October 17th 2011

Que Honda!?

Well to start off, my birthday was on Friday! haha funny story. The whole week has been crazy with investigators, problems, and zone conference so we had to organize all that stuff we had to do. Well when I woke up I can honestly say I totally forgot my birthday...yeah weird didn’t think that would ever happen. But we had to get up early and right away get stuff ready and prepare my talk and stuff like that so I totally spaced it. Around 10 o´clock in the morning I was looking at my agenda and noticed it was the 14th and just started laughing. Luckly it was zone conference because they brought all my packages and letters:) Thanks for the package!! it made my whole day, and I received some good letters and another package. I felt so loved! haha I am gonna enjoy the 5 pounds of M&M’s I have until the end of the mission!

OK, so zone conference was amazing. we had Elder Amado come, he is a general authority and one of the smartest people I have ever heard. He explained some good doctrine and weird random facts I didn’t know. like for example did any of you know that 80% of all baptisms of the world come from the American continent. crazy . but he talked about teaching the investigators and actually listening and answering, he explained that some times when they are talking we can perceive what they really want to know and ask but we need to just get out of routines that we have and adapt to what they actually need to hear. It was pretty good. Then he talked about all the doctrine of the general authorities and what everything meant. It was really cool to hear all the stuff they do. And of course the spirit was just amazing.

Just a quick thought. Those of you that haven’t read the Liahona or in the states the Ensign, you HAVE TO DO IT! That was probably the best one I have ever read in my life. It only talked about the Book of Mormon and I learned so much! luckily we had extra so I gave them to our investigators.

crazy story:

so we were walking home in the morning at 12 o´clock and we see the assistants in the suite store, so we go in and ask what there doing and they just stair at us with blank faces, so I asked what happened. They tell me that two guys had just stolen there car and everything in it like 20 min before . They took their cell phones, money, wallets, scriptures, packages, 5,000 quetz, and their cameras. The sisters just had a change and put in a trio and so they went to bring them desks and stuff like that. I guess two guys came with guns and robbed everything and told them if they called the police they would come back and kill them. So of course president Watts calls us right after and tells us that we have to get the sisters out of there as soon as we could. So we run over there and throw all there stuff in bags and suit cases and put it all in a members house. I talked to president this morning and he told me that he is moving the sisters to Coban (outside the capital) and putting in elders this Wednesday. haha so we have been super busy trying to find a house and get everything situated. Crazy stuff in G town.

well this last week we had a cool baptism. We activated this family and it so happened they had a 10 year old boy who wasn’t baptized so we got to baptize him on Saturday. Yes when all that stuff happened with the car and the sisters. but it all turned out good, it just started 2 hours late :)..our turn right?

Another cool story:

On Sunday we had some new investigators come to church. one of them we didn’t know, a member just brought him. After church he comes up to us and says ´hey I want you guys to teach me the stuff of your church because I want to get baptized´...what? !!! that was literally one of my dreams in the mission!! So today will be the first time we will teach him. His name is Juan, he’s 25, looks kind of scary but also really humble. The Lord is blessing us a lot these past couple of days. I love being on a mission and my love gets stronger every day. Love you all as well and thanks for your support.

PEACE OUT!!!!

ELDER TOOLSON

Changes Oct. 10, 2011

Well, I will start this letter off by telling you guys about changes. The assistants called us at 10 o`clock last night and told us all the zones changes. When they finished and asked if I had any questions... I said "oh you forgot my change" hahaha and they just laughed at me and said me and my comp were staying together for another change!! yep that means we will be completing 6 months together. I literally thought that would never happen to me in my mission. but with presidente, things are very very different. But hey if that’s what the Lord wants. Our companionship is fine, yes he annoys me sometimes but seriously, 6 months 24/7 with one person I would say I am doing pretty good with my patience right now. There is a lot of work to do here in my area and now that all the members love us its time to just dome rock the area :)

OK, well last week we had concilio with president and the assistants and of course it was amazing. we just talked a lot about the problems in the mission and what we need to do to clean it up, that includes obedient problems and stuff with investigators. and then for the best part we ate some REAL american food! sister W made us chicken parmesan with Caesar salad and garlic bread. yep she broke her own record because it was the best thing I have had in my mission. and then for desert we had cheese cake! haah she makes being ZL so worth it.

During the concilio president talked about a new rule. In this mission the missionaries cook for themselves. But president wants us to change that . we now have to find a little restaurant place to eat at every day for lunch, and only lunch. Which I am not gonna lie I don’t want to do. Because those of you that know latinos know that they put oil and butter in EVERYTHING they

eat. and I am trying to eat better and lose the fat on my belly :) but Luckily for me we have a cool place right next to our house that sells a bunch of stuff so I can choose what I want.

Well I finally went to the doctor. It was weird, usually the appointments are at like 10 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon. Well he wanted me to come by at 5 pm. its not that bad but when you live like more then an hour away by bus its kind of a hassle. So we get there and of course he shows up at 6 because he got stuck in traffic. but he told me that my rib pulled my muscle or something and that is why It is hurting by my shoulder blade and my chest. so he said the only thing I can do is just wait it out. Which scares me because he said it might be 3 months!! but i need to work out so we may have a problem. It is feeling a lot better. I am taking some pills to help and some cream. So this week and next week I am not going to work out so I can recuperate, then I am gonna to start up again.

This week is my 21st b-day :) but to be honest I think I am not going do anything. ha and I don’t like telling the members because then they think they have to feed me and now I am on a diet so its better if they dont. and we have zone conference on my birthday so pretty much its going to be a normal day. But today I felt like celebrating early so me and the zone are going to make some cakes! yes my favorite cherry chip cakes :) thanks mom! and the sisters are going to make me some pupusas. One of the sisters is from El Salvador.

I love my mission and its scaring me a little bit that its coming to an end, but I am determined to work my butt off so I can get lost in the work and not think about other things. love you family!!!

Elder Toolson