Day 159 | Week #23: Happy New Year!

This week we didn't have a lot of work, because many of our investigators were away. We were able to chop some wood for a less-active family though.

Elder Mejia and I had a ward activity about the real meaning of Christmas and how we can change for this coming year. We also went to a Priesthood meeting in  on Sunday. The Stake President spoke and a few missionaries out of our zone were in the choir, it was pretty cool.

Elder Shoaee

"Endure to the end we must, for our goal is eternal life in the presence of our Father in Heaven. He loves us and wants nothing more than for us to succeed in this goal. He will help us and bless us as we call upon Him in our prayers, as we study His words, and as we obey His commandments. Therein is found safety; therein is found peace."

 —Thomas S. Monson

Day 153 | Week #22

This week Elder Mejia and I worked on a lot of new investigators and menos activos. We counted up all of our menos activos and investigators and there are about 40 people in our area who are less-active. We are trying to help them as much as we can. We contacted a lot last week, so this week we went and worked on a lot of new people. Some of our investigators weren't there and that lost a lot of our time. 

Skype - 12/26/2014

Elder Mejia and I are getting along fine, and Elder Mejia gave me the lesson pamphlets in English so I have been studying side-by-side with the English and Spanish gospel pamphlets to help me out with my Spanish. 

It has been super hot here... its crazy!!! Water is super cheap here so that is good! We had Elder Mejia cook some Mexican food at a members house and it was super good. On Sunday I passed the Sacrament in our ward. It seems like I haven't done that in forever. 

That is about it...Merry Christmas everyone!

Elder Shoaee

The Story of Christmas

Day 145 | Week #21: A Week of Miracles!

This week was amazing! Elder Mejia and I did a lot of contacting and got a ton of new investigators. We planned to get forty lessons in, but we weren’t able to reach it. I hope next week we will be able to.

I saw a few small miracles this week. My companion and I were trying to find an investigator that we hadn’t taught in a while. So I said a prayer and waited for an answer. Later in the night a kid comes up to me and shakes my hand. It turns out that he is the son of our investigator that we were looking for. We followed him and he showed us the way. It was amazing!

Also, we gave a less-active member a blessing last week, because she was really sick. When we visited her this week she told us that she didn’t have to take anymore medicine after the blessing and she was able to get better.

Missionary Frisbee

Elder Mejia and I are getting along great and he is super awesome. He knows magic tricks and shows them all to the kids… its great! The language is slowly progressing, but I have been praying for the Gift of Tongues and I got back into studying the language. One lesson we had and I couldn’t really speak that well, but all of the sudden I said something and the investigator said, “That’s exactly what I was thinking!” I felt so amazed and happy that people can understand me and I know that it was the Gift of Tongues.

Also we visited a lady in our area. Unfortunately, her son is addicted to drugs. We talked to her and she started crying, because she doesn’t want him to die. I felt sad for her. We shared a little message, then I was called on to say the prayer. When I said the prayer I felt the spirit so strong and my mind was so clear, I wasn’t searching for words, it was amazing.

Anyway… that’s all for now. Have a good week!!!

Snoozing in the Mud

Elder Shoaee

Day 139 | Week #20: Dang Denge Fever!

This week was super "sick". — My companion, Elder Mejia, got Dengue Fever and we were stuck in the casa all week. I did have a good discussion with my companion on how I can gain more faith in Jesus Christ.  He showed me some scriptures and I learned a lot. 

Elder Mejia was better by Saturday and we went to teach a few lessons. At the end of the day we stopped by one of our investigators houses, Maria, and unfortunately, she told us that she couldn’t listen to us anymore, because her family that is supporting her in the United States  said, “If she joined the church, they wouldn’t support her or her children anymore.”  It was sad, but I know that in the Lord’s time, she will encounter the missionaries again and hear more about our message.

Elder Shoaee

Tie Given to Me by Elder Ruiz

Day 131 | Week #19: Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

This week was fantastic! We had changes this week and I got new companion, Elder Mejia. He is super nice, very enthusiastic and a really good missionary. I have been showing him the area and he is learning fast. He’s from Mexico (close to the border), speaks Spanish really fast, is our new Distict Leader, and is the senor companion. He also has a lot of knowledge and is teaching me how to do the forms correctly and other missionary stuff.

