week71 No letter until 12/24 to let us know when he is going to call

No letter until 12/24 to let us know when he is going  to call.

YIPEE!!

week 70 La Kennedy

SO my new area is super cool. Also I have discovered that if I hand out candies while contacting, people tend to be more positive, who would´ve known. 

So it´s true what I heard. The baleadas here in the Kennedy really are the best. They are ridiculously good.

Right now I am in a trio, maybe I´ll take a pic. But it´s only been for a few days. My new companion is Elder Padilla. He is a new missionary, waiting for his visa to go to Mexico in January. So this will be my 5th companion that is new. Woohoo. 

My area is super small, in fact I drew a map of the area in my agenda. It´s THAT small. But it´s great.

Don´t have a lot of time to write, love you all hope you all have a rad week.

Love, Jake.

Lazer Cat, Hna Aplicano my grandma, Alice, my best friend´s daughter, AND this is what a pulperia is with my favorite pulp owner. And Elder Gamez creeped up on me.

week 69 La Kennedy

Changes Changes Changes

So I`m peacing out of the mountain, and heading out to La Kennedy. It`s actually not that far away from where I am right now, but supposedly it`s a really nice area. So, cool.

My new companion is Elder Fonseca, he is actually in a pic with me from earlier, when I jumped super high, yeah. That pic. He is from here in Teguc, he`s just waiting for his visa to go to Canada on his mission. 

I went and said goodbye to a bunch of members yesterday, and said goodbye to my abuelita Hna Aplicano and she gave me a big hug. I love her. She told me to make friends with her grand daughter in the states, her name is Andrea Gourley and she goes to BYUI cough cough Eryn look her up.

I`m just pumped for my changes really.

This fast Sunday, Alejandro got up to bear his testimony :`) I died.

It`s just been a great week. Hope the pics convey that.

OH also, well there was a Consejo this week. Basically just a leadership meeting that I went to, and it was cool. But the crazy thing was this infestation of grasshoppers. I forgot to take pics the day of, but this is the day after, when they were all dead. There were so many it was crazy, the picture shows nothing.

week 68 Brother Banegas

So I sent the pictures early... but here is the big email for you guys.

This was a really interesting week. This week Alejandro got baptized. But not without the mission leader making a scene. It`s really funny because my ward mission leader HATES me. And doesn`t come to church anymore. But he showed up at the baptism and shakes everyone`s hand BUT MINE. Alejandro was getting baptized and at the same time an 8 year old girl was getting baptized by her dad, but when it was time for her to get baptized the mission leader starts yelling at me for the (Registro) paperwork? for her to get baptized, and I told him that she didn`t need it from me because she wasn`t an investigator, and then he starts yelling and saying that we have to cancel her baptism and that it`s my fault and blah blah blah. It was pretty embarrassing for him when he realized that she really didn`t need a (Registro). 

SO. Good thing is that Alejandro didn`t get too annoyed, although he did complain after the baptism. It was still good. He was so ready. The funniest thing in the WORLD is that the first Sunday that he showed up to church, he literally said. ``I`m not here to be baptized, I just wanna learn more about your church.`` Which is funny, because he gave his testimony in Elder`s Quorum on Sunday and quoted himself. Super funny.

Also, I bought a super killer new blanket. It has dolphins. I will send a pic next week.

UM. I played baseball today and my team won, which was cool.

The next most exciting thing in my life are probably these coupons I have for Burger King that are killer deals. Like 50% discounts and 56% discounts and it`s dope. Because Burger King here is actually good, (no offense US BK) but it`s actually better than McDonald's here.

Love you guys

week 67 Don't Talk Like a Mexican

There is this horrible curse in the mission, where you pick up the slang that your companion uses. Unfortunately for the first time ever my companion is a Mexican, and now I cannot stop saying things like, "No Manches," and "Orale" and finishing every sentence with calling my companion, "loco."

But the good news is that this week Alejandro is getting baptized. He already passed the pre interviews and everything. The Zone Leaders are going to come to the chapel with me this Thursday to interview him and then everything will be set.

Tomorrow are house inspections so today I cleaned the house.

This week  I had a cool moment. I was on divisions with the Zone Leaders because I had to do a baptismal interview for them. Afterwards, Elder Pineda (Guatemala) and I decided to contact the next door neighbors. We entered and spoke with them for a moment, inviting them to the baptism, when the topic of the woman`s hometown came up out of nowhere. She said that she was from OROCUINA. As in MY FIRST AREA IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE OVER A YEAR AGO. And so we start talking and she tells me she is from this part of Orocuina that is super puny and I asked her if she knew the familia Batres Amador that lives in that tiny spot. Not only did she say yes, but HER HUSBAND IS FROM THE FAMILY BATRES AMADOR. SHE IS THE AUNT OF MY TWO CONVERTS WILMA AND MILTON. SHE THEN SAID OH WAIT YOU`RE THAT ELDER ANDERSON? THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT YOU.

