Hola from Patzi!

Last day serving with Elder Lanham in El Carmen

Hola Familia!

Well, it´s been an INTERESTING week to say the least! I´m still trying to get used to the SLOW PACED mountains! I feel hyperactive and like I can´t sit still here! Everything goes a little bit slower, and I can already tell it´s going to take some getting used to! We´re not running from appointment to appointment yet, but hopefully we can get things going and speed it up a little bit!

Sorry about the email last week, I´m not sure why but I had hardly any time at all to write! I have a LITTLE more time this week, so I´ll try to give you a few details of what´s going on and stuff!

My companion is Elder Cano, he is from Honduras, and is one of the best missionaries i´ve met. He is an INCREDIBLE leader, and i´m pretty sure they took him down as Zone Leader so that he can turn this stake around. I´ve already learned so much from him, and i´m looking forward to learning even more! This is his last change in the mission, so we´re just trying to keep from getting ¨baggy¨and we´re working hard!

It´s true Dad, I´m a lot closer to the Lake Atitlan. Actually, we´re doing divisions with the Zone Leaders on Wednesday, so i´ll be staying in the house that overlooks Lake Atitlan! It sounds like I´ll have plenty of chances to get over to see the lake! How crazy is that? I´m really excited to see it!




We had 3 baptisms in El Carmen the day before I left. We baptized The Barahona Family. They made a big huge picture with a letter for me and framed it, i´ll have to take a picture and show you, it´s incredible. I´m not going to lie it was a hard day, but one of the best days ever. I found out that Erick (The bolo Elder Lanham and I found) is getting the Priesthood, and that Deidy was called to work in the Young Womens Presidency! There aren´t words to describe the feelings that come when I think about those converts who are really thriving and gaining testimonies! We had another family of 5 ready, (Marco and Aura) but I haven´t heard what happened with them. I hope they´re all happily baptized and living the dream!

Just in knocking doors and contacting, I can see how different this area is. The people are VERY strong in their beliefs and customs. It is REALLY hard to get into a house, but I honestly think the missionaries here are telling themselves it´s harder than it is. There are prepared people here, we just have to find them! Pray for us on that one! The people in the ward have been very nice, and it´s been a great experience. It is awesome to see all of the ladies wearing their corte (native dress) to sacrament meeting! It´s VERY colorful. Haha.

Yesterday Elder Clark from the Quorum of the 70 just decided to show up to our ward looking for the gospel principles class… Well, when there aren´t any investigators, there isn´t a gospel principles class. We have a baptismal date already but they couldn´t make it to church! Well, he gave us a little bit of a chew out in front of a Sunday school class! It was really interesting, but we´re going to change a few things that are happening in the ward and everything will be great. I learned a lot and i´m really thankful for that!

Mom, I´m probably going to need another sweater like the one I have. I can get a hoodie sweatshirt here, but I LOVE my gray sweater i´ve been using. If you could send me a black one that would be awesome! Just that, and as always, PICTURES! There is nothing better than a bunch of pictures.

I had to totally clean the house, it was a DISASTER, but it´s really looking good now, I like it! The toilets are out in the back yard, as well as the shower. Can I just tell you, this already has been the experience of a lifetime! I am SO happy, and I LOVE missionary work. I already want to start my mission over with the knowledge i´ve gained and just be that much better! I´m just doing my best to THRIVE, to ENJOY, and to MAKE THE MOST out of every moment. If I can do that, even when the times get hard, I can be constantly learning and growing. I love that. DO IT!

I love you all so much and miss you a ton. Keep sending letters and packages I love hearing from home!

See ya soon!

Elder Micah Melville