5-16-12

Dear Mom, I agree, it was really nice to be able to talk to you all (on Mother's Day) and get to hear your voices, even if the connection was a little strange. Thats pretty funny about Brayden and Molly haha, I can see them wrestling, obviously I would beat them both though if I had been there. =P Celiac disease... hmmm... I dont know, is it life threatening if I eat gluten stuff and I have it? (His cousin was just diagnosed with it) because I am pretty sure that pasta has gluten and I absolutely love it, so I dont know if I could give that up, I am pretty sure that I dont have it though, I really havent had all that many problems with my stomach, I should be good, but I guess maybe if I should get tested I should get tested. Thank you for looking for a jumprope, I really would like to have one, I have a makeshift one that I have made with a rope and some cut up tubing but its not all that great, it works but its harder, so a real one would be nice. I dont know why but I jump rope backwards, I dont know if maybe I should learn to jump rope forwards because maybe it exercises different muscles? If you could find out anything about that that would be really nice to know, thanks! As far as shoes, when I need new ones it would probably be a lot easier for me to just buy them here, because they have a ton of shoe stores here where they just bring in shoes from the states, so maybe that would be a better alternative? The brand I am using though is One pair from Rockport, I believe, and the other are Dockers that I bought when I was with Grandma Linda. The zone meeting was absolutely amazing, we had Elder Amado from the first quorum of the seventy come speak to us. President told us that in October he will have been a member of the First quorum of the seventy for longer than any other person has been, so he has been serving a really long time, and he knows what he is talking about. It was really cool to see him speak because the whole time you could tell he was listening to the spirit and letting it guide him, because every so often he would stop speaking for a few moments and just listen. There were alot of things that he talked about, interestingly enough one of them was marriage, they talked about how we need to be actively searching after the mission because it is our duty, and that we should not wait for years to have kids because we will be deprived of blessings if we do. There was a whole lot more on the subject, but it was really cool. We also talked about teaching, but the main theme of it all was that every so often he would stop and ask us if we were listening to Elder Amado, or to the Spirit and what it was trying to teach us. Really cool, it reminded me of the message Larry Dean wrote in one of the Church Newsletters. Elder Amado kind of looks like a guy from Japan though being honest, even though he is from here in Guatemala, I dont know why but he kind of reminded me of Papa. I am glad that brayden was able to get a Reward for Track (he received the MVP Award for JV Track & Field), thats great, I am sure he will do even better the next year while he is running. So other news of stuff that is happening here... well, We are doing week long divisions right now, there was an elder in the Capital that was having some trouble and president felt like he should send my companion to be with him for a week, so he did, in his absence (my companion is District Leader) I have been privileged to be able to serve in his place as District leader, which has been a task slightly overwhelming, but really amazing at the same time, I have been learning a lot really fast. Luckily, I have had a lot of companions who have been DL so I have a really good Idea of what I need to be doing, but I will be honest, I was really worried for the District Meeting I had to conduct this morning, I talked about helping our investigators see the importance of going to church for them, so that they will have desires to go themselves. I dont know how well I taught them, but I know I sure learned a ton preparing to teach them haha. The Elder I am with right now is an Elder from Honduras, He is called Elder P, he is a pretty cool elder, I have seen him before, he was in my district in Chimaltenango, so I knew him before, but everything is going well with him, its only for a week so pretty soon we will change. But other than all that not too much has been going on, its all just a mission haha, but I love it, Actually, something I need to ask you for, my Preach my Gospel got wet yesterday while I was carrying it from our house all the way to where the zone conference was, and so it is kind of ruined, but I am planning on making a miniature one, there are a ton of missionaries who do it and you can do it all here, its just it costs a little more, but afterwards its alot better because its so much easier to carry around instead of a huge preach my Gospel, Its going to cost about 15 to 20 dollars, so I am planning on doing that. Anyways, I love you all and miss you, I hope I got all your questions answered, If I missed one, tell me, I Love you! Love, Christopher

