SICK - NOT THE COOL KIND

Hola Mi Familia! 

Yes dad, that first day out in the field, last week, was crazy!!! Scared the pants right off my body, but I am getting the hang of it! I hope you are liking the pictures. There isn`t a whole lot to take right now, but every once in a while I will see a sight that is just really cool, and I just have to get a picture of it.  I wasn't able to send any this week since I was sick, but hopefully next week? 

The teaching pool is still really great! We have a few investigators who are so close to baptism, they just need to make a decision. It gets kind of annoying sometimes, they will bare their testimony, or say the feel that this is right, they just won`t make their decision, but it's their choice, and their decision. We just can`t wait till they finally do and we get them in the water. It is the most surreal feeling for me to contact. Thinking that I am now a missionary, in Guatemala, knocking on people`s doors, asking to share a message, and they will either just shut the door, tell us some bull crap lie, or just say to come back at this time, and when we go back, they either won`t answer, or will tell us they don`t want it, and it just wastes our time. But ya, we get to plant that seed for the next group of missionaries who come through and talk to them. It`s been a real eye opening experience, and I am so glad I get to have this chance!

This week has been pretty rough. I have been down and out with some sort of sickness. I don`t feel like I have a cold. But I have to go all the time, at least twice an hour, and then my stomach hurts really bad all the time. We have been in the house for 3 days straight. It has been really hard. But my companion has been so patient and awesome!  He's great!

Even though I've been sick, we've still made time to meet with Brenda, Indyra, and Paty and I get out of the house just because I know they are the most important people we are teaching right now who are so close to baptism. So we teach them quite a bit, and they are so close! Other than that, not a whole lot has happened because I can`t really do anything. It really sucks. I really hope it get`s better soon. The language is getting better day by day, its great. Still hard to speak, but I can understand quite a bit now.

1. PEAK MOMENT:  Teaching Paty, and she said she thinks she is ready for baptism. It made both of us so excited!!!! She is so close to being converted it`s awesome!!!

2. PIT MOMENT:  Getting sick. It sucks!!!!

3. WHAT TO PRAY FOR:  For me to get over this stupid thing, whatever it is.

4. FAVORITE SCRIPTURE TO STUDY:  Ether 12, entire chapter. It`s my favorite, all about faith.

5. NAME OF THE AREA YOU ARE IN:   I am right in Quetzaltenango. The area is called Calvario. It is right outside of central Quetzaltengango. And yes for short, its Xela, it is quiche for Quetzaltenango.

6. HOW'S THE WEATHER:  The weather has been really good so far. It hasn`t rained too much, and even when it has, it hasn`t been too hard. Maybe 2 or 3 days it has rained, today being one of them. I have only worn my shoes so far and they are are doing just fine.

There is a power in the Book of Mormon that will flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book.  You will find greater power to resist temptation.  You will find the power the avoid deception.  You will find the power to stay on the straight and narrow path....You will find in greater and greater abundance." Ezra Taft Benson

I really like that quote, and it is so true! As I have been reading the Book of Mormon, the strength that comes from them are so amazing! I love reading that book!!!

I hope everything goes good back at home!! I love you all!!

Love Elder Harward

FIRST FULL WEEK - GREAT COMPANION, SKETCHY "HOT WATER" & THE WATCHFUL EYE OF HEAVENLY FATHER!!!

Hi Mom, Dad & Fam!

My first week here was the most amazing experience I have had in my life!!!!!!  So I wasn`t able to email on Tuesday because the day went way different than I thought it would have. I thought we would have a bus 5-hour bus ride (which we did) but then I thought we would be taken to the Mission Home and stay the night there, but that’s not what happened at all!!!

Instead, we were taken to a church building in central Quetzaltenango, where we met the President and his wife there. We were there from about 10:30 until about 5 at night. We had a meeting type thing that they told us what to expect when we got out to the field, and different things about food, health, water. All these different things, which to be honest, was pretty boring to sit there all day. Then, at the end, they said “Alright, you are going to meet your companions now and go get settled in at your house.”

They brought our new comps in and we talked for a little bit more, and then they just took us away. That day was the first day I had in the field. We went back to the house where I unpacked and got settled in a little, and then the first thing my companion said was that we were going to do was to go out and contact!!! I thought he was kidding at first, but we got up and went out on the streets and started knocking doors. I have never been so scared in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so scary. I had no idea what people were saying to me, I had no idea what to say to them because I was so scared, but I got through it.

