6 Months - Merry Christmas!

We got to talk to Joseph today! We got his email before we did the phone call, so we'll start with that and then a clip or two of our skype -
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     Subject: Feliz Navidad a Todos!         

Hello everybody and Merry Christmas!! This was a super great week! We have been working really hard with Ilumina el mundo especially in having noches de hogar (family home evenings) and trying to get people to come to church and really saw a lot of miracles! The record for church attendance in the Guatemala Guatemala city South mission in 2017 was 345 and the record so far in 2018 was 335. Attendance meaning investigators in sacrament meeting across the whole mission (9 stakes in the cap and 2 districts outside the capital). So in the multi-zone conference on Thursday President Shumway talked about how this sunday, especially with all the references we've been getting from Noches de Hogar and Ilumina el Mundo, as a mission the goal isi 400. Especially taking in to account a letter the first presidency sent out about this Sunday. He asked each area to double their attendance from the week before and last week was our best week in a while with 5. So we were shooting for 10 which was super ambitious and 8 people came to church! Not 10 but 8 is still super good and as a mission we smashed the old record out of the water with 473 in total! It was super awesome and really we saw a lot of miracles.

Among those who came some came for the first time. Frank, who we found with Elder Aquino back forever ago. FINALLY he can come to church because he is working at a members carwash now and he really liked it. He is a super probably baptism for January and also talks about how it would be cool to be a missionary. Then Gustavo also came for the first time this past week. We found him this past week but he is actually someone I talked to on the bus like 3 months ago. He sat next to a returned missionary who got back this week from a mission in Brazil (did you know there are like 50 missions in Brazil!) named Sergio and Gustavo is now reading the Book of Mormon. He is super pillas and is going to progress a lot. Cristian also came, who was an investigator that told us he didn't want to receive us anymore about 7 weeks ago. He has some problems that are going to be hard to work through but is a good guy and hopefully he keeps coming! Also Vicky came, a lady from New Zealand who is married to an RM named Victor who is part of a super awesome family we eat dinner with every Friday. She is a super good cook and the family is from Nicaragua so they would always make Nicaragua food for Elder Gadea. The son is super awesome and it's super obvious he has a strong testimony but he usually works on Sunday but they got this Sunday off and so he and Vicky came to church and it was super awesome!! Also Another lady named Marielos who is married to a less active guy named Romeo came. Fernando also came and so did Brenda (Ronal's sister) and Brenda (Ronal's mom). We were going to go to the temple with Brenda this past week but had to reschedule it to this week because the day we scheduled it for I totally forgot that the hermanas that give the little tour around the temple had their multi-zone conference. So anyways you probably didn't want to know that many details but we were super excited about it. Lots of miracles.

Also there is some exciting stuff that is going to happen here in Guate soon but they asked us to keep it on the down low a little bit so I'll tell you in a few months. 

Also it is not Christmas in Guate without tamales. Here is a picture of us waiting for the bus this morning. Rockin the new Christmas tie. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!!

And here is me eating a tamale for breakfast as we waited for the bus

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So here's the family blogpost about our skype with him. He called at 11:00 Utah time, 12:00 for him in Guatemala. Mel did this instagram picture commemorating the event.

We talked for an hour. It was so great to see him! Corey asked him what he misses from home. He said he can't really remember much about this previous life he lived, ha, I get that. Good answer.

He was surprised when we mentioned that his cousin Kelsey was married. I know I mentioned that in an email to him, but I get that his time to read and write on p-days is limited, so I get that he missed it, still, kinda funny seeing his "WHAT!?!?" expression.

He was watching the clock (so obedient) and when it was time to wrap up he shared his testimony and led us in a long distance family prayer.

We sure love this young man, I'm already looking forward to Mother's Day!

5 Months - Chillin' in the Hospital and Mario's Baptism

Joseph will be having preparation day on Tuesday/Christmas next week, so that's fun, we are excited to be able to talk to him! He is going to call around 11, but he was offline before I asked him if it was a phone call or video/skype. I emailed the mission office and they said video call, so we'll be ready for both. Maybe he'll call first while we get the video set up, we'll see. I think their little tree is the cutest, the simplicity of it gives my heart a "true meaning of Christmas" feeling - the humility of it. We sure love this kid.
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     Subject: Andando en la hospital y el Bautismo de Mario!!    

Hey hey!

So this was a GREAT week!! Super crazy but really really good.

So last p-day, Wednesday, we had divisions and Elder Erikson and I sent our comps together even though they have the same time in the mission and they are both in their training. But it was because we had Mario's baptismal interview. Then right after that he had an interview with the bishop and we had another appointment and Elder Adams didn't know the guy because he only had a day in the area so that's why it was me and Elder Erikson here.

