Merry Christmas!! 12/26/11

This email is mostly for all you faithful readers out there because I TALKED TO MY FAMILY YESTERDAY!!!  INCLUDING NICOLE!!! (for those of you that don't know, Andrew's sister is also serving a mission in Guatemala)

So here was my week. The biggest event is Walter.  He's really progressing really well.  He's reading and praying with his family.  He's asking good questions, he's learning and applying what he learns, it's spectacular!  Plus, He came to church yesterday!!!!  That was probably the best present I could have gotten for Christmas!  It was so legit to see him sitting there with his family and everything all his kids dressed up and all that good stuff!  One cool thing, last lesson we explained the baptismal covenant and the sacrament and then at church he wouldn't take the sacrament nor let any of his kids do it haha HE'S LEARNING AND APPLYING!!! LOVE IT!  We also found a guy named Geronimo, he was supposed to come to church on Sunday but he was sick so he couldn't but he's already reading and stuff and we've only taught him once so he's very legit!  We're teaching him again this week and he's committed to go to church the next week, he's really, really interested!  Other exciting news, our house flooded this week based on something stupid that we did but we got it all cleaned up and good stuff like that, all around not a big deal :) 

This week was also Christmas parties.  We had the mission Christmas conference where Elder Ronfeldt was the elf.  I also got to see my whole group. 

We also had a zone party which was a lot of fun, we went to a Chinese buffet... as dad pointed out, A Chinese buffet, on Christmas, in Guatemala... a bit strange I know haha.  We also got to play some sports which was a ton of fun as always :) 

On Christmas we had Christmas Breakfast (french toast, eggs, and bacon!!!)  So all deliciousness there!  Then we went to church which was just a small program put on by the bishopric where we sang a lot of songs and listened to them talk about the Christmas season :)  THEN THE PHONE CALL!!!  GOOD STUFF THERE!!!  And that was Christmas, passed without too much hoopla (except for the hours of fireworks starting at midnight on Christmas Eve haha.  )  But yeah, everything is good. We're having a good time and getting excited to get back to work after a pretty chill week.   

LOVE YOU ALL!! Sorry this is so short, enjoy seeing Nicole soon :) (Nicole will be home on January 5,2012)
-Elder Westenskow

Quetzaltenango Temple Dedication 12/12/11

Hey there!

First off, I think this email might be a bit short, we had a kinda rough week but no worries :)  Life is good.  First, I'm glad to hear that the Christmas party went well! And mom, sweet job on Battle of the Bands, I'm sure it was rad!  And the Haycock party sounds fun too!  I'm feeling good and healthy and fine inside, no worries on health.   

This week was alright.  We did divisions and I went with Elder W's trainer for a day which was fun, he's a fun guy and we had a good day :)  We've also been developing this week a really good plan for the area.  President in January is going to give us a pair of senior, working missionaries just to work with less actives to increase attendance!  It'll be really rad I think, and it'll help a lot!  The two main events this week were a lesson with W and the temple dedication.  W is really the only investigator who is going anywhere, everyone else seemed really positive at first and is now avoiding us haha.  So yeah.  But W is really really progressing.  He's committed to go to church with us.  He's really trying to develop faith and understand all of the things we teach.  I'm not sure I've ever felt the spirit as strong in a lesson, it was amazing.  He's just such a legit guy, really trying his hardest to develop the faith he's looking for and follow Christ, I love this guy!

The biggest event was the temple dedication.  We got to attend all 3 sessions which was awesome!  Elder Anderson and President Uchtdorf came and talked in all 3 and they were just really amazing!  It was such a blessing to be able to go!  I gave a really good rundown in the letter that I sent this week so I won't spoil too much here but it was just amazing!  Really a blessing to be able to attend all 3 and feel the spirit and listen to the prayer that many times.  Really just very grateful for that opportunity.  I'm really just so glad to be here, we've had a rough couple weeks but were staying strong and keeping faith that things will work out :)  Love you guys!
Have a great week, the church is true!
-Elder Westenskow

I Had My First Baptism!! 12/5/11

Hey there!  This email may be a bit disorganized but... well... you'll all be okay for it :) 

So, Dad, I'm glad you liked the talk.  The method isn't perfect but it works well enough :)  And I'm glad you're still enjoying the letters (silly names and all).  I LOVED the story about the cardboard cutout in the shower.  And speaking of the rat, has anyone seen it for a while? haha.  And about getting along with my comp, it's going great!  There's always the little ticks about anyone that'll bug you if you spend 24/7 with them but overall everything is going great! He's a great elder, a hard worker, and I'm really enjoying my time and not looking forward to when it ends.  We don't really share any interests, in fact, were pretty much complete opposites but it leads to some fun conversations haha. 

I'll get to the teaching people later haha.  The weather here, COLD!  We went to church yesterday and I'm not joking when I say it was Idaho winter semester weather.  There was frost on the ground and we were DYING from the cold haha.  My clothes and shoes are holding up really well!  Everything is serving perfectly.  Also I'm glad to know I'm still the rock band master, in 19 months I'll probably have to take some time to get back into the groove but it'll be good :)  And I was really glad to hear about moms health :)  

I loved hearing about Dads family history work too, sounds like a lot of fun and a really useful work to be doing! 

