Moto Taxi´s are powerful

I am still in shock that another week has come and past. What has happened??

This week we went to Puerto Cortes two different days. I still love Puerto and I am still bummed that I never got to serve there. It was super fun though because I got to do divisions one day with ¨Hermana Casteneda who is from El Salvador! And the other day with Hermana Gisseman (we came together) so it was super great. I was also super happy because the second day we were going to Puerto Cortes I prayed and told Heavenly Father since we were going to Puerto (Puerto is right next to the beach) that if we could please find a way to eat some delicious fish I Would be so happy. And boom for lunch the member served us fish. Almost cried of joy and happiness. Oh the tender mercies of God. 

The first day we were in Puerto though was a little crazy. The hermanas there are Hermana Casteneda and Hermana Kumats. The people there aren´t as used to seeing gringas since the two hermanas there are latinos. Well, we got followed around by a drunk guy, I got kissed, and a million other things. But it was a great adventure and we laughed the whole way. 

Also about a week ago we went to go visit the family Gomez. To visit them we can either take a taxi or a moto taxi. Well we took a moto taxi, and when we take a moto taxi we always have to go through the bordo. Well, we were waiting to head out when a man comes running up, and talks to the moto taxista, and asked if the moto taxi could take some of his stuff since he was moving. Well, he put up his queen size bead, the mattress and the box part, his fan, and a bunch of other things, and put it on top of this moto taxi... and off we went through the dirt rocky road of the bordo. And everything lived and nothing fell off! We got to his house, the man said thank you, quickly unloaded his stuff, and paid 20 limps. Now, folks, that is the way to move. Pay 20 limps ($1) and move your entire house on top of a moto taxi. oh yeah. 

this is a moto taxi...

For el Dia de Amor y Amistad we made hearts to give out to people that we love. It was super fun. Sunday we had a miracle happen. We went to go search for this super crazy awesome guy we had met once and had never been able to find again. Well, we went, and still wasn´t there. So we left him a valentine´s heart with the security guard and left our phone number. That night he called us! And we were so happy we are going to visit him tommorow. 

This week I have been thinking a lot about the baptismal invitation. They always tell us as missionaries to invite people to be baptized the first, or no later than the second, visit. I read 3 Nephi 11 again, and I love what Jesus Christ does. He first shows so much love to the people, and the second thing he does? Invites them all to be baptized. I love how clear he is. Baptism is such an important covenant, and so often we forget how amazing it is and what a blessing it is. 

 37 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as alittle child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowisereceive these things.

 38 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptizedin my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowiseinherit the kingdom of God.

 39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, andwhoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gatesof hell shall not prevail against them.

 40 And whoso shall declare more or less than this, andestablish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is notbuilt upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation,and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when thefloods come and the winds beat upon them

If we say anything more or less than repentance and baptism, we are not preaching the things of Jesus Christ. How important is repentance and baptism! 

And how much people need it, and do not even realize it. 

Well, I love you all, and hope you are all having a great Spring. 

Love you all!!

Elder Palma´s last P day :( With Hermana Miller and Elder Matamores. Eating Sopa de Caracol. Yum

Eating fish with Hermana Gisseman and Hermana Smith

And the last picture is with Hermana Kumatz and Hermana Casteneda (we are all going home together.)

Feliz Día de Amor y Amistad = Happy Valentine`s Day!

This week was filled with lots of great and stressful things... probably like every week in the mission. 

We were super happy to reach our goal to have 20 lessons with member this week!! It has been one of our goals the entire change, and we finally accomplished it. 

A huge highlight of the week is that we had a conference with President Dester. He talked about a few things super interesting. The first thing was he talked about how we need to be using the Book of Mormon more, and the power of the Book of Mormon. Sometimes as missionaries, and members, we forget about the power of the Book of Mormon. We forget to hand out copies to our friends and others. So my companion and I made a new goal, that the both ofus would always have a Book of Mormon, and to each hand out a Book of Mormon each day. It is something that the apostles and many leaders do, They always have a Book of Mormon with them wherever they go to give it as a gift to someone. An idea that President Dester gave us was to always have the Book of Mormon in our hands, so that others could see it, and ask about it, and also to help remind us that we needed to give it to someone. Also President Dester talked a lot about a new program that the mission is going to start in the end of March (I know... huge bummer) to help missionaries and members work together more. The program sounds absolutely amazing because there is so much more that we can do as missionaries with the help of members.

