Week 42...5/25/15...Bayron and the Bus Pastor

Alright, I'm gonna be honest..... I had no idea was Memorial Day. It just doesn't exist here. I am just so grateful for the amazing country of the United States of America. I read a quote by Joseph Smith about how the Lord prepared the Restoration by helping the States gain liberty from England. It was amazing. Also, a special thanks to all of the people that have served, are serving, or will serve our amazing country. I'm so grateful for all of the sacrifices that have been made to give us the freedom we have. Also . . .Shout out to my Bud Andrew Mikulski who's just the man in the Air Force Academy. I don't know a person more selfless than he is. 

But this week was fantastic! We've been working really hard with 4 of the grandkids of Hna Francisca. They love going to church but just haven't ever accepted to be baptized. We found out one of the reasons was one of the other Grandmas went to talk to all of them and she gave them a ton of anti-Mormon stuff about how terrible the church was and everything. But we set up the lesson on Friday to teach the four youth and challenge them to be baptized. We brought in members and decided to have the lesson in the church. I taught the seminary class while the Zone Leaders taught about baptism with the investigators with a member and my companion. The Spirit must have been really strong because one of them named Bayron accepted to be baptized and said he wanted to do it the next day! So we did it! And Celeste accepted to be baptized this Saturday! So we were so pumped about that! I'll be sure to send the photos we have from the baptism!

Hmn Francisca and some of her grandchildren including her grandson, Bayron

Bayron's Baptism

Bayron!

Tuesday, I had divisions with Elder Admundsen who's about to go home this Wednesday. We did divisions and then got word we needed to get back to Reu before night time so he could go to the temple the next day. So we headed back and got to Reu with nothing to do. So 'we just grabbed a box of Book of Mormons and headed to the Central Square where we just went to town placing Book of Mormons with everyone that we could. So that was awesome!

Oh, the other highlight of the week happened on Wednesday. We were on a bus ride home from Reu to head back to our area. I had fallen asleep but was quickly awakened by one of the Preachers that oh so frequently get on the bus. They always get on, sing a song, offer a prayer, preach something about the Bible and then ask everyone to give them donations. We usually just let them do their thing, even though it's totally against the way that Christ established His church and usually, their teachings are just soooo confused and just confuse the people even more. For instance, Christ never once in the Bible asked for money for what he did; never for the miracles, for his teachings, nor for the sacrifice that He gave His life that we may have eternal life. But anyway we were just chilling waiting till he finished. But then finally he passed by us and stopped. He put out his hand which in this situation was not a sign of respect... I just kind of blew it off but then offered him a Book of Mormon. He then just freaked out. He got into the seat in front of us and stood up and started calling us Anti Christ's and false prophets. He opened the Bible and shouted scriptures to us telling us we would be thrust down to hell and receive eternal damnation. (Really it's not anything new but just in this situation it was on a public bus.)
 My comp asked him where in the Bible it says Christ once charged people money for what He did. He just called us Anti Christ again and started to tell the people on the bus that we represented the Church of the Devil and worshiped a false God. At that point, I don't really remember what happened. I just remember having the thought to stand up. I stood up and turned around putting my back toward the bus preacher and then started to preach to the people on the bus. I don't remember everything, but I can testify that not everything I said were my words. I know that The Spirit was there helping us testify of the truth. We testified of the True Church of Jesus Christ and about the Restoration of the Gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith. We testified about how we had prayed and by an answer of God had come to know that The Church was true. We challenged everyone to pray and ask our Heavenly Father where the truth was. We testified about how the Book of Mormon was evidence about how really the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of God. We had 6 people ask for a copy of the Book of Mormon and gave them all out that we had. Then we just sat down and waited till our stop came. We paid the bus driver and got off.  It was awesome. We were so filled with the spirit we almost forgot to pay the next driver for our ride to our area.

But ya, that's basically been our week! I can testify that this church Is the only true church of God here on the earth.  I can also testify that Satan will do anything he can to destroy it.  But it's true.  It's all true. Never Doubt that.

