Week 44 - May 30, 2022

JAP , wuk Jun Junap Rokik na 

Exciting week in Guate.  Still so busy, but it finally felt like we were settled down yesterday for the first time this transfer.

We finally found a house Monday morning.  Yeah, we're working on P-day.  The house is nice here in Pologua even though there's no sink... but it has water and light so we'll take it.

Wednesday we had to go to the capital again for immigration stuff. 

On our way we passed through Antigua on our bus, and I saw a friend working hard in their area ;)  It's been a while, so it was nice to see them and see that they're working hard. :)

 

Friday after coming back from the capital, we moved into our house.  It ended up flooding a ton because of a roofing problem, but now it's fine.

Sunday both me and my companion gave talks in church.  I talked about how serving and loving our families can strengthen them, while also strengthening ourselves.  And that helping others brings more joy than doing something for ourselves.  Our investigator came as well, which was awesome.  But I invite you guys this week to look for ways to serve others before yourself.  I know you will feel happy from it without receiving anything for yourself.  Whenever you are serving others, you are serving Heavenly Father.  So why not do it.

But wow it has not stopped raining here all week.  Plus the flood in our house got some of my jackets wet, so I'm low on cover.  But I'll be used to walking to citas, drenched here soon I think.  My comp hates it though haha. 

 

No major event, but we are constantly having to travel or walk somewhere, so it's constantly busy.  Loving this area though and the people.  Now that we are settled in our house, I'm excited to see how much we can get done this week.  Oh we also used a "TUJ." (Steamoven) It's how they shower here.  Pretty much just a big oven with a sauna type feel.  It's hot.

-Jun Junab Falta Kamik-

- Elder Copeland

Week 43 - May 23, 2022

 CHICORRAL y POLOGUA

New Area folks.  But first I have to tell about leaving Patalup. Tuesday we visited every single person to say our goodbyes. It was way harder than I thought it would be.  Being with those people for three transfers made me feel so sad to leave them. The work and service that we have done for this ward all came out when we were saying goodbye. 

One of the best experiences in my mission and life happened Tuesday afternoon. As we were walking home and passing the last house to say goodbye, the tiny old lady that only speaks Kiche' was sitting on her porch like she does every single day. And every single day we would pass her house and I would ask how she's doing, how are her turkeys (N'os, in kiche).  And ask if she needs anything and then go on with the day.  Every single day.  But this time I had to tell her it would our last time walking by her and that we would be leaving.  I could tell she was sad and thinking of what to say.  Buy all she did was she grabbed my hand with both her little hands and just held on to me tightly with tears in her eyes.  She was looking right at me and taking it in that it could be the last time she ever sees me. Then all she said was "maltiox tat" (thank you sir) very softly. In that experience, I knew that I had changed her life in some way.  I was probably the first ever gringo to speak to her in her language and to be her friend.  By just asking how she was and checking up on her, I know I made a difference.  It was so sad walking away from her house for the last time and same with all the other houses of Patalup.  I know the work I'm doing is changing lives while also changing mine.  I know this church is true and it is meant for everybody.

But now transfers, I am STILL in Momos Zone.  I can never leave Momos haha.  Momos is where everyone speaks Kiche so President is putting me in another Momos area to continue speaking Kiche and learning more to be able to teach it soon. But I'm now in "Chicorreal," which hasn't had their own missionaries in over 20 years.  So me and my comp are opening it.  But also, a bigger "city" called Pologua is also in our area, so I can actually buy stuff from tiendas and not have to cook every single thing I eat.  Plus Pologua is right on the "Carretera" (Guate highway) so we can go to HueHuetenango or Xela pretty fast and not have to get up at 5 am to get on one bus to Momos ha.  But the whole first day I was joking with my new comp about how there are actually people here to find with stores and stuff.  My comp is from El Salvador and we have been friends since before we were comps, so we get along great.  He reminds me of my friends from WA and how we act.  

But right now, Chicorreal doesn't have a chapel, they hold church meetings in the house of the President of the branch.  But the church has already bought land to build a chapel once there are enough active members.  So our goal is to get that number up so that the church builds the chapel here soon.  It would be so cool if they built a chapel from the efforts of us two. 

But there's one problem.  Since there hasn't been missionaries in Pologua or Chicorreal for so long, there's no house for missionaries to live.  And with no church either, we have to find a house to live in and rent out.  So this week we have been searching, contacting, and trying to find an apartment or some sort to live in, in Pologua.  We have some possibles but most houses don't have a shower, running water, or we can't get in contact with the owner.  But hopefully soon we can land one and actually live in our area.  Right now we are staying in the tiny church house in Tierra Blanca with two other Elders, which is about 15 mins on the Carretera from Pologua.  So lots of things happening that we have to get figured out and get settled, but it's all exciting. 

Also, we put an Hermano on date for baptism!  Good things are happening, and it's exciting for the people here that haven't had missionaries in 20 years.

Long email this week, but so much is happening.  Love you all, and do the little things for someone else this week.

- Elder Copeland 

Week 42 - May 16, 2022

Last week in Patalup

After 3 transfers, 4 1/2 months, I am leaving Patalup.  After leaving my first area Panca, I thought I wouldn't get an experience like that again.  Until I got here, and now I might be going to another remote area next transfer. But Patalup has been amazing.  I know that the hard work and effort that I have put in this very remote and tough area have blessed myself, but more importantly the people of this Aldea.  It is not easy waking up at 5 am, 3 days a week, to get to meetings almost 2 hours away on a horrible chicken bus.  Or walking up and down one long dirt road for everyone to tell us they're busy or not even tell us their names.  But I'm thankful for these types of experiences that I have had to grow myself into who I am today. 

