Week 38: My Metzew is Cau

Hey!

The Polochic is seriously a completely different place. Once you are here you never want to leave. Only until youre done with the mission. Then you wanna come visit. :)

Beth Legua, dad, says you rock for trying out at the PD. Apparently she wants to be a cop.

Bapa showing up with so many groceries sure hit me. Made my eyes water a little bit. I sure do love him. I was thinking about all the memories that HE created for us as little kids. I'll never forget going on Easter morning treasure hunts and seeing santas boot prints in the carpet. Including the time when he showed up to 205 11th with his santa suit on just for his grandchildren.

Today for Pday we went and looked for a cave here in La Tinta. Apparently the people here worship stuff like that and were doing a ritual there so we sat and watched it. It was very strange. It was like the guy was talking to the rock impression. And then they lit lots of candles then sprinkled honey I think on it and some other liquid then burned something. I was at a lack of details so I really have no idea what he did. That's just what I saw. But the cave wasn't really a cave just a depression in the rocks with nothing fun. Then we went back and thats where I took that picture where I'm on a rock.

This last week my companion was sick for two days. Apparently his head hurt pretty bad so I hooked him up with some pain killers haha. Don't worry it was all legal- just advil. Even though I complain about little things the bigger picture is what matters. I have honestly been friends with every one of my companions. Like good friends. People that I can actually say ARE my friends.

Maggie. Man that takes me straight back to the office on main street. And nanna spanking that dog with rolled up paper and me always wondering what that could possibly do if it doesnt hurt.

Speaking of hurt. I had a dream about Kelsie Hert. She has been writing me. If you have a way to contact her please apologize for my lack of responses. She's a good friend.

This last week I made toys for the little kids that live behind the church. I made little helicopters out of pop cans. They enjoyed it a ton! I just cut the can into a strip, folded it in half, taped a rock to it and folded the two "rotors" so it would spin as it fell. They were cool and the little kids enjoyed them. And no they didnt cut themselves. I cut the edges off.

Just so you know-everyone-dont ever say you cant. Unless you are physically unable. I dont wanna complain about anyone but just keep that in mind.

Yesterday, the old man I was telling you about (old man is cawachin in Qeqchi) bore his testimony in church. Qeqchis dont cry. But he did. It was very powerful and provided a great example for his young son in law. Who, btw, don't know if I already told you or not, has a baptismal date set for the 30 of this month. As for the other baptism-I have mixed feelings. She has to get married before she can be baptized which she wants to do. I'm all for helping them get all their paperwork done and everything. But yesterday, her husband came home drunk, hit her, and burned her corte, or her skirt which is very expensive. And she is a very special lady-very humble, very quiet, and idk....bashful maybe? It makes my heart ache to see someone who is doing the best she can to be a daughter of God be held back by somebody elses free agency. Her husband is a member by the way. We're going to have to teach a powerful lesson this next week.

The Qeqchis, when they harvest corn, put it in big bags that are probably four feet long. It takes three of them to lift one. But one of me. Haha- it's hilarious when I do it. They all freak out and say that my metzew is cau. That means they say I'm strong. It is funny.

Well internet is slow. I sent some pictures so thats why this message is a little short. The one with the waterfall is up in Actela. I was just finding a quiet place to study that was worthy of pictures.

Just so you know you guys are a peculiar people...

"It is peculiar to believe in and receive latter day revelation, to heal the sick, to raise the dead, to abstain from tea, coffee, tobacco, and liquor, to have visions, to pay one tenth of ones interest annually as tithing, to marry for eternity, to go on missions, to serve in the ministry without financial pay and so on through all the beliefs and practices of the true saints."

Bruce R. McKonkie. Mormon Doctrine. (Don't know if thats how you spell his name.)

I love you and miss you all. Hang in there.

Love,

ELDER TAY

Week 35: The Bomb, Peanut Butter and Actela

Weeeellllll Hidey Hoeee!

Howzitgoin?


Did you get your package with your boots yet??!!
Nope. I wont until I have Zone Conference again. That's the only time we get packages-so probably not for another month or so.

Bay wants to know if you threw up again this week? (We'll have to de-worm you when you get home!!)
No I didnt throw up. I've only thrown up twice-the second time was cuz of too much excercise. It was the first day in a long time haha.

Can you get peanut butter? Where?
The closest place is Coban. I can't get it until I go there again. Maybe I'll save money and buy a huge tub of it. For now I gotta wait.

Do you still have the medicines you need or do you need any? (Advil, Tylenol, etc) We are planning a birthday package and need to know "need" items in addition to the fun things. :)
Mmmm well like what? What do you think I need?

Did you ever get the CD Nana sent? How about the Seminary Package Angelle sent? If you did, remember to send a quick thank you note through me-email is fine. It would be nice to pass along! How about the Young Womens care package?
Yes I did! Thank you so much! Those are very welcome packages! I got every one of them!! Please send my thanks to everyone.

How are your shoes/clothes/garments holding up?
All pretty well dont need anything yet.

Where do you want to go after Santo Domingo?
Anywhere really. I absolutely love the mountains so I hope somewhere with mountains. But hot water too. Maybe Senahu would be cool but I wanna stay close to chicr buds.(pronouned cheeker).

Could the "good cow" have caused the sickness this last week?
Nope. That just released lots of endorphins (haha) and btw you wont have to detoxinate me when I get back. Before we leave they give us a pill that, by the missionaries, is nicknamed "the bomb". That name pretty much explains itself. But apparently it kills everything including the person taking it for a few days.

