Adios 2014...??

Familia,

Okay time just needs to SLOW DOWN for a little bit!

THE RUNDOWN:

-Christmas was filled with fiestas, bolos, tamales, bolos, ponche, oh and did I mention bolos??  Hopefully everyone is sobered up next week so we can have normal lessons/contacts again

-I am pro at mini ping pong

This week was filled with amazing moments and heart breaks.  You'd think I'd be used to it by now huh?  Haha love the mission. :)  It was an interesting week because everyone is gone and busy for Christmas, but we still were able to get a few lessons in!  We contacted like crazy with El es la Dádiva tarjetas and it was a great way to start talking to people and enter in their houses!  ...until we contacted a Jehovas Witness hahaha.  That was interesting.  But for the record, she did like the video!

Martes: We started out the week caroling!  The whole ward was invited to help us sing but only the bishop and 5 young men showed up... but it was still great!!!!  We caroled for our investigators and less actives and they were so happy!

Miercoles: Family time :) It was so great to talk to you all even though I couldn't hear 70% of what you said!  Haha Hermana Allen and I were talking after and realized that we look forward to the call for a long time, talk for 40 minutes, and realize that we didn't talk about much at all.  Haha but it's still great!  You are all amazing and sound old.

Sophie, i still haven't gotten any pics.............

We spent the day running between citas and dinner appointments with members! Literally running up and down hills all day long haha it was crazy.  TOO MUCH FOOD.

Jueves:  We spent the morning in the hospital with a sister that was sick.  Merry Christmas!  We then had a party / gift exchange with the office elders because we are always there doing nurse stuff.  I then won the mini ping pong tournament. We spent the rest of the night running between houses again. TOO MANY TAMALES. TOO MANY BOMBS.

Viernes: Christmas stopped all at once. Haha it's like you couldn't even tell it happened!  (well except for a lot more drunk guys passed out on the sidewalks than usual)

Sabado: Milagro! We are teaching a guy named Victor and he is an alcoholic. We're not sure if he's a member of the church or not because he just is really confusing, especially when he's drunk, but either way we are teaching him haha. A few days earlier we were with him and he was a liiiiiiiittle drunk... We gave him a book of mormon with alma 36 to read, and told him we would only come back saturday if he wasn't drunk and he promised he would clean up, put clean clothes on, do his hair, and be sober.  When we went on Saturday he was waiting for us outside and i could have sworn it was a different person! He was sober and looked very nice, unlike two days before. He sits down and tells us all about how much he loved the chapter, and started asking us questions that he had written down about it!  THAT NEVER HAPPENS. We were so so happy!  We explained who Helaman is, Alma, Mosiah, why the angel came, and that he can have that same conversion and change in his life and habits.  Christmas miracle folks.

Well time's up but I love you all.  Make some sweet goals and i'll talk to you next year.

NEC

h.llates

Feliz Navidad

Familia,

Wait, is it that time of year already?

Merry Christmas!! 

 

THE RUNDOWN:

-It's hot, sunny, and.. doesn't feel like Christmas here haha

-I gave a homeless man a birthday hug a few days ago...... it was involuntary but very funny and a long story

-I have the He is the Gift video memorized

-Somehow the ceiling was leaking water all night long even though it didn't rain.... I woke up a little wet and confused.

-I got to watch Frozen at the Christmas Zone Conference!!!

-Soph, we're teaching a 15 year old kid and he is THE BEST. and super cute... just sayin ;)

 

Another week of working, walking, knocking, and preaching.  It is nice not having to worry about a lot of the Christmas nonsense that goes on at this time of year!  All I'm worried about is helping our investigators live the law of chastity, stop using cocaine, stop beating their kids, and pray to the right Person in the Godhead.  IT'S AWESOME!!  I think it will be a rough week for working but at least everyone will be with their families, so that's good right?

 

On Thursday we had our Christmas Zone Conference even though the only part that had anything to do with Christmas was our musical number!  We sang a mix of Noche de Luz and Stars were Gleaming and it was so pretty!  I sang with Hermanas Gomez, Allen, and Faught, and some elders.  In the conference we talked a lot about the importance of the Book of Mormon.  President had us put our heads down, close our eyes, and asked us questions.  If the answer was yes, we put up a finger.

-I have read the Book of Mormon all the way through

-I read the Book of Mormon every day

-I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon

-I have an unshakable testimony of the Book of Mormon down to the bottom of my heart  (somethin like that, it's different in spanish..)

