It’s time to come home

Last email.
Haha I was honestly thinking of just writing see you later and sending only that, but I can’t even contain how I feel right now. With your emails and Brandyn's email I might have just gone off the deep end of all bagginess. Just kidding. This week has gone by fast, every day I surprised myself de nuevo by finding that I have a day less. No, in all seriousness I haven’t been very baggy in the least. Mom, I know you would like to hear that I did some crazy miracle or save somebody’s soul for staying a month longer, but I seemed to just work like normal. I do want to know and I hope that everyone is listening I do feel so very strongly in my chest that whatever it is that God wanted me to do here I have done with success. It’s time to come home.

I’m so happy to come home now, I’m so happy that Elder Moran was my last companion, that this was my last area and that I have so many loved ones waiting on the other side to see me. I saw President Watts yesterday in Stake Conference and he told me that Wednesday at 4 I will be downtown-game over. Just p-day and goodbye-day left and well...25 months and closing. Ok I’m going to try to stop sounding so darn baggy, although when we did do divisions with the Zone Leaders I woke up that other morning more baggy than ever, and the day after I had such a good dream. The dream consisted of me spending the entire night with you guys and with Brandyn, and when I woke up I felt refreshed and ready to go ahead and finish working, I had already spent time with you guys and now I could work. I have felt really happy lately, and really tempted to look at movies and things, but that won’t be for too long. Dang more baggy comments, sorry.

That’s so great that Scott was elected team captain of the VARSITY TEAM as a sophomore! I’m going to go gloat about it for 2 days until I come back. Elder Moran says you are all going to freak out when I get back and see how skinny I am. He offered to give me a tighter white shirt that isn’t so yellow under the arms so I look skinnier. Btw I got your package we used the glow sticks to make some cool nighttime pictures. Wow I’m really out of things to write, I guess I'll just have to tell you the rest...
THURSDAY.
Too much love,
Elder Bronson

This is my last full work week

Wow that was quite an email haha
ohhhh one and a half weeks left, I’ve been doing pretty well not being baggy incredibly and there have been some mornings when I wake up or other things that happen and I get baggy-attacks but they leave after a few minutes. This week has been a rough one, not a single new investigator! Uh oh, but we did find a kid named Pedro who is inactive and fighting to become so. He was feeling pretty hopeless and started to pray to God for a sign of help and we showed up at the door and gave him some inspired passages in the Book of Mormon and he is pretty animated. I don’t know if I had already told you about him haha. Ok some of our investigators are coming out of their deep pits of difficulties. Lidias ¨girlfriend¨ left her and she was pretty torn apart from that but we helped her see that it’s all part of Gods great plan that she puts her life into harmony with the Gospel. She took it very well. Other investigators Alex and Diana who need to divorce from prior spouses and get married again are having some nasty money issues, poor Alex´s work only gives him the equivalent a little over 100 dollars a month and the divorce in and of itself is about 200. Other investigators have been highly blessed and prepared by the Lord so we will see what happens.

Today was a fun little adventure! we decided to have ¨breakfast¨ in Los Olivos, the sister missionaries area with them and two other elders at around 11 haha pancakes eggs and beans and frenchbread, afterwards we hiked over a mountain to find ourselves in a completely new part of the capital that none of us have ever been in, zone 6. We found our way out pretty easy but the clime! Ouch! Those poor people live on a mountainside and climbing the thing was tough. About 4 hours after started the picnic we found ourselves once again at Wal-Mart. hurray! This week we also had a pioneer activity that turned out pretty well. We started with games from the pioneers: stickpull, clothes washing rally, 3 legged race, sack race, tug of war and bobbing for apples. We then had a spiritual moment watching the 20 in long video of the Restoration about Joseph Smith, the primary sang some pioneer songs and all the missionaries gave their testimonies. We ended with a little bit of potatoes with cream and ham.

Hmmm what else to talk about? This is my last full work week, and next Monday is my last time writing you guys from Guatemala. I’m still pretty nervous about coming back, what will I do? Work, school, ladies...the complicated life. No more lessons with members present, to more stressing about contacting enough people or finding new investigators to put baptismal dates with. Just normal dates...hey I don’t really know about the citizenship thing, I would like to so to make it much easier to come back, but I have absolutly NO idea how to even do that. Sounds like something with a lot of time and papers... but if there is a way I’m down with doing it.

The package you send me got here but I don’t have it yet, the zone leaders still do, but I should be able to recover it soon enough to enjoy the most of it. I think I’m planning on taking Kori´s jacket home so I’ll have a coat still. Haha it’s really big but really warm. Que mas que mas? Well if I did something else that was cool I’ll remember it next week haha. Love you all can’t wait to see you all in the airport!!

SO MUCH LOVE
keep the faith haha
ELDER Andrew James Bronson

baptism might just be a bit more of a heavenly miracle than I possibly had thought

Dang that’s a bit of a baggy email, I can imagine me crying out from the joy of seeing everyone again when I get back haha. To see everyone again...hmmm I’m going to keep working and we will have baggy times when I’m done. It’s honestly kinda strange that I see missionaries that have come to their last change and they are all saying that they are ¨baggy¨. I can hardly even imagine what that feels like, when things should put me baggy, they animate me to work harder! Even so, I do feel like the wimpiest member of my group, they are all so strong and I still feel like a little kid sometimes heheh...ooy

MOM! FORGIVE ME!  We went to central market today to buy a ton of stuff, (p.s. the money that came out of my account was me, the machine only lets you take out a certain amount and the other amount I thought was going to be too small) and I bought you a skirt...but I didn’t know you wanted a Corte skirt!  Those things are a lot more expensive, and a ton more flashy and I wasn’t sure if that’s the thing you wanted so I bought you a different type of tipica skirt, a native looking Guatemalan skirt but it isn’t Corte, nor did I buy you wipil, (the top part of the Corte) because I didn’t buy the bottom part, but oh well, sorry mum, the skirt still looks good.  Oh and Sorry to Elder Winkle also, I wish will all my heart that I could have been on the plane sitting right next to you, but there must be SOMETHING here for me to do, and I have absolutely no idea what it is. We´ll make up for it when I get back.

Well a crazy week, a lot of investigators are now facing a lot of difficulties, accusations of murder, lesbianism, 2000 Quetzal visas to pay for..Ayy baptism might just be a bit more of a heavenly miracle than I possibly had thought. Things go incredibly with Elder Moran, I’m so glad I can end my mission with him still. Plus, he has good music. Family, my camera is suffering the 2-years-in-guatemala syndrome and is trying to die, at the same time Elder Mendiz is offering to buy it because he doesn’t have one; I think I’m going to sell it to him, just to let you know. I don’t know how much longer it’s going to last anyway, poor thing.

Crazy happening, my companion stole the little bit of Capn Crunch that I had left and so I was chasing him around the house for it. At one point he ran into our bedroom and tried to slam the door behind him. Our door has little glass panels on it, and when I reached out to keep the door open my hand crashed through the glass panel! Miraculously nearly no more damage than a couple of light scrapes and a little cut in my left arm. Nothing big. I retrieved my Capn Crunch.

