Week 89 Long Week

This week was soooo stressful.

We had to plan a bus to get the whole zone to take us to Choluteca and one set of hermanas got lost and we had to go and find them.

Then the day after we had to prepare the church for interviews with President Bowler. Everything went well. But I think the thing that stressed me out the most was that we were in divisions all week because of the conference and interviews. And then one missionary had to go to Teguc on Friday and so we were in divisions from Tuesday until Saturday. It was incredible. On Friday we had to do divisions with this missionary who isn't even from the zone and he was just a loco taco. He was just screaming and singing and dancing in the street. When we contacted people, he would just speak in pure slang.... and I was with him all day. I would pass him the time to teach and he wouldn't even know what to say... it was tough. And it was my birthday so I was hoping to have a better day but instead I was just baby sitting all day. And we didn't find anyone to teach the whole day, we just contacted alllllllll the live long day.

But this week ended and I'm glad and I'm excited for a new week. This week should be less stressful but still really hot and tiring. This area is great but it is kicking my butt. It's just so hot and we are working so hard and not having any success. We never have investigators at church. And my companion wants to just work his way and not really listen to my advice. Like yesterday I realized that the president of the relief society has a husband but he isn't baptized... but for some reason we aren't even teaching him. We have investigators that could be baptized but we don't visit them, just knock on doors. So yesterday I talked to my comp and we placed some lessons with those people that could be baptized and we will see what we can do with them.

Thank you guys for all of the happy birthday wishes,

I love you all

Elder Garry

Week 88 Birthday Week

This week was hot. Like last week and probably will be hot this week again. I'm turning into a weird orange and red color. Time to use sun screen. But I sweat so much that the sun screen will probably just come right off and I will start sweating a weird white paste.... decisions decisions.
My comp and I are working so hard!!! We are out in that hot hot sun trying to find people to give them salvation!! I don't think the people know that because they just hide and leave us in the heat and our message of salvation in our hands... we did divisions the other day with a 16 year old and he was like so surprised the whole time we were teaching. We would knock on the door and then he would turn to us and say "you saw them hide right?" and we said yep, lets go to the next house. And then we knock the the baby runs to the door and says "my mom says shes not home" and then the guys says.... that was a lie right. And he was just like "does this happen every day" and we said, yeah, usually they don't send the baby so today is actually better than the other days hahaha the poor guy is probably never going to go on a mission now hahahaha
We are trying so hard to find people. our area is huge!! like giant. and i think we have knocked on like half of the doors already. I just don't know if we are working effectively. I think we will start to visit more members to try to get references now. We do have some great investigators but they have to get divorced then remarried and that never happens. We have to convince parents that hate Mormons to let their kids who go to church every week get baptized. We have to convince people who think they are catholic to realized that they haven't ever gone to church so it is okay to get baptized..... Honduras.But I love it here!
This week will be so great!!! I am grateful for all of your birthday wishes!! I hope you have a great week and I hope you all eat Taco Bell for me in honor of my birthday. A green taco because its still St Patricks day and you have to respect the green.
I love you all!!
Elder Garry

Week 87 T-minus 100 days

This was a tough week. but a great one at the same time

So I wasn't even expecting to have transfers so having to say goodbye to everyone was really tough because I wasn't mentally prepared. I wish I could have stayed another transfer in Danli where it is nice and cold and everything. But I got transfers and now I am here in the hottest place in all of Honduras. The thing is that the area really isn't bad at all. This is the only area that I have ever been in where there are actually real streets. like paved roads!!!! I didn't know that they excited!! My area is right there on the beach too so we area always passing by and it is really pretty. the only thing is that it is like another level of HOT. it is the hottest place in all of Honduras.  And I testify that it is true. After like 4 days, I am already more Brown. People ask if I am from Guatemala now because I am not a gringo anymore. Not true but it could happen.

