"Angelitos"

It was so much fun to go to the temple and have a baptism and I had to take tons of pictures to remember it all and share it with you guys :) 

This is another gringo!  His name is Elder Brubaker and he was born in Hawaii but doesn´t remember it cause he was a baby... So he just says he´s from Arizona. He´s super fun and we always get together because we enjoy speaking some English together haha! The temple is beautiful and it was so much fun to be able to go back.

 
Here are pictures of our baptism.  His mother is the younger one with another baby on the way and that´s his grandmother... She doesn´t really receive us but she supports him and that´s what´s important. He loved dressing up in white though and told me that we both looked like "angelitos" and it was super fun. 

We played some Foosball in the Taco Bell that´s right next to the temple and had a little mini party. It was super fun too. This week has just been super fun!  My companion is still a little shy but likes to joke around with me which is fun. We work hard and we have been seeing lots of success in the area which is so awesome.

The Spanish language is coming right along. I finally feel like I have quite the hold on the language. I can express myself and ask questions and everything and I feel pretty comfortable with the language but I still say my personal prayers in English...that´s like the only opportunity I have to speak English :)

The truth is this area is pretty crazy....we leave everything behind in the house but we leave with faith! I´m truly grateful for your prayers and know that they are giving me strength and support every single day.

Love you all!

Elder Lott

"Que bonita sus ojos"

This week has been honestly just fantastic! We had a baptism Saturday. We baptized a little nine year-old that just loves me because I´m white and have blue eyes. He always tells me how bright and beautiful they are... "Que bonita sus ojos" he tells me haha! In fact, he even asked me if I would baptize him!! It was such a neat experience. We got all dressed in white and it was so fun to walk down into the font with him with his wide eyes looking up at me with pure excitement. (the water was freezing cold by the way and that was a little bit of a shock for me but it was worse for the little guy cause he had to get dunked ;) and then today.... WE GOT TO GO TO THE TEMPLE!!!! It was so amazing!!! I miss it so much!!

I’m still a little bit sick but mostly just like runny nose from the cold and stuff and sometimes I have a little cough but I´m drinking more water and taking my vitamins and I´m getting rid of it so that´s not a big problem. My testimony is growing like crazy. Every single day it is strengthened. It´s crazy how our testimony really is like a muscle and when we exercise that muscle it grows. When I´m out testifying of the truthfulness of this gospel every day, wow it has grown tremendously! I´m on a spiritual high…the baptism and the temple have just been the best. Definitely the highlight of this transfer has been this week!

Look!  I´m eating something that maybe you guys are eating ;) It´s not quite as cheap but it is a little piece of home and it is so worth it hahaha :) There are a lot of food places here in the city that are places like we have at home so that´s fun!

This Jenga picture comes from our meeting at our District Leader´s house for Pday.  We played Jenga and Uno and stuff as a district and it was super fun. This is my new companion.

I will be sending some pictures of our baptism but the truth is that it´s kind of hard to take the camera out of the house because.....it´s a tad bit unsafe... I actually don´t carry much besides my scriptures hahaha ;)  We have been able to bring some of the Priests along on some of our visits and it has been fun to think that just a short time ago I was one of these Priests... They seem so little though!

Everything is so crazy and so busy but that´s a good thing right? I think that´s all I got for today..... There´s probably something more but I can never remember it all... I need to start writing it down.

With love,

Elder Lott

Getting Better :)

My cold is finally getting better. I don´t know that it helps that I have to wake up and take a freezing cold shower when I’m already freezing cold in the morning..... I think it´s kind of hard for my body to stay healthy but I´m finally feeling tons and tons better. I think I had something else though because I actually was having pain in my neck and my lower spine as well as some crazy headaches but I´m actually feeling tons better. I think I have finally gotten rid of it :)

The truth is.... Not much to protect me from the mosquitoes.... During the night we run around in sweaters and my whole body is protected... I think the only time that they could get me is when I´m sleeping at night but I can´t do much there. I try to sleep with everything but my face covered but I don´t know how I move or what I do in the night haha! Nah I´m not experiencing anything from the mosquito virus. I´m completely healed and the Lord is taking good care of me :) 

The apartment is TONS bigger than the Zacapa closet. I feel like I´m living in a mansion after that haha! We have a member that does our laundry and she uses a laundry machine actually.  She lives super close so we are able to drop clothes off and pick clothes up pretty freely and it´s super nice.

The members here are super awesome! They are super loving and accepted me in as part of the family super quick. They all love that I´m a white boy with blue eyes. Every single person here loves the eyes haha it´s a secret weapon I guess ;) We are often invited to eat which is super nice and there are several members here that can join us on our visits. It´s super different than Zacapa but this is one of the positive differences right? ;) 

I think we might be having a baptism this Saturday.... It´s a little unsure though so we´ll see.

Love,

Elder Lott

Something like that...

My new area is super different…the exact opposite really! It is freezing cold in the night, and I wear two layers of clothes to go to bed.  I wear a sweater every single day to contact and be out on the streets. I can´t tell if I like the cold or the hot better.... I´m actually enjoying the cold a little bit... I like putting on a sweater. (He always did like to dress up in a sweater!)