 

He was surprised to see how few fingers went up.  It was a really good moment to reflect about how deep our conviction is of the Book of Mormon.  I invite you all to ask yourselves that same set of questions and if you don't have 4 fingers up, to change something, whether it is a habit, priority, timeline, or desire in order to improve.  I know this book is true.  I know it has power unto conviction and salvation if we read it, ponder it, pray about it, seek personal revelation in it, and apply its teachings in our daily lives.  After all, by simple things are great things brought to pass, right?  Read it and love it :)

 

Last night was amazing!  There was a Christmas devotional in the Stake Center and everyone was there!!  From Chamelco, Coban, San Cristobal, and Canton.  It was amazing to see everyone.  I love them so so much.  One of the best moments was seeing Ana, our investigator we found right before I had emergency changes from coban to san cris.  She was baptized 3 weeks after I left and she was a changed person.  She was glowing with the Spirit.  She was so beautiful and she told me how happy she is.  She said how grateful she is to me for being the first to find her.  She said, "You planted the seed, and now look.  I am so happy.  I love being a member of the church of Jesus Christ.  I am forever grateful to you.  May God bless you forever."  I just was so grateful for missionary work.  I am just 20 year old Morgan from Utah, but the Lord knows how to use His servants in order to bless those searching for the truth.  I didn't do anything but walk, follow the Spirit, knock, and teach what I had dilligently studied, as did my companions.  God knows exactly what He is doing and it is amazing to be a part of His great, incomprehensible plan.  I am so grateful that Christ is the center of that plan, and for this time of year we have to remember Him and celebrate Him.

 

He is the Gift.  Discover the gift, accept it, share it.

Merry Christmas family :)  Talk to you later this week

 

No Empty Chairs

Hermana Yates

Oh how things have changed

Friends and Family,

Morgan's wonderful teacher from the Guatemala MTC (CCM), Hermana Andrea Alverado, is moving to Utah to go to school.  We have the privilege of having Andrea, her parents, and her younger sister, staying with us this coming week.  They are beautiful, gracious, kind, and grateful people.  We are enjoying having them with us and Isaac is really enjoying having the Spanish language fill our home:)  Having them here is helping us feel a little closer to Morgan during this Christmas Season.  Andrea's younger sister, Mariann, translated what Morgan said in Spanish for me:)

Thank you for all of your love and support and for your many prayers.  In a separate email, Morgan told us that she is feeling good and we are so grateful for that. However, after reading about her drinking water in this email, I'm wondering if it will last...

Love,

Shannon

Familia,

 

Ahhh estoy tan emocionada para navidad! (I'm so excited for Christmas!)

 

THE RUNDOWN:

-HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARRETT!!!!!!  I love you so much!

-Shoutout to la Familia Alvarado!  Que emocionante!! Espero que estan muy felices y estan disfrutando el frio de Utah!  Hermana Alvarado la extraño demasiado!  La quiero mucho!  Gracias por todo lo que me enseñó y todavía me esta enseñando! Feliz Navidad! (So exciting!! I hope that you are happy and that you are enjoying the cold of Utah! Hermana Alvarado I miss you so much!  I love you! Thanks for all that you taught me and for all that you teach me now!  Merry Christmas!)

-We almost got in a sticky situation with our investigators and the cops last night, but we're white :)  So we went and talked to the cops and then contacted them before they left all giddy haha it was great.

-I never thought the day would come... but I have started drinking the water from the pila.  Gross huh?  We haven't had purified water for a week so I had no other choice.  Don't worry, I'm using my water filter though!

-I am singing for the Christmas Conference this Thursday, but this time it's not a solo, thank goodness!

-The sister next to me has been singing "Feliz Navidad" for the past hour.  I'm really feeling the Christmas spirit now...........

 

Well it was a good week!  I am still getting to know the area but I am happy! We have some amazing investigators, new and old.  They are SO CLOSE to baptism and we are so excited to be helping them!  We have high hopes for this change.  I am getting along perfectly with Hermana Allen!  Actually, she is an amazing missionary and I know I am going to learn a lot from her this change.  She has a strong testimony and loves the mission.  She will be sad to go home next change.

 

This last saturday we had a Christmas activity at the church and it was awesome!  We spent the week showing the Dadiva video to everyone and inviting them to the activity... and the turn out was AMAZING.  We had 17 investigators at the activity!!!!  That never happens.  At least not to me or Hermana Allen.  They all loved it and felt very welcome and happy!  There was a good spirit present during the messages and pura fiesta despise!! (and then was a party)  Haha there was a dj and the crazy bishop lit huge fireworks!  It was a great night and really helped our investigators feel more comfortable at church and have desires to learn more.

 

I have been thinking a lot lately about my mission, why I am here, and how I have had to change in order to prepare, to start, and to stay.  This Thursday a year ago I received my mission call.  The moment I read Guatemala Coban my world changed entirely.  I had never planned on serving a mission, and now I was destined to die in the jungle, or so I thought ;) 

A year ago I was comfortable and oblivious to what the mission really is.  Now I'm in it and I am grateful for experiences that put me out of my comfort zone, because that is when I grow and learn.

A year ago I was scared of the temple.  Now it seems absurd because I love that place and miss it way too much.

A year ago I didn't give scripture study priority.  I now cherish it.

A year ago I walked by faith and not by sight in following promptings to come on a mission.  Now I know why.

 

I miss ya fam, but I'm glad I'm here.  And I'll get to talk to you in a week anyways :)  cuidense mucho y hasta luego :)

 

NEC

Hermana Llates

Changes Again

Familia,

 

So as Isaac once told me, change is good when you do it right.  I hope I can put that into practice this next week.  Changes came...

 

THE RUNDOWN:

-We hiked a mountain today to an old abandoned church.  Cool pictures to come!  It was a good last p-day in San Cristobal

-There was another earthquake the other night.. didn't feel a thing.  But I did feel the one in the afternoon!  It was sweet.

