Hello

Well I dont have a ton of time today to write... because i had to travel today to coban... which is 7 hours in bus... one bus that is 2 hours long, and the next which is 5... so I am just now getting time to write you guys... and well at the same time I have to go... so just some quick updates....  

This week Wendy came to church!!!!!!  So that was super good.. but the only bummer is that her mom is trying to tell her that she cant get baptized because she is too young... (she is 17)  so not really understanding that part... but she will be turning 18 in september... so she says that she is going to be baptized anyway... but the only thing is that I might not have the opportunity to see her get baptized... but we are going to talk to her mom this week to see what we can do.. but we will see how that goes...

Also this week we were planning a lot about how to find new investigators that we can teach, and we had a really cool experience... a family was going to do a 1 year anniversary of the death of their 17 year old son... on tuesday... and they had plans to invite quite a few people to the activity...  And they wanted Elder Morillo to be there to talk and share some things... because he was there last year when the kid died... so we were hoping that it would be a good opportunity to find a lot of people and to teach them about the plan of salvation... So we went with that in mind to go to this activity not just to support this family, but also to find opportunities to teach about the plan of salvation... because something that they have taught me in the mission is that if you have ideas/plans to to something and you put your mind and strength to it you can do it.  So we did.. and we were able to find like 40 people there that werent member, that listened to the message... now obviously not all of them were interested to listen to us consistently we were able to findquite a few that we are going to be able to teach more about the gospel!!!  So that was pretty great!  So I am pretty excited about that!

So yeah I guess that is about all im going to write today...

Love Elder Stuart

Alright...

Alright... well here I am again....  this week was a a good week....  We are going little by little to help Cubulco to keep going strong!  Although this week my companion got sick.. seems to be the going thing for the new missionaries... they always get sick, but I guess he will get over it soon.  But he had to go to coban today to go to the doctor...  so I stayed here in Rabinal with Elder Vargas and Elder brito ended up going to coban with Elder Barahona because he also had a doctors appt. in coban... so I am here in Rabinal until tomorrow night. 

But this week for work was a pretty good week!  We are preparing a family to be baptized this weekend.. so we are praying a lot for him that he and his family can get baptized!  He is doing good, and he is super ready... but he just needs to keep strong because he used to drink and since we found him he hasnt drunk, but we are just hoping that he can keep strong until his baptism... and for his whole life!  So yeah that is about all that is happening with us for this week!

Love Elder Stuart

Going strong in Guate...

Hey well this week has been a very interesting week!  We had to go to coban (5 hours in bus) to pick up my new companion on monday... that is why i didnt have a ton of time...  But his name is Elder Barahona...  He is from Honduras and 20 years old.  He is new so we are having a good time helping him get used to the mission! Then after that we got to Cubulco on Wednesday at like 9:00 A.M.  And we started to work... It was a pretty good day and then thursday we had to go back to coban for a meeting on friday... so in other words we werent in Cubulco for basically the whole week... so that was a little bit frustrating but we did have a pretty good time working for the 2 days that we were there.  We had a lesson with a person named Lorena and her family the other day.. and it was a super powerful lesson!  We taught her the importance of going to the Church that Jesus Christ has established and not to any other church... because the people here all have the belief that it doesnt matter which church you go to they all teach "the word of god" so it was a pretty good lesson becuase she finally could understand the importance of going to the church of Jesus Christ...  So that was a pretty good lesson that we had this week. 

Other than that I am just excited to still be in Cublco! Taking advantage of the last few months!!!!!! 

Love Elder Stuart

Here I am again...

Im kind of running out of things to say each week... It gets harder to send these with each week..  But I will continue trying to inform thee of the things that are occurring in my life... This week has been not down in the depths nor high in the heavens, but just original.  Nothing of great worth has passed, nor nothing of hazard to my companion or me.  We are walking the hills of Coban having chats with the people that are accepting, and pressing forward with those that dont...  It has been a grand opportunity to share my moments with thee, and I will write thee in the next monday of this month.

Ok Im not going to lie that took about 15 minutes to write, and it was really hard to think of that... So I hope you enjoyed it...  Anyways as I have noted this week was just average, we didnt have any great stories or anything spectacular happen but it was still a pretty good week!  

Also we are in an area where some of the people speak Queqchi (kekchee) for those who didnt understand that...  And about 50 percent of the people speak it, so sometimes during the lesson they will just speak to each other in this language so yeah...  We have started to have a member that knows queqchi come with us so that they can understand it and tell us what they are saying, so they cant talk behind our backs...  So yeah I guess that that is kind of interesting!  