Elder Shoaee  &  Elder Mejia

 

We are working so hard. This week has been awesome. We gave one of our investigators, Maria, a blessing because she was sick. I felt the spirit testify that the priesthood is a gift that we are to use to help people. Church on Sunday was amazing and we had a good turnout. One family came that hadn't been to church in 4 years!

That’s all for this week! I hope everyone has an awesome week!

Elder Shoaee

Day 124 | Week #18

This week we worked a ton and we were able to get two baptisms set up for the 1st week of December!

Elder Ruiz and I are super excited. This week we visited one of our investigators, Maria, and whom she and her son accepted our invitation to be baptized. With that said, we are teaching her more now.

Also this week, Elder Ruiz and I went to Chamelecón (it’s a little past San Pedro Sula), because Elder Ruiz had to get his residency paperwork. It took a while to travel there, but we were able to talk to a few people about the gospel though. On Saturday, we went with the ward leaders to invite all the less-active members in our ward. On Sunday, we had the Primary Program and our investigators came, it was perfect!

Barrio La Victoria Ward Primary Program | 11/23/2014

That’s about it for this week!

Elder Shoaee

Day 117 | Week #17: Gift of Tongues

This week was great! I have been able to speak the language so good this week and the lessons are getting better. I have started to learn more grammar during my study time and there is so much to learn. I am glad I have time, because there are still so many things I don’t know, but I know the Lord will help me.

We have been working with the members a ton in our ward to obtain referrals and get more baptisms in our stake. I just finished reading the Book of Mormon and now I started reading the New Testament. The New Testament is so awesome. The Bible and the Book of Mormon work together and this gospel is explained so well, because it is His ministry and example in this book. I feel the Savior’s love for me when I read out of the scriptures and I know that this church is true.

Pulhapanzak Waterfall

We have been so busy this week trying to contact more people to share our message with them. There are no addresses here, so it is hard to know where everyone lives. Basically, you have to remember the color of the house, the street, or some other specific thing.

Transfers are coming not this Wednesday, but the next. I think I might get a new companion, but I will still be in my area. I don’t know for sure, but I think that’s how it’s going to work out.

That's all for now… until next week.

Elder Shoaee

Day 111 | Week #16: "Broadway" in Villanueva

This week was legit! We put in the work and are teaching more new investigators. We celebrated my companion, Elder Ruiz’s, birthday this week. It was a surprise party! I faked being sick and I said, "We need to go back to the casa...please!!" I was limping and acting like I was terribly sick. When my comp opened the door, the other missionaries were inside and we had a cake and pizza. It was awesome!

Elder Ruiz Birthday Celebration

Also this week I have started some hardcore language study and I am reading the books and getting into deep grammar. I know it is going to take time to get this language down, but it will be worth it.

We had a musical on Sunday. The stake put it on for all the people of Villanueva. It was called "VENID A CRISTO" which means, Come Unto Christ. It was for investigators and less-active members. The missionaries sang one song, The Army of Helaman. It was super powerful. I could feel the spirit super strong. The mission president came too, it was awesome.

That's about it for this week!

Elder Shoaee

Day 104 | Week #15: Mixing Concrete, Building Foundations, and Teaching with the President

This week was good! The Mission President came to our casa and we  taught our lessons with him. The spirit was so strong and he was able to help us a lot, because people respect him more, he is the president, is older and has more knowledge.

Another thing that happened this week was we helped build a house and we mixed the concrete and poured the foundation. 

Unfortunately I got sick near the end of the week and I didn't do much besides sleep, take more medicine and then go back to sleep. I am recovering now. I"m just glad I didn't get Dengue Fever, because that is the worst thing you can get out here. That’s all for now!

Count your blessings,

Elder Shoaee

Day 96 | Week #14: Crossing Rivers, Chasing Bulls, and Eating Coconuts!!!

Hola! This week was super bien! We have been working very hard and trying to do more service! We lost two of our investigators... but we found a couple new contacts though.

We have started teaching Guillermo’s daughter. She is so nice, but is only 13. She read the pamphlet and is very interested. We also had one of our investigators say to us that she doesn’t want to be baptized or go to our church anymore. It is very discouraging and sad to see her reject our message, but we had explained everything we could and testified that our church is the only true church, but we all have our agency and are free to choose for ourselves. 

