Week 35 - March 29, 2022

 Kojkuinem Ko' Chuk'ab

Hey, everyone.  Another great week in the middle of nowhere.  We got a lot done, and it was nice to get back out and going after being inside for some of last week. 

Wednesday, we helped the ward dig land outside of the church/ our house to build a garden.  Work in progress, for sure, but we'll see how it goes.

Friday, we had consejo de distrito in San Bortollo.  First and last time having it in person this transfer because of sicknesses and travel obstacles.  But got one done.

Yesterday like every Sunday we have sacrament, then 2nd hour, then 2 more hours of ward council, then visiting someone just us, then visiting as a ward council less-active members, then usually haciendo un favor para somebody else.  So Sundays are always so busy and usually busiest day of the week.  But this visit we visited a less-active family who has a 92-year-old women who's pretty sick and not able to talk much.  I was asked to talk on the importance of the family by the bishop.  I talked about how through challenges that we all have, we can either choose to give up and pout about why our lives are the way they are or choose to stay strong in the church and be able to have/ see blessings in our lives that will help us to get through pruebas.  I talked about Cannon, as well, and how he has strengthened me and my family.  It was a really cool visit and the Spirit was super strong. 

My comp afterwards said that it was one of the best testimonies he has heard.  It was a cool moment.  I'm thankful that I'm able to share that with people who need it and be the Lord's hands to these people.  I love being in the middle of nowhere with nothing "wordly" and only the work and the Spirit.  Well, also, seeing Duke in the Final 4 but nada other than that haha.

Love you all and hope you guys have a good week.  8 month mark today!  Go Duke!

- Elder Copeland

Pics of the Week

Weeks 33 and 34 - March 14 and 21, 2022

8 months!

Sakarik E' loq achi, estabamos en quarantina otra vez entonces no pudimos hacer mucho, pero todavia teniamos algunas exitos y buenas cosas durante las 2 semanas pasadas. 

One of the coolest thing is the new 2nd counselor that we have is a hermano that we re-activated about a month before he was called to be the 2nd counselor, has really grown and become such a great member--it's so cool.  We have a ward soccer game every now and then with some less-actives and non-member kids.  And the counselor asked if he could be the translator for our lesson with one of the non-member kids.  So cool.  He went from being a shy less-active member to going out of his way to help others come to the church.  It's amazing to see the changes we have made in this ward even without any people to contact or baptize. The new bishopric has relied on us a lot to do councils and other activities, as they are still learning the process of being a bishopric and the responsibilities. 

While being stuck in the house, I've been able to read almost all of Doctrine & Covenants.  It's crazy to think how much trust Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ had in Joseph Smith and the members at the time to start up and grow the church.  With missionaries, structure, and everything.  Now thinking about how the church is all over the world and growing is amazing.  We really do have a living prophet that leads and guides us and how cool is that and to rely on when we have struggles or not sure where to turn.  Eso es lo mejor paz y gozo que yo puedo tener y sentir. Dios les ama y quiere lo mejor para su vida, seguir adelante y venir a Cristo. Yo prometo que esta Iglesia es verdadera y pueden saber por su mismo. 

Todavia leventando pesas cada dia y siendo un misionero. Les quiero todos y lea sus escrituras

- Elder Copeland 

Week 32 - March 7, 2022

 36,600 Steps

Hey everybody, another long week of being a missionary.  So I have a little fit watch that tells me my calories and steps and stuff like that for my workouts.  And last Monday we walked 36,600 steps.  

It was one of the most exhausting days of my life, but I can still think of some other days here in Guate that have been harder still haha.  I worked out in the morning, walked to bus stops, zone soccer game, walked up mountains, walked from aldea to aldea, twice.  Long day.

Tuesday, March 1st.  Cannon's birthday!  As we were walking all day Monday, another Elder who is in our district was talking about his brother who is serving in Africa, and as we were talking he said, "I wonder how it would be if my brother was here."  And right as he said that, I thought the same thing.  It's weird to think that I could be talking to him on P-days or getting updates about what he's doing.  But I already know what he's doing and get to be doing the same as him.  I thought a lot about him on his B-day and miss that boy every day.  I bet I'm working harder than he is😉.  12 years old!

The rest of the week was trying to get an Hermana ready for her baptism.  Many failed citas and lessons that fell through with her, but we are hopeful she can progress enough to have a real testimony before she is baptized, whenever that is. Members are still coming with us on citas which is great as well.  We had a lot of less-actives at church again yesterday too!

Also, after a workout one day, I hit 26 NBA 3's in a row.  36/40. I'm gonna beat that this week though.  There's a vid, but it's too long for email ha. 

Nothing crazy anymore, just me spreading the gospel and working out🤙

-Elder Copeland