June 7, 2010

Bueno trades mi familia!

Well it has been a week just like you guys, first I am very sad to hear about Uncle Dan, that's one of the last things you want to hear when you are on your mission, but also like you guys I know that he is in a much better place! Give grandma my love and a big hug for me!

Well so this week we had to drop that baptismal date we had, the girl that we had it with is very hot and cold, one time she'll be all for it but then when we leave she doesn't want to do anything to prepare herself so the spirit leaves and then comes Satan. But we are not going to give up on her, my comp is a little fed up with her because he has had a baptismal date with her before and the same thing happened. So I'm going to see what I can do about that! We found an awesome family this week and they are progressing really fast! They read the Book of Mormon and I mean they really read it and obtained a witness of it so we are really focusing on them, the only problem is that the wife works on Sundays so it's going to be hard to get them to church. We also have another family that when we taught them the Book of Mormon they were all over it and excited to read it and learn more! So I have been pretty stoked about that this week.

Just a little bit more about my area, its full of die hard Catholics!!!! and they are all over the place. but I would much rather teach them than Evanglicals, those Holy Roller people.

So I love my new house, I have three mango trees in my backyard and a lime tree and an avacado tree and a noni tree! It's awesome! Well I don't have much more than that right now, I did get my shoes, 3 pairs for under 20 bucks and good pairs too. A pair of florshiems, a pair of Boston's and a pair of black cowboy boots they are awesome! and as of right now I have not gotten my package but they bring mail on Wednesday so I might get it then. Thanks for the money mom, I love you and thanks for all the things you do. I like the sound of hiking Angle's Landing when I get back! Well that's all I can think of, I love you all! Don't worry, I'm all good here, just working like always! Some days better then others! I love you all!!!!

Love Elder Paulson

letter for grandma.....

hola grandma, how are you i know thats kind for riddiculas question but i hope your are good just remember that uncle dan is just in a better place now doing a greater work theres a poem i would like to share with you its by pres. hinkley but i cant remeber it but mom can look it up its called "what is this thing that men call death" i hope that it brings a little more peace to you, remember that i love you i always will i send a big hug with this letter! i love you

love your grandson

elder paulson

June 1, 2010

Hola,

Okay so first I'll tell you where I'm at. I got transferred to an area called La Villa de San Antonio, its this little, little pueblo (village) in the middle of the Comyagua Valley. It's so small, smaller then my first area I was in. I'm here with Elder Lopez from Peru, and I'll be his last comp in the mission. So that makes a total of 3 comps that I have "killed" (that means that I'm their last comp) so far and that's a lot I guess, most people only kill one their whole mission. I don't know why I have been called to be the undertaker of the missionaries, but he's an awesome missionary, he works hard and I get along with him really well! So ya that's where I'm at right now.

So for the storm, where I'm at it's just raining a lot, a lot! It's been raining for almost 5 days straight! But in the city there's been flooding and all the rivers are overflowing, there are places where it has flooded up to the second levels of buildings. In my last area I had to cross a bridge to get back in the city and right now that bridge is closed so I don't know what the elders are doing in that area! and all the members. Last I heard is that it was close to breaking.... so ya I don't know what's going on there! But don't worry I'm fine, I actually like the rain because it means that there's no scorching hot sun! Which I keep hearing about here, is how hot it is here!

So my 3rd day here we put a baptismal date with an investigator, we hadn't even planned to put one but in the middle of the lesson I felt a really strong impression to put a date with her, and she accepted. It was an awesome experience. So let me tell you guys about the branch here, this Sunday we had a WHOPPING 35 in attendance and me and my comp had to pass the sacrament! hahahaha But we have had a lot of help from members and when teaching they go a lot with us to appointments. My comp said the attendance was so low because no one wanted to walk in the rain.... talk about a bunch of sissys!!! He said the attendance is normally like 90-95 so we will see this next week. I don't know if I told you guys but Elder Don Clark of the area presidency came and visited us, it was awesome and he talked on a lot of good points! He really helped me out alot!

So let me say something about changes, I like them and I don't like them, I like them because I get to know new places and new people and it's kind of a new start in the work with a fresh area that I have never been in. But I don't like them because they make me homesick for some reason.....I don't know why but for like the first 4 days of the change I'm really homesick and it's really hard and bums me out!!! But usually Monday i'ts gone!!! So now I'm good, but just wanted to tell you guys that I really thought about you guys a lot this week and missed you! I have yet to receive my package but that might be because I have been moved out of the city! So I hope I'll get it soon. I got an email from Jaxon today and he got his mission call and he's going to Thailand, Bangkok mission, you guys will have to go to his farewell. A little jealous but I'm here and I'm over it, hahahaha! Also got an email from Parker Miller who is on his mission in San Jose, California, and his comp is a poly from New Zealand, hahahaha again a little jealous.

Well that's all I got for you guys this week, thanks for everything, I love you all very much. Hope all is well, thanks mom for every thing! I love you.

