Monday, May 25, 2015

I Still Haven't Packed My Suitcases...

Hey family and friends,

I honestly am so grateful to have been able to serve two years here in the Guatemala City South mission. I have seen many ups and downs, but to be honest, I only remember the ups. Day after day after day I have been able to walk and walk for the Lord and His work. I dont have any regrets. I know that the Lord has put me in certain areas and with certain companions so that His work can progress.

This is the only true gospel of Jesus Christ upon the face of the earth. No doubt. I have felt the spirit EVERY SINGLE DAY here in Guatemala, and i cannot deny it. I wish I could put my testimony into words, but sometimes I cant express my feelings that way that I would like to. I know that Jesus is the Christ. HE lives, and because He lives, we can be guided by His prophets.

I have seen His hand, way too much. I feel a little too blessed. I am thankful.

I have learned so much. I have learned to love another country, another culture, another people. Guatemala has a piece of my heart and so do many people here that I have to leave.

In Monjas I learned how to work hard and truly develop patience.

In Montserrat I learned how to be a missionary that doesnt just work with his feet but with the spirit.

In Montufar I learned how to have a full time job, and be a full time missionary at the same time.

In Jerusalen I learned how to share precious experiences with so many special people, SHOUTOUT to my Hijo Unigenito, Elder Stuart.

In Florida I learned how to show faith and wait for the results. So many miracles.

I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son, even Jesus Christ. I know that the church has been restored, I KNOW.

I love the people of Guatemala, they are a loving people. Most still have their hearts hardened and live in the wicked traditions of their fathers, but many have and will continue receiving the true gospel and the good news. I love tesitfying of the restoration. I love doing this work, for my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that He atoned for ME, i know that He is My Redeemer. He has allowed me to use the atonement before my mission, and that has allowed me to invite others to do the same in these two years.

I may not have baptized as much as I expected to, but I INVITED AND TESTIFIED AS MUCH AS THE LORD EXPECTED ME TO.

I love this Gospel, and I will never forget Guatemala.
I know that this email doesnt do my testimony justice, but you get the idea.
To those who are missionaries, keep working.
To those who will be missionaires, repent and get prepared, the Lord is calling YOU.
To my family, see you on Wednesday.

I share these things in the name of our Lord, Jesus the Christ, amen.

Elder nathan russell walton

Monday, May 18, 2015

1 Week More, Another Week Another Destiny

Hi family.

Well this last week was great! I have been feeling a little weird but I still dont think it has truly hit me yet. I dont really even know what to say to you guys.... besides the fact that I am so grateful that I have been able to serve a full time mission here in Guatemala. The mission truly changes people and it has allowed me to be a better person and to help those that truly are looking for the Lord and His love.

This week we got rained on like crazy. I was hoping to make it home before the rainy season but look like it got here on time... i love the rainy season though because even though we are getting soaked, it does not hinder the Lords work. We have been able to find some great new investigators and on Thursday we found a couple with 3 young kids... they are so ready to accept this gospel. We taught them the restoration and I am just so excited to teach them about eternal families tomorrow.

Honestly this gospel is so amazing and we can answer ANY question using the message of the restoration. For example, "How can my family be happy?"
An average missionary would teach the plan of salvation, but a good missionary would teach the restoration and then at the end focus on the restoration of the priesthood. Because the Lord sent His angels to give these keys or Joseph Smith, all families can be sealed for time and eternity in His Holy Temple.

Yesterday two converts received callings in the ward.
Francisco Ulin: Ward Mission Leader
Cande de Solis: Primary teacher.

It is always fun watching converts progress in the gospel and I am excited that i will be able to work with my convert who is now my mission leader her for my last week in Guatemala.

I love you all, I will bear my testimony through my email next week! SEE YA SOON!

Elder Nathan Russell Walton

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

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It was great talking with you guys yesterday! Im not gonna write much about my week. But here are some pictures we took today, we went to a place called Mixco Viejo... some old ruins about 2 hours away from the stake center.... it was in the BOOONIES. It was a fun trip though.