I am feeling really stressed though. It is so hot that I cant sleep. We have fans but they just blow hot air. So I don't get cooled off. because I cant sleep it makes it really hard to want to work. And my new companion is a beast at working. He can do about 58 hours of work in the 48 hours that the week gives to us. So I am working like a dog, in the hot hot hot hot sun, and I cant sleep. And our investigators live sooooo far away so to visit them, we have to go and walk for like 20 minutes to visit them. I just feel exhausted in this area. And our pday suuuucckkss! We just watch a Disney movie in our church then my comp was like, "Alright, everyone leave" and made them leave!!! So it's just me and him again like this whole week. And I love him. Honestly he is probably one of my most fun companion to talk to. He and I get along perfectly! It's just frustrating how tired I am all of the time. I'm just exhausted.

But lets talk about the blessings that we have received from the crazy amount of work that we have done.

We found a less active family with a 10 year old daughter who hasn't gotten baptized.

We found a family that are actually married. I know I know I know, I didn't think that a married couple existed either but they have proven me wrong haha and they are Golden!! They have some great questions and are even parents of kids who can get married too!

We are visiting a guy who has been an investigator for 2 years and we can see him progressing.

So yeah, through this sacrifice and exhaustion, are coming very great things!

Pray for me. just so that I can maybe sleep during the week so that I'm not as tired.

I love you all

Elder Garry

Week 86 New Area

Alright well this week was pretty good!!

I think that the highlight of the whole week was getting to see our recent convert Kevin go to church in his suit again and pass the sacrament and then later get called to be the president of the teachers quorum! I was so happy and excited and me and my comp went and gave him a huge hug after wards.  He even brought his friend Jerson to church. And Jerson after being there for the first time in his life, told us, "I want to be baptized too". Our convert is a beast.
Cool story about Jerson, I knew him like a week before meeting him properly. We had met at a pulperia and we just started talking about sports and then I asked if he likes soccer and he said yes. Then I asked if he knew a few members of the church because there are 2 twins that will go pro. They are incredible. And he said yeah and then we kind of left. Then when Kevin presented us to Jerson, I had already known him!! It was so cool seeing how God will prepare people to receive this gospel. First we started to teach his best friend, we met Jerson, Then his best friend got baptized, then his best friend presented him to us, then he went to church and will now be getting baptized on the 11 of March. It's incredible how it all just worked out. Jerson already told me that he wants me to baptize him. Only sad part is that now I have changes so now I cant get to see his baptism nor baptize him. Really sad. But the fun part is that I will be going to my last area. Another bad... is that my area is in the middle of NO WHERE. and its so hot. and my zone is like the worst that there is. and I'm a little worried about my companion. but I'm always up for a challenge! I'm sure it will be great!

This week was pretty good. next week I will write about how it is going on the surface of the sun!
Love Elder Garry

Week 85 Pictures

Okay, I get the feeling that this might be a long letter so sit back, make some popcorn, and stay with me.

With this week, I have no complaints, I was sick on Friday again but still no complaints.

I will run through the highlights

This Saturday we had a baptism! His name is Kevin, hes turning 14 this Wednesday, and he is a 100% future missionary! He was a golden investigator for sure. We legit started teaching him like 3 weeks ago. For 3 weeks he went to seminary every day, even institute. he went to church every week.  When he got baptized, he stood right up and bore his testimony. And started to cry during it because he said he could feel the Holy Ghost so strong in his heart. It was such a great moment. Then for his confirmation, he showed up in a suit, with a white shirt, and the tie that we had given him! And he was confirmed in the Aaronic priesthood!!It was just so great to see all of that. It was fun and all but for me, the best part was thinking about who he can and will become.  He is a convert for sure. He is fully converted. And I know that he will become a missionary. So he will also be able to go and teach people in his mission and baptize. His kids will as well. His converts in the mission will have kids and they will also be missionaries. It was just so great to think not only in the right now, but the eternal perspective.

Another great thing this week was that we got to go down to my first area for Pday!! We finally got permission for the APs and it was probably one of the best days of my mission. I honestly felt like I was going home to see my family.