Love,

Elder Pugmire

Mom's email back to him, "Scotty I was laughing out loud! That is awesome! I love how you just stood up and started preaching! I so wish I could have heard it! It will be one of the first videos I asked to watch in heaven." 

His response:  "Well there was a lady who pulled out her camera but as soon as we started testifying she put it away and listened and then asked for a Book of Mormon."

The countryside

Awesome Sunset

Here's a photo of a mango. Basically, the best thing ever.

Week 41...5/18/14...I've never worked so hard in my life.

Here's the 1000th tortilla photo I don't think I sent it.

Oh! Also this Saturday we spent like 5 hours helping some investigators build a house! It was crazy! Sooooo tedious everything is done by hand! We had to tie wire for sooooo many little tiny iron clamps. I'm sure dad knows the correct terms but that's what we did!

The guys we helped in the background. They didn't have a hat big enough for my head but the sun was so hot so that's what I used.

Hey guys! So I'm writing a little late and short for what happened today. But I'll tell you why in a second.

So this week we started out kinda crazy. We wanted these two girls we were working with to get baptized. They love coming to church with Hna Francisca but when we went to do the interview they totally backed out but I think it's because they're just really shy.  Right after they said they didn't want anything to do with it we met this one girl who as soon as we got done talking to Celeste and Andis about Baptism was like ''Well I want to get baptized! Can I get baptized in their place?'' We told her we would work with her this week and next week and then she could because she's been to the church a few times before! Then the other two girls told us that they would get baptized if the other girl did too! So we're gonna be working really hard with them this week!

Also this Thursday I did divisions with Elder Dial. It was awesome we headed home to our area late because the bus got delayed and we had this let down with Celeste and Andis and then we had another lesson with Gloria a lady that came to church with her 5 kids the other week. She told us she didn't think she could be baptized again into another church. But after talking to her for a little bit more she told us that she felt like she hadn't been praying with the faith necessary to get an answer from God whether or not our message was true. But she told us she would do it in the night. So Elder Dial and I went home feeling like we had a kinda unsuccessful day so we indulged in peanut butterballs and smoothie in the night and morning.

The next day Elder Lagos and I went back to talk to Gloria. And we had an amazing lesson. She told us that what we had taught her the night before really inspired her. She said she always had been praying for guidance and that she realized that God had guided us to her house. Then she for the first time asked in her prayer if our message was true. She told us she just felt this feeling of peace and the presence of God. And that she knew that it was true. Now we just need to help her understand the need to be baptized by someone who has authority.

Also, we have another awesome investigator! We met this kid just on the street where he works selling gasoline. Pretty strange here, people just fill up jugs of gas, I'm not really sure from where, but then sit on the side of the road selling it. I gave him a Book of Mormon a few weeks ago and he told us he's already on page 200!!! In Rural Guatemala.... that just doesn't happen! He says he loves the book and has marked a ton of stuff in it! He's so prepared and we still haven't had a real sit down lesson with him! It's amazing!

I also have to tell you about this investigator named Yanet.  She's a reference we got in family home evening. She had an experience in her other church where the Pastors were asking everything from the people like usual: food, cars, money, houses, more money. It's ridiculous how much they make and how much the people are willing to give them. It makes me sick! But this lady is super poor and the Pastor told her that to listen in church she had to donate a bench. She told him she didn't have money and so he told her she could listen to him teach on the floor. So she left that church and now loves the true Church of Jesus Christ. She can't read but loves the Hymn ''Families Can be Together Forever.'' YouTube Video of this song  She came to the family conference and church on Sunday with a friend too! She's sooo prepared and amazing!

Eduardo is also another fantastic investigator we found this week! We had been teaching this girl that is like 15 and we went to go meet the parents to get permission to teach and baptize her if she would desire. But the dad (Eduardo) was so interested we ended up just teaching him. We taught lesson one the restoration and he just caught it soooo quickly. He told us later when I asked him what called his attention. And he said all of it. I gave him a Book of Mormon in the Conference on Sunday and he told me he would read it from start to finish. He loved the theme of the family at the conference and I just know he's going to progress with his family in the church so quickly.

