Its been a good one.‏

Well I feel like it is time that I let all of you in on something. So for a little over three months I have had tons of pain in my chest. At first I thought it would just pass over but it didnt. So I called the nurse and she sent me to do xrays in my chest and we didnt find anything and so I just continued to work. A week and half after I did Xrays I had a really bad asthma attack to where I couldnt see during it and afterwards I couldnt walk with out falling over and so I didnt work that day. Afterwards, I received medicine to help me breath but thats all it did. It didnt help with the pain at all and after that asthma attack my pain worsened a lot and everyday since it has been worse. And so this past week it has just been unbareable and had a huge inpact on me and how I am as a missionary. So I went to the hospital and just got new medicine after talking to the doctor and even with the new medicine I have just been getting worse and worse. And After lots of crazy fighting this past week. I am coming home.... But I want all of you to know how much I know this is the true and only true church of Jesus Christ. The only true Gospel that brings the happiness we all desire. I am grateful for everything and I am going home feeling like a successful missionary just from my personal conversion to this Gospel. I love it and I know my Savior and Heavenly Father love me. So if you want to write me or keep in contact here is my other email. Sheltontrevor4@gmail.com -- *No hay miedo en la vida, si recononcemos que tenemos un gran ayuda. A quien es nuestro amoroso Salvador. Una persona que nos conoce mejor que conocemos nosotros y él nos ama. Él está allí para ayudarnos. Solo tenemos que pedir y él lo hará.* Elder Shelton

Hay Cambios‏

Tuesday We had a good day. We had a great District Meeting that went completely by the spirit and it helped us a ton to refocus and remember why we are here serving. Then after that Elder Hales and I got to work and found some good news. Wednesday 6 Months! Man does time fly by. This day was amazing. So the Familia DeLeon that told us they didnt want us to visit them, well during lunch the mom called us and asked for tons of forgiveness saying they wanted us to come back. And us well we just told her we would see her tomorrow. But of course all of our visits fell through and so we went and visited them. But this time was amazing. The dad Hermano Hugo had never ever listened to the missionaries before but for some reason he listened to us this time. We explained how the families can be forever and at first he didnt believe in that concept but at the end he told us he knew and how he wanted to continue listening. IT was awesome. Thursday This was a rough day. My companion and I just werent having the best day but we went out and worked and really no one wanted to accept us and listen to us. Friday A day full of more rejection and of more trials but all is well. Saturday Spent most of the day packing because on Sunday I was going to have emergency changes and leave my area.... It was super hard but at least I got to visit the Familia DeLeon and let them know that someone better was about to come and help them even more. Sunday Left good old El Palmar and now I am in Valles de las Flores with my first Latino companion Elder Ballesteros, but he can speak English haha. But it was good. We had a good day working. Monday Spent our Pday in the capital because we went to the hosptial and then decided to just get lost and get to know the rich part of Guatemala. Then we ended the night visiting some cool people. Just got to get to know these people now but all is well. -- *No hay miedo en la vida, si recononcemos que tenemos un gran ayuda. A quien es nuestro amoroso Salvador. Una persona que nos conoce mejor que conocemos nosotros y él nos ama. Él está allí para ayudarnos. Solo tenemos que pedir y él lo hará.* Elder Shelton