This week we helped this one family organize their yard and cleaned it up a bit. Afterwards, Freddy, one of the family members, climbed up a tree and cut down coconuts for us to eat. Then we spoke to Freddy about cutting down a big tree that they had so we started cutting it down. It is a BEAST so we are going to go at it again in two days. 

We taught Maria, one our investigators, she can’t read, but she is seeking an answer. When we taught her I could feel so much peace and love for her. I hope she finds her answer soon. 

Yesterday we crossed a river and since it rained a ton we had to take our shoes off, roll up our pants and cross the river. It was crazy, but we were able to make it to our appointment on time! 

There are so many animals and insects here so I am always chasing cows or dog, its super cool. 

‘Till Next Week,

Elder Shoaee

Day 89 | Week #13

This week was super cool! Elder Ruiz and I have been working hard and searching for more people to teach. A lot of times people aren’t at home and we have last minute changes, but we always find someone to teach.

One of our investigators, Guillermo, is going to church and understanding so much. We just need him to get married to his wife, so he can be baptized. He builds and repairs fans, he is super funny, and tells super crazy stories about all the things he has done.

We have had some powerful lessons with Maria, another investigator. She can't read, but she is praying to know that The Book of Mormon is true. We taught the about the resurrection and it was super powerful. She is progressing so much!

Missionary Reference Library

I have started reading the missionary reference library (Jesus the Christ, Our Heritage, True to the Faith, Our Search for Happiness). These four books are amazing, especially about the early saints and what they went through. It makes me want to try harder and have more faith. 

I am understanding the language a lot, but I can’t speak that fast so it is difficult, but I know that the language will come as I try to keep striving to speak this language.

Love, Elder Shoaee

Day 83 | Week #12 - Lifting Fridges and Taking Names

This week was GREAT! We taught a bunch of people and were able to get two people to commit to baptism this week. My companion and I are getting along really well and I am starting to know our area. 

Preaching with Arnaldo & Elder Ruiz

Also, I have made it to my second transfer and am getting used to missionary life. Everyone here is super chill and works hard. Our investigators are progressing and we had a good turnout this Sunday at church. One of our investigator family got attacked by her husband and now the husband is no longer with her, so times are tough for her. She still came to church  and we are trying to help her the best we can.

My companion and I are always looking for service and we saw these guys carrying a fridge and we went to help them carry it.

Washing My Clothes at the Pila

I was sick with the flu for a little bit, but I now I am better, I am exercising every day and I feel great. The language is coming along and I can basically understand what everyone is talking about now. Things are great here in Villanueva, Brisas Del Plan!

Love, Elder Shoaee




UPDATE:  An earthquake with magnitude 7.3 occurred near La Unión, La Unión, El Salvador at 03:51:38.90 UTC on Oct 14, 2014. 

Day 75 | Week #11 - A Very "General" Week

I had a super busy week full of using a machete, teaching the gospel and listening to modern day prophets!

Most of our investigators are progressing and things are going good in our area. We had taught this nice 19, year old investigator, named Jeffery... in the gutter, literally, because his mom wouldn’t let us in. That isn’t what humbled me, it was that he was willing to listen to our message without a chair and sitting in a dirty place. I hope that we can visit with him again.

This week we were able to do a service activity for a lady one of our investigators knows. We had to cut down a tree with machetes. It was my first time using a machete and it was awesome! My companion would cut down the big branches and then I would cut them up into smaller pieces. I enjoyed helping others and it was felt good to do service.

In the Priesthood Session of General Conference, I saw a bunch of people from my school in the Provo MTC choir. It was weird, but super cool. (See the link below)

Missionary Medley - Priesthood Session | 10/04/2014

On Saturday and Sunday we got to watch General Conference in ENGLISH! I took 3 pages of notes. This was the best General Conference, ever! I really gained a better testimony of our prophets. They are the only people on the earth that speak unbiased, true, and spiritual messages to bring us peace, happiness and direction in this life. I hope we never take living prophets for granted!

My Favorite Quote from 10/2014 General Conference

Love,

Elder Shoaee

Day 69 | Week #10

Hey Everyone!

This week was awesome, we taught a ton of people and it was amazing. There were a ton of people that we contacted. We don’t have too many investigators, so we are contacting a lot.

