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  

Week 5 MTC - Final Week

Sister Ramos served with Courtney in the Mexico City Chalco Mission & now teaches at the Guatemala MTC.

Some excerpts from Dallin from this past week !! If you have a chance, I am sure he would love to hear from you as he leaves the MTC.  He is definitely nervous about it ... understandably.  Thank you for all your support !!  We appreciate it !!

1. The language is going pretty well.  My teacher said I am doing really well and I should be able to speak and understand within a month or so.  I can pretty much talk to most latinos (except dominicans who talk 10000 mph) and understand what they are saying.

2.  Last week was the usual bomb p-day.  We played ball for over an hour but it just got too hot.  The rest of the day we just studied and relaxed.  

3.  I have felt super nervous this week about leaving the MTC.  It shows because I my stomach hasn't felt well at all and the bathroom and I have been best friends at times hahaha.  I am fine, though.  

4.  I heard a talk by Elder Bednar, where he bore his testimony that we could do this, and that spoke pretty strongly to me.  We also heard a devotional by Elder Ballard where he told us to think of what Joseph Smith went through in Liberty Jail and to stop feeling sorry for yourself (my paraphrasing).  I need to get rid of my fear and have more faith.

5.  My progress can not even be fathomed, honestly.  Before I got here, I thought I knew quite a bit about the Gospel and Spanish (I knew a fair amount) but I wasn't even close !!  After these weeks here, my testimony has become stronger where it practically didn't exist in some ways.  I came here on faith, and the Lord has blessed me because of it.  I feel like I have also been blessed with the gift of tongues, and I can communicate pretty well in Spanish in 5 weeks.  It's sometimes just a matter of putting your foot over the line and having faith that our Heavenly Father will help you past the first step. 

6.  I leave at 2 am on Tuesday and fly to San Pedro Sula.

7.  My goal is to strive to be a great missionary and I will love the people and my companions.  As for my legacy, I want to be a missionary that works hard and puts forth all my effort and leaves no regrets like Carlan, Court and others.  The stories that Bishop Jones shared with me have really stuck with me.

8.  I love to hear from all of you.  Sometimes, it gets lonely.  Pictures and emails are welcome.  Don't worry though, I am doing well.  Please tell everyone HI for me, especially Sister Brandt !!  I love you all.

9.  See you all next week from SAN PEDRO SULA HONDURAS !!!!!!!!!!

Love, Elder Cox

Week 4 The MTC Continued

I only have 15 minutes, so I will say as much as I can !!  I love you !!

The "old" guys (fellow Elders with a whopping three more weeks of experience than Dallin) left last Tuesday.  We were pretty bummed.  It's been weird this last week without them.  We have already planned a post mission party with them so that's good !!  We are the veterans now, teaching the young kids what to do.

We left the CCM at 8 am that same morning and headed to downtown Guatemala City.  We rode a bus to the market, where they sold a bunch of handmade goods.   I bought an awesome sweater and a hacky sack.  Both really cheap of course. 

We went to the plaza and gave out copies of the Book of Mormon to people  We gave out the 2 copies that we had in 25 minutes.  We actually received 1 referral. 

One guy from the US cussed us out and was pretty mad.  We just ignored the guy and kept going. 

We were able to go to Wendy's.  It was pretty much a taste of heaven even though Wendy's here has breakfast and the meat and meals are a bit different.

We also went to this massive Catholic church (biggest in Guatemala City) and looked around.  It seemed that there was a lot of focus on Christ's death instead of his life.  It was a sad feeling.

That night, President Duncan came to talk to us. He is the President over Central America for the church.  He and his wife are awesome.  I was able to shake their hands.

The newbies arrived the next day, we got 3 in our room.  Half of them didn't show up until the following day because all the guys from Salt Lake City had no pilot show up.  They had to go down to the Provo MTC, spend then night, and then come the next day.  Elder Roscus, Elder Giles, and Elder Horning are our new roomies.  One is from AZ, other 2 from UT. 

Strange facts ... I have been missing music the last week or two.  Also, I have also noticed that we are really good at teaching women but not quite as good at teaching men.  

We fasted for 24 hours this last week.  Everyone in the CCM has had constipation and the runs so the lines to the baños have been miles long.  I have been handling my issues well and it hasn't affected me much.

It was a long week this week because of transfers.  I really didn't have a ton of time to write everything.  

I want to thank everyone for their emails, they always mean a lot. 

I hope all is well with all of you in the States.  The first month has gone really fast.

I have been feeling the Spirit strongly, especially in the temple.

I have missed all of you, especially Carter.  I think about him a lot.  I love all of you a lot.

Thank you for your examples.  

Love, Elder Cox