Also we had a zone conference this week and it was super great.  They taught us about Alma 5, which is a great chapter, probably one of my favorites, which is great about the repentence. But it is a little harsh, but that is why I love it!   We have nicknamed it Alma Cincho (cincho here in guatemala is like forcefully speaking or something like that, it is a little hard to explain, but the people in Guatemala, Jonny, Will understand this part...  But anyway i guess ill continue with my letter)  Alma had no fear to tell the people what they need to do. He had no fear to tell them the things of his heart.  Also he bears his testimony in this chapter and it is super powerfull!  So yeah you should read it.

"Mormonism is true, every single word of it" 

Love Elder Stuart

P.S. That quote is from SNL for those that were wondering...

Winter

Sounds like it is winter back at home, everyone is getting sick.  I guess that you could call it winter here, but it still is pretty warm.  I miss the cold from home.  It never gets cold here...  but its hilarious here because the people here are freezing right now.  Im not exactly sure how cold it is but I dont feel cold at all here, but we will pass people here that are wearing like 2 dresses 5 shirts, 2 coats, and of course the usual basket on top of their head.  So yeah they dont like the cold...

This week was thanksgiving!!!  Our zone went to a members house for thanksgiving and we were expecting something like chicken, with rice or something like that.  But on the tables there was dominoes pizza, which we eat a ton here, so we werent too excited for that.  But we ate the pizzas, but then after the pizzas she brought out turkey, and mashed potatoes.  It was the best.  So we actually had a turkey thanksgiving!  It was not that great but it was awesome at the same time!

Also this week we had a multizone conference in Coban, where a person from the area 70, President Amado.  And it was pretty great, but it was a little long.  It started at 9 in the morning and went until 4 in the afternoon, but it was pretty great.  This was the day after Thanksgiving so we slept over at the ZLs house and we woke up at 4 to leave because it is like a 2 and a half hour bus ride.  But the other sucky part is we stayed up until 2 the night before talking to our ZLs about random crap, so we went to a 7 hour zone conference on two hours of sleep.  Ooops, guess we arent that smart.  But we did all stay awake, so that was good...  

Not much else has passed in my area this week, but Christmas is near!!!  My scripture Ether 12:27.  It is really great...

Love Elder Stuart

Sup

Well Im writing today because yesterday we had to back to Coban to get Elder Brito, because he is my comp again!!  Not gonna lie it kind of sucked being in a trio, so Im glad to be back with Brito.  Also we had to stay over night Sunday at the APs house and it was pretty sweet.  We ate McDonalds and we had hot showers so it was like the best day of my life.

 

Not much happened this week, but it was Elder Calls 1 year mark, so we had a little fiesta on wednesday.  We ate an icecream cake that was huge and he burnt his shirt, so that was pretty fun.  But this cake was for 15 people and us three ate it, and I ended up eating half of it because they couldnt eat any more, and it was an Ice cream cake, so we couldnt take it home, because we dont have a freezer.  But it was worth it.

 

Also this week in church was fantastic.  Our branch president came to church, and we also found this less active guy in cubulco, so we had a pretty successful day in church.  It was amazing to see how much more we could feel the spirit with these two preisthood holders in church, instead of the usual one, and it was just fantastic!!

 

Other than that it was kind of a slow week so yeah thats all folks...

 

Love Elder Stuart

New Comps

Well as I left off last week, my comp, Elder Brito hurt his knee.  I didnt think much of it but we called Hermana Curtiss and she said that we should go to Coban tomorrow, tuesday, and get it checked out.  So we did, we left at like 7 in the morning tuesday to go to the doctor.  So we finally made it to the doctor and he told us that there definately was something wrong and that we need to go to a different doctor to get an MRI.  So we went there and we got the MRI but we couldnt get the results until the next day, wednesday...  So we stayed over night at the assisstants house so that we could get the results and not have to travel back to Rabinal that night.  By the time we had left the final doctor it was like 5 in the night so we spent about 7 hours at the doctors office that day.  That is one example of how bad the doctors are here, because it took 7 hours to tell us that we need an MRI and to go and get it done.  So that was a little long.  But anyways we went to get the results on wednesday and we figured out that Brito shouldnt walk for about a month.  This was really disappointing to hear.  So by the time that we got all his things that he needed from the doctor, like medicine crutches it was 3.  So that was really boring because we had to stay at the assistants house again that night, because they didnt know what to do with us.  So we stayed over night at the assistants house again, which really sucked because we hadnt planned on staying over night, so we had nothing.  We had no new clothes, toothbrushes, or things like that so it really wasnt that great.  So then on Thursday we figured out what we would be doing.  So at about 10 we talked with the president on thursday morning.  He told us that brito was going to stay in the mission office, and that I was going to go work in a different area in a trio with Elders Ashcroft and Tellas.  Elder Ashcroft is the other district leader in my zone, and also he was Jonnys comp in the MTC.  So I was a little sad to be leaving Brito, but it would be cool to work with Ashcroft.  So I got in a car with Elder Kirk, a senior missionary who helps the pres, and he was going to take me to Rabinal to get all my things and then take me to the other area.  He was the guy who worked in the FBI so that was pretty cool to talk to him about his work.  So he dropped me off at Rabinal to pack my things, because he had to go to do something else, and he would come back in an hour.  So there was a member with me, but I wasnt with another missionary at this time which was a little weird, but I packed my stuff and was ready to go.  But then he came back to the house about an hour later to tell me that I was going to stay in Rabinal and be in a trio with Elder Call, my district leader, and His comp, Elder Aybar.  So I didnt have to leave my area which made me pretty happy, but I was a little sad to not work with Ashcroft, because that wouldve been really cool.  So long story short, Brito had to leave and now Im in a trio with Elders Call and Aybar, and im still in Rabinal.  So yeah kind of a long week.  And also we have to work two different areas, their area, Cubulco and Rabinal.  They are about 30 minutes away by bus so that kind of sucks.  But I will explain more of that next week when I have more time. 

