Going Home

As of next Monday evening (June 27th) President Edward Watts will be the priesthood leader of the mission with the keys given him by an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. President and I wish to thank you for your support. We have felt the power of your prayers. We have a saying between the two of us. It is...."Every day a miracle." We literally saw, at least one miracle each day. Some days they were small signs, tender mercies of a loving God. Other days they were life saving miracles of intervention keeping our missionaries safe, diverting a tragedy or direct intervention to someone select and pure of heart really to receive and make covenants with God. All in the name of the Messiah, his life, his work, his mercy, his love.

17 New Missionaries

We welcomed 17 new missionaries, they with their trainers totaled 34 missionaries for our orientation and luncheon at the mission home. They are Elders Asdel, Colindres (Alexis), Colindres, (Edwin), Gunnel, Hansing, Horne, Huehis, Lloyd, Turcios, Umaña, Way and Sisters Avila, Fernandez, Garambel, Lainez, Romero, and Solis. Welcome to our world!

We sent home our last Group

It is with bitter sweet joy that we sad good bye to our largest group of missionaries completing their missions. 27 wonderful missionaries finished their call to serve. They are Elders Legua, Turek, Bruneel, Snell, Clark, Bates, Goodwin, Gonzalez (Adrian), Williams (Benjamin), DeGraw, Youngberg, Smith (Michael), Jensen (Derek), Schone, Bowman, Lara, Larsen, Vasquez (Luis) our Assistant. Our Sisters going home were Sister Salazar, Vasquez (Carla), Rodas, Caceres, Gonzalez, Castillo, Trost, and Cajti.

District Conference in Sacsuha

We had our last District Conference in Sacsuha , Polochic, last May 29th. It is always a joy to meet with the faithful Saints there who travel by any means necessary to get to Conference, have their Temple recommends renewed and visit with the surrounding Saints in the Area.

Twice Victory for Las Victorias Zone

Las Victorias means victories. This is what has happened to the Zone with this name. They baptised twice in a row their goal and then some. The stake goal was to baptise 12 people a month and they baptized 16 two months in a row. To celebrate, the Stake Presidency gave the missionaries a catered luncheon to show their appreciation. Congratulations Elders Alonzo, Luke, Pierce,Chirinos, Dold, Escalante, Taco, Welch, Navas, and our wonderful nurses Sister Westenskow and Neely. The Vicotry is for our Savior and King.

Mission Choir

We had the opportunity of presenting two musical numbers Saturday April 30th at a Medical tour where Medical professionals from the church come to help new members who are contemplating serving a mission fill out their medical portion of their application process. Our missionaries sang two numbers, a missionary medley arranged by Janice Kapp Perry and Ye Elders of Israel from the hymn book. It was wonderful and we received many accolades from the listeners.

17 New missionaries

Our wonderful new missionaries include: Elders Rix, Cheney, Dold, Ryan Anderson, Dallin Smith, David White (our new tallest Elder in the mission) , Llewelyn, Miller, LaPray, Willardson, Henriquez, Alvarez, Rodriguez, Moran, Delgado and Sisters Neeley (our new nurse) and Washburn. Welcome.

Last Easter in the mission field

On April 28th we sent home Elders, Colton White, Batty, Letner, Calero, Cangalaya,Crespin, Olinto Garcia, Primo, Drach, Fusi, Gochis, Hess as well as Sisters Mitchell and Dieguez.

Semana Santa - Easter Missionary work

In Guatemala the week previous to Easter is known as Semana Santa. It is when families rest from working and spend time together viewing the processions or going to bathe in the rivers or ocean.

In San Jeronimo Elder Mays and Elder Sorensen went the extra mile to locate families to teach during this period. They took pictures of families in the park as they were out walking and then made arrangements to return to give them the photo and offer to teach them the gospel. Great job Elders!

A pre-Easter Visit in Sayaxche

Sayaxche is a small branch just off the shores of the Passion River. One must travel on a ferry boat to cross the river to visit the branch. The District Presidency as well as the Mission President are focused on helping the small branch grow. We recently all went to show our love and support for this small but faithful group of saints. We also did house inspections and the Elders "passed" with flying colors. Thank you Moms for teaching them.

