One Step Back, Two Steps Forward

One time Courtney sent me a quote that said something like "Little progress is better than no progress"

We had an interesting week! I feel like we weren't able to do much because we have been helping the new mission President so much, but it is all worth it. Sometimes success and blessings come in different ways than a missionary would expect.

For those of you who actually read my weekly messages, yes, Susan got baptized, and it was amazing. She was so happy and it was a true miracle. Ill attach a photo.

Well Sunday morning we woke up and started inviting everyone to church bright and early; Susan´s cousin, Ronald (recent convert) woke up sick, and he was the person who was going to baptize her. So we kind of scrambled and she ended up asking me to do it. Normally members always baptize, because that way the converts have a great spiritual experience with someone who is always there. Us, the missionaries, don't stay around for forever, therefore we don't usually baptize.

Both of Susans parents went to church with us to support here which was awesome! Her only support before was just her cousin Ronald.

Well when we showed up to church President Caffaro was there in the parking lot getting out of his car. Since it was there first Sunday we invited them to our church because it is the closet chapel to their house, and they dont know how to get around yet. Well it was to their surprise that other secretaries and us had baptisms set up for after the meetings. It was awesome to have them present and we got a great picture with the new mission president and his wife!:)

Besides the baptism on Sunday we were super busy in the office... and we suffered a little in the area.

I had one amazing experience I would like to share though. On Thursday when we got to the area we had no appointments planned, so we didnt have anything to do. When this happens it usually means we end up contacting a bunch in the street and looking for people to visit, which isnt very effective.

I had an idea to go visit a family that lives farther away in an area called La Forestal and try to get a reference from them. I thought it was an impression to go all the way out there, so I was willingly to do it. We showed up, and..... they werent home. Bummer right? So we were stuck out in La Forestal where all the people are super wicked and worldly... you know.. drunks, bad language, prosititutes, drugs... and it isnt just a few people, it is like everyone! That is why hardly any members live there.

Well we just kind of walked around not knowing what to do... after 10 minutes we decided we were just going to head back to the main area. I was looking around and all of the sudden I saw a family outside their house and I knew I had to contact them, but I saw them late and we had already passed by. I then got the idea to turn around and stop by to say hi to the only active family in La Forestal, with the idea that afterwards I would contact the family I saw, that way I wouldnt awkwardly approach them. When we passed by again on our way to the members I got the same feeling.... so I was determined. We then said hi to the members and chatted a little, asked them if they needed anything from us, then we were on our way again.

Well it was already getting late so I completely spaced and forgot to contact the family when we passed by! SATAN was trying so hard to distract me!

I sort of just blew it off and we kept walking be cause we had passed by their house 3 times and every time I awkwardly look at them and I felt like a creeper.. haha.

We started getting farther and farther away from that family and I was at the point to just keep walking. Finally I told me comp, Hey, we gotta go back.

When we were approaching the family outside their house most of them we casually headed back in the door (perfect timing, right?). As they headed in an older man walked out. I went straight up to him and said, "Hey! How are you? We are just stopping by to say.... wait, are you a member?!"

The older man wasnt wearing a shirt and was just walking around with a garment top! HAHA.

Turns out he is an inactive member from a different ward that had recently moved in with his sister and her family... we got to know him, taught him about the atonement, and invited him to church. he definitely needed the visit.

I know and testify that the spirit of The Lord guided me to his house... although I was being stubborn, The Spirit consistently spoke to me, luckily I obeyed, and it was a true blessing.

I know The Lord watches over us, and sometimes miracles come when we least expect it.

I love you all, I am learning so much. I am exhausted and tired, but the office is great and The Lord is truly blessing us. I know Him, better than before. He is my brother.

Love,

Elder Nathan Russell Walton

Elder Walton almost walked out the door without his tie. He's only been doing this 13 months though so we'll cut him some slack.

Miracles

So this week was absolutely crazy... it isnt quite over, but we almost have survived the week.

The reason my subject name is miracles, is because I honestly dont know how God does it.

I wish I could go into detail, and explain ALL that happened, but I cant.