 

Anyways the work was a little slow this week, because we werent in Rabinal for half the week and we have to work two areas so we cant only focus on the people here in Rabinal.  This definately showed, because we only had 30 people in church, When we usually have about 40 or 45.  So yeah it just goes to show that working hard and sufficiently really does pay off.  Because we hardly worked in our area this week because of all that was going on, and we had only two thirds of the people in church.  But I know that it was only for this week and that we will be able to get everything back to normal in no time.  But Im super excited to work my butt of this week to get everything back to normal. 

 

Also I cant believe that you guys have already gotten snow!!  Its hard to believe that it can be like 90 degrees here and only a 5 hour plane ride away it is snowing!!  Thats pretty cool.

 

My scripture this week in D and C 121.  I dont want to type it all out but it talks about Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail, and the struggles that he had, but through the help of our Heavenly Father we are able to get through everything.

 

Elder Jeffrey Stuart

First Week!

I love it here!!!!!  But Im going to start where i left off two weeks ago.  I didnt have a computer last week so i couldnt send any last week.  But here I am.  So It is a tradition in the CCM when the elders are leaving we sing called to serve in spanish as loud as we can the night before. IT WAS AWESOME.  I love the power of all the elders in one area and that is what i miss about the CCM. But other than that im glad to be out of there.  Then the next morning we woke up at five and all the elders that were going to Coban left at seven.  I t was hard to say goodbye to all the others.  I didnt think it would be but we had gotten so close in those couple weeks and it was sad to see them go.  But we were off on our four and a half hour bus ride to Coban.  It wasnt too bad, but it was pretty long.  When we got to Coban we went to the Presidents house and had lunch.  It was awesome to meet President Curtiss.  He was awesome and I cant wait to get to know him more.  But then we had to get on our way.  So we went to a chapel to learn about all the rules of the mission. This is where I learned that I was going to the Vera Paz zone and my area would be Rabinal.  That was awesome.  So we hopped on another bus to a place called salama.  We could only make it to there that day because by the time we left the church it was four and it was a three and a half hour bus ride.  So it was a lot of buses that day.  We got to Salama and that is where I met my trainer.  Elder Brito.  He is an awesome guy but he knows absolutely no english.  So it can be hard to talk to him, but I have learned so much spanish in 5 days with him.  I can say that im about 75 percent fluent.  Its awesome!!!!  So we stayed over night at the zone leaders house, and we slept on five mattresses.  But there were six missionaries, so it was a rough night.  But then the next morning we woke up at 6 and me and elder Brito were going to catch a taxi to rabinal.  That was my area.  So it took us until about 6 30 to find a taxi and we were off.  Almost...  The taxi drove for about three minutes then dropped us off.  He said that he couldnt take us to rabinal and that we would need a bus.  So we basically said thanks for nothing and walked to the bus station with all my luggage.  We made it to the bus station and we caught a bus to Rabinal at about 7 30.  So an hour and a half later we were on our way.  It was probably the coolest bus ride Ive ever been on.  It was about an hour and a half up over a mountain.  It was so cool to look over the city of coban as we left.  We arrived in Rabinal at about 9.  And then we were off to work.  We had comp study until about ten and then we went to the store so I could get some food.  Then we went to work.  We visited a lot of members houses and a few investigators houses.  It was a pretty long day so when we got back at about 9 00 I was going to take a shower.  But that was when I figured out that we dont have one...  I had to shower with a bucket.  So I said screw it and i went to study.  But then the next day I had to take my first bucket shower.  It wasnt to bad.  And now I actually quite like it after 6 days of a bucket shower.  But I love the Area here and the people are so giving.  I dont have a lot of time today so I will explain more next week when I also know a little bit more about what is going on.  But I absolutely love the work.  And a line from one of my favorite songs now, the song is by the band Jonny likes, and it says,  this is the hardest thing I have ever loved to do and it is so true.  Thanks for all of the support.  And I dont have time for a scripture this week so it will have to wait until next week.

