Monday, October 19, 2015

Wow! That is awesome about the girls refusing to practice on Sunday’s and finding a better gym!! Blessings come from sacrifices.  :) 

So this week was perdy good. I’m getting to the point were I want to start standing up on the busses and contacting and sharing because the people here, in this area, are sooooo heard hearted. We are pressing forward, but I can honestly say this is the hardest area that I’ve ever worked in. We contact a whole bunch, more than I ever have in my life, and aren't seeing a whole lot of success. 

We are focusing a ton on the members and visit them every chance we get. We are helping them talk with their neighbors. Every family in our boundary has committed to the 5 contacts a week. One member (my teacher from the ccm hehe) did his 5 and a few more, and has given us a ton of references. We got one of them to come to church. :)

My companion is doing good. I can’t really tell if he is just quiet or if he feels really home sick, but he tells me he likes it out here and he loves the work. It’s a little stressful because he hardly knows any doctrine. I like to switch back and forth in the lessons and we do, but I’m always praying that he doesn't talk apostasy. I have to go back and recover a lot of things while the people just look at me like; Do you guys really know what you’re saying bro?? o.O  But we are doing a lot of practicing in the morning, so we should get past all that soon.

This week it has rained non stop and I’ve already went through all my shoes. I’m going to a paca (like a goodwill kinda) to look for rain boots. My camera is broke because in my last area my comp dropped it on dIvisions, so the screen doesn't work...:(( I got a camera without a battery or charger that looks like it might work if i can find a battery in the mall today. It’s a lumix dmc-fh2 14 mega pixel. Maybe you can find a battery on Ebay or something. Dad asked if I needed music but I have accumulated a good amount of music through a disk I got from another missionary. If he could send me all the odd-ball songs that the Motab does, like the Lion King or Somewhere Under the Rainbow, that would be awesome:)) 

This week we ate dinner with a family that has a ton of money and they bought us two huge pizzas. I was so excited when we sat down to eat. They opened the box as steam rolled out and my eyes began to water a tad. Then about 6 cockroaches scurried out all over the table haha........ didn't really matter though, I ate like half of the pizza! :P

I love you guys. I hope this next week is fantastical:) 


Sincerely, ELDER Dabel

Monday, October 12, 2015



Silva and her kids :)


Jared's first son (a new missionary he is training)


Tikal Futura, Mira Flores


October 12, 2015

Hey dad, 

Sounds like things are going good back home. The mudslide was in my mission area, but don't worry no missionaries were hurt. Although, a lot of people were killed. It’s really sad.  :(  I’m in the city, so I’m good.  

By the way, if you want to see my area just type in tikal futura or mira flores. I have the biggest mall here in my area and everything from the states. A lot of my area is owned by the richest people in Guatemala, and a ton are gringos or latinos that know English. I have 3 Taco Bells, Papa Johns, and Wendy's.  I have literally everything. Every one wants this area. Hahaha. 

I don't know if I told you guys, but my teacher from the Missionary Training Center is the Second Councilor in my ward. His wife is Donavan's teacher from the MTC. They just had a baby. :) Also my companion is from Coban, the north of Guatemala. Turns out that my teacher from the MTC, Hermano Noack, is his cousin. haha... Oh, so don't worry, I don't have to teach him Spanish, thank goodness... whoooo.. 

My Spanish has been getting pretty good. :)  All of my dreams are in Spanish. It’s crazy cool to be able to use the language so profoundly. I even do a lot of my thinking in Spanish! :) I can’t wait to see how I feel about it in another year.  :))


As for Michaela’s videos of backflips and back handsprings ---  What the heck?!?!  That’s my sister?  O.O Holly cowwwwwwwwwwwwwww.......... give her a huge congratulations! Wowwwww!!! 

The girls are que bonita. Escondala de los ladrones porfa....

Monday, October 5, 2015



October 5, 2015

Haha, Your conference sounds like it was awesome! :) I don't know why, but I can’t get enough of conference here in the mission. 

So this week has been sooo crazy. We arrived to our house and there wasn't anything... nothing.. They told me I was opening an area, but I didn't realize there is a difference between open and reopen... I guess there hasn't been elders here for a while, and it was a last minute decision to throw us in here. So, our leaders had to find a house suppperrrr fast. It also turns out we don't live in the area.. We have to walk to our area every day like a mile or two. haha Also they dropped us off without an area book or map so I was like ummmm... what to doo... they just told us that any colonia that is gated we can’t contact. We have to work through members. Turns out that the 5 of 6 residenciales here are closed -_________- so our first few days were pretty crazy. 

We live above some members and I was able to ask them where other members lived and then asked those members where others lived until we made a chain through the whole ward. We eventually found my mission leader, which is a super awesome returned missionary. Turns out we share the area with hermanas  (sister missionaries) so we had to have the bishop split the area in two. The hermanas chose their half first and left us have the side of the area that hasn't seen a baptism in 4 years.... Also it only has 4 member families of the 12 in the ward. 

The coolest thing is that I live in the richest area in mission sur. I feel like I’m in the US in some of the places here.  :) We have the biggest mall, a big market and a place called tikal futura, which is a place that every district wants to visit on district p-day. We aren’t allowed to have district p-day unless everyone baptizes 2 people. We always have one district that doesn't make the two so I haven’t ever had one. Now every p-day is district p-day B).

Thanks dad! I’m glad to hear that you have goals in your work. That will make you stand out in a good way. :) I’m glad that you guys are experiencing success. I hope your back gets better! I’ll pray that it does. This conference was so full of good stuff I was so glued to the TV.  :) I was praying for President Monson when he looked like he was going to fall and pass out. I love the idea of ponderize too and have found that it has worked well to pick one scripture and use it through out the week with every family that we visit. My understanding and familiarization with the scripture grows drastically every time I share it. I am going to challenge every one in my ward to contact 5 people throughout the week with a specific invitation such as go to church or listen the missionaries or come over for family home evening. Maybe you could do the challenge too with the ward because the missionaries need some help.  :)

I love you guys so much.  

Jared


September 28, 2015

This week was so awesome and my favorite moment would be when I was walking down the street and the spirit told me to go visit some old investigators and I was like umm, okay, I don't think they are ever going to progress but okay... We went there and they said come in, come in. Turns out their new born baby was really sick and the doctors said it was going to die. We talked about Gods plan for us and the lady cried and said she understood. Then the hospital called and said that her baby didn't make it. The Lord works in mysterious ways. I’m sad the baby died, but happy that Lord trusted us to help the family.  :)) 

Wow that’s crazzzyyy Moroni leaves so soon.  Moroni - ya se va:))) He’s gunna learn some weird spanish hehe:) That’s sad to hear about Jake and Heather and their house, but I agree that the Lord knows what he is doing.

I have prayed 3 or 4 times about asking you guys for some money to help Sister Silvi and her kids because they keep just barley slipping by on miracles. Every time I receive a big no. The Lord knows what he is doing when we receive trials. If he always helped us we would never progress in our journey to perfection. He wants to teach us how to fish, not just give us some fish.  :) I felt that the trials that she is passing through are going to only make her stronger and bring her closer to the Lord.

