As long as God thinks I'm cool....

Hello, Mother! And Family! And friends who are tuned in!

Well, as you know, I will be waiting on your package! Well, not on it . . . I’d have to be in the States to be waiting “ooonnn” the package. I’ll be waiting for the package here in Guatemala. Man . . . That was such a Dad joke . . . I’m not even gonna delete it, though . . .

Yes . . . Can you just double check on the license thing, though, please, Missy? Shanks!

I will try really, really hard to tell you more ‘bout what’s goin’ on . . . But sometimes just nothin’ goes on and then when stuff does go on, I type really, really slow. I still got a two finger drill goin’ on . . . I’ll exhort myself, though!

That’s exciting about Adam getting married! I remember that they were dating for a li’l while. That’s pretty cool, though! I bet Brett was bummed to have to miss the wedding, huh? Poor li’l kiddo . . .

As far as rain goes, it has been rainin’ most of the day again today, but no storm has hit so far. We will hope another doesn’t hit . . . LOL . . . It isn’t fun for missionaries . . .

Aaaaaaah . . . It makes me happy to know that Aaliyah still ties me to Yosemite ‘cause that is really one of my last, huge memories of being with her!!!!! Ahhhh . . . That makes me happy. Thank you!

Aaaaight . . . Well, hurrrrr I go with some li’l updates!

Ummmm . . . I finished the Book of Mormon again! That completes number six for me! Number four in the mission! And I’m in D&C 132 right now, so ‘bout to finish it for the second time! Sooooo much interesting stuff in D&C. It takes a lot of thinking. Who would have ever thought that I could love reading so much, though??? In high school, I prided myself in passing classes without reading. . . I guess the gospel isn’t like that though, huh? LOL . . . I loooooove me scriptures soooooo much! It’s really weird . . . I feel so much like Dad because I honestly just loooonnggg to learn about the scriptures and the gospel. It’s so cool how I’ve become that way, huh? Just one year in the mish and I’m a newww man! I hope I’m still cool . . . Nah . . . I don’t really care . . . As long as God thinks I’m cool . . .

Well, I’ll tell you guys a li’l ‘bout my companion . . . He is a great guy who is working so hard and is changing for the better all the time. I was just complimenting him on his growth yesterday! He is accepting of the things I teach him, he studies a lot more, he is understanding a lot of what he studies, and he talks with the people easily now. LOL . . . He is actually grabbing a li’l humor to him! I’ll say it . . . I’ve never, never, ever seen someone grow so much in such a short period of time. It’s been really cool. I feel like since I learned from my first training experience (with Elder Mortensen), I’ve been able to train much better this time around. And, yea, these five weeks have really, really flown by. He’s really a good kid and he’s getting’ there.

As far as investigators, we have millions! But ones that are really progressing? We have seven . . . Estuardo (15 years old), Omar and Mirna (a couple, they are both around 25 years old), Carlos (the husband of a recent convert) who might be the best we have right now, Sonia, Andrea and Carmen (Carmen is the aunt of Andrea and Sonia). Andrea is 14 years old, Sonia is 17 years old and Carmen is probably 30 or 35. We have invited all of them to be baptized and they seem really close, but for various reasons (gone for three weeks to work, studying Sundays sometimes, sickness, needs more time, has to talk to her Dad), they just haven’t come to church enough times and some haven’t accepted fechas. But they are really doing well and are really receptive and complete with the commitments.

The frustrating note of the week is Manuel. He’s the guy who had a dream about this being the true church. He knows it’s all true but his wife won’t let him be baptized. (It’s like . . . C’mon, dude . . . Wear the pants!) So, he stopped coming to church. He preaches at his church and has “privileges” there (What the heck is that, man? LOL). The funny part is that he is teachin’ his church what we teach him and he’s in 2^nd Nephi right now and is teaching from the Book of Mormon!

Speaking of the Book of Mormon again . . . Is Dylan reading? Is everyone reading right now? And James and Randy? Whud up?

The District is doing well. We will see what happens in changes . . . See if I get to be around these guys more or if I’m out. The problem is that my District isn’t putting fechase and we get lots of people in church . . . So . . .Guess what I’ll be talkin’ ‘bout in District meeting???? Putting fechas, duhhhhh! Hopefully we can get this all figured out. We are all workin’ hard, though . . . And the Lord will bless us for that!

Well, that’s all I’ve got for now! I have three Family Home Evenings tonight, so it should be fun! I love you guys! Talk to you soon! Love you, though, sooo, soooo much!

Happy Father's Day!

Hey, yo!

I got all my updates! LOL! So here I am!