Then Thursday we met up with our comps on the way to Utatlan, where the mission offices are, because there was a new missionary meeting for all the missionaries that just have a change in the field. That meeting was really good and then I was really looking forward to Friday because it would be our first normal day as a companionship. But we ended up in the hospital. He is all good now but Friday morning he woke up and had some sort of paralysis thing, we're not really sure. But he couldn't like move his hand or his leg and they hurt a lot. So we spent all day Friday in the hospital and it was super super boring. But since we had a baptism the next day on Saturday we did divisions so that I could go to the baptism. So Elder Erikson came and we left the newbies together again. Then we went back, had another singing thing at a mall, and then went to the baptism. Also funny story is that like an hour before the baptism I realized I forgot something at the house so we went back and Elder Erikson was using my keys to open the door and he broke it! Just like on my first night with Elder Gadea haha. So we were locked out of the house but we just decided to go to the baptism. After the baptism we got an extra key from the lady we rent from though so we got in the house. We had some extra keys but they were both inside the house haha.

And the highlight of the week was for sure Marios baptism!!!

He is super great and ready to go. And he talks about going on a mission all the time so hopefully we see him out there with a plaque in a year or so!!

And this last picture was taken after Elder Erikson told him to actually smile

 

Then Sunday was amazing because we had 5 in church!! It was a miracle! One of them was Brenda, Ronal's sister, and we are planning on going to the temple with her this Friday! So that's super exciting. There are a lot of miracles happening right now and I am super excited for the rest of this change! And not just because I am gonna hit my birthday and Christmas in this change haha. Speaking of Christmas next week p-day will be Tuesday so that it's the same day as Christmas.

And speaking of Christmas we put the tree and the stockings up!

It's not the best light job haha I just kinda wrapped the lights around the little tree a few times but up close it looked super chafa.

The presents under the tree right now are a package from Grandma and Grandpa and Elder Adams has a couple Christmas presents too. He had more but he opened them. And his parents also sent down presents for his comp which is me! so that's where the stockings came from and also a pair of pajama pants and a tuk (which is what they call a beanie in Canada).

That's it for this week but I hope you all are super involved in Light the World!!

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5 Months - I Decided to Adopt

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              Subject: Decidí a adoptar                       

So first off sorry last weeks email was a little short. Elder Gadea had to go to the doctor in the morning and then we went to this place called cayalá for zone p-day. It was this mall/city place. The nicest mall I have ever been to in my life. It was all outdoors and was totally like Italy. I've never been to Italy but it just really felt like I was in italy when we were there. Then we took this bus back and the bus driver was SUPER crazy. Like they're crazy anyways but he was especially crazy. He almost crashed a few times but we got back safe and sound and after like 10 minutes my heart rate was back to normal. But don't worry the buses are usually a lot more tranquilo than that. So anyways we got back and I had barely anything of my email written on the alphasmart and didn't have time to finish it because Elder Gadea had to go to physical therapy. SO sorry it was kinda short last week with no pictures.

Right now Elder Gadea is in San Francisco. San Francisco Florida not California jaja (jaja is haha in español). One of the zones here in Guatemala is called Florida and one of the areas there is San Franscisco. So that is where Elder Gadea is right now and it's an area that is a lot smaller and flatter than Lo de Coy which will hopefully be a lot better on his knees. Keep him in your prayers. We had a good change together and when it ended we were really on fire! Elder Gadea sealed the deal with Marios baptism on saturday by himself! It was during the third hour of church. Mario said he had some questions for us and so what ended up happening is we did divisions during the third hour of church so he could answer Marios questions before church ended (his comp was the ward mission leader) and I went to the combined meeting with Priesthood and Relief Society about Ilumina El Mundo. Mario still had doubts about his baptismal date but Elder Gadea had a SUPER awesome lesson with him and sealded the deal and now he is so so ready and super excited about it. And I cannot wait for him to take this great step that is going to "be the best decision of his life"to quote Mario.

So Marios baptismal interview is tonight and then right after he has an interview with the bishop to get the aaronic priesthood. He is so pillas. I'll send you those pictures next wek!!

Which brings me to the next thing. Because of his interview Elder Erikson has to come here and we'll be on divisions. He is coming here with me because my new comp, Elder Adams doesn't know the area yet and he's never met the investigator Emmanuel that we are visiting tonight. Elder Adams is from the same group as Elder Gates, Elder Eriksons kid. So since him and Elder Gates both have only 6 weeks in the field I am finishing his training! Haha so tonight we're going to have 2 newbies together but I think they'll survive. When we got the call about changes I was super surprised that I am finishing his training. So wish me luck.

So I am his second dad. It was never in my plans to adopt but I am excited about it. So yeah I now have an adopted son.

Yesterday I went to the mission offices to go to the news training meeting and to pick him up. Elder Adams is from Canada! So now there are two Canadians in the zone.

Here is my last picture with Elder Gadea and another one with our matching ilumina el mundo tshirts

Also last week on p-day I got a couple Christmas packages!!

