How are you doing right now. I hope all is going well and that you guys are all taking good care of each other. I sure do miss you guys. it is cool here to see all the people get together for Christmas and be happy and all but sometimes it makes me think of you guys and how i cant be there for Christmas, but its alright, next year we´ll be together. We will probably be in Guatemala this time next year. If you can make the plane ride, haha but really start making plans for that trip so we can come here for some good deals.
Church for us was amazing by the way. Don't mean to bust your bubble but I'm pretty sure it was better than yours haha, only because it was the Quetzaltenango Temple Dedication, and it was with Elder Uchtdorf and Elder Anderson. I didnt know that Elder Anderson could speak Spanish perfectly. Elder Uchtdorf couldn't but it was really impressive to see Elder Anderson speaking in Spanish. They both gave really powerful talks and good inspiration, and The prayer that Elder Uchtdorf gave was just so beautiful. I can't wait to go to that temple, of course we can't go now but when we come back we can make a run up there to go see it. They say it is just beautiful. anyways here is a little bit about my week.
So not to much has happened here because I was incredibly busy in other areas, and I think traveling to much, mixed in with a lot of candy, made me pretty sick. You think I would of learned from the last time with the hot cheteos, haha still haven't touched those bad boys yet, haha, but anyways here is kind of a brief decription.
Monday last week we went to Cuilapa for pday and we just played pool and then went and ate and did internet nothing to special. Tuesday I had to go to Jalpatagua, which is about an hour from my area. over there I had to do 2 interviews that day and they went really good. Then Wednesday we had to go to Barberena which is about an hour and a half from Jalpatagua for a district leader meeting we had with the Zone leaders where we talked about the upcoming things and ideas we have and how were to going to complete the goals we have and etc. I returned that night to Jalpatagua with the elder from there to do another interview for them. Then Thursday we went to Cuilapa again to do 3 interviews for them in their area. Friday we went to Cuilapa again to go to the baptisims of Cuilapa, It was 3 people, then I came back with one of the zls to my area and we did an interview in my area. Saturday we went to Barberena again to end divisions and finally me and my comp were together again, and we had the baptisims in our area with Jalapatagua and they all went really good. Sunday we had to go to Cuilapa again for the dedication and then today we went to Don Justo. Haha, crazy week huh, literally traveling every single day. Saturday I think I was just really exhausted and worn out because we had our english class that night and I went to the bathroom and threw up. Which wasn't fun but I felt better after that. I just felt really weak and tired. But I'm better now.
Alright so that is how busy I was. But mom let me tell you, I love doing this work. I honestly think that if anyone was to do what we do, they would be dead from being so tired. The Lord really does bless us with the strength to it all and more. He is amazing in how He blesses us. I've really tried to apply the advice that Elder Clarke gave us. When we are with someone, all of our attention needs to be on that person. If we are in a room with someone, we need to only think in that moment, make eye contact and listen with our hearts to what these people are telling us. These interviews went really well for that reason. I have been told I'm pretty good at making eye contact with the people here. It's not that I try to do it though, it is just a habit now. Anyways, all of the peole who were interviewed were just so happy for the decision they made and were really nice and I really think that is the coolest part, seeing how these people have gone through so many struggles with the adversary and now they are trying to keep the commandments of God and just making their lives right with God. It is great. It makes love a lot more easier when they are like that. But if anyone wants to say that this work is easy, tell them to come talk to me, it is not easy trying to get someone prepared for baptisim. The church doesn't ask us to change a lot as members, but for anyone else, they are literally Changing Everything. That is something we as memebers need to realize more, we need to help the recent converts more and Help them know that there is someone here to help them, and that they have a shoulder to lean on and someone to ask questions to if they need them. anyways the baptisim we had was just a little child who needed to get baptized, I didn't get a picture but I'll try to see if the other elder has one.
About our investigators really quickly. Satan sure is hard at work with them and he wins at times but when we come we make it very clear who is right. The Spirit testifies to them everytime we go there. So we are now making it a habit, anyone who has a date for baptisim we are visiting them at least every single day, once or twice a day. That way they are feeling the Spirit more and satan is having less of an affect with these people. Oscar is doing great, he is just having a lot of doubts from some anti Mormon book he has, so I just took it. Ha, I just took his book and told him, you don't need this. I told him, who is the person who puts doubts in your mind, and he said satan, and I said, "what is this book doing to you". He said, "well, it's putting doubts in my mind", and I said, "well then, we should get rid of satan then shouldn"t we". Ha, he was a little hesitant at first but I just took it. But yeah, it was kind of funny.
Anyways, Everyting is going great here, Mom I just can't even explain to you how cool the Dedication was yesterday. It was so beautiful. Those men are truly inspired men of God and they have such a love for our Savior. They know just like I know for a Fact that He exist. I know Jesus Christ loves us, and I know for a Fact that this is the true church. Jesus is the person who leads this church and He uses his servant President Thomas S. Monson. I love this work mom and I love the blessings it brings us. The comfort the gospel gives us and all the things we can learn from this great Gospel we have. Literally there is no other Gospel that can compare, but it is because we have the Complete gospel for todays times.
Well I sure do love you guys and miss you a lot. This sunday I'll be turning 16 months in the mission. Crazy huh? Alright talk to you later.
love Elder Shipley
ps. happy bday eric.
ps the pic of me hanging and 2 other guys is me erickson and doran.
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