To start off the e-mail in a way you’ll like . . . I sent a mini, mini package just a li’l bit ago! It just had a couple pictures that I printed out from Elder Maradiagas’ memory card and I sent two memory cards because I don’t remember which pictures you guys have already seen. I did take a few pictures to end one of the memory cards, though. It has me with the Schoenfeld family and me eating brownies to celebrate my 20^th birthday! LOL! Who cares how late it was! I also sent a li’l Guatemala soccer key chain . . . Ummmmmm . . . And some other coins for the collection. For Christmas you’ll get much better gifts . . . LOL . . .

Thank you for all of your updates, though! Sounds like Stacie had an amazing time! The best was that she stayed safe, of course. And, thank you for telling me what Aaliyah is all “into”. What happened to Backyardagains??? LOL . . . It’s all good . . . Things and people change . . . Sad though, sometimes . . .

Oh, and congrats on your Lakers! I was goin’ for ‘em all the way! Keep the Championship in LA! Now it’s the Clippers turn next year . . .

Oh, and I’ll be waitin’ on the li’l package. I’m interested in the stupid college stuff. LOL . . . I don’t wanna grow up . . . Like Dallas . . . He’s almost 30! Our family is oooooolllllddddd . . . LOL! Isn’t it weird?

Okay . . . Now my updates!

Happy Father’s Day, Dad! I sure love you! I really wanted to just thank you real quick for all of your support and help. I love reading your li’l mission story, too. I dunno why, but it just gives me a li’l push to be a good missionary ‘cause you were, too. You know, I gotta be better ‘cause that’s just how us competitive men are! But, I really, really enjoy your example of missionary work and everything else! Thank you for all of your hard work and love for our family. I could not ever, ever ask for a better father. You are such a great example of everything I want to become. Thank you! Love you!

Sorry that shout out is coming late . . .

Well, last week we had Zone Conference. An Elder from Polocik gave a great talk. My Zone Leaders also gave a good workshop. President gave an interesting run down on how General Authorities are called . . . LOL . . . It was a li’l random, but it was cool. And, of course, we got free lunch and I hung out with Elder Legua a lot, so it was a fun day.

Yes, I’m in “bullet point” form, Tom . . . LOL . . .

During the Zone Conference, a doctor came and told us that we should never, never wear contacts here in Guatemala. The only parts of the world where you should wear contacts are the States and Canada. Interesting, huh? I wondered why my eyes hurt so bad when I wore contacts here! LOL! Now I understand . . .

I have a question . . . My driver’s license expires on my birthday next year. I can’t have it expire, can I? Would it cost money to expire and wouldn’t I have to take another driving test or something? Can you just look into what I should do ‘bout that ‘cause I get home like a week after it expires . . . Thanks, yo!

Oh! From last week . . . Happy Birthday to Zander, Aunt Michele and Jason!

I got your package, by the way! Thank you sooooo soooo soooo soooo ssoooos ssoososososs sososs sososos much! The camera is amazing! I was really missing a camera ‘cause I couldn’t take pictures of the cool stuff that was goin’ on. The pictures you sent were great but in some of them the kids look waaaaaaaaaaay too big. LOL . . . What I did was combine the two albums you sent into one to make one “All Star” album. LOL . . . I thought it was pretty smart . . . Thanks for the baseball magazine . . . LOL . . . Amazing . . . The Muddy Buddies . . . LOL . . . Money . . . I already finished a bag of muddy buddies . . . Oh! And the Schoenfelds came back from visiting family in Utah this week and they brought me a HUGE bag of M&Ms . . . LOL . . . I finished those already, too! LOL! Good, good week of chocolate. And thanks for the ties! Thank you for being so thoughtful of me in everything . . .

This morning we had interviews and they went very well. President didn’t have much to say, he just congratulated and thanked me for how much I’ve helped my Companion progress. Then we talked about the early formation of the Church. It was interesting . . . A good interview for sure, though!

Well, that’s all my updates! Hit me up! I sure love you all millions!

Because we're dying for pictures!

So . . . Derek hasn't sent us any pictures since the first of the year! Aaaaah! I found these pics of him on the Mission President's blog, so I thought I would post them here for you! Don't worry . . . I wasn't scanning every picture on the blog in hopes of seeing my son's smiling face . . .

I'm sure you are all as hungry to see him as we are!

You have got to love those plaid pants . . . So INCREDIBLY Derek!

I can picture him sitting in Sunday School class EXACTLY like this!

I don't think he's changed much . . . Do you?

"Everything is goin' great with the work!"