The ward is tons bigger and the members are super friendly and nice. We have already been invited to dinner like 3 times and we have an appointment to attend a FHE this Monday which is super different than Zacapa! So the ward is different!! The area is kind of small with lots of little streets and sub-streets and it´s super confusing but I´m learning little by little. We have like 10 baptismal dates and we are working harder than ever!

My companion is Elder Figueroa who was Elder Vasquez´ companion in the CCM so he only has like 3 almost 4 months in the mission so that´s kind of fun and he´s super fun. He´s warming up to me because I´ve shown him that I´m a jokester but I can work hard.  Elder Figueroa is from Honduras. He´s 19 as well but he´s super funny. He´s one of those shy people that you kind of have to pry open little by little but we´re getting along just great.  He speaks a little bit of English and has a strong desire to speak more so we try to speak as much of that as we can. Which reminds me…we had a lesson in English this week where I taught the whole lesson and it was kind of scary because I haven´t taught a lesson in English before haha!! The family works in a call center where they have to translate English to Spanish and Spanish to English like all day and they speak the two languages really well but they prefer English so they always asked the questions in English and I always responded and everything and it was crazy.

Oh also my new zone is super cool. There are like 4 or 5 people that are from the United States and they speak English.  We get to hang out in a group and it is SUPER nice to talk some English every now and then. I love it. There´s a big Hawaiian named Elder Nawahine and he´s super awesome. He´s so funny and we just clicked.  We enjoy laughing and talking about funny stories and stuff. There are 2 people that were in my zone in Zacapa but left before I did and now we´re reunited and that´s kind of fun too!

I´m babbling I think.... I don´t even know where to start I´m just so excited to talk to you guys!!  I haven´t asked permission to go back to Zacapa honestly... I think I will just ask for pictures unless Daniela specifically asks that I come back because I don´t know if I can go back.... It is super hard to make a change though. It´s crazy to think that I spent a fourth of my mission there and now I´m gone and I didn´t even realize how much time passed..... It was hard to say goodbye to the people in Zacapa but it was kind of exciting to enter a new area too.  There are some great people here that I love working with. Thank you for your prayers. I can feel the strengthening power that they give me.

In the Chapel where all the missionaries meet to go to their new zone I got to see Elder Fajardo as well as tons of other missionaries but it was super fun to see him because he just came up to me and gave me a big hug and told me how much he missed me and asked me how I was and everything. It was super fun to see him.

I´m in Zona 18 in a zone called La Alameda or I think Paraiso is more common....I´m not really sure. I will try to get some pictures for you guys because it´s super different. WAY different then Zacapa.... Maybe you can find it on google maps though or google earth or something haha ;)

Safe area.... Hmmmm.... Ya something like that ;) I know I´m in the Lord´s hands too and he´s protecting me every single day.

I don´t sweat even a drop and when it´s "hot" here to my companion I just smile and say I can´t wait till you serve in Zacapa hahaha ;) The lightweight blanket isn´t super warm but two pairs of socks and two layers of clothing does the trick and I sleep peacefully. There are lots of loud motorcycles and cars here though which is a little annoying but it´s alright. 

This picture is of our old zone in Zacapa! That was our last day together.

And these pictures are the ones of the Merkado (market) in Zacapa that I promised you! 

Oh and the fruit dish, the thing underneath is sweet and condensed milk yummmmy :)

All is well... I have a little cold that has been bugging me for quite some time but it´ll be gone before I know it.

The church is true and it changes lives. I love seeing the blessings and miracles that the Lord offers.

Love,

Elder Lott

Zona Alameda

We didn’t hear from Elder Lott yesterday.  We knew it was transfer week so we didn’t panic but received this short message this afternoon:

I´m sorry if I´ve caused stress and a little bit of worry.... To be honest.... I have been a little stressed and worried as well but now all is well. What happened is, I did indeed have transfers.... It was the craziest and most hectic day ever but I´m finally in my new zone with my new companion whose name is Elder Figueroa but I only have time to send a quick little letter saying that I´m alright and well.... You´ll have to save the questions for next week when I have a regular amount of time and can explain fully.... Don´t worry though I´m well and safe. Zona Alameda is where I’m at here in the capital.... Super different and I´ve already had to use a sweater because it´s nice and chilly here. The exact opposite of Zacapa hahaha!! More info next Monday…

Love,

Elder Lott

I am slightly familiar with Zona Alameda from the parent Facebook page…whenever missionaries go there, extra prayers are requested.  I know he’s in the Lord’s hands!

It's been a great week...

Yes, transfers are next week and I don´t know if it causes stress throughout the mission... I think only to the people that don´t want to be transferred... Because there are a couple of people in the zone that have been here for like 5 or 6 transfers and they are DYING to get out of here haha! However... I don´t want to leave one bit. We have been working with these two sisters, a 15 year old and a 10 year old and they are so close to being baptized but I don´t know if it will happen before the transfer.... We also have 2 or 3 others that are progressing and that we think could be baptized in the next transfer so I´m actually praying that I don´t get changed this transfer... But if I do... I´m hoping that I can ask the president for permission to come back and see the baptisms at least! 