Have a great week and I love you all!:)
Elder Walton






3

Hey family!

All is well down here in Guatemala... this last week went by WAY too fast... we just had so much going on I cant believe the week already ended.

On Tuesday we had Stake Correlation with the Stake President. That is when my comp and I update the Stake Pres on mission work in the stake and we set goals and make plans with him. That is always an interesting experience.

On Wednesday we had interviews with President Caffaro. Mine was way short because I am going to have my "final" interview with President in a couple of weeks. That is when he is going to give me advice for after the mission and we are going to talk about all that i have learned here.
Something crazy went down and some of the zone couldnt make it to the stake center on wednesday for the interviews because some bad guys shot 3 bus drivers.... so the buses got shut down... and then all of the sudden there was a riot and some people burned the police station down.... soooo that was pretty exciting!

Friday we had the mission council where all the ZLs, APs, and President get together and we talk about the past month, and the next one we are starting. We finished April pretty well here in the zone and ended up being the 2nd best according to the "numbers" of baptisms haha.

Saturday at 530 my comp and I ran over to the stake center to fill up the baptismal font and turn on the water heater so that it would be warm by 10 am. YES, Aurora and also Javier got baptized! We had to make sure that the water was warm because Aurora has been really sick and if it was cold she wouldnt have been able to do it... i mean, it isnt easy for 78 year olds to be baptized, but she did it! it was such a blessing. Javier is a son of a less active who we have been reactiving. The grandma is completely active so the good thing is that if the dad doesnt want to keep changing and coming to church, at least Javier will have a strong support from the Grandma. We already set the goal with him and his family so that he can serve a mission in 9 years!

This week was great and we have some good stuff coming up in these next 3 weeks. Love you all and thank you for all your support!

Have a great week.

Elder nathan russell walton

4



Hey guys!

This week went well, like always. It went by a little too fast and I am not really sure what to tell you guys all about.

We did lots of splits with the zone this week so I got to work with the missionaries in my zone. Usually we do about 2 splits a week but this week we did 4.

We saw many blesses this week.
One was yesterday. A family that we have taught a few times went with us to church for the first time and they loved it. After sacrament meeting the sister, Emily, said to me "This is not what I expected it to be like, I am used to other churches where they play loud music, scream, and people faint because they supposedly feel the spirit and the pastor raises them."
I then I explained to her that the difference is that we actually can feel the spirit in our meetings. The Lord explained to us very well what the spirit is like when he compared it to a dove. What happens if there is a dove in the room, and we start screaming? It goes away. That is why we need to have reverence and peace in the meetings.
After explaining this to her, she agreed and said, "We definitely we come next week."

We are working we some investigators so that they can be baptized on Saturday. One is Javier and he is completely prepared. The other is Aurora who is so great, the only problem is her health. So we are praying that she will feel well enough to be able to be baptized this Saturday!

Last night we saw a huge miracle. We 8 oclock we were headed to our last appointment, and they ended up not being able to receive us... so we had the last hour to go visit someone else. My companion had contacted a lady near by named Glenda so we went and knocked her door. A man answered and was saying how no one by that name lived there... we kept saying "Are you sure Glenda doesnt live here?" There was a lady next door who was buying something from the store, I could tell she was listening to us talk with the guy and then when he closed the door she walked over to us and said "Im Glenda".
It was a completely different lady, but with the same name who happened to live across the street.
Long story short, she invited us over and turns out her and her mother are long-lost members from Mexico, and we met her husband who is also from Mexico, but isnt a member. We shared a quick message with them and we are going back on Wednesday. It was such a blessing and I know that the Lord puts us where we need to be, and always at the right time, even if it isnt for what we originally planned.

Hope you all are great, Im doing great! Love you all and have an amazing week!.

elder nathan russell walton

Photos: My comp bought a hammock and so we set it up in the house, and some old pics from last month that i didnt have til now.