I got to see my first convert who was a bit rebellious. He saw me and ran to me and gave me a hug. He told me that he was going to seminary and going to church!!! He still doesn't like going in a white shirt and tie but I gave him an extra plaque (name tag) that I always have with me in case I lose mine or forget it, and he said that he will put on his white shirt just to put on the plaque that I gave him with my name on it!

I got to see my second convert and she told me that she was preparing to go to the temple and that she was so proud of herself that she is paying her tithing!!!!! She called all of her kids out of school to come home and see me!! And she made us all baleadas!! It was so fun!!

I got to see my favorite family and hear that they are all so excited to go to church and go to seminary!! That the parents are going to finally get married!! That the dad is now going to church every week and reads the BOM every day and they do family home evenings in the house!! When I saw momma Sonya, she saw me and said hey elders, then turned around and then shot back around and screamed GARRRRYYYYYYYY!! It was soo funny!! And then her little kids saw me and came running out into the living room and all just jumped up onto me and gave me huge hugs including kisses on the cheeks and everything!! It was like seeing my family all over again. I went there every single day for 6 months. She gave me dinner, she took care of me when I was sick, and even talked to me when I was sad. She also said I speak better Spanish now. #goals

I was able to see that the little seeds that I dropped over a year ago are all growing into strong testimonies and strong families!!! I about cried with every person that I saw!!!!

Its like my favorite scripture says in DC 64:33 Be not weary, for you are in the well doing of a great work. And out of small things, proceed that which is great!!

It seemed to me like I didn't do much there, but now I see that the small things that I did, are now growing into great and important things

And another fun story that I loved is about this 16 year old who is really rebellious and kind of rude, his name is Rafael. He is a stubborn guy who only looks to the negative and is really rude to everyone. But for some reason, still goes to church. So I think he has a small testimony or just uses the free wifi. either way he goes!!!. But the thing is that I went to visit with the Young Mens pres. this week to visit him because he told me that he needed help with Rafael. He explained to me what was happening and I said, sure lets go. While there, he was really rude. like crazy rude to everyone. Said that he will never go to church because the youth are all bad and that he will never go to seminary because he doesn't want to wake up. And it was just full of a bad spirit. But before I left, I got the impression to ask him about his hobby which is contortionism. and he is actually like crazy good at it.  He lit up and got half way happy. So we left on kind of bad terms but not too bad. Then a few days later on Sunday, we went back to ask why he didn't go to church. and I knew the plan was ask why, But instead of doing that, I immediately went and started asking him about contortionism and showed him that I could touch my toes because I was stretching all week to get better and make him proud. He even laughed and then proceeded to stick his knee behind his head... I told him it wasn't a competition and then started to awkwardly stretch and show him I could touch my toes again and he laughed again!. The Spirit just told me to love him. I realized that no one else did. not even Rafael, loved himself. So I just talked to him about him. And instead of asking why he didn't go, I just talked about him and we laughed and it was completely different and then a the very end, I invited him to church for the next week and said he will go!! Now I don't know if he will pay attention but that's the first step in the eternal view!!

Over all a great week!!

Another highlight was that we made intestine tacos with our land lord.... not as bad as you would think. Not as good as you would hope either hahaha

And you guys wonder why I get sick. because I'm eating dog food hahaha

I just feel so happy to be here in the mission!

I love you all!!!

Elder Garry

Week 84

Ok this week was honestly so great!

I will start off by saying that I was feeling really tired here in the mission. Just ready for the 24 months to end and go home. So I had my interviews with President Bowler and he really helped me out. He said that now is the time to really focus on the mission because they are my last 4 months. And I will always remember my last 4 months more than any other time in my mission. If I just blow it, I will always remember that I was a bad missionary, but if I just dive right into the work, I will always have a great taste in my mouth about the mission. And then he just started telling me how much he trusts me and how much he loves me and appreciates me. He gave me the option to just train because it will help me be more excited but he said that he needs me as a zone leader right now. He just really made me feel special and appreciate and it was nice to hear it all. and now I feel so energized and ready to go and conquer the world!

