His name is Dardo!

Our new investigator marina... has a pet spider monkey, his name is Dardo, and he likes bananas. She told us that one afternoon the monkey escaped, and ran through the streets and was chased by a pack of chuchos up a tree.

I tried to feed it a banana but it wouldn´t get close to me, and it’s actually pretty big, it has a huge long tail.



Reminds me of the monkey in Cancun that really liked Connor!

Here I am trying to feed it, but it wouldn’t come any closer. Ya it does look like the monkey from Cancun, but this one is actually a lot bigger.

;)                                                                                                               August 25, 2014

Week by week, I wake up, pray, study, walk, teach, share, testify, walk again, eat, ask, search, find, walk through the corn, teach as I walk, give blessings, pray for guidance, do some good in the world, arrive at the house, kick off my shoes, plan, pray, call the other areas, slowly walk to my bed while the bags under my eyes start to form, sit, ponder, think about all that I´ve done, wonder what I could have done better, count my blessings, kneel, shut my eyes, and wake up again, still alive, still breathing, still happy, and still content with myself- that I have the privilege to take part in preaching Christ´s gospel one day more.

 I´m so glad to hear that everyone at home is so excited to go back to school, and experience something completely new and amazing. Tanner moving up to the 7th grade, and Aaron, moving up to University level. I remember when I first came to the mission. It was exciting; everything just came right at ya in a giant burst without warning. Maybe at first, stepping out of the mission home, and boarding my first crazy chicken bus that took me to Huehuetenango I probably felt completely out of place wondering if this was something I could really do. Everyone speaking a different language, loud horns and sirens going off in every direction, bags full of meowing cats or baskets stuffed full with clucking tied down chickens, being nervous that your suitcases in the back would suddenly snap open at any moment with all the sharp turns in the slender canyons, or the smell of alcohol on the breath of a balling frantic woman leaning over you, trying to tell you something, but you have no idea what it is she wants, sometimes the first step into a new situation can be difficult or a little scary.

Maybe Jr. High can be a little stressful, with the new amount of homework, meeting new people, having to do new things that you´ve never done before, or...

Maybe trying to combine the demands of being a USU football player, a freshman studying engineering, and trying to maintain a college social life, while getting enough sleep so that you can still walk the next day- will prove to be a tad bit challenging.

The first step is always a little awkward, a little weird- as if you were sitting in a fully cramped bus, stuffed between 3 fat corte women who are all chatting it up in Kíché. After the first step, you´ll learn to love it, appreciate it, and never want to let it go.

As much as I would love to be starting this next school year with the both of you, hearing about all the success that Tanner is having as a 7th grade officer, or watching Aaron punt in one of my favorite places on earth- Utah state campus, I know I need to be in the mission, and now I can´t let it go- the corn, the chickens, the corte, all of the above. Guatemala needs me, I need Guatemala.

Good luck this week, make good choices by following the spirit, and always have a good attitude in the good times, and the bad. Have a great school year, let me know how everything goes, I love hearing from you guys, thanks for everything, and have an amazing week!

 Love your brother/son/grandson/nephew/cousin/friend/and missionary

Elder Dalton

 

This is my new comp Elder Muse. He is a good guy, and I feel super greatly to have him as my comp.

Do ya remember Elder Halling??!

This is what we did today, we had a bbq out in the back of the church, it was really nice, and we grilled beef, corn and potatoes, ha-ha.

Elder Halling is the elder from Layton Utah that entered the terminal right before me, do you remember? Well he´s a super great guy, and he apparently has a talent for cooking meats, and wow, it was super good!

                                      ¡¡MMMMM CARNE!!

Septmeber 1,2014

Anyways, la verdad (the truth) is that this week has been a little stressful for me as well, probably nothing compared to the huge schedule that Aaron has to compete with. But, none the less, it’s been a little stressful trying to please everyone, and be the best you can in every moment.

Even though I had a little stressful week, I have learned something from it. Sometimes we have sooooo much to do, so much expected from us, so many people to please and make happy, and so many nights when we return home unsatisfied with your own self and all that we have done.... Have any of you ever felt this way??

If you have, you are missing something... Something really important. Sometimes we try to do things all by ourselves, and strive to be perfect.... well the truth is, to reach perfection.... is always just a little out of our own reach. We can’t do everything on our own. We need the help of Him who is perfect.

When you feel this way, don’t stress and try to do everything on your own, strive to gain help from Heavenly Father, who so willingly listens and makes every trial and every load light.

Matthew 11,
28 ¶Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Whenever you feel stressed, ask for his help humbly, and he will gladly give it to you.

I was reading your letters, and I feel so bad about Aaron´s friend how does somebody just get a disease like that, is it genetic, from blood, from eating something...??

Thanks for all you do for me, I love you guys a bunch, be careful, make good choices, and keep being super pilas (AWESOME)

Elder Dalton

 

 

This is Elder Ayala, he is the elder from Paraguay who can’t speak Spanish that well, is learning how to read and write, and is a super chistoso feller. He has changes tomorrow, but it was a real great opportunity to be in his zone, because he really made me think a lot about what really matters, and how to gain a closer relationship with my Heavenly Father. He is a great guy... if you wanted; you guys could be super awesome, and send him a small package, with candy, maybe an American flag from the parades, some pennies, just something to make him happy, he is having a rough time, and deserves it.