Sunday, July 20, 2014

One of the chosen ones. . . a new assignment

Utz awech!!!!

No that is not a keyboard error that's the language that I have to learn!!!!
That's right there is a lot that has happened this last week and I am still trying to get it in my head that it happened.

So first of all, yes I had changes and it turned out that the rumors were true about where I would be going. So when I arrived at changes I was told that I had an interview with president (and you only have interviews if you are going to be made a leader OR if you are receiving a calling such as secretary or assistant to the president).

So when I entered I thought that maybe I would be made a district leader or something on the coast of the city. . . something like that ...NOPE I have been called to the sacred calling that maybe only 15 elders have ever been called to since 2008. I have been called to serve in Santiago Atitlan which is the only place in the mission where you have to learn a language [other than Spanish] and is an assignment. To give a little bit of detail about my area it is the farthest area in all of the mission, about 4 hours from the mission home and is up in the volcanoes and mountains of  lake Atitlan or the Waters of Mormon.  The lake is half of our area.  It is so big it's incredible. We have no one near us.  It's literally just me, my companion and God and that's it.  
We have separate, rules separate tasks and we have to work differently and we have to really only answer to the president.  It's like its own separate mission it's so different here. The culture is completely different.  They are literally descendant of Lehi, pure Mayans that only wear a special type of clothing. It's incredible but with that we also have to learn another language that they only speak here called Tz¨Utijil but there are no grammar books and nobody can read or write it really so it's EVEN harder. And this is not a regular calling.  President does not pick whatever Elder to work here it's like being called into the office because I know I will be here automatically for 5 months at the least.

But I didn't even tell you what happened before I went to my new area with my new companion.  That's a whole other story. But it is tough here and I see why that President has to do a separate fast and even go to the temple to decide who to send here because it is not a place for everyone.  There are a lot of problems here and if you aren't careful you will go crazy here and just lose it and have a ton of depression. And it was the very last assignment President Brough gave me before he left.  I don't fully know why he choose me to go here out of all the Elders but I remember what he said to me before he left and that gives me a little bit of an answer why.









But I love you all.  This area is amazing. Elders kill to go here and I am lucky enough to be one of the chosen ones to do it

Love Elder Toma  

Saturday, July 12, 2014

I like my new President.

Dear Family,

Our Zone's White Sunday.  My new mission president is on the left.

I made this cake from them it was goooddd!! 
Well like I said in my email last week, we have changes but I will be changed tomorrow.  I thought I knew where I am going but my zone leader told me that they don't have changes, so who knows. . . just a bunch of rumors. So I will have to tell you next week. But haha I didn't even know we had a earthquake until now.  
My companion told me he felt it but I was a sleep like a rock.

But the mission is good.  Erika will not be baptized this change before I leave.  Dang it.  She drank the dumb coffee again but I helped her to create a plan so that she can avoid it. So hopefully she will be baptized after changes with my companion and his new one.

My mission president is crazy! He is completely different from my old one.  He punches you in the arm and is a lot more vocal haha. But its good with him.  I like my new president.
I completely forgot about the 4 of July.  I wore an American tie with the flag of America the next day hah.

It's weird that  have changes. I was only in the area for one change! But It is what it is.

But right now I don't have any questions.  How do you guys work in your missions or how did your mission work and your presidents? 
Mi amigo Hermano Cristales 

Love,
Elder Toma




Finally real food and real rice!!!!!!! With metal chop sticks which were a little weird.  Almost cried though was so happy  

Friday, July 4, 2014

Blessed to have a wedding and baptisms!


Dear Family,

This week has been full and fun. I went on splits with my district leader and absolutely killed him because in my area it's all hills and you just absolutley die throughout the day. Ha ha, but that's what you should do to your elders so that they know you aren't just fooling around. Also  for this week we were blessed to have a wedding!!! A golden family and then Sunday they were baptized. We had a "white Sunday" which is where everyone one in the zone baptizes at the same place and time. It was really great.

Also my old president left Friday for his home, which was sad, but President Markham came that Friday and I met him at the activity that Sunday.  He seems really nice and enthusiastic and I think it will be a good change with him.

But everything is really good here.  It's crazy how fast this change has been. And we are hoping to be baptizing another women this week named Erika so please pray for her that she will be worthy to do it. It would be a lie to say that this change has been easy because it hasn't.  I have had a lot of problems with my companion -- all about obedience and diligence -- and it has stressed me out pretty good but I have been dealing with this for about 3 companions now, so I'm a little use to it and know what to do to help them so that they can get back on track and be good elders.

Well we have changes next week, I already know that I am changing (Its good having your trainer be the AP). And I will be the one leaving which is a little weird but it is what it is and I already know where I am going to.  And it's a place that is pretty amazing and crazy too. So I am looking forward to that. It has been raining about everyday and my companion has been sick just about everyday. But it sounds like everybody is having fun back at home and mom I have received the shoes don't worry they are in the house right now as a write this. And I know that USA lost and also Japan so I have no interest anymore in the world cup haha .

But I can't send photos yet because the dumb computer isn't working and I have yelled at it in Spanish about five times, so I will have to do it next week.

but I love you all
Elder Toma