Week 27

The greatest Christmas gift ever was being able to see and talk to my family on Skype.  I miss you all so much.  Spencer hugging me through the computer screen almost made me cry.  I can't tell you how grateful I am to have such a wonderful, wonderful family.  It really means the world to me. Thank you all for the Christmas packages and letters.  I really appreciate all of the support!

I got to have tamales for Christmas dinner!  I don't have any pictures since I lost my camera cable, and my battery is dead.  Elder Ventura got his camera stolen, so he isn't able to take pictures either.

Things are going well! We have 2 with baptism dates and a bunch of new investigators.  We met a new one yesterday.  He´s super cool, and I really hope he can get baptized! He lived in Miami and had a bunch of good questions about the Plan of Salvation.

I study in Spanish when I study to teach.  I really like reading the Liahona in Spanish.  It has new vocabulary, and I especially enjoy reading it due to the clarity and organization of the messages that are present.  Spanish is fun.  I don´t know what I´ll do with my Spanish when I get home, lol. It´s more fun to speak in Spanish a lot of times.  I hope all the young men in the ward will leave and serve a mission.  That would  be awesome.  I'm just realizing how hard it actually is to be an effective missionary.  There´s so many things to do, and no one to tell you what way is best because everyone is different!  

Thanks again for all of your support!  I love and miss you all!

Skyping with Aaron on Christmas

Week 26

Feliz Navidad desde Honduras!!

Hey everyone! I hope you all have a very wonderful and Merry Christmas with your families and loved ones.  I hope you all can spend this season of love enjoying it with those who are most important in your life.  I know that we all have a loving Heavenly Father. I know that He sent us here in families, so that we could be happy.  I know that He sent His son Jesus Christ here to break the bands of sin and death and to show us the way to return to our Father in Heaven with our Families for all eternity.  Because of Him, death has no sting and there is no such thing as the end.  Let us all remember the true meaning of Christmas this season.  Let us all spend this wonderful time with our families, and let us all remember the One who made it possible; sharing the very first Christmas gift- a gift from a loving Father to all his children.  

New area is very pretty, but a lot of the investigators just don't want to change because human behavior is extremely difficult to change. They don't progress.  We had to stop teaching three investigators because they won't ever make the time to go to church. It's kind of sad, but we've got two teenage boys that are super close to their baptisms.  There's always people that are willing to change and choose the right; you just have to find them.  We've worked very hard this past week and been super obedient.  I know that if we keep working like this, we'll find some super awesome families and people to teach.  

There's a dinky little gym here.  We go at 6 every morning.  Our cocinera is super special.  She takes care of us really well and washes the clothes for us.  I'm also teaching Elder Ventura English.  

I am having a wonderful time here in my new area.  Élder Ventura and I have been working hard teaching and sharing this special message with all the people here.  It is very beautiful here, but also very poor.  We can see mountains and the ocean as well as all the islands from our area.  There are some of the steepest hills I have every seen in my life here.  I basically get to go hiking every single day.  The people here are nice, and I am excited to get to meet more of them every day and share this message with them.  

Elder Ventura

Aaron bought this shirt for $5.

Week 25

I got transferred so I have a new companion and new area now.  My new companion is Elder Ventura.  He's from Guatemala.  I missed the baptisms for K and J that we had planned on Saturday.  I am sad that I didn't get to say goodbye to any of the families since I was told the night before at 9:30 pm that I was being transferred the next morning.  I got to see Elder Cruz again which was fun.  

I purchased another ugly flower tie.  It's awesome!  According to one of the new gringo missionaries, I could have traded like 5 normal quality nice ties for one of my two ugly flower ties in the MTC!

I was able to play for transfers.  I made an arrangement for the First Noel.  Our new area has a small keyboard that is very basic, but it works!

My new area is very beautiful.  It is 4 hours away from my last area.  We have a lot of work to do here since the ward isn't very active.  We need to re-energize the members.  I've been busy trying to get to know the area and get moved in.  Hope you all are well!  

Aaron with K and O

"I've never seen so many hills in my entire life".

We're close to the ocean

Landscape

More landscape

I got to see Elder Cruz again!

Week 23

My mission is going well.  My companion and I are doing well and getting along great.  We had recently been a little discouraged from the stinky things that passed the past couple of weeks, but we are doing great right now and working hard to help the Lord find his lost sheep here in Honduras.  The interviews with President Klein and interdivisions with the Zls helped encourage us and get some great goals up. We've been really busy lately trying to teach four different classes every week on top of being missionaries.  I've been teaching English classes.  It's pretty difficult to do, but it's fun and I enjoy doing it.  The noches de Hermanamiento are always fun.  We're ready to finish up the last couple of weeks of this exchange strong!  We hope to have 3 baptisms! It's amazing to see the progress of the people  we teach in changing their lives as they exercise their faith in Jesus Christ and repentance.  His example, teachings and atonement are the most wonderful gift we have in this life to defeat problems and turn guilt and sorrow into peace and happiness.  He enables us to, as we trust in Him, to become the people we are meant to be- sons and daughters of God.  

I got three packages this week!  I loved the packages, especially the pictures!  It made my birthday very special!

We went caroling to a rest home here.  It brought back good memories :).

My birthday treats!

Rest Home Buddies!

Christmas Caroling at the Rest Home  

21 lemps a dollar

Thanksgiving with my girls!

Ugly Tie Collection

Dirt Road