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
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