5-8-12

Dear Mom, It has been a pretty good week, Its kind of strange as far as the climate here because we have days that are super hot, and then the next day it is raining almost all day and its pretty chilly because of the rain, haha, you cant really get used to it here because its the both extremes now. Our house is pretty nice, its not all that bad, but its really hot, they dont really construct houses to keep the heat out very well here. And yes, we walk alot haha, we cant go anywhere if we dont. My shoes are doing fine for the moment but thank you for asking. My backpack is holding up for the moment so no worries there, and yes, I did get your package with all the newsletters in it, thank you so much, that was really cool and I enjoy having a little information about what is happening back there with everyone. I am pretty surprised that Molly will be turning 12 soon, thats kind of crazy... I remember when I was 12, It kind of feels like forever ago but not long ago at all at the same time. She is going to do Lego robots again? thats great, she is super creative so I am sure she will be amazing at it, and as far as cleaning her room thats awesome too, I know she has had some problems with keeping it that way. It sounds like Brayden is having a kind of rough time still, it cant be all that fun to just have to sit on the sidelines all the time, but at least he gets a little break from having to do all that running, haha, I remember in Wrestling at the End of practices when we were doing all of our conditioning and running, the wrestlers who were injured but at practice were just sitting there and watching us run like crazy, I always had the thought come to my mind that I wished I could be injured just to not have to run haha, practices were tough. But good for me. School musical at hoover high? that sounds pretty cool, I think I already said this but going to Plays and stuff is something I wish I had spent a little time doing before the mission. The John Williams concert sounds awesome, I really enjoy his music, great songs, I wish I could have been there. So this past week has been alright, we have been working really hard still, not too much new to say though, we had interviews with President, that went pretty well. We always do our zone council during the Interviews and so the Zone Leaders called me and asked me to do a small presentation on the retention for the zone, I dont really like speaking in public and as its in spanish I feel like I did a terrible job, but I tried haha, and the Elders appreciated it, Its alot easier to talk to them on the phone than all of them at the same time. I was showing an investigator a picture of the family and they were looking at it and then they pointed at dad and asked who it was, so I say, thats my dad, and then he looks back at the photo and says.... Your dad is Bruce Willis!! haha, he thought dad was Bruce willis, that was kind of funny, after that he called me Elder Pierce Willis. So I am sure dad will probably get a kick out of that, try not to let it get to his head haha. I am really excited for the call sunday too, I think the easiest thing will be for me to give you a call when I am in the house, and then you can call me back and we can do it, its alot easier to do it that way, as far as the number you have, It seems right to me. I will call Sunday at 8 I think, because that will probably be the easiest, but I think that is 9 for you, is there any problem with that? I am sorry that I really havent had an eventful week, its gone by pretty normally, but I am enjoying the mission and am hoping that all of you have a great week! Love, Christopher Pierce p.s. next week we are having a conference with a 70 on tuesday so I am pretty sure I will be emailing on wednesday, just to give you a heads up, love you!