-Yesterday was the Day of the Devil and everyone cleaned out their houses of old papers to "clean out the devil" and made bonfires outside in the streets and burned piñata devils!  It was sweet and the air was almost unbreathable from all the fires

-Tonight should be super cool too, everyone goes to the center, soaks balls made of cloth in gasoline, lights them and plays soccer with them!  It is perfectly legal to burn whoever and whatever you want, so I was told to walk around with wet clothes.... hope no one has any grudges against us tonight!  Haha oh wait, practically all of San Cris does..

-We opened our stockings!  Thank you mama they were so fun!  Now the question is how to take it all with me in changes..

-The girl on the computer next to me is watching Chucky and it is very distracting......

 

So yeah I was convinced I would be staying in my area this change because I have only been here one change, but we got the phone call from Elder Fisher and he was dying.  " You are NEVER going to believe the changes!"  Hermana Weicks is headed to Baja Verapaz and I am going back to Coban.. With Hermana Allen.  The nurse.  ............................

ok.

wait what?

I think they are trying to tell me something.

 

I will be her last comp in the mission field. Wish me luck folks!

 

Chula, h weicks, and the elders threw a surprise party for me for my 9 month mark!  It was so awesome and made my day!  They sang, we ate, I got baloons taped to me, and baby powder showered.  Chula knows how to throw a party haha :)  I'm sad I won't be here with her for Christmas!

 

We had some crazy lessons this week.  Some good and some interesting.  We showed a video of the Restoration to Asusena and her sister in law Gloria and Gloria got pretty upset and wanted to read every verse in the Bible that talks about the Book of Mormon.   It was interesting though, because Asusena started crying in the lesson from feeling the spirit.  It's funny how we can all be in the same room but feel such different emotions.  If we are open hearted and willing to feel and listen to the spirit, things can be so different.  We have to be willing to humble ourselves and let Him in.

We had an amazing lesson with Vilma, our recent convert, and her parents who aren't members.  She had been reading in 3 nefi 11 so we watched the Testaments.  They watched it with us and the spirit was so strong.  Hermana Weicks and I testified of the Book of Mormon after it ended and it was so special and impossible to hold back the tears.  They are usually very cold and opinionated, but something changed yesterday.  They recognized that the spirit was testifying to them that the message that we share is true.  We gave her dad a Book of Mormon and he started reading it before we left the house!  I hope things progress with them!  We left the house and just looked at each other and said, Wow.  That is how every lesson should be.  It was very refreshing after a change with not so many lessons.

 

Well I don't have much time but I invite you all to pay close attention to the Spirit in your life.  How He guides you and prompts you.  For me it is in a very subtle way, but I am ever grateful for His help.

I love you all!

Go watch the "He is the Gift" video on mormon.org

 

NEC

Morgan

hello december

Familia,

hello december and hello halfway :)  9 months this week and it's all going way too fast.

THE RUNDOWN:

-I keep waiting for it to snow and then I remember things are a little different here..

-the dueña of the casa, we call her chula (we basically share the house with her), had her birthday yesterday.  So her crazy sister came too.  Let's just say she really wanted the canchita to share her tequila with her.  Don't worry, I didn't have any.  But it was sure a party. hahaha

This was an interesting week haha.  Last monday hermana weicks was having a weird reaction to a bug bite or something and her whole leg was very swollen.  She couldn't walk and it kept getting worse, so we ended up staying in the house for most of the week.  Talk about a long week!!  Haha I took advantage of the time and dove into the Book of Mormon again.  I love that book!  I am learning so much and I have to refrain myself from marking every verse.  Did you know it talks about Christopher Colombus or whatever his name is??  And ***SPOILER ALERT*** Nefi totally says what is going to happen in the whole book of mormon in chapter 12.  I had no idea.

Hermana Weicks told me she wants to go home.  We had a good talk and shed some tears.  I did all I could to help her and we got through the day.  I think she is doing better now, but it is hard when nothing is happening in the work.  She doesn't love it yet.  I hope to be a better example for her and help her love it more.  I think we will only have 1 more week together.

I am learning a lot about my shortcomings.  haha sometimes it's rough, but I think it's a sign that I need to make some changes.  I am at the point where I can talk to the people even though sometimes I still sound stupid.  So I don't have excuses there.  I have been thinking about the effort I have given, and what the Lord expects.  I definitely need to change some things that I thought I was doing well in order to meet His expectations.  We all do, really.  None of us are perfect.  We fall far short from perfect every day.  Some of us notice the gap that we need to fill and try to fill it.  Others notice it but don't do anything to change and to be better.  Others of us can't even see that we need to make an effort to please God and truly be His sons and daughters.  I have thought for some time that I was in that first group, but the more I learn, the bigger the gap seems.  I have a big gap to fill.  But I know I can fill it with the Lord's atonement building, lifting, refining, strengthening, and carrying me.  I am so grateful for Him and for my Father in Heaven who allowed Christ to atone for my sins and shortcomings.

Pray for Mario and his family please.  We hope to have his family baptized this saturday.

I love you all!

No Empty Chairs

Morgan

  **whoa almost forgot my name there

Beautiful Days

Family,

Dang, always making me emotional with your emails haha.  I love you all so much.

