Hump Day! - Week 53

Hello everybody!

Thanks so much for the video! My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Uhuh uhuh uhuh! :)

Thanks! It was great to see all of you and seeing the little ones I hadn't met. Congratulations Scott and Dezi...another boy! That's awesome

We had a great celebration with the Guerra family. I was celebrating my half way mark, my companion his 20th birthday and one of my converts had her birthday too. They bought us all a cake to share so that was really yummy.

The youth has been accompanying us a lot this week. We´ve still had a hard time getting people to let us in or finding our investigators but we were able to do a lot more this week with their help. We planned at least one young man to leave with us every day and when possible two. Even though they are young and maybe not the best preachers, their testimonies and conversion stories are really strong. We were able to place 4 baptismal dates with new investigators because of the testimonies these young men shared. I began following their example and explaining the story of why I am here and how my family became a member of the church. Sure some people say "No" but that only means they aren't ready in this very moment. If they´re still interested in hearing our message we help them understand it and understand the importance of being baptized by the proper authority.

This week has been really windy and cold in the mornings and evenings which means that SWEATER WEATHER has FINALLY ARRIVED! Every morning we leave with our sweaters until about midday when the sun is out and in full force. Then we take them off and hang them on our bags until the sun starts going down. Then we put them back on. 

This week we were able to find one of our investigators who was really ready but, because of reasons out of our hands, we lost contact with her. Her name was Adriana and we actually have an appointment with her today.

Love you all and thanks for your support!

Elder Mattiaccio

Venezuela, Zona Nimajuyu, Guatemala Sur

                                                        

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Here's a picture of a beautiful view of Guatemala

A Better Week - Week 52

Hey everyone. Just sending a quick blurb. I don't have too much time to write you guys today. 

This week we did divisions with the zone leaders and again with the traveling assistant. I'm not sure how other missions work, but here in our mission we have 3 assistants and one of them is a traveling assistant. So that's all he does, travel to each area and do divisions. His name is Elder De Leon from Panama. Both were really awesome days and we were able to get a lot done. With the assistant we did double divisions, I went with Josué (or recent convert that just got called as ward missionary) and Elder Campos went with Elder de Leon. That day we were able to have 6 lessons with member present and place 4 baptismal dates! Things have really begun picking up this week. 

This week we have been doing a lot of service too. It's been our mission goal. It's one of the things we focused on to help us in the work. We try to chose an Amulek member (someone that helps us fellowship new converts). We decided to help this sister bathe her dog but when we got there it wouldn't even let us in the house. It just kept barking. Finally the sister picked him up and calmed him down and then gave it to me, but then it started barking and snipping at me. I ended up setting it down. When we finally got him in the bath he kept trying to bite me. Then eventually he got me in my back side. I was so worried because I didn't want to go get rabies shots. I've heard you have to get like 17 shots since medicine is not as advanced here. Thankfully he didn't bite through my pants so I didn't have to.

Thank you all for the letters of motivation. I think I was getting complacent having been here for so long, but this week has sure jump started my excitement and motivation again. It's nice to know you guys still think of me and are rooting for me. I'm about to go over the hump (my year mark), now the time's gonna fly! Gotta hop to it!

Elder Mattiaccio

Venezuela, Zona Nimajuyu, Guatemala Sur

Slow Week - Week 51

This week was a bit slow. We´ve been working hard to help our investigators progress and find new investigators. We have been going out to visit with Josue recently and he has been doing a bit better. He had been having problems with his family because he´s still living in his mom's house. We´re trying to motivate him to finish his schooling and look for a job so he can have a bit more independence. Also, him coming out with us seems to help.

Last week we had divisions and I was able to go with Elder Chiquillo. He's from El Salvador, he's really cool, a bit timid but cool. We went into this neighborhood where the lady that we pay to make our dinner lives and started knocking on doors. There's a dog named Wanda and she always sits under this car and barks at the missionaries. We went by every night to pick up our dinner and she had finally gotten used to us and had stopped barking at me and Elder Lazcares. I hadn't come back with my new companion, so when we went by her with Elder Chiquillo, she started barking at me and came at me, I had to jump up on a car. I guess she didn't like that I was bringing a new visitor. I was ok, but it sure startled me.

On Sunday we took a cake to church to thank the Ward Council for all the work they have done in motivating their members. They were all really grateful. They´ve been showing more work and the youth are even asking to go out with us. We hope to see the results in this week.