So it looks like this change I have a whole new trial of my own. I have changes tomorrow and I’m leaving to reopen a new area with my new hijo (son).  It looks like I’m going to be training a brand new missionary. I feel a little bit overwhelmed, but I trust the Lord knows what he’s doing :P  This change is gunna be really fun  :))  Once again I’m going to be leaving right before a baptism -_____- . 

Here’s a copy of my training call:

Dear Elders,

The highest honor and most sacred responsibility is that of a TRAINER. We depend on our trainers to teach new missionaries total obedience to the commandments and the mission rules, diligence, and enthusiasm for the work. You have displayed these and many other fine qualities which qualify you for this sacred trust to help set the stage for the rest of this new missionary's mission. Please remember to be PATIENT and what it was like to be new in the mission.

You will find this new calling as trainer to be challenging but very rewarding. As you train with dedication and with the Spirit of the Lord, you will be assisting in the hastening of the Lord's great latter-day work. EXACT OBEDIENCE IS REQUIRED AND OF GREATEST IMPORTANCE. I WANT TO GROW THE CULTURE OF OBEDIENCE FROM THE BOTTOM TO THE TOP. YOU CAN HELP ME AS A TRAINER!

I am very confident that you will excel in fulfilling the duties of this important assignment. Thank you for your dedicated service to the Lord, to me, the missionaries and to the people of Guatemala. May the Lord bless you in this significant time of this young missionary’s life! 

Un fuerte abrazo y con amor!
President E.J. Caffaro


We found a lady named Jackaline that is soooo pilas (smart and chosen). She came to church the first Sunday we invited her with her her little kids.  :) She said in her prayer in her last lesson, “God I ask that you help me be ready to be baptized because I would really like to.”  :)   Also we found a new family two weeks ago, family Mejilla Higueros. We have been helping them pull there family back together. We have visited them a few times every week and we hadn't been able to figure out why they wanted us to come over so much until the mom and father told us straight out 2 lessons ago that they want to get a divorce. But they didn't know if they were going to be condemned for it, and they aren't sure what to do. (They have 3 daughters), so they decided it was best to listen to us because we are men of god they say.  :)  

We have shared a lot about the family proclamation to the world and the mom wants to save the marriage and come to church with us. I’m not sure about the dad, but if I had to guess he doesn't want to get a divorce either. We’ve become really close to the family and it’s kinda hard to leave them. Their daughter gave us pictures that she made yesterday, and said that my companion and I are her best friends, and she loves us so much. It was so cute.  :)

FYI, any missionary that’s chasing girls isn’t going to be faithful to his wife if he can’t be faithful to the Lord.  I think my comp has seen some changes.  :)  He told me that I have been his best companion and this has been his favorite change. He is even thinking of coming to the land of the gringos to come see me.  :))  Thanks for your prayers I can feel they help :) I love you guys!

Monday, September 14, 2015



Silvia and Angelica getting baptized :)
September 14, 2015

Hey Mamma,

So this week has been really good! This Saturday we had the baptisms of Silvia and her daughter Angelica. It has been awesome to see their progress since the day we started teaching them. Silvia was on the brink of committing suicide, but the Lord sent two missionaries to talk her out of it. They passed the reference to us and we were able to make her promises and representatives of the lord that have already come true. She has shown so much faith and has seen so many miracles. I`m glad that I was placed in this area and feel like the Lord sent me here specifically to help her.  :)

Thanks for all the photos Mommma!! Wow, I have some pretty sisters. If I get sent home for stabbing an elder here don't be surprised. He stole a photo of Emma and won’t give it back. He says he wants to marry her, even though he has a girl waiting for him. If he writes Emma’s email tell her to turn him down nicely and say that she is getting married please!!! :) Thank you :)

Wow that is exciting about Moroni.  When does he leave? And, I know right, the time is flying and I still feel soooo greeny ha :(

You guys went rafting with my friend without me:)??? He doesn't like my sister or something right?? Oh and Emma is a smart, sneaky lil girl. Haha that’s funny about her schedule and lunch with that boy.  :) 

I love you!

Thanks dad! :) 

I have been learning the importance of slowing down these last two months. I’ve learned that walking fast and teaching the lessons from a pamphlet isn't the best thing. Instead my companion and I (especially this change ) just hand them the pamphlet and ask lots of questions and listen. We find a need and then apply stories from our lives and the life of Jesus Christ. Also, I have learned that the most important thing to teach is the atonement because it is the center of the gospel. It is the gospel! Every one has a need of the atonement too! In every lesson we try to apply the atonement and testify. The thing I like most about being a missionary is that if you have your testimony, you have everything. You can’t be confounded by men when sharing it, and the power of the spirit will touch them and they just know.  :) 

I love you dad, I hope you guys have an awesome week!

September 7, 2015

Hey, so this week has been awesome! I haven't been keeping you guys updated with Silvia, but she is doing amazing now:) She has been going to church and reading everything that we leave her. She is so excited for her baptism this Saturday:) I was definitely sent to this area to help her and her kids. :) We got them moved into a new house and are working to help her get her tortilleria going. She has been seeing a lot of miracles. It feels so good to know that the promises I made to her our first lesson as a representative of Christ are coming about. She has done everything we have asked and has made sacrifices to show her faith and is seeing miracles:) She is in a house 100 times better too. It actually has a real roof and has running water and electricity and she pays a lot less! :) 

Oh, and Mario got away again and we are teaching him again!

I have been getting along great with my companion too! :) Our cook at night said she couldn't cook for us anymore, so were cooking all the time. Neither of us know how to cook to save our lives, but it’s fun trying at night haha.

August 30, 2015

Hey Momma,

Thanks for sharing your experience:) I have often wondered if I am good enough to be out here, because I don't always do things the way that all the other missionaries do them. Most of the missionaries here are from Utah and have everything memorized and sometimes I’m like, wow I really let down the Lord in mission preparation. But, I have learned also that the Lord is just going to use me for a different aspect of the work in the areas were I don't meet with the other missionaries. I have a good amount of stories that I can tell people that help explain topics.  :) 

Always remember the Lord loves you just the way you are:) If we are trying our best then he is orguoso de nosotoros.

I really love my Bishop because he reminds me so much of grandpa. Before he got baptized he was a drunk that always liked to "mujeriar" he says. Meaning he liked a lot of women. He does everything different than any other Bishop I’ve ever seen and I love it. It’s so funny when he gets up to speak in sacrament and he forgets someones name and he asks them in the middle of sacrament!  hahahaah. He talks to all of us and includes us, it is super weird, but it’s perfect.:) 

So mario escaped.. 4 days later he got in a fight and his brother carried him home and his mom chained him up again. pobresito... but there isn't anything we can do... just pray that he finds another rock to escape again.

Love you guys!


Monday, August 24, 2015




August 24, 2015

Hey momma, 

I don't have much time left but, this week I prayed constantly for the poor little dude. Then in the street the other day I found the kids mom and she came to me crying saying that her son escaped. I don't think I responded the way she wanted haha. I accidentally let out a little laugh and smile and was like what? how? She said that somehow he found a stone and broke the chain and ran away. Then the next day he came back and told her that he loved her and he was going to be a good kid and look for work.