Monday, April 20, 2015

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Hey family!

Well this week went really well! I am glad to be here in la florida still with my zone, I am so grateful that I am going to be able to finish my mission here.

Well this week we tried getting the members a little more involved in the missionary work. There are a few members that will leave with us to go to appointments, but many dont. So my companion and I decided that we were going to do our best to take the investigators to the members house at least once a day, that way we can teach the lesson with members. So we managed to do it ALMOST everyday and we definitley saw some better results and we were able to help the members get to know the investigators. On Tuesday we took a guy named Ruben to the house of Francisco and Victoria. Francisco is always willing to leave with us in the afternoon, but this was the first time we took someone to their house to teach. It was so neat to watch Victoria share her testimony about the restored gospel. She simply said "Before I met the missionaries I always went to a different church, but in my life I didnt have peace. I know that Joseph Smith restored the gospel, and knowing that their is a living profet brings peace to my life".

I am doing my best to enjoy everytime I got as a missionary, I know that these weeks will go by fast, but I am ready to make the most of all the time I got!

On Friday we did splits and I went with Elder Rodriguez in order to do some baptismal interviews for a family that will be baptized this Saturday. One of my favorite parts as a missionary is being able to interview people for their baptism, and being present when they share their thoughts and testimonies with me.

Yesterday during sacrament meeting sister Cande and her kids sang a special number and it was so neat to watch her participate in church as a member now, rather than an investigator.

Aurora is still progressing towards baptism and she went yesterday again. She is so sweet and willing to learn and truly recognizes when the spirit is present in the lessons and in the church services. She may be baptized this Saturday, the only thing that might get in the way is her health, so pray for her please!

Some other excited news is that on Tuesday was the Change Meeting and Elder Stuart is the new financial secretary! Like father, like son.

Well love you all and hope you have a great week!
Elder nathan russell walton

ps. I didnt really take any pics this week, but I know mom you like when i send pics, so i took some just barely... one with elder lindquist and another one showing what we do all pday. we ball.


Monday, April 13, 2015

I Don't Know About You, but I'm Feeling 22 -Taylor Swift

Well... about half way during sacrament yesterday I realized that it was the 12th which means that I hit 22 months yesterday in the mission.... I am getting too old!


So this week went really well. On Tuesday we had a Zone counsel... so my comp and I talked with the zone about reaching our potential. We used Alma 48 : 17 and how if we were to be more like Moroni and have the faith that he had, nothing would be able to stop us.

On Wednesday I did divisions with Elder Anderson from the DR. He was in the CCM with me and it was so fun to be able to work with him. I learned so much from him that day, he truly has developed charity for everyone... I am still working on that one. I will attach a pic of us.

On Friday I was able to do divisions with Elder Kunde for the last time in the mission. It is sad to see him go... but we are going to have a lot of fun when we be roomin at BYU. We had a good day and ended the day celebrating with some Mountain Dew and reppin our new snapbacks!

On Saturday sister Candelaria was baptized. The service was so neat because A TON of members showed up to support her and her family because she has been an investigator for so long. It was such a blessing I dont really know how to explain the feelings and the spirit you could feel during the baptism. The bishop was the one who did the ordinance and I definitely will not forget that day ever! She truly has endured to the end, and she will keep enduring. They are going to give her a calling already because she has basically been a "member" for so long.

Francisco yesterday blessed the sacrament for the first time and it a cool experience. It was also fast and testimony meeting and he shared his testimony for the first time... he truly is converted to the gospel as well as his wife Victoria... they are such a great family and I am going to miss them so much when I leave!

Well last night they told us the changes for the zone... I am staying here for my last 6 weeks! Not many are leaving the zone which is nice, I will be able to work with the same missionaries for my last couple days here!

The Lord is truly hastening HIs work, and it has been such an amazing experience. Thank you for all your prayers and emails, I love you all lots!

Elder nathan russell walton