To answer your questions:

No, it is not the same parasite that is not clearing up.  I have tested positive for 5 different kinds of parasites.

No, it doesn't stop me from working.  I just have a lot of nausea and cramping.  One day I couldn't work half of the day but I got sick of sitting in the house so we left.

I have no idea how I am getting them.

I'm good :)

THE RUNDOWN:

-Sorry boys, but I got the cutest kiss of my life the other day.. on the cheek from a 2 year old girl as we were leaving a lesson.  I died.

-Every day since the day I got here I have checked my shoes for bugs before putting them on.  Good thing I never got tired of doing that because today I finally found a big spider in my shoes.  That would have been a fun surprise if I hadn't checked first huh?

-As we were walking down the street a few days ago a little girl opened her door as we were passing in front of her house.  When she saw us her eyes got huge and scared to death she ran back inside yelling "MOOOMMYYY!!"  I don't know if they're scared of Mormons or white people.  Maybe both?

Wow so much happened this week!  I don't really know where to start, so sorry if this is a confusing letter.

We started the week pretty happy.  We went looking for a less active member that we had an appointment with.  As we called "Buenas!"  outside the gate, his mother in law came up to us..... yikes.  She started yelling and spitting her orange all over us telling us to stop wasting her time.  I was very nice to her but after she was done yelling she stormed back inside and I was left with my jaw clenched and tear filled eyes outside her gate.  As we walked away trying to joke about it, it was everything I could do to not break down.  I felt like a little kid in that moment, just wanting a hug from someone who didn't think I was of the devil haha.  Later in the day we had a lesson with Alexander, a new investigator.  He was so nice and really cared about us, who we were, and what was important to us.  As he closed with the prayer and prayed for each of us and our families, I felt like my Heavenly Father was telling me that He knew what I was feeling and that this was His way of helping me grow, but more than anything, that He always wanted me to feel loved.  I felt like I was finally getting that hug I was desperate for.  He is so good to me.

We have another investigator, Asusena.  She can't read, she doesn't understand very well, and hasn't been to church in a very long time.  After teaching the restoration, we were talking about the importance of going to church.  She was coming up with a million excuses like how she had to go to the market, she had to be home to watch the house, she wakes up late, she has to make food, she is waiting for a sign from God that it is time....... my stubborn side came out and I just gave her sincho.  I was not going to accept no for an answer.  After telling her that God is still there, He is still important, and His commandments still exist even if we don't pay Him any attention, she was still coming up with excuses.  She thought about it for a minute, and declared that nope, there would never be time for her go to church.  Feeling a little defeated, I started thinking that we might have to drop her because she wasn't willing to progress.  I just told her it was a matter of her faith and asked if she was willing to show Christ that she had faith in Him.  She stops and everything is quiet for a minute.  Then she asks, "It starts at 9?"  "Si"  ".......ok i'll go."  WHAAAAT!!!!!!  Haha I was so happy!!  My comp didn't know what was going on the whole time but when I told her Asusena was going to go she started freaking out too.  And she went on sunday! Granted, we passed by for her in the morning and we all ended up being an hour late to church.. but she went!  It was amazing.

One of my favorite members from Coban is Mildred.  She was baptized 2 months and 11 days ago and I played the piano at her baptism :)  She loves leaving with the missionaries, is 22, and is so sweet!  Turns out, she is dating one of the members in San Cristobal and went to church up there last sunday.  I freaked out when I saw her and it was a lovely reunion because I never got to say bye to her.  She agreed to come up to San Cristobal and help us with our lessons one day!  It is an hour away in a bus!  She is so pilas and I am so grateful for her help, because the members here... well aren't quite as dedicated.  It was amazing to have her help and see her testimony grow every time she shared her experiences with her conversion.

Wow I still have so much to share about a cute family that MIGHT be baptized this saturday, a crazy funeral I went to, and a great district meeting, but I have no time left.  TO BE CONTINUED.

I love you all and I am so grateful for your prayers, fasting, and efforts to keep me well.  Family, friends, neighbors, everyone.  I love you all so much and your prayers are felt and appreciated.  I have the best support system in the world :)

This week I am grateful for you all and for beautiful days.

No Empty Chairs

Morgan

Worlds Worst Keyboard

Familia,

So yeah I am using the worlds worst keyboard, so I will probably spend more time sending pictures than writing.

Thank you for the pictures you sent-

Lily's princess dress!!  haha I'm dying.

Mama, are those flower pants i see??  rockinit. Tell Hannah Barlow hi and i love her!

Porter is a dang cutie freak..

Cute picture of all of you and the Caten family. Aw love the Catens.

THE RUNDOWN:

-I HAVE PARASITES AGAIN!  woooooooo.... round 6 and I'm dying.  The nurse is mad and wants to send me home but I protested enough to stay for now..

Me and Hermana Weicks

Legit she is mad haha. The last time i got a parasite she threatened to send me home the next time.  Well now I got another one and i DONT KNOW HOW.  I quote her text she sent me.. "But Hermana Yates.... you have GOT to be careful what you are eating.  You are one of the missionaries that has had the most parasites of anyone in the mission.  It is going to give you lasting health problems if you are not careful."

