Week 64 good week

So this week was actually really great.  We weren't able to get the baptism because we had a big conference in the morning and then the womans conference at night.  Because Gisenias brother died a while back all of the family is taking turns taking care of the mom and this week she was gone like allll week with the mom.  She didn't even get to go to church because she wasnt even down in choluteca.  It is all just so sad with sister gisenia.  I just dont know what to do to help her because I haven't ever had an experience like that one.  So I am really relying on the Spirit to guide the lessons so I can know what to send her.  But the thing is that she still wants to get baptized so we will just do it later on.

But the week was good.  It was really really quick.  I really love all of my investigators that I have.  We have a total of 10 investigators that are progressing.  And of those 10, they have all gone to church!! So we just really have to get into the phase of baptizing! haha  a really cool thing that happened this week was that we had 2 investigators really open up to me and my companion.  One is named Lincoln and he is a dude that didnt want anything at first.  We found him like in the first week with Elder Santacruz and I was just trying to show him how to try to put an appt even with people that dont want anything.  and because I was stubborn with him, he is now someone that has a little testimony builiding!!!  he opened up to us on like Thursday and told us, "Elders, in the past, i have been visited by so many missionaries and I always listened to be nice.  But the truth is that i didnt understand why they were there.  They told me about Joseph Smith and baptism but i didnt understand why that was important.  and then you guys came to my door and I honestly didn't want anything, but now because of you guys, i understand why this is important.  You are the only ones that really are teaching me and not just throwing the lesson in my face".  It was such a great moment.  It just shows that we really gotta get to know the investigators so we can know HOW to teach the investigator.  Because the lessons are easy to teach but they are even easier if we know how to teach it to teach their needs and problems!

then our other investigator Carlos, we have been teaching him since the days of Elder Hernandez.  and he just wasnt ever really progressing but goes to church with us and everything.  We would always put baptismal dates but he wouldnt get baptize.  We realized that maybe he just didnt understand the Resoration yet.  So we watched Joseph Smith movie with him and right after he just looked at us and says "I think it is time to get baptized" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he told us that this whole week he has wanted to get baptized and then he was nervous because of it so started dodging us.  Then he called us to invite us to come over and then we watched the movie and boom! A super awesome investigator!!!

This week was just so great!! And really wet! It rained really hard all week again.  Like honeslty, it rains everyday all day.  im either sweating form the heat or just soaking wet from rain..... its all about the experiences though right!!

Well I love you all!

Elder Garry

Week 63

So this week was just thrilling!! mostly because of what is happening with our golden investigator Gisenia.

So we had planned to visit her on Thursday but that Saturday before, her brother was kidnapped. So she calls us Thursday and tells us that on Wednesday, her brother was found murdered. I guess what had happened is like 3 years ago, he was offered a lot of money to kill his best friend and said no. And the dude told him, well that's fine if you don't want to do it, but now you know and I will kill you if you tell anyone. So he didn't tell anyone and nothing bad happened to his friend. But a few months ago, I guess he told his friend about it. And now he shows up murdered. So now our investigator is really sad and an emotional wreck. We went and visited her and she just opened the door, looked at us, and started crying again. It was really sad. But it was a perfect time to teach her the plan of salvation. She told us that in the message, she was just full of peace. That she didn't forget her brother died but that she just understood better that it is all part of the plan that God gives us all. It was a really spiritual time. We told her that the plan that God made is perfect and that there are no mistakes. That people die when they are supposed to die. She asked me why some people die in worse ways than other people. and i just told her I don't know, but that we just need to put faith that this wasn't an accident but that this is all part of the plan of God. She was so amazed at the message and the new information that we had taught her with her own bible, that she just realized that this was the True Church of Jesus Christ and that she needed to be baptized in his church. She still doesn't understand the whole Joseph Smith thing but we are working on that and tonight we have another movie about the prophet Wilford Woodruff that talks about being baptized again by the correct authority of God. So we hope that it all goes well.

Right now while I am typing, there is a bird pecking at the window trying to get in. Should i let it in???

Anyways, a fun thing was that we are finally seeing all of the fruits of our work. This Sunday we had 7 investigators in church! and they are all people that we are actually teaching and not just friends that people brought to church. But real people that could really be baptized. I am really hoping to be able to have all of them get baptized within the next 3 weeks because that would be amazing. We work hard every day and now we are finally seeing it. I think the blessings come from working in the super hot sun and the pouring rain. Whatever you throw at us, we are still out there talking to people even though they think we are crazy for walking in the streets when the rain has overflowed everything and it is now up to like our calves. I tried taking pictures but i didn't want to ruin my camera so i figured you could just take my word for it. After all, like it says in St John 20:29. It is better to have faith than seeing to believe. But it was incredible how hard it rained this week. Our whole area was just flooded because it rained for a good 3 hours straight. but wicked hard rain. It felt like hail was spiking me in the face. And I don't know why, but Choluteca is super hot, but the rain is FREEZING cold.

