Week 10: Machete Lawn Mowin'

 I don't have a ton of time to write so I will do my best.

My studies have been really cool. I felt a powerful feeling and testimony of Jesus Christ as I was reading the Bible this last week. It was awesome and His teachings are so profound and true. 

For pday today, we just went and played basketball at the banque for a few hours and then came back to write. It takes a lot more time to write now because there is a rule that we can only write in churches.  There is only 1 computer here, and 4 people. 

We have 13 people committed to baptisms this upcoming month so we are super excited. They are all really awesome and the type of members that are strong and will be after we leave the area. 

God's commandments are important.  The law of chastity in marriage is a big challenge and it is hard to see. 

This last week, we were in a lesson with a lady that had not been to church in 20 years.  All of the sudden, these people burst into the room and interrupted our lesson.  A bunch of ladies started putting oil on their hands, and then proceeded to give this lady a "blessing" where they screaming at her.  It made no sense, but we tried to respect them.   

We also went and chopeared for the first time this week (mowing lawns with machetes) and now my hands are covered with blisters. Good times.

The power has gone out a lot this week, as it has poured rain.  It stinks not having power because without our fans it is sooooo hot.  We still hear gunshots every day as well but its pretty normal.

My language is still getting better., I can speak with anyone but I still have a hard time understanding people because they speak so fast.

Hope all is well with you.  Enjoy the cooler weather.  Love you all!

Love,

Elder Cox

Week 9 - Under the Weather

Hello to Everyone - Sorry this is so short !!

Elder Alonzo came to our mission.  He talked with us about putting forth our best effort.  President Bush also spoke with us and it was really cool and uplfiting.  We committed many to baptism this week !!  Many of them are great and we hope they follow through with baptism.  We had a interesting experience this week where we encountered people worshiping the adversary.  We stayed far away.

It has been really hot here.  We are hoping to go to San Pedro to enjoy some American food.  We played football (not futbol) this morning and it was fun. 

Emotionally and spiritually, I am doing well.  However, physically, I have not felt well.  I was super sick with stomach issues. It was super rough.  We had to cancel our appointments on Thursday night and we didn't go out on Friday, either.  We did go out on Saturday, but I didn't feel well.  We went out because it is hard to stay in all day.

Language is good. Still a slow process, but I feel like I could talk to Court more or less.  

I love you all.  Thank you for writing me.  Have a good week.  Again, sorry so short.

Love,

Elder Cox

Week 8 - Short Week ...

I just wrote on Monday, but we found out on Tuesday that our PDay would be moved to Friday rather than next Monday as usual because we have a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy (Elder Alonzo) coming to meet with us on Monday and Tuesday.

This week has been good.  We had a couple of investigators come who are super pilas (awesome investigators) who are basically ready to get baptized after the first two lessons.  Also, we are teaching a family that is awesome and the only thing holding them back is matrimonio.  They read the Book of Mormon like crazy, come to church, and do everything.  We are going to try to have a venta and sell baleadas to help them raise money.  We have lost a couple of investigators this last week though and it was tough.

A bunch of girls whistled and blew kisses at us.  It's kind of funny.  We don't respond.  Supposedly, they do it even more in the city.

For fun for our pday today, we played ball today with our zona this morning and just relaxed at the house here in Dos Caminos with them.  It was fun.  I like the food in Honduras but miss the food at home.  I am really excited for the BYU game tomorrow.  I am hoping BYU does not win for many reasons.  One of which is that everyone else in my house roots for BYU except me.

I don't have much time to write because Elder Reeve isn't feeling well today and we need to get him back to the house.   I will try to send more when I write a week from Monday.  If you have questions for me, let me know !!  Hasta luego !!!!!

Love, Elder Cox

Week 7 - Getting Settled...

This past week went well but being on a mission is definitely hard.  This week, we were able to baptize 2 women that I spoke about last week.  They are awesome and their names are Vilma and Belquis. The baptismal service had over 50 people.  Normally, 15-25 people attend the service. They bore their testimonies after the baptism and it was great.  