Last Wednesday was a very trying day, I was happy to see my friends again, but so sad to see them go without me. The worst was when I greeted Elder Hatch; he started talking about where we need to put our bags and what we were going to do that day. I had to tell him that I wasn’t going with them all, that I still was going to stay. I got kinda teary upon saying it so I fled haha my companion came and cheered me up. Next, the LAST TESITMONY. I cried, I admit it. Mom, your darn genes got me good. My testimony was pretty short, maybe 30 or 40 seconds long before I got too emotional and just said in the name of Jesus Christ amen. I love my group so much, we are so united! Thanks Elder Lusty for making sure that I wasn’t the only missionary to cry giving his testimony that day, but you were better about holding it together haha.

Mondays are now the most exiting day, I don’t know why but I’m always SO EXITED for email time! I get to talk with my family and friends; soon I will be able to do that whenever I want! COOL! something good that I’ve noticed is that since me and Elder Moran have been keeping ourselves healthier and eating so, instead of being in the mood for a snack and looking for something naughty, I just have cravings for fruit! Mango, especially green mango covered in lemon juice, banana, apple, pineapple (I absolutely LOVE pineapple now) papaya or whatever other kind that we have in the house. Eating healthy rocks!

Hey I would send you pictures but this darn computer doesn’t even have an usb port, maybe I’ll snag my comps computer, we will see. I love you all so much and hope not to cry when I step off the plane and see you all; it’s going to be crazy! I can’t wait! TIME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL
So much flippin amour
Bronson

Friday the 10th, my 24 month mark my district threw me a surprise party!

WELL WELL WELL
another week in GUATEMALA CITY NORTH MISSION.
News on changes - no changes! President couldn’t find a good place to put me in a trio of missionaries so I’m stickin it out here until I ¨die¨ mission-wise. We were originally thinking of going to central market today but plans fell through and I’m glad they did because now I know what to get you guys. Elder Moran will be staying with me in Santa Elena until having to bring in a new guy march 8th. Oh Feliz dia de cariño everyone, Happy Valentine’s Day.

An eventful week, Lusbin and Alma did not get married, in fact they have been having difficulties but we are planning big for them and putting our trust in the Lord. Turns out that Alma doesn’t really want to get baptized, Lusbin does but he’s the weaker link of the chain so we are going to try to bring them both into the fold at the same time if possible. We have many other baptism dates here and we are feeling sumamente bendecido highly blessed as we go about the work. as for baptisms in my mission they are few but numbers never counted.

This week has been quite eventful. With Max R., a giant police officer investigator we watched a Christian movie about some police who made an oath to be better fathers and husbands, the main police officers kid looked JUST LIKE BRANDYN I could hardly focus on the plot just thinking dang he looks JUST like Brandyn! Dang! Just like him!  We had been fasting with him so that he can receive an answer, we believe he has already received one but doesn’t believe it himself.

Oh here’s a good one- Friday the 10th, my 24 month mark my district threw me a surprise party! It was incredible haha they totally got me. Lasagna, desert, a piñata of Minnie Mouse as my ¨girlfriend¨ now that I have 2 years here in the mission and they made me propose.  Ughh I can't believe they got me to do that but the party was GREAT. The day before my companion had cooked me an incredible lunch as well. I have felt really blessed this week.

Last night we visited a member who gave us dinner and she told us about when she was sick. She has two kids on missions right now, one in Quetzaltenango Guate and the other in Peru. When the first left and the other was preparing she had gotten deathly sick.  She told us that when she was in the hospital she saw the spirit of a small child that told her to come with him, he followed her around all the time until she got better. She said that it didn’t scare her, but she felt happy, only telling him that her boys here need her still. She has recovered a great deal, much much more than the doctors thought possible. What blessings she must be receiving having 2 missionaries out in the field at the same time, wow.

Hey I have been thinking about my return day dinner and I think that I do want to go to Litzas Pizza, renting out the big ol party room just like what we did when Dad had his birthday. I have a lot of friends that are telling me that they can’t wait to see me again, I’m so exited for the 8th of March, it’s going to be an incredible day! Until then I have to keep working so hard! I’m going to open my mouth to talk to more people; I’m going to be praying and fasting a lot in these next 3 or so weeks, looking for my purpose in extending haha! It’s nearly time! LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU!!
Elder Andrew James Bronson

I AM going to find this lost soul

My goodness mom can you try to make me baggier please?

Just kidding, but it doesn’t help seeing PARKER in an airport DANG.
Ok, no honestly I don’t know why but today I have felt a little bit more baggyish maybe for constantly thinking of how I would feel if I hadn’t extended the mission haha not a smart thing to think about right? Hehehe SO really you just helped me a TON mom, thanks so much. I was feeling a little low on animo until you wrote about that lost soul who is waiting for me and BAM!! SPIRIT!!! Mom, guys, somebody is waiting for me and I need to find him or her, my spirit sibling that needs my help! Wow seriously I just got some serious excitement going whooo! I AM going to find this lost soul. I’m also exited for the package, hope it comes before I leave...

Alrighty then about the clothes, I was honestly thinking about getting rid of all the old smelly church clothes and only bring one or two pairs, but as for p-day clothes I have a tiny bit. Let’s see, I have I think around 9 shirts (one of them my pajama shirt) and  one pair of long pants, one pair of shorts, one pair of gym shorts and one pair of pajama pants. Maybe 3 pairs of white socks, my original work-out running shoes that you guys bought me the day I entered into the MTC in Provo still in really good condition. My foot size has not changed, still a 10 1/2. Pant size, waist 30 length I don’t know, maybe 32-33ish...shirts a little bit smaller, tighter. I hope I'm going to be able to buy garments before coming home; they are a ton cheaper here. As for ties ooooie, maybe around 40 or more, if somebody wants a cool tie... today we went to the Megapaca a giant imported clothes store and I didn’t buy anything, I couldn’t find any other pants that fit me but oh well.  Hey I’m going to let you guys know that I’m selling my iPod to another elder who needs one pretty bad, it’s really old and sometimes a bit slow but it should work alright for him so I feel alright selling it. I will have to consegir uno cuando vengo...

Soooo another week FLYS by with Elder Moran and life is great working like crazy and laughing our heads off always. Last night we felt the spirit so strong!! We have a family who has plans to get married this Saturday the 11th of February but Saturday night Lusbin, the  prospective husband disappeared for the whole night and left his wife worried like CRAZY they had even committed to come to church but didn’t  because he didn’t show up until  Sunday afternoon. We asked him why and he gave us some sort of story about doing something with friends and not having time to come back to the house so he stayed the night, but we weren’t very sure haha. We taught him about agency, 2 Nephi 2:27 and wow it hit home.  Elder Moran bore his testimony of how  wickedness never is happiness explaining a bit about what he has had to go through repenting and the spirit was SOOO STRONG I cried, and so did they. They said that they are going to pray a lot from now on and work better to choose the right.