So the story of today, Saturday and Sunday. . . Saturday we left to REU to do our Hawaiian dance in the stake activity, and then we spent the night in Champe.  We woke up early to get to El  Codo and went to go try to bring an investigator to church. We got to church without anyone. But then on the bus, Hna Francisca brought 3 of her grandchildren and a friend and Yanet came with her daughter. Also, a member brought another investigator! So that was awesome! Then in the night, we went to Champe again for a conference from the Presidencia de Area about strengthening families. This week was a family week where there was specific activity every day to help families. This conference was the perfect thing to end it. Yanet, Eduardo, Brenda, and Sharon (the friend and daughter of Yanet) all came and loved it. Then we headed directly to REU to spend the night in the office house. It was kind of funny.  The assistants organized the cots like a hotel with little shampoo packets towels and shower shoes to stay the night. Then we got up at 330am to go get on a bus for the Capital. My comp had to sign some papers there for his Visa. It's a 4-hour drive one way so we didn't get back till around 5.

Stake Activity

But that's the week... Wow, this email actually turned out pretty long. But hopefully, you all can see how The Lord blesses those who are diligent and work hard. I've never worked so hard in my life. My comp and I get home and fall asleep at our desk planning for the next day. And then do it all again. But I love it. I know this work is true and that Christ lives. Love you all thanks for all of the Prayers and support!

Love,

Elder Pugmire


In response to his mother's letter . . .

No, I don't think anything happened Wednesday night..... I'm doing great! But thanks for the prayers I really can feel when they come! Don't worry about water. I never once have been hungry here in my area because all I want to drink is water. I go through about 8 gallons of water in a week. That's a lot. That crazy Zeus. . . haha. Mentally noted. I will be living out of the house. Haha Mom your letters have me laughing! But I for sure will be very meticulous about the person I marry.  I've still got a while though! That's so awesome for Zac! How did he do or how did he think he did? It usually is around 95 degrees to 100 all day every day. We don't have a thermometer to check ever.  I love the analogy of the trailer park!  Francisca is super awesome and now is bringing all of the grandchildren that we are trying to offer baptism to them as well but they're all a little shy and last week it fell through. But thanks for the letter Mom! love you!

Week 40...5/11/15...Hmn Fransica, 3 goals, 1000 tortillas

Oh, first things first I think I forgot to wish you Happy Mothers Day so... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! Thanks, Mom for everything you do and have done! You're the best and I love you so much! I hope that you had a great day yesterday and a great year! It was so great to see you all yesterday!  Love, Scotty (Elder Pugmire)

Hey everyone! Just another Monday! It's been a great this week! I got to talk to my family last night so that was awesome! But these next 7 months are gonna go by a lot slower till the next time we get to talk! But everyone seemed to be doing great and my brother is huge and can probably beat me up now. But that's all good. 

Life here in El Codo has been pretty crazy! We've been working super hard with this family of Hna Francisca. She's the Grandma of a huge family! So the thing is we started by focusing on her daughter but the family wasn't really progressing. But the moment we started talking more to Francisca she just loved it all. She's been a member of one church for 40 years! But she said that she just feels peace and more happiness in the true Church of Jesus Christ. She never accepted baptism in the other church but almost since the first day we challenged her to baptism has been on board with it!  This Sunday... SHE GOT BAPTIZED! After that, she told us about a dream she had where she was dressed in white and all of her grandchildren were dressed in white as well. She said there were hundreds of kids in white following them after that.

So that was awesome! We were super happy about that! And she was just as happy if not happier than we were! Plus the coolest part was we brought 7 other investigators to watch her baptism and then stay for church! And another recent convert brought his two daughters too! So we had a ton of investigators in Church this week!