This Sunday, we were out and we were not sure where we needed to go.  We said a prayer and I felt like we needed to go contact a house nearby.  They were making tortillas and they invited us in and showed us how to make them.  The lady was an Evangelist.  She tried to prove to us that we didn't need to do baptisms and that God would pardon us if we weren't baptized in this life.  There were other people that were listening as well.  The Spirit told us exactly what to say.  It was a great conversation and we were guided by the Spirit.  We all enjoyed our time discussing the scriptures and it was nice to have a discussion without it being heated or uncomfortable.  We left them with pamphlets and our number.  Hopefully, we planted a seed in their hearts.    

Overall, this week went a little faster than the first here in Honduras.  They are long days but I am slowly getting a knack for understanding the Hondurenos !!  They speak 10,000 MPH !!  Sometimes, it is hard realizing that I am going to be here for two years.  Everyone tells me that time will fly and as I look back, it has gone fast.  I am just throwing myself into the work.  I will be in this area until at least December 28th.  I am excited to be here.  I have enjoyed the little things.

I could use some American candy.  Although there are many cool things here, stuff from the US is a pure luxury.  I will give you my birthday list haha !!  Today, we went down and checked out all the goods that were being sold in our area.  The stuff was a little expensive.  We just looked around.  We also went to Pizza Hut.  The pizza and cookie pizza were heavenly.   

A couple of thoughts.  We have to wash and iron our own clothes ... by hand ... with a bar of soap.  We have no time to exercise but we walk about 8 miles a day or so.  We still have ants, trying to get rid of them.  I really appreciate cold fridge water.  I miss it a lot.

I was able to meet with President Bush and Sister Bush this week.  They are great people and I really like them alot.  He interviewed me then we were able to talk for a little while.

My health overall is good.  Don't worry about me.  I am fine. I hope you have a great week.  Tell everyone thank you !!

Love, Elder Cox  

Week 6 - Arriving in Honduras ...

The last night in the MTC was tough.  Tough to say goodbye to all the amigos.  We had to get up at 2 am to fly to San Pedro.  We went from Guatemala City to San Salvador, then from there to San Pedro.  It is small airport here.  We got off the plane and President and Sister Bush, along with the assistants to the President were there to greet us.  It was cool to meet them and they personally greeted each of us.  As soon as I got off the plane, a part of me died b/c it is so stinkin' hot here.  It is the most hot and humid place on Earth.

We went from the airport and had interviews and meetings.  While the interviews were going on, we went out and taught.  I went with Elder Poulson and he is way awesome.  We (mostly him b/c I can't understand anyone yet) had a good time contacting people.  We went to the President's apartment afterward and had dinner.  He has a very nice apartment, really more like a house.  We spent the night at the missionary office.  We woke up in the morning and headed out with our companions to Dos Caminos.

There are 4 guys in our house in Dos Caminos.  My companion, Elder Dipko is from SLC.  He has been out seven months and speaks really good Spanish.  This is his first time training.  He is a great trainer.  The other 2 in our house are Elder Santos and Reeve.  I served with Elder Reeve in the MTC.  Elder Santos has been out a year and this is his first time training, too.  They are all great guys.  Dos Caminos is about 20 minutes outside of San Pedro Sula.  We have a good place to live.  We have running water but no hot water.  It is crazy cold water which isn't bad.  We have an ant problem so we are waiting for ant spray from the mission home.  It is hot !!  We have 15 fans pointed at us so that we can survive.  

We have 2 awesome investigators who will be baptized this upcoming week.  Both received answers to prayers through dreams.  I think that is so cool.  Everyone here is super nice and humble.  They live a different, hard life.  They live in very small board houses here.  We walk a ton here and drink alot of water.  The investigators are great to give us soda and food.  

Today, we played bball at the church.  They have outdoor courts (wish they were indoor).  We played with some guys from the ward and the missionaries.  After we played, we got cleaned up and went on a rapidito into town where we bought a backpack.  We also went to Johnny Rockets for lunch.  Loved the music.  Our area is massive and we have to take motos (taxi/motorcycles) sometimes on top of walking so much.

Our branch (ward) is like 100 people.  We had attendance last week of 125, which was great.  We had a ton of investigators come to church.  I spoke on Sunday in church.

I hope everyone is well !!  

Love, Elder Cox