Week 93...5/16/16...Mini Missionaries, Book of Mormon Test and Changes

View of Guatemala From the Bridge

Me and my companion on the way to La Reforma

Us near a really cool bridge

This week went by soooooo fast! I feel like it was yesterday that I wrote last week! (I guess I did write a little late...) However time seems to go by faster every day!

Elder Kahl getting large in the office

This Sunday we worked with President to do the changes. We decided that everyone should stay in their same area with a very few minimal changes, so that everyone could be part of the miracle in the Zone that they have been in. But we still needed new trainers so we had to do a few changes so that it all turned out well.

It was like the first day of not blazing sun so we bought some cheap Hawaiian Shirts and Shades and Had a P-day of Paint ball

The view coming into Las Palmas

Elder Elggren, Elder Kahl and Me

Me and Elder Kahl

Elder Kahl and Elder Elggren in the Jungle where we played paintball

Shirt, shades and selva.

THIS PINEAPPLE WAS SOOO GOOOD!!!!

Monday we went to play paintball in the new paintball place in Reu! Its basically just a jungle with some old run down houses that the jungle has swallowed up. It's even got a river running through the middle of it! So that was a blast!

The Zona Reu all geared up

Me and my comp.

We also did some Paca and Mega paca shopping and we bought some sweet Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses as well as getting some awesome ties for about a buck! So that was a highlight.

Paca Shopping we found a tie literally worth 12 cents

This dog was sleeping so weird I thought it merited a photo.

Tuesday. We received the new missionaries! There were supposed to be 4 hermanas and 4 missionaries but when they all got off the bus there was only 2 missionaries instead of 4! So we had to call their trainers to tell them that they really weren´t going to train. So that was super sad. (The two other missionaries got a reassignment to a different mission.) But we spent the day training them. We had the Zone Leaders from Las Palmas and Reu help us out. We taught about how to teach by the spirit and find news. As well as common Guatemalan words they would come across. (It's necessary because in Chile, where 2 hermanas came from, there are some words that are really offensive in Chile but here they are use in every day language).

Receiving the new missionaries with style. (the sunglasses were 30 cents. That tie I'm wearing was a buck.)

The new missionaries!

Wednesday, we had changes there wasn´t many but we had a complication. There was a protest and all of the highways in Guatemala had been blocked off. So we had to keep the 40 or so missionaries here in the office. We coordinated rides home to their areas while Presidente shared a message about Alma 42. After we got everyone back to their areas we took our Book of Mormon Test. It wasn´t to bad at all but the next day we went to all of the Zones to administer the test and it proved to be a little difficult for others.

Thursday me and Elder Kahl went to Mazate and we had to do some crazy divisions so that both zones could take the test the same time. After the test we went to wash ´´Dori´´ (the name of the car we drive). HOLY COW!!!! IT took alot longer than we had hoped!!! Like 2 Hours. Then we picked up two mini missionaries from Mazate and 2 more in Reu and we drove to Pajapita to Tecun to Malacatan. It was quite the drive. When we arrived in Malacatan we were exhausted. We were planning to return that night but instead we decided to check some of the uses of the missionaries. We gave quite the scare to Elder Willden and Elder Bastian. We hid in their house and when they came in they were very surprised to see someone inside their house! But it was great! We stayed the night and then passed by some houses of the missionaries in the morning. Also Hermana Mari from San Pablo invited us to eat breakfast with them! (She's the sister that always cooked for us in San Pablo.) IT WAS DELICIOUS!!!!

The Baskets of food that we made to give out to outstanding missionaries.

We had them safely strapped down.

ME elder Kahl and Hermana Castillo y Puac 2 mini missionaries that helped us for a couple weeks.

Me, Elder Hardy, Elder Kahl, Elder Steiner and Elder Call

Friday, we passed by Tecun to collect all of the Book of Mormon Tests and came back to Reu.   And then in the night we went to go visit Elder Argueta and Elder Davis in Genova to help them with some interviews. I went with Elder Argueta to support them at a church activity while Elder Kahl did the interviews. It was a great little activity. This week was Family Week in all of Central America! So there's been activities all week! In Genova they taught how to do a Noche de Hogar and talked about what makes families strong. It was really great!

This is how you carry leña in style.

Selfie at Jose y Javiers baptism (this week they both passed and blessed the sacrament! It was so cool!)

Don Carlos for the birthday of Elder Gutierrez, hermana Dzul y Elder Damas

Saturday we had our standard reunion with Presidente and graded all of the Test in the mission. Then we headed to visit Francisco and look for Estephanie but they were busy or not home.

Sunday, we watched a devotional for all of Centro America. I went on divisions for most of with Elder Elggren to try and get people to come. Then we headed to plan for the rest of the week with Presidente.

I don´t know how much I´ve said this but for all those reading I´d just like you to know that this has been the best decision of my life. I´ve learned so much and I´ve become more of the person our Father in Heaven wants me to be. If anyone is debating to serve a mission I have 3 words of advice. JUST DO IT!!!!! It will change your life forever. I love you all!

Love,

Elder Pugmire