September 17,2012 Nahuala

Tono took us to the waterfalls that are near to look for

a place that we could have a sweet Family Night with some of the
members. It was so sweet, and off the beaten path. Very Beautiful!!!
It was really back in the Jungle.

Wow, can you believe Braiden is home already!? I bet he did such

a great job in his mission and his homecoming. He is such an awesome
kid! About Mike, that really is very sad. He really is a killer guy,
but just had some crappy influences in his life. I am learning a lot
about crappy influences here in Guatemala. Some people just start
drinking and drink everyday til they're dead. I don't know how they
come up with the money for it, but it really is the truth! What you
said really should be the point of life for everybody! We are all
given what we are given, we should use what we are given to build
others, and as we do this, we will build ourselves. Thank you for
reminding me of that! I will try to look for the good in everyone and
let them know. If Christ was perfect, why shouldn't we try to be more
like him!? In all our efforts to be a better person, we are becoming
nearer and nearer to Him. What a blessing, this life that we have to
learn and to make ourselves better.
Those kids sound so freakin cute! And Levi, that champion! Thatso cool
to see him stick with that running business! I really think that he
will be a great runner and we will see some great improvements!
The week in Guatemala! I guess that there was a eruption of a Volcano
in Antigua! The sky has been pretty messed up, but we haven't really
received any ash from it. There are quite a few volcanos here, and
Elder Monge said that a volcano also erupted in the last week in
Nicaragua! Its kinda crazy, everything that's happening! I still am
not sure if I have a picture of my apartment, but I'll get on that
business!
Oh wow, things are moving along at a very rapid pace!!! It is very
crazy! Last monday night, we went to eat dinner with family in our
ward, and they gave us some tostadas. They were so good and such a
good break from the regular! I think that I might have had like 20
tostadas. Tostadas are basically big nacho chips, then you put some
black refried beans or something like that, then they boiled some
cabbage and carrots. Top it all off with some ketchup and chile! It
sounds kinda gross, but they were very good! I think that my tastebuds
have changed with time.
Still workin with the Quiche. Yesterday, we visited a family and the
mom doesn't really speak Spanish. So she asked us which day we could
come to eat dinner. I didn't understand the phrase word for word, but
I understood her! I tired to respond to her in Quiche, and she
understood me!!!! What a miracle! I was in shock! It really was way
sweet!
We have been working more with what Elder Duncan, from the 70, told us
about visions. It is really cool to see what the Lord's servants can
do. We are going to try to move the missionary work more to the
members. I am very excited for it! We actually already have 2 or 3
families that are ready to be taught. These families were found
because of the members. The rule actually is that we shouldn't knock
doors, contact or baptize. They really are pushing for everything to
be done by the members. We are only here to find the people that the
members don't refer and to teach. I am way excited to see how this
plan works! It sounds kinda crazy, but I think it will help a lot!
This past Saturday was Independence Day for all of Central America!
So, friday, they had a little parade with all the littler kids.
Parades are very different here! Basically all the kids play an
instrument in their school and I think that each school has been
preparing for this parade for a month! The schools are very different
here, too. Sometimes I don't really think that they push their kids to
do hard things, and I think that really restricts them with their
abilities for the rest of their life! Saturday, they had a bigger
parade, where all the "Secondary Schools" performed. It was much
better than the first. Here, all the schools prepared bands and
basically every kid in the school played something in the band.
Yesterday, they had a 65th Anniversary deal for the Church in
Guatemala. I guess that missionaries have been sent here for only 65
years and we now have 2 temples in Guatemala. It really is cool to see
how this work is guided by the hand of the Lord. I have been reading a
Book of Mormon Liahona magazine, lately. It really strengthened my
testimony and helped me to figure how I can better use the Book of
Mormon to bring others to the Church. I think is from October 2011, if
you'd like to read it. I know that it will strengthen your testimony
if you do read it. I love the Book of Mormon. It contains all the
secrets to life. What is more important is that we have prophets now,
that also talk with God. They transfer the words of God to us in our
day. Take the promise of the Book of Mormon to heart. If we ask God if
it is true, He will let us know. I know that this promise is true, I
know that the Book of Mormon is true. I love you all and thank you for
all of your support!!! Love you!
Love,
Elder Hilton