5-1-12

Dear Mom, It sounds like Brayden is having a pretty tough time with his injury (he has injured his hamstring), I hope that he can have the patience to sit it out and let it heal back, I know that that was always something really hard for me as I love being out and doing stuff, and any impediment is just annoying. I am glad for the times that I made the choice to sit out though when I needed too, and I regret the times I needlessly risked worsening an injury. That is really great that he got his Varsity letter though, haha, I remember getting mine, it was awesome, I never got my jacket though. I will be sure to keep him in my prayers though. That is awesome that you all went with dad to talladega, there is a special spirit in the small branches and wards that you dont see in other places, being here in the mission I have been able to see that alot as my areas have been that way, it may not seem ideal, but the challenges and finding ways to overcome them make the whole experience super special, and in a small branch you can kind of get the feel that everyone who is there is your family because you can get to know everyone, its a little harder in a bigger ward. I am glad that you all had the chance to participate though and did well, I read Braydens talk it is Super great, he really puts in an effort even if he doesnt realize it. I wish I could have heard Dads talk, although I will be honest, hearing things in English is a little wierd now haha, just too much time speaking spanish, I cant even imagine what it will be like with more time. So it sounds like molly is still being just as creative as ever, haha, I understand how she felt not being able to participate in the Hobo house contest, I remember being smaller and seeing Kenny get to participate in things that I wanted to but I couldnt. Brother Patterson is awesome for bringing her those boxes, I miss him to death, how is he doing? He has to be ready to take me rock climbing when I get back haha. On P days we dont always do something, we can only get together as a district two times in a change, and once as a zone, and there isnt alot to do here. We sometimes go hiking but I have only done that once here because there arent any places I know to go to, we are in a pretty urban area right now, so we dont have all the rural stuff, what I have been doing with my new companion is we have woken up early, we start personal study at 6, then companionship at 7, and then language at 8, from then on we have all the rest of the day to do whatever, I have written letters to my friends, in answer to your question about jacob yes I have heard from him, he seems to be doing really great, just a little hard out there, but he told me that he found an investigator finally so that was something really good. as the mail is kind of slow it takes time to hear from him and I dont really know everything, I am not updated very quickly haha. We havent had any marriages, as far as baptisms, we had 2 in April, and 1 in March, and we are looking at setting a few for May right now, we are being super challenging, we challenge everyone we visit in the first lesson to be baptized with a specific date, it sounds crazy, but it actually has worked, I have had 3 people say yes, and it helps you to see just how true the intention of the person is, and if they understand, I was skeptical when our mission president told us to do it but I am gaining a testimony of it as I do it. It is really great to be super challenging. I havent had many stomach issues luckily, I dont know why but I am just getting along pretty well haha, the food goes well with me. Elder A hasnt gotten any mail yet, but I dont really know why for sure yet, he doesnt want to write any of his friends, or family, I asked him why and he said that he has all the time after his mission to talk to them so he doesnt want to spend time writing, he does write his families through email though haha, I understand his few but at the same time view it differently, these are the only two years I will have to be able to really write letters, because once I get back its very unlikely I will use mail as its kind of... slow haha, but letters are definitly a great way to show someone you care. On mothers day, I am not sure about when yet, but the number to call is xxxxxx, I dont know Area code or anything, what times would be good for you? I am thinking we can do it on sunday, Mothers day is different for other countries, but I just want to follow our normal one, the thirteenth, but what times would be good for you, I liked it more at night because I didnt have to worry about having to go out and work again later and being stuck in all the thoughts of the call and not focused, but what is best for you over there? just tell me and I will do what I can, but Remember that with Daylights saving time I am pretty sure you are now an hour ahead, unlike at christmas. Anyways, I hope everything is going well at home, everything is great here, I hope I got all your questions and I love and miss you all, if there is anything I can do let me know, Tell Muddie I say thank you so much for all the prayers and help she has given me!! Love, Elder Pierce

