changed to Villa Nueva

First, I have 2 scriptures for this week: D&C 122:9 "Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever." and Alma 7:23"And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive..

New food I have tried: Guatemalan tacos, instead of meat they have mashed potatoes inside and are covered with onions and tomato sauce.

I was changed to Villa Nueva in the capital. It´s a pretty place but more of a city. My companion is from Honduras, has 6 months in the mission, but is a fantastic missionary. She has been a member with her family for 5 years but their family has not had the opportunity to be sealed because there isn{t a temple in Honduras yet and they have to save up much money to go to the temple in Guate. It is hot here after being in the mountains but winter´s coming and soon it won´t be too bad with the rain. The place I am at is large, with 30 colonies.

(This area) appears to be a successful area. There are 2 planned baptisms for March 13 and we´ve found many new investigators just this week.

The night before the changes there were 2 main fun things we did in Comalapa. The first, we went to the store above us and I had written a testimony in a Book of Mormon. As we bought some things I put the Book of Mormon down and then ´´forgot it´´ as we left. The reason is because a young man that lives there appeared to believe our words as we testified to another person one night in the mini store so we decided to leave the Book of Mormon for him. I hope that he found it, though. The second thing we did was later. We bought a pie and I made a simple card and we took them to the house of a contact (the guy that works on the buses and always charges less to us because we´re missionaries) and doorbell ditched. It was super fun. 

This family we also visited Tuesday night and I left with them a copy of the photo we had taken. They gave me a present also. It is something that the women there use to keep their weaving things in place, but the one they gave me has ´recuerdos´ on it. I am going to have to send a pic of it. 

And bits from journal:

We have had about 18 lessons since Wednesday and have found 10 investigators (new ones that is). Every morning so far I´ve eaten oatmeal and a tablespoon of peanut butter. Although I am hungry earlier I always have the energy I need. I may be the most tired I´ve ever been but I feel happy and successful.

Also, the majority of the people here are very happy that I came and are very nice to us.

I haven´t forgotten kaqchikel yet.
Rinwetaman chi ri rochoch ri Jesucristo ri los Santos de los Ultimos Dias kitzij chuqa rinin tacoxela chin ri rukajol ri ajaw. Ri tzij ri Jesucristo kitzij.
Hermana Destinee Park

tuk

In five days it will be Destinee's HUMP DAY--she is half way there!

 This week is changes for Destinee's mission.  I told her that I predict that she will be changed to the coast,  This was her reply:

Yikes. I hope I don´t go to the coast. From cold to hot will not be fun. But I guess I should be used to it from living in Utah, but still I hope no. I am only worried about the changes because I feel that there is much more in Comalapa that I still have to do, but who knows but that I might return later on in my mission. I know that wherever I go is where I am needed. 

Well, last night I had a bad dream, one that bothered me, and you are going to laugh. In my dreams I was in the last 2 days of my mission and had to begin packing and preparing everything to return home. I didn´t want to return home and didn´t feel ready, but there I was about to return. I am glad there are only changes and not the end yet. I reach my hump in 5 days. (yep, on the 26th, Destinee is half way through with her mission.  It is all downhill from here for those of us at home who miss her)

 

For my hurts, they weren´t too bad. My ankle stopped hurting when Ï began to walk on it again, and beside that only my knees were scraped, but I cleaned them. (in reference to her fall last week)

At first all the people were shocked because there was a north american in Comalapa, but now I have met a good portion of the people, have friends in many places, and get to hear my name called out from tuks ``sister park!``` There is only one of the tuk drivers that calls me by my name as he passes, and another honks twice as he passes. We´ve contacted many of the drivers. Also, again this morning we took the bus for 9 am and the guy I had contacted who helps guide the bus gave us passage for less again. My companion has begun to realize that there are people in comalapa that want to hear us. 

Destinee's District

And from a journal entry:

February 15, 2011

We went to Guate for an activity of the hermanas with hermana Baldwin. We made scarves and ate taco salads. We returned(Hermana Perez and I) at 6. I experienced another adventure of buses because at Trebol we waited fro a bus to Comalapa. A bus arrived that had written Zaragoza and Comalapa but I had a feeling that we shouldn´t get on. ´´Well, that´s silly. That´s just a weird thought I have,´´ I thought. We asked the bus people if the bus goes to Comalapa and they told us yes, so we climbed on. Well, we rode for a long time and I paid the full ride to Comalapa, and then finally arrived in Chimal. Then the bus helper told us, ´´There´s a bus right there that will carry you to Comalapa.´´ After we got off I asked the man, ´´Porque nos mintió?´´ ´´Why did you lie to us?´´ Laughing but a little frustrated we entered the other bus and rode to Comalapa. This experience was made up for because while contacting and buying a light bulb, the lady selling gave us an extra light bulb for free.

view from Destinee's house

And some history of Destinee's current area, as told by her:

And now for the story of Comalapa (what I know of it) Part 1

Between 1950 and 1970 the first missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrived in the high, chilly mountains of a little town called San Juan Comalapa. Not many churches existed in this little town, but missionaries of other religions had introduced two main religions: Catholicism and Evangelicalism.

