Week 91 - Trenches and Changes (WHAT?)

Yup, That's right. My stay here in Jerusalen has come to an abrupt end. I am being transferred to FLORIDA. WHOOOO! Palm trees and sandy beaches here I come! Jk.  Well... partly. I'm being transferred to the Las Brisas Ward in the Florida Stake. My new companion's name is Elder Ramos. He's from BRAZIL. Looks like I'll be learning Portuguese this next change.

This week we did some service with a sister to fill in a ditch on the side of her house. Since there is no man in her house we couldn't work with her there so we did it by ourselves. We were working for and hour and a half and we only filled about 10 feet. The trench was about 1 foot wide and 4 feet deep and the entire length of her house (approx 50 feet). We wanted to finish and we didn't think it would take that long but it did. We had an appointment so we had to leave it half done. And now that I'm going, I won't be able to finish it. 

Sorry guys for the short letter. Changes always make it crazy and the time just flew by. Love you all!

 

Elder Mattiaccio

Barrio Jerusalen, Zona San Cristóbal, Guatemala Sur

Week 85 - Goodbye Devil's Alley, Hello Jerusalem

Hey guys, like the title says: I'm outta here! (El Callejón del Diablo/Devil's Alley is the street I live on and Jerusalem/Jerusalem is my new area) I'm going back inside of the capital. No more heat but a lot more rain! Changes are always interesting. Always new adventures. My new companion is Elder Hernandez from El Salvador (second Salvadoranian) and he's the District Leader there. The entire zone is made up of 8 missionaries, two districts of two companionships. We are in the Zone Leader's District so we'll probably be doing a lot of divisions.

I'm sad to be going though because I wanted to be here to keep supporting Keily (our investigator who JUST GOT BAPTIZED) Last Sunday she said she wasn't sure she wanted to go through with it so we said "that's fine. Read and pray about it and let us know your answer on Tuesday. We came on Tuesday and her entire countenance was different. We said a prayer, chit chatted for a minute, then asked the question. She smiled and said, almost chuckling, "of course!" We got everything ready, we had the interview on Friday and Elder Gruber (our zone leader) comes out and says "She wants you to baptize her". He hadn't even mentioned that we were an option to baptize and when he asked "who do you want to baptize you? the bishop? a member?" and she asked "Can it be one of my Elders?" I think this baptism went by the smoothest possible. Normally we're running all over town. Ahh we need the keys! Clean the baptismal fount! Clean the church! We don't have baptismal clothing! Where's the bishop! Where's the person who's gonna get baptized? Etc. But this time all went smooth like butter. We started a bit late but that's to be expected with GST (Guatemalan Standard Time, Like MST: Mormon Standard Time). The Spirit is definitely strong with this one! She came out of the water and was crying. When I came out from changing she was still crying in the hallway. I was a little worried.... Was she regretting her decision? I asked her what was wrong and she told me she felt so happy. She's sixteen years old and now has started her path to eternal life. I can't imagine what would've happened had we not found her mom. Or had we listened to our Ward Mission Leader and not gone back with her. God places us in the right places to help His children.

This week we also had a trip to the capital again to have another Multi Mission Conference, this time with Elder Renlund. This time it was The Guatemala South, East, and Central Missions and the CCM (MTC) as well. It's so great to see all my friends from the CCM and even from home. I saw Elder Gorze (East) Sister Montoya (Central) Elders Sweat, Shumway, and Brown (Central) As well as all my companions Elder Langi, Elder Cussi, Elder Campos, Elder Lascarez. It's like a big reunion. I love it because our mission always goes in suits and típica ties (cultural fabric patterns) He called us the Lord's "Atonement Delivery System". We take the Gospel and teach it to God's children so they can accept it and receive a remission of their sins. 

Well... gots to go. I'll be sending pictures of more ward members next week for when I say goodbye.

Elder Mattiaccio

Barrio Sanarate, Zona Jalapa, Guatemala Sur

Week 79 - The Downpour Begins

Hey everyone! This week I think it is safe to say that the rainy season has begun. I mean, last night, we were teaching/taking refuge in a house when the power went out. I actually love the rain. All of the members think I'm crazy because when it starts raining I almost get giddy. I love going out in the rain. I don't even carry an umbrella. I just put my books in a plastic bag inside my bag so they don't get soaked like I do. hahaha. Last night, when we left the house of that family we were headed to another family's house and we knocked on what we thought was their door. Come to find out, that because of the rain and it being kinda dark where we were we mistook their house. (The houses also look very similar. We found a man who had just moved in that day. When we realized we knocked the wrong door we took advantage. I really felt that we were guided to him. He's catholic, like everyone else here, but he says that there is something to learn from every message. He seemed really willing to read and learn more. Hopefully the spirit touches his heart and testifies that the message is true and that he wants to learn more.