4-24-12

Dear Mom, My week has been Really great. So to start off my new companion is Elder A, hes from Santiago Chile, and he actually entered the mission field with me, so we have almost the same time, I just have a little more because I was in the MTC Longer, but he is an amazing companion and I am learning so much from him everyday. He is from a family of 5, he has a brother who just finished serving a mission in Argentina about 3 weeks ago, and a younger sister who is a little younger than molly. I am glad that you wont have a permanent nerve damage on your face (I told him I had gone to the dentist today and that my face was still numb.), that would have been really bad, haha, But thats cool that Uncle Johnny is there looking for a Job, he wanted to do something like aunt Julie, right? Braydens Injury (hamstring) sounds like it hurts, I hope that he can get better soon, he is a tough kid though, hes just got to be sure he doesnt do too much and injure it even more than what it is right now, I hope he does well in Sectionals (Track & Field), I am really excited that he will be able to get his Letter, thats a really cool achievement. Oh, other things about my companion, well, he actually speaks english really well, not fluently but he can get what he means across, and he has good pronunciation, which was kind of good at first because chileans have an accent in spanish that can be really hard to understand, at least the ones I have known in the mission so far, they have a tendency to cut off the last letter of a word and speak super fast. its crazy, but I am used to it now and understand him completely. He also plays piano pretty well, he self taught himself so we have talked a little bit about that and when we have time around a piano we talk a little about it and show each other tricks we know haha, Its been a really great week, I love my companion to death, he was actually trained by my Second companion, Elder Smith, so I knew a little bit about him before hand. Things that are going on here, the Rain has picked up even more, its really crazy, we have bad luck because every time we leave the house it starts pouring haha, we have been working through the rain every day because it just doesnt let up, but its actually kind of fun haha, I enjoy it at least, the water makes it get really cold outside though haha. Something really cool that happened was that while we working through a torrent of rain, we walked by a house that was absolutely FILLED with water, and the residents were doing everything they could to drain it but they couldnt make much progress against what was going on, so we immediately offered to help them, which turned out to be a great deal of fun as well, we got drenched walking in pools of water and filling buckets up to take outside and try to empty, but it was a great time. Afterwards we talked a little to them and set up a time to come back and talk to them about our message, which they accepted, this was really cool, They arent super positive or anything, but I just loved the experience and learned how we can get in to teach people through acts of service, we were visiting a member nearby who told us later that we had a lot of luck, because the previous sets of missionaries had knocked on that door and could never get in. So sometimes I guess you just have to do a little more than invite someone to hear to help them accept, Service softens the hearts of others. another strange thing that is happening is that our church building is being remodeled right now, so we are meeting for church services in the Building of a different Branch, and we now meet from 11 to 2 in the afternoon, the day goes by Sooooo fast like that, and you get super hungry during church haha, but its only for a few weeks, my companion and I decided that it would be a waste of time to go all the way back to the house after church and eat lunch, so we just went straight to work and then ate when we came home. We had a really great experience yesterday, we found someone knocking on doors and as soon as he opened the door and saw us he told us to come in, which is kind of strange haha, but as we talked to him he explained that he had been waiting for us to come by and talk to him, and he told us that a few years before he had recieved the missionaries, gone to church, and made a lot of friends there, but had never baptized because he and his family moved to a new place, so when we found him he was super excited, we talked to him, invited him to be baptized on the 19th of May and he accepted. Its too soon to say if it will happen for sure, but I hope it does, it would be a really cool experience. I believe in Miracles. Anyways though, other than that, not too much has happened, I hope you and the Family are doing great, I miss you all and love you a ton, I am excited for the call on mothers day, so that should be great. I Love you, If I missed anything tell me! Love, Christopher

4-17-12

Dear Mom,

Wow, It sounds like you have all had a super crazy week back home, I am glad to hear that you have each been able to make it through what has happened and keep pushing on. I am really glad that Brayden was able to find his spikes though, that was so lucky, it truly is a blessing. And also that the Sea doo or car didnt get stuck in the lake haha, that would have been a really big problem..

The talk James gave sounds like it must have been really great, The atonement is a subject extremely extensive and so amazing. Its something so essencial for everyone of us, and yet we cant really ever truly comprehend it completely in this life. I have thought about when I come back home too now and the wards are all split up, its going to be strange, haha, But thats still a good ways a way.

As far as changes I still dont know who my new companion is, I will tomorrow though, I am kind of excited and kind of nervous at the same time, recieving a new companion is kind of just one of those things, you never know, Hopefully it will be someone I get along with like all of the others, it definitly makes the time go by better. Its actually kind of funny because everyone in our zone has changes so everyone will be going, there will be alot of new people here.

As far as things here, they have been going pretty well, I went on divisions again this week with another elder named Elder S, hes from El Salvador, good guy, hes leaving with my companion, while we were out working it started to rain, the rainy season is really starting to pick up now, and we got in a house right as it started, But we couldnt really talk with the people because the house was made of aluminum so all the rain falling made a ton of noise and you could hardly hear anything else haha, that was pretty funny, but it was kind of strange too because as it was raining it started Hailing too! I dont really know where it came from, but the good thing about the rain is that when its raining, its kind of cool here, and not nearly as hot, so at least I am not sweating all the time. The bad thing is that you go out and work in it so you get drenched, but thats actually kind of fun too so no worries.