Love Elder Jeffrey Stuart

Kek´chi

Not much has happened this week.  Life gets kind of repetitive in the CCM but it is awesome because of how much we are learning.  I have learned so much spanish that I can now basically carry on a conversation with my latino roomates.  So that is awesome, and also I can understand spanish almost fluently.  So I cant wait for when I get been one of my dreams.  Also it has been confirmed that I will be learning the dialect in Coban and basically only speak it.  It is called Kek´chi.  So when I return hopefully I will be tri-langual.  Me and Elder Pyper have met some of the Latinos that are in the CCM that are from Coban and we have tried to talk to them so that we can learn a little bit of Kek´chi but it is hard to learn from them, because we dont speak enough spanish to ask them how to say things in Kek´chi because we are trying to translate from english to spanish to ask them, then the tell us the Kek´chi word, which we have to translate into spanish then into english to understand... So if that even made any sense, it is hard to learn it from them, but we are trying.

Tomorrow for P-day we get to go to Wal-Mart which is the thing that basically all the missionaries look forward to here.  So that is going to be a party, because they dont really have a lot of American stores here.  But we get to also go to Wendys that day too, so that is what I am really looking forward too because I have been craving some sort of American food.  So tomorrow is going to be a good day.

Also I was talking to one of the Elders that got to the CCM at the same time that I did, and his name is Elder Mckay Kearsley.  We were talking and then he said something about golf and I said that I played golf.  Then he said ¨Thats where I know you from!¨  So I asked him how he knew me and he said that he played in a golf tournament with me one time.  But I was a little confused because I didnt remember him.  He said it was the Brigham City invitational, and that he plays for Morgan High, which is 3A, and they were invited to the same tournament as Woods Cross. I told him that it probably wasnt me he knew because I didnt play in that tournament, but then I remembered that Ryan did! He says he played in the first spot for Morgan and that he played with a Woods Cross guy but he cant remember if it was Ryan or if Ryan was in the second spot, but he remembers Ryan.  Ryan do you remember a Mckay Kearsley?  But yeah I thought that was cool and I finally found my first connection in guatemala.

Anyway thanks for all of the support and letters that you guys have written.  I really appreciate it.  My scripture is 1st Nephi 3:7.  I know that this scripture is well known, but it has popped up in my teachings like four of the last five times, so I figured it is important to share with you guys.  ¨And it came to pass that I Nephi said unto my father, I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded for I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the things which he commandeth them.¨ I really like that scripture, and how it shows that the Lord is on our side and that he wants us to keep his commandments so that we can return to live with him.

Love Elder Jeffrey Stuart

Market!

This week for our p-day we got to go to the market that was in the city of guatemala.  It was awesome to be able to leave the MTC and go into the city for a change.  But it sure is nothing like America, but I love it here.  But the market was awesome, it was in kind of an underground area that had hundreds of stores.  It was awesome though because the aisles in the market were only about 3 feet wide and there were stores packed up and down the aisles of people trying to sell things to us.  It was crazy how many stores were packed into such a little area.  But while I was there I bought a shirt that says ¨guats up¨ and a machete...  I love the shirt, but it is a little short.  But it doesnt matter, because it still fits.  But in the market you get to barter with the owners and that was quite the fun experience. So I bought the shirt for 30 quetzals, which is about 4 dollars or so, And the machete for 100 quetzals, which is about 15 dollars.  So it is quite the bargain to find things down here because everything is so cheap.  Also I have had an awful cough this week but I dont feel sick so that doesnt bother me, but it is annoying to have.  Not much else has happened this week, but I am glad to hear about all of the missionaries from home that are leaving, because I know that it is the right thing to be doing.  I also love the amount of time that we get here to study the gospel.  I have already almost finished the book of mormon again since I got here, and Im about half way through Jesus the Christ.  I love to study the gospel, although back at home it was something that I didnt really do, I wish that I would have spent more time reading the scriptures and learning about Christ.  Because I absolutely love to learn about Christs life and all that he has done for us.  My scripture this week is John 10:17-18.  I absolutely love this scritpure and it says, ¨Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself.  I have power to lay it donw, and I have power to take it again.  This commandment have I received of my Father.¨ Obviously that is Christ speaking, and this scripture shows to me that Christ was willing to do anything for us even if it meant suffering through something that he could have avoided.  I love the Gospel and I cant wait to be serving the people of Coban!      Love, Jeffrey Stuart

You Have Been Called!

Jeffrey received his mission call today and was able to come home at lunch to open it!

Jeffrey will leave on 7 August 2013 and head straight to the Guatemalan MTC.  When we have information on his farewell, it will be posted here!