Rain, References, and Remembering Him.

Yep, this is Chiquilaja  - all of it. The other pics I sent you were of where we live in Choqui. 

Hey family! How is life over there in the cold? Well, I avoided it for too long. I think the rainy season is starting but its not too bad yet. Everyday at about 3pm storms roll in. But life is good. This week we have been working to find new investigators and we received a ton of references so this week we are going to be contacting references a lot. 

As missionaries we don't have a lot of free time,
but in my 10 minutes here and there 
I made some scripture cases with the mission patch in them.

 I will start out with the quote. "Identify your problems but give your power and energy to solutions." 

- ???

If this was applied in the mission and in the world it would be a different place. Some people just dwell in the trials they are having instead of sitting down and saying, "How can I fix this? Ii want to learn how to apply this principle in my life."

We recreated the picture of Jesus sitting and overlooking the city of Jerusalem.

This week we had the opportunity to work with a member family that is a great family this is one of my journal entries. "We did some service for a family today named the C-- family. I had known this family from my ward in Panorama. Their grandma lives in Panorama. Two years ago the dad of the family, being known for his gospel study and spirituality around the ward, was studying his scriptures and he told his wife that his work here on earth was finished and he knew that the time was near that he had to go. She kept telling him to stop talking like that and that nothing was going to happen and they were going to be fine. 

They owned a curtain shop and for the shop he made almost daily trips to Huehuetenango. One day while going to Huehue on his motorcycle he found himself between a big truck and a parked car and he was determined dead on the scene. When she received the news by an unforgettable knock at the door, conversations and flashbacks rushed to her hear head of him saying that his work was finished. She is now a single mom with four children ages 14, 10, 4, and 2. When I walked in the house I saw there are display cases all over the walls custom built for her husband's toy car collection. Some cars were still there with others sold off to help pay the bills. For the cars that have been removed, you can still see the silhouette of the cars where the sun burnt the images into the wall. The absence of the car representing that he has gone, but the burnt image of the cars representing that they will always remember him and that he is always there and that they will live with him again through the atoning sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the plan that He has so lovingly given us." This family is so strong that I look to them as examples of faith and strength to overcome trials.

Here is the beautiful flourishing central park of Chiquilaja.
  It's picnicable.

This week has been a bit slow. We have not had to much success. All the members and anyone who knows Chiquilaja knows that it is a hard area to work in all. Out of the whole city of Chiquilaja there are 6 members and in the city of Choqui that we live in there is like 120. It is hard because all are evangelical and Catholic and they don't want to hear anything, but it is okay. We are going to work hard to get the church started in Chiquilaja. Well the story took a lot of my time, but I love you guys and will keep you updated.

Love,
Elder Reinhold

This caught my eye.  There is a good message in this Snickers wrapper. It says, "10% more to share."
I like that.  Most things are like, "10% more to enjoy."

Don't freak out.  I found them in a store that imports stuff from the States but the store actually stinks.  Every once in a while you find a treasure.  I think they were cheaper than the States too - 20 quets.
That is about $2.25.

Loving Chiquilaja.

Hey family! How is life up there in the heavens? No, just kidding. I love it down here! I will start off really quick with the quote of the week. "The straight and narrow path, though clearly marked, is a path, not a freeway nor an escalator. Indeed, there are times when the the only way the straight and narrow path can be followed is on ones knees." -Neal A. Maxwell.   I love this quote because before the mission, my first option was not to get on my knees and to wrestle with God in prayer like it says in Nephi. But on your mission, your first support is the power you have when you are on your knees...and its kind of funny because right now kneeling down is not really an option for me, but you know what I mean. The power of prayer is often so underestimated. I didn't realize that until I was a missionary.

This week my leg has been doing well. It is not going downhill, so I think it just needs time - lots of time. This week we got settled into the ward a little bit and we picked up some good investigators. We have 5 progressing investigators and 3 of them are really positive. We found an older couple named Maria and Juan. Yes, I know. Classic names huh? But their granddaughter just got baptized so we met them at the baptism. We went to teach them the first lesson and we got to the part where we were explaining how to pray so they can receive an answer, and Maria asked, "Is this the prayer I need to do?" I got the impression that she wanted to say a memorized prayer like a lot of the other churches. Then she said, "Hold on. I have a prayer in my room." She brought back a pamphlet that was tattered and used and dirty. It was a missionary pamphlet from our church that she had been using to pray for the last 25 years! She said that she never misses a morning prayer. I thought I was holding an artifact. It was cool. They were very interested. Normally we have to explain the things like 2 or 3 times because I think they don't understand clearly. They are very simple people and Spanish is their 2nd language. They both speak Quiche.

Also, we have an investigator from El Salvador. She is 20 years old and she is very positive as well. She told us in one of our lessons that she is anti-Catholic...so that is weird. She said that she was going to an evangelical church but she stopped going because she wondered where her apostle came from and who called him. She is very intelligent. Sorry, I can't remember how to spell that. Spanish is messing with my head. I am really starting to love Chiquilajá. It is a cool area. And, we eat a lot here compared to other areas. We even have dinner like 2 times a week with members. Maybe I will plump up again...put on a little pudge.

Love you guys. Think about all of you every day and know that I am praying for you. This church is true. That is why we have like maybe 100,000 missionaries in the world. I am just guessing that is how many there are with the new change, but I am not sure. Like it says in the Bible and the Book of Mormon: judge prophets and people by their fruits. We have the Book of Mormon - the most true and sacred book in the world. Love you guys so much and I will keep you guys updated with the work.