This Saturday we had an activity for all of the moms of the church! We invited a ton of investigators and in the activity, we had over 13 investigators! It was awesome! A lot of the men in the church put on acts. My comp and I did one of the things where one person is the arms and the other person is the rest of the body. And the other person uses his arms to brush teeth, shave, and make breakfast. Elder Lagos was crazy! He had a whole entrance dance scene. I'm not sure how mission appropriate it would have been but everyone loved it. Then I did some magic and my comp came in as like a clown type of person and told jokes and then we did another skit called BEBA Y COMA. Basically, it was he was wanting me to write a letter to his mom for Mothers Day. But his Mom's name is ''Beba'' which is also the command ''drink'' in Spanish and "coma" is the command to eat but also means pause like coma '',''. So he was writing the letter but every time he said Beba or coma I had to eat or drink. I ended up drinking almost an entire gallon of water. 

Then after that, we had our soccer activity where we had like 50 youth there to play soccer with almost 50 investigators. I played really well! I Scored 3 goals! But.... unfortunately, two of them were on our own goal... Awkward.

The biggest news of the week! I've been counting every tortilla that I eat here in the mission and this week I ate my 1000th tortilla! So that's awesome! I was pretty proud of myself. 

But more than anything this week I just want to wish all of the Moms a Happy Mother's Day. You are all the best. Well not quite the best because my mom is the best, but pretty amazing either way. Thanks for all that you do and I hope you know that it doesn't go unappreciated. I know I wouldn't be half of the person I am today without my mom.  The other half goes to my Dad but that's another day;). Anyway Happy Mother's Day! Love you all!

Love,

Elder Pugmire

Me trying to be Spiderman

No worries. It was more than enough just getting to chat last night! I just got an email from Presidente telling us to keep up the great work in our area. Just know that I'm trying to make you all proud. Love you all and thanks for all of the love and support! :)

Week 39...5/4/15...Missionary/Seminary Teacher

Alright, friends. . .Welcome back to another update of my adventures here in El Codo! 

Thanks again for all of your prayers love, support, and everything! I love you guys!

We had a lot of bike problems this week and spent a lot of time fixing them

Also thanks to the family for the package. I'll have you know there were absolutely no bugs in it when I got it!  I got it and instantly had the smell of peppermint and another smell I couldn't place. As I opened it up I saw that the bug spray bottle you had mixed up had become loose and the liquid of the bug repellent, basil, and peppermint leaked everywhere. The heat inside the package baked it into almost everything. So everything has got a hint of basil and peppermint flavor. But all are edible except the missionary Twinkies. Those were sooooo cool! But definitely did not have the same taste that I remember Twinkies having basil, and peppermint... but maybe I have been away for too long. ;) But really thanks for the package my comp loves all of the candy!

So this week was crazy! We really got cut short on our time to work in our area because we had a meeting for all of the trainers and people being trained Wednesday and didn't get back till 5 and then a Multi-Zone Conference on Thursday that resulted in the same thing!

A bunch of the guys from our group from the CCM that we saw in the conference.

But the Conference was super cool! We were supposed to go to the one on Wednesday but because of the training meeting we couldn't. But on Wednesday night we got a call from the Zone leaders telling us that we had the best stats in all of the mission and that we earned a special reward and announced it at the conference. So we were way surprised about that. Then in the meeting Thursday we were going to have the meeting in one building but the light went out so like 100 missionaries were walking in a line to go to the other building.

Here's the line of missionaries. Elders Pereida, Meyer, and Damas
I don't know if you can see them as well but there were about 25 in front as well.

We talked about the sacrament and how important it is. The most interesting thing I learned is the bread, which represents the body of Christ, represents his sacrifice and because of that, he conquered physical death. Then the water which represents the blood that Christ shed represents purifying and how each one of us can overcome spiritual death by repenting. So that was awesome!

We've been focusing on teaching a lot of recent converts and fewer actives about the sacrament and we were really happy to see that 2 of the people we taught came to church! Also, I was super happy to hear from my Mom that Adolphus came back to church this last Sunday! 

This week we've been teaching a bunch of people and had 4 people come to church and have 6 people that have a date to be baptized so we are beyond stoked for that. We met these two ladies at this family home evening a member's family had.  They wanted to learn about the church. We went and taught them and they accepted to be baptized and said they want to go see the baptism at the church this Sunday! So that was super awesome and really we are seeing so many miracles in our lives it's impossible to count them all.

