Week 28 (March 23)

 Hey family!

    

     So this week was fantastic. We had the opportunity to hear from an Apostle and to hear from a member of the seventy. I can't believe how much I learned and all the little things that I need to do to have more success in this area. I am grateful for the time that Elder Anderson took out of his week to come to Guatemala and talk to us. Every missionary got to shake his hand! It was fun also to be able to go into the capital for the day, even though it was hot there too...

     So this month has been getting hotter and today was around 97 and yesterday was 98. I still feel like I am at home!;) well I mean, other than speaking a different language with a lot darker people, but the weather feels like it haha! This week has been great though! I can't wait to start seeing these blessings that we have received grow into people that love the gospel and live it everyday.

     So we have a fecha for this weekend, and I just hope that he will be completely prepared for the day! We will have about 4 baptisms in our ward with the other set of missionaries, but we also have 3 other fechas! We have two for the 11th that want to be baptized and are now ready, we just have to keep them reading and learning from the Book of Mormon and also attend church at least one more time before the 11th. I hope they attend the next two Sundays to show themselves that it is a change in lifestyle, not just a change in thoughts, but it's the best change we can make in our lifes! Maybe some people that read this might not be members and are probably thinking why do they always want to talk about religion or invite us to church or activities? Well it comes down to it, that WE, ourselves, have made these changes and have seen the blessings in our lives. We have seen how this has helped our life and we invite everyone to just see for themselves, to attend church, take the missionary lessons, read the Book of Mormon, and see what we believe instead of asking others or believing the internet.

     So also this week we went to the castle that is about 3 hours away from our house and we woke up at 4 to get ready and leave by 5. it was a long morning but we got there and I thought it was worth it! It was awesome to see this castle and to be there in all American clothing! Haha, we are just a little patriotic;) Well I got to go! I hope everyone is doing good!

Y les quiero!

Week 27 (March 17)

Hey family,

So this week is a great opportunity for us as missionaries to go and see an Apostle! We will be hearing from Neil L. Anderson and we will be going to the capital of Guatemala for this conference! I cant wait to hear the words and the inspiration from Elder Anderson. Also, this past week we fasted so we could hear something that would really apply to us in each of our areas. I'm ready for this opportunity to use these words to better myself and the work.

So this past week, was tough but instead of being sad for not having a ton of success or questioning why stuff didn't happen the way we wanted to I am happy for the blessings we did receive. I am grateful for another day I have to work harder, another day to be able to say that I tried my best and leave the rest to the lord. I am greatful for this opportunity to serve in Guatemala and to serve with my companion. I have learned a lot from him and will continue to learn and to apply this doctrine not only to the lives of others but my life too. This week we were also blessed with two people that want to come to the waters of baptism in April! These people have such a great desire to know what is right and to follow the example of Jesus Christ. They are always so receptive and want to learn more and love to ask questions. Too bad I think I will have changes in two weeks and not be able to see these people make this important step in their lives.

Also a cool thing that I got to try this week was a fruit that that is only grown in Guatemala and only grown outside the capital where it is hot. The people call the fruit, chicos or nisperos. They are weird but good. Also, about ten minutes before sacrament meeting started, me and my companion were asked to give talks! yay! Such great news to hear that you have to prepare a talk in about 30 min and it has to be about 7 min long. haha! Well to be honest I didnt think I could do it, but one thing that has really impacted me and helped me is being more humble and willing to ask for his help. He can help all of us and wants to help us. All we need to do is act and then try our best and he will make up the rest. So, after I said a little prayer in my heart. I went on looking for scriptures to help me with my theme of the talk which was, "What blessings can we recieve from reading the scriptures". so within about 5 min. I had written a little outline of the scriptures I was going to use and also the points I would like to make clear in my talk. So once I got up there to talk, I wasn't nervous or anything and I talked for like 9 or 10 min! And the best part was I did it all in Spanish;) haha without a problem!

Well thank you guys for everything. Thanks for the package and I hope that dad had a great birthday! I love you guys so much!