It's kind of crazy and hard to believe that he really found a stone and did it the week after we found him... crazy! 

But, he is free now and yesterday he came to church with us!!!! :)

Hey dad;

The temple trip was awesome and I could understand everything said. It's all in vosotros so I cant speak it very well, but my understanding is great. It was a neat experience. I'm glad to hear that all is going good with your job and with the ladies. That's awesome Hayden is coming home:) And hey, you can't let the high run out yet you still got 9 years left! Our Bishop here is a convert of like 12 years, and has been Bishop for the lat 10 years.  Talk about perserevar hasta el fin... (endure to the end).. sadly he is one of the only members out of our 700 that is faithful and comes to church every week and has a strong testimony. The ward here is almost completely fallen. It's being held together by the Bishop, us, and the other missionaries in our ward. It's so hard because we never have anyone to help us and we aren't aloud to enter houses without a guy of 18 years or older. On top of that, all the men are always gone working. 

This week I received my new companion. He is a 26 year old from Columbia, Elder Vigil. He's a cool guy and we get along really well, but he also is super racist. He has an American flag hanging upside down with a huge x on it. I guess Columbia hates us and only likes to sell us cocaine.. also he served in the army there and is super serious. Luckily, he likes me and told me that I'm his favorite American. :) I like him too because he doesn't mind working hard. We have been able to get a ton done this last week. I was suffering with my last companion because he just didn't want to work and gave up on the area. 

I'm getting to the point where I don't want to do anything but work hard. I have found that the harder I work the faster the days seam to slip by, also at the end of the day I feel good to know that I did all I could. 

I love you guys, 


Elder dabel
August 17, 2015

Hey Papa,
Don't worry, I write in my journal just about every day. I've already competed one and am half way through another haha.. I love being able to go back and read about the last 6 months when I start to get a little baggy of the mission. Before I just wanted to go home, but now I miss my old area, companion and converts haha. 
I also love the feeling I get every time I take the sacrament. I've found that I only get that feeling if I'm worthy to take the sacrament. Before the mission I could never feel the spirit that strong because I never really was 100 percent worthy of it.  I didn't do it with full intention, and I didn't even know what was I missing out on. I look forward to taking it every week now :) 

This week I also got to the temple :) I don't think I've ever had a more spiritual experience there. It's hard to explain the feeling you get there, but it's perfect. It makes you want to be perfect. I can see why we are encouraged to go to the temple as much as we can. It gives us the support and encouragement we need :) 

I love Alma 37 about the example of the liahona, and how it relates it to the words of Christ. If we give heed and diligence to it, then it will bring us to a lot better place. When Lehi and his family got lazy and stopped giving attention to the liahona they weren't on a straight course and they suffered all manner of afflictions. 

Endure to the end doesn't mean make it up the first few steps and then you're safe and can rest like the rabbit. You have to be diligent like the turtle, and take it a step at a time, but not stop or rest. 

The reason a testimony fails is because of laziness, lack of diligence, and pride. 


Hi Momma :)

Hahaha that's good that Uncle Josh took care of Weston for me, someone had to. I'm glad to hear that life is good up there:) I'll be praying for emma on the SAT test :) Why is Kayla going to crater? 

So this week has been full of stories. First off, we have a new investigator, Mario, that is 22 and chained to a pole in his house. His mom is a crazy freak and chained him to the wall post because she's afraid he's going to leave and do drugs, or get into a fight. He tells us every time that he just wants to leave and go find work, and he will never do drugs again and he's sorry. I feel for the pobresito (poor thing). He has to poop in a bucket and only gets fed sometimes. He has been chained to the wall since November without being able to leave more than 3 feet. I told his mom that if she didn't let her son go after 4 lessons then she would be condemned for taking away her sons agency. We have really been focusing on lesson 2, The Plan of Salvation.

Also, my companion has changes tomorrow so I'll be getting my new comp :P

Love and miss you guys!


August 10, 2015


So this week has been full good and bad. To start off with the good :) First we had a baptism!! Her name is Ana Pinto, right now we are also preparing her daughter to get baptized and her husband is trying to overcome an addiction to alcohol. Two weeks ago we received a reference to a lady and we went to go find her. Before we could find her, her daughter found us!! A little girl ran up to me when I was walking down the street and asked "Are you the ones we have been waiting for?" I said, "Ummm I don't think so, why?" She just said, "Oh okay... thank you", and ran off... Later that night I knocked on the door of our reference and the same little girl opened the door and yelled at her mom and said, "Mom! Mom!! They're here mom!" I was like what the heck... After talking to the mom we found out that she was about to commit suicide in the east mission when two missionaries found her and talked her out of it. They said that they could help her, and that they were going to send missionaries to her house. She said that she knew God had sent them to find her, and she knows that we are servants of Him. She was going to commit suicide because she is single and has two daughters and a granddaughter that she has to support. She only earns 20 quets a day making tortillas and was going to be kicked out of her house this month and loose her job. We shared Mormon 9 about miracles and asked her if she believed in miracles. She said yes, and we told her that if she did all the things we were going to invite her to do then the Lord would take care of her. She has done every single thing we have invited her to do. She sacrificed the last two weeks of work so she could be at church. This week she received notice from the owner of her little sheet metal house that she could have another month to live there and could make up the payments. Also, her tortilla boss said that she could continue working there also. Little miracles, but still miracles. I know she is going to receive more through her faith and diligence. 

Monday, July 27, 2015

July 27, 2015

Thanks Momma! 

Make sure to give Levi a big hug and tell him I’m so proud of him!!! And that I wish him the best of luck! 

This week has been awesome! Once again the Lord has completed with his end of the covenants that we made with Him. As a zone we all committed to get at least 20 lessons this week. In the last few weeks I’ve been here, and even before that, this area hasn't been able to get the 20. But with faith and hard work we got it this week! We went over and got 23 lessons this week! :) We have been seeing miracle after miracle here in Guajitos and our dats should only be going up because our inventory of investigators is too. 

My faith in making covenants with the Lord has grown so much in the last 3 weeks here. Not once has the Lord left us hanging. Something that I’ve learned about making the covenants with the Lord is that we should focus on one thing at a time. Every week we chose one thing to focus on, and then within the week, we make more covenants to make the goal within our covenants we have made for the week. Sometimes we have doubts in our head that are extremely hard to overcome. I’ve learned that that doesn't matter.  As long as I am working my hardest with the hope that he will fulfill his end, then my part of faith is complete. We should all be making covenants with the Lord and try to better ourselves every day, every week, and every month. Binding the Lord in a promise will bring miracles that will build your foundation of faith better than anything else. Don't neglect your seed of faith if you wish to eat the fruit most valuable and sweet. 

I was reading in Ether yesterday that we should always ask the the Lord if our desires are worthy. If it is a worthy desire then the Spirit will burn within us and we will know it is good. Then when we make the covenants and fulfill our part with faith the Lord will complete his end without fail.

Thank you  so much for the support mom, and don't worry I’m not getting discouraged! Our Mission President received revelation that we can baptize 2 every month and get 20 lessons every week. I don't believe that is an average that the Lord just gave us to TRY to complete, that is a number that he knows every area in the mission can get if we work and we are going to get it! :) 

I love you guys tons and tons and I’m sending tons of prayers your way several times a day. Give everyone lots of hugs for me! :))


Sincerely, Elder Dabel


July 20, 2015

Thanks dad! 