I think I had an experience this week that no other missionary can claim. I went through an entire lesson with a chicken on my head! We were sitting on the patio of a family we were teaching when out of nowhere this chicken jumps on my back and roosts on my head. The kids thought it was funny and it actually helped them pay attention so I let it fly (pun intended).

I have been looking for a place to fix my proselyting bag. I have another one that I've been using but I like the one I brought on the mission better. It wasn't fatally broken or anything. Just a side zipper but I had left it with a man to fix it for two weeks, come to find out he didn't have the piece to fix it. So I took matters into my own hands. I ripped out the zipper and a member donated me a zipper to put on and I sewed it on by had. Good as new ;P

This week we had changes. My companion, Elder Cornejo is leaving and I receive Elder Garza, the new District Leader. I saw him enter the mission while I was in Mita. He's a pretty cool guy. I'll send a pic of us next week.

Elder Mattiaccio

Barrio Sanarate, Zona Jalapa, Guatemala Sur

p.s. Looks like Frankie had problems loading pictures this week so we'll have to leave it to our imagination until next time.

Adios Roosevelt, Hello SANARATE! - Week 73

So continuing on from last week.  My next divisions were with Elder Ludwig from the area Monte Maria. That day we were on fire too! We taught a woman who was from here but she had lived in the US for 27 years! She now works as an english teacher here and teaches it as part of a social project to better the futures of the people here. Here is where all the phone calls go when you call tech support or customer service hahaaha. There are even some utah based companies. But if you know english you get payed really well here. She´s super awesome. She rents a room from a member here. The lesson with here was actually really cool! She´s so ready and she even took notes! It´s a shame I won´t be here for her conversion. Which brings me to my next point....

I¨VE GOT CHANGES!!!! I´M GOING TO SANARATE, JALAPA!! My new companions name is Elder Cornejo. He´s salvadoranian and went to Mita just a little bit after I left. Elder Langi was there not too long ago and he said it´s awesome. But I'm going back to the heat. Getting ready to drop some more poundage! jajaja 

This week was really cool too though. We did a lot of service this week. Last week we helped a sister move her stuff to a new apartment. And this week, we helped her move her stuff BACK! jajaja. It's a long story but she ended up decided to stay in her house and buy a new house instead of moving to an apartment. We also painted the room of a the mom of one of our investigators. I swear I'm going to be a pro at painting when I get back. (mom, we´re finally gonna paint my room ;P)

Elder Mattiaccio

Barrio Roosevelt, Zona Mariscal, Guatemala Sur

Frankie failed to mention something...He had tamales! Thank goodness I caught that! Probably didn't want to make us all jealous Here's some other fun pictures I found from his district and members in Roosevelt.

Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo - Week 61

Hello and FELIZ NAVIDAD!

Christmas is so fun here in Guatemala. It´s not too good on the proselyting side because everyone is busy getting ready for the festivities but it was fun passing Christmas with the members.
We made a Christmas card for the ward. We calculated that 30 would be enough but when we got to church to hand them out, we found out that it wasn´t quite enough.... Luckily I still have the picture so I can print out more. hahaha.

Brother James sent me money again this year. This year I decided to buy 4 chicken dinners for families in the ward who couldn´t afford to have a good Christmas dinner. Haydee, our investigator, made the dinners. On Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) we went out with the bishop to deliver the dinners. In each of the visits we could see how much it meant to them. Some of the families were passing through especially tough times. We were able to cheer them up and bring a bit of the Christmas spirit into their homes.

We finished the member's nativity I told you about a few weeks ago.

I got a little package of my own. Gracias a mis tios, tias, primos y primas que pensaron en mi y me mandaron este regalo. Que lindo conocerlos por lo menos por fotos. Yo se que nos conocimos un poco cuando era pequeño y mi mamá habla mucho de ustedes, pero espero conocerlos (otra vez) pronto.

Last Monday we had a gift exchange. I gave Elder Olson some candy and pictures of us and our group in the CCM. Then I got A snapback hat from Elder Norwick. It was really fun. I made a few jerseys from my zones. I (re)made one from Milagro because the one we got wasn´t what we were expecting at all and I made one from here in Mariscal. We do that to have something from the zone and to be more united as a zone.

