Week 6&7...9/22/2014...From the CCM to San Pablo

Hey guys sorry I didn´t get to email you all last week! So this is what my last couple of weeks look like...

Twenty Six new missionaries for the REU Mission

Elder

So I believe it was Tuesday that we got up at 5am and then got ready to go to the missions. We ate breakfast and said our last goodbyes to everyone. Then we loaded into the vans and headed on our way. Man the Guatemala countryside is amazing! I forgot to bring my camera so I´ll send photos next week! Anyway, we drove past a few volcanoes and then got to the mission center where we met our president. President Ruiz and Hermana Ruiz is awesome! They gave us a bunch of devotionals and fed us, Burger  King! How's that for our first meal!?

Then we had dinner at the mission home which is super nice. And then we spent the night in hotels that were more or less super sketchy.  Elder Mattson and I were worried that our fan was going to fall off during the night, but it was way too hot to turn it on. Then the next day was changes, but there were like 40 missionaries who were super late because a bunch of people started a protest and blocked the two main roads. So I didn't meet my companion till later that day.

Elder Jensen, His parents were in Jeff and EmRee's 1st BYU Married Student Ward

My companion is super cool his name is Elder Lagos and he speaks hardly any English. He's from Costa Rica and a huge futbalista. He´s only been on his mission for 7 months but he seems like a really good missionary. We went to drive up to our area but got caught up in the traffic of the roadblocks. We drove on the wrong side of the road past probably 10 miles of parked cars. (Don't worry it's pretty normal here...the driving on the wrong side of the road.) The traffic here is crazy but everyone is a super defensive driver because everyone drives crazy! Anyway, we drove until both sides were backed up and waited for an hour and a half until the police cleared it all up. We got to Malacatan a little late so we stayed the night with Elders Fickes from the MTC and Vences. Then since we had baptisms lined up the next Saturday I went on splits with the ZL Elder Black and the other one went to got to San Pablo to do the interviews. 

The next day all we did was go around and look for houses because we had a pair of sister missionaries coming with no house.

Mi Companero Elder Lagos

Once we found one we moved all of their stuff in and then cleaned it up. The houses here are super sketchy on the outside but actually pretty nice once you get inside. Most don´t have sinks. They have what they call pilas which is their version of a sink. They're usually made of cement with 2 washboards on each side and a big bin for water in the middle. They're actually super nice! The next day I finally got to my area in San Pablo.

We are sharing the house with two other missionaries.  Both Elders Gonzales and Gavarette are Latino so English has rapidly been replaced with all Spanish.

There is a decent amount of members here but a lot are less active. Everywhere we go people always say "Hi" to the elders. The little kids love us. They don't care who you are but as long as you're an Elder they´ll run up and give you a big hug. They're way harder to understand because they talk super fast and it's so tough. Everyone here is way nice and everyone you see on the street you greet with a "Buenos tardes, or noches or dias" or some other greeting. We played soccer with a bunch of investigators. And my companions seemed pretty pleased with my ability to play even though I´m not that good.

Everyone here has a super hard time saying my name it's pretty funny. I now go by Elder Puck Mire or Elder Pack Man or Elder Pug-Mirror-Ay. But other than that life is good every day I understand more and more. Today was P-day and we all headed to Malacatan with all of our zones to play basketball it was super fun!

The very first day in the area I was a little shell shocked. All Spanish, new town, new food. Holy cow it's crazy. But we went to the church and there were tons of little kids who just ran up gave me hugs. They love the new local white guy. They're even harder to understand though. Eventually, I realized they wanted me to play tag. I thought, "you know I can do that, no Spanish required." So I played tag with these primary kids. It was just what I needed, a little tender mercy and blessing from Heavenly Father.

The transportation here is mostly buses, vans, and tuk-tuks, which are just 3 wheeled little buggies which are sweet! The members feed us usually every lunch and most dinners which are super nice. It´s rained every day here and we just kind of walk everywhere in it. No umbrellas or raincoats. The lightning here is amazing. We´re having a storm right now and the power went out and deleted a bunch of my emails. But it's soooo loud I love it but my companion is always worried he´s gonna get stuck. I told him if that happens he´s one in a million. I´m loving it here and things are looking brighter every day.

Love,

Elder Pugmire

I never received any packages or any letters except for one from Julia via dear Elder .com so just thought id tell you. Hope all is well and everyone is doing great! Love you!

Editors note:  He did get emails just not snail mail.  All letters are appreciated!
 You can send mail to:

Elder Scott Pugmire
Guatemala Retalhuleu mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City Ut 84130-0150
(These letters need to be regular envelope size with one stamp)

Packages and other letters can be sent to:

Elder Scott Kayson Pugmire
Mision Guatemala Retalhuleu
Boulevard Centenario, Zona 2, Salida
a Coatepeque
Apartado Postal No. 26
Retalhuleu Guatemala
C.A. 11001

Some packages will require you to have the mission office phone number 502 7771-2325