This week has been super hot! I always carry a rag to wipe my face and the towel feels amazing.

There is one family that we are teaching and they are trying to get married and we started a fundraiser to help them, but after the first fundraiser, we talked to the wife and she told us about some things that were going on that we didn’t  know about so we have push the baptismal date back. :(

On Sunday we got a family to attend church, it was awesome. After church we were on a bus and this guy starts talking to me in English and I freaked out! I told him about who we were and what we do. He was very nice. Also I was at Wendy’s this week and there were 30 Americans doing charity work that came in while I was there. They were all from Wisconsin. It is so amazing to see Americans! There is a marine here in the computer room right now that is serving here... super cool!  

Anyway that's all I got for now!

Love, Elder Shoaee

Day 61 | Week #9

This week was legit! We walked a lot and went to choir to practice for our Stake Conference, it was also a little rough, because our appointments kept changing and when we would go to people’s houses, then they wouldn’t be there... it’s all good though. We got a new investigator, Rafael, and have been able to talk to a lot of people.

Also, there is a family who is trying to get married and they don’t have a lot of money so we are starting a fundraiser to help them.

My Spanish is coming along and I am understanding more and more. This last Sunday we sang at Stake Conference, it was great! We sang for two sessions.

Not too much activity this week, but the work is getting done!

Love, Elder Shoaee

Day 55 | Week #8

Hey Everyone!

This week was awesome! We did so much and I am getting used to the area, the food, the people, and the gangster music. It’s pretty legit here in Villanueva. Everyone is so nice.

This week we had a feast at this one member’s house, it was awesome. My real area is Brisas del Plan, it’s a little poorer than Villanueva, but it’s cool. We went to teach this one guy in his house and the AP was there with us. The investigator was asking insanely hard questions that are so deep and crazy. I didn’t understand a lot because of the language barrier, but I think he just needs to go to church.

On Saturday we had the baptism for Arnaldo, he is so cool! He wanted the patriarch to baptize him. We got there and my companion had to jump through a window to enter the font, because there wasn’t a key for the door then we started to fill the font, it was great!! After Arnaldo came, we and the patriarch helped him so he knew where to go.

Arnoldo's Baptism | September 13, 2014

Sunday was great. We are singing at Stake Conference next week and are singing himnos in the choir. We practice a ton every week.

Teaching is going well. There was this one time where I taught this one investigator, Guillermo. He is super funny and never wears a shirt. Anyways, we watched, “The Restoration” and the spirit was so strong. We also taught about the Apostasy. He is a mechanic and had a bunch of screws lying around so I grabbed them and said they represent the pillars of the church and with the death of the apostles, priesthood authority was taken from the earth, revelation ceased, and essential doctrines where lost or corrupted. Through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Church the Jesus Christ established was restored. We invited him to church and he came. He has a lot of questions, but that’s why we are here. We can help him with his concerns and questions about the church.

This week has been amazing and I hope next week will be even better! :)

 Love, Elder Shoaee

Day 47 | Week #7 - Where Am I?

This week has been crazy! I got to the airport at two in the morning and had to wait forever to get our bags checked. We arrived at the San Salvador Airport and I was freaking out of my mind, I couldn’t wait to get on the plane.

Once I got on the plane I talked to this old Dutchman about who I was and where I was going. He told me he is going to San Pedro Sula too and he told me all about Honduras, it was awesome! He does charity work here and travels around the world.

Once I got into San Pedro Sula the humidity attacked me and it was not good...but then I saw President Dester and his wife and other missionaries it was great! We all put our bags on a bus and went to the mission office. Once we got there we had pizza and had a meeting about Honduras and what we can and can’t do. We had dinner at the mission president’s house and it was great!!! We slept overnight in San Pedro Sula "SPS" at the APs house. The next day we went on a bus and got breakfast, baleadas, its super popular here and that is an understatement. We got to the mission office for transfers or "cambios" and we got assigned to an area and a companion.

Baleadas by Eliza Stein

I got assigned to Villanueva with Elder Ruiz, a Latino from Nicaragua, he's pretty legit and is helping me learn the language or Idioma. My first time walking through my area I was like, "Where the heck am I?". It was pretty bad culture shock and I had to talk to people in the streets and in their homes. We mainly just talked to the members the 1st day and got to know the area a bit. The second day we taught this guy named Guillermo, he is a trip he never wears a shirt ever and he is super loco.

