Week 79...2/9/16...Office

 

I completed 18 months which is when you burn a set of pants….

So. Wow. It's Friday, and I'm in the office and this has been the slowest week of my entire mission. Last week was fantastic. We started off with a miracle on Tuesday. We found a guy named Hugo. Well, actually it was Elder Saxton and Elder Bejar, the new missionaries in Lugar de Elder Villalobos. Hugo was receiving the missionaries a year ago and had been to the church a bunch of times. But the problem was that he was a heavy drinker. But now he's clean! And they taught him and guess what! He told them he wanted to be baptized on Saturday! So we got it all figured out and Saturday we had 2 baptisms! Kevin was the other baptism! He was super cool! He's such a good kid! We've been teaching his family and he's come to church with Walter who we've also been teaching and he told us he wanted to be baptized too! So that was awesome!

I got to take a photo with one of my favorite families in Jardin though! The patriarch and his family are super awesome! I’m going to miss them a lot though.

ME and elder Saxton

Me and Victor a member of the Dalmacia ward.

On Friday and Thursday, we just went crazy doing all of the interviews that we could. Then on Sunday, we got a call that we were super close to completing our goal of 200+++ and the Elders in Genova told us they still had their baptism they were going to do! So we went over to help them with all of that! But we got there and went on divisions to help everyone get to the baptism. But the problem is that THERE WASN'T ANY WATER!!!!

The water Truck filling up the well in Genova.

The pila in Genova. You just take part of the floor away and there it is.

We debated between going to the nasty river or paying someone to bring water. And we ended up just having someone come and fill up the tank with water so the pump would work. Meanwhile, I entertained all of the kids with some simple magic.

Kids in Genova trying to get me to do more magic.

Monday I got up early and felt like I need to study. I went up on the roof (Roofs here in Guatemala are just cement floors basically you could put another level on.)  I had a really good study about being called to serve while reading Doctrine and Covenants. Right then at like 8am Presidente Ruiz called me and told me he wanted to interview a bunch of Elders from our zone. He also asked me if any of the missionaries in the zone told me that I would be leaving it. I told him, no, and he said, ''well I've gotten a few comments and I know that you can't stay in the zone anymore.'' He said it in a way like I had done something wrong. My mind flashed to all of the days that I hadn't woken up exactly at 6:30 from sleeping through my 3 alarms.... and then he told me ''JUST KIDDING ELDER PUGMIRE!!!! You just are going to have changes today to come to be in the office!' pack up your bags and we need you here by 11.'' So I hurried to get all of my bags and was on the bus without being able to say goodbye to any of my converts. The good thing is that I'll be able to go back and visit in one of these next months for being in the office helping out Presidente.

Me and Elder Mendez my old companion and new ZL.

Me and Elder Bejar

Supposedly Elder Gozain and Elder Morataya were going to pick me up at like 12 but I ended up staying in the office with Presidente helping with the changes till like 4 when we went out to eat and then came back to the office and again at 7 we headed out to eat at a super nice restaurant with all of the office!

Tuesday I and Elder Morataya got to train all of the new missionaries! While Elder Gozain and his group went to the temple. It was such a blast! I'm super pumped to have Elder Moraytaya as my companion this changes!

My new companion elder MORATAYA!!!! FROM GUATEMALA THE CAPITAL

He's from Guate and just an amazing missionary! He was in the Codo right before me and started the training of Elder Rodas! He's the guy whose training I finished!

But the new missionaries were great! Usually, Presidente assigns all of the missionaries their trainers but because he was going to be gone and they hadn't sent in any reports he told us just to do it!!!! We were a little hesitant but from doing practices, and revelations with them all day we felt pretty good about who their trainers were going to be.

The new missionaries. . .

Wednesday we had changes and my dad Elder Lagos went home...... It was really sad. I can't believe he already finished his mission! It was so fast! His mom came and it was good to get to meet her. But ya then we had to run to Malacatan to have a meeting with all of the mission leaders. It was pretty awesome! We got home super late because they liked to make a lot of comments but it really was beneficial.

The missionaries going home. . .