I’m glad to hear how much effort you put into the work. I wish that all the leaders down here were that committed ha.. 

So this week wasn't horrible, but it hurts to see the dats at the end of the week. I feel like we are working our little buts off, and we just aren't having the success that I know that we can have. I pray every day that the Lord can help us find our errors and correct them, and that we can find a way to work this area in which we will see more success. My comp has been a little discouraged from the area and I can kind of see why after four and a half months of no success and tons of rejection. But, we aren't giving up, at least I’m not in Europe, because I hear that missionary work is rough over there!! My district leader gave me some good advice last night about trying everything we do in a new way until we find something that works. Also reading the beginning of PME and going back to the basics. The miracle of this week was the Lord fulfilling his end of our covenant. We made a covenant as a zone that we were going to do 7 listas (we visit families and do an activity to get references) this week. By Saturday we only had 2 listas, but by Sunday night we got the other 5 in. That felt really good:)

Thanks for all the letters every week and thank you for your prayers and support :)))

Tomorrow I hit 6 months who whooo!  :)
July 13, 2015

Hey dad

I’m glad to hear that you guys had fun at girls camp and the week went well. I wish I could have seen Bishop Hill crack eggs on his head! hahaha And you with flour on your face! 

This week I got changed to a new area with Elder Cruz from Tegucigalpa Honduras! He is such a chill guy and even cooler is that he has more time in the mission being a member than out of the mission. He has 17 months in the mission. Before the mission his mom said he couldn't go on a mission, but he kept pestering him about it until she said, “You can go on a mission after you build me a new house.” (She didn't say it seriously, but my comp held onto those words). After a series of events, he was able to get the materials to build the house and he did!!!! His story is super interesting and inspiring. Also, he taught me how to cut my ties and make them skinny, so yeah, I can do that professionally now ;)

This week was a spiritual emotional roller coaster. We started out with not very many lessons and continued until Sunday with 1-2 lessons everyday on average. One day we didn’t have even one lesson. It was super disappointing because I felt like we were putting in a lot of effort to make our goals, and also had made covenants with the Lord, but nothing was going for us. We made a covenant in the beginning of the week as zone that we were going to find 20 new investigators this week. On Saturday we only had 6... I prayed asking the Lord every day to help us reach the 20 nuevos and by Saturday night I was feeling super let down and kept asking the Lord what the heck we were doing wrong, what we could do better, and told him that Sunday we were going to need 14 nuevos a ton of lessons, and a miracle. 

Sunday after church the zone leaders called and said they had completed all their goals and were going to come over to help us throw some fire. It was such a blessing. By the end of the day we had the rest of our district there helping us too. Elder Cruz (ZL) and I were able to find 6 lessons in 5 hours and 16 nuevos. There is no doubt in my mind that the Lord provided for us and completed His end of the covenant. He was definitely testing us until the very end and I’m so glad that we didn't give up haha! At 7:00 Elder cruz and I weren't able to contact and were running around looking for open door houses and people in the street. We found a kid standing at his door and ran over and introduced ourselves. It turns out that he was a member that had moved to the area and had never gone to church in Guajitos. We asked him for references and he brought us to his neighbor. His neighbor didn't have time, so she brought us to her neighbor. Turns out her neighbor was a member that no one new about either! She introduced us to her neighbor and we got a lesson in. Then after that they told us to go visit their other neighbor Claudia. We got a lesson in with her and her 2 kids! Then she introduced us to the other people that lived in her house and it turns out that the father in that family is a member too, but has been inactive for years..... It was a crazy day, full of so many miracles... worst week of my mission, best day of my life!


July 6, 2015

Hey Mamma,

My week went really good:) This week we had the baptism of Manuel Lopez and I got the opportunity to perform the ordinance :) We have been working our butts off here in San Jose Las Rosas and are seeing some big blessings from our efforts. This month we are going to have 3 or 4 baptisms. Two of them are set and one of them is kinda mas o menos (more or less). This last Sunday Luis Gomez bore his testimony and started crying. I found Luis Gomez last month in the street. I really didn't want to go talk to him because he was standing by a little tienda (store) and looked like a drunk and kind of scary. But, I felt like I should go talk to him regardless. I went and introduced myself and he told me that he was a member and that he would really like it if I came by his house. Turns out he, his wife and his kids have been inactive for 4 years and nobody in the ward had even known that they lived in the area. Our first lesson his wife expressed her desires to come back to church and that the last 4 years they had been suffering and knew that they needed to come back to church. The problem was that they didn't know there was a church in the area and had never talked with members in the area!! (Our area is huge, like it takes 45min to get from one end to the other, haha with a bus. The wife had been praying to know what she should to and then guess what? We passed by!! :))) They have come to church every Sunday with us and we are going to have a baptism for their little boy this Saturday. I love this family like crazy!! The sad thing is that I have changes tomorrow and I’m not going to be here to see the baptism:(( I would like to tell you all the details to the story but I don't have much time haha:) I’m glad to hear that you guys are doing great and that my sisters aren't getting in to much trouble. Have fun on the trek!!! 

Dad-
Don't have too much fun without me ;) working on those cars! hehe
I’m jealous I can’t be there working on the cars with you! Don’t worry, I do have transfers tomorrow. I don't know where I’m going, but I’m sure I’ll love it :) I’m kinda sad that I’m leaving my 3 baptisms that I worked so hard for, but I guess there are other people waiting for me somewhere else :) I’ll be waiting for the letter. I usually get them a month after they are sent. I love you and I hope things are going well at work :)


June 29, 2015

 "Woah woah woah! Okay, so just because I’m gone doesn't mean that my sisters can just start running off with boys! And just because I’m a few hundred miles and a little more away does not mean que ellos pueden avanzar a mis hermans! puchika voy a matar alguien en un ano y medio 
-_- a la gran...... (Does not mean they can make moves on my sisters! I’m going to kill someone in a year and a half...... -_- )

So this week has been full of trials and blessings. We are going to have a baptism this Friday with Manuel Lopes, an investigator that has been working so hard to get over smoking and has finally done it!! :)) We also have a few more baptisms lined up for the next few week that are looking pretty promising. And, one of the girls is going to send in her papers so she can go on a mission!!!!  

Only one more week until changes. I’m going to be super sad to have to leave my area and all the families and friends I’ve made, but on the other hand a change would be nice :)


Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Letter 19 - Week 21


Thanks mamma:) 

I don't have time to write all I want to, but this week our investigator that knows more english than spanish went to church with us :) I prayed the whole time that she would feel the spirit. In the middle of the meeting she started crying because of a talk that was given by a boy getting ready to leave on his mission. She put her hand on my knee and than said thank you to me. I almost cried, it was really sweet :) After the meeting she said thank you and gave me hug before I could stop her haha. She didn't know haha, it was funny:) 

It’s really a weird experience every time I teach her because she talks to me in english. I don't know why, but it is so hard for me to teach or express my thoughts to her in english.  I always start rambling off in spanish hahaha... but yeah.. oh yeah by the way you know that feeling you get when you give a talk... yeah well it’s twice as strong when you give one in spanish! A la gran...... love you guys!