This week I did some baptismal interviews for the investigators of the Zone Leaders and the spirit was also strong, the spirit of discernment is something real, I testify. Right now we have 7 investigators with baptismal dates planed and for here that’s a pretty good number, not to boast or brag but just to prove that we are working. Can you guys believe that in 4 days I will have 2 full years as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints? I have thought a couple times if it was truly what I needed to do ask for an extension and what it would be like if I didn’t but in the moment that I think that I have a strange almost fearful feeling knowing that there is something SO IMPORTANT that I need to do here even though I don’t completely understand what it is that God wants from me. I don’t know if they are going to change me to another area this last change or if I will stay here to see all these people get baptized or what. I will definitely be praying a ton these weeks before coming home.

I do honestly love you all so much I ask that you would all take care of yourselves and choose the right, read your scriptures, pray. You will all be blessed beyond your wildest dreams if you just put into practice the little commandments of Heavenly Father. I love you so much more than I can say.

Until next week

Please don’t freak
You will get a peek
Of  BRONSON

my official release date is -March 9th-

FAMILY TIME!
Hey guys another week goes by here in Santa Elena, and as I just emailed my official release date is -March 9th- and it seems so close and yet so far away. Some days I feel homesick and other days I don’t want to go home. sometimes I don’t want it to end and others I just want to get home so my head has felt like a dryer this week as its been tumbling between the two worlds but it’s not really that difficult to push baggy thoughts out of my mind, plus, God helps me out a bit. This week A. Garcia got baptized by Elder Mendiz who came up from Lomas Del Norte with Elder McPhee to perform the baptism. The service was shaky basically nobody showed up from the ward but we had an investigator come and there was delicious cake. I’m pretty sure the devil did NOT want that kid to get baptized because he did EVERYTHING in his power to stop the thing. Everything we planned something or every time we had something special for him or his family something abnormal would come up and it would flop. More than a coincidence.

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm wow one paragraph and I’m empty I’m sure I have gone through more than that this week. This week we found a new family to teach and they now have a baptismal date that we are going to have to move back because they she needs to divorce and they need to marry to comply with the law of chastity. They came to church and they are super awesome investigators, in fact, I knew them before. When I was here with good ol Elder Velasquez we found them and they had a baptismal date and the same situation but it all fell apart as Alex, the husband moved back to Honduras. Now they are back together and stronger. Whoo!

Que mas que mas?!?! My companion tried to rob me of my capn crunch telling me that he had ate it but actually just hid it from me. Then today the sisters in my district hid the box that I bought this week saying they had left it on the bus. ENOUGH TORMENT I JUST WANT MY CAPN CRUNCH. That stuff is really hard to find down here.

So if I come back on the 9th will I still make it to the lacrosse game? Or will it be chill at the house time? 25 months! Oo-eey lots of time. I’m sorry guys but I honestly don’t know what else to write this week, lots of people came to church and that was great, today we played soccer and I took a really really cold shower.  Wow my email is lame this week I’m so sorry, but I truly do love you all and I hope everything is going well back in the world, I’ll be joining you guys sooner than you know it. Take care and read you scriptures please.
AMOR
ELDER BRONSON

Patience is a celestial virtue

Mama I would tell you but I don’t know, the date of my departure is unknown to me and will not be revealed to human ears until Wednesday during Zone Conference, sorry...
Patience is a celestial virtue.

HAHA! Another week has flown by like a blur, the work is great here with Elder Moran I can’t wait to keep working with him. I have been trying my best to not think too much about home, and honestly it’s easier when I focus more on the work. I have noticed that my mind wanders on home a lot more easily now than before, but I’m strong, no worries. Once again sorry for not being able to tell you guys the exact date of departure.

Sounds like a fun club that Wes is in, something that I would like to participate in haha, the art club in BHS was great when I was there but I wish I had done more. Scott you just take care and don’t worry that I won’t be there for the Bday party, we will party it up afterwards. Last Tuesday was Brandyn's birthday that old fart is turning 21 haha. Looks like his Natalie bought him a Zelda game.

Ugh...hmmmm why don’t I ever have anything to write? Everything is so normal now. Hmmm we have a baptism this weekend; Elder Mendiz is going to come up from Lomas del Norte to do the baptism. It sounds to me that he has changed a lot, but that is pretty usual here in the mission. Last night he called and talked to my companion for a little bit but really spiritually, afterward Elder Moran came to me telling me about what he had said about how we need to express our testimonies to the people. He says that he feels his testimony growing every day haha sweet! I also saw Elder Umana today in Wal-Mart and he seems really relaxed and focused also. Maybe my two wayward mission-children won’t turn out so silly after all. I certainly do hope so.

Last night was pretty special, after talking about Elder Mendiz we started talking about our families, how our real parents are our heroes, no joke! He said that he feels bad that he wasted his youth being really rebellious and acting out against his parents, and this made me think of how glad I am for you guys, and for you boys too, I’m honestly so proud of our family. This week I have thought a couple times about the concept of Eternal Families and I do have to say, that has to be the doctrine that most impacts me of all. Can you guys even imagine not seeing each other after death? What would we be if it weren’t for the gospel?? I’m so glad I came on a mission because of just how much it has changed me personally, I can’t imagine learning all these things without the experiences I have had here. All those who can go out on a mission, do so! Cooking, cleaning, living, working responsibility, health, service, selflessness, patience, kindness, charity, faith, hope, and so much more.

Pues chicos, ya se acerca mi tiempo. I love you all so much and can’t wait to see you all. Take care, cuidense
ElDeR AnDrEw JaMeS BrOnSoN

honestly things like that just bounce off me now

SsOOOO things are going so great with Elder Moran it’s definitely been a blessing to be with him as a companion. Times are fun and successful, this weekend we are going to have a baptism, that of Angel G. (Remember the kid whose parents didn’t let him go to church because he was acting badly? yup, that’s him) WE have been working a ton with that family and they have calmed down a bit, but still a ways to go to really help the father realize that his being way to harsh on his kid. Poco a poco...little by little. The area in large is going great, we are putting some good goals and working hard to achieve them., please always pray to help us achieve our goals, sometimes it’s a bit tough.

Haha contacting this week was pretty fun. We started trying to invite people to baptism in the doorway and it honestly helps haha, it makes the contact more focused and spiritual and you can really discern who’s ready and who is definitely not. Haha in our area there is a neighborhood called Caracol (Snail) called that way for the shape of the roads one being strait and the other one a long bend like a snail shell. That and the people there are a bit slow spiritually. Oyyy we found a woman who hardly wanted to open a tiny window to look at us saying ¨sorry but my gospel is better than yours¨. Alright small woman, wait until you hear what we do in a temple and then you can say if your gospel is better than ours. Hahaha truly honestly things like that just bounce off me now. I’ve been through the most ridiculous and have done so for 2 years. It makes so little effect on me now that I was honestly surprised to see that my companion was getting frustrated. In the street we did a quick prayer asking God that he would help us find someone to teach, 2 doors later we found someone named Virginia who seemed pretty sincere, but we have yet to visit her a second time, she wasn't home when we passed by on Friday.

Today we went shopping for some ties in pacas, little street corner clothes shops like permanent garage sales and we found a ton!! We were looking for like an hour until we finally found a paca that had an entire bag full of like 40 ties. We bought I think around 25 ties for only 20 quetzales, like $2.50 in dollars haha. Only about 5 of those I bought myself the rest were for my companion Elder Moran.