Earlier this week, my companion and I found the Garden of Eden! Hoping that means we're on the right track and will find lots of new investigators.

Sorry, that's all I have time for. I'll repent and do write a better letter next week.

Love you all! Thank you for your letters!

Elder Mattiaccio

Venezuela, Zona Nimajuyu, 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

The Best Two Weeks and Conference - Week 49

These last two weeks have been super good. My new companion are working so well. In this last week we found 2 families that are really pilas. One was just a contact Elder Byrd had that said we could come back another day. Normally, when people say that they´re just getting rid of us but we are persistant and always come back ;P Anyway, We came back and they let us in. It was weird because it was in an area we hadn´t really worked in and almost all the houses have intercom doorbells. They came down and let us in and lead us up to the third floor. We came in and started the lesson. When we gave the baptismal invitation the brother, Giovanni, related us his story. He had had an awesome conversion story from atheism a couple years ago. He knew the spirit worked that in his life and is really excited to read The Book of Mormon and feel the same thing. They weren´t able to go to conference for some family issues that came up last minute but they were excited. Maybe we´re going to give them the link so they can watch it online.

Conference was really good. The themes seemed to be: Sharing the gospel, Repentance, and Love. My favorite talks were Pres. Russell M. Nelson on Joy, Elder Peter F. Meurs on The Sacrament, and Elder Dallin H. Oaks on Member Missionary Work. It´s always interesting to see the things the brethren are worried about in the church. I was sad to see Pres. Monson talk so little. I pray for him and his health. I worry that he´s not going to be the Prophet when I come back.

During conference we had a miracle. We were going to start eating when Elder Balam came in almost frantic that we needed to come with him to meet someone. I thought he was just joking and was going to steal our food but when we were walking in the hall he started telling me about an investigator that they found from our area that they just put a fecha with. I couldn´t believe it. I didn´t believe it... up until we entered the room. There she was with her boyfriend with a table in between them and the missionaries. She said she came and when they gave the tour of the chapel she wanted to be a part of this. Apparently, before they even started she asked if she could be baptized! What a miracle! It seems here that just when we need it, miracle investigators just come out of the woodwork.

 

This week is changes again. Elder Byrd is going back to El Cerinal with Elder Lascarez and I'm going to be receiving Elder Campos from Chile. He just finished his training. I´m kind of sad that Elder Byrd is going. We were getting along so well. But I know the Lord is putting me with the people that are going to help me grow the most.

Until next time,
  

Elder Mattiaccio

Venezuela, Zona Nimajuyu, Guatemala Sur

Bodibautismo & Emergency Changes - Week 47 and 48

Sorry guys for not sending a letter last week. A lot of things happened last P-day that made it difficult to write and then we just gave up. Here´s what I was able to get out:

As you guys may know, this week we had a wedding (boda) and baptisms (bautismos). Ricardo Guerra married Kenia Cervantes on the 17th of September, 2016! The entire week we were making plans and making sure everything was going to run smooth. It was really cool to see the ward come together in helping plan the wedding. Each organization offered something for the wedding. The Relief Society got the dress and provided the food, the Elders Quorum provided the entertainment (Hno Roldán has a discotek and is a DJ in his spare time!), The Young Men and Young Women helped decorate. It was soo awesome. The day comes, we brought the sound equipment over and set that up, filled the font. Everyone arrives. The bride got her hair and makeup did up nice and purty, we lent a suit to the groom. There were flowers. We were all ready to go.... all except for the lawyer. The wedding was supposed to start at 3. We figured with chapín time (it's like Mormon standard time but worse) we´d be starting at 3:30 but we called the lawyer to see where he was and he didn´t answer. We called a bunch and nothing. We ended up having to call the missionaries in the area to go to his house and see what was up. They got there and he said he wasn´t ready. He told us we would have to wait. Well, we did have to wait. 2 HOURS! I was so nervous. More nervous than the bride and groom! He finally arrived and we started the service. I tried recording everything but didn´t have space enough in my camera to record the grand talks of the lawyer and our bishop. Those set us even further behind. And none of it would have mattered if I hadn´t invited President. He had promised the family that he would come so he came. He arrived and the witnesses (I was one of the many) had just finished signing the papers. They quickly had their first dance and then went to change into their baptismal clothing. We had a few hiccups with the baptism too. Elder Nelson baptized Kenia and Ricardo. But Kenia kept letting go of his arm and would throw her hand out of the water. So he had to redo it a total of 3 times. We also didn´t bring the baptismal records because it had been raining a lot so we didn´t want to have them get ruined. But President asked to see them and we didn´t have them.... He was a bit frustrated with that. We had the baptism and then President left. Then we had the after party. It was really fun to see all the people dancing and come together for the wedding. They got confirmed the next day and continue to progress. 