This week was a little rough, we didn't get as much done as we wanted to but we still worked hard, trying to contact all the temple references.  We had a super good lesson with W this week, he's really progressing.  From last week saying he wouldn't tell us that he would go to church he's now telling us that he'll do everything possible to get to church next week haha so he's looking good :)   and Y are becoming less positive but we're going to try to meet them a few more times before we give up :)  

Also, we moved this week.  After dividing the area we lived really far from where we work so we found a new house this week and moved in.  It's a really nice house and I'll get pictures next week :)  On Saturday we had a really special event.  K, the investigator that we inherited from the sisters, was married and baptized.  I HAD MY FIRST BAPTISM!  I attended one of the sisters but it was amazing to see someone I've gotten to know and love get into the water, my first baptism!!!!!  Good stuff :)  Next week we'll for sure have a good week, we've got some good plans to find new people and get teaching more and more, should be getting some January baptisms as well :) 

LOVE YOU ALL!
-Elder Westenskow

Word of the Day - Legit! 11/28/11

Hey there everyone!
So first, about my comp.  Hes legit, we get along really well!  That's pretty much it, we get along really well were working really hard and having a good time.  Also, you asked how I'm feeling.  I was sick for about 3 weeks but I'm all better now.  Things are good.  About letters, they're tougher in this area because there's no Correo in our area but I'm just going to be sending them in bulk now, 2 or 3 at a time.  Christmas letter is in the mail though :)  About calls, I think you guys will have to call me, I can maybe call you and then just have y'all call me back. Maybe we can get set at the same time and just conference in Nicole so it'll cost a ton but maybe we can have all the family together.  Just a thought. 

About the package, I got both of them from y'all and grandma and everything was perfect.  The soap survived and the PB and everything!  Very much welcomed.  Keep em coming ;)  Am I still printing reading and outlining? Yes.  Dad asked about the house, its pretty big not HUGE but a good size, I  don't really know if the pictures were deceiving lol.  About the temple, we've been through a few times and were going to watch a broadcast for the dedication. About W, LEGIT!  English speaking I'm guessing.  NICE.  I'll throw a letter for him one of these days.  About Christmas package, is it all Christmas or is there other stuff? Meaning, do I need to wait til Christmas to open the box or is stuff wrapped?  About the ipod and the book dad LEGIT!  That actually made me even more stoked to read the book!  And the wedding video... I got really excited when I saw it and read the letter after we had already watched it (on mute, thanks for the music haha). 

Now, investigators.  We have a few legit ones.  G and Y were temple references and they're pretty legit.  They are pretty big in their church but they are willing to see if ours is true :)  So yay.  A guy named M, he turned out to be really legit, he went to the temple 3 times. We're going to put a fecha with him this week.  W is another temple reference, his wife is menos activo and he's super interested, just wants to make sure its true.  And we have a baptism this Saturday!  So good stuff happening.  We went to the temple twice this week with the ward.  On Friday, over 100 people came from our ward...about 10 members.  LEGIT:  So there's work to be done!  We found out that 126,000 people went to the temple and on top of all of this our attendance yesterday was 334!  Things are going well!.  Also, at the temple we met an anti Mormon that was taking people to the temple.... good luck buddy.  Also, a lady gave us pumpkin pie one day!  It was so gooooood! 

We also had a Guatemalan Thanksgiving yesterday with chicken, rice etc.  All darn good stuff!  So they did something for the American missionaries, I'm running really low on time this week, sorry..... But the pictures are a sunset, the temple, and our Christmas tree (we have a pine tree in our back yard and we chopped off a branch).
I think that's all, LOVE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT WEEK!
-Elder Westenskow

This Area is Insane!! 11/21/11

SO!!

This area is INSANE!!! In such a good way it's not even funny.  We found 22 news this week and have 9 possible fechas... we've been here a week.  This place  is insane and the temple doesn't hurt either!  Speaking of the temple, we went!  On Tuesday our ward got a bus and we all went with our friends and investigators and holy goodness this place is ridiculous!  So flipping nice, so beautiful.  I'm not going to lie to you when I say that on the inside its the most beautiful temple I've ever seen, maybe not on the outside but inside YES.  We've been spending a lot of our time contacting references from the temple (when people fill out those little cards at the end) and we don't get as many as some other areas but ours have been pretty positive.  I also saw my first every baptismal service, it wasn't ours but one of the sisters, we went for support.  Funny story, we were walking down the road one day and this lady literally flagged us down and asked us to move some furniture for her.  So we did and she gave us Pepsi and then we tried to teach her and she wouldn't let us, she just wanted the two big white boys help!  haha  Oh right, we also went to the temple on Friday in a ward bus and we just invited like crazy, there were over 25 investigators in this bus, it was amazing!  We're all coming to this temple as a family, I've already decided it! 

The thing with this area is that stuff just happens.  We work really really hard and things still fall and people are still sketchy and unreliable but then things just fall out of the sky for us and they ROCK.  Also, we had a stake conference yesterday with Elders Uchtdorf and Holland it was pretty rad!  They talked a lot about home and family so not a whole lot to apply right now but yeah, cool to hear Elder Holland try to speak Spanish lol. 

Questions.  My comp is great, he was in the office for 7 months so he's just stoked to be out in the field again and were just killing each other.  We're working our butts off every day and every day we come in dead and satisfied with the work we've done.  His name is Elder R and hes from Rosemond California.  Also mom, no worries on the microbus, it was totally safe, there were guard rails and stuff :)  I'm also sitting next to a very nice box that I happen to have already opened and YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHH GOOD STUFF IN THAT BOX! 

As for the tree thing, new family tradition.  Every year, no matter what, kids spouses notwithstanding, we three kids will come to mom and dads house and set up the tree like we've always done.  That's how it will be, end of story.  Mom played Rock Band!  What songs did y'all do?  Also, there's a modifier to make the track speeds better so no worries there ;)  Also, who sings now? Dad?  And mom, hows the health going?  Still improving? 

Oh well, I think that's all, love you all!
-Elder Westenskow