This week I ask that the people who actually read this, pray that Gisenia can get baptized this Saturday. This is a big moment and we all know that Satan will be working against her. So i ask that everyone will pray and pray so that she can get baptized this Saturday. It should be really fun because Elder Santacruz will be able to baptize her. And it will be his first time! I love seeing that little guy grow up! I remember his first couple steps and now he is going to baptize someone!


I love you all!

Elder Garry

Week 61 Rain more rain and pictures!

So this week nothing big happened in the life of a Honduran missionary.  This week it rained like crazy.  Like I have honestly never seen so much rain.  I feel like now, it is weird to me if it doesn't rain.  For about 4 weeks straight, it has rained almost every day without fail and I have gotten soaked, about every week without fail.  But on Thursday, it was on a whole different level.  I wish i had gotten photos of it all.  So we had just finished our district meeting on Thursday and we decided to go to KFC and eat.  So while we were there it seemed like the end of the earth type of rain.  The lights were flickering on and off, there were people running inside for shelter, and there were lightening bolts landing in the parking lot.  I mean it was some pretty legendary stuff.  I was in KFC for 3 hours waiting for it to stop raining that hard.  And when it all stopped, the roads were flooded and not one taxi wanted to take me home... so we walked.  And no I'm not bitter, just soaked.  and because of the rain that keeps coming, we basically never have power in all of the city of Choluteca.  So when like 6 comes around, we have to go home because there isn't anymore light to work with.  So legit, this week I might have had a full 2 days to work.  And without light in the house, it really isn't all that fun to stay home either.  We couldn't even play chess!

It is fun having to jump from like pebble to pebble to cross a lake of water, but if you miss that pebble, the day just turns to suck a whole lot faster haha but I think that it amuses the Hondurans to see the Mormon Missionaries trying to preach the gospel in this hurricane so I just keep doing it because at least that one someone is happy!

Another fun thing that happened this week is that we got to go to Teguc for a training meeting.  It was basically a time to find out who is working and who isnt working.  I felt pretty good about it though and it was fun to stress out the other missionaries who have already broken their children and they dont work as much hahaha  I love the meetings because they always just give us pizza so that is a good free meal.

I mean honestly that was about it.  Just a normal, regular week.  I need you all to pray that my investigators can get baptized.  We are teaching so many but they just aren't getting baptized.  They all know it is true but they just aren't baptized.  So pray that we can get them baptized!

Love you all
Jon

Week 60 How beautiful is the doctrine of Christ

This week was a good one for sure.  I have some more fun stories and some sketchy stories so I hope you all enjoy.

So this week we got to visit our golden investigator who we found underneath a lamp post at night a few times.  Each time gradually got crazier and crazier.  The first time was great, we went, got to talk to her about how she liked church and it was really normal.  talked about baptism a bit more and she didnt understand why she had to be baptized again so we explained it and she was like oh okay yeah i got it.  So it was chill.

Then the next time we went, her and her whole family tree were all hanging out at her house so that was exciting.  Usually I try to avoid circumstances where there are a lot of people because they always just try to tag team on us and try to bible bash and it just really isn't a good experience.  So we were about to head out and then her friend basically just challenges us in front of everyone and says, "salvation is personal, so then why do you baptize for dead people and get sealed to dead people".  I was just like ughhh I really don't want to have to explain this really deep doctrine in front of like 6 people who are all very very crazy religious in their churches.  So I was like okay I wanted to back out and then the guy goes "no, tell me why you think that" and he was angry.  And I was just chilling in my seat with some Cheetos and a coca cola in my hands and I was like I just don't know what to do.  Fast back to like an hour earlier.  We had gone to the bathroom at our house and I just sat down and read my patriarchal blessing.  It says that I will be a great teacher who will proclaim the gospel well. I got in my feels thinking what am I lacking to be this great teacher.  What do I need to change to become this great teacher.  So I said a prayer asking for help to know what to do.  Then we left and went with the golden investigator.  Now back to the story.  I was there with my Cheetos and coke thinking what do I do.  and the Spirit told me "Teach with authority, you are a representative of Jesus Christ, you know this is true so do not be afraid.  The answer to my question came to my mind and in that moment, I set the Cheetos and coke on the ground, grabbed my bible, and just taught it all.  I have never in all of my mission, taught with such vigor and confidence.  To the point that I had truly showed them that salvation is personal, but we as people who are already saved need to go and help others become saved.  I explained it all.  And at the end, everyone was just sitting there staring and they all told me, "how beautiful is the doctrine of Christ".  Teaching with that authority, is the key to become that great teacher.  I wish I had learned it earlier but now I know, and now I will never be afraid to teach something ever again.  Our investigator understood it all because the Spirit was the teacher, not me.  A great moment.

