"Go to church!!!"

So to start off this letter I will already tell you that I don´t have too much to really say about this last week. The zone hadn´t been doing so hot so, last Tuesday we had a zone meeting to try and get everyone fired up again. It was a great meeting and it got us all stoked to work super hard this week. And that is what we did, it just doesn´t look like it in the numbers. It was one of those weeks of knocking tons of doors without results, appointments falling through, and no one accepting a date. We had marked for 18 people to come to church with us yesterday, not one came. We even passed their houses. In all honesty it was just one of those weeks of trials and really trying to show our faith to the Lord that we want to baptize here in this area. I know that trials mean growth and experience and maturity, all these amazing qualities, but as always, during that time or trouble, it is rough. I am mostly just bummed about the people not going to church. It kills me. Nothing makes me happier then seeing people in church. You literally see a change in the person when they are there.  I love it. It is also a way to see the results of our work. But, this is the life of a missionary right? Bad days, bad weeks, heck, even bad transfers happen, but I just need to keep trying to better my work and increase my desire to do the work. It is hard to do, but possible. As a quick side note, more than likely, one of us will be getting transferred here in two weeks (when I will be 21, gross) I am fine if I stay or go but who knows what will happen?
  
On a happier note! I loved all of your e-mails today. That was honestly a big big boost for me. It was great to hear from Trent and Ry and I can´t thank you enough for the jokes! Also, Mom and Dad, now that you two just have TONS of time on your hands :p your letters are awesome. I love this whole talking about the gospel with you guys. It is nice to be taught instead of teaching sometimes hahaha. It is also fun because we are pretty much at the same point in the BOM and I love hearing your comments on things. I also like hearing about what is going on back at home in every bodys' lives. The pictures were also really cool. Ian, I won´t lie that jacket is pretty algebraic! Hahaha. Once again, sorry for the kinda blah letter. Next week will be better, I promise. Please give my best to Bill and I hope you all have another good week! Stay Sweet.

Elder Big Deal

"Hi my name is............"

Elder Guzy and this is my friend... Ah! I honestly have not made so many contacts in my life! Usually I like making contacts and talking with people in the streets, but that is legit all we did this week. Trying to find new people to teach is not nearly as fun as teaching someone, but you gotta find to teach right? Luckily, we did find some more good new people and mark a couple of baptisms. Which reminds me, that is awesome about that young girl getting baptized!! It is also good to know that no matter where you are in the world, finding people to help with the actual meeting is hard. Mom, 99% of our baptisms are like the one you had this week. So stressful! But it all comes together in the end and the Spirit is so strong usually that the person doesn´t even notice the little mistakes. 

  

Besides just making tons of contacts this week we had Zone Conference as well and it was awesome. I always forget how much I like hearing from President and Sister Gonzaga. They are both so funny and creepily remind me of Mom and Dad. We talked a lot about numbers and trying to plan better and I ended up learning some good things. We also talked about overcoming carnal desires which is interesting because we, as in Mom, Dad, and I, have been studying that lately. He gave some good input and got us all excited again for the daily battle of "Bed or Baptism". Things are still going really great in our house with waking up on time but it was a good reminder.

   

I really don´t have a lot of other stuff to talk about... We were pretty bummed yesterday because the family we are teaching right now bailed on church. I think that is one reason a mission is hard on the heart. Every week you work and work and work and pray and pray and pray til Sunday comes and your heart gets broken when they don´t come. But there is  a reason for everything. Maybe they weren´t supposed to be there this Sunday because the next Sunday will be the lesson they need to hear. You never know.

   

I am sorry this letter is pretty lame. Ry, I am jealous. That is all. :p Mom thank you for the pictures you sent and I am stoked the Danger Dave Party went well this year. I will never miss one again.... Oh what happiness!! :) Have a great week family, be safe, and know that I love and miss you all. Stay Sweet....

Elder Big Deal

"More than a good word"

Beleza gente! :)
    
It sounds like another great relaxing week for you all and I am happy things are going great back at home. I am even more excited that Ry is already pretty much up at USU. Ah... I know I talk about this every letter but Ry, I am so happy for you. I am sure you are probably feeling a little nervous and maybe under prepared, but that is alright. I would expect you to feel like that but I also hope you are just full of excitement. You really have such a great opportunity in front of you up there. Have fun Ry, make it a blast. I am not one to really talk about studying and good grades, but focus on your school work. It is so easy to get distracted up there. But once again, I can´t say much about this, I mean come on, my last semester I took bowling, racqet ball, and gymnastics. Rough life eh? But there are tons of times you can study. In between class and in the mornings is when I studied the most. Find what works best for you and just run with it. 
    