I really miss you mama! Thanks for your letters every week :)) I like reading all the stories. They’re so funny lol :).

Hey Papa,

 I can not believe kk crashed the car hahaha .... Thats super funny that she hit a tree!! I’m glad you have found an appreciation for zip-ties ;)) Thanks for all the prayers. Oh, and I’m sorry you couldn't go to the falls. Don't worry, I feel your pain, but not in the same way:) I’m really starting to love it down here. I’m not sure I’m going to want to go home haha.. 

I have the feeling that I’m going to have changes this next change meeting because I really don't want to leave my area. I have made some really good friends that I love like crazy. I’m enjoying the work that I’m doing and the life of a missionary. It is truly a different world that we live in as missionaries; Imagine a world without electronics, without cars, without movies, without cellphones, without regular music. It’s spiritually intense and sooooo much different... but it’s so enjoyable. I don't miss what I don't have until I hear the music in the street or see our investigators watching something. Other than that, I don't miss it at all. Estoy super tranquilo con paz. (I feel very peaceful.) 


The days are just floating by because I am constantly busy thinking about lessons and where we need to go or what to do. This last week was so awesome :) 34 lessons, which is very high for this area, this zone. We had 9 investigators at church, never had that happen. If everything goes through we should be having 4 baptisms here in the next few weeks:)))

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Letter 18 - Hand written letter sent the end of May/beginning of June 2015

Hey Momma,

I don’t really know how to express through words how much I miss you guys.  I’ve realized how much I truly love each one of you and how important every single member of our family is to me while I’ve been out here.  

I hate to say it, or even admit it, but you never truly know what you have until you loose it.  I think this concept really goes along with our Heavenly Father’s plan for us.  Even though it’s probably so hard for him to watch.  We have to pass through these trials so that we can find happiness.  Without bad, there can’t be good;  Without darkness we would never find the light. 

I wish I could have shown the gratitude I have now to you guys and my Heavenly Father before I left.  Although I may not have shown it before, I love you so much, you and dad both.  I was always upset with the rules and restrictions you guys gave me, but they have truly SAVED me, and I am so GRATEFUL now that you LOVED me enough to give those rules and guidance when I was younger!

I’m ever so grateful for this opportunity to be out here.  Although it is so amazing to bring others unto the light on a mission, I believe a mission gives more to the missionary.  It is the best environment to build a testimony, or the foundation for which you will build off the rest of your life.  The people here, even non-members, call us angels.  I don’t think it’s because we are angels or even close to them, but they can feel the presence of those angels that walk with us and are helping us in every angle of the work.  

The Lord has so many promised blessings to faithful missionaries in the Doctrine & Covenants it’s ridiculous.  We have the opportunity to put his promises to the test and see  miracles.  I have already seen so much and received so much.  One thing that I have grown in testimony about is the power of prayer.  My whole day, every single day, is run off prayer. Most especially when I am on divisions. I have had to do divisions with the district leader of few times and that means I am by myself in my area with someone that doesn’t know English or my area.  I have to run the day all by myself, which is super intimidating.  But, somehow those days always turn out to be the best days.  

One experience I had my last division showed me again the power of prayer.  I had every single appointment fall through and only had two more hours left to get two lessons in.  My companion and I had managed to find a new investigator and teach them earlier.  We had made a covenant of three lessons for that day and I knew we were going to get them, I just didn't know how! (Oh, and yes, 3 or 4 lessons in one day is a lot here in this area.)  I said a quick prayer in my head reminding my Father in Heaven that we had made a covenant to work as hard as we could if he would give us three lessons.  

I prayed for guidance and felt prompted to visit and old contact from like a month before, but it was super far away, 2 sectors away.  We went anyways.  When we got there I knocked on the door and waited... and waited... and waited.  After like 6 or 7 minutes I was like, what the heck, and was about to leave.  Then I felt prompted to knock again even harder.  I did and an old man poked his head out the door and asked what we wanted.  We were able to get a solid, super spiritual lesson in with this guy.  In fact, one of the best we have ever had!  He was super interested and full of great questions.  Our next visit we are going to bring him a Book of Mormon.  

After that lesson, it wasn’t over.  I didn’t know where to go again, but felt like we should go up the hill and visit a 19 ear old that we had been visiting.  We got into his house easily and got our 3rd lesson.  In the middle of the lesson it started pouring rain like crazy.  By the time we were going to leave the streets were filled with a few inches of water and the water was coming down so hard we were going to be soaked head to toe. Luckily, the Lord was watching after us and sent us to the home of a taxi driver who offered us a ride home.  He drove us to the entrance of our sector, but when he tried to drive up our hill the water was coming down so fast and deep that it was pushing the car backwards and it couldn’t make it up the hill.  

We got out and ran to our apartment with our bags in our hands, trying to protect our books.  We made it to our apartment soaked. At the apartment I found I had left my window open so my bed was soaked.  That sucked!  Also, the water was pouring down our stairs hat lead to our roof like a little waterfall.  It wasn’t so bad because not long after we got home, the rain settled down and the little waterfall went away, hehehe.  I’ve been having experiences like this every week.  They make the time fly by.  The Lord is shoving so much at us in just two years.  

Anyways, I love you Momma! I’m sorry this won’t get to you by Mothers Day, but I hope you had a great one!

XOXOXO



Letter 17 - Week 18

June 1, 2015 (sorry, I’m posting it late)

Thanks Momma! 

I have really been learning the importance of faith and obedience these last few months. Also, humility I have learned is a really important. I feel like I have to stay super humble to receive the Lords help. Anytime I receive his help I can’t think highly of what I was able to accomplish, because it wasn't me, it was just the Lord working through me. 

There has been a few times were everything is going awesome, were getting things done and seeing great results, and then I start to forget the lord in small places of the work. I start to get a little proud and stop asking for the help and giving the praise back. Every time I have to re-humiliate myself haha. 

I love the scripture either 12:27 “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”

SO, This week has been fun. I received my new comp, Elder Magdelano from Mexico. He is an awesome comp and likes to work hard and have fun! Sometimes he doesn't always think things all the way through which is a little frustrating ha, but I love his enthusiasm. I don't know how many lessons he has stacked on top of each other this week, but it’s a handful. 

I have asked him a few times how he thought we were going to be in two places at one time, or in one end of our area at 4:30, have a lesson, and then be at the other end at 5:00; a 30 minute walk LOL
 -___-. haha, He's a goober haha. But, the best thing about him is his ability to connect with everyone. We have been able to make all of our goals and exceed them by a few this first week together which has been exciting. 

Don’t worry there are plenty of things that bug me about my comp, but there are way more things that I love! and don't worry to much about the girls they are smart and spiritual! but they are still young woman ;) what a cuwinkydink that those boys move in right after i leave. hmmm.. you can tell them i’ll be back in a year and a half and a few ;)

Thanks dad! 

