Elder Scotty Pugmire's Guatemala Postings: Week 85...3/21/16...A week of miracles and a tragedy

(Editors note: A friend of Scotty's was killed as he was returning from a church dance. He was driving his cousins when the unknown car pulled up and shot them from one car to the other at a stoplight. He had been the AP before returning home 5 months ago. http://abc7.com/news/3-returning-from-church-event-shot-1-fatally-in-hawthorne-shooting/1254087/)

First things first. I would like to extend my love and regards to la Familia Fifita. I was one of the first to hear the horrific news that one of my favorite leaders of the mission had been tragically killed on Sunday. I was shocked. We all are, and the whole mission is grieving the loss of one of God's greatest warriors.

Me and Elder Fifita

When I first arrived in the mission and in our first zone meeting, Elder Fifita was the first person to say hi to me. He was the missionary that taught me how to love the people. The number of lives that he changed and touched seems impossible due to the short lapse of time he was here in Guatemala. I have yet to meet another missionary that has had so much love for the Guatemalatecos and every other one of God's Children than ELder Fifita. He was a great example to me. I will miss him dearly and I know that his family will as well.

In memorial of Elder Fifita. . .

these are his scriptures that he let me use to learn some good scriptures in Malacatan.

I later got to see Elder Fifita in the ZonaReu where he inspired the Zone to do the impossible. Breaking a record that had been unchallenged for 5 years. And the next change the Zone broke it again. He was a great leader, an amazing friend, a fantastic teacher, and an inspiring witness of our Savior Jesus Christ. He was the missionary that made the zones not just groups of people but ''FAMILIES''.

Zona Reu before and after breaking the record.

His example to me I will never forget. It was because of the perfect words of Elder Fifita that my favorite Family of converts got baptized in El Codo. A family of 10 that has given references of 5 others that have been baptized.

The Familia of Hermana Gloria that got baptized because of the exact words ‘’Agarara el mano del señor y sera bautizada.’’ She had always been looking for someone to help her grab the hand of the Lord. And that’s what Elder Fifita invited her to do.

I know that God put him in my life so that I can be the person I am today, and I know that this is true for thousands of people more. I also know that although our grief is great, we have no need to fear. These are the moments that where we NEED to know if the gospel is true. I like the words of Larry Johnson describing a similar situation, "Is the church true or isn't it? Is the plan of salvation true or not? Did Joseph Smith really see God the Father or didn't he? I know what Elder Fifita would have said. I heard his undoubting testimony declare it. HE KNEW, and I KNOW, that this, THe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Is the ONLY TRUE CHURCH upon the face of the earth, the plan of salvation is real and Joseph Smith really did see the Father and the Son. This is His gospel. And I know that the Mission Guatemala Retaluhleu has just received another missionary to help preach the gospel. (ALMA 13:24) God Bless the Family of Elder Fifita because God certainly blessed me with the opportunity to get to know him.

Now on a different note, this week was full of great experiences. We went on a run to every Zone in the mission. Tuesday, we were in Reu with Zones San Felipe, Las Palmas, Reu, and Coatepeque. Wednesday, we were in Tecun with Malacatan as well. Thursday, we were in San Marcos with San Pedro. Friday, we were in Mazate with Mazate Flores and Mazate Lincoln.

We had a great message. We went with Presidente and we taught the doctrine of the Passover. A little related with my last letter, about the significance of sacrificing the lamb to save the firstborn of the Israelites and how it represents the sacrifice of the Firstborn of God to save all of us. We saw some amazing videos about the Atonement of Christ and we have been using it to teach to all of our investigators.

The po po in Guatemala.

Our mini missionary that went home! He just got his mission call to the Dominican Republic!

We got home and the Hermanas de Peru (it's an area in Reu called Peru) asked us for help with a family they had been teaching. My companion already had met them in December, but they still hadn't accepted a date to be baptized. My companion told me we were going to challenge them to get baptized for next week. So we went into the lesson but to our surprise, Hermana Acosta challenged them for the 19th! They weren't too sure about it but they all said that they would pray about it.

I asked the mom, Hermana Mirina, that if she received an answer if she'd be baptized. She said she wasn't sure still. And her Husband was like ''WHY NOT!!!!!'' If God answers I´ll be baptized!" So that was awesome!

Wednesday, I went to work with Elder Rubio. We went and had some lessons and then we had to take the ZLS of Tecun to a meeting in Malacatan. Five minutes away they told us the meeting had been changed to Tecun! So we picked up the Zone Leaders in Tecun and brought them along with us! We spent the night in Malacatan. That night the Zone Leaders of Reu told us that there was another family with a baptism date! We were super excited and we decided to go and interview them the next day

and then we had the meeting in San Marcos with San Marcos and San Pedro.

Then we were going to make the drive down the mountains but we thought it better to get our brakes changed first. Good thing too! The brakes were completely worn away, and desperately needed the change! Then we came home and went through a ton of traffic to go and interview the family we were teaching with the Hermanas. I interviewed one of the sons named Guakin. He said he would be baptized as long as he got out of work on time, if not he'd do it the next week. We finished interviewing the family and honestly they were not as positive as they had been. We really didn't know if they were going to be baptized on the next day or not. But they committed to pray and ask and act if they received an answer.

The next day we were in Mazate and then we went with Bilbao. I went with Elder Cook and we went and put a baptism date with an Hermana! It was awesome! Then we took forever to get to our appointment with the Family of Peru. When we got there we had a long lesson where we challenged everyone with the date of Saturday being their baptism. AND THEY ALL SAID NO. :( They said they felt like they hadn't received a sign yet. They knew it was true but they wanted a sign. Then one of the sons of Hermano Francisco and la Hermana Marina said that he was going to ''try it." He said he hadn't received an answer but he knew what we were teaching was true and that it was necessary and so he was going to be baptized as well. Then Hermano Fransisco said he would be baptized as well! But the others still said they were going to wait till tomorrow.

Saturday was a miracle. We had our meeting with Presidente and then we got a call from Hermana Mirna. She said she had been praying all night and all morning and then she said she got an answer and she wanted to talk with us. We started our fast and rushed right over praying for a miracle. We got there and she told us she had had a dream, ( I don't understand why but God seems to use dreams to give people answers here a lot more than you would think common.) She committed to be baptized as well! And so did her other kids except for 3 which should be baptized next week. It was a miracle. And we got the opportunity to baptize them. It was honestly one of the greatest times in my life.

The FAMILY! Hermana Membraño Kevin, Brandon, Francisco, Mirna, (un hermano de la iglesia) Jhony, Hermana Acosta (Abajo) Elder Morataya, the youngest daughter, Amorella, Kirai and Me

Jhony and my companion

Sunday, we had a Hermana come to church. It was amazing! Also, we then went to La Union to interview. I did 4 interviews and they committed to pray and ask God if they should be baptized.

So that what my week.

Brilliando!

Love,

Elder Pugmire