Elder Flygare

Week 26

Hello family and friends!,

This week we worked hard and have had a lot of success and also a lot of let downs. So we had two fechas this week but the first one decided to go to an Evangelical Church and feels like he recieved reconciliation with God and doesn't want us to visit him constantly and also the other church prayed for him so he feels like he's found what he was looking for. Also, our other fecha decided not to go to church because her dad had to go do an errand and she can't go by herself because she is 10 years old.

But we are planning to get 2 or 3 fechas this week and hopefully they can keep their commitments and also pray and specifically ask if this is true. Because if they ask specifically, with a desire to know the truth, I know that they will recieve an answer. Also, some great news for in two weeks is that an apostle is coming to talk to us on March 18! It's going to be awesome because its in the capital so we will feel a little cool when we go to the capital!

So right now in Zacapa is starting the hot season and the summer! I cant wait! NOT. haha I'm kinda tired of feeling hot every day and every night. But it doesn't matter what I want, it's where the lord needs me and where I will make the biggest impact.

So this week we got to try star fruit which in Spanish is called carambola and we got another weird fruit from some investigators. So some funny stories from this week is that we talked to a member and I asked her if she had a testimony of the Book of Mormon and her responce was that she lost her head a few years back and so she doesn't have a testimony...haha but she attends church every week and says the church is true and the Book of Mormon is true too... haha oh well.

Also, we ran into another guy in the street who said that we promised him a watch the next time we saw him so my comp took out his half broken watch and the guy took it and gave him a hug and told us where he lives for us to visit him next week. Then on Saturday we had a lesson with some new investigators and the 10 year old boy had a question. So he asked us how old we were and we said, well, how old do you think we are? and he responded and said my comp was 32 years old, Brandon (a member, who's a preist) was 22 years old and I was 25 years old. haha I have never heard that I look like I'm 25 years old! I have only heard that I am 17 or 18, so it made me feel like I am growing up!;)

Ya so that was pretty much our week and also I was reading in Mosiah 3 and 4 today and in chapter 4 it essentially talks about charity and helping people and not judging. I invite you guys to read those chapters this week and see how you guys can apply those chapters in your lives. I know that we all can better ourselves in charity and in not judging people.

Well thank you guys for all your support and for your love! I love you guys too!

LOVE Elder Flygare

Week 25

Hey Family,

How are you guys doing? I'm sorry to hear that Grandma Salladay passed away but I want to let you know that you guys are all in my prayers and that she lived a long life. I hope grandpa out of all people is holding up alright and that everything is okay with him. The good thing is that she said she wanted to live to see us again and I know that that won't happen in this life but I know without a doubt that we will see her after this life and she will be in her perfected body to talk to us and hug us. I found out that she passed away from President Crapo on Friday night at like 9:40 and he told me about how he got and email from you guys and that he is sorry for the loss in our family. I know that he meant it with all of his heart just by the way he talked to me over the phone and that he really cared. He gave me the opportunity to call you guys but I thought that would be to hard for me to call you guys and talk to you but I do want you guys to know that you are in my prayers every day.

So this week I got a new companion and his name is Elder Sorensen. He is from Sandy, Utah and has almost 22 months in the field. He extended his mission so he has this change and next change and he will be home;) Also, some good news is that president wants me to be the senior companion! So I will be leading our area with him and we got two new missionaries in our ward and their names are Elder Hoffman and Elder Kesler.  They are from the states and Elder Hoffman has 15 months and Elder Kesler is new! Elder Dille and Elder Guymon are still my zone leaders and my last comp, Elder Merrill, is now a zone leader in Zona Atlantico! He's a stud! In about two weeks I will have 6 months in the mission and it has felt like it's gone by so fast.

Also, happy birthday to Jeff Stevens, Avery Porter, and Brayden Flygare! I hope you guys had a good week and an amazing birthday!

I hope the other Elder Flygare is doing great in his new area with his new companion!

Well I love you guys and can't wait to hear from you next week!

Elder Flygare