And happy birthday! I hope it’s a good one:) I wish I could be at the property with you guys, but I have plenty more opportunities in the future:) I talked a little about changes and my new comp in my letter to mom. In all honesty it was really hard to leave my dad here in the mission. I never really realized how much I depended on him, and now it’s all up to me to get things done while my comp is getting to know everyone and the area. He only has 4 months like me, so it has put a little bit of stress on us, but were still getting tons done :)


Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Letter 16 - Week 17 

Hey momma,

I hope you guys had the time of your lives camping this Memorial Day.  I bet it rained too! jeje ;) Don’t worry I didn’t miss out on any rain. It’s starting to rain everyday here. The storms here are so cool. I wish you guys could see them. It’s a lot like what I could remember from Texas with tons of lightening. I really have to find boots soon though, or my feet are gonna hate mi. (mi is me but in Spanish)

This week we baptized our new convert and I got to confirm her in sacrament meeting. I’m really hoping she stays strong in the church so that in one year I can go to the temple with her and her bebe (baby) and her husband:)) I don't think I need to worry too much about her though because when we asked her to say a prayer the last time she gave thanks to God that she was apart of his true kingdom here on earth. 

We were able to make two more baptism dates too! We have one guy who’s name is Victor Ugo. He is an ex drug dealer and coke smuggler. He’s super chill, but his brain is a little slower because he has done about every drug imaginable. He told us he wants to change his life and has been doing just that. He comes to church every week and his second time coming he said he knew that this was the true church and that he could feel the spirit so strongly there. He has been searching a few other churches and says he doesn't feel the same spirit there :) He asked if he could be baptized before we could even pop the question haha. He is working hard right now to stop smoking marijuana and drinking coffee. 

Our other fecha (date) is with someone named Manuel Lopez. He’s trying to get over smoking and has dropped from 40 cigs to 1 a day. We have a date for the 27th, his birthday, and I’m praying he can just get over the last little hump in the road. I know he can do it, and when he does he is going to be able to go to the temple with his wife and kids in a year and get sealed also. It’s really exciting to be able to help these people and to see the miracles in their lives and how much they have been able to accomplish :)

I just finished my training last week and now I have changes tomorrow. My companion is leaving the area and I’m staying to keep it running. It’s a little nerve racking because I’m almost positive I’m getting a latino tomorrow and I’m going to be left to take care of everything in the area until he gets to know it. But I’m super confident in my Spanish now so everything should go good. I’m ready for a latino because there is only so much I could learn with my norte comp who is still trying to learn the language also. I’m so glad that I had a gringo first though, because he was able to teach me all the grammar and how to do everything in clarity. Now I can focus on just expanding my vocabulary.

Something that I have grown to love so much and can’t get enough of is reading my scriptures in spanish. It’s such a different experience, one of the coolest I’ve ever had, and and have every day. When I read in spanish I am forced to focus in on every little detail in every verse and it really opens up my mind creatively and spiritually. I enjoy what I read so much more and pull so much more out of it spiritually. I have to read more slowly and never can just skim over the words.  My scriptures look like a coloring book because every page about has something marked haha. I don't have to have my english ones open anymore and hardly ever use them except studying the bible and sometimes in D&C. 

IF YOU want to learn spanish FAST, there isn't a better way than reading the scriptures out loud. I have come to realize that it is the little things we are asked to do that don't always make logical sense that help the MOST. There are so many rules and laws that don't make much sense to us and sometimes the Lord asks us to do things that don't make sense either. A lot of times we ignore these little things and say they don't apply to us. This is a big lie from the adversary!!! Those little things are there to test our obedience. The greatest law of heaven is obedience, and if we want to be worthy to enter that kingdom we need to learn obedience. It’s like abraham when he was asked to kill his son.

It is the days that I do the things I’m asked (the little things) that are the best days. The days that I preach with the spirit the strongest, the days that I can speak the language best, the days that I have the most energy to keep going. 

I love and miss you guys so much.

Love, 
Elder Dabel


Letter 15 May 18 2015 
(We went out of town so I didn’t get to post this)

Thank you for all of your prayers, this week I’ve really needed all of them. I’ve been sicker than heck the last few days with dengue fever. It has been the worst experience of my whole mission so far. I received a blessing and I think I’m just about over it now. But, I lost a lot of weight really fast. It was funny, I went to church and our buddy asked if I had been loosing weight because my pants were saggy haha.

WOW, Michaela and Emma’s prom pics .... que bonita, miran como mommasitas. I bet all my sisters are going to look a lot different when I get home haha. Make sure the boys don't steal them before I get home! That’s awesome to hear about the color run. 


I should have changes in two Tuesdays, so you might not hear about it for another week. 

Monday, May 11, 2015


Letter 14 - Week 15

Hey Mama, 

So I uploaded a few things to the drop-box that you’re free to use. I’ll try to keep putting new things on as I take more. Thanks for having everyone there yesterday. I wouldn't have wanted to ask because it was your day, but it meant so much to me:))) 

I miss you guys so much, but it’s crazy how fast this journey is going. It’s starting to pick up faster and faster now that I’m not stressed about being able to speak. Oh and I forgot to tell dad, but if he could find spanish songs and talks also that would be awesome. 

I forgot to tell you ABOUT MY BUS EXPERIENCE YESTERDAY  haha. So the other day we were flying down the road and our bus engine blew up. It stopped super fast and we all flew forward. There was a women in front of me with a baby, and she flew all the way to the front of the bus in the air because she couldn't grab anything. She just held onto her little baby as tight as she could as her little body flew up to the front. She didn't die, but I could see how it didn't even matter to her, she was just worried about her lil baby. 

That was really touching and it reminded me of how important our mommas are and how much love you guys have for us. I just wanted to let you know how important you are to me, and how much I am grateful for the support you have given me to be out here. I give thanks to all our moms, Donavon's, Gav’s, Rick’s, and soon to be Moroni’s. You guys are so important to us. 

My friend that came to the MTC with me is a convert and doesn't have the support of his father who is Catholic. I am pretty sure by the end of his mission he will have more time being a missionary than being a member. He had a really hard time in the MTC and is still because he doesn't have the support from back home. He told me how lucky I was to have two parents that love me and support me. It made me feel a lot more grateful for what I have. I hope you had an awesome Mother’s Day yesterday. I love you so much!

Thanks Dad. I love your messages and even though I don't have a lot of time to respond I do read them and ponder your words through out the week :) I just keep remembering we are in good company when we have challenges in this life. I think about Joseph Smith, Job, Alma, Nephi, and ect... The Lord gave them what he knew they could handle. It’s hard to hunker down and just take it, but the Lord promises us that when we do our best, blessings will be double fold. I love you! Keep on being awesome dad :)

I have a big testimony about putting in our part. It’s the days that I try to study the language, read my Book of Mormon out loud and do all the little things I am told to do that I receive all the help from the Lord. A lot of times I don't feel like I learn anything or my little studies didn't do anything, but I can feel the Lord taking care of the rest just because I put in my part and did the best I could. The gift of tongues is so real, maybe not what a lot of people think, but it is real. A lot of my Spanish I have never even studied or learned. I just know it because I’ve heard it before and the Lord throws it all into my head when I need it. It’s a really different experience. 