What do say what to say... well crew its harder and harder every week to think of things to write, life continues normally here in the mission field. Constantly feeling the Spirit, constantly helping people receive answers to their prayers, constantly working hard and trying to focus on the Fathers work and not on home, there will be plenty of time for that later! I love you all so much and hope you are all reading your scriptures EVERY DAY and saying your prayers. Take care I love you so much!
Elder Bronson

Fyi- I told President Watts that it’s a go

Hmmm super-diet sounds like fun to try, I might try that one with you mom.
CHANGES
I’m still in blue-house Santa Elena zone 18 Capital Guatemala, New companion: Elder Moran, my 12th Latino companion and prior companion of Elder Whited who just left the mission....I will see you soon Elder Whited! And all of you of course. Today we went to the Guatemala City Central Mission Office to see the doctor, Elder Moran has been coughing up some green and red so we went in for a checkup, along with a ton of other missionaries haha. Elder Opazo and Elder Turcios were both there, and they are both training. I don’t even have enough time to do that anymore...BAGGY.

Fyi- I told President Watts that it’s a go; I know you guys are going to have to wait an extra month or so but it’s for the better. There are days that I don’t want to do it and than I remember how I felt when I prayed and I know that somebody´s soul is on the line, so I get animated again. A little. I really do miss you guys, and last night God gave me a mean dream where I returned home and was in the basement but hadn’t seen you guys yet and you all came down to find me there. I miss you guys a ton and can’t wait for March! Sorry Scooter that I’m going to miss your B-day again but we will party it up when I get back don’t you worry. I don’t know when the exact return date will be so I’ll let you guys know when I receive news.

This week has been a good week with my new companion. Apparently he was a bit wild earlier on in the mission but this last change conference he felt a great desire to change his attitude and work really hard. Surely the Lord has answered my prayers, and I hope he continues to do so because he has been looking kinda bummed lately from being sick. We didn’t sleep very well last night due to our coughing. We have seen some great things happen in just this week and I hope to keep planning with the Spirit and working with the Spirit also. Missionary life just SUCKS when there is no help and no spirit, and I definitely do NOT want to end my mission sad, baggy or frustratedly spirit-less. I pray a ton that God will help Elder Moran to be the answer to my prayers- a companion that will help me have fun and end my mission with happiness and success-

This week I saw my very first dead person, in a bag being carried away by the police surrounded by a whole bunch of nosey people wanting to know what’s going on. The entire neighborhood was affected. A woman who had gotten herself in a bunch of trouble supposedly. Holy Cow I honestly just want this change to be a happy one, I need to act up and be a friend, I try but sometimes when companions want to do something that regularly we shouldn’t do its hard for me not to act up and say Hey, Elder, let’s not do this. Many times ended with a ¨Que Flechón!¨ which wants to say someone who is robotically strict to the rules without having a heart for the people, but that’s not me. I just want to do the right thing the right way; there is no need to break rules for things that don’t matter. Hopefully that won’t happen with this companion, I’m praying so.

Hey guys I love you a ton, there’s not much more that comes to mind, the work continues to grow and shrink and grow and everything is so normal to me now that it’s hard to think of cool things that happen. This week a couple of times we have seen the Spirit working in us and in people, the things that we say and do to make a difference in their lives. It’s incredible just how true all this is. Take care guys I’ll see you before you know it, don’t worry too much I’ll be home soon.
Love you guys a ton
Andrew Bronson

I talked to President Watts and he responded

Wow Dad´s a stud teaching those sunbeams. Sounds like so much fun, maybe I’ll accompany you a Sunday when I get back, if that’s alright.

This week has gone by pretty anxiously for me as well. Elder M. has had a cold for a while, coughing a ton and I am starting to catch it too but it’s something small, nothing serious. Alright I’m not going to leave you guys waiting for changes, here they are:
Elder M. has a change, I´ll be staying in Santa Elena with a new companion, and who will it be? In my district Sister Portillo has a change and Sister Ramos (who is in the same group as Elder M. and is just as new as him) will be training a new missionary. She told me that she had a dream that this happened and then it come true. I wonder what would happen if my dreams came true...I always dream about dinosaurs...

I talked to President Watts and he responded
¨I would be fine with the extension as it seems like the Spirit might be telling us something. If you want to wait a couple of weeks into your next change to see how you feel and then let me know that would be fine.¨
So I’m going to follow that direction. My answer is pretty much a firm yes but I guess I’ll give it at least a week to see how things go, even though I’m not sure the time will change the answer.  I know you guys miss me and I miss you all so much too, but I hope you will be proud of me for what I’m doing, also I hope everything works out when I get back. Studies, work, girls, money ugh. More things to think about. As for collage I haven’t thought about where I want to go, maybe BYU if they have a good art program, but the only thing that has ever interested me is either design, architecture, or maybe even story writing. Hmmmm...

I’m writing you guys a letter that will describe New Year’s night a bit better but just to say it was spectacular. The entire city lit up with fireworks at midnight and we could see them all! Imagine every house shooting up fireworks at the same time all over the city, it was so cool! I was thinking of sleeping but I woke me up and I needed to go to the bathroom at the same time so I just decided to stay up and watch the fireworks. There weren’t as many drunk guys this holiday but at the same time there weren’t that many people home in their families either. We did find a new family, Lusbin and Alma who are very young and even though they have a 2 year old little boy they aren’t married. He is only 21 and she is only 18 but Lusbin has accepted to be baptized by the authority of the Priesthood, and said he is going to talk to Alma about getting married.

Any news from my friends back at home? Have any of them left for a mission or gotten married or something? I hardly hear from more than just Brandyn and a couple times Kensie and Trent. It sure would be cool to hear what they are all up to.

These darn computers don’t let me upload pictures from my camera, maybe we will have to look for some other computer place so I can send you some of the photos I’ve taken over the past two weeks. Well, I’m trying to think of something more to write, I guess just excited to see who my next companion might me, I really hope to finish my mission joyfully, not constantly complaining or fighting over stupid things. I want my last month or two to be happy! We will see what the Lord wants me to do to end my time.

Love you all take care, remember to pray with all the energy of your hearts, and if you believe that you will receive, and that thing is just, you WILL receive it. Believe it guys. Love you so much more than I can say,
Elder Andrew Bronson

I love you guys and hope you have an EXCELLENT new year. 2012 baby!

Ah-ha! Camile took my spot I see how it is...
just kidding how was Christmas for you all?! I love you all so much and miss you all a ton. Christmas day was definitely a happy one; the call was definitely my favorite part. Work-wise it has been a bit rough. EVERYBODY IS DRUNK and that means there is no contacting, nobody in their houses, and/or nobody has time for missionaries. Just members haha members and all their tamales. We ate way too many tamales!  Three each Christmas eve and ponche with each one (ponche is a hot fruit drink with all the fruit chunks inside of it, you spoon out the chunks and eat them than drink the hot soupy juiciness). Our fridge is stuffed to the brim with extra food that people gave us; we aren’t even going to buy very much this week for food.