Far Left, Elder Ruiz - Far Right, The Garcia Family

We have had many lessons and the food here is super good. The Garcia family are members that take care of us, help us a lot and cook for us. Sometimes they let us use their washing machine, their kids are super funny too. We are teaching this guy named Arnaldo, he is super cool. He's 22 and is getting baptized this Saturday. We are getting him ready for it and are helping him out the best we can.

View Outside My Casa

A lot of people call me “Choaee”, because they can't say "sh". Anyway, its funny everyone I run into can’t say my name. Living conditions are sketchy and the water is only on in the morning. We have to use the pila at night to shower. No ticks or lice… only mosquitoes and Montezuma’s Revenge. The bed is pretty comfortable. There is a lot of poverty too, but the people are so happy and giving and nice. There are no greater people on this earth that I have ever met.

Pila "Trough"  [Washing Machine/Shower]

Love, Elder Shoaee aka Elder "Choaee"

Day 41 | Week #6 - Honduras Bound!

Mexico MTC District 17D

My last week at the MTC was awesome! I can't believe that I am going to Honduras for real now, it is crazy.  I am preparing to convert the drug cartel ;) ... it might be a possibility? I am leaving the C.C.M. around 2:30 am tomorrow with Elder Andrews from Montana, Elder Harris from Ogden, and Elder Ambler from Pueblo,CO. Harris and Ambler are going to be in my mission, but Andrews' is going to the Honduras Comayaguela Mission. Once I get there I will be in a world of total immersion in a language I sort of know, but all is well. I can’t wait to be on the plane and be going there!

Panoramic view of the city of San Pedro Sula

This last week has been a major countdown to tomorrow. I am not sure if I will be able to email tomorrow, but if I can I will.  I don’t have too much to say right now, but for sure I’ll  have a lot once I get to my first area!!!

I am looking forward to getting out into the field! ~ Elder Shoaee

Ya Llegó su Misionero!  Your Missionary Has Arrived!

Update: 9/02/2014

Dear Missionary Families,

We just wanted you to know that your missionaries arrived safe and sound this morning to Honduras, and they are with us tonight in our home for a welcome dinner.   We already love them all and can't wait to get to know them better.   They will be going to a transfer meeting tomorrow morning where they will meet their new companions and then leave for their assigned areas.   Thank you for all your prayers and love.   We are so grateful that you sent them to us.

With love,
President and Sister Dester

Day 34 | Week #5

This last week has been great! My companion’s nose has gotten better and he is able to take off his bandages. We all call him, "Brad Pitt" or "MJ", because he got a nose job. Anyways… things are awesome here! Today I got to go to the Mexico City Temple, it was amazing! We went to the Visitors' Center only, but the Spirit was still strong and it felt great.

Mexico City Temple Visitors' Center

I get my flight itinerary for Honduras Wednesday or Thursday. I’m not sure, but I heard we can email on Saturday in the afternoon. My district is finishing up all of their language books and were all ready to get into the field. Tomorrow we are going to teach a real investigator, my teacher’s sister in-law has been having some problems in her life so we are going to see if we can help her out :) !!  I am exited to teach a real investigator, it is going to be amazing.

This last week during gym time we play futbalito or fuse-ball. It is really fun and we are getting pretty good at the game. We have been watching a lot of church history videos on Sundays and I began to be super interested about the Doctrine and Covenants. I have read thirty sections in the past couple of days. I also have been reading the Book of Mormon and I'm almost done with Alma.

Things are great here. I love doing the service activities on Monday. It´s nice to do some manual labor after being in class a lot. This may or may not be my last letter until I get into the field and send a letter from the mission home in Honduras. BTW we have an Hondureño in our casa and he told us about Honduras and the parts of our mission.  He is super cool. I love the natives in our casa!

Love, Elder Shoaee

Day 27 | Week #4

I am almost done with the MTC. I can´t believe I already have completed FOUR weeks… only two left!  This week I had to move into a casa (house), because one of the elders in our district had to go home so now I am in a trio. The casas are super nice and there is way more space than at the dormitorio where I lived for the past three weeks. I am having such a great time with all the elders of 17C and 17D. We have so much fun!