Then with the same people just a few days later, we went back.  And this time the family reunion ended and it was just her and her daughter.  We got to talking and she told us about how that friend who challenged us really isn't her friend.  That he is basically stalking her and she doesn't know what to do.  He challenged us to basically try to run us away because he doesn't like that we are there with her.  I guess they were friends for like 6 years but for this past year, he has just gone crazy and now stalks her and doesn't leave her alone.  So she was like begging us to help her and I just don't know what to do in that moment.  I basically had to tell her that our job isn't to be a body guard but to help people spiritually but we recommended that she talks to the bishop so that he can get some other people involved.  And it all just made sense why when he is there, she like shuts down and doesn't want to talk to anyone and just looks really bored because she is trying to ignore him.  But that day that she told us about this, she was completely different.  So we have been praying a lot to help her know what to do but other than pray, there really isn't much that we can do.

This week was just great.  we are teaching a ton, finding a ton of people and just having fun here.

I love you all
Elder Garry

Week 59 Contacting Stories

So this week was just fun of little fun stories.  I will start with a member named Martina.

So we were contacting an area that is super poor.  Like houses made of sticks and mud.  Like the mud still has like pieces of grass stuck in it.  And everyone kept asking us if we were looking for someone named Martina and i was like uhh no.  I'm looking for you guys! haha so after we finally went and knocked on the door of this Martina.  I didn't know if it was a member or an old investigator or what. So we went there and she comes strolling out and she sees us and just gets super angry.  She is an old lady and apparently got really sick and no one came to help her.  So she said that we aren't allowed to come when she is healthy because no one came when she was sick.  And she goes, "unless you bring me food I will not receive you guys here" and slams her little wooden stick door.  I was afraid her house was going to break.  My comp just looked at me like what do we do.  I was like "didn't you hear her? She wants food! So we ran and bought some bread and a juice and went back!! She sees the food and just starts smiling soooo hard and laughing and brings out to buckets to sit on.  And she told us her story and how she got baptized like 2 years ago and then went to the temple a year ago and then got sick and almost died.  But now she loves us.  We went and did service in her house cutting her lawn with a machete.  Which is harder than it sounds hahaha walked away with a nice blister and a great friend named Martina who even went to church the next Sunday after about 6 months without going!!! We went and got her and we were 30 minutes late to church because of how slow she walks but we went!

Then a really awesome experience that Santacruz and I had contacting.  It was Monday night at like 8 40.  We were both just tired and we were debating just going to the house early.  I told him that we need to knock on 5 doors more and then we can go home.  We knock on 4 really fast and everyone was rude and didn't want anything to do with us and we were even more ready to go home.  Then we turn the corner and we see a lady sitting on her porch under her porch light doing nothing.  I look and my companion and jokingly tell him that she is ready to be baptized.  We went and she was literally golden.  Just full of questions.  Questions like "what is the true church of God" "where can I find it and how" and "what is the Book of Mormon" so we went and taught her the lesson about the restoration.  She was like "wow, I love it all" and then we went another day and loved it.  Then she even went to church with us yesterday with her best friend!!  I am just speechless!! She is amazing. Her name is Gisenia and she is just great!!

And another story is that we have a family that we are teaching and they invited us to help them build a wall, also out of mud and sticks.  So we went on Tuesday.  we get there and the dad was like "you're right on time, I just got back with the CocaCola" so I was like right on haha we basically just talked the whole time and didn't build anything.  The wife said something really cool. She told us that never had the missionaries been able to build a relationship with the dad before but with us we are joking around and just having a good time.  Shout out to my magic card tricks by the way hahaha and the dad goes "I want you all to know that my house is open for you at any time of the day and any day." and he says that he and his whole family will go to church with us this Sunday!  It was a really great teaching opportunity for my kid because I was able to show him that being a missionary doesn't just mean showing up and teaching but really getting to know them and love them so that our message is more personal to them.  Our whole purpose is to find the need of every investigator and if we just show up and teach without knowing them, how will we ever find the need?? A great moment for sure!

Other than that we had a good week. Our baptism fell again which is frustrating and I don't think he will be baptized this Saturday either but we will see.  We are working a ton.  Like a ton.  My poor kid is just dead everyday all day but at least he will learn how to work hard and have fun!