With love,

Elder Reinhold

Note from Jake's mom:  I asked how his stomach has been, because as you know, missionaries can be so sick for the first 3 to 6 months.  He said he hasn't had any trouble.  

Working in Chiquilajá!

THIS is what happens when we don't have a firm foundation built upon Jesus Christ.
We need to read and pray and have a strong testimony.

In the Book of Mormon, Helaman 5:12 - And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Hey family! How goes it? Well, life here is pretty good. I am finally back out in the workforce. My leg is doing well. I don't see any damage coming from the walking or loss of movement. I just need to continue to be careful.
 

View of the mountains.
 

Different view.

First, I will start out by telling where I am and what kind of area it is, and about my comp. I am in a place called Chiquilajá. It is in the zone of Bosque. It is a cool area. It's like on the outskirts of Xela. When the assistants told me where I was going, they were like, "We know that it is not too flat and that it is kind of big, but we know you can do it." So, I was like, "okay." It is really cool. It's like half city and half aldea (village). Where we live is like city, but it's on the top of a mountain. A lot of our area is like everyone is in Corte and when you say "buenas tardes," they say either "bueno" which is not correct, or say "hasam num" which is Quiche. We visited some members and only 2 spoke Spanish, and our gospel doctrine teacher barely speaks Spanish. I am not sure if he does speak Spanish, but that is good because his Spanish is more on my level so it is easier to understand. But there is nothing like sitting in sacrament meeting with half or more of the people in Corte. And yes, I gave a talk again! There are missionaries who have never spoken in church. I am just getting slammed, but don't worry, my comp said that they will have the gift of interpretation. Haha!







But my area is good and we are kind of opening this area. There are missionaries here already but we are being added to the ward so it is a little hard because we don't know anybody. We have hardly any investigators, but we do have a new house and it is pretty nice. We have a warm shower and a counter top and a wood stove tortilla cooker. There are some upsides, but also it is a big area.  It takes about 15 minutes of bus ride to get to the church, and 20 to get to the aldea of Chiquilajá. My comp is Elder C-- from Guatemala City. He is really cool. He has about 16 months in the mission and has only had 2 areas - 8 months in each area. That is crazy, but he is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, English and part French. He is a good comp and we will work well together. He does tell me that he is a bit of a hater, but he is trying to work on it. It will be interesting to see what will happen - if he will leave and I will train in this area or if I will leave and he will train here in Chiquilajá. The Spanish is coming along well. I feel like I am making progress.

My comp and I... and yes he is short, but he is crouching a little bit on purpose too.

This is our neighbor. He is sometimes a little noisy, but they are going to sell him soon!  Our real neighbor in traditional Corte clothing, and that shack in the background is the pig's house.

Doing work.  This is how a lot of my area is.  In this area about 50 % do not speak Spanish.
I might learn a little Quiche.

Sign on the side or a member's house.
That was nice of them.

Well the quote for this week is:  "Character is not made in a crisis, it is only exhibited." - Robert Freeman. I love this quote. This means you can't just be a good person when someone is watching or when you are with someone of authority you have to build your character over time. This is a big problem in the mission: people being good with their leaders, but not as good in their areas. Well, love you guys and hopefully I will have more to write about next week...and some more time to write. Well, got to go.

Love,

Elder Reinhold

Fifty New Missionaries and Back Out to Teach!

Momos is cool! This is Elder Lares and Elder Snow walking up the main drag in Momostenango.
Not much of a main drag if you ask me, but it is cool.

Well family, this week has been crazy. Let's just start off and say, "Wow!" We were going to receive 24 new missionaries, then we received an email 5 days before the changes that said we are going to receive 50. We have had 8 new houses that we have had to set up and that takes a lot of work. We have to take beds to like 30 places because they are going to be in trios (threesomes). So, we have been all over these last couple of days and will be for the next few.

 

Elder Lares trying to get away from the kids.
 

I am leaving this Tuesday for my new area. It is going to be here in Xela for leg purposes. I think I'm going to go to a place that already has missionaries, but we're going to have 2 companionships in the same area because President told me the ZLs (zone leaders) are looking for a house for me. I'm excited to get back out and work and teach again. I am a bit nervous because I'll be pretty rusty with all this English and lack of teaching. This week has been pretty boring as far as stuff I can put in my email, but we've been extremely busy and I am headed out into the field again soon.

The quote that I chose this week is very true about missionaries in the mission field. "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character give him power." -Abraham Lincoln.  This quote applies many times in the mission field. For instance, a comp will have the opportunity to be in charge of the phone and they will abuse that power. There are many examples I could list off, but the point is to ask yourself if you were given the power or the opportunity to cover up just a small lie or if you knew that you owed someone money and you know they forgot would you pay them? Would you let the natural man conquer the follower of Christ or build character by acting like the Savior in situations that test your character. 

The mission is so about testing your character and your will, and you learn who you are fast. If you want to know why people do not baptize in this mission I think it is because we don't always have the Spirit because we are not obedient. We were talking yesterday and I asked how many missionaries in this mission are exactly obedient. We could only think of 2 - Elder Hansen the current AP (assistant to the president), and Elder Kinghorn the last AP. Obedience is key. Do we have one hour of comp study where we plan there lessons for the day and study for our investigators, and do we have personal study that helps us be an effective tool in the Lord's hands? Well I can go off all day, but I won't. Please follow the commandments with exactness and you will have the Spirit to bless you and guide you.

 

Picture of Momos with a tuptup (little red car thing).
Everybody uses these in the far out places.

Well, love you guys so much and next week I will have a email about my new area and my new comp. Thanks for all the support and letters they mean a lot.

Pray always!

Elder Reinhold