I love you guys! Give my cousins some hugs too please, and maybe a punch or two in the balls for each of my uncles! hehehe

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Letter 13 - Week 14

Thank you momma for that letter. It really was an answer to my prayer. Although I know in my heart that it is necessary to pass through trials, it really is so challenging to keep moving sometimes. There have been a lot of moments where I feel so down because I’m not seeing the results in the way I want to, or just everything we have planned drops. It makes me think about if I’m actually working hard enough. 

I want to say that I’m doing everything I can, but it’s those trials that make me doubt myself. Working hard is a trait I think I earned from both you and dad, and it makes me feel so good to know that I put in 100 %. It’s hard to put in 100% here because I have to have enough energy for the next day. We work every single day and so I’m having to learn to pace myself and be happy with what I was able to get done. 

It’s a hard trial for me because I am, in all reality, a super inpatient person... I like to see results quickly and get things done fast... but that’s not really how it works out here... The work isn’t too super hard, it’s more about just being where the Lord needs you and loving and helping the people that he has prepared. It makes it hard for me to judge how hard I am truly working. I don't want to be lazy, but then again I don't want to kill myself trying to reach that level of approval from my own body that says you literally can't give anymore... it’s a weird concept.  

When I went with the zone leader (that was about to go home) I realized that he never was in a rush. He just took a step at a time and thought about what the next best option would be, and always smiled and chatted with people. It wasn't hard, it was just loving whoever he could find. I really want to try to follow his example. 

The weather is sooo hot, I guess we are in the summer months right now haha.  I don't know if I’ve talked about it, but the busses are sooooo crazy. If I could choose between going to six flags and riding a Guatemalan chicken bus, I would choose the bus. I don't know how many times I’ve hit my head on the ceiling. They don't have speed limits here and the roads are so windy and bumpy it’s ridiculous.

I’m out of time.  I love and miss you all so much.

Love,


Elder Dabel

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Letter 12 - Week 13

That is so touching, thank you dad! (David sent him a copy of Aubrey’s Facebook post about how much she loved and missed Jared).   Make sure to let my sisters know how much I love them because I really do and I feel like I might not have shown it as best as I could have. 

It is true that the hardest days a lot of the time are the best. I love coming home to my apartment every night knowing I did my best and being so tired. I just lie down on my bed and pass out (after dats and planning of course.) The days have been moving by so fast and I always feel like I don't have enough time... it's a good thing though because then I don't have enough time to think about how much I miss home. 

Every week life gets better. It feels good to actually talk with everyone freely and not have as much stress on my shoulders of what the heck people are saying. I found that one of the hardest things for me to do is speak the truth and be blunt with the people I love. I really love all these people and wouldn't want to do anything to offend them, but is very necessary to to give them some chikote sometimes. I’m starting to find a good balance between showing love and being blunt at the same time. 

There is one family we have that knows for a fact that the church is true and has had dreams that are crazy. My companion and I have been working with them and haven't been able to get the true reason out of them why they wouldn't just take a step forward with faith and let go of all their little excuses. I mean not everyone in has that rare gift of revelation. We had divisions yesterday with the assistants who are sooooo cool... and they gave them some hard chikote.

The mom finally came out and said she wanted to be baptized so bad, but she couldn't because her husband wouldn't pay for them to get married. He said he didn't have enough money to pay for the party and a dress or even a cake for the marriage. It was so sad and humbling that it almost made me cry when I heard it. We offered to pay for the papers and that we could get the ward and other members of the church to put something together for a celebration. That was an awesome experience.

Oh, sorry about pulling out so much money. I bought an awesome bag made for missionaries and some new athletic shoes because mine ripped. They actually did in the MTC haha but I zip tied them together and that worked awesome for awhile. I still use them for running, but they can’t take the intense soccer we play here. My comp showed me where they sell zapatos de papi foot or soccer shoes for cheap :p

Love and miss you all so much.  

Elder Dabel

Monday, April 13, 2015

Letter 11 - Week 12

Thanks for all the good work back home. I’m so happy to hear how well it’s going. Pretty much now, as far as Spanish and teaching, I’m about set. My Spanish is doing really well and I have been able to teach the lessons fine. This week I did a lot of the leading and started lessons and can pretty much do anything by myself now. 

The work is starting to feel so much easier now that I have trust in my Spanish and the spirit in my teaching. So many times I am surprised by the things that come out of my mouth. Before I always worried what I was going to say and more specifically how I was going to translate it. I could spend forever trying to come up with something that would help the investigators. Now I just listen as best as I can and open my mouth and the spirit does the rest. 

I HAVE FOUND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO MAKE COVENANTS WITH THE LORD. My companion and I were struggling with making our goals. I talked to the President and he said that I should start making more covenants and it has helped so much. We work so hard all day and walk non stop, and just at the last minute everyday we make our goals. It’s like the Lord is testing our will to work hard the whole day and persevere before giving us the prize. 

I’ve also realized how perfect the Lord is and how he doesn't have a shortage of people that are ready for our message. He also knows how hard we are working and the ones that are working the hardest are the ones he is going to trust to teach these precious souls.

Another important thing I have learned is that we can have faith in the Lord, but that doesn't mean whatever we ask for in faith he is going to give us. If God were to take away our challenges simply because we asked he would in turn deny us of experiences necessary for our eternal salvation, experiences that are going to help us learn and grow. 

TO HAVE FAITH IN THE LORD IS TO HAVE FAITH IN HIS WORK AND THE THINGS THAT ARE OF HIM. If we truly have faith in him we ask in prayer for things that are inline with him. Many times people become selfish and ask for things that aren't  inline with his work and say they should receive because they have faith. That isn't faith..

This week has been so hard physically wise on my comp and I. Our cook has been out of town and we have had to walk soooooo far and long. It’s not horrible, but by the end of the day we pass out on the bed with blisters on our feet... I’ve never had blisters on my feet, not even when I did the 50 miler and I thought that was hard... that wasn't even hard... 

Oh make sure to tell Teresa thanks for every single one of her gifts hehe.. every one...

I love and miss you guys so much.

Love,

Elder Dabel


Monday, April 6, 2015

Letter 10 - Week 11

Hey dad, that is so awesome to hear about your job!  What a blessing I pray that you will enjoy it. Also that is so awesome to hear about Ana and Marisa!!! That makes me so happy =) 

My Easter was soooo awesome... well kinda. This week has been so slow because it is Semana Santa and the Catolicos celebrate all week and no one goes to work and every one goes to the beach.... so contacting has been absolutely useless. This week I have heard more fire crackers than I have ever in my whole life.... the people hear light em off for honor of Jesus and Mary... at 430 in the morning every freaking day.... and then all day whenever the feel like it... and not just one role... like 10 roles of fire crackers...

Anyways, besides the crazies the work has been pretty awesome because I’ve been able to get a lot of lessons in. It makes me happy to know that we have three or four investigators that are progressing that are my contacts. It’s hard because my companion teaches most of the lessons and I always bare my testimony , teach 1 or 2 points, and then always ask the commitments. he does most of the talking and sometimes it makes me feel a little down because I have so much I would like to share also but don't always have the words. 