President also talked about how sometimes it is hard when we are out doing divisions to always have time to study the scriptures (and it is so true....) But he talked about the importance of finding time every day to open the scriptures, whether it is on the bus, in the night, or a few minutes in between. So the new goal is to always find the time! If there is not time, to make time. 

We also had a Noche de Juegos (game night) in the ward. Sadly, the bishop canceled it, but since we couldn`t tell everyone it was canceled, we still had the activity. Luckily we still found a few new people to teach that live close to the church and it was pretty fun. The best part was that we found a bunch of huge sacks that they use for the flour and rice and we did a bunch of racing games in the sacks. Even my companion and I played. Basically some of the funnest things ever. 

This week I have been thinking a lot about the life of Jesus Christ, and the things that happened afterwards with the apostles. One of the key doctrines that we teach in lesson 1 is about the apostasy. If people do not understand the apostasy, they never will understand the need for a restoration. It is amazing what the apostles were willing to pass through as they testified that Jesus was the Christ. Jesus died for saying he was the son of God, and many apostles and members of the Church were killed as well testifying that Jesus was the Christ. It makes me think sometimes, if we lived in that day, what would we be willing to sacrifice? Would we give up everything as we testified that Jesus truly is the son of God? Would we be willing to die? 

Maybe the apostles had such great visions and experiences with Jesus Christ because of their faith and their willingness to give everything to God. Maybe if we too were willing to sacrifice as much as they were, and show our faith, we too would see great miracles and visions. One of my favorite visions is the vision that John saw in Revelations chapter 1.  theSon of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen;

I hope we are all willing to give up everything for Christ, to be willing to sacrifice as the apostles did, and as many others. Through our faith, and our sacrifice, God will bless us. 

I love yo uall so much!! Have a great Valentine`s Day :D

First picture: with the awesome Familia Huezo last week in Campana and -Marco!

Second and Third is the baptism of Eduardo.

The last pictures are of us playing in our sacks

February 2nd

This week started out with ... sickness. The thing that is great here is that I have thrown up so many times that I am really starting to be a professional. Luckily after a few days I was back to normal and ready to work like a horse :D

Two amazing things happened this week. 

1. I got to go back to my beloved Campana and see the amazing Familia Huezo! It was awesome because they completed one year being baptized two days before I got to see them. It was so so so great seeing them again and we talked about some serious goals so that they can go to the temple and be sealed as a family. Marco who was also baptized came by to come see me. He is now a counselor in the Young mens. Jose also came by to see me, and I was so shocked since he is so much bigger now! I also saw my favorite friend Sergio... still hanging out underneath the same tree. I wanted to cry seeing all of them again! Definately the most amazing thing ever. Everyone is one year bigger. The babies that I knew are now walking, the pre adolescents have lost all of their baby fat and are tall, and the adults... well they still look the same haha. Just a few more grey hairs. 

2. The baptism of Eduardo. Eduardo was so excited to get baptized, and everything went smoothly for his baptism. He was so sweet in his testimony he said how happy he was to be baptized with a huge smile on his face and how happy he was that we had gone to visit him. It was so beautiful.

We have also been having some challenges with other families as Satan has been working hard to keep them from coming to church and confusing them. I feel like the more time I have on the mission the more complicated the challenges and questions are! The good thing is, is that the Spirit is with us always to help us and guide us.

I love Honduras. I love the people here. The mission is the best thing EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR and it is so sad that my time is going by fast. For all those starting the mission... don´t waste not even one day! Because it is one day you have lost to help the precious children of God, your brothers and sisters.

On random news, today I learned that a bus driver will never drive the bus that he owns because it is dangerous since someone is more likely to know his bus, and him, and kill him. What did I learn? Bus drivers are dangerous... wait... I already knew that. I feel like in the States people always say if you feel unsafe sit closer to the bus driver. Here..if I feel unsafe I move farther away from the bus driver. Speaking of bus drivers, last week a bus driver and his helper were killed. Mmmmm.... I am glad that Heavenly Father always sends angels to protect the missionaries.

This week I also got to read the awesome books of John. I love John! I think he is my favorite past apostle. He writes so beautifully, in English and in Spanish :) My favorite scripture I read this week was in 1 John 4
 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Truly, God is love. 

I love you all and I hope you have a great week!