The problem is I don't eat weird things.  I don't know what to do anymore.

-We went to the zoo today!  Pictures to come

-I finished the Book of Mormon. :)  Love that book.

Well I just realized I don't have anything to say really.  Haha I'm happy, sick, and working!  It has been really pretty the past few days and it is a nice break from the bitter cold.  We are finding new people to teach and I hope things pick up soon.

Touching the monkey

I love you all so much.  Be safe and be happy and don't forget to read your Book of Mormon.  Go read it right now.

NEC

Hermana Yates

Still Alive

Familia,

So I don't have a whole lot of time but I'm doing good!  Things in this area are.... coming... haha.  We hope to help this area improve because things here.. well let's just say there is room for improvement.  And we get to be the ones to help. WOO!!

 

I just am so happy to be here.  I am grateful to be sharing this gospel.  It is so true that when you share the gospel, your testimony grows.  When you testify of what you know to be true, you find a deeper conviction as you are testifying.  If you are looking to strengthen your testimony, read the scriptures like crazy, then SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW.  Just open your mouth and do it.  If you are worried about what others might think or are worried you will damage a friendship then you might need to sort out your priorities.  This gospel is perfect.  It brings happiness.  It brings hope.  It brings eternal life and salvation.  Shouldn't we want our friends and family to enjoy the blessings of this gospel too?  They're not just temporary blessings.  It is our responsibility to share what we know so that they can be happy for eternity.

 

So let's get started, ya??

 

Ok.  I love you all.  Be happy and be faithful.

 

NEC

Mo Rae

Joyful...we found them

Familia,

Waffles with my new comp

Hombre, cómo están?? Estoy tan feliz pero con FRIO!!! esta haciendo bastante frio aqui pero alli vamos.

THE RUNDOWN:

-An incredibly drunk man kissed my hand the other day. I gave him a word of wisdom pamphlet and told him not to drink anymore.

-Our neighbor who cooks food for us gave us blood to eat. Yes, turkey blood. I couldn't do it. My comp and elders fisher and hernandez ate it and almost threw up.

-Today I was standing up on the bus to go to coban and the bus went over a bump and I caught air... and smashed my head on the roof hahaha. Ouch. It was a little awkward.

- I leave the house in 3 shirts, a sweatshirt, a jacket and a rain jacket, 2 socks and i am FREEZING!!! HELP ME!!!!!!

WHAT A WEEK. I think I say that every week but dang. Okay where to start.....

Starting the week was a little hard. We don't know anyone here and we haven't been able to find a whole lot of people yet. My companion was still recovering from a bad start to the mission and was honestly ready to go home. I told her she can't though :) A few days ago we had a lesson with a member named Jesus. He is 92 years old and fading fast I'm afraid. He is so awesome though and I love talking to him when I can understand his mumbling. We got a whole lot of awesome advice from an old, tired, experienced, wise man.

He told us we need to do things joyfully because we want to serve the Lord, not just because we want His help. I love the word joyfully and it reminds me a whole lot of Mosiah 24 -go read it.He reminded us of our purpose in this life.. 3 Nefi 27:27. Go read it. All He asks us is to be like Him. He gives us the way to do so. He gives us the scriptures, revelation, prayer, repentance. It should not be a sacrifice to do as He says and live how He asks.This man is an example of a convert truly converted. He was receiving missionary lessons when he was 50 years old and was baptized. As he was crying, he told us how much he regrets not looking for God before because he feels like he lost so much time. He has such a strong testimony though. He never thought he would be able to stop smoking, drinking, and using bad language, but the day the missionaries invited him to do so, he never did it again.He told us that we need to knock on every door with so much faith and hope. Some people may not have been ready to accept the gospel before, but now they can be. He was one of them. He gave us motivation and a pick up that we needed after a long week.

That Halloween night something very interesting happened. We were walking to an appointment and both of us started feeling very odd. We expressed that we felt weird and something was wrong. After talking about it for only 3 seconds I had the most overwhelming rushing feeling go from my head to my feet, stopping me in my tracks. Something saying, STOP. DON'T KEEP WALKING. TURN AROUND. I couldn't take another step forward. We immediately turned around and went straight to the house. We don't know what was waiting for us down that road but I am glad I didn't find out. That was the strongest influence of the Spirit protecting us. We got back to the house and dropped to our knees and prayed to feel comfort and peace in the house and were so grateful for the protection we had.

Then fast Sunday came. We were so ready to fast and receive blessings in this area. We had talked to our district leader, Elder Fisher the previous night about how we wanted to find a solid new investigator. Someone who would really progress. He said he would pray so hard for us and we were definitely praying for it as well. He promised us we would find that person that Sunday and he wanted a text message when we found them. So after church we set out determined. We went knocking and knocking and knocking...... and knocking............... and knocking...... Every house we were so convinced that they would be the ones. "This is the house!! Esta casa! Vamos a encontrar los escogidos aqui. Estoy segura." Nope. Next house.. nope. It was then 6:30 and we hadn't found our person yet. We found another street and I decided we should use the name of a less active who lives close to find out where they live and to find new people. We chose a random door and knocked. A man and his wife and cute kids came to the window and asked us how he could help us. We asked if he knew the less active, and turns out his wife knew. They helped us find the house and then we asked if we could share a message with them. They let us in!!! We were so stoked! A family!! It was a good lesson and they are super pilas. As we left the house we tried to walk away calmly.. but as soon as they shut the door behind us we started yelling and jumping around and hugging so happy! We also might have started singing "There can be miracles! When you believe!" haha first thing we did was send a message to elder Fisher.. Found los escogidos :) His reply.. I have been waiting for that message all day long. Yeah it was pretty dope.