A bit of news for this week. We had Emergency Changes. President called us Tuesday morning at 6:30 and told Elder Lascarez to pack his bags. We didn´t know what was going on but the secretaries said there´d be a taxi at 11 to take us to the mission office. We go and had interviews with President Caffaro then we came out and found out that we were exchanging companions. So now I'm with Elder Byrd. He´s from Eagle Mountain and has 6 months in the mission. He´s a Junior Companion still so I'm basically in charge and responsible for the area. He´s pretty good though. His Spanish is a bit shaky but I feel we´re going to get along well this last week of the change. I´m not sure if I´m going to have changes this coming Tuesday... I sure hope not. I really like it here. President told me he didn´t know if I'd have changes or not but that I should teach Elder Byrd the area just in case... So. Changes: TBD.

Having a different companion kind of through me off. Even though he´s really good and we can speak English, the emergency changes threw me off my groove. I´m hoping this week is a lot better.

We did find a new family though. Their names are Jony and Ilse. They both work at FedEx and know how to speak English! They offered to have the lessons in English but to be honest, I'm not sure I'd be able to teach the same in English. Now that I have an English speaking comp I am practicing a lot more. Also, all of our materials are in Spanish. I´ve been trying to see if I could get some pamphlets in English just in case. 

We had our Multi Zone Conference this week. This conference was special though. We had the special guest of Elder Ochoa, the 1st Counselor in the Area Presidency. He did an impromptu demonstration with President Caffaro about how a first lesson should go and I felt the spirit soo much. It was awe inspiring to see two leaders, two special witnesses of Christ and how they would do what we do. It inspired me to be more spiritual in my lessons and talk less casaca (small talk). Be direct and straight to the point that way the people know why were here: to teach them the Restored Gospel and help them make changes in their lives and covenants with our Heavenly Father.

Just yesterday I was over at the Bishop´s house and his wife showed me how to make pupusas. It's basically a tortilla with cheese, beans, and chicharron (pork) stuffed inside. There's a video included of her making them, then me. They turned out really good. Even better than the ones I had in Mita. That´s something I miss. Because we´re inside of the capital, Pupusas are super expensive. Q8 each where in Mita they were Q4 each. Scan QR codes to see videos.

                                  

Elder Mattiaccio

Venezuela, Zona Nimajuyu, Guatemala Sur

A Wedding and A Baptism - Week 46

Hello everyone,

This week we´ve been working really hard to prepare the Guerra Family for baptism. Because the oldest son, Ricardo, and his girlfriend, Kenia, are living together, we had to plan a wedding too. When we told the ward, they just ate it up. The elders are going to provide the music, the Relief Society food and the dress, Young Women are gonna decorate. The Young Men didn't commit to anything. Maybe they'll help decorate. And we got a lawyer so they can get married for free. So we´re gonna have a wedding then a baptism this Saturday!!!!

My first family that I'm going to baptize!! If we baptize families, we can accompany them when they go to get sealed! Because you have to wait a year after being baptized to be able to be sealed in the temple, the first year of the mission is crucial for finding families. I have a couple months to find more families but the time is running short.

The torrential downpours are beginning again... I found that the protective cover I have for my bag doesn´t help against floods. One day, we almost literally had to swim back to the house. I would've taken videos or pics but I didn´t want to ruin my camera let alone open my bag. But really though. When it rains here, the streets turn into a raging river. There were tons of flooding and the traffic was horrible. Some of our appointments fell because of the rain. It was critical. We live on the second floor so we were safe but there was a lot of damage throughout the city. A wall of an apartment complex fell. I don't think anyone was hurt but we were passing by when the city was cleaning it up. 

September 15th is the Independence day for all Central America. But here it's more than just that day. It's basically the entire month. There are parades, people run from the city carrying torches to their individual communities. the traditions here are pretty cool and colorful!

Well, that's all. This week will be focusing on preparations for the baptism and wedding.

Elder Mattiaccio

Venezuela, Zona Nimajuyu, Guatemala Sur