Start of a New Area

      Hello Family!  What a week, that`s really all I can say!  My first mission transfer in the field, and I survived!  Haha but really, it has been a pretty interesting week trying to get to know a new area with new companions and new members, but I`ve been working to get to know where I am in the world!  And it has turned out to be a pretty good week!

     So, first things first, my new area is called Chinique!  It is in the Zone Quichè, and you can actually find this city on the map! (Just for you Dad!)  It is a little village/town place, with a population of about 800 people.  Not gonna lie, I was afraid of being sent to a big city, because I love working in the small cities and the Aldeas (like Pancà), but Chinique is just perfect for me!  And my new companion is named Elder Riera, from Honduras.  Also, we split the city with two other elders, Elder Cruz and Elder Berrios.  Not gonna lie, my first couple days in Chinique were a little rough, but I was expecting it to be like that, because it was my first transfer!  I didn`t really know where I was.  But now I kind of have a feeling of where people live and what we can do, so I can help out now!  

     The missionary work here in a city-type place is a lot different than Pancà ever was.  In Pancà, I think that I knocked a total of about 5 doors in 6 months.  (Probably because they don`t really have doors... haha)  But here in Chinique, we only have two active member families that live in the city, so we spend a lot of time knocking doors.  And it has turned out to go pretty well!  I am learning a lot about how to work in the city now, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn so much here!  There actually is an aldea right to the north of us that we go and visit about twice a month, so when we visit it, I will be sure to let you know how it goes!

     We have also been super blessed with the success that we are having!  When I got here, we didn`t have anyone with baptismal dates, and as of now, we have two baptismal dates for the 23 of March!  And one of them was with a lady that we found my first day here!  How awesome is that?!?  So the work is going forward like none other, and it makes me realize now more than ever that I love this work!!!!!  I am so proud to be a missionary!

     So a pretty fun-filled week for me and for you guys also, from what I hear in your emails!  Glad to hear that you are all having a blast, and thank you so much again for writing me every week!  I love you all!!!  Until Next Time!  

    - Elder Stuart

     P.S.  The scripture for this week is Mosiah 16:9.  Jesus Christ is our light, and we are so blessed to have him in our life.  I choose this one, but I actually was reading all of what Abinadi taught.  So if you have extra time, read from Mosiah 11 until Mosiah 17.  (Abinadi is such a boss!!!)

My First Six Weeks!

Hello Family!  Well, I have officially reached my first transfer period in the mission field, even though I`m not going to transfer.  It still feels good to have reached this point though!  I seem to have had a lot of success recently, I hope that it continues to be this way!

     Well, first things first, our baptisms went through!  On the 18, four of the Pu Imul kids get baptized, and we also had one kid from the Pu Mejia family that got baptized.  He didn`t get baptized when the rest of his family did, because he didn`t have enough attendences to church, but he did now, so he got baptized!  So that`s FIVE baptisms!  That is five souls that have come closer to Christ.  It feels so good having helped with it also!  It was so cool to see them so happy and filled with the spirit!  Usually, the Pu Imul kids are so serious and hardly look you in the eye, but at the baptism, they were so happy and laughing and just having a good time!  That just shows how much the Gospel of Jesus Christ can do for you!  That is why I love being a missionary so much!  I have to opportunity to spend two years doing this work, seeing the gospel change lives, and just being closer to my Savior!

     Other than that though, not much has happened.  We have just been visiting other less active members, active members, doing service, and such.  We do have a family that we are still working with to get the kids baptized.  The mom is not active at all, but the Dad is.  He actually just called to be the second counselor in the Branch Presidency this week, so hopefully that will help the kids realize how important the Gospel is to their Dad, and will make them want to participate more!

     We just got here to Momos for P-Day, and just got back from helping all the new missionaries to this area carry their bags to wait at the Zone Leader`s house until they can get to their respective areas.  So we are going to have some new faces here in the Zone of Momostenango!  I`m still in the same area, so not much will change, just the missionaries in their respective areas.

     Well, I`m still doing great, continuing doing the work of the Lord!  I love it here, and am ready for another week!  Until Next Time!

     - Elder Stuart