We learned a lot about listening to the spirit this week. And the power of prayer. And the power of fasting. I love being una misionera.

Love you all to death. Read your book of mormon right now if you havent yet today.

NEC

Morgan

Fasten your Seatbelts

Familia,

First things first, SHOUTOUT TO PO!!!!!  Happy Birthday to the coolest little brother in the world.  Even though you're not very little anymore :(  I love you to death.  Comin home in July, wait for me.

 

 

"If you think things are going well in your life right now, just you wait."

 

I was reading those blog entries mom sent me a few days ago and saw that quote by Elder Nelson but didn't think much of it.  Until the next day.. but let's just back up a few days because it's been quite a week.

 

A few days ago we decided to find out just how far our area goes, because it is huge.  We walked and walked and walked in the jungle and after an hour and a half we decided we had walked all the way to Polochic.  A few minutes later we found a road and a few houses and a bunch of guys working!  We ran up to them to ask where we were and found a member sitting there laughing at our confused faces haha.  Turns out Hermana Pape, a member who always leaves with us, lives there and hadn't had visits from the missionaries for about a year.  We ate lunch with her and turns out she had about 8 references for us of guys who work on the cars there with her husband.  We taught one and it was an amazing lesson and he really is going to progress!  It was such a blessing.  Coincidence?  I think not.

 

Later that night Bishop Coy called us and asked if we would go to a funeral of a woman in the ward, who also turns out to be our investigator's mother in law.  It was definitely a different experience.  We all entered this tiny room and waited for it to start.  Half of us were members and half weren't, including her children.  The funeral was bittersweet for the members and devastating for non members.  Or maybe more confusing for them... I can't imagine going to funerals of family members and friends without the knowledge of what happens next.  It would be like stopping a movie at the saddest part when things go wrong- you would never know how much better it gets.  There is a happier ending than we can imagine.  That night I saw a lot of reflecting in the eyes of the non members as members testified of the truthfulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  I think sometimes God presents us with desperate moments and humbling experiences to enable us to take a step back and think.  Reevaluate.  There was a heavy feeling there, but the Spirit, to me, was easily distinguishable from the dark as testimonies were born.  I hope our investigator was not only listening to the speakers, but to the Spirit there that night.

 

Friday: Road trip anyone????

Hello Salama!  We got on a bus for 2 hours to go to Salama because Hermana De la Rosa had to go to the doctor.  We got on the bus in the rain early in the morning and headed off!  As we drove it kept getting warmer and sunnier.  Salama is full of sun and palm trees and it is very different from Coban!  The clothes, people, climate, everything.  It was so refreshing.  Funniest parts of the day..

1. The pitstop along the way.  13 people crowded the little van door shouting all sorts of things that they were selling- gum, peanuts, cookies, limes, chili, and who knows what else.  I died laughing as they were all pushing, shoving, and yelling. 

2. The bus got stuck in muddy grass and we all had to get out so they could push it.  I think it's because I was sitting in the back.  And I'm fat.

3. The stares.  We got off the bus and walked straight into a market.  It felt like my first day again haha!  It was a nice refresher because all the weird things have become too normal.

As we were coming home on the bus late that night I pulled out those blog entries that you sent me mom.  About that young mom whose husband has cancer.  She is so inspiring and I loved reading her entries for the 5th time over.  That's when I read that quote that I started with,  "If you think things are going well in your life, just you wait."  She then talked about how we are given changes and trials in order to improve.  I just thought, Oh that's so true!  Ok cool.  Then moved on with my life.  I think it is a little ironic that I was so happy that day and at such peace with my life in Coban 3B. 

 

Nothing can change now, I thought........ then the next morning BAM.  I get a phone call from President.

"Hermana Yates!  Are you ready for changes?"

"No.."

"Well get ready and pack your bags because you have changes.  You're going to San Cristobal."

"Are you serious?"

"Haha yes I'm serious."

"Uhhh... okay..??  When?"

"Today."

"TODAY?!?!?!"

"We will be by to get you in an hour."

 

Freak.  No.  Emergency transfers.  Once again, first thing I do is start crying hahaha.  I was so sad thinking about everyone here!  All the investigators progressing, my Marisol who we baptized, and all the recent converts and members here.  No!  I can't leave!  After a few more phone calls from President and Hermana Curtiss, I found out that I would be training again.  But PLOT TWIST!  She's from Utah.  Hahaha I just said, "Hermana Curtiss, she doesn't speak spanish does she...?"  "No, but you do Hermana Yates."  "Hermana Curtiss no I don't!!"  "Yes you do, and you can do this Hermana Yates.  Trust in the Lord!  Trust in Him with all your heart."  Oh okay, well I can't protest to that.  "Okay Hermana Curtiss, thank you."  A little while later I was off in a taxi.