This week has been a funny one. Companion relationship is likened unto a cloudy day. Cloud and then sun and then cloud and then sun. I’m getting all confused but I am at least grateful that there is a little bit of warmth. Not going to lie, I hope we have a change, my sanity will not likely last another month and a half of this partly cloudy companionship weather. I hope that I am not called upon to test that sanity theory of mine.

Last Wednesday was eventful, my companion passed out during district meeting while we were standing up talking about our investigators. We began talking about a certain investigator and it became a discussion about the practicality of being completely obedient to all the rules under all crazy circumstances and it was basically 4 on 1 with everybody telling my poor companion that it’s better to stand up for the rules that it is to make exceptions for every other situation, when suddenly he dropped and started flailing. WE FREEKED OUT!!  We all thought he had some sort of seizure but the doctor said that its natural that someone who passes out is going to jerk around a bit and it’s not a seizure. That sure ended district meeting. Thursday we had a doctor’s appointment to see what’s up with Elder M. We took a nearly half hour taxi ride for 75 quetzals to the area office and 75 more to get back, and for what? So that the doctor could check him and say that the only problem is he isn’t drinking any water. 150 quetzals for a bottle of water! That’s nearly 20 dollars in taxi transport.

Like I mentioned on the phone call our Christmas activity was pretty cool. WE all got there early, the first thing was to listen to some inspirational Christmas talks from the president, and then we filled up plastic bags with things to donate to needy people in our areas. Afterwards we went out and played football, soccer and basketball. Lunch was turkey with mashed potatoes, apple pie being the dessert. We proceeded to watch a Disney movie woohoo! Tangled, haha! It was an excellent movie I loved it. A little more instruction from President Watts and we ended at around 4:30ish. After I had an interview with President Watts to get a new temple recommend. WORTHY! I told him about extending my mission and he said he would talk with the Lord to see what we would decide on doing, we weren’t going to do anything without asking you guys first. I know you aren’t too fond of the idea but if it’s the Lords will? Imagine the difference we could possibly make in the life of somebody. Who knows, only God.

One of the sunshiny moments of the week was Christmas Eve when I bought a plastic chess board for Elder M. and he told me he really cares about me. I wonder how long that will last, hopefully until changes I don’t want to have any more problems with anybody right now. I love you guys and hope you have an EXCELLENT new year. 2012 baby!
Ill see if the computer will let me send photos next week because this one doesn’t want to cooperate, sorry! Much love!
Elder Andrew Bronson

I want to extend my mission.

My my my...My beloved Family!!
Holy cow December went by fast, it’s already Christmas. I’m feeling these next two weeks are going to be a bit harder work wise...everybody’s ganna want to leave home and visit family and the poor missionaries are going to be talking to the dogs in the street for lack of people to teach the Gospel. Unless the dogs go on vacation too I suppose. Everything is possible here in Guatemala...

Less than 2 months now, it certainly feels like I’m counting someone else´s time and not my own. Can the mission ever end? Does one ever stop getting up at 6:30 to go and preach the Gospel all day? What else would you do, you can’t watch TV right that’s a sin. But there´s something that I wanted to talk to you guys about, maybe a little bit more extensively over the phone. Last Sunday (yesterday in fact) Mission President Watts visited our ward to come and talk to me and Elder M. about how we are going in the work, and all went well, but there was something that came to me during that time...I have something to come forcefully into my mind and I want to know how you guys feel about because I’m going to be praying and fasting about it.
I want to extend my mission.
Well in truth I don’t know if I want to, but I feel something about it, like my Father in Heaven will be SOOOOOO happy if I were to do it. Even as a write you guys about it my heart feels exited, but I don’t know! Will I be able to do it? How will you guys react? I’m so not sure but the more and more I think and ponder about it the more and more...well, better I think about it. I’ve heard that one can only extend his mission 30 days, but I’m starting to feel so strongly about it. What is it that my Heavenly Father wants me to do in that extra month; I kinda want to do it. I want to talk to you guys about it first on the phone so don’t worry. We´ll talk.

Sooo... This week has been a bit of a failure work wise, we only found 2 new investigators in the whole week, and only 12 lessons to investigators. Ouch. O well, I suppose it’s better in different places. Things with my companion are getting just a tiny bit better, a sliver of sunshine. We are at least praying together to plan and to leave the house now. He told me when we were fighting that he didn’t want anything from the Christmas package but now that he’s brightening up a bit I’m hoping that he actually does take it. This change ends in just 2 weeks, Christmas and New Years and it’s over. Where will I end my mission, and with whom will I end it?

Our Christmas plans are basically just hope that some people invite us to eat. On Friday we will be having a Service Project as a Mission and a Christmas activity. Saber lo que vamos a hacer. Something good I do so hope! I also hope that the family Christmas party went well, looks like a ton of fun and junk food. Speaking of junk food, we did an activity of visiting the less active members and delivering them donuts, brownies and cookies. The brownies and cookies we made ourselves, us and the sister missionaries and the ward mission leader. It turned out really well and we ended up eating a bit of it too. I hope I don’t get fat again when I go back to eating USA food. yummmmm.

Saturday night we did a something really cool for a less active part-member family. We had planned to cook pancakes with a member family as a Family Home Evening with everyone but things didn’t work out so we ended up being in the street with a frying pan and everything necessary to make pancakes. We passed by an investigator to do it with his family, not home. Other members house, nope. Recent converts house not quite. We finally ended up at the part member family´s house. They were in some need, too many things to be cleaned, husband just got home super tired and without diner even started and kids everywhere. My companion washed the 1000 dishes while I made 10,000 pancakes!! Well not quite that many but they did the trick and we really ended up helping the family. They came to church the next day wooo!!

Well that’s a lot of email right there, please don’t be too shocked about the mission extension idea, chill, everything will be perfectly fine, exactly how the Lord wants it to happen. And there is the chance that I even ask and they don’t do it so we will see really how the Lord wants to work this out. I love you all so much more than I could ever possibly say to even attempt to describe. Please have an absolutely marvelous Christmas one and all, stay safe, stay spiritual, I’ll be talking to you on Sunday. I can’t wait to hear your voices!
Just too much love,
Elder Andrew J Bronson

the Lord has little by little kept His hand in things reminding me that I am not alone.

ahhhhhmmmmm
...ugh. Companion problems suck. It’s not going well.
Alright today was temple day but I didn’t do a session because my temple recommend expired and I haven’t had a chance to get interviewed. The time was well spent relaxing in peace with my old buddy Elder Segura, remember him? He was my companion HERE in this area a very long time ago...Him and Samuel. Samuel got baptized last Saturday to go to the Quetzaltenango Temple dedication. It’s seriously been an incredible experience with him. Definitely an example of how baptism cleans, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies. He has pulled his life around and hasn’t stopped telling his testimony to everyone he talks to. He is inviting friends to the church, coming out with us to our visits and making the big difference in a lot of our lessons. I honestly love him so much; I am so exited for his future.