Hey, yoooooo, fam!

How ya’all doin? Me? Good . . .

Welllllll . . . I have bad news . . . I had a bunch of notes taken down to tell you guys, but I forgot my agenda at my house! Ahhhhh! We went home for just a sec and I took it out to write down some appointments and, oops! I forgot to put it back in my pocket! Dang it! I guess you’ll have better updates next week if I can’t remember it all from this week!

Well . . . Thanks for all of your updates once again! I sure hope to be receiving the package this Wednesday . . . We shall see . . .

Crazy Lakers Series, huh? I sure think the Lakers will pull it out, though . . . I can’t see them losing . . .

I hope Stacie had a fabulous trip! Tell her to write me something cool ‘bout it! And tell her to enjoy Japan for me! I love that place . . .

Speaking of people writing to me, though . . . DearElders . . . Dylan, James, Randy . . . C’mon . . . I’m waiting on them, too!

Well, let’s see if I can remember the things I was gonna say . . .

First . . . The Backyardagains really remind me of Aaliyah . . . Then I realized that the things she likes have probably really, really changed! So, tell me, please! What does she like to do? What television shows does she like to watch? Please let me know everything! I really got a li’l sad when I realized that I don’t know exactly what she likes . . .

Ummmm . . . I got nice and sick again this week! Yay! LOL . . . I got really, really wet and cold on Friday, plus I ate gross pizza. So, the pizza gave me boo on Saturday morning and I still have a lotta gas from it . . . LOL . . . But, on Saturday, my head really started hurting and I was really cold, so we went home so I could take a nap. When I woke up, I had a super high fever and my legs were sooooo weak and cramped. But . . . I couldn’t find a ride to our really important appointment . . . Sooooo . . . We went on a nice 20 minute walk to our appointment! LOL! You gotta respect me for working, LOL! I could barely walk . . . Anyway . . . At the house, they could tell I was sick and they really like me there . . . LOL . . . So like four of them got up rrrrrrriiiight away, put on sweaters, and headed out for medicine. LOL . . . It made me feel nice that they like me so much. They made me some weird hot lemon tea and gave me a pill to take. They said I would sweat a lot in the night but that I would be better by morning. Of course, I didn’t believe them . . . LOL . . . But they were so right! I woke up in the night a few times ‘cause I was sweating a llllooootttttt, butu when I woke up to my alarm at 6:30am, I was perfect! How cool, huh? Lorena knows her stuff! It was like a miracle! There was no way I could believe I could go from that sick to perfect in one night! I’m very perfect as every with health now . . .

Ummmm . . . Other stories . . . We did service this morning . . . We made food for the needy . . . That’s why I’m writing to you late today. Elder Empey and I packed a whole huuuuuuuge truck with food, clothes, water, etc . . . It was a lot of stuff . . . And, yea, it made us tireddddd . . . LOL . . .

As for investigators, we got a great, new possibility this week and we hope to put a “fecha” (as we say) with him this week! He is the husband of a member. It would be really, really, really cool if we could do it. We taught lots of lessons this week. And it was a very good week. Our baptisms are having a tough time coming to Church but they are going to be baptized! But, dddaaaang . . . We have to get them there on Sundays!

Oh, and Dad . . . We have the goal for the 27^th and the rest of the District on the 3^rd I believe. Us on the 27^th ‘cause it’s Ward Conference. I’m not telling my District we aren’t all on the same day, though, so don’t tell ‘em . . . LOL . . . I just want to give ‘em more prep time. But, yea, everything is goin’ great with the work!

I really can’t remember all the stories! Ahhhh! I’m so sorry! I know there will be some good ones! I’ll make sure I get ‘em all to ya next week, though! Dang it . . . I’m sorry . . .

Well, sure love, love, love you! Hit me up, you!

"It's pretty shanazy!"

Heeyyyyy, family!

Thank you for all the beloved updates! Yea yea yea! One year! I do have to start thinkin’ out what I wanna do after my mission now . . . Well, that’s what a former Mission President told me. He now works as an office authority for Central America or something. But I have no idea what I’m gonna wanna do . . . LOL . . . It will all work out . . .

To celebrate my one year . . . I . . . Drum roll . . . Did nothing! LOL! I honestly did nothing! I didn’t even really think ‘bout it being my year mark! And burning ties is against the Mission rules . . . Bummer . . . I’d love to burn something.

LOL . . . I’m really glad that Dallas turned 29 and not 30! I really thought he was turning 30! And that’s way too old! Anyway . . . Happy Birthday, bra! And Happy Birthday to Aunt Kim and Kendall as well!