 

Hermana Weicks was 4 weeks into her training with another sister who was really disobedient.  Things got really crazy in their area and that's why I got transfered so quickly because they had to get the sister and an elder away from each other as fast as possible haha.  So me and all my bags are now in San Cristobal and it is SO PRETTY.  Neither of us know the area so we have just been contacting a lot to find new investigators.  There is a pretty lake and not as many stairs.  It is way too freezing at night though, I sleep in my sweats, two socks, a shirt and jacket and I wake up colder than ice.  I think I'll be buying some more jackets  :)  and gloves.  and a hat......

 

I think things will go well in this area!  As long as I can understand the people haha.  Pray for me.

 

I love you all!

No Empty Chairs

Morgan

"Happy Birthday ya old fart"

Familia,

Soph, I know I'm an old fart now.  Thanks for reminding me...

Feliz cumpleaños a mi.......

 

We have changes in a week and I will be so sad if I have changes!  I love so many things about this area.  I want to help this area improve so badly.  Word on the street is that if the church continues to grow here, there will soon be a temple in Coban.  Downside:  Satan knows that too.  He is working harder than ever here in Coban, I think.  The whole mission is pretty discouraged, but we keep working hard.  President was talking about it in our zone conference.  He related it to the battles in the Book of Mormon.  Right now we aren't exactly winning the battle, but we aren't falling back either.  Right now we are retaining the line, but we have to come up with battle strategies in order to win.  We have all come up with new plans in order to accomplish 2x more, with our zone leaders and district leaders as our "Captain Moroni" and "Teancum."  We all hope to see this work improve, and I really hope to see the work improve in my area, Coban 3b!

 

Family thanks for celebrating for me.  While you ate my special birthday dinner, I ate dry Life cereal for dinner.  Livin large in Guatemala right??

Well don't be mad, but I don't have time to write anything else haha.  Love you all!

 

NEC

Morgan

I wanna be forever young :(

Familia,

 

Pues... ya soy vieja.  This is my last week to be a teenager.  Ever.  freak......

 

THE RUNDOWN:

-I HAVE PARASITES AGAIN WOOOOOO!   Is that breaking the mission rule of "no pets" again??

-Happy Birthday Lily!  Happy Birthday Grandpa!  Happy Birthday Steffeny!  I love you all!!

-Isaac.  You still can't get married.

-So word on the street is I'll be coming home the last week of July because there are no changes in August and we can't serve more than 18 months.  Porter...... wait for me.

 

Conference Sunday

Another week of learning here in good ol' Guatemala.

 

The other day we were walking down the street to a lesson.  A truck drove by us and the guy in the passenger seat threw water at us, leaving us pretty wet.  It's a good thing that I was pretty sick and had no voice, because I just started yelling but no sound came out haha.  Dripping and upset, we continued walking.  I just wanted to cry.  Luckily Heavenly Father was kind and helped me see how beautiful the day was and we had an amazing lesson with Lupita right after.  I was able to forget about my problems.  We taught Lupita how to pray correctly.  I was a little worried because people are often upset when we tell them they aren't praying right, or that their idea of God isn't right, but she took it all in stride and was willing to change.  When she prayed at the end, she was so focused on praying right.  When she would make a mistake, she would stop and correct it.  I was so happy!  It is amazing to see the faith and humility of these people who let us in their homes, let us teach them, and then seeing them accept our teachings and change their lives and habits is truly priceless.

Rain!

Yesterday when one of our investigators couldn't come to the house of our recent converts to have a lesson, we decided to come up with something to teach to our recent converts.  My companions looked at me and I opened my scriptures to find something haha.  I went to Alma 5 (alma sincho)  and found a scripture that I like to share.  I also kept looking in Moroni 7 and found a few scriptures about charity.  Thinking about what I would share, I noticed something that I haven't before.  Alma 5:14 asks an interesting question:Have ye received his image in your countenances?  I was thinking, how can I receive His image in my countenance?  Then reading the scriptures I found in Moroni, I saw verse 48: Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray‍ unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, (charity) which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers‍ of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be‍ like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified‍ even as he is pure. Amen.

 

Bautizar y retener

Aka, if we have charity, we will have an attribute of Christ.  If Christ and His Father are one, we will also have an attribute of God.  We will become more like our Father and we will have His image in our countenances.  I realized that I was lacking in charity when that man threw his water at me in la libertad.  Instead of praying for him, I got upset.  REALITY CHECK haha.  Looks like I have something new to work on as always.  Once again, teaching that lesson taught me more than it taught our recent converts I think.

 

Well time to go!  Love you all!

NEC

Hermana Yates

It's Time to Begin

Familia,

Dang, I don't know where to start.  I guess I could start with the good ol' rundown..

 

THE RUNDOWN:

-We almost died again. haha we came back from the afternoon session of conference on saturday to plan for a few appointments that night. As we were sitting in our house it started pouring rain.  POURING.  A few seconds later there was a huge flash of light with a loud crashing sound that shook the house.  We screamed and ran away from the window to realize that lightning striked the wires outside our window.  2 feet away from me.  Haha it was pretty cool but then we didn't have light in the house..