Easter Celebration Zone Conference

As always our focus in Zone Conference is "Preach my Gospel" but this month we highlighted the Savior's atonement by requesting a memorized Scripture, given during interviews, on the prophecies or events of the Savior's sacrifice. Of course each missionary was "rewarded" with an Easter Egg and a special book mark made by Sister Batty for their efforts. (see side bar for complete collection of photos from conference)

Presidents Seminar

We were so very blessed to have a seminar with our Area Presidency as well as a special visit from Elder Richard Hinckly from the missionary committee. We spent 3 days (April 7-9)reviewing our focus to baptise as many families as possible to prepare the world to receive the return of our Savior Jesus Christ to the earth.

New Arrivals with Silblings

We received 20 new arrivals with our Changes this week. We also received two siblings of two of our Sister Missionaries. They will keep their missions "all in the family". Sister Calderon received her brother Elder Calderon and Sister Cajti was happy to receive her brother Elder Cajti. It just so happens that these two Sisters are also trainers which is why they were able to see their brothers. Welcome Elders Anderson, Borjas, Cajti, Calderon, Cantillo, Eskelsen, Proctor, Sorensen, Trunick, Welch, and Sisters Zuñiga,Portillo, Molina,Cabrera, Cruz, Rodriquez, and Nuñez

Missionaries returning Home

We said good bye to 7 of our missionaries. Sisters Barillas, Varela, Echeverria, and Elders Burden, Vargas, Vasquez, Antony. Also we said good-bye to a "mini" Missionary Elder Real. Thank you for your faithful service.

Sister Wixom and Sister Thompson Visit Guatemala

We are so fortunate to have had a visit of Sister Wixom of the Primary Presidency as well as Sister Thompson from the Relief Society. We even had a celebration of the Relief Societies' 169th birthday. They were so impressed with our wonderful and faithful members as well as our beautiful children.

4 Missionaries, two stories

We have missionaries from many parts of the world. When two find they come from the same country, this immediately brings them great joy. Such was the case when our two Canadians saw each other for the first time during training. Elder Mark Jensen from Delburne, and Elder Brett Payne from Balzac, Canada.

We are blessed to have two wonderful nurses who do their best to keep a watchful eye and help our missionaries stay healthy. Sister Mitchell and Sister Westenskow.

March Zone Leader Council

We had our Council meeting early in the month, March 2nd. The Leaders were given instructions on our baptizing goals, training lessons, illness prevention and other items to help them be great leaders to their companions. Afterwards they enjoyed a luncheon at the mission home.

New President for the Mission has been called

Edward Dale Watts, 60, and Lorie Porter Watts, four children, North Logan 15th Ward, North Logan Utah Stake. Brother Watts serves on a Hispanic council for the Utah North Area and is a former stake president, high councilor, bishop, bishopric counselor, elders quorum president and missionary in the North Argentine Mission. President, Andigen, LC. Born in Hollywood, Calif., to Alfred Dale Watts and Ella Lue Hargrave Wood.

Sister Watts serves as a ward Relief Society teacher and is a former counselor and president in the institute women's association, stake Young Woman President, stake Primary president, ward Young Women and Primary president, Primary music leader. Born in Provo, Utah, to Lloyed Aldin Porter and Shirley Faye Palmer Porter.

Their anticipated arrival date in the Mission field will be on or about July 1st, 2011.

Change of Mission President this coming July

We must lay on the altar and sacrifice whatever is required by the Lord. We begin by offering a "broken heart and a contrite spirit." We follow this by giving our best effort in our assigned fields of labor and callings. We learn our duty and execute it fully. Finally we consecrate our time, talents, and means as called upon by our file leaders and as prompted by the whisperings of the Spirit. In the Church, we can give expression to every ability, every righteous desire, every thoughtful impulse...and in the end, we learn it was no sacrifice at all. ---Spencer W. Kimball

Next week we will announce the name of the new President.

It's all in the Name

The gospel has had such an impact on Guatemala that it is not uncommon to find people who bare the first name of "Elder". On a recent visit to a resturant, we found our waiter to be one of the "Elders." He told us that his son was also an "Elder" but that they call him "Eldersito."

Be Ye "clean" who bare the vessels of the Lord

When housing inspections are done we sometimes are met with wonderful surprises. The Office Elders did such an amazing job of their apartment, I just had to share. Great job Elders your mamas would be proud!