Week 82 - February 20, 2023

What's up everyone?!   Super busy week like always.  Got to go on Divisions with the APs and visit the other Elders in our Zone.  Was so good to go with my cuate E Robinson and share a message with the other missionaries on the Book of Mormón and its impact in our lives.  Also, got to talk about how the mission has changed our lives and how much it's going to affect our lives afterwards.  I'm really coming down to the end, so looking back at how much I've learned and grown is so cool. I'm so thankful for the mission and all its taught me.  But also excited for this summer...

In the Zone, we cover the area Nahuala, which for some of you guys will remember that, that place was my 2nd área, and where I was taken out of for war reasons and killings.  Nothing's changed, except that there are missionaries there again.  There are a couple of tanks and helicopters that are constantly patrolling from what the Elders say.  Going to visit the Elders there was the first time I was able to go back and be there.  A family that I met when I was there gave us lunch as well which was fun to see them again.

Yesterday, we had an investigator come to church, and after 2nd hour we taught her lesson two.   And before we even finished, she was asking how and when she could be baptized! Pilas.  Super excited for her.  She had so many good questions about temples and missionary work in the afterlife.  I always love teaching about those because of the testimony I have of them and how much they mean to me.

 

Read the Book of Mormon!  Have a good week everyone!

  - Elder Copeland

Week 81 - February 13, 2023

Another packed week this week with a bunch of updates ! I won't be able to get to them all.  But so many miracles as well.

This week we had interviews and Elderes reunion with President, so I was able to sit down with him and talk about everything.  It's crazy that both him and I will be leaving soon, so talking about all the things coming to an end and what we're doing right now is crazy.  Lots of stuff happening and things we are looking forward to.  He gave me some of the best advice I've ever gotten and then shared a super cool testimony in the meeting with the Zone.

     

We put an Hermana on date this week for baptism!  She's been kind of iffy and has been relying on the testimony of others in her life about the church.  But this week we had two really good lessons that went so good.  She told us she's received personal revelation about the church and wants to be baptized!  There're still a couple hoops to jump through, but we're exciting for her and her decision.

Story of the week.  Last night after our last cita, me and my comp were walking home.  We had just walked for like four hours in total for the day and had finished our last teaching about an hour from the house.  So, I was excited to get back home and shower.  But my comp said, "Let's stop by a member family really quick and just say hi" (dar saludos)."   And honestly, I wasn't feeling it at first.  We had worked nonstop, 100mph the whole day and I was ready to get home.  And it was late haha.  But after a moment of just thinking that in my head, I said, "Ok, let's stop by."  As we went, they invited us in the house, and right away the father of the house asked if we could give him a blessing.  He asked me if I could give it, so I did, and it was one of the most powerful blessings I've ever given.  Afterwards, he stands up and has tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you guys for stopping by, God sent you guys here tonight."  There was a pause for a second and the Spirit was so strong.  Me and my comp don't know what that family is going through right now, but we were definitely sent by the Spirit to visit them and give him a blessing.  I'm glad I didn't refuse the feeling that my comp had to visit them and will be quicker to respond to guidance by the Spirit for sure.

Afterwards, me and my comp were walking home and talking about how that was a miracle.  It made me realize that I don't have too much time left to have these types of experiences, and that I need to keep going 100% to search for them.  I'm super grateful that we stopped by that house and that both me and my comp have the Holy Ghost with us, to guide us to those that need us.  I say it every week, but there really is nothing better than being guided by the Spirit. 

Last little story, yesterday in one of our lessons, we were teaching a family about the Ten commandments, and we had to leave soon in order to make it to our next appointment.  So, I looked down at my watch to see what time it was, and I remembered that yesterday was Super Bowl Sunday, and that it had probably started, too.  Right afterwards, I bore my testimony on how the things of the gospel are so much better than the things of the world.  As I was bearing my testimony, I felt as if I was testifying to myself as well.  That the things I was doing, like visiting a less active family and teaching them a lesson, was so much greater than anything else I could have been doing.  It really put it into perspective for me, that I've now spent almost 20 months, teaching, inviting and serving other people, while leaving behind things of the world.  It was a really cool feeling that I'm so grateful for. 

Lots of stories this week and feelings I know haha, but those are always the best parts of the week.  Love you guys!

      - Elder Copeland

 

Week 80 - February 6, 2023

 What's up, everyone!  This week was one of the best weeks in my whole mission!  So many miracles and cool experiences. First off, we've now met most of the members and have been so filled up with family home evenings that we are having to push some of them to two weeks later because we just don't have any time.  We've been incredibly busy and constantly heading to the next lesson or visit. 

One of my favorites this week was after we were fed so much food by our favorite member family, the dad came in to eat as well, and just from talking with him for a little bit, he opened up about his whole life and cried like three times.  He told us about his challenges and how just recently he came back home after being kicked out by the family for being drunk all the time.  Super sad, but now he's doing a lot better and really is focused on changing his life and being with his family more. They have a kid who's leaving on a mission in two months, so it's good for them to be together.  But the best part was that this Sunday after we invited him to church for the first time in a while, he showed up with his family and they all sat together.  It was a really special moment, to see the whole family sitting together at church and being united.  It's rare in Guatemala to see full families together in general, much less attending church together.  So, to see him and that family was amazing. We have another family home evening planned with them tonight, which we are excited about.

We were able to start teaching our investigators this week, two of them came to church and are really progressing!  Even though church is at 8 am and is like 20 degrees and windy at that time lol.

Got to go on divisions with Elder Andrus, my son in the mission.  When I trained him, I told him that whenever the ZL's go on divisions with you, you have to drag them around everywhere and constantly be on the move... so that's what he did to me hahah.  We went to an aldea pretty far and taught Lesson One to one of their investigators that went so well!  It was fun to teach again with my kid and see how far he's come in his Spanish and missionary skills since our time together.

After church yesterday, we went with the stake counselor to teach other wards on the ministering trainings. It went super well, and I was able to teach other ward leaders like I was able to last week.

 

Also, back in San Juan, my old comp told me that three of the jóvenes on the bball team are going to church, reading the Book of Mormon, and are interested!!!  So cool.

It's been a super crazy week and this next one should be even busier.  But everything is going amazing, and I am feeling so blessed to be here and be able to meet all of these people here.  Love you all!

     - Elder Copeland