-Being in trios has its ups and downs.  Downside:  we haven't had food for 3 days.  Upside: they can talk in spanish when I am sick and tired of spanish :)

-Only 6 months left until General Conference...

-I have started praying for God to help me find a good husband.  Thanks Tad R. Callister... haha

 

Conference was bombin.  I'm pretty bummed that it is over already.  I learned so much and found new drive.  I have seen more clearly my shortcomings and want to improve.  I don't have time to say much about it but I'll just share a few brief things that I learned and things that I already knew and had a testimony of, but that were strengthened.

 

>>A recurring theme that I noticed was that we are always advised to study and search the words of God through His prophets in the scriptures and those living today.  We are blessed beyond measure to be guided by a prophet and to know what the Lord desires for us, just as those guided by prophets in times of old.  I am thankful to my God for President Thomas S. Monson.

>>As we study and search the words of God and His prophets and truly seek to understand them, we will receive personal revelation.  We need personal revelation in our lives.  God wants to help us, guide us, and show us the way.  We can understand His desires if we ask sincerely what His desire is for each of us.  Asking spiritual questions leads to receiving spiritual answers, which are absolutely vital in order to learn, grow, and become better disciples of Christ.  We will learn the mysteries of God, know the way back to Him, and the way we should travel along that road.  He will guide our every footstep if we seek Him.

>>As we receive personal revelation, we will always be inclined to, and really required to, repent.  As we learn of God's desires and will, we will see how incredibly far we are from being one with Him.  We will repent and strive to better our lives and align our desires and will with His.  After all, if His plan is perfect, shouldn't we do everything we can to comply?  This is why the sacrament is so important.  Achieving eternal life and having hope for a better place with our Father would be utterly impossible without Jesus Christ, His atonement, and the sacrament in order to have a constant repentance.  This sacred blessing we have every Sunday is so much more important than I ever realized.  It is truly soul saving.

>>As I seek, ponder, pray, and act, I will be able to prepare for my future family.  I will be prepared to enter the temple.  I will be a better wife, mother, and daughter and servant of God if I am constantly seeking to do the Lord's will and put Him first.  The promises of my patriarchial blessing about my future family and husband will come to pass if I am true to my God, his counsels, and love Him before any other thing, place, or person.

>>Our trials are necessary for us to improve.  I will probably talk more about this next week because I have been doing a pretty heavy scripture study on this topic for the past 4 months.  But our trials are blessings.  We are here to progress in ways that we couldn't before when we lived with our Father in Heaven.  We could never progress without hard times to help us know how to lean on the Lord and walk a little bit of the path He walked for each and every one of us.

>>We are a peculiar people.  We fast at least once a month.  We don't buy things or work on Sundays.  We dress modestly.  We pay tithing.  Our youth leave their homes, schools, novios, and work for 2 years to preach the gospel.  We wake up at 5 in the morning to go to early morning seminary.  We gather with a whole bunch of other mormons all across the globe every 6 months to listen to people speak.  Why?  Because in order to serve our Lord in the way that He requires, we need to be separate from the world.  Know it, live it, love it.

 

I have come to the understanding once again that we need to rise up as true disciples of Christ-- We have a divine potential that we don't yet understand.  We need to realize that God is a just God with demands.  We don't set the bar, but we are still expected to rise up to it.  Whether we like the rules or not, we are still expected to comply.  We need to have a constant repentance process.  We need to be converted; personally and absolutely converted to this Restored gospel.  It's a lifelong process, so we should probably get started then, right? :)

 

We are a peculiar people.  But as our recent convert stated in her testimony in church last week, "If being Mormon is weird, then I want to be weird for the rest of my life."

 

I know this church is true and I know God knows me.  I will cherish the chance I have to truly seek Him and be His daughter.

 

No Empty Chairs

Morgan

Hi stress

Waterfall Chilasco

Well I have about 5 minutes to write.  We just got back from a super sweet zone activity.  We went hiking all day long in rain and mud to see a waterfall!  A few of us almost died, myself included, but it was a blast.  So I will be brief even though I have so crazy much I want to say.

 

-Changes are tomorrow.  I will be in a trio with h. fernandez and h. de la rosa.  Yikes.  But hey, who knows, it could be great!!  

-We had interviews with President and it was great.  Hermana Curtiss got mad at me because I am not drinking water, but I'm getting better.

-I think I have parasites again

-I'M SO EXCITED FOR GENERAL CONFERENCE AHHHHHHHHH

-I'm about to hit 7 months what.....

-I got to watch the womens' session in spanish and it was wonderful :)

 

 I literally have no time haha so sorry.  I am learning so much, growing, and appreciating my Savior more and more every day.  I love being here.

Mud sliding--the best part
is the girls falling in the back.
I face planted so many times.

Gotta go, love you all so so so so so so much. 

Love the ward and miss everyone there.

Love the grandparents and i am so sorry i don't have time to write them.

Tell Britt congrats!

Tell everyone i love them and hug every single one of them for me.  Im expecting pictures of you hugging them in my place.

Adioooooooos

NEC

Hermana Yates

Coming back ha ha ha.  I'm broken
and almost lost my shoe.

So dirty

Making elite.  So good.