Week 39 - April 25, 2022

 What's up, everyone!  It was another great week in the middle of the mountains.  We had success again similar to last week, which was good. 

We had divisions this week with Elders from another Aldea.  I was staying In Patalup and had an Elder from El Salvador coming with me for the day.  As we were coming back on the bus back to Paxmaramac, a guy from Antigua spoke to us and we later found out he is a member that is coming to visit his 91-year-old mom who is very sick.  He asked if we could go with him to give a blessing.  His mom is actually the abuelita that we visited days before to give a blessing already.  So we went with him and talked to his family about how the 91-year-old lady is doing and if she's doing any better.  She has been in bed for over a month now.  After her family slowly helped her to sit up, I gave the blessing and did a little in Kiche so she could understand at least a couple phrases (She can only speak Kiche).  She was moaning and whimpering from pain since we had gotten there.  But once I had finished the blessing, she stopped.  Afterwards, they slowly laid her back down and put a small blanket over her face to block any moscas (flies) from getting on her face.  The Spirit was really strong throughout, especially afterwards when both me and my companion gave our testimonies on how the Lord knows all things and will bless us if we stay close to him even when things are hard.  The abuelita blessings never get old. 

Yesterday (Sunday), we were asked to give talks on missionary work and how everyone can be missionaries.  I gave a story on when I was about 10 years old maybe.  I was playing hoops outside with my buddies, and the Elders were over for dinner.  The Elders asked me who my friends were and if they know anything about the gospel.  I said probably not, they just like playing basketball with me.  Then one of the Elders who I really looked up to and wanted to be like, gave me a book of Mormon and said, "Will you go ask them if they will read this book with their families?"   I remember thinking, "Yeah sure, but they will probably say no."  But I did it and they accepted the book.  I'm not sure if they ever read it but the feeling I felt was so amazing, and I felt so accomplished for what I did.  Like as if, if I hadn't done that, then maybe they never would have had someone offer them any other time.  I walked back inside and told my fam and the missionaries what happened, and I'll never forget what the senior missionary told me.  He said, "It takes a lot of courage to do that to your friends, you are going to be a great missionary one day."  I hadn't remembered that event for a while until I was preparing for my talk this week on how everyone can be a missionary. Gordon B. Hinkley said that the most important thing we can do is to preach the gospel.  And he's not just talking to people with a name tag on.  Everyone can be examples and be missionaries if we choose to.  So look for people or opportunities to serve others this week.  I know you will be blessed.

Last thing, I'm in the capital, Guate City, because we got a call saying we had to go to Xela immediately after church to make the last bus to the capital for immigration stuff.  So now we should be here for a couple days doing that.  But as we were driving through all of the different cities in Guate, me and my comp Elder Harris said to each other how there seems to be just a little bit more in these other places... it's still so crazy how little people and far out in the middle of nowhere we are, but we still do what we are supposed to.  I know that we have the most remote area in the mission with the least amount of people and maybe hardest living conditions, but we get it done.  I'm so thankful for everyday that I have here and to be able to experience everything that I should be. (sin comida) 

Love you all, and send me emails because I'll be in this hotel room for a couple days❤

- Elder Copeland 

Week 37 and 38 - April 18, 2022

Primero Pascua

Happy Easter, everyone.  What a great week it was for me. Everything seemed to be going well and many miracles throughout.

This week for Semana Santa, everyone was inviting us to eat, visit, service whatever.  We were busy all week and had some really cool cita's with members and less-actives.  We got invited on Wednesday for "Pan Mojada" ( wet bread that everyone eats here for Semana Santa) at 9 am, which was different to be outside and not studying in the morning, but that's how busy we were.  

Everywhere we went, more and more people were showing up or passing by that we were able to talk to.  We were always laughing or having a good time with the people here.  It was great. 

Two of our citas this week, we were invited to eat chicken caldo.  It's been a while since I've had caldo, so it was a nice reminder of just how eating eggs and tuna everyday in our house isn't that bad. 

One of the best parts of the week was how when we had come back to the house at 9:30 pm after working or visiting all day in our area, I had an amazing feeling of just how blessed I am.  After one of the best days in my mission, I just felt so lucky to be able to do this every single day.  I was so happy that I get to be out here helping these people and just to be friends with them when they may need it.  I took a moment and reflected about how blessed I am to have this knowledge of the gospel and to be able to share it with everyone we see. And with all the craziness going on everywhere else, I can have peace in knowing that what I'm doing is exactly what I should be doing.  I am so lucky.

We have an investigator that wants to learn more about the church but her in-laws and husband don't want anything to do with the church, so we are praying that her family will allow her to make her own decisions and learn more about the gospel from us missionaries.  Hopefully we can get her to church soon and teach her. 

Overall, one of the best weeks of my mission this week of Easter, and I am so happy to be where I am.  Love you all so much

- Elder Copeland 

Week 36 - April 4, 2022

 Quarantine Clean

Another good and busy week.  First off though, we're back in quarantine.  Ever since Friday, I can't really smell or taste and have been sick, so we back in da crib otra vez. 

But Monday was a super busy and fun p-day.  We played some hoops in Momos which started as a fun 2v2.  But after four straight W's, it quickly turned to a "everyone vs. Cope" haha.  I won again.  21-18 against 3 other gringos.  Good times. 

Wednesday, we had Zone Conference.  Seems like not too long ago, we just had our last one last transfer.  Time has flown since I've gotten here.  But after some good food, we went and got some things at the ZL's house in Momos.  We then had two more dinner appointments with some great families.  I was so full.  Going from tuna and eggs every day to having people actually give us food was a nice change for a day.  Can't get that in Patalup. 

This week we had some big changes in the mission.  Just before the APs called us about transfer news, our President told the mission that he would be taking Elders out of areas where there aren't a lot of people and put them in more populated areas because of the shortage of missionaries in our mission.  I thought for sure we were going to be taken out when the APs called minutes after that.  But nope, I'm staying again here in Patalup and with my comp.  President told me at Zone Conference how he knows how important we are to this ward and helping through the challenges of a new bishopric. It's nice to hear that from him because even though we don't have the contacts or lessons like other areas, the work that we do to keep this ward strong and connect with the members is worth a lot for them and for us. 

But, almost all other Aldea areas in Momos are being closed for now until we get more missionaries, including Panca.  So that also shows we are important and needed here at this time.

Lastly, Conference was amazing.  I felt the message was how important every single one of us are in Heavenly's Father plan and how he loves us more than we can even comprehend. Also, how important it is for us to continue pushing forward through the many hard things that we go through in our lives. Without the mistakes and hardships, we wouldn't be able to grow and become better saints and disciples over time.  Just like how being a missionary is not easy at all, through it all I can see how much I've grown and have learned so far.  I'm so thankful for this gospel and the knowledge of these things. 

Find someone to serve, love you all

-Elder Copeland 

Pictures of the Week