Best day of my entire mission.

Church is true. Love you all. Will send photos next week.

week 66: Sick

This last week was pretty good. We had interviews on Thursday with President Bowler, and I was supposed to give a class. I prepared pretty much the best class in the world but then on Wednesday night they called me and gave me a topic at 930, so I had to change my class completely, but it was still a decent class. 

I have had a really bad cough since Tuesday, don`t know what`s wrong, but it`s gotten a whole lot better since Saturday.

Alejandro has a baptismal date for the 26th.

We have 2 new families we teach, and had 5 investigators in church this week.

Today I wasn`t feeling up to going to the Pday activity, so I just went with my companion so he could go buy stuff.

Our church attendance this week was 109, which was a huge jump, and there wasn`t even a primary program or anything.

I had a great week, but overall I`ve just been sick. So I hope I get better soon and hope you all have a great week.

hope this is the right pic and not some random one from this computer.

Week 65 Picacho

So nobody sent me any pictures from today, so you`ll have to wait on those.

Just going to talk about this new family we`re teaching and then I`m going home.

The mom is Marjory, she is incredibly positive, she has 4 kids that are 13, 10, 5 and 2. Her husband died from a gunshot this year when he was assaulted and robbed. She has been really struggling since but has really accepted and held on to the gospel. This Sunday she couldn`t come to church, but she sent her son so he could keep learning. They are incredibly positive and we teach them in the bishops house. Love them to death. Alejandro asked me if it would be possible if he could serve a mission, but he is too old and got super bummed out. He`ll get baptized any day he wants. 

this week we have interviews SO we`ll see what I end up teaching haha. Anyway everything is going great. Take care.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

This is Jake's mom.  Last night I got a text from someone at Smiles for Central America.  They said that Jake helped them with a service project and they wanted to let his dad and I know that he's healthy and happy .  This made my week.

Week 64 Trick O Treat

This Wednesday we went to the chapel on the temple grounds in Comayagüela with the other mission to listen to Elder Oaks. Being part of the choir was the biggest bonus, because I got to sit in the second row in a hall of 400 missionaries. We sang, listened to a bunch of speakers and to Elder Oaks, who probably gave the best talk I`ve heard in my whole mission. Honestly wish it was recorded, cause it was that good. One part in particular made me laugh super hard. He began his talk by telling us to forget about drama back at home, family problems and everything, and then said, ``Forget about the US Presidential Election...

... I wish I could.`` 

And the entire american part of the congregation broke up laughing super hard. It was a great talk, and really motivational.

Alejandro is back with his girlfriend, the bishop`s daughter, and I`m actually pretty sure he`s going to get baptized. We showed up to the chapel on Friday to meet up with him and he whips out the book of mormon, which was completely marked up to Mosiah and starts making questions. We challenged him to baptism and he said yes, and we tried to put a date AND he wants to get an answer to his prayer first, SO if anyone has any suggestions, lmk.

On Saturday we went to a Stake Talent Show which was fun. Not fun for the talents but fun to watch people mess around on stage. There was one guy who was actually a decent singer. 

Today we played a ton of volleyball. Like a ton. At first we played 3 teams of 6 switching off every 5 pts, then after 2 hrs almost everybody left and we played 4 on 4, and then THEY left and we stayed 2 on 2, Elder Rogers, my homeboy from Skyharbor Airport, and I against Elder Harris, who played volleyball in college with his comp from Cancun. I don`t know how we did it, but Elder Rogers and I won in the last game 15-13, but probably because of Elder Harris` companion, cause Elder Harris is waaaaaaaaaay too good.

I survived a couple days straight without spending any money, which was a miracle but today the quincena came. So I`m going to go buy food again, so I can live :-) 

Two temple pics, my companion and I while I was playing volleyball and he was chatting inside and then me sneaking into a pic from behind outjumping Hernandez and Fonseca.

week 63 Reppin Reparto

HEEEEEY

So first things first. I didn`t have changes, dope. Staying in Reparto. So that`s super cool... Actually I am super excited because I have a lot of progressing investigators and I have a lot of people who are incredible(ly frustrating.)

Anyway this week was super complicated, because I had to do baptismal interviews and I had to go up again to Hermano Trimiño`s house and I have been ALL OVER TEGUCIGALPA. But anyway, I just got my suit today and it looks SO fly. I feel like James Bond.