Notwithstanding the blooming providence of these religions, the Mormon missionaries, Elders as they were called, set to work to teach and serve the native kaqchikel-speaking people of Guatemala. With much work and a little time the elders began to find success and baptize families, or sometimes only individuals, into the church. Two fo these individuals, that to this day still reside in Comalapa, were two brothers, raised in the Catholic church, by the names of Victor and Macedonio Simon Cana. 

(This is all I have today. Stay in tune for the next part.)

Wow, look what came 8 hours later!

My District

Outside of our house

me proclaiming the gospel to the world

Hermana Perez proclaiming the gospel to the world

A Catholic church in Antigua

Well, our new investigators this week are a little old woman named Juana Mux that lives in the aldea Cajol, the wife of an investigator who wants to be baptized and learn more about the church. He doesn´t have a religion, but his wife, this new investigator, is a Jehovah´s witness. The third new investigator this week is named Cesar Argusto Xocoxil, whose wife died recently and has 6 daughters. As for future baptisms, I am sure there are many, but the most positive ones are Vicente, husband of the Jehovah´s witness, and the family Otzoy Cate, but they haven´t come to the church yet here in Comalapa. 

 

On Friday night we were returning from a visit with a less active member, and had brought Hermana Cony with us (grandma of Emmanuel). I stepped on a stone, twisted my ankle a bit and then fell. I couldn´t get back up because I was confused and my backpack kept me down, but many people ran to my rescue, including a young boy that tried helping me up and said, ´´levantese´´ (be raised). I worried Hermana Cony, but in the end I was more or less okay. 

 

Also this week we contacted more tuk drivers and I believe that by the end of my time in Comalapa, many of the tuk drivers will know me. Oh yeah, also we contacted at the house of a family that works with the buses, but they are always busy and we haven´t been able to find them, but today we entered the bus of this family and the young man I had contacted gave us the passage for less than normal. Instead of charging us 14 quetzales he only took the 10 and gave me back the 4. There are many good people in Comalapa although sometimes it is hard to find them. It helps me be more grateful. 

 

a tuk

 

 

Here is a journal entry.

February 11, 2011

This mornning we woke up at 4 AM. I did not rest well and I still hurt from falling last night. We left at about 5:15 to deliver shoes to the family Rodriguez to give to Luz, a less active, and part of a story of Comalapa that I will tell later. At quarter to 6 we left Comalapa on a bus to Chimal and then from Chimal at 6:20 on a bus to Antigua. The buses were packed and while heading to Antigua we were nearly outside of the bus with my companion on the second step and I on the first. I felt like was going to fly out of the bus on one of the turns.

 

In Antigua we met with the other missionaries of our zone and the future missionaries, studied, and then left to San Pedro to contact. 

 

After all this we returned to our area, tired and sore. I was at a point that I didn´t have much strength left because I had worn our my muscles on the packed buses and from contacting. Recently I've been more tired, ornery, and worried about the changes. Thinking on it I shouldn´t have fears because God always provides a way.

 

Well, beside this, next week are changes. And also, this week I forgot to mention, I plan to ask the family to who we are teaching english, if they are willing to let us teach them the discussions, but I am nervous a bit. Anyway, I love you much. Hope all goes well this week. Love desty

cost of travel in Guatemala

In the capital the buses are 1-2 quetzales, but here in the mountains it can range from 2- 12 quetzales depending on where we go. To go from chimal to comalapa it is 7 quetzales. To go from chimaltenango to El Tejar it is 2 quetzales. To go from zaragoza to Comalapa it is 5 quetzales. To go from Comalapa to the capital, guate, it is 12 quetzales. Quite a range.

Last week Destinee mentioned that she was going to be the nurse for the mountains.  I asked her what that involves since she has no medical background.  Her is her reply:

The mission nurse isn´t really a calling, it´s just a responsibility I have been given to help my companion get the medicine she needs and assure that what we get helps her, like finding rinofed plus and fiber from the pharmacy. Nothing too big, just taking care of my comp. 

I also asked her about her name in  kaqchikel from last weeks email.  Here is her reply:  

About the kaqchikel. K´astab´el means Park, but Rosa likes flowers and parks have flowers and trees and things that grow, so they gave me the name of Hermana Flower instead of Hermana Park.

Here is more from her email this week:

I am grateful that Kiana made me promise I would write each day because really it helps. It´s fun to look back on the experiences I have had when I am having a tough day.