Another cool thing was that the day after our interviews, we woke up and were so excited to work. Instead of just doing a prayer before we left, we really asked for guidance to know where to go and work. We were walking without plans and randomly would just knock on a door. and we did it about 10 times before we knocked on a certain door. There were kids out side and when I saw them, I saw their smiles and I thought, they must be members if they are that happy. Then I see their mom and I think, wow, I think she is a member as well. Not because I recognized them but because of their radiance and appearance. So we start talking to them and they say that missionaries have never gone to their house. That the mom hates all churches because she feels like no matter what she does, she cant be blessed. And that only the rich are blessed but the poor are never blessed. She said that God doesn’t love her, he doesn’t even know her. She was crying because of how frustrated she was with God, but Elder Flores and I were just connected that day and we both knew her medicine. We talked about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and that he died for her as well. We talked about Job and how hard his life was and then came the blessings. We promised her that as she listened to our messages and starts going to church, she will also be able to see the blessings in her life multiply. Then he tears started to change from tears of frustration to tears of hope. She invited us back for this Saturday and said that she will be there and waiting for us at 10 in the morning.

It was so awesome. It was great how we asked for guidance and we received it. It was such a great experience

Another crazy thing happened.

There was stake conference this week and a member invited someone to the priesthood session. He went and when he was going back home, he got into a car accident and died. He was only like 19 maybe 20. I saw him every day because he lived right in front of the church and even entered to play with the jovenes. The thing that kills me the most is that every time I saw him, I wanted to talk to him. Every single time. I would see him and he would look at me and the Spirit would tell me to talk to him. I would see him many times during the day. and yet not once did I ever talk to him. Now it is too late to talk to him. Now I feel like it is my fault that he never got baptized because I denied him the opportunity. I learned that he attended seminary a few years ago. He went to church and everything. Never baptized. We could have done something but I never acted on the prompting to talk to him. It really crushes my heart and makes me really sad and full of guilt.

This week was a good one in learning experiences. Always seek the guidance of the Spirit like in the story of contacting, and also to act of the promptings of the Spirit. I will always remember these things.

I love you all

Elder Garry

Decided to get dressed up for stake conference

Week 83

Well my week was pretty good! It had its ups and downs. I realized that I haven't written a big email in a while so I will stop by and say hi.

This week started off pretty well. We had some cool lessons and we worked really hot. During the day here it is starting to get really hot so we are starting to sweat. It is weird because I haven't sweated since Choluteca. Then its weird because at night it gets super cold. And it started to rain recently. It's like Honduras just doesn't know what it wants. Bipolar for sure.

But we were able to have some great lessons with out investigators Kevin and Angel. They are both friends of some guys that will be leaving on their missions soon and they are super great! Kevin already has family that are members and goes to church on his own and even goes to seminary that starts at 5!!! That is so early!!! He goes to institute as well. And he is 14. He is just a stud. Angel is going to church too but not as motivated as Kevin is I think haha

So yeah the week was good. Saturday came around and I started to die. I think Friday I ate something bad and because of that it gave me food poisoning allllll day! I remember just dying. I threw up so often that I got super dehydrated. To the point that I actually started to hallucinate. My comp went and did divisions so I stayed in a gringo division with Elder Strickland who is a stud. He said that I would just start randomly talking to myself in Spanish about nothing. I could have sworn that was like at home but it was all a dream. it was super crazy. I drank so much water that next day but I still feel a bit weak and odd. Slowly I am getting better.

You would think that after 19 months in a place as crazy as Honduras, I would already be used to all of this but I guess not.

This next week should be fun. I get to go to Tegucigalpa for leadership council and all of that fun... not. Then Friday are interviews so that should be fun to get to talk to President Bowler again one on one.

I love you all

Elder Garry