We also had a baptism this past sunday which was great, Its kind of a strange story because we were going to get her married so she could be baptized, but what actually ended up happening was that she and her boyfriend Broke up completely, that was a surprise because we had gone and gotten all the papers for the marriage and what not, but there wasnt one. Its sad that it happened, but its probably for the better, because apparently they had been fighting for a while now, but she still wanted to go forward and be baptized, so she was. It was really great because she is one of the investigators that is truly converted, they do everything well, they keep their commitments, pray, and truly know that it is true.

Yesterday we had P day as a district and we went to A chapel in a different companionships area, to play soccer and stuff, but the building there has Mango trees outside and so we got there and there were Mangos Everywhere, I ate way too many, but there were literally a billion or so.

Another thing I have been trying to work on here now especially is studying more effectively spanish, its another thing that President talked to us about, and he really wants us to be able to continue bettering our ability to communicate, I agree with him that its definitly something we should do, I am trying to divide my study up into different time periods of different activities, so I dont get bored with just studying the same thing over and over again, its definitly helping though.

Other than that though, the week has been pretty normal, we have worked super hard, and are super tired, but always ready to keep on working, I love you all and hope everything is going well back there in Alabama, Tell everyone I love them and miss them!

Love,
Christopher

4-10-12

Dear Mom,

It sounds like you all have had a pretty full week back home, its pretty much been the same here, time is flying by, its kind of weird but my companion is finishing his mission next week and I will be recieving a new companion, who knows who it will be.

So brayden still hasnt finished his eagle project... The idea for the Cemetary thing actually sounds like it would be pretty easy, who mentioned it to him? I would go for it, but the only thing is that he would need alot of computer time, but as far as the technicalities of it all I am sure that dad would be able to help him. I am sorry that you have to have someone driving you around everywhere and stuff, I know what that feels like haha, I remember right after I had my wisdom teeth out I couldnt drive because of the medicine, and the same with my implant, that was really annoying, you dont really realize how much a small inability can effect the normal course of your life until it actually happens. But its great that you have people there who are willing to help you out and get around it.

I did get the package from Grandma Linda as well actually, be sure to tell her I said thank you so much, it really meant alot.

As far as friends with addresses, well, Just the people who wrote on the Cards that you put in there, I cant remember them all because there were alot, but there was L.B., E.P., I think those are the only ones I dont have, because I have the Stanleys, and I have Ashley and Katherine and Betsy.

I have gotten along with my companions pretty well in general actually, I havent really had problems with one yet, so I have been lucky in that aspect.

Those talks from Sunday sound amazing, I wish I could have been able to hear them, I am sure I would have learned alot from them as well.

Here on saturday the Guatemalans do something like what they do in brazil I guess, They make a Judas doll and then burn him though, they dont actually hang him. But they do have a whole procession with someone who is supposedly Jesus, where basically they play out the whole last week of his life, They have him taken and tried, and then they put him on a cross (with ropes not nails) for about 30 minutes, then the Sunday morning they have the resurrection for him. Kind of interesting, I didnt know that any of this happened until my companion started explaining the celebration of this week to me.

As far as things going on in the mission, this last thursday we had a baptism with G., that was great, he was so happy and this past Fast Sunday when he was confirmed he got up and gave his testimony, he was really nervous, but he felt like he had to do it so he did, awesome experience.

Actually something really cool happened this past week, at least cool to me, so My companion and I were trying to get lessons in on Saturday, but all of our appointments were falling through and nobody was letting us in, we really were having a hard time, and we werent sure what to do, so I was looking in My agenda for an idea and I came across the Address of a contact I had made my first day here, and the Man had said we could pass by at the time of the day which we were in so I thought we should go there, haha, I then jokingly said that maybe I had contacted the guy my first day Specifically so that in this moment when everything had fallen through we would have somewhere to go. The surprising thing was that the man was there and he was so excited to let us come in haha, it turns out that about two years ago he had talked to missionaries before but for one reason or another they had stopped visiting him, but we talked to him and he wants to come to church and everything and get baptized too. It was so cool, I was completely joking when I said what I said, but maybe I really did talk to the man just so that in that day in the future we would know where to go. Maybe its a long shot, but to me it just seems like it was supposed to happen. Think what you will