Me, Elder Lagos and Elder Peraida

Me and Elder Huesca

Then Thursday we headed up to San Marcos and spent the night and then the next day we brought up Elder Owen and Elder Gonzalez to TACANA!!!! This is an area like 2 hours away from any other area that has NEVER EVER HAD MISSIONARIES IN IT BEFORE!!!!!!!! So this is the very first time that there are going to be missionaries in it! We are so pumped we basically got them some living places with Presidente and then set them up to live for 5 days till we can have an official appointment with the mayor.

Pictures of the trip to Tacana!

Mountain to my left is the highest mountain in Centro America Taljumulco.

Mountain behind me is TACANA!

Classic roadside bathroom

Me and Elder Morataya getting into Tacana

rt to lt:  ME, Elder Morataya, Elder Gonzalez, and Elder Owen

But ya... That was the craziness of this week. We also ran a ton of errands helping people get cast off and bring beds and tables and chairs everywhere.

Lasagna that I and elder Morataya made for the office! It was super GOOD!

Life's good! But I feel like it's going to be tough to write as much there is just not any time at all! Hope all is well! I'm living the dream!

Love,

Elder Pugmire

Monday we went to go look at a place called TaKalik ab aj. They had a bunch of Mayan Animals and some ancient Mayan Carvings that had been discovered, as well as entire temples!

Week 78...2/2/15... transferred

No time.  I will write next week.  I'm helping out in the office.

Week 77...1/18/16...changes and tortilla #2000

Alright, this week was full of changes! Remember how I told you all that I would be staying probably another change in Jardin.... well that's not going to happen. On Tuesday I was with Elder Johnson and we were having a great day contacting like crazy because we hadn't found almost anyone new to find. We found this one guy sitting on the street and he said that he didn't really believe in what everyone would tell him about God. He had a ton of questions. We taught him straight up about repentance and told him that he needed to repent. He had the idea that in the Millenium everyone would be able to repent and have a second chance so that everyone could just do whatever they wanted in this life. We explained how only the people that never had the chance in this life would be the ones that will receive the chance to receive the gospel in the next. Then Elder Johnson told him he wanted to talk about the Book of Mormon and the guy was hooked.  He was really interested and he committed to pray about it. Then we set up another appointment with him. Then everything changed...

I got a call from Elder Morataya (one of the assistants) and he told me that my companion was going to have changes as well as a bunch of Elders in our Zone. Including Elder Johnson! And he said the changes were going to be the next day at 9 in the morning! So we ended up the day visiting some converts and then to celebrate the end of Elder Johnson's first area we built a fire upon the roof of our house. It was pretty dope.

Me and Elder Johnson with our bonfire.

The next day all of the Zone went to Reu for a worldwide conference of missionaries! It was incredible! We listened from Elder Bednar, Sister Oscarson, Elder Anderson and a bunch more general authorities talk to us! It was so awesome! We all learned so much! They talked a lot about working with members and with the spirit! Then we ate lunch and started our fast as a mission.

Then we headed home with new companions in the Zone. Elder Mejivar, Elder Bonilla, and Elder Huesca went to Pajapita to be the Zone Leader in our Zone still but just in another area. I HAVE 3 NEW COMPANIONS!!! That's right 3! Elder Mendez is my official companion as he is going to be the new Zone Leader here in Coatepeque next week when I and elder Huesca have changes. Elder Saxton and Elder Villalobos came to help us get things started these last two weeks of the change! So it's been pretty awesome!

But unfortunately, we've all been a little sick after lunch Tuesday. But we've gotten better! 

We got to go see the marriages of 2 couples in Gardenias that I interviewed and they also got baptized which was awesome!

Elder Villalobos, Elder Mendez and Elder Saxton

Sunday lunch . . . hot dogs

My companion, Elder Mendez

We've been working super hard and we've had a ton of miracles. We haven't had lunch too frequently because the members weren't ready to feed 4 missionaries so we've been eating together with what we can cook ourselves. 

Pizza to celebrate Elder Saxton's year in the mission.  Elder Villalobos not pictured.  Like I said some of us have been pretty sick this week

Yesterday we helped some members move.  It was an emergency, and we got a little bit done after a bunch of loads. We were exhausted but this morning we had to take Elder Villalobos to Reu because he had emergency changes AGAIN! Poor guy!  But Elder Saxton and I cleaned the entire house!!!!! It looks just the reigno celestial! (well compared to what it looked like before) Presidente told me I would be having changes next week so this is my last week and a half in Coatepeque probably.

