4th email in Guat
Sorry that my titles are boring. I'd like to look back at these emails and know exactly when they were by the title.
This week was great, every week has been great so far. Monday, got haircuts and food in Momos, then contacted and studied, same with Tuesday, both normal days with not much happening other than our normal schedule. Maybe I'm just used to Guate life now and everything is normal.
Wednesday, went to Momostenango again because it was payday, and the closest ATM is in Momos about 45 minutes away. So while we were there, we got groceries and looked at some tiendas with clothes. I got this sweet poncho that is so big and warm. It looks like a Star Wars poncho. I'll put a picture below.
I also was finally able to change my US money to Quetzales, so I had so much money. And on every Wednesday and Sunday, Momos has so many pop-up stores in Central Park--it is so packed. So I bought a speaker and USB because every missionary here has them, also a hat and some little souvenirs.
Thursday, we had our first real lesson with investigators. I know, finally. It is seriously like a video game trying to find homes here. Or places where people live. There are so many trees and hills that you have to have someone take you to a house to know where it is. So every time we find a new house in the jungle, we get super excited to maybe teach them, and then most times they turn us down or say they attend the Católica church up the road. But, we press on. But, we had a good lesson with this family of nine kids. Only four were present and the mom. We talked about prophets and how lucky we are to have prophets and apostles guiding us today. We then for the next three days invited them to conference here at the church, and every time they said they were busy when we knew they weren't.
Friday was another normal day, studying, contacting, calls, speaking with the President of the Rama on where to find more people.
Saturday was the experience of the week. No not walking this time, thank goodness. But, we had plans to go to Momos to watch General Conference with the Elders in our Zone. Usually the only truck to Momos on Saturdays goes at 7:30, so me and Alverez were ready, standing outside at 7:10 because we can't miss it. It never came. We stood out there until 8:30 about, when the church garbage man pulled up in his truck. He said he was going to Canquixajá and then San Rafael and then Momos after he gets all the garbage from the other two churches. So we went with him, and this guy's engine in his truck had to be new because we were flying. We were standing up the whole time because if you sit down and you hit one rock or pothole, you will feel it for a couple days. So we went with him and saw some really cool views. Took us about two hours to get all the trash and then get to Momos, but I'm just glad we got to make it.
Then watched conference. It was amazing. Never have I been so focused and excited for every speaker and talk. It seemed every speaker gave their talk on loving one another. Some of my favorites were Ulysses Soares about how we need to look at our own imperfections before judging others for theirs. That one was a great lesson for me because here, it's every easy to look at someone and think they have never showered in their life or brushed their teeth. But they probably look at me and think I've never had to skin a cow or eat chicken heart a day in my life . . .
But, I know that if it were Jesus, he would love everyone more than I can comprehend, no matter their faults, which is something I needed to hear.
I, also, loved Siro Schmeil and Michael A Dunn's talks about improving ourselves. Little by little each day. If we improve 1% of something that we do every single day, after a year we will be 37x better than when we started. And I have 2 years to become 74x better at being a missionary. And lastly, Dieter F Uchtdorf's talk about staying on the line, using spiritual landmarks to help us so that we don't walk in circles. I loved every single talk and took away something from every one. I wish I could share my thoughts about all of them and the lessons with you guys.
After both sessions, six of us missionaries went and played pool because Saturday was mini p-day for us. A lot of laughs and jokes . . . I'll never forget playing pool with Latinos.
Then had to look for a flete "ride" back to Panca. We saw the coolest sky ever. I've never taken the truck back in the evening because the last one back is at noon, so being able to be on top of the mountains and being able to see for miles during the sunset was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. It looked fake. I wanted to take a picture but if I let go of the bars of the truck, I'm not making it back to Panca.
Sunday, watched Conference and studied Spanish a lot. It was a really good week.
This week we go to Xela for our "4 semanas" exam. To see how capable we are in Spanish to teach and contact. Also, the scriptures and ordinances we have to have memorized. Feeling confident and excited to go back to Xela for a day and actually see a normal-sized city.
Hope everyone is doing well, love you all!
- Elder Copeland
More Pics of the Week
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