Mmm I’m feeling a little down this week, especially today. I admire Elder Loaisiga my zone leader; the sacrifice he made for me this morning has honestly moved me nearly to tears. This morning I and my comp had a clash that ended in him getting really upset and refusing to leave the house to go to the temple. I called the Zone Leaders to come and help me and they came. They tried to convince him to go but he continued to refuse and refuse. So that I could go to the temple, Elder Loaisiga stayed in my place with Elder M. I feel really bad still that I wasn’t even able to get in, seems like a waste for him, I hope to get him something to make up for it. I love him so much. All of today has been really calm, quiet, without contention or stress of any kind. The only thing that has been pressing on my mind all day in the fact that tonight I will have to go back to face him and see how it happens...

Even though I have been going though this tougher time of my mission that doesnt mean I haven't been greatly blessed. More than with just Samuel, the Lord has little by little kept His hand in things reminding me that I am not alone. He is incredibly present in my daily doings and has been very generous with His blessings. This week I was given free lunch almost 3 times, that and a number of tender mercies.

Ok here’s the story of the week- I attended an Evangelical Church last Sunday hahaha. Some of our investigators were getting married and did it in an Evangelical church, the church decided to go ahead and do their entire reunion in the middle of it all. They even went and collected offerings in the middle of the wedding. un poco loco digo yo. Lots of singing and Glory Halleluiah! And the people seemed nice enough, but there was none of that familiar peace and tranquility that we are used to. I felt a little uncomfortable after the first little while and wanted to leave but we stayed for the sake of the wedding. I can honestly see why some people don’t want the pressure of changing churches though, lots of stress and people to leave behind. Samuel himself was approached by his old pasture who asked him why he had run off with the Mormons and he defended himself with his testimony. Way to go Samuel!

Alright to answer your question Mom, Elder Smith is on the opposite side of the mission as I am. In the mission there are two ¨Santa Elena¨ areas, one here in the Cap, the other up at the top of Petén, the both of them are Santa Elena.  As for the video conference call I’m not quite sure that’s a go. The mission president wants you guys to call us from your numbers to ours so that the mission doesn’t have to pay for 200 missionaries´ hour long Christmas calls. I can understand.
I love you all so very much and can’t wait to hear your voices and a little after see your beautiful faces! So much love, take care!
Elder Bronson

Elder Segura & Elder Bronson

10 weeks before it’s over, and only 20 days until the call

Well well well...ANOTHER P-DAY!! Whoo!!
Oh my, Elder McPhee just told me that we only have 10 weeks before it’s over, and only 20 days until the call. What a change right? Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years all in the same change. I’m not a baggy missionary so I have nothing to fear, the only thing I do sometimes fear is getting disanimated for lack of companionship help. Yeah, the situation isn’t getting much better, in fact it’s gotten much worse but before you know it all these hard times turn into valuable memories, stories and sometimes council. I’m just wondering what is it that the Lord can see that I can’t? What am I going to be prepared for by passing through this right now? Keep on working...just keep on working. I have honestly been feeling better today; I started putting my mind on better thoughts and started to push out the natural criticism that jumps into my thoughts for every stupid thing that happens. I need to do MY best in keeping the spirit, and invited him the best I can to do the same. I just wish he wouldn’t criticize me in front of all the people that we are around.

If you want to hear a funny story here you go:
This week we were visiting an investigator, John, and he was outside his house. He was getting ready to leave on his motorcycle. Elder M. knew that he shouldn’t as much as touch the bike, but what does my odd little duckling do? He gets on and gets it going...to fall down a cement decline about 10 feet deep. Some sort of angelic protection left him unscratched and the bike left in good condition with the exception of a nasty looking scrape all along the left hand side. Investigator not so pleased. Only afterward did Elder M. say ¨so that’s why they don’t let missionaries ride motorbikes...¨ yup. That might be why.

Another funny happening has to do with that same investigators family. Max, his brother is a super cool guy and gave us some early Christmas presents. For me, a singing Christmas stocking, for Elder M. a grenade. What, didn’t you know that here in Guatemala grenades are what you give the naughty children? Joking by the way. About the naughty kid’s part, Max literally gave him a grenade. He is a police officer and had one in his house. 2 actually. The thing was disarmed and harmless but afterward my companion went around showing it to everyone...

Last night was pretty cool; it was the First Presidency´s Christmas Devotional. I liked President Uchtdorf talk about keeping Christmas focused on Christ. Also, President Monson's story about the man and the heavenly mansion.

p.s. I got my Christmas package, 20 days until I can open it. Haha...at least that’s better than last year, I got it on Thanksgiving Day, only last time I opened it on the day of the family Christmas party.

Alrighty I think that’s it for today. Next week we will be going to the TEMPLE!!! That means that we will be doing internet on Tuesday. Stay safe and happy for me! I love you all so much more that I can say,
Adios Muchachos!
Andrew

This week included a bit of odd service.

Woohoo! Another glorious pday and time to email ahhhhhh.

Well thanksgiving here was completely normal besides telling everyone ¨happy turkey-day¨ and making them laugh. I’m still mourning over the lack of pumpkin pie, its kinda funny that it reminded you of me, Mom. Yes, I am losing my English, but that is just natural after having 11 different Latino companions for nearly my entire mission.

This week has also gone by really slow... as I have said the days go by fast, the weeks go by slow and the months go by even faster.  As of right now I’m fighting off a little bit of disanimation, but I guess that must be what the Lord wants be to be able to overcome in the future because it’s getting tougher and ever more confusing. One day good one day horrible and it all depends on his mood and how much ridiculousness he wants to pull. The mission president already knows about the situation but I’m even confused as to what to say to him because when it comes to climaxes the game always changes and I’m just losing my wits. Oh well, I’m capable of handling what’s going on, the only thing that bugs me is just planning pretty much by myself, and teaching pretty much by myself. I’m going to keep working.

This week included a bit of odd service. Near the neighborhood where we live there is a Health Center where one of our recent converts needed to go, but in the mornings the line gets HUGE. What was the plan? Us waking up at 3:45am to be there at 4 saving a spot for her in line until she comes at maybe 4:30 or 5. Want to know the joke though? We had to do it twice! The first time was on Thanksgiving and the doctor wasn’t doing the certain exam so we had to do it today also.  Though the sacrifice brings a joyful feeling, I hope not to have to do it a third time...I like to sleep.

This week I conducted my first baptismal interview as a District Leader! It was to a little 9 year old whose parents are active members but for some reason that they didn’t tell me he hadn’t been baptized until now. It was a great experience, so full of spiritual guidance. He pretty much knew all the concepts; I just had to clarify a few things about the law of chastity and the word of wisdom and stuff.

Hmmmm, what else to say? So many things happen every day but as ridiculously random as they are they seem so normal to me now, haha, that I don’t even remember them. One of the kids from our ward that hasn’t been baptized yet escaped from the house to go to church this Sunday with us, we had no idea that he didn’t have permission from his parents but they found out. His parents are inactive members who haven’t come to church in some time, but the father, Manuel, come to church searching for him. WE saw him talking to the bishop so we hope things will go alright, but the kid is going to be punished with a sentence of 5 weeks without going to church. Dang.