Well, not much more has happened recently. This past week we contacted much and didn´t have too many people that we found, not much success. It was Emmanuel´s birthday Saturday so we bought him a tie and then went to the family Rodriguez to deliver papers that we had to give him. Then before leaving and after saying goodbye we told him that we didn´t forget about his birthday and gave him the present. It was fun.

Also, I believe I have told you about the four that we teach English to.... well that I teach English to. The oldest, Kenny, knows much English. So as his homework, I have started leaving paragraphs that he can translate. The last week I left a part from the hymn book. This week I left a paragraph from the Plan of Salvation lesson. In this way we can teach about the gospel and teach English. Basically everything has been just normal this week.

So, as nothing else really, I will leave my testimony.

I know that God is our Heavenly Father, that Jesus is the Christ and Redeemer of all those in the world. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true and complete church of Jesus Christ, with the same formation that existed in the primitive church. I testify that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ as a fourteen year old boy and spoke with them, and that he defended his testimony throughout his life. He translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God so that we can have additional guidance in this present time. I know we have a prophet on the earth today that guides us, and his name is Thomas S. Monson. In the name of Jesus Christ amen. 

I love you all. Tell everyone hi for me and to continually prepare themselves spiritually, and to share the gospel with others because it is a modern pearl of great price.

Love Desty

January 31st, 2011

Here in Guatemala, it is preferred that the people wear nicer clothes to show respect, but most people don't have those clothes. Many come in t-shirts and jeans because that is the nicest that they have. I know that God doesn't judge us on what we wear, but on the heart, just like it says in 1 Samuel, "For the Lord looketh not on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh upon the heart".  I have learned to be less judging, more loving, and more acceptable by living here. 

Well, this past week´s been interesting. My comp still is sick but we spoke to Hma Baldwin about it and I get to be nurse of the mountains, ha ha. We had a zone conference last week and I received my package. We contacted a lot last week, or at least it felt like it.

From a journal entry:

January 26, 2011

8 months in the mission. I don´t believe I have had a day during which so much bad luck has followed us, most of it not having anything tow do with teaching or contacting. Today we had a zone conference in Patzicia. We left early and on the first bus the man charged Hermana Perez 5 quetzales extra. Then on the 2nd bus for Patzicia they (the bus people) left us at the entrance and would not carry us to where we needed to go so we had to walk 15-20 minutes from the entrance to the chapel, and on the way saw a rainbow and a flattened carcass of a dog. The meeting felt long, our zone sang ´´Armies of Helaman and As sisters in Zion´´ in Spanish and English. During lunch the 2 zones sang Happy Birthday to me and 8 other missionaries. We had more meetings, one of them being within our zone, in which we practiced how to ask help from the bishop. During these practices one of the APs, Elder Montoya, poked his head out from the bench behind us and asked, ´´are you happy?´´ or ´´Está feliz?´´ 

 

After the meeting was over we received letters and packages. We returned in bus and the man charged Hma Perez 5 quetzales extra and when I called to stop so we could take another bus to Comalapa, the bus driver wasn´t listening. We passed the intersection and I kept calling to stop... they finally stopped about 10 minutes after our destination and we had to walk back. On the way, again the sight was beautiful... and then we saw another dead dog in the gutter. 

 

Well, finally the last bus didn´t have problems except it was really full, and the bus people were more polite than the others. So in the afternoon we visited Hermano Sitavi, Neri Cali, and Blanca and Jorge and family. When we were teaching Neri we began reviewing about the organization of the church, which may have put him under stress. Neri has epilepsy so when he gets excited or really nervous he has seizures. As we were teaching him his countenance changed in a matter of seconds and he appeared as though he was having a heart attack and about to fall on the ground. Me and Hermana Perez were afraid but instead of freaking out, I found myself saying in a steady, quiet voice, ´´Está bien, Hermano, está bien.´´ After what appeared to be a minute, he sat back up again and was again normal  but didn´t talk. I felt terrible that I had put that stress on him but am grateful to the Lord for guiding me to know what to do. 

 

It may appear that today was a day for hardships and experiences, and that maybe there wasn´t anything to learn but to have patience. However, I learned how to grow like a flower that´s surrounded by rocks. I have strong roots in what little soil I do have and although life moves stones nad pebbles on top of me, sometimes blocking out the sun, I keep pushing upward and keep striving. I guess then, that my name in kaqchikel is a good name for me. Literally translated it is k´astab´el, but Marcos and Rosa Cali gave me a name that they say best describes my last name: Kotzij. Kotzij means flower.

 

I know that notwithstanding the many trials we will have in our lives, God will always give us strength to pull through and continue. Our Heavenly Father loves us, Jesus Christ gave his time and live for us, and the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored through a prophet of God.

 

No birthday package, but had a great birthday anyway!

Okay, so first thing. I wanted to ask you if anyone knows a Ryan Scott that served his mission in Guatemala and baptized Lucy Curuchiche and her family? 

