Getting Old

Well on Saturday I will officially be old. So many hours have passed in my life and it has been so fast. Sometimes I get scared that my life is going be that fast after this but I still want to enjoy it a ton. Can't believe it. And in one month I will be home. Not quite sure what to think about that. 

This week was alright. I mean my wallet was stolen so that kinda stinks... It doesn't look like the wallet is coming back because I was in Reu. A lot of missionaries use Western Union for pisto and it is decent. I am sick again and I think it is Dengue again and Dengue is the worst. Must have gotten it at the coast. My entire body is achy and my head hurts. It hurts to breathe but whatever.

Hermana William is progressing quite a bit but I am really mad at myself right now. We had a great lesson with him last night and it was really spiritual. But then his drunk boss came in and was being stupid. After about 20 minutes, I couldn't take it anymore so I chewed him out. The boss got mad and started yelling. I hope it doesn't affect William. He told his boss that he was a Mormon so that is a good sign. Please pray for him so he will be alright. I am also praying for more patience.

That is really all I have to say because I don't want to focus too much on home in the last leg of the mission. Love ya all!

Con amor,

Elder Grant

Last Changes and a New (and Last) Companion

So this week had been a little bit lame ... The first half anyway. I was with my baggy, baggy, baggy companion. We didn't do much work. But then on Wednesday we had changes and that was probably one of the weirdest experiences of my life. I have been to tons of those meetings and these last nine months, as a zone leader, I have been to every one. It stinks to see all my buddies leaving. We were sitting there listening to all the testimonies and then up stepped Elder Dalton. I couldn't believe it. My first companion was now going home. And, he only has one more change than me. Then it hit me that I am in the last leg of my mission. I need to pick things up. So, I got a new companion, Elder Hernandez from Peru. He is cool! I thought I was going to get Elder Locke, from Idaho, but that didn't happen. My companion is a really good kid. We work well together because I don't want to die in my mission as a slacker missionary.

So good news! The girl we baptized last year is still going strong and wants to go to the temple now. And because the guy that baptized her felt the spirit, he wants to go to the temple now!!! I am so excited because I am going to go see them get sealed!!! What a great way to end the mission.

In other good news, looks like we have two more baptisms coming up. The partial family we are teaching is progressing a ton. I love the gospel. It just makes people happy and that is what is happening with him. He just keeps getting happier. He believes in the sacerdocio and now asks for blessings. I am super excited. He should be baptized on my birthday - May 31st. That's probably the best birthday present ever. So I am really excited. And more success means more animos to work! I am glad I have got a good comp to die with who won't let me die lamely.

So funny story. My companion went to chest bump me last night, after we finished the day, because that is what we normally do when we get done for the day. But, he is super tiny - like 135 pounds and I'm a 185 fatty. I sent the poor kid flying into the wall and he hit his head. Hahaha he is okay.

This week is going to be sick. Presidente Duncan is coming to the mission so we are going to see what's up with him and then after I'm staying in Reu again. I LOVE Reu! That's about it for this week. Love you guys!!!

Con amor,

Elder Grant

A Baptism and Mother's Day Call

Hey Happy Mother's Day to all you moms, aunts, and grandmas out there!

Good news! We had a baptism last week. I would send pics but my comp isn't here, my camera is dead. He left to San Marcos to do something. I have another companion for the day. My comp goes home tomorrow.

On the cool news, I got to talk to my family!!! That was awesome. They all seem happy but it was weird because I am dying soon. Well, not soon but it is there on the list. But, no worries, we are finitely going to keep working! HARD!!!! I am happy. And, I am happy about the baptism. It is a cool story.

This girl named Wendy is working for a family of members and she lives there with them. Well the wife took her to the temple and she felt the spirit super strongly. So, we went to teach her and asked her if she wanted to be baptize. She said, "Yes!" And there you have it. She went to church, has progressed, and got dunked. And we are happy. Then the previous Stake President's daughter got married to a nonmember and he is really positive. I am so pumped! He will be baptized either the 24th or the 31st. 

(This is info from our phone call, Skype, with Collin. We loved talking to him. He will be home in 6 weeks. So this was a bit of a different call than the others. It was more of a preparation for the return type of call. He did have some new info. He told us about the fleas and how he is being eaten alive. He said the sprays aren't as effective as we would like to think they are. He has lots of holes in his shoes but can make it to the end. He is loving his zone - full of Elders. He is healthy and happy. He is feeling a bit "baggy" and feels very frustrated with that. He doesn't want to think about coming home but it just happens. His current companion had extended and was very baggy. He went home this last Wednesday. That has made it more difficult to ignore the fact that he is now in his last transfer. He had many questions about home and we talked about what he eats and the "cold" temperatures. Poor kid will freeze when he gets home.

He said that their p-day would be spent traveling to Reu for a day of fun at the President's home. They were going to eat and play tennis. In order to get there from San Pedro, they had to leave at 5:30 a.m. and travel to Quetzeltenango where they would catch a bus to Reu. The ride would be three hours from Quetz to Reu. If they traveled from San Pedro then it would be about 5 1/2 hours. They had earned this p-day by exceeding the goals that were set for the zone. Collin was pretty excited! We received this picture that was taken inside President Ruiz's home.)

Sorry I didn't write yesterday, we were having a pday at President's house. It was really tired. We were up at 4:30 and then travel and playing in the hot sun. Then we had four hours of travel back. I fell asleep at 9:30. I haven't been to bed that early since before my mission. 

Well, time is up. I love you guys a tons!

Con amor,

Elder Grant

Skyping on Sunday

Hey we will check my email quickly on Wednesday. Will you let me know of a good time to call on Sunday? Kind of important that we get together. I will be Skyping because it is way cooler than a phone call.

A new roof sounds interesting. Is it going to be flat still or more pointy? Things to be answered when I call.

I am doing well. I am not as baggy as I thought I was two days ago. I thought I had three months left. I was teasing some members about giving me presents because I only had three months left and this kid was like no, you have less than two months. I didn't have my time right. My companion is super baggy and destroying us with his baggyness. I think I could use a fireball this next change.

We are really working on our goals here in the zone. We want to get our attendance of the stake to 8000 and the ward to 120. We are odor king hard and are nearly there.

One of our fechas fell through. I was pretty ticked. I macheted the dad pretty good. We have some parents that have been telling their kids they can't go to church because we don't believe in God. WE DO!!!! The kid really wanted to go to church but his stepdad took him to work so he wouldn't be able to go. AHHH the mountains and its challenges. I love them. It keeps me pumped to go hard and just win. President knows that and it makes him happy, too.

Well, time is up. Love ya'll!

Con amor,
Elder Grant