Love your son, Elder Paulson

May 23, 2010

HOLA MI FAMILIA

Its has been a week, we will say that. Thanks mom for the help with the shoes, I'm going to buy them today! Last week I couldn't find any in my size! but we're going to a place today where I'm pretty sure they have my size! So not much has really happend this week pretty much the same thing I do every day and week and month of my mission, teaching people. Right now its been really hard to find people to teach, I don't know if it's because there is just not anyone really ready or if we are just not looking in the right places, but I'm praying everyday for the guidance of the Lord.

This last Wednesday Elder Don Clark, the area president came and talked with us, it was awesome. I felt like fighting lions after!!! He taught us so many good things about being missionaries. He's going to be a member of the 12 some day! His wife also talked to us, it was nice to hear a white motherly type person! I miss that alot here, moms just aren't the same here, they love their kids but I don't know it's just different! But I am really working on practicing what Elder Clark said, he talked about how a mission isn't something just about numbers but about changing lives, that it's a time to bring salvation to the children of God, it was awesome!!!

We are getting changes tonight, so the next time I write you I'll either be with a new comp in a new area or with a new comp in my same area, or with the same comp..... but I'm hopeing that dosen't happen!!! It's crazy how fast time goes by here! I was talking with one of the other elders of my group and he was saying the same thing! and before you know it I will be home. But i know what I'm supposed to be doing right now and that's my focus. I love you all, sorry this is so short but there is just not that much happening right now. The picture is of a milliped that i found at a service!

Well I love you all and you all are always in my prayers

Thanks mom for everything! I love you.

Love Elder Spencer F. Paulson

May 17, 2010

Hola mi familia,

Well we had an alright week this week in the work of the Lord, we have been working and focasing on finding people who are really ready to receive the gospel. We had a really low number at church on Sunday, and we don't really have any help from members right now for keeping our converts active so we have been really spread thin in all areas, working with our investigators, working with our converts, getting less actives to church, trying to find un-motivated members to go to lessons with us. Ya, its been a fun time, but I always feel the hand of the Lord holding us up and giving us that little boost we need.

Thanks mom for getting that package off, I'll be watching for it, and no I didn't say anything about a water filter, I haven't really used mine we have been good on water for right now, that was nice of Ronald. It will be hard not to cheat on my package, thanks for the garments. I will be going to buy my shoes today and good thing my Rockports were the last functional pair I had and I put a hole in them yesterday! We are also going to the office today so I can buy some more garmets there to.

Tell Max congrats on that game and to keep doing work. I wrote Austin a big letter this week and I'm putting it in the mail today, there's one coming for you mom and there will be one coming for dad this week too and also Amelia and Kel. I got a ton of emails this week alot from friends i was stoked!

Well there's nothing really new right now, just still doing the same thing I do ever day, I love you guys, thanks for everything and all your support! Thanks mom for everything.

The pictures are of the bus we go to church on!

Love Elder Paulson

Pioneer Day Celebration!

Hola Mi Familia May 3, 2010

Well look at that another freaken week gone by, the time here goes by so fast!! I hope this letter finds you all in good spirits and health. This has been an up and done week for me. We had to drop our investigators with baptismal dates because they wouldnt come to church and we have been teaching them for almost 3 months, so we finally decide to get rid of them. We have spent most of the week trying to find new positive people to teach. but our area is so small that we have pretty much contacted the whole place since I have been here, but I keep putting faith in the lord that he will guide us to those who are ready. The pioneer day was awesome, the bishop said it was the best activity they have had ever!!! Im sending some pictures from it. we had a tug-a-war and stick pull and sack races and also that game where you make a tower out of flour and try to push the coin off the top of it with your nose, that was pretty funny to watch them do. Then at the end we had a fire and a testimony meeting. and we had corn on the cob to eat, every one seemed to love it.

So this week it still has been rainning, last night it rainned all night and didn't stop till this morning. We went and gave service this week and helped a man carry wood down from a mountain, I probably carried 300 pounds of wood down from that mountain, you should have seen how happy he was when he saw me coming, hahahaha! It has now started to get hotter and hotter and now I am constantly sweating, and that is taking a heavy toll on my shirts. Also I have completely worn flat the bottoms of my shoes and from walking on our half rock half dirt roads the rocks have managed to cut a hole in the bottoms of one pair of my shoes. But I'm still truckin along and just doing work and what I know the Lord wants me to do, also this week we went and helped a family dig a latrin, its been a on going project and with all this rain the hole filled up with water, so when we went to help them this week we were not only digging out dirt but also toads!!!! The hole was filled with them!!!

Well mom I think that it would just be easier if you just put money in my account and I could buy the shirts here, there is a mall about an hour and a half away from our area and I can just go there and buy them and that way you can put more things in the package. This last Sunday I shared my testimony, I have shared my testimony here in Spanish more that I did back home in English, weird!"!!!. This last Sunday also we talked about emergency preparation, and how the last days are coming close and that we need to be ready, and with this I hope you guys have really put an effort into our food storage and emergency supplies. I think about not being there if somthing like an earthquake happened and worrying about you guys.... so make me not worry and start getting ready, its something the first presidencie has taught and that means it's something the Lord wants.

