Poulsen picks up her daughter, Camilla, from school every day. Camilla is listening to the sister missionaries in Idaho Falls. Here in Zone 2 of the capital there is a missionary couple from Idaho Falls name of Call, who are serving as dentists. Preston knows them and so they called the Calls and asked them to go find Hermelinda and give her "For the Strength of Youth" and "Personal Progress" because Camilla is learning about those two books. They also told her that our church was close by and thus, on Sunday, she came to church. Luckily my companion and I were still waiting to enter meetings with the bishop or we likely would have been gone already. And that's how they got to church on Sunday. Without going into a lot of detail, Hermelinda and Jimena have been prepared to receive the message of the Restored Gospel like you cannot imagine. We shared with them more about the Book of Mormon, where it came from, and left them a chapter to read, 3 Nephi 11.
When I told them that I had received a change and I would no longer be passing by, Jimena started crying instantly, which absolutely broke my heart. In the blink of an eye, the incredible happiness that we all 3 had felt was swept out from beneath our feet. I testified to them of the great love of our Heavenly Father in permitting us to meet each other on that fateful Sunday, July 29th, what we learned would be my last Sunday in Las Victorias. Although it could sound absolutely ridiculous to some, I believe that God has a wise purpose in having them both here, in Zone 1, and having me in Las Victorias for those 4 changes. There is no way that it was "chance".
Tuesday was full of goodbyes and a lot of tears from different people. I can't describe it all. I said goodbye to Gilda and Marian, to Gloria, to Otto and Karen, familia Relac, Ulises, el Gato, familia García, familia Jiménez, Hermelinda and Jimena (which was also a lesson), and Hna. Oliva. It was a busy day and a very sad day, but the Lord knows what He is doing in His vineyard (see Jacob 5).
Wednesday was change conference. I cried when Elder Nelson gave his last testimony. It was a very personal and touching experience. In the new 12 week training program in the instructions for trainers it says something to the effect of, "The effect that a trainer has on his companion sets the stage for his whole mission and life". That has never been more true than it has been for me with Elder Nelson, and I hope that Elder Hatch feels for me what I feel for Elder Nelson. A profound gratitude that can never be repaid. The rest of the day was spent in a bus and was SUPER tiring!!
I didn't get to Sayaxché until Thursday morning at 11:15 and we were absolutely EXHAUSTED from the trip. My new companion is Elder Castillo from Mexico. He has been in our area for 2 changes already, but he was waiting for me in San Benito when we arrived on Thursday morning at 12:15 a.m. where we slept in the ZLs house and left San Benito for Sayaxché at about 9:30 a.m.
As I said earlier, it is HOT here in Sayaxché and I sweat like you would not believe! It's a small branch of about 50 active members with another 30 less/inactive if not more. I have been walking around pretty lost here. It isn't city, at all... but the word "village" is a misnomer. Country doesn't quite work either. It's relatively flat and very green, like Nevis... I have a picture, but it is also misleading... Little by little you will get photos and realize what Sayaxché is like.
Love you all!!!
Elder Andrew A. LaPray
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