I love you all!
Elder Garry

 Ivette

Week 58 Great week and pictures

So this week was really great! It was full of hard work, great advice, the Holy Ghost, and not that many niños asking me if i want coffee. Overall pretty good if i say so myself!

So Elder Santacruz and i are like the 3 muskateers but there is just 2 of us. He and i get along so great! I feel like i am in my training again how much i love my companion. It is so fun just being with someone so new because they copy you exactlly. The way that i contact, teach, give examples, or even eat, he will just copy it all. He is just like a smaller latino version of Elder Garry. So hes basically already the best haha This week we had a ton of success. We found 9 new people!! and a complete family!!! It has always been my dream to be able to bring a family into the Church and then hear about how they all get sealed together a year later. like it has always been my dream and i can seriously see this family getting baptized!! They are all so great. The key of it all is the father of the family. He really does love his whole family. ANd because of that, they are more willing to do things together like listen to our messages! THis week we taught the Book of Mormon which is usually a make or break lesson. ANd by the end they were like "so when are you going to give us one of these books??" and that day it was raining so hard so we didnt bring any with us because we didnt want them to get soaked. So today we stopped by and gave them the books and they were so happy! Its times like these when you just really love being a missionary!
Except when it rains, that sucks. and this whole week i have just been wet from rain. But like it says in Garry 3:16. "If thou wilst labor in the rains, your wife will be more attractive" so basically im alright about it.

And then this week we all had interviews with President Bowler. I honestly love him and his wife with all of my heart. So that day i had to give a class about Inspired Questions, Challenges, and Testimonys, and it was so great. Like it was the first time that i 100% felt comfortable giving a class infront of all of the missionaries. And then in my interview it was so great as well. I had been feeling really really stressed lately. Just the expectation to train and make him a great missionary was tough. I felt like i had to be the best example and make sure that we are always doing something and it was hard. So i was really looking forward to my interview. And Pres. Bowler really gave me some great advice. 1. That these arent MY investigators nor are they MY members in the ward. But they are all Heavenly Fathers children. And that i dont have to be worried about it because if i am doing my job, God will fill my mouth with the words that i need to say to help them all. 2. is that when my appts fall, that is a clear sign from God that it is time to go and contact and not get sad about all of the appts that arent working out. those two things really really helped me out a lot.

Overall a really good week. I think this week we will have a baptism. His name is Carlos and this week we did a fast together to help him get over coffee and his other problems. It was a really spiritual experience for all 3 of us.


I love you all!
Elder Garry




It's raining like crazy but I'm okay because my wife will be beautiful!




Ninos doing Nino things



My Tongan Zone Leader...he is the dopest!



Proof that I work hard



Group selfie on the bus

Week 57 New companion & Pictures

Hey so this week was the week that I became a father!!!  I have a kid! They call training having a kid so that is why I say I'm a father!  So his name is Elder Santacruz from Ecuador!!!  He reminds me a lot of my first companion Elder Reinoso.  Just like super goofy and they even look alike!  But he is so great.  I love that guy so much!!  I really do feel like he is my kid or like I'm babysitting kind of haha when we go out and work he is like "wow it is realllly hot, can we just get some water and stand in the shade for a minute" so I'm like sure little guy!! I'll buy you a little juice box if you want?? And in the lessons he panics and freaks out a lot he will just look at me and like shake his head and say no. Then I will just continue teaching haha  the funny thing is that he is just like how I was when I was in my training.  Like super scared to teach, really nervous and timid.  Now I'm a fire ball. So I hope that I can bring out his inner fire ball and turn this guy into a future AP of the mission haha that would be cool.  Another elder in my zone is training a gringo and I just feel so so so sad for that guy.  I think I forgot how hard the mission was at first.  This guy speaks like zero Spanish and speaks like a TRUE gringo haha  I just try to help him out as much as possible with translating and things like that.

But this week I worked my new guy like a dog.  He just says how tired he is all of the time hahaha it's super funny.  I put him in charge of teaching all of the retentions.  So he is in charge of choosing the scripture and teaching it and then I come and then testify of what he said.  It is that way because the members are more relaxed and wont say anything crazy like an investigator would.  And with our investigators, I put him in charge of putting the baptismal challenges.  He put 4 this week!!!  And they all said yes!!  He just has the magic touch!

I love being with someone that is really motivated. I'm glad to be out working again and enjoying the life of a missionary.  I am so happy to be a trainer and a dad!!  Every time I call for him, I never say Elder Santacruz, I always say like "hey mijo" or "aye zipote" which all translate to hey my son or hey kid. I love him so much!

I love you all so much!
Elder Garry