Other than that, yesterday for P day we went hiking up a mountain, that was pretty cool, we saw some really cool views, and we had a great time, I was talking with one of our Zone leaders, Elder L., and he gave me some ideas for things to do maybe as a career, he was telling me about how you can go to college to become a Chemical Engineer, and get a job with that degree, and then also go to study for your MBA and start a business up with that, its a little more complicated than that, but it interested me, I will have to look into it. But Anyways, not too much else has happened, I think I got all your questions, I hope you and dad and the rest of the Family are doing well, Tell Dad I said happy late Birthday, Love you all!

Love,
Christopher Pierce

4-4-12

Dear Mom,

Conference was Amazing this past week, I watched it in English luckily, its so much better that way because you can actually hear the people that are talking, you kind of get used to the voice of the prophet or apostles. All of the Talks were really awesome to be honest, but Some of my favorites were Definitly Uchdtorfs Sunday morning talk about Stop It. David A. Bednars in The priesthood session, and Jeffrey R. Hollands on Saturday I believe. It was a Great conference overall, Although I feel that it was heavily focused on Parents and Raising Kids.

Zone Conference Was also really cool, We pretty much spent the whole time talking about the Book of Mormon, That was great, we talked about how to use it with answering questions of the soul, and applying it to the lives of people. That The Book of Mormon is Central in the conversion process and that we have to make sure our investigators understand that. And that all too often as missionaries we have a tendency to use the Bible, because it has a tendency to convince if we know the scriptures well, which is the opposite of what we want as we want our converts to Be converted, not convinced.

Brayden Still hasnt done his Eagle Project? He has to get on the ball or he wont be able to drive pretty soon, thats gonna be tough. I cant believe that Molly is almost 12 now, that is so crazy, she is growing old so fast. I bet she is super excited for those trips though, knowing her.

I am sorry that you Broke your toe, I know how that feels, I remember when I broke my foot and you two didnt believe me, haha, maybe its karma. But I Hope that you can recover and get back to normal shape, just be more careful. Its true that our bodies are a miracle, Russel M. Nelson was talking about that in his talk in Conference, that was also a super good talk, if you didnt get to hear it you should find it.

I also have a piece of Good news, I did get my Birthday Package, Thank you so much! I am glad that you sent me a journal because I am actually about to run out of space in the one I have so I will need more space soon. Also thank you for all of the notes from my Friends, I wish I had addresses so that I could reply and say thank you to all of them, Be sure to tell them I said Thank you when you can.

As far as the Mission, Its going by pretty much the same, haha, I dont really know how to describe it, we went to a museum this last P day, that had a ton of rocks and stuff with carvings, and also their were some really old trains and machinery that the people used here, kind of an odd combination but I enjoyed it. We also finally got to talk to the husband (not married yet) of an investigator, and talked about getting them married because she really wants to be baptized and cant because they arent married, He agreed to marrying and so we will be having the marriage this saturday, and baptizing her probably the other week, so I am really happy about that. But other than that not too much... we have been so busy these past few days with General Conference, than P day, than Zone conference, then District meeting today, and tomorrow we are having the Baptism for German, Than Saturday is the wedding, We havent really had too much time for finding new people and teaching, its super strange because we get so tired from all this stuff we are trying to keep up with.

Anyways, I think I answered all your questions, I hope so at least, Know that I love and miss you all and Hope to hear from you soon, Tell everyone I said hi!!

Love,
Christopher

I did find a Backpack actually haha, its kind of funny because its a backpack that another elder used, Its actually the old backpack of the Trainer who trained my Trainer. I thought that was kind of funny, anyways its not amazing but it works well so I should be good for a while.

I am still trying to figure out how to send photos, I will get back on that, sorry its taking so long.