Well I’m as exited as ever to see you all again after this Christmas season, I love you all so much! Mom, now that you are done reading the Book of Mormon you should read maybe...yeah the New Testament. I’ve almost finished it in Spanish. Nearly the ENTIRE thing was written by Paul and he has a really strange style of writing in Spanish but I could understand. Its interesting to see how much is actually in the Bible.

Love you guys, please take care, until next week!

Elder Bronson

Did you guys know that J.R.Holland can speak a bit of Spanish?

Wow it is absolutely incredible just how big these boys are, imagine the change that can happen in someone in two years! That’s nuts!
No, you guys can send me as many pictures as you want don’t worry about bagginess; I’ve got that under control for now. We’ll see what happens during the Christmas season.
Well here we have no plans for Thanksgiving, we were thinking of doing something like a talent show with a little Thanksgiving themed buffet but we didn’t get it planned in time and the ward didn’t know too much, maybe for a different time with a different theme.

The families that we are teaching are doing well, some we are giving difficulty finding and others that are just prospering. Samuel B. has felt the spirit and wants to be baptized, he whole heartedly believes everything we teach him and he is putting in his part by reading and praying, we have another appointment with him tonight and I hope everything goes well.  His little brother and sister are also taking lessons but still not as interested as Samuel. This last weekend we had a stake conference (too bad it wasn’t a steak conference hehehe) but guess who gave the talks? Jeffrey R Holland, Dieter F Uchtdorf, Elder Clark from the area 70 and Sister Cook, adviser to the young women’s presidency. Every one of the 4 gave a talk with the theme of the family or the temple, understandable with the dedication of the Quetzaltenango Guatemala Temple on the 11th of December. It was great. Did you guys know that J.R.Holland can speak a bit of Spanish?

Companion situation? Rrrrmmm this has by far been the most confusing change of my entire mission. I might be hard for me because I’m not use to having someone not be my friend after being in my dreamland of Coban with some of my best companions for so long. My last 5 were incredible, the best by far. Elder M. is doing alright and he is learning a ton, but little by little. More than anything I think he’s just making it difficult for me. WE had some ups and downs this week that have been pretty acute at points but nothing unbearable; I just hope to finish off my mission working harder than ever.

This week is changes but since we are in the training program we are staying together for sure. This is my SECOND TO LAST CHANGE and second to last planner to go with it. This change embarks Christmas and New years and ends right after. As for my district 2 sister missionaries are being taken out of their area and the area is being closed, I am not quite sure why but oh well, we will see what happens with the district then.

On Saturday we did some service cleaning out a part of a members house that had never been cleaned before, the people living there before had left a junkyard in that back room. We found a ton of spiders and cockroaches, one rat, like 12 virgin Marys and a bunch of other ridiculousness. Other than that nothing too big to report, I hope all is going well on your guys´ side.

So I’m not sure how to do it but I think we can to a video conference thing for our Christmas call, the computers here have cameras so maybe I can talk with mission president Watts or some leader type people to see if I can get it all hooked up, alright? as for sickness I have been a lot better this week, we stopped eating at the restaurant everyday and I’m cooking in the house now, I enjoy it 100x more and I can eat what I want more healthily. My companion? Ramen noodles and frosted flakes, poor guy’s ganna get sick but he refuses my help so there’s not much I can do.

Alright I love you guys way too much, can’t wait to hear from you this Christmas.  Sorry I haven’t sent you guys anything as a present but its kinda expensive to get from here to there haha...and I have no idea what to send. I’ll keep working on those tapes. The days go fast, the weeks go slow and the months go by even faster. Before ya know it!
DEMASIADO AMOR
Andrew Bronson

Family home evening idea on the subject of prophets

FELIZ CUMPLEANOS MAMA!! TE AMO CON TODO ME CORAZON!!

Alrighty then. The package must be the recorded tape I sent you a while back. I hope you all enjoy it. I bet my companion Elder M. will like anything you send him. Lately it’s been really tough with him he has these completely random spazmatic moments where he will say I don’t want to plan, you do it or we're not going to pray tonight because I don’t want to. Just simple little things but I think that’s WHY it bugs me. It’s so simple let’s just do what God wants us to do alright? Oh well, I’m fasting a ton right now, I think twice just this week. I’m kinda a weenie with patience in affliction huh? Haha...ooooyy

This week has also been a toughie work wise we haven’t really been able to find our investigators very well, they just aren’t home when we come by, but there’s no problem with that. We found a new family to teach called the Castillo Family and they seem pretty interested. We’re going to see what we can do about baptismal dates.

Last Saturday we did service chopping down some hedge in the back yard of a member; it was kinda fun I don’t like to miss any opportunity that I get to use my machete! Heheh. So Scott got a job huh? Way to brown-nose, Scott's got some pretty good cookies. I might try something like that when I get back haha...lately we have been eating in a restaurant instead of in the house but I think it’s been making me really sick, so I don’t want to go back. The food isn’t bad but since starting to eat there all the time it’s just been stomach pains and problems. I honestly like to cook anyway and would rather make my own lunch with the hour that we have to do it.

I don’t know if there are any ideas for the Christmas package, I don’t really need anything, but I do have a suggestion for a saved Christmas present for when I get back. I was guiltily talking with a newer elder about a game I was waiting for before the mission called Star Craft 2, if you get me something I’m not going to lie, I would definitely want a special edition copy of that game. Nerdy!

Family home evening idea on the subject of prophets, I was studying in a institute manual about the Book of Mormon and found it, and tested it in a FHE we did with some members subject ¨Have you ever wondered what makes prophets different that other regular people?¨  Start off by asking what are some characteristics of the prophets of old? What quality of people where they? (For example good leaders, humble, with a lot of faith and receptive to the Holy Ghost) Read Helaman 10:5,7,12 and 11:18 where God is talking to Nephi the prophet. What qualities did the Lord comment about Nephi and his work? Now, show a picture of the first presidency and the quorum of the 12 apostles and talk about how men like that exist even today, that God guides his church through these men of power and faith. Talk about how much the Lord wishes that we would all be like prophets. Eat a snack.  It worked out really well for us here, I felt the spirit powerfully and I know that you guys can too; this might help the boys learn a little more about prophets and their importance in our lives.

Well guys I love you so much and I wish you the best of the best of blessings. Nearly exactly 3 months left until I see you all again, los AMO!!!

Andrew

Notice the toliet?

I think we touched some hearts

Alright email time yal,
notha week notha blessing notha situation but that’s how it goes down here in the mission. Last Tuesday was pretty fun, if the computer had compassion I would have sent you a cool picture but you guys will just have to exercise some celestial-virtue patience for next week hoping that a different computer will be more friendly. We contacted people from 2-6pm just passing out pamphlets of the Plan of Salvation and talking to people that they can see their loved ones after this life, some were really interested and some not so much but some good came out of it, I think we touched some hearts. Sunday was also eventful here; it was voting day for the new president of Guatemala, the options being Baldizon and Otto Perez. They received the news of the winner before the night was over, and Otto Perez is going to be the new president of the Republic of Guatemala, good luck pal you got a lot of work to do.