Also I was recommended by President to be in a missionary choir for this Wednesday because Elder Oaks is coming to the mission. There are only 7 of us singing, so I feel pretty bad for the mission that our singers are so bad that they chose me. SO. Well, actually we had a practice/rehearsal today and we honestly killed it. We sounded so good.

So about the camera, I had a member charge my batteries, and he gave me one of them back, but he messed up and gave me a battery that was uncharged SO I am without pictures.

President Bowler came to my district meeting this week and stayed in my class. The good thing is that my class went really well and he really liked my class, cause it was interactive and fun and a learning experience. I was nervous but at least it went well!

Lisbet has a boyfriend now, so I`m livid. Alejandro is back with the bishops daughter, so I`m happy. 

Life is awesome.

Have a great week.

week 62

This week was super busy.

On Wednesday we went on divisions with the Zone Leaders, I went out to work with Elder Javier who goes home in like a week, and Elder Coyotl went out with Elder Akubeze. Elder Javier and I went out to eat dinner in the house of Hermano Trimiño.

I had heard that Hermano Trimiño had a nice house (was rich) a long time ago, but I had never gone to his house, and he doesn`t have a very nice car, but at least he has one... so... but anyway that night he picks Elder Javier and I up to go to his house. On the way we pass by the ambassador`s house for the US, Denmark, Japan, South Korea, and I thought ``oh shoot.`` as we pass by the nicest houses I`ve ever seen (in Honduras). So my expectations shot up pretty high, Elder Javier and I both look at each other and telepathically say to each other, ´´dope, bro.``...

until we turn off on a dirt road and went right back into reality. About 15 minutes later in the mountains, I was almost 100% sure that I was having rice and beans again for dinner. I had almost fallen asleep when Hno Trimiño tells me that we had almost arrived. A few minutes later at the end of a dirt road in the middle of the mountains surrounding Tegucigalpa we come up on a big yellow house with a fountain on the courtyard. He gives us a quick tour of the house showing the forum and collonade in his backyard, the jacuzi in his house, and his super old piano from 1905. Immediately I have hope again for a good dinner, as I play some songs on the piano. The hno goes into the kitchen and grabs his fifteen year old son and we start talking. and it`s at this moment that he says, ´´My son is making us dinner tonight.´´ Instantly went into That`s So Raven mode, seeing my future plate full of rice, beans and eggs, and accepted my fate.

To make a long story short cause I am sincerely tired of typing.

the best cook in Honduras is a 15 year old in Hatillo.

Thursday was district meeting and it was super chill, but afterwards I had to go do baptismal interviews for a lot of people, and ended up staying the night of the house of the Elders of the 21 de Octubre. So Friday morning I finally got back to my area, and went to work like normal.

Alejandro is doing super well, but his girlfriend, the bishops daughter, just told them she wants to go on a break, so he is super worried right now, and I`m just trying to teach him the Gospel.

Lisbet`s baptismal date`s been moved.

On Saturday I got up at 5 to go plant trees in the mountains and it was super fun.

week 61 Erry Day

SO for those of you who receive voice recordings, you will all know why I don`t have many pictures also, you will probably hear my from my angriest moment in the mission so... That is that. But anyway Chile is the worst.

So Alejandro is SO RIDICULOUSLY POSITIVE. But he won`t get baptized. Like he is killing me. I love this guy so much cause he is sooo smart and so cool, but he just doesn`t feel like he knows it`s true and he doesn`t feel like he knows enough. I read Acts 8 (I think it is acts 8) towards the end of the chapter with him yesterday, and explained that he just needed to believe in JC, and he felt the spirit and I felt it, and I challenged him to be baptized again and he said NO. To be honest I was so surprised, but it`s OK. I`m sure he`ll get baptized, I`m not sure I`ll still be here, but the blessings are the same. Right now I am trying not to push him too hard, because I don`t want him to feel anything other than the spirit, but legit anyone who has served a mission knows that there are some killer people who are so ready but don`t realize how awesome they are. But ANYWAY. Love that guy.

So after a week without water, we got it back and now I have clean clothes and take daily showers and stuff, so that is GREAT.

Yesterday we had a meeting with all the Bishops, Bishoprics, Mission Leaders and Missionaries in the stake with the Stake President and Mission President. And it was a great meeting, but I don`t feel like it changed a whole lot in my ward. But it was cool.

Today for Pday we played Basketball, and honestly I am so bad, it is ridiculous, and then we played Soccer and well I am actually not that bad. Then we went to Denny`s for Elder Akubeze`s birthday and then I went to the Centro to find a universal charger and an SD converter but I couldn`t find either so WELP my life.

Anyway, I love you guys so much, I had a really great week and I hope you guys did too.

Pic with Elder Mckee

Pic with Elder Figueroa

Pic with Elder Forsyth, Coyotl and Figueroa