My companion is amazing!!! His name is Elder Foster and he went to Woods Cross High. He has been out for 15 months and speaks awesome Spanish. He has helped me so much this last week!!!! Just what I wanted in my first companion, prayers really have been answered!!!!!!   I really think I have learned more this past week than the past 6 weeks in the MTC? I don`t really have the butterflies in my stomach when I walk out our door anymore, which is very nice, and I am starting to know the area a little bit. 

Our home is pretty great. By the way, I don`t think Mom would approve of it hahahaha! But I love it! it`s a cool little place!!!! The shower is crazy though!! There is a breaker switch on the wall with 2 wires coming out of it, they run up the wall, to the ceiling, and then down to the shower head, and the heater is in the head, and if it gets too hot, the switch breaks, and there is no more ¨hot¨ water. It`s never hot, just somewhat warm. But when that heater doesn`t work, it`s freezing!!!! Don`t worry about me though, I`m fine. I`m under the best protection there is, the loving, watchful eye of our Heavenly Father!!!

After contacting we met some of the investigators they have had in the area and I was able to introduce myself to them, which was nerve wracking too. Overall, it was so freaking scary!!!!! It has gotten better each and every day with understanding. Speaking is still somewhat difficult, but it`s coming slowly but surely. It`s now getting to the point where I will say something and not really care how it sounds, just so I can start speaking more. 

Our investigators we are teaching are so awesome!!!! There is Paty, Brenda, Indyra, Edna, Estuardo, along with some others here and there. Paty and Brenda are so close to being baptized! They both have both said they believe it`s true, they just want to receive an answer before they jump into anything. Indyra is the sister to Paty, and Edna is their best friend. Paty is the boss pretty much, so she sets the example for the other two. If Paty gets baptized, it shouldn`t be too long before they do too. The same goes for Estaurdo. He is a 14-year old kid, and good friends with Indyra`s daughter. He has been being taught by us and really wants to be baptized too!!! So who knows, we might be looking at 5 baptisms here in my first area!!!!!!!!! 

The people honestly aren`t as welcoming as I thought they would be, but that`s mainly because they are catholic.  They see us and get super mad! It`s pretty funny, but it kind-a sucks. We don`t really find anyone to teach when we contact. I have learned to love contacting. It is one of the best ways to practice my Spanish. It makes time pass so fast. It`s really fun, but it`s crazy to think that I am now a full time missionary, out on the streets of Guatemala, actually knocking on doors asking to share a message with people about our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a surreal feeling!!!!

Prayer really is amazing!!! In one of our lessons with Paty, we started teaching The Word of Wisdom. I really didn`t understand what was going on, so I said a really quick prayer to asking for help to understand something they were saying, as well as to help me say something without choking on my words. Within about 2 minutes, I started picking out words that they were saying that helped me piece together what they were saying. Then I was able to talk about why I think we can`t partake of alcohol or coffee or tea or drugs, how they form addictions, and when we have addictions we focus on those things more than the spirit, and we eventually lose the spirit and don`t know how to get it back.  I said this all in Spanish, without stumbling or anything. It was so crazy!!! Definitely a huge testimony builder!!!!!

The area I am in isn`t far from where they dropped us off at that first day in the field - maybe 5 minutes.  It is so different here than the USA. There is no order to how they put buildings up, the streets are crazy with cars, motorcycles, bikes, buses. It`s nuts! It`s kind-a scary sometimes to cross the streets, but I`m getting the hang of it.  We are in central Quetzaltenango, and it`s a really cool area. Talk about culture shock though!!!! Almost all the streets are cobblestone, not paved. The sidewalks are trash, and the buildings are all concrete, just put anywhere. The houses, oh man the houses!!! If I didn`t have my companion at first, I wouldn`t have known they were houses. They are just metal doors all along the concrete buildings and then they open up into big courtyards, when then have different rooms, and are in different parts of the courtyard. It`s kind of hard to explain, and I don`t have good enough pictures to show you because I don`t want to take pictures in their house. But it`s crazy.