This week we had Zone Conf which went well.  Towards the end, it was so hard so stay awake because of the 5 am chicken bus ride.  But we got through it.  The rest of the week has been saying goodbye to the people and offering anything else that we can do.  We have had some fun service projects that we did, like cutting down a tree and then pulling it off the stump away from the house.  And then taking an axe and cutting all the stumps into pieces so they have firewood to cook with.  Everybody cooks over fires.  But it has also been sad.  I keep telling my comp every time we walk our dirt road, how we're gonna miss this place in a couple days.  It's been crazy.

All the time, I'll stop and think about the young men/boys that I am able to connect with and how I've been able to impact their lives.  There are some pictures of us together and you can tell that I've been able to bond with them since I got here.  I always think about when I was little and looking up to the missionaries.  And now how I'm that same example to these boys here.  

It's crazy how fast time is going, and I know I'll look back and remember Patalup for my whole life.  I love this place and its people and I'm sad to leave, but I'm super excited to go to my next bush area this week.... yep, Pres already told me I'll be going to another area where I'll speak Kiche.  So I'll have over a year of being in the most remote areas if I'm there for a couple transfers.  President just knows I'm ok with being in these hard areas, so I know he's taking advantage of that haha. 

Love you all and send me emails and updates on y'all.  Bena' Patalup!

Warriors in pho

- Elder Copeland 

Week 41 - May 9, 2022

Caves and Lightning!

What a week.  Monday we hooped.  Tuesday we had distrito council.  Wednesday back in área.  And then Thursday we had an Elders' reunión and interviews with President.  It was a super busy week.  We had to wake up at 5 am more than we didn't. 

But with my interview with President, I told him that I've contacted every single person from border to border in Patalup.  I told him that all we can do right now is help the ward and continúe to search for service, work, or stuff to do.  So he told me he will be taking missionaries out of Patalup and will be moving us.  I'm not sure where I'll go, but I have an idea.  But this week we have to let everyone know they will have to be without missionaries for however long.  It's going to be sad leaving Patalup, as I have been here for 4 1/2 months now, but I think I'm ready. 

One thing that I have thought about lately as I study is how we always need to be progressing.  As I've looked back at how I was preparing for my mission a year ago, I know that my if my younger self could see me now they would be so proud of me. And what a cool feeling that is.  If they could see how much I have grown and learned and become in my 10 months almost of being a missionary, how cool it would be.  I challenge all of you to make goals so that yourself now will be proud of the person you are in the future.  I know it will help you forward.

This upcoming week will be my last in Patalup, and I've started to feel so grateful to have had the time I've had here.  This place is like no other, and I will always remember my time here. 

Today for P-day we went to the coolest and biggest cave ever. We had to walk in the knee deep water through the cave and come out on the other side.  Look at the picture--they are sweet.

Super busy day and week, but I love you all and challenge yourself to be better.

Warriors in 5

-Elder Copeland 

Week 40 - May 2, 2022

 What's up, everyone?!  This week was definitely one of the busiest weeks of the mish.  So much traveling and being out of our area, it was exhausting.

But Monday when we were in the capitol, we got permission to go around town a little bit even though it's "dangerous."  It felt like the states with huge stores, nice cars, and actual roads for once instead of dirt... 

Later on, Tuesday was the highlight of the week and maybe mission, too.  So, since we were going to be in the capital until Wednesday, our mission coordinated with the Guatemala City Temple, and we were able to do a session that night.  It was the coolest thing ever.  The Spirit is so strong just from being around the temple and then especially when inside.  My companion's parents were sealed in that temple, so it was really cool for him to see and go into the temple for the first time, too.  

But afterwards, my "mission" father (while I was In Panca) Ex-Elder Alvarez who is from the capitol, came and saw me once our session was over.  It was so fun to talk to him again and to tell him everything that has happened.  I loved seeing him again and making jokes like old times.  We took some cool pictures, too, that I'll put.  Saying bye to him again for who-knows-how-long was sad, but I can always call him to practice my Kiche. 

Wednesday, we took our awful, windy, hot 5-hour bus ride back to Xela, and then went to the hospital so that my companion could see if he has parasites.  He does.  And guess what it came from, everyone... chicken caldo.  Amazing. So, I might have some as well based on how I've felt this week, but we'll see how it goes. 

Thursday, we came back to Patalup finally, but as we walked into our house, there was no joke like 80 bugs inside, including a scorpion.  

It was wild.  It reminded me of the first time walking into Canqixaja with all the 200 spiders.  But, we spent 30 minutes trying to kill all of them and then sweep them out, but every time we opened the door to sweep them out, more came in.  Found out that our window screen had broken and they were coming to the little light that we have outside our house, and getting in that way.  I got attacked maybe 5 times while trying to fall asleep by bugs we missed, too. 

So, a lot of traveling and doing things that we needed to get done, but it was good to be out of the rain here.  We're now in the rainy season, so it rains every day and won't stop for 6 months.

This upcoming week we have another busy one with hopefully less bugs, but loving every second.

Love you all and read your scriptures.  Go Warriors

- Elder Copeland