Every Saturday this month, we went to the Trebol and caroled. It was fun. I like singing so :D and I conducted everyone. I hope when I get back that I, at some point, get the calling of ward chorister.

OH! that brings me to something VERY important. Tomorrow are changes! Elder Mori is leaving and I got called as the new District Leader! I´m receiving another Peruvian companion, Elder Cussi. He´s just finishing his training. I'm super excited to have this leadership responsibility and to be able to help my district. 

I'm super excited for this year that comes. 2017! I can´t believe it! I´ve grown so much over this last year and 2 months in the mission. Can´t wait to see what I can do in my time left?? 

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and to everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

#2017

#Navidad

#ShareTheSpirit 

Elder Mattiaccio

Barrio Roosevelt, Zona Mariscal, Guatemala Sur

Roosevelt - Week 56

Hello all,

First, I have a message for Abuelita: Te amo mucho! Espero que tengas un Feliz Cumpleaños! Gracias por aceptar el evangelio para yo poder estar aquí sirviendo mi mission.

This week I started in my new area, Roosevelt. This ward was one of the first wards organized here in Guatemala. Originally it was called just "Ward 6" but now that there are a ton more members it got a name. The ward is a lot bigger than all my previous areas. In membership and size. I feel like our area is the size of my last ZONE! We have to go on bus to get to  some areas. We mostly work in the area closest to the church because the members live there mostly. But we´re trying to expand our horizons. The members are great! They even provide us with dinner every day.

I've been focusing on helping Elder Mori with his District Leader stuff. It helps me have more patience.

I had divisions my second day in the area and guess who is my zone leader? Elder Olson from my CCM District! Soo cool. He´s still the same goof ball I met in the CCM. We had such a great day.

Towards the end of the night we had more appointments than what we could handle and he had to choose. I told him to follow the spirit so we went to a FHE. Turns out, the family had invited all their extended family (who weren´t members). We had an awesome lesson about the Plan of Salvation and Elder Olson had an awesome activity having to do with an invisible string (eternity) and a knot in the middle (mortal life). We left and we didn´t see a bus coming. So we had to run to get home before 9.  Then, while he was doing zone leader stuff, I was going to cook dinner. But when I went to grab a dish from the sink I saw this HUGE SPIDER. I almost had a heart attack. I couldn´t enter the kitchen the rest of the night. 

We learned how to make something called torejas. Super yummy. 

Well, that's all the time for now, but enjoy some picture of my families from Venezuela.

Love you all.

Elder Mattiaccio

Roosevelt, Zona Mariscal, Guatemala Sur

Changes and Moves - Week 50

This week were the changes and I received Elder Campos. He´s from Concepción, Chile (a bit more north than where Elder Belmar was from) He´s a bit green in the mission, he only has 3 months in the field which means I´m his senior companion. In our mission Senior Companion and Junior Companion don´t work exactly the same as other missions. Senior Companion means that you have the authority and the knowledge to be able to lead the area and lead in lessons. You become a Senior Companion pretty much at the 6 month mark. If, for whatever reason, you aren´t ready, President will keep you as a junior companion but that doesn´t normally happen. Anyway, he´s pretty fun. Even though he´s a greenie he is awesome in the lessons. He´s willing to learn and also helps me be better too. Junior Companions have a say too but the Senior Companion normally makes the decision

Before Elder Campos arrived in Venezuela I had to move houses. Elder Byrd left super early in the morning (like 5 am) so he couldn´t help too much. I was with my District Leader, Elder Nelson, and he helped me finish packing up the house and then Elder Alegría (Zone Leader) and Elder Lainez (Other District Leader) came and helped. I went with the member who helped us with the truck to unload at the new house and they stayed pulling out all the stuff to the street to be ready to load. When we finished they all left and then arrived my companion. Apparently they were looking for us at the old house and we didn´t have cell phone signal in the new house. So they called the Zone Leaders, and they took them to the new house.

On top of moving my house, one of our investigators got kicked out of the room he was renting. No warning or anything. Just "I want you out at the end of the day". So we helped him move all his stuff and store it in a school until they can find somewhere to live. We´ve been looking but their price range is limited and this area is really hard to find good, cheap housing. Him and his neighbors were being kicked out but they had found a place. 

I hope everythings going good up there. The rainy season is coming to an end. Now comes the wind and the cold.

Love

Elder Mattiaccio

Venezuela, Zona Nimajuyu, Guatemala Sur