Situation with my companion is getting a bit tougher but I think it has to be like that always with new guys. I honestly love him so much but it’s one of those situations where well...not all is quite in its place yet, there’s so much more to learn on both ends I’m guessing. Santa Elena since my first time here has been an absolute refining fire for me. Since Elder S. and Elder V. to Elder M. with me as trainer and district leader.  Just a ton of things that are helping me a ton to develop much needed leadership skills and people skills, stuff that must be dang hard to learn somewhere else because it’s really tough here and this is the best time to learn.

It’s all turning Christmassy here too, at least in Wal-Mart just Xmas music and decorations and stuff, but they are the only ones so far.  As for new investigators we found an old investigator named Romulo who absolutely loves to read, he just barely finished reading completely the Book of Mormon! He also reads the pamphlets a lot and understands a ton, Elder M. was super awesome and put a baptismal date with him for the 19th of November, I think he’s getting close to being ready for baptism.

Well I’m sorry but it seems like the longer I’m here the less and less I have to write every week, but it’s all in my journal for when I get back I can remind myself of a ton of fun things for you guys. Next week I think we are going to Central Market to get some cool things we´ll see what cool junk I can find for you guys. I love you guys so much please say safe and take care, quiero que siempre sean espiritual y que hagan todos sus oraciones en la familia, requerden, siempre lean sus escrituras!
Los amo con todo me ser,
Elder Andrew James Bronson

contacting in the cemetery passing out pamphlets and talking about the Plan of Salvation hahaha.

Alright my ideas for the Christmas package are a little smaller; I honestly don’t need much here right now with only a little over 3 months left in the mission. Something for my companion maybe, he is from a very poor family and I’m not sure how big any package headed his way is going to be... I would feel a lot better sending him something rather than to me.  Honestly not to be a bummer I’m trying to fight temptation to eat too many sweets, better off losing weight walking here than trying to there in Utah in winter. What a better idea would be to save the money that you would have spent and buy something when I get back.

Halloween in Guatemala was once nearly the same as there in the States apparently, trick or treating but as the years went on the more and more dangerous became the streets at night, specially here in zone 18 that tradition went disappearing. I’m not sure if other places in Guatemala are different because a year ago for Halloween I was also here in this same area with the same people... the 1st of November is a much bigger celebration here, they have a special dish called ¨fiambre¨ which is like a gigantic salad covered in every different type of meat possible from fish to beef to eggs to pork to anything anything anything meat. It’s also the day in which everybody visits the cemeteries, and so all of us me and my district will be spending the better part of the day contacting in the cemetery passing out pamphlets and talking about the Plan of Salvation hahaha.

We had a baptism here Saturday, Alfredo Paniagua Ortiz. He was already very prepared since before we came in, we just helped him put his baptismal date sooner, he was already ready. Elder Mendiz performed the baptism which was super special seeing that he only has about 3 weeks in the mission, can you believe that? I had to wait nearly 6 months for my first baptism! Besides the baptism the rest of the day really stinked, not a single lesson and during the baptismal service I felt sick. This was my second time in the mission throwing up, but this time I had diarrhea at the same time and had to do a bit of a helicopter movement between the two...but the next day I was feeling perfectly fine like nothing had happened so all is well. Yuck....

al pictures show I was able to do some divisions with Elder Lusty who happens to be my Zone Leader also. It was so awesome! we had a blast, but the best part of all was in the night time we stayed awake talking for hours in the dark about spiritual things, and talking about how our missions have been sealed in time, and we felt like God had said ¨it was good¨ kinda strange but the spirit testified to us so strongly that night about it that I wet the pillow crying. I had not felt my heavenly fathers love so strongly since I can remember! I can’t remember anything more sweet or desirable that that feeling of the Holy Spirit. I imagine that in Heaven when I always feel like that I’ll just go around crying all the time for being so happy. hmmmm

I don’t know why but I seem less animated for the work lately, I don’t know if it’s the start of hard times or if I’m just really old in the mission, but I honestly DONT want to feel unanimated, I want to work with all my mind and strength and I will, so there is no problem.
I love you guys so much and honestly miss you all, be smart and safe, I will see you all soon.
Elder Bronson

I just want to ..I don’t know shout Halleluiah and ¨preach the gospel¨

 Wow sounds like you guys are just living life down there in good ol´ Zion haha.
Here isn’t quite the same story for a lot of people. First of all the weather. Thursday it started to clear up and we didn’t have any more rain for the rest of the week.  Apparently there were a ton of little landslides here that blocked roads and a ton of water damage but life continues as normal. Even though we started seeing some sun during the day in the night time it is FREEZING here! Sheesh it’s cold. God continues to further His work here in this poor part of town, we found a good family who wants to listen to us, he is the guard for our neighborhood and is Catholic and she is Evangelical and they both are listening pretty intently. As for the de la Cruz family I’m not sure what more we can do for Martin, the situation seems a bit tough. Last night we came by his house to talk with him and he looked a little bit sad/nervous so we asked him. He basically told us that he was going to renounce the church because he simply doesn’t have time to go. (bull crap) and we asked further, turns out that he has problems with the Book of Mormon, that and he is just very confused with doctrine...it’s a bit strange trying to talk with him because I just want to ..I don’t know shout Halleluiah and ¨preach the gospel¨ but ...heck I can barley describe it, he’s just really confused. We told him that he needs to begin reading the Book of Mormon again and praying about it, and to help his family to choose the right also. His son Wagner is looking much better. He seems to be animating a bit more and his wife is investigating the church. He came to church last Sunday which was great because we didn’t have a single investigator show up.

We are still living in the same house, the one up the ridiculous stairs and the bathroom and everything down below. Really it’s not too bad of a house we have running water and electricity, owners that take care of any big problems that we have and seem truly interested in our welfare. Apparently they also rent a different house a little farther into the neighborhood that’s a little bit bigger but there isn’t such an INCREADIBLE view of the city like this house has. My companion Elder Mendiz is definitely a bit of an odd little duckling, enough said. Its normal for a new missionary to be a little untrained but he’s got a very unique personality, I’m just very thankful that he has an honest desire to follow the rules. Honestly its great working with him I can see that he will become a great missionary later on, even I was really silly when I started.

This Saturday we will be having a baptism. Alfredo was already prepared by the other missionaries here but we put his baptismal date a little forward (from the 12 of November to the 29th of October) because he’s already ready to do it. We don’t know who is going to do the baptism, he are honestly hoping that Marvin our ward mission leader does it. He is the one who gave us the reference and is also his next door neighbor and a great friend shipper so it’s only smart to do it that way. Contacting in this area is really difficult but we are working it alright. I don’t remember if we have been able to get into more than one door in our time here...

As for the cassette tape I guess I never sent it.  I'll look for it this week, I forgot to look for it last week sorry. Don’t you worry...
My temple recommend is about to expire, can you imagine that? It’s been a while right? My driver’s license already expired a while ago.

Well my beloved and bountifully blessed family I wish with all my heart the guidance and protection of God in all that you do, stay faithful I can’t wait to see you all again!
Elder Andrew Bronson