One from mom and dad and one from my grandparents. It was so awesome!! I open the one from mom and dad because the stuff wasn't wrapped. Plus I already knew what was in it but I'm saving the other one for Christmas!

This morning we went on a long hike to a place called Sendero Alux aka Cerro Alux as a zone for p-day and it was so cool!

 There was a really awesome view of all of Guatemala City

Also a pretty sweet pic with the Guate flag on my back

Also here's a picture of one of the volcanos.

There pictures of the view have another volcano in it. You can't see it super well in the picture but there was smoke coming out of it! Kinda cool haha.

So lots of great things happening here. I will hit Christmas and my birthday this change so that's also exciting. Learning a lot and the Lord's work is really progressing!! We're really going to work hard with Emmanuel this week so he can get baptized this month.

Also I've talked a little bit about Imulina el mundo. Of course you all know what it is but here in central america they are really emphasizing having a Noche de Hogar (family home evening) about christmas with someone who isn't a member (neighbor, family member, friends from work, etc) and really just sharing a message about Jesus Christ with them because that is what Christmas is all about. Not very many of you are in Central America and if you aren't I just want to invite you to do the same thing! Invite someone you're friends with to a family home evening and sing a christmas hymn, have a prayer, read Luke 2:1-16 and share you testimony about Jesus Christ and share the Light the World things with them. You can also use the videos the church made for each of the weeks of Light the World. As you do so you will be lighting the world and even if they aren't interested in the church you'll have blessed their lives. As members of the church we really are the light of the world but any light we have is light that comes from our Savior Jesus Christ. During Ilumina El Mundo my testimony of Jesus Christ has really been strengthening. I know that my Redeemer lives!!

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5 Months - Trainer!

We look forward to getting Joseph's emails on Wednesday, and it's always fun and exciting when we get some note or video on other days. Today we received an email from his mission President saying that he is getting a new companion tomorrow and will be a trainer! We are so excited for him! Here is the email from President Shumway -

 

 Dear Wride Family,

We are pleased to inform you that your son, Elder Wride, has been called to serve as trainer to Elder Adams  here in the Guatemala City South Mission. We are confident that your son will excel in fulfilling the duties of this important calling.

In this mission, we assign our best missionaries as trainers. This calling is the highest honor and most sacred responsibility. We depend on our trainers to teach new missionaries total obedience to the commandments and the mission rules, diligence, and enthusiasm for the work. Your son has displayed these and many other fine qualities which qualify him for this sacred trust to help set the stage for the rest of this new missionary's mission.

Your son will find this new calling as trainer to be challenging but very rewarding. We know he is up to the challenge. As he trains with dedication, he will be assisting in the rolling forth of the Lord's great latter-day work.

Thank you for sharing your fine son with us. We appreciate his willingness to serve the Lord in Guatemala.

With warm regards,

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 We are so excited for him! Looking forward to his email tomorrow!

5 Months - Ilumina el mundo

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    Subject: Ilumina El Mundo          

Hola amigos! So this week waas really good. It's really weirding me out that this is the last week of changes. This change has flown by so far.

I mentioned that missionary choir we're doing that the stake mission leader put together. So we've been practicing every p-day and every monday before district council and had our first two gigs on saturday. We sang, along with two other zones by this huge christmas tree in a place called obelisco. It wasn't nearly as good as skyline madrigals but so we sang and contacted and then sang again. We didn't have a piano to get a note from so it was kind of rough and I wished I'd brought my pitch-pipe with me on the misson haha. I'm not sure who put the whole thing together but apparently they did it last year too. It was fun but felt a little bit like not the best use of time as missionaries but we got some pillasish conacts. We went straight from there to the stake center where we performed for this company expo in the stake center. That one went a lot better because we actually had a piano and the guy who accompanaied us, Gustavo, is super good at piano. Since I had a little experience in choir and I got to direct both times when we sang and have also been directing when we practice. I think it helps us all stay together but they don't watch very well. Also they need to smile when they sing! Everything has been coming back from Mads last year! Also when we sang at obelisco with the other zones they gave us these cool ilumina el mundo (light the world) shirts 

Monday I went on divisions with Elder Erikson and it was the craziest day! We went to the baptism of an 8 year old kid from their ward but had to run back to the house to get baptismal clothes and it was super crazy! 

The most exciting thing that day was that Mario is now on date for Baptism again for the 15th!!! We had a lesson with him that night and it was super spiritual. 

Little update on the Martinez family. They are going to be gone all of december... que lastima. But they're still super pillas and I'm sure they will get baptized one day. Hopefully in January and hopefully I'll still be here in Lo de Coy. I don't have a whole lot of time left and didn't write much this morning so that's it for this week but I invite you all to invite someone to a family home evening that isn't a member. Love you all!!