I love it here! I wish you could all see it too. I really love it here, and it`s something else when we start teaching the investigators and the spirit that is there is amazing!  I am not even close to being fluent yet. It is so hard sometimes, because people will ask me things, or just start talking to me, and I have no idea what they are saying. I was so scared the first day but it`s getting better. I am starting to understand a little bit more, but I still have a long way to go!!!!!

I love this area so much! It takes a little bit to get used to, and I`m almost there, but it`s awesome! 

You have nothing to worry about I promise!!!!! I hope you all are doing good back at home!!!! I love you all so much!!

That is amazing to hear about Peighton and making it to the playoffs, and Gunner with his new job!!! Finally!!!!! That is a lot of surgery if they all are going to need it!!! (Mom here:  all three younger kiddo's will be having surgery the same day, in 2 weeks to correct sinus' problems and tonsils removed. Yeah for Mom & Dad!  Also, older sister just had emergency appendectomy 3 weeks ago! Yup, life has not been dull since our son left.) 

One thing I just realized, 2 months and 15 days until Christmas, that`s all!!! Has it started snowing at home yet? It`s still really warm down here!!!!

I hope your shoulder keeps getting better!! Be careful with it. If you play, play it safe for a little bit or else you might do permanent damage!!!!!!

I love you so much! I hope you have an amazing week!!!!!

Love Elder Harward

GENERAL CONFERENCE - MISSION HOME & 1ST AREA BOUND!!!

Hi Dad,

Sorry, this won´t be very long because I have 20 minutes, but yes it was my last week in the CCM and I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I can´t wait to get out into the field. It is going to be so amazing! I will leave tomorrow morning at about 5 in the morning for a 4 hour bus ride, which will take me to the Mission Home where I get to finally meet President Smith and his wife.  I might have time to email when I'm there, but not for sure about that.

Thank you for your testimony, Dad, it really means a lot. I am so sorry this is so short, but I want to try to email everyone, and I should have more time tomorrow at the mission home. Don´t quote me on that though. I love you so much dad! I will have so many stories in the next weeks to come and can´t wait to share them with you.

Oh one thing I thought was kind of funny that I´ll share with you but would rather you not share with mom. In these 6 weeks there have been a few gun battles go down on the street right outside the CCM!!! It has been pretty weird to hear all the gun shots so close to us!!!! Just thought I´d tell you, it was kind of funny.  (Mom speaking here:  Ummmm, what? Funny would not be my word of choice here. :)  Guatemala is in a state of unrest right now, and a government uprising, soooooo, thoughts and prayers of safety would be greatly appreciated!!  Funny?  Pshhht, not really.)

I loved being able to listen to conference this weekend too!!! It was amazing!! My favorite would have to be from President Uchtdorf on Saturday morning talking about how we need to appreciate this gospel more and not take it for granted. It was so good!! My favorite thing he said was that "We walk a path full of diamonds, but mistake the precious gems as meerly pebbles along the way" It made me realize how much I really do take this gospel for granted. And I am glad that I can now share this gospel and the happiness it brings to the people of Guatemala!!!!!

I hope you have a good week?  Remember to pray to your Heavenly Father about anything you are needing and you will receive the help and peace that you need, I promise.

Love Elder Harward

CCM #5 - CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT THERE AND SHARE STORIES!!!

Hi Mom, Dad & everyone,

I love you all so much, and I love being able to read your emails each week. I take a picture of all of the family`s emails so I can read them all throughout the week and have that support whenever I might be feeling down. It`s amazing, I love it.

Dad, you are never getting too old to play! Your my dad and you`ll be around for a long time to come. I really wish I could be there playing with all of you, I really do miss it. I hope that your shoulder and collarbone can heal and you can get over it quickly? Let me know how everything goes.

This week has been a really good week. The homesickness is pretty much gone, which helps a lot. I miss you guys so much, but I know I`m out here for a reason, and it doesn't make me not want to be here missing you guys, if that makes sense. Yes, I can`t believe that it`s almost been 6 weeks already. That`s insane to think about. I can`t wait to get out and actually see what Guatemala is really like! I went into town with a few of my district and got our visas, and we got to bible bash with some 80 year old guy from Pittsburgh who said that he can`t wait to see the day that everyone leaves church and comes to God. It was so funny listening to how he would explain some of his beliefs.