What a week

Tuesday Well this day, I have never had my heart broken so hard. We went to go visit the Familia DeLeon and we learned that Alison had drank coffee and so her baptism for that week wasnt possible, then she also told us she didnt want to do it for a month! Wednesday What an amazing day, we woke up early to go to Amatitlan because the area President, President Duncan, came and spoke to us. We learned a lot. I learned a lot about faith and how faith is to have the positivity always! To never doubt, never look at what the bad outcome could be, but always look at the positive outcome of things. It was much needed. Then we also go to meet and start teaching a guy who we learned had never been baptized but just has been attending church everyweek. So we started to help him prepare for his baptism. Thursday Well we had a good day, had some good visits. We got to go visit the Familia DeLeon and help them to want more unity and happiness as a family. Then we got to visit Frenando and it was just a good lesson with him to help him realize he needs to put his part in. Then we visited a kid named Mynor. Who is basically a member, he goes to everything, he goes to seminary everytime, church every week, and just everything, he just doesnt want to be baptized. Its a little frustrating but we are seeing what we can do for him. Friday A good day of frustration. We started the day of with some good lessons and then we started to look for the less actives in the ward and spent a ton of time. We found no one. And our time in between, well no one wanted to accept us. It was awesome. But we were able to end the day well with a good visit with Alison and the Familia DeLeon and then with Estuardo who we learned that his girlfriend is a really firm member of the church and what not. They are a little rebelious but they both want to grow together in the right path and she is a little stubborn and knows that this is the right path and so Estuardo is being a good boyfriend and seeing for himself if it is. And so far he is still okay with his baptismal date! Saturday Just a good day of finding new people to visit. And giving a little chicote to the Familia DeLeon. Sunday Well lots of disappointment but hey thats the mission. We only had Estuardo come to church but we were grateful for that at least. It shows his true desire. We also had some good visits after church and got the Familia DeLeon to cry because of our message about the family with them. Twas great Monday What an awesome District Pday! We went and hiked for an hour to get to a waterfall and it was so pretty, then we ate as a District and then rested a little. After that we had some good lessons but first with the Familia DeLeon and at the end they told us they wanted a break from us and I have never hurt so much.Its a family I love a lot but no matter how much I want to help them receive their happiness they desire. I cant force it upon them. Its tough. But thats the mission. -- *No hay miedo en la vida, si recononcemos que tenemos un gran ayuda. A quien es nuestro amoroso Salvador. Una persona que nos conoce mejor que conocemos nosotros y él nos ama. Él está allí para ayudarnos. Solo tenemos que pedir y él lo hará.* Elder Shelton

What a great week of the HEAT‏

Wednesday Had an awesome District Meeting from my new District Leader Elder Ramirez and learned a lot about virtud. Then we had an awesome lunch in a chinese restaurant. Then Elder Hales and I just got to work and really just found tons of goats but we were able to do a service for a random guy in the street who was cutting tons of wood. We took the axe and went to work and cut wood for him for more than an hour in the heat but then ended the service seeing the amazing sunset. Then ended it visiting my favorite family and a girl we are going to baptize. The Familia Delion with Alison! Thursday This was a day of tons of contacts! But also we went and had a visit with Frenando, a friend of one of the members, that went super well. I also fought with some Evangelicals but twas a good day. Friday Crazy day for us. Woke up early to go to Villa Nueva for a meeting for all the zone retention leaders (I am the zone retention leader for Santa Lucia now). Learned lots of what I need to do to help my zone and then Elder Hales and I got to work and we had an awesome lesson with the Familia Delion and then an even better Noche de Hermanamiento. But just a day spent in a bus. Saturday Today was a much better day, we were able to get lots more lessons in. We had our best lesson with the Familia Delion and even ended it with a pillow fight. Twas super fun and Allison is just getting ready for her baptism the 28th! Sunday First Sunday with my new little branch El Palmar, but it was an awesome one. I love this new atmosphere of the people. Learned lots of what the job of each member is and then we had a good day of working. Got to visit Alison and the Familia Delion and then one crazy kid who goes to church every week and even seminary and everything else but doesnt want to be baptized! Named Minor, hopefully I can be the answer to him being baptized, we will see. Monday Oh did we clean. The house was a wreck and well I wrecked it and clean the heck out of it. Elder Hales and I ended up cleaning for all of our PDay. It was great though and we had fun doing so. Then we got to have a good lesson with Familia Delion again to help Alison a little bit more and then the Stake President of Escuintla bought us dinner to end our night. Twas a good Pday.

I was cold and now I am HOT‏

Tuesday We had a great zone training and President Markham actually came and helped teach us how to be better missionaries. Umm and then Elder Halverson and I just went to work. Wednesday Just had a good day of working and finding new people to visit Thursday Had my last companionship inventory with Elder Halverson and it was good and we had a good day of working and saying good bye to people Friday Just worked and said good bye to people Saturday Lo Mismo Sunday Had a good Sunday and just said goodbye to people really Monday Went to a cemetery with Esmeralda to write down some family names to help her, then we just went and ate as a zone to say our good byes to everyone. and just finished the night saying goodbye to members Tuesday CAMBIOS! Woke up early to go to changes and well I left good old Chimaltenango and now I am in the coast in the Zone Santa Lucia in the area El Palmar with Elder Hales, another gringo, Its really really hot haha. Sorry its not a very great email. I forgot to bring my journal with me to help me remember about the week but I do know is that My last days in Chimaltenango Elder Halverson and I built a fort to sleep in to finish off our time together. It was lots of fun.