Good news on our 14 year old... I think he will be getting baptized this Saturday!! Wow. Really we see so many miracles here in the mission and it is SO cool.

The most uplifting moment I had this last week was when the 10 year old that we have been working with wanted to have a minute alone with us without her grandma there... So she left the room for a second and the 10 year old told us that she doesn´t want to be baptized because she just doesn´t know if the church is true... At first we were both like oh no what do we do... But we were prompted by the spirit to testify of prayer. We talked to her about prayer and the role that it has in our conversion. That prayer is the only way that we can find the answers to those questions from our Father in Heaven who loves and cares about us. Her grandma told us several days later that she had found Daniela (the 10 year old) praying for quite some time.... Days after that... Daniela told us that she wants to be baptized... She also told me that she wants me to baptize her which is another reason why I don´t want to go... It was a super incredible experience! 

It makes me so happy that you guys continue your habit of going to the temple. I wish I would have taken more time to appreciate it because I miss the temple and the feelings that you feel inside. The closeness that you can feel with the spirit and the love of the Father inside his holy house.... like 6 months since I’ve been :( That´s awesome though. I know that as you keep going you will find strength to resist whatever temptations Satan will try throughout the week. Push Riley to do baptisms for the dead too... We have been learning a lot about the work for the dead and just how important it is. That those people in heaven are anxiously waiting and when we meet in heaven again after the resurrection they are going to thank us so much.

We have been playing soccer a lot here. I know Taylor Dixon would be loving it! We always invite some investigators from all the different areas and have a game or two and they´re actually super good haha it´s fun to play with them. Definitely kids that have played since they could walk!

As for red meat... No... Never... It scares me to even look at here because I know that it has been like recently killed... If somebody cooks it for us and sets it on the plate, I´ll eat it. I´ve learned not to ask what I´m eating... Did I tell you that I´ve eaten almost every single part of a chicken? In fact.... I think every single part... Kidneys, Heart, liver, pancreas, brain, oof... you name it... That´s exactly how I´ve learned not to ask what I´m eating hahaha!!

I got a package from the Relief Society with the tie and tons of little notes! It was super fun to read them all and wear the tie the next day and everything. Please tell everyone thank you!

It has been a great week full of hustle and bustle but all is well. We continue to work hard and find better methods and ways of teaching and I love it. I´m able to understand and talk more and more and I know that I´m being blessed tremendously. 

 

Con amor,

Elder Lott

It's a Tecomate...

How did we celebrate New Year’s here in Guatemala? Well we celebrated by knocking doors and not teaching any lessons because I think even the dogs were drunk here in Zacapa hahaha to be honest that day was a little hard but we made it! We talked and waited out the night until midnight to watch all the fireworks go off and then woke up at 6:30 again the next day to hit the streets. Still lots of drunks but a little better haha!

Do you like my hobo picture? That was our dinner and we threw it on a stick that we found and that is exactly what we thought we looked like--a couple of hobos! Too funny.... It´s true though it´s something like a gourd. Here it´s called a Tecomate. It looks like it´s heavy but it actually weighs nothing--only the water is heavy. It´s super cool and super interesting. The best thing about this water bottle is it keeps the water fresh for like a week! If you put cold water in it, you can leave it out in the sun for a week and it will stay cold and fresh. Wow! That is just what we needed for here in Zacapa! Where was this incredible creation 6 months ago? ;) I thought it was awesome though. I feel like a real Guatemalan or something haha! 

These pictures were taken while we were on divisions. I was with Elder Reed in his area which was exactly what I sent you...a huge forest jungle looking thing. We crossed rivers and everything over rocks and under trees and wow it was like I was in Narnia or Lord of the Rings or something! It was super cool and we had lots of fun. He´s from California so we got to talk English the whole time except when we were in lessons! That was super fun. 

One of the most spiritual experiences we had is when we were teaching a young 14 year old about the Restoration of the Gospel and we were explaining how it happened to Joseph Smith. We opened the little pamphlet to the picture of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ standing above Joseph Smith and we just allowed the spirit to testify to this little guy and wow. The spirit was incredible! After we bore our testimonies and left. We talked about it all the way home. I´m almost positive that little guy will be baptized shortly and it was fun to be there for that lesson. 

Most scary or interesting experience of the week…probably New Years with all of the drunk people. Some nice and friendly, others the exact opposite! Needless to say we didn´t take the bus that day... Too scary haha! We may have been yelled at a few times but nothing too crazy ;) The truth is, it was a fun day. I think the drunk people here have the gift of tongues or something because they are always trying to talk to me in English and some of them actually do a pretty decent job... I don´t know if it´s the alcohol or what hahaha!! 

We have recently had some trouble with people that are robbing the missionaries here in Guatemala. The ATMs that we are using with the church credit cards...somehow people have hacked into it and when you try to pull money it goes to another account. Yikes! It´s kind of a big problem and the mission is working overtime to solve it.  As for now.... me and Elder Vasquez and are sharing money and for now we´ll survive off of Pan y Agua (Bread and Water ;) It´s awesome though. I love all these missionary experiences!

Happy New Year! 
Love,

Elder Lott