How are the lessons feeling this week in Qeqchi? Better? It feels better when I pray about it. :)
Yes. In Actela (the town where we went-we didnt go to the other: Secuachil cuz we didnt have time) but in Actela we found two investigators that we taught in Spanish. They are very pilas as we say in Spanish-or very good investigators. We will see what happens with them. One is named Elias and the other is named Arturo Tut (pronounced toot) which leads me to my next topic. The other day I was teaching English and someone threw a fart (thats translated from Spanish). Well everyone started laughing. So in humor of the situation I gave them the verb translation for besar or to kiss-because kiss in Qeqchi is fart. They got a good laugh outta that one.

Do you know you are so special?
In a good way or a bad one?

Favorite scripture this week?
Jeremiah 33:3.

Well I gotta letter from Grandma Doman again. She is a very sweet old lady. I will reply next week to her.

My companion says my Spanish is perfect. I thought that was strange cuz I am very white. As seen in the photo of my tan line.

Well dont worry. Not much has happened this week. The language is progressing. I can express myself more or less but the conjugations are hard to handle. I'm working hard. And due to the pictures I'm sending it slowed the comp down alot. Just know that I love and miss each and everyone of you. I'm healthy and well and learning a ton! How is work going by the way? How's dads new job? Keep me posted. Say hi to Kacy for me.

Love you!

Elder Tay :)

PS. The waterfall is in Actela this last week. The bridge is Puente Viejo in La Tinta. The mountian one with the valley behind is in my area. And the moustaches are in my area too haha. Spanish-bigote. Qeqchi-mach.

Week 34: An Honest Mistake and Good Cow

Hi Family!

Questions First,

Did you do anything special this week?
People needed lots of blessings. We blessed a lady that was throwing up alot. Does that count?

Did you have a baptism? New investigators?
Neither. Majun. It's slow-but we have baptismal dates!
How was the lesson with the preacher guy?
He didnt show. :(

Did you go to any new cities or villages this last week?
Nope. But this week we are going to a place called Sacuachil. I think thats what its called. It's like three hours away and we've already been there once.

Have you spoken in church yet?
No way Jose.

How are things going with the Branch President? How did the pancakes turn out? Did they like them?
They turned out very well! Kinda surprised me as they were made over an open fire. We used our nonstick pan though which was pretty cool haha.

What would you say is the best part of serving a mission?
All of it!

If you had to give advice to the young men in our ward, what would it be?
Go on a mission or Elder Larsen will kick your butt.
Haha nah, take a language class in school and dont sleep in Seminary. Learning about the Gospel is one of the most precious experiences and bits of knowledge that anyone can take with them.

Was there a particular challenge this week that you would like to share?
Nothin really-It's all a challenge right now.

What was the best part of the week? The funniest part?
hahahahahahah, Well for the full account see Lindseys email. I jumped for that camera! The best part is that I grabbed it! Pure centerfielder. Also, my companion is a little crazy. He likes to mess around with the kids here and the other day he started yelling and chasing some kids with a bamboo stick to scare them and play with them. They were enjoying it too so it was all in good fun. But he just takes off after this kid and he gets like 75 yards away and on top of a hill and curve where on the other side the trail disappears. well he gets to the turn and just wipes out and goes tumbling off the side. It was absolutely hilarious. I was laughing so hard.

What has been on your mind the most this week that we can help with in our prayers?
Pablo. He told us members from another church came and visited him and now He's going to that church.

Do you remember every day we love you?
Yesm. And do you remember likewise?

Favorite scripture this week?
It's actually a quote from James E. Talmage. It goes like this, (talking about God):
"No mortal can approach Him while contemplating His perfections and might with aught but awe and reverence; regarding Him only as Creator and God, we are abashed in thought of Him, but he has given us the right to approach Him as His children and to call upon Him by the name of Father."

How is the language this week?
Tough. But it's getting there. My comp knows more words but I know more grammar rules and can actually pronounce the words. I probably wont be with him too much longer. Sometimes I say really dumb things. Like last week a woman was talking about her grandchild or something that died and me not understanding and only talking about how they said they had been sealed in the temple, I said chaabil. Which is like "good" or "cool". She kinda looked at me weird. But oh well. That happens and I dont know how to excuse myself. I just hope she has enough faith to understand it was an honest mistake. :/

Well not a very eventful week. Just the same old same old. We put a baptismal date with a woman named Imelda. Dont know how old she is but shes gonna get married the 30of March and thats when shell get baptized. Her husband is already a member. We just reactivated him.

The Qeqchis have books talking about the roles and responsibilities of the men and women. haha It was hilarious but I feel sorry for the people here. It says that when the man goes to town to work the woman has to stay home pregnant! My companion and I laughed about that one pretty good haha.

Well its way hot here right now. This week was good. I threw up once for some reason and had a diarrhea attack. hahaha But other than that, it was fine. I still have vitamins and am taking them. I need to figure out how to gain good muscle weight though. It's hard to find good things to eat here but we bought good cow meat the other day and the branch presidents wife cooked it for us. Yummy in the tummy!

That cracks me up about dad. What a beast! I wish I was there to see that hahaha. I cracked up and shared it with Elder Legua. haha. He laughed too.

I love you! And miss you all!

Love,

Elder Tay