As for my birthday and the package, I haven’t received it yet, but I’ll be waiting on it with much anticipation, yo!

Thanks for all the Stacie updates! I don’t think I even knew that she was gonna go to the Philippines! Cool experience though, huh? Make sure you stay safe, sister! Love you!!!!

And . . . Sounds like Dylan had an exciting week! Last week of school, huh? When it’s this time of year next year, I’ll be home watching him graduate! And, yea . . . Please get me that recording of Dylan! I really wanna hear all of his solos from this year . . .

As for Marie Fisher . . . Wow! LOL! I can’t believe she’s getting’ married! LOL! My 7th grade love . . . Or 6th grade or something . . . I don’t remember . . . How weird, though! Well, Congrats, Marie! If you could tell her I said that, that would be great!

And, as for me with wet shoes, the sun dries ‘em up pretty fast so I’m all good! I have three pair and they will last me. I’m good on clothes, too. You guys don’t worry ‘bout me! Thank you, though!

Can you believe the World Cup starts this week??? I’m super excited! I’ve never been so into soccer, but this whole Central American emotion really has me goin! Go, USA!

Oh, and as for my knee . . . I had written to Dallas telling him that it was bad. Well, I talked to a better doctor and he said I shouldn’t worry ‘bout it at all right now. He said I can get it looked at after my Mission and it will all be good. But, yea . . . The goin’ to the doctor story isn’t fun . . . Here it is . . . President asked me to take a new Elder to the doctor on Tuesday. He entered the field with my Companion, Elder Martinez, but he was up in the mountains in Coban. He stepped on a rock and hurt his back. I guess he had major back problems before his Mission, too. Anyway, I had to go on Divisions for a day with Elder Monge to translate for him at the doctor ‘cause the doctor only speaks English. The doctor was pretty mad ‘cause Elder Monge hadn’t written about his back problems on his Missionary Application, but President Clark (the Area President) came in and said he didn’t care that Elder Monge hadn’t written anything on his application. He said that he loves missionaries who just wanna serve and that we could use more missionaries like him! So . . . That was pretty cool! LOL! It pretty much shut up the doctor! Anyway, it wasn’t fun to translate, though, ‘cause the doctor was mean and said that Monge was gonna have to go home. Translating that was not fun . . . He was pretty sad . . . He was such a cool Elder. He was going to be an Assistant for sure. He was already a great teacher and he had only been in the mission field for a few weeks! He grabbed attention sooooo easily! He was the Second Counselor in his Ward before he came on his mission, too. He was sooooo cool. It would have been fun to have him as a Companion . . . I could have learned a lot, a lot from him. Poor kid could hardly walk, though. So, I had just one day with him and then I was back to normal with Elder Martinez!

Elder Martinez is doing well and he’s really growing soo, soo much! I’ve never seen a missionary grow so fast! He came into the mission field not talking or teaching at all, at all, and now he can do it comfortably! It’s pretty shanazy!

My area currently has three baptismal dates. They are all doing well, but none of them came to Church this week . . . So that will move their dates back a li’l bit. Omar and Mirna look great, but Manuel has a problem. His problem is that his job is being a priest. And his wife attends his church and doesn’t want him to be baptized into this “Mormon” church. So, it’s a toughy ‘cause he doesn’t want problems in his marriage. So, we are just gonna try to talk to her a li’l more. Well, a lot more really . . .

This week was goin’ really, really well ‘til I got a li’l sick. We didn’t go to Church yesterday ‘cause I had a fever along with some other things. But, the young men in the Ward came by and brought the Sacrament to me and my Companion which was really, really cool. Other members also came by to check up on me. Zusi and Fielding also brought me medicine and all, so I had lots of support . . .

I will put together the next date to have investigators in Church again, too, Dad! I’ll report more on it next week! Thanks for all of your help!

Well, I’m gonna get outta here! Lemme know if you have questions! I sure love you soo, soo much!

A rough week for Guatemala

In just the past seven days, residents of Guatemala have had to cope with a volcanic eruption and ash fall, a powerful tropical storm, the resulting floods and landslides, and a frightening sinkhole in Guatemala City that swallowed up a small building and an intersection.

Pacaya volcano started erupting lava and rocks on May 27th, blanketing Guatemala City with ash, closing the airport, and killing one television reporter who was near the eruption. Two days later, as Guatemalans worked to clear the ash, Tropical Storm Agatha made landfall bringing heavy rains that washed away bridges, filled some villages with mud, and somehow triggered the giant sinkhole - the exact cause is still being studied.

Check out the slide shows . . .