Guatemala City South

Hey there,

I am really glad to hear that you had a great week and that everything went well for you guys.

Sounds like Stake Conference was good.

Here is a little bit about my week. So this past week we ended up doing divisions and it went super well. I went with a kid named Elder Ajanel and I went to his area in Santa Catarina Pinula. I can't believe I forgot my camera because I got to meet some really cool people and we had a great time. We found a lot of new people over there and we were able to really have some success. Elder Ajanel is one of our district leaders and so we had to train him last week and then this week that is coming we will be training the other leader this week. Anyways before i tell you about the 2 cool stories of the week, Yesterday in church they talked about eternal marriage. It was interesting. Ha, me and my comp both since we only have a little bit of time left, we were talking practically the whole entire day about marriage. How we cannot wait to get home and find that one girl who is the right one and then settle down. Haha, not... I am going to want to date around when I get home and get to know different types of girls. But it sure is weird how my vision on that has changed a little bit. Before I could not see my self settling down, and I thought I would of waited until I had about 25 years. but now I think I will be married by the time I have 23 years. Crazy.

Anyways last week before we started divisions we had on Tuesday our meeting with the President of the Stake and also with President Stay. IT went pretty well and we received a lot of assignments to get on. Right now the stake is really focusing on getting the stake converted into a mission stake. That being said, they have given us the responsibility to get all the youth motivated and ready to go for their missions. So we are working with them and getting them to go to their Mission Prep classes, and also getting them to work with us. However by doing that we are seeing that it is in turn bringing us a whole new set of investigators into our lives and it is getting the wards all really excited too, so that they are helping us as well. I really hope it works out well and we can maybe get a couple of baptisms out of it. The area where I am at is a really hard one and we are having a difficult time finding people who want to listen. The people where I live are pretty much a pretty rich type of people and they are not really accepting. They all work during the day and at night they are just exhausted. It can be really frustrating at times, but I think that is why God put us there so that we can help make this area better and get things moving. The good news is that we got the attendance up a little bit so they are now going to build a church within our area. They just bought the land for the church, they are just waiting to see that the numbers stay stable so that we can support a church on our own. Anyways after the meeting we had our zone had interviews with President Stay. I had  great time talking to him just about everything and opening my mind and thoughts to him. And also I shamefully lost again in arm wrestling to him. It was sad. But yeah so here is what happened during the divisions.

So we found this guy named Luis and he is a way nice guy. I kid you not he looks just like Mick Jagger. They could be identical. I wish I had my camera to take a picture of the guy. Anyway we were contacting this one street and we knocked his door and he opened it and was just like, "ahhhh... the Mormons... you've come back". and I was just like, "well what is that supposed to mean"?  He says, "well they used to visit me always at my door but I never let you guys in, I don't believe in what you all preach".  I asked him, "well what do we preach"? And he says, "well, you all preach that whoever drinks coffee goes to hell". I was just like, "wow that is a really bold statement, who told you that"?  He says, "well my brother is a Mormon and he doesn't drink, smoke, and doesn't do anything with coffee or tea".  I asked him, "well hermano luis, what do you think of your brother, would you say he is a pretty healthy guy, or is he unhealthy"?  And he responded that he was healthy. and I asked him, "what else do you notice about your brother would you say he is a pretty different type of guy or is he just like everyone else in the world". Then luis tells us, "alright come in, I feel like you guys have something I want to hear".  We entered in his house. and we just talked a little bit more about his brother and the church, and I asked him, "Luis, put aside all the things the church says, and what anyone has ever taught you, do you personally think that Coffee/drugs/alcohol or anything that is of the sort, do you honestly believe that it is good for your health". And he responded. "well to be honest, no". Then I told him, "well then we need to help you out then, we will come back tomorrow to teach you and read this thing and tell us if you have any questions tomorrow". So we then left, we went back the next night and he was a completely different guy. We walk in and we just sat there for like 5 mins. He then started the conversation by saying, "I'm miserable, I need help, I'm weak and I know that satan has control over my body. I need your help and I want to make my life good. I want a family like my brother and I want to have the blessings that he has. Please, can you guys help me"? Then we just started from there. we were asking him questions, what exactly it was he was doing. he said he was drinking, but nothing else. not coffee or tea or drugs. We continued, I told him every problem has a seed. and the seeds always grow to be a big tree, or in other words a big problem. I said a tree has a lot of branches, mini problems, but it is the main frame, or the seed that is providing it life that we need to take out. So we started asking him why he drank. At first he said it was for his work. He loved being at work drunk so he didn't have to talk to the people. But we found out it was a more serious problem than that. He was drinking simply because he hated himself. He hated his life and he just wanted to forget everything he has ever done. In that moment when we discovered that, 2 things popped in my head. One, the Photo of Jesus Christ I always carry in my scriptures, and Alma 7 verses 11 - 13. I took out the picture and set it on the table, and asked him, what do you think when you see that picture. He said, I feel like he is mad at me. He hates me and he doesn't want anything to do with me. I told him. Lets read this scripture and then you will see the Jesus Christ that I know when I look at that Picture.

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
 13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

We read that and then he just sat there and was like... "wow". I told him, that I knew that Jesus loved him, I knew that He has a plan for him and that we didn't just knock his door by any chance but that God himself really did send us to teach him. I promised him that if he stopped drinking beer, from that moment and forever that Jesus himself would accept him and forget his sins, blot them out as it says and remember them no more. I told him anytime he ever felt like drinking, to think first of Jesus Christ. Then to think of his lovely Wife who was in the other room and didn't want to listen to us. Think of his kids that he had and the things he had to do to support them. Think of his grand kids and the example he is for them. and Etc. I told him that if he really believed that he could change, we would make it possible for him. He then in that moment promised that he would never drink again. IT was an amazing lesson mom and the spirit was just so strong there. I love that feeling and listening to the promptings of the spirit and letting it touch the hearts of the people who need it in their lives.

I know without a doubt that Jesus Lives mom. He is the Savior of this world. There is no other one and He is the only begotten of the Father. He loves us all and wants us to come home. He wants us to make it back, but we need to do our part. We need to put on the shoes, get out the door and walk. We need to keep the commandments and do all we need to do, all we have been taught to do so that we can make it back to the Celestial Kingdom. I love you all and I hope you all have a great week. Sorry I didn't share the other story. I just figured that it is a little personal for the person in whom it involves. I will tell you about it when I get home. only 7 more months. yikes. haha


with love
Elder Daniel W. Shipley
official i know.

My letter to Daniel had included this poem from our stake conference - we all have habits or trials, I LOVED the lesson the Spirit taught through Elder Shipley to Luis I hope he can share this w/ him.

I asked God to take away my habit.

God said, No.  It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. 
 
God said, No. 
His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary

I asked God to grant me patience. 

God said, No. 
Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness. 
 
God said, No. 
I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain. 
 
God said, No. 
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow. 
 
God said, No. 
You must grow on your own! But I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life. 
 
God said, No. 
I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.

I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me. 

God said...Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.