Lets just start with the fact that President Caffaro arrived last night, and we are going to meet him here soon within a couple of hours. Since this was President Stays last week, Satan hit HARD, and I mean HARD. Monday afternoon the internet here in the office went out. Therefore Tuesday we showed up and it was still out. President Stay then informs me that two missionaries are going home. This involves me having to talk with many people in the Area Office that have to do with tickets, passports, immigration stuff, right? Well without email, we are back in the 80s.... and the phone doesnt always work to easy because we have to send documents and information with many details that isnt easily passed through the phone.

Basically Tuesday I almost lost it... we got out of the office late, we had a tag-along missionary that we were taking to the airport Wednesday morning, and I was returning to an area where we dont got much going for us.... well here is where the miracle comes into play. We showed up to the area at 530ish... last Sunday we visited Susan and she had explained to us that she just didnt feel ready for baptism, although she attends church with us every week. Well Tuesday at 6 we went to visit her. Something I like to do to help investigators realize that they ARE ready, is share the baptismal interview questions with them, and see how much they know. Our plan going into the lesson was either set up a date for her to be baptized, or leave her for awhile (stop teaching her).

After we asked her the questions involving God, Christ, Joseph Smith, Repentance, Word of Wisdom, Sabbath Day, etc. she literally answered everything perfectly. I explained to her that she is ready, and she said, "I prayed Sunday night, and.... I know I'm ready now". I asked her what day shed like to be baptized and she said next Saturday, then she realized she wont be able to, and then she said "Why not this Saturday?" Well long story short she will be baptized tomorrow (Sunday) along with another family that the other secretaries are teaching.

Thursday Susan had her REAL interview and our District Leader said she passed it with a breeze.

With all the craziness this week, it is honestly a miracle that Susan will be baptized. BLESSINGS.

Well that was just Tuesday, I wish i could tell you about the WHOLE WEEK which involved us waking up at 4 two days straight to take missionaries to the airport, not having internet for 3 days, and having to prepare EVERYTHING for President Caffaro who is now here.

I hope I was able to share this small miracle with you all adequately, my English struggles...

I love you all. Pray for our new President, pray for our mission, and the office.

Thank you for all your love, I miss you lots, but I am super happy here, and I get sad when I think about how quick the time is going.... 13 months... only 11 left...

Love, Elder Nathan Russell Walton

Where Does the Time Go?

First of all shout out to Elder Chase Walton, not only are we both in Guatemala, but we are also both secretaries. At least Im not in charge of money.. :)

So I swear the time is going by soooo fast. The office is super busy and we are always working hard so that we can finish all in time and head back to the area. My companion is super cool, and helps me a lot with the stress. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed and he just looks at me and laughs and tells me to lighten up. He is a great help, and is willing to do whatever I tell him to do.

So as for this week, the work is going well. We are busy looking for new people to teach still!

We had a cool experience yesterday. In our area, 70% of the members live in an area called Reyna Barrios, so we do most of the work there. The problem is that we ran out of people to teach, and the members don't have any references, so my companion and I decided that we are going to work in a different part of our area called La Plaza de Toros. It is a little far away, and only two members live there but there are a ton of people. It is also where a futsal court is, and EVERYONE goes to play soccer there, EVERYDAY. My convert Allan who was baptized a few weeks ago loves soccer, and so everyone in La Plaza knows him. We decided that we were going to go there with him, and get some references.

When we got back from the office yesterday that was the plan, but the problem was the Allan wasnt home. My comp and I didnt know what to do... so we decided we were just going to go to La Plaza to contact by ourselves, even though it didnt sound efficient. We ended up finding Allan there, and we taught a lesson to two of his friends in the bleachers and they both said that theyd go to church tomorrow.

It was definitely a miracle, and a cool experience.

Mission work is so easy if members do their part.

Every Member a Missionary, right?

Well I love you all, thank you for your prayers, and I am so happy. The mission is great and I am learning SOOO much. Go magnify your callings in the church, and I hope you can strengthen your testimonies as I am strengthening mine.

Love, Elder Nathan Russell Walton

We played futsal with a bunch of teenagers in the ward today.

Everyone started calling me German, because they dont believe that a "gringo" could play that well.