 

Monday after internet we ate lunch in El Tejar with all of the elders from our district. The cook for el Tejar always has a salsa made with chiles so the elders began to pass around this bowl, freaking out when someone took a scoop of the salsa to put on their food. The chiles in this salsa are small, round, and very spicy. When the bowl got to me, I put one scoop on my rice and the elders began freaking out, even moreso because I am a sister missionary. Then I put a second scoop on and they freaked out even more. To eat the chiles wasn´t too bad. They were spicy but I´ve had worse. The only thing it did to me, like all other chiles, was that I was full faster. 

 

Tuesday we cleaned, bought fruits and vegetables and lunch, and then returned to the house to rest. My comp rested and I painted. 

 

Okay, so of my bday, here´s the journal entry.

January 20, 2011

22 years old, happy birthday to me! I had a great birthday although I received few practical gifts. Half of the gifts I received from other sister missionaries I gave away (all of it was food) to other hungry missionaries, like my companion and Elder Romero. 

 

We traveled to Montufer for a meeting with the North mision, in which Elder Ballard spoke to us, as well as Elder and Sister Clark. Every missionary got to air shake hands with Elder Ballard because he didn´t have time to shake everyone´s hands individually. Some key notes:

1. Don´t waste any part of your mission.

2. Be an exceptional missionary.

3. Always be conscious of the worth of one soul.

4. Light a light that will never burn out. 

 

Later, as we arrived to Chimal, we were to meet a couple that were going to carry us back to Comalapa. As we waited for them to arrive we entered into a large devotional in the stake center. Bishop Burton was talking and then at the end of the devotional the choir sang the ¨As Sisters in Zion and Armies of Helaman medley,´´ which I love! Also, I had the chance, along with my companion and 6 elders that were there, to shake hands with Bishop Burton and Elder Martino.

 

My comp´s been sick almost every day this week so we haven´t made many visits. It´s so boring being in the house nearly all day, but at least I have much time to study. (Destinee's companion has had it tough.  If anyone speaks/writes Spanish and would like to write to a Hispanic Hermana, please let me know and I will give you the information) 

 

Well, time for the photos. I love you all and hope everyone is doing okay. Tell grandma and grandpa hi for me and that I pray for them, hope their health is good and thanks for all of the letters and cards. Hug buddy for me. And tell everyone else hi and if they aren´t members of the church to look it up because it is the true church. If it wasn´t I wouldn´t be here on a mission. Love you all,

Love Desty

 

These are the two paintings I´ve done on the mission. The one with the tree is not finished quite yet, but I painted the majority of it in about 2 hours the past pday.  

Another Christmas Picture

Happy birthday Hermana Park!

I haven´t received it (her birthday package) yet but it will come... maybe I will get it on Wednesday because we have a meeting with the North mission in the capital and Elder Ballard is going to speak to us. 

Oh yeah, so for my birthday, Heavenly Father gave me the chance to see a baptism of an investigator. Jorge Muñoz was baptized.

marriage of Jorge and Blanca

Baptism of Jorge

Hermana Park, Hermana Perez, Bianca and Jorge on his Baptism day

What did the mission give me for my birthday? A new companion, and to be senior comp. My companion is from Honduras and is named Hermana Perez.

Hermana Perez is the first Hermana on the left, then Destinee is next.  This is a picture taken at the Sisters gathering last month, before they were companions.

 

 

Well, of the elders, they probably didn´t know what they were doing was bad, and the member shouldn´t be in the bar in the first place,(good point) but we didn´t know they were going to play pool in a bar so we couldn´t say anything about it.

 

Yeah, about Ty´s bday. Tell him happy birthday for me. I can´t send anything to him probably, but hope he has a fun day.

 

Ha ha, que calidad! Yeah, that photo of us was one of my favorites because all of us placed our cameras, hit the timer button, and then ran to place so it was completely random, but it turned out well. (she is referring to this photo from last weeks email.)

 

 

Well, not much else happened this past week, but I have something to ask of you all. Can you pray for me? Being senior companion first of all is difficult, although really it is just about serving more, but being senior comp to someone who doesn´t speak any English, doesn´t have much experience in the mission, and is a little difficult is something that I will have to work hard at to get through. I like her because she has a strong testimony and shares experiences, but you all can understand, I believe, how some people are. (if you want to know more, ask me)

 

However, I have never been more grateful in my life for the opportunity to serve a mission and to help others make a difference in their lives. I know I was called here in Guatemala for a reason and I am here to help prove that even the harder areas of the world have people who desire to make a difference in their lives and fight more actively for the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all and hope your week goes well. Tell everyone I send my greetings and to make sure to share their testimony everyday because to share our testimony will help us to grow. Adios,

Love Desty

Pictures of some murals of Comalapa