Another thing that happened this week was we went to the doctor’s office for my comp’s nose and there was a lady in the waiting room who asked who we were and we explained. It was sort of missionary work :)

Not that much has been happening that is out of the ordinary at the CCM. It does rain a lot here and I love it. It’s so nice to see everything so green and pretty. I am excited to go to Honduras, but I will also miss it here.

Day 19 | Crazy Week #3

This week has been crazy. My companion broke his nose and we had to go to the hospital in Mexico City. When we got to the hospital it was a little different than in America, it was really nice! The room that we stayed in was amazing, I kept calling the room the "Ritz Carlton", because it was so nice and it had wood floors and an amazing view. My companion had to get surgery so all the Elders in my district had to make rotations to sleep at the hospital. My companion is getting better and we are going to the hospital today to get a checkup and to see if he can take the bandages off. 

There haven’t been a lot of new things happening. The language is coming along great and it feels like I'm just flying through the MTC. BTW: My departure date is set for September 2nd.

Day 13 | Awesome Week #2

This week was awesome! I am having such a great time with my roommates and the people in my district. The Elders in my room call me,” Mr. Clean” or "Señor Limpio", because I clean a lot and make everything nice (ha-ha).

The language is coming along and I also got two new "investigators", Erika and Daniel Alvarez, my language teachers. When Elder Harris and I teach them, we both can communicate really well and teach the lesson. We are not perfect, but we try our best!

I am the District Leader for District 17 D, it is a challenge sometimes. Whenever I feel down, I just remember what the Savior did for me and I try to show them my love for them. The most spiritual moment was on Friday; we have a companionship that never seems to get along so I pulled them both aside privately to see if I could help and the spirit hit me so strong, I couldn't express fully what I wanted to say. I know they felt the Savior's love for them, but I still pray for them every day that their relationship will get better.

Our Latinos left this week to go on their mission. It was super awesome to see them leave, but I miss them, they are funny guys. My mission so far has been great. Every day I work on doing better at things poco a poco, "little by little". 

I have found peace, happiness and love while serving the Elders y Hermanas of 17 D, it is helping me a lot and I enjoy every minute of it!

Day 6 | Almost 1 Week!

This week has been super busy and I have been making many friends here at the CCM. When I first got off the plane into Mexico, I felt so out of place and I didn’t know where to go. Then we got to the buses at the airport and started driving to the CCM. It was so insane, there are no rules for driving here and people can do whatever they want… its super cool! 

After arriving at the CCM, we went to get all our supplies and then we had dinner. All of us ´´Greengoes¨´ were all in somewhat of a culture shock, it was awesome. Then finally I got to my room (with my companion, Elder Harris) and we met Elder Boydston and Elder Davis. They are super funny and we were joking around. Then two Latinos showed up at our apartment and said, "Welcome to the CCM" and we asked, "How long have you been here?" and they said they had only been there one day. They are so funny. Their names are Elder Villagran and Elder Cueppi. They are helping us with Spanish and we are helping them with English.

The next few days we just had classes and started learning the language. Then on Friday we started teaching our 1st "investigator" en Español. It was very hard and I didn’t understand anything. The next day we did the same thing, get up at 6:30 am and then go to sleep at 10:30 pm. Then we got to Sunday, it was so amazing to feel the spirit so strong. It made me happier to be out here and know why I should be here. We have gym time every day almost, it is so much fun. My companion was on a varsity soccer team so we usually play soccer and chill with the "natives".

It is so great, I love it here. The people are so nice and humble. Just a few random things that happened, Elder Harris and I were teaching our investigator for the 3rd time and when we started teaching Ana, our investigator, we could understand what she was saying and we were able to communicate very well. When I didn’t know what to say, Elder Harris would back me up, when Elder Harris was at a loss of words; I jumped in and was able to communicate effectively. I truly believe that was the Gift of Tongues. The food is so authentic here and they have a la tienda or store. Today is my P day. I will send pictures next week of what it looks like here and of Elder Viagran "papi" and Elder Cuessi and all the other elders. The temperature is so great here. It’s not hot or cold, it’s perfect temperature. Mexico City is not like I expected, but in a good way. Everyone is friendly and welcoming. 

I can’t wait to be in San Pedro Sula, but I know it will take time before I become effective.