What a week

Tuesday Started it off with a good but strange District Meeting on charity. Then we taught Familia Alvarado, in the moment just getting them ready for their baptism that didnt happen... But then we taught Sergio who is the most prepared guy I have ever met. We taught him lesson one and just went super well. Wednesday Well this was a crazy day. We went and helped the Hermanas move from 1030 in the morning until 5 at night and then something happened to me and so we werent really able to work that day. But all is well. Thursday Much better day, Got the solution to my problem and then we just went out and worked. Went and visited Sergio and he was just waiting for us and prepared and excited to talk to us. It was awesome. Then we taught a less active family named Familia Rivera and well lets just say the lesson was more for me than it was for them. Then fought out that the wife of our convert is a drug lord. Thats great. No wonder he hasnt been coming to church. Friday Had divisions with the zone leaders and so Elder Halverson and I lost another day of working in our area this week. It went well but I learned a lot of what I dont want to do as a missionary and how I dont want to teach by going out and teaching with Elder Sanchez. Saturday Oh did we work hard this day. We visited Sergio who told us he had read the part in the Book of Mormon that we had left him and prayed and then just told us how much he knows that it is true and that he wants to be a part of it! How awesome is that. Then we tried visting the Familia Alvarado but the mom didnt want to accept us because now she doesnt want anything to do with us because she is now involved with the wife of our convert who is a drug dealer. Oh crazy are missions haha Sunday We didnt have tons of investigators but it was a good day. Especially since Sergio came and in Elders quorum when the Elders quorum president asked him how he felt and everything. Sergio just replied saying he loves it and even though this member brought him this week. Next week he is coming on his own! I love miracles like that. Monday What an awesome District Pday, we just met up in the church and everyone made there own food from their own countries. So we ended up having no bakes, yes I made Nathans grandmas recipe, grilled chees, pupusas, and chilekilas. All of it was so good. Then we went to the mercado as a district and Elder Halverson and I just had fun helping the Hermanas bargain for better prices. It was a good day. Spiritual thought Romans 5 vs 19 ¨for as by one mans disobedience. many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.¨ Timothy 4 vs 12 ¨let no man despise thy yought, but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. What kind of example do you want to be? Do you want to bring people to be sinners or to be righteous? Its your choice....

another week

Tuesday Started it off with a good District Meeting on Repentance. Then we went out and worked. We visited this member and to our surpise she had gifts for us. She bought me something to give to my mom and Elder Halverson something to give to his little sister. It was so nice. Then we spent hours looking for converts that moved into our area and when we found them we learned that they werent truly baptized because it was two little kids baptized with out permission by the Dad. Then we had a great lesson with Familia Alvarado and watched a video with them. Wednesday We went and visited the Familia Chilel, a less active family, and helped learn the importance of sacrifice in the church. Had lots of people make us wait at the door and when they finally would attend us, they would tell us they didnt have time that day. It was a tad bit frustrating. Thursday Started it off by visiting Fransisco and just taught him about the Priesthood and the importance of it and how he can recieve the Melchesidec, if thats how you spell it, here soon. Then taught this lady named Alma who just told us all the stuff she does to serve people and how she left her church because when she gave them clothes to give away she caught them selling them. She didnt like that and well was really open to accepting us. After that taught Familia Alvarado and it was awesome. The mom gave permission to the kids to be baptized the 7th of February! Wahoo baptisms. Friday We started it off by visiting the Familia Alvarado and just had a good lesson teaching them and helping them prepare for baptism and helping the Mom to have a desire to be baptized too. Then we had some good other lessons and some with other converts. But awesome part is that I learned exactly what to do when I get home to earn money to eventually open up a restaurant which is my dream. Saturday Did lots of contacting this day. And ended our night with the Familia Alvarado and taught them the Word of Wisdom and they accepted it and had no questions and just told us they were going to live it. That is how you know when a family has been prepared. Its awesome. Also Elder Halverson and I got in a little tickle fight in the lesson with Alma today when she left to do something real quick. Sunday A day of dissappointment. We had lots of our investigators that said they were going to come, even when we got to their house to walk with them, they told us they werent going to come. But its okay. After that Elder Halverson and I talked in sacrament about missionary work and I basically told the members if they dont have a desire to share the gospel they need to repent. Also taught them how to be a super hero. It was fun. Monday It wasnt a terrible Pday haha. We woke up super early to go to Solola to play socce with the zone Solola and I learned how terrible I really am at soccer. After that we went to Panajachel, super beautiful you should look it up, to go eat and see the lake. After we drove back and got home right in time to end Pday. Didnt get to buy any groceries so who knows what I will eat this week but all is well. After that we just visited some families.