Hey family,
Well, things are going really well here in Peten. We had new years but it was pretty low key. Of course we as missionaries didn't do anything but it also seemed like the people in our area were a little tired and didn't do anything either. We did however go and eat turkey at the President of the branch's house. One thing that is really big in Guatemala is the fireworks. We were sleeping just fine but at midnight, it was a war-zone. We looked out the window but couldn't see anything because of all the smoke. I'm just glad nobody threw any dynamite sticks at our house. You can buy these dynamite sticks for 1 Quetzal or like 12 American cents. I was definitely tempted to buy some, but that's against the rules so I resisted.
Anyways, I wanted to answer some of the questions that mom asked me in her email. One of them was How is the education? Well, let's just say it is not too great. Usually kids go to school for about 2 hours but it's usually just to go and hang out. Usually the kids all have really fancy uniforms and it seems like they're going to a high quality school, but it really isn't. Also, usually just people with money can afford to send their kids to school. Most of the people that live in Ixhuacut or other poor areas don't send their kids to school. It's sad. It really doesn't allow for kids to progress at all. If their dad grows corn, that's what they do too. It's sad but that's what people know how to do.
Another question was How is the town? Well, San Andes has one main road that runs at the ridge of a huge hill that goes down to the lake. That road kinda splits the town into two different parts, the half going down the hill to the lake and the one above on flat land. Most of the people that live on the hill down to the lake are a little more rich and live in nicer houses. Most of the roads on the hill are all paved with some foot paths and stuff. It's super steep though and it is killer to walk back. I feel skinnier on the days that I go down to the lake. The other half has some nice houses, but for the most part it's just poor people. You asked if it was clean.... Um.... not really. Haha. There are definitely pigs and sewage everywhere. Every house has their own personal pond where all the sewage goes. Also, a lot of the people have fleas because of the dirt floors and dogs. Our shoes and pants get pretty dirty from all of the mud. Most of the roads above the lake are just really rocky dirt roads. Also, the people in San Andres definitely recognize us. They are usually pretty friendly. It's nice. A lot of the people invite us in, even if they really aren't interested, just to be nice. The mean ones usually sick their dogs on us though.
The town definitely doesn't have everything we need. Anytime we need anything for groceries we have to go to San Benito (close to Flores). We had an activity on Friday where we went with the quorum president to buy 80 pounds of meat. It was so gross. I don't think I ever want to eat meat again here because I know that all meat comes from that one carniceria. There were so many flies and all sorts of dogs in the place. Also, they were just using the same knifes for all meat and throwing it all over the place. I think the worst part of it though was that after a while of hacking on the hunk of meat with a knife, the man got frustrated and went back into his tool shed and got out a full size axe. He then hacked up all the meat into little chunks. Ya, nasty. I ate the chicken.
Well, you also wanted to know about my health. I am doing very well. I have been very blessed with good health in these past 9 months. I have only had bad diarrhea once and that only lasted 1 day. I haven't got any parasites yet. Well, maybe I have some after the Tamales I ate yesterday. You could taste the dirt still on the chicken, not to mention the feathers. But, overall, health is really good. Once in awhile I get a blister or something on my feet, but nothing else.
Well, last but definitely not least, our investigators. We now have 6 people preparing for baptismal dates. The first ones will be Marcelo and Merli on the 14th of January. They are kids of some recent converts. The next ones will be Toni and Bertha on the 21st. They are for sure and super excited for their baptism. They are parents of Henry, a brother in our branch. Then, on the 28th we will hopefully have Malecio and Delmi. Malecio works driving buses so it is hard for him to get to church. We'll see if he can make it this week. We are really happy with the work going on in the area. We also found a new family who are family members of Abraham, Mariana, and Sandra that just got baptized last transfer. I think that if we work really hard we will be able to baptize them as well. We are really trying to work with more families rather than little kids like we were with my last change. We found another family as well that seem really awesome, but the father sells marijuana. That might be a stumbling block but we'll keep working with him.
My companion is doing really well and we are having a lot of fun. We're learning a lot and hoping that things keep going well. One of the things we have definitely learned this week is the importance of testifying. As long as you share your testimony, even people that want nothing to do with you cannot deny the power and Spirit you carry. Always testify so people will know what you believe.
Thanks for the picture of my nieces and nephew. They have really grown up in the past year. I really am grateful for the support that you and Mom give me. It really is nice to know that I can count on you guys to always be praying and hoping for my success and safety. I have also been really reflecting on our temporal and spiritual blessings as a family. We are so blessed to have what we do. Really, even the most well off families in San Andres would be suffering in the United States. I have never seen anything like this back home.
We found a new family this week that lives in the worst house I have ever seen in my life. It's about an 8 by 8 space with a bed. Outside they have a place to build a fire and two pots, one for water and the other for beans. They have nothing else. The young man is only 21 years old and his wife 23. They had their first child when they were 15 and 17 and have been suffering ever since. Neither one of them has any education and the father works cutting grass. It's sad to see the suffering, but also, it brings such joy to see the love they have for others. They are so humble and recieve us every time. Because they are so humble, they really do listen. Even though they can't read or write, they understand the language of the Spirit. We are really hoping to put a baptismal date this next week with them. I know the gospel will help them.
It just makes me glad for what I have and really makes me want to always be good with my money. I hope that every time you guys eat, you really feel blessed for what you have. I really realized that as I was eating a chicken head this week. I really didn't understand the blessings we had until I came on my mission. I hope that I can always remember my mission and try to better my life because of the experiences I have had.
I hope you have a great week. You're always in my prayers. You can always know you have someone who loves you, even as far as Guatemala.
Anyways, time's up. I love you all and hope things are going well. I really enjoy the letters. Just to let everybody know, I can even get emails from nonfamilymembers, I just can't email back. I like to hear from everyone. =) Have a great week.
Love,
Elder Lloyd
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