I love you so much. I can`t wait to share all of the stories I will have within the next 2 years when I get out of this place and get to really serve the people here in Guatemala. Thank you for your advice, it has really helped me to not to be as sad. I guess this week, once I realized that I need to let you guys live your lives while I`m out here, and not really worry about what`s going on, it really helped bring things into perspective. So thank you. That is probably what I miss most about not being home with you is having your wisdom and guidance 24/7. It has been hard not having you by my side, but it`s been a great growing and learning experience, and has really helped me know how strong I really am. 

I am so glad that you have gotten all the pictures, and I hope that you like them. I was following the little paper you gave me every time, step by step, just to make sure you got them, and when you said you weren't it scared me. I thought that you weren't going to see anything for 2 years either and that would have probably killed me just as much, if not more, than it would have with you. I will make sure to keep taking and sending pictures, especially now that I know they are working. I won`t lie, you said they weren't coming through, so I haven`t taken too many more just because there isn't a whole lot here to take pictures of and I was a little distressed thinking that I can`t share any of my experiences with you guys back home. It makes me so happy to know they are finally working!!! I really am glad to hear that you don`t do all those weird, stalker, creepy things like other moms do. The fact that other moms do that kind of scares me!!!! :) HA!HA!  There isn't any reason that you should be worried about anything; I am safe, I am healthy... (Except this week my companion got the flu and because we are with each other 24/7 he gave it to me, but I`m doing fine now), and I am HAPPY! There is no reason you should be stressed with me being gone. I am in the work of the Lord and He is protecting me and I know that, along with watching over you guys back home for payment!

It`s crazy that you shared that quote, because on Sunday, during one of the Devotionals that we had, one of the Presidents shared that exact same quote! That is so crazy! 

Heavenly Father knows all about YOU; your strengths and your weaknesses.

He knows perfectly who YOU are, BUT.... He also knows who you can BECOME.

And with that knowledge, He has placed you here, 

NOW -- at this EXACT place and time in which you can do the most good with the talents and gifts 

HE HAS GIVEN YOU!

So you email my companion`s mom?? Is she nice? If Elder Hodder is anything like her then she must be pretty great!!! I love that kid to death and I am so sad that I am going to have to say goodbye to him in a week! The cool thing is my entire district, at least the elders, are all going to the same mission, so instead of us breaking up that Tuesday morning like most people have to do, we get to ride a 4 to 5 hour bus ride to the mission home, and then spend all that day together too!! I am so excited to go see what Guatemala really is like. It`s going to be great!!!!

Alright...

1.MY PEAK MOMENT would have to be teaching one of our "investigators" the introduction to the Book of Mormon and how it can answer any of our questions, it brings us closer to God, and it lets us receive more blessings from Him. I loved this for a few reasons. I loved it because for one, I was able to pretty much talk freely in Spanish about it, and it felt so natural. I was happy about that. But, also, as I testified of the book and talked about it, the Spirit testified to me that what I was saying was true, so it gave me a bigger testimony on the book than I already have! I love the Book of Mormon and have never studied the way I have here. almost every verse that I have read is marked for some reason or another!!! It truly is the word of God written through prophets of old called of Him, and the blessings received from reading the book and praying about it are innumerable.

2.My PIT MOMENT would have to be yesterday, when my cold hit the hardest. It was hard to breathe, my stomach was killing me, my throat was so sore, enough to the point that they had me take a nap during the day. Don`t worry though, I am doing fine now.

3.MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURE STUDY this week would probably be 2 Nephi 9. It was a long chapter, but it was amazing. There was so much stuff to pull out from that chapter.

4.My DL is doing much better, and it is so good to see! Thank you so much for praying for him! It means a lot. I have come to love everyone in my district. 

5.(Will you know where your new area you will be sent to when you email next week?) I think? I won`t know until I get to the mission home next week!!!!

This week was pretty uneventful. All we do is sit in class all day learning the language and other things, but that`s about it. I can`t wait to get to the field and have some stories to actually talk about!!!!!!

I love you all so much. I can`t wait to talk to you next week when I will be in the field. I can`t wait to get out there and meet the mission president. It`s going to be great!!!

Love Elder Harward

(Elder Harward did not say who these 2 other missionaries are.  Tag yourself if one them is yours?)