Well my family I love you all, thanks for your support and your prayers, I hope all is well for you all! You all are always in my prayers.

Love Elder Spencer F. Paulson

We Love Service!

Buenas dias, April 26, 2010

Okay, so this week first mom, thanks for all the trek stuff!!! Those pictures and all that stuff were perfect! They really don't know anything about this part of the church here so were working on making that better!!! I'll see what i can work out with those recipes, we have some of those things here, its really just hit and miss sometimes, they have what you need and sometimes no.

So for this last week it was alright, we really have been focusing on our investigators that have baptismal dates, and so a lot of our other stuff has kinda not been so good and to top it all of we had to drop 2 of our dates because the people didn't come to church! I know that we just need to keep working with them and just put our trust in the Lord! But we still have one of our dates for this coming weekend! So I'm super stoked for that! She's the sister of my first convert, and she has really grown a lot in the gospel, her mom is a Jehovas witness and we were talking to her the other day and she wasn't arguing with us on a lot of things and our girl with the date was teaching her more than we were, it is awesome to see people grow and put more faith in the Lord.

So there's been a guy going around where we work passing out papers about how our religion is false! So that's been a lot of help for us! Most of what he says about Joseph Smith and all that stuff, but I'm hoping we run into him one day.....but ya. So it's still crazy raining here only this past 2 days it hasn't, but it looks like were going to get some more today. Yesterday I gave a talk in church, I talked about how the members are missionarys too and how they can help us with references! I hope I kinda woke them up and brought them to reality because they really don't do anything around here to help, there is a couple of members that are really good at helping us but for the most part no!

So those bugs I was telling you about are called Zonpopos de mayo there like huge ants with wings! They like the rain. So also this week we went and did service in this pueblo called ojojona (ohohona), it was awesome we helped this guys thats 51 years old make adobe and split rocks, this guy is 51 but has the body of a 30 year old thats worked on a farm his whole life!

So just a few things I was wondering, when I got here in this area you said you were going to send and envelope.... did you ever get a chance to send it just wondering? And also the last newsletter from Rachelle I never got that i don't know if you sent that or not ether, just wondering about those few things.

Well I guess that's all for now I love you guys, hope all is well for you!

Love, Elder Spencer F. Paulson

Huge Flying Things!! EEK!

Hola mi familia! April 19, 2010

(to see the huge flying things click on the You Tube link)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkLFBL9kXy0

Alright I was stoked to get your letters and read them all, it sounds like you are all doing well. As for Honduras it's been a little up and down, we had two baptisms that fell through (for reasons that had come to our attention) and had to change the dates to the 8th of May. I was super bummed about that, but we're still working with them and focusing hard to keep them focused on their goal. The rainy season has started early and without fail we get a down poor at about 2 in the afternoon and then again around 8 at night, and this isn't and wussy Utah rain, this is Central America tropical rain, its like some one is throwing a bucket on us and with all this rain comes these huge flying things!!! I'm not lying they are huge!!! and there all over the place. But along with the rain everything has turned from poop brown to electric green and I love it! It also washes all the garbage and dead things out of the streets! This week we went as a zone and gave service to some members in the area were the sisters work and made stairs for them, it was about a 4 missionary job and there were 14 of us, so it looked a lot like California road construction, but I loved it, we always turn service into a good time. This week on Wednesday we're going to this pueblo called Ojojona (Ohohona for you people that speak English) and making adobe ( that mud stuff they use to make houses out of) for some investigators and I'm super stoked for that! On the first of May we are going to have an activity "pioneer day" the members here know nothing about the history of the church, so me and the other gringo elder are working to fix that problem. Now mom you always ask what you can do to help....well could you send any information, photos, recipes, anything that you can find that we used on trek, and send it to me next week and also send it to this address salofonmai@gmail.com it's one of the counselors in the ward here, his wife knows English, but anything you can send would be awesome, especially pictures of trek that would be awesome!

Thanks a lot mom for taking care of that money thing, I'm working on being better with my money here, it has proved to be kinda of a problem for me you know how I am, but don't worry it's nothing huge like I don't have food, I just need to learn to manage my money better, as for the facebook thing whatever you feel is good is good for me. Concerning my birthday I need shirts preferably long sleeve shirts I have plenty of short sleeve ones, but my one long sleeved one is not looking so good and also stuff to make musibi!!! spam and seaweed paper and what ever else you would like to send but those things would be awesome! I'm working on getting a letter out of here to you guys soon this week I will get them off. Yes letters from you guys would be awesome I love getting pouch!! n One more thing could you and dad write a letter about how you guys have been able to have such a good marriage for all this time and have dads work buddy translate them and then send them to me and also send the originals in English, we have some less active members who need some help with that!

That was awesome that Max finally gave his first talk, I hope he wasn't too nervous. I have to give one this coming Sunday about how members give references and why we need their help. So I've been working on that. Well I hope all is well for you all, I love you all ¡todos de ustedes son serca a mi corazon! my speaking in Spanish is about as good as it is in English, well i know that it wasn't much but I love you all and thanks for every thing and your support!

Love Elder Paulson