We decided to start teaching seminary this week.  I was up all night just preparing for this lesson.  I am convinced was the best lesson I have ever prepared. Then we woke up at 4:30 to get to the Church by 5:00 and guess how many people showed up.... just us! So that was kinda a letdown but now we're going to try a different time and hopefully more of the youth show up! 

But that's about all the big updates for the week! I've just got a ton of photos to send so that takes up a little time to write! Love you all and I'm so excited to talk to all of the family on Mothers Day!!!!

Me and Elder Lagos

Elder Arias, Berrios, and Hermana Mendoza and Cabrerra

Me and Elder Hill, one of my best buds here in Zone Reu. He came in our zone but went through the MTC, not CCM.  He's from Idaho and just a great kid.

Our Zone Board.  Elder Berrios is an awesome artist and drew everyone in our Zone.
Editors note:  Yes Elder Pugmire is throwing cards. 

Then our zone getting done with mini golfing since we met our goal of baptisms for the week!

Week 38...4/27/15...Hard work and obedience bring MIRACLES! Finding Hermana Gloria

I honestly feel like I've forgotten so much English grammar. But here I am again with another update. This week was probably the most successful weeks of my entire mission. At the beginning of our week, our Mission President Presidente Ruiz made a surprise visit to our district meeting. I was feeling nervous because we haven't had power in such along time. It's there all day right after we leave the house, and then at night when we're actually home they cut it off. So I haven't been able to charge my razor. And the day before it ran out of charge so I was looking a little scruffy and we had just worked super hard and so our shirts were definitely not white, more like yellow. That's another thing. At night I really can't sleep because I just sweat in the heat without a fan and inside the mosquito net. I shower in the morning and dry off in the fan. But the moment I move out I'm covered in sweat all over again. So.... that gives you an idea of how hot it is. No AC anywhere really here in Guate. But Presidente was just there to get us all excited for this week. He told us the Goal we had was for every area to find 20 new investigators. But Elder Lagos and I put the goal of  30. We worked sooooo hard! We beat our goal and found 36 new people to teach! We found so many awesome people too! We challenged every single one to be baptized within the next 4 weeks and almost all of them accepted! So we're gonna have to work really hard with them to see where we go from there.

So the greatest story this week is about what happened on Wednesday. I asked Elder Lagos where he thought we should contact. He pointed down a road I'd never gone to (remember El Codo, only has 3 roads that cross the main road.) So we did. We got into this housing segment and he pointed to a house and said I feel like we should go there. It was really tough getting to it but when we got there there was this 15-year-old girl who brought out her mom. It was a little tiny lamina house. We started teaching her and then she said she wanted her family to hear our message. She started listing off all her kid's names and we ended up having 9 people in the lesson and we taught them the Restoration. Then on Saturday we came back and helped them unload some concrete from a truck because there gonna build a new house. Then we invited them to church and the mom Gloria said she would go if we got her a ride. So the next day we went in a Pickup to pick them up and we were expecting her and maybe one of her kids to go. But Nope. EVERY SINGLE PERSON WENT! So we had 7 investigators in church!!!! Along with the other 2 kids under 8 years old. So that was awesome! 

We had an awesome experience this week on Sunday. We did divisions, my comp went with the mission leader and I went with a return missionary, to cover all of the appointments we had. Earlier in the week, we had talked to a guy's wife but it seemed like he had no interest in learning about the church. But we have really been focusing on the Book of Mormon so we left one with her with the promise to read it. But later in the week, my comp was teaching some new investigators on the street when the husband of this lady walked by. My comp pulled him into the conversation and he started testifying about the Book of Mormon and how it was the word of God written by Prophets! So he set up an appointment with him and he said anytime we could come by his house would be awesome! MIRACLES! Hard work and obedience bring MIRACLES! It's incredible.

God has been blessing us so much. I'm just blown away that I have this opportunity to represent His Son Jesus Christ for these Two Years.

I love you all thanks for all the love and support! 

Love,

Elder Pugmire