HAY QUE COMER MAS TACOS!!!

OH!!!! I ATE MY 2000 TORTILLA!!!!

Tortilla 2000!

With the Hermana Ana Julia! It was pretty exciting something I've been waiting for all week!

Ana Julia is amazing she's blind but makes bracelets and jewelry to provide for her family and is still an amazing cook.

Me and the tacos of Hna Gabbi!!!!  Somewhat of the best things on earth! Pollo, Salsa, and Avocado

Love you all! EAT MORE TORTILLAS!

Elder Pugmire

Week 76...1/18/16...Beach and divisions

TILAPA! We took a trip to go and take photos by the beach.

So..... Wow. Its Monday. I blinked and it's Monday again. I can't even believe it! Time is going by sooo quickly! Honestly, I don't remember what happened most of this week because I spent most of the time on divisions. I'm sure you want to know about Carlos Humberto. He had a family emergency and had to return to his home before his baptism but is going to seek the missionaries so he can be baptized where he lives which will be awesome! On Tuesday I went with Elder Johnson to Pajapita!

Elder Johnson and jovenes we found doing back-flips off of the bridge they're standing on.

 We ate some awesome cake and we had a miracle pass! A girl just had shown up to church and said she wanted to be baptized and had been talking to the missionaries in the Capital! So that was awesome! She got baptized this Saturday and I got to interview her which was awesome! She's super smart! And knew all of the doctrines of the church.

A typical flower in Guate

 Then we went to talk to some other families that should get baptized next week too! We chopped plastic barrels to be used to burn as wood.

Me and Elder Johnson on division chopping plastic to use as firewood. Probably not too good for the environment.

Then we went and we're going to help a lady totillar her tortillas but Elder Johnson was way too strong and snapped the tortillador right in half! The lady was devastated and we felt so bad so we went and bought her a new one. Probably one of the first times when someone really wasn't too happy to have us helping...

Me and Elder Johnson

Then on Thursday we went to la Blanca and did like 5 interviews as well! We talked with some awesome people that are all preparing to be baptized! We're really excited for them!

Then on Saturday, we went to support the Baptism Gardenias had. A Joven named Harry got baptized and his brother baptized him! It was so awesome! Then I stayed with Elder Thomas to go interview the 3 families they have! All of them getting ready to be baptized!!!!! ONE OF THEM IS A FAMILY OF 7! They're all super pilas and all of them came to church Sunday! So they're all good to go!

The coco tree in barrio Gardenias

Then on Sunday, I ran up to Colomba to help out the Elders up there. They've been having some problems but, Elder Perez and I worked super hard and I think that they should be doing better this week!

I used an America tie today and was feeling really patriotic on MLK Day.

We went to the beach today which is why the email is short.  I'm out of time! But it really was just that quick of a week! I'm sure this one will be just as fast. My comp is really baggy but we're working as best we can!

Love,

Elder Pugmire

Elder Wolffgram and I on the bus to La Blanca

Elder Toala and Sanchez and our zone on the way to Tilapa!

I might look wet but it was just so hot I was drenched in sweat….

We found ways to dig clams. And I found one!

Me and elder Keck

Me Elder Wolfgramm, Elder Johnson and Hna Gunderson

Me and Elder Toala

Me and Elder Retana

Selfie on the Beach

ME and my companion. He's from Mexico

Me and Elder Thomas

Me and Elder Wolfgramm and Elder Johnson

Me and elder Diaz

Me and Elder Johnson High school musical style.

Most of the Zone in high school musical style. The others were too hot and went to look for shade.

Me and Elder Johnson #Backflips

Top row: Elder perez, Thomas, Huesca, Gonzalez, Peralta, Mini Missionary, Diaz, Keck, Toala, Hermana Cabrera, Bustillo,Wolffgram, Johnson, Sanchez. 

Bottom Row: Elder Sanchez, Mini Missionary, Perez, Flores, Vides, Urbina, Retana, Hermana Garcia Hermana Gunderson,