My week here was pretty stinkin average....a lot of running around trying to find new people to teach. The problem is we have a few really amazing gators who are progressing really well but very slowly at the same time. We have a couple that we are trying to help get married and they are so awesome. They legit just eat up everything we teach. We are planning to watch the movie... heck I dunno the name of it in English, "Together Forever". You know that one from way back when Mom and Danger served missions? When Dad was comps with Moses I think it was.. Hahaha :) They have awhile still before they can get baptized, more than likely I won´t even be in this area, but I know that they will. I just feel it every time we teach there. But I am so happy to have real progressing investigators but at the same time we need to keep trying to find people who are ready to hear our message now. I know this area has people who are ready to be baptized... I just gotta find um.
   
It is interesting doing this kind of work though, because we talk to a lot of different types of people, but still hear a lot of... the same excuses I guess. It makes me sad because people here think that the church that is true is the one that is closest to your house or the one with the pastor who screams the loudest. (trust me there are tons of them) But by reading books like Spiritual Roots, Believing Christ, Articles of Faith, and a whole list of others I have learned that church is more then just a place to hear the word of God. Church needs to be a place where the word of God is taught, understood, and applied. The church really is the Lord´s university for us. A place where we can take our families and really understand our purpose here and how we can leave things behind that only give us pleasure and small amounts of happiness and in turn receive unimaginable amounts of joy. I don´t know how to explain it all, but it just hit me this week during my studies that there is so much more to a church than people talking about principles and miracles, it is a place for applying and bettering our lives. I hope you guys are understanding this in the right way. I just learn a little bit more every day how true this church really is, I am still working on trying to explain it though haha.
  
I don´t think I have anything else to say.... I am mad at this LAN House because the USB ports are so lame. Sometimes the recognize your card other times they don´t.... Today is a day when they didn´t... meh :( Mom, I was think about things I need and I came up with pretty much Got2bglued gel and.... a whole other list of books but I am not gonna ask for them because my suitcase is getting pretty heavy. I hope you all have another great week and are excited for school to start up again. The other day we were helping a kid do math and I honestly died... I can´t do simple algebra anymore. I have no idea how I am going to survive in college when I get back... Good thing I will have a smart sister close right? Tender mercy!! Stay sweet...

Elder Big Deal

"I knew it!"

Hello to my family that is both awesome and cool!
   
I was thinking this week if you guys were going to be heading up to Snowbird soon and what do you know, you are there right now! I knew it! Hahaha I was thinking about it because everyone here is watching the Olympics and that is one of my favorite Snowbird memories of all time. I loved watching the Olympics with everyone up there and just all the fun activities that we do up at Snowbird. Remember how I used to be crazy about the arcade? Good times :) I hope you have a good week then and take that time to just relax.
   
Things here this week were great. We had a lot of really good, and powerful lessons this week and I just felt... I dunno, into the work again. it is funny how a few lessons can totally change a week around. We also marked some baptism dates and are really excited to have them achieve that goal. One thing that made the lessons fun this week is that I am kind of known for having the phrase of, "If they are strong in their church, they will be strong in our church." And I really think that to be true. It is so much more fulfilling when we teach lessons that all full of scriptural references and people actually paying attention. I love it. Answering real heart-felt questions is awesome because when you respond and they make the connection, a new light just comes to a person, Ah I love it;. Yesh, those people are sometimes a little bit more difficult to teach, but it really gives us a chance to rely on the Spirit.
   
Also this week I read the talk, His Grace is Sufficient, by.... crud I forgot who it is by but Mom knows, at least 4 times. It is such an awesome talk and really helped me with some of the issues that I am struggling with right now. Also the Spiritual Roots has been helping a ton. I love that book and have probably read it 3 times on the mission. Things really are doing better with those two struggles. 
       
Mom, I would love to get actual letters of some of your tips and advice you give if you would be willing to send those. I can print your letters out here in the LAN House or even put them all onto a pen drive, but it would be nice to get a letter every now and then. I have loved the letters that I have gotten from the Lunts and Sister Carr by the way. With a package I am not really sure because I am trying to think about things I need or want and the other thing that jumps to mind is 5 buck Little Ceasers pizza that has been in the fridge or some of my beloved Lynn Wilsons but I don´t think those are possible. I will get back to you on that though :) I better get going but I love you all so much and can´t thank you enough for the help you are all giving me. I love hearing about the things that you all dealt with on your missions and that stuff. Which reminds me, i don´t ever remember seeing any of the bros return home with a lot of the mission stuff, like plans and PMG ish like that. What did you all do with it? Just out of curiosity :) I love you all and have a great week! Stay sweet....

Elder xDisneySquidx (Can you say sick new gamertag for Halo 4 or what?!)

P.S. I am feeling a lot better now and am not dead. Sister Gonzaga said I do need to fatten up though... I am honestly trying so hard! One day it will all catch up to me though.