Conference was awesome. I loved how much was said about families. It gets me excited for the time when I can have an eternal family, definitely something I don't want to rush, but I’m excited. There was also a lot about the atonement and faith. I like how it was said, (cant recall who exactly said it), but it is by the Lords grace that we are saved. In the end we are all sinners and we can’t trade our good deeds for the bad ones. It makes me think back to what mom said about how it’s basically those who have the desire to make it that are, because they are going to be doing the best with the knowledge they have. No matter what, they are still going to make mistakes though. 

Also, the talk about how we shouldn't give up on the gospel and doubt our testimony when we find something we don't understand. The story was given about the girl in the plane crash that saw the light and hiked her way to it with hope even though sometimes it went out of view. She pressed forward with the knowledge she had until she could see it again. I really loved this... also the talk about the medicine man in the hospital that said I can teach you how to dance but you have to hear the music. This parable or relation to the gospel life was awesome. We can’t follow the Savior and do the things we’re suppose to, or at least wont want to, unless we can feel the spirit, or the music. We don’t want to dance unless we have the music, otherwise its awkward and undesirable..


I gotta go, I love you guys. Oh, and this week my life improved by 100 times.. I found a water heater head at the black market and installed that bad boy.  Thanks so much for the pb and j and pancakes and nutella.....best Easter of my life.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Letter 9 - Week 10

Hey papa! 

That’s so cool that you shared my experience! There are so many parallels between our work and your work. Keep sending me spiritual thoughts because they do help! 

I was reading through moms letters and she talked about in D&C:88 how we are rewarded upon our desires. I believe this to be true and it makes me happy and sad at the same time. I talk to so many people here that know our church is true in their heart. We testify to them the truth and they feel it. They tell us in their own words that they believe that we are sent from God and they have so much respect and love for us. They feed us and give us water, they feel the spirit when they are with us, they see it.... but they are too stubborn to accept all of our message. 

Many of these people have desires of the world, they don't want to change. If they can find a loophole, they take it. They tell me that they are blessed and they believe that all we need to do is believe in God and we will be saved. James 2:14-26 “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” They love their churches because they are easier. It makes me so sad to have to just let it go and leave their house saying I did all I could.

I am learning quickly that this is going to be one of the greatest experiences of my life, not just fun, but most of all, a testimony builder. My faith and testimony grows each and every day as I practice obedience. It feels so good to be able to have confidence in my Heavenly Father that he is going to have a path for me to take and prepare the way. You are 100% right, about this being the perfect place to exercise agency and faith and test the principles of the gospel. There is no better environment than the field, where it's just you and the Lord. My testimony of obedience has grown the most.

Oh to answer some questions in letters: 

Grandma: so our area is outside the capital of Guatemala, right on the border of the jungle. Although, I don't get to go out in the jungle much because there isn't anyone out there to teach haha. We aren't close to the ocean right now. I would love to have an area near there at some point, but it’s supposed to be super hot and I don't do well in the heat. I love it up here in the mountains, where it’s warm and chilly haha. Oh, and yeah, the people here hate Mexico and Mexicans because Mexico stole Cancun or something. LOL

Thanks Aubrey for your letter about small and simple things and moving forward little by little! So true, but hard when you’re impatient like me!! I have to humble myself to your words constantly! haha

This week I had the opportunity to eat pigs feet... hairy pigs feet.. they tasted good, mostly just fat.. the little hair made it so hard to put down. The family just sat there and watched me with smiles waiting for our compliments haha...

Also, lately I have been eating a lot of fried platino (huge bannano looking things) with beans... it’s so delish...

I love and miss you all so much.

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Jared's friend Donavaghn left for his mission in Guatemala a few months before Jared.  

They finally got to see each other and were really excited!


Letter 8 - Week 9

Hey Momma, 

This week has been pretty amazing. Man the time is starting to fly, we work so hard that we never have time to have time. As soon as I get to my apartment I plan, pray, and desmallarse en mi cama (go to sleep.) 

The spanish is coming, but there is just soooo much. I get really impatient and want to just have it all already. Right now I contact by myself and can do lessons by myself. Usually anything gospel related is cake, as long as I have the spirit with me. I can tell when I have the spirit guiding me because I’m not focused on what I’m going to say. Im listening carefully and respond with whatever comes to my heart. 

The gift of tongues is so real... many times a day I say things that come to my head that I’ve never learned, that just feel right. The other day our faithful friend and convert of three months, Marco Tulio, (who has an awesome story and is the coolest champine en todo el mundo) was accompanying us in our lessons. He said he was so impressed with my spanish and could tell such a big difference between my spanish in lessons where the spirit was present. 

It’s such an awesome feeling to understand what people are saying to me. This last week I’ve been pretty much able to understand anything said. I used to translate the spanish in my head, but now I don’t. This is what has helped me the most, being able to feel what they say like it’s english. Now when someone talks to me in english, if I’m not prepared, I can’t understand what they say because my head is just ready for spanish and I’m like “que manda?”.

This last week we had a huge reunion con missions este, sur, y central, and listened to Elder Anderson speak. I met up with Donavon which was awesome!! He is doing awesome and that really lifted my spirit a lot. 

Oh, also this week I got hit by van. That was scary. I was walking on the side of the road and its side swiped my shoulder. 

Three people got shot right down the road from our apartment.. that was a huge eye opener..
AND THIS IS HOW MY SON’S LETTER TO ME ENDS!  SERIOUSLY?!?!?!

Monday, March 16, 2015

SCROLL BELOW THIS PICTURE AND THE LETTER TO SEE THE PICTURES OF HIS APARTMENT AND THE AREA :)  (Several of you keep asking me where the pics are)
Elder Dabel's first baptism!  His companion is on the left :)


Letter 7 - Week 8

So this week was pretty awesome. To start off, my companion and I just had a baptism!! We baptized an 18 year old who's name is Ever Hernandez. He asked me to do the baptism, which was an awesome experience. We are working so hard, I contact so much every day. 

The language is coming poco por poco (little by little). I know a ton, but it’s still not enough. Right now I can contact almost anyone by myself and can struggle my way through a lesson if I have to. Usually my companion doesn't make me do that though haha. I usually just pray and bear my testimony. 

Also this week I GOT TO GO TO A BIG reunion for the south mission. We had a huge arm wrestling competition, and believe it or not, I beat everyone!! So you don't need to feel bad about me beating you dad. It was pretty crazy, after I BEAT everyone they put me up against my mission president, who is freaking huge and coached football. I was like, there is no way I’m beating this guy, but I did it anyways. I don't know how, but I beat him too!! I have yet to find someone that can beat me lol... and I’m the first ever in the mission to beat the president haha.. I’m trying to get a hold of the video so you guys can see. 

The food is still the same... EVERY. FREAKING. DAY... I’m a little jealous that Gavin gets to try all those cool things, but then again I feel so blessed that I’m getting food that I know I can put down, and the language probably isn't so insane here. Luckily a lot of the words are common in english. I have a few pics. I’m going try to upload them and send more next week.

Don’t worry momma I got the pictures you sent  :) Thank you so much, they were all perfect!!! It’s sometimes really hard to look at them though. It hurts bad to think about you guys and look at the pics. I’m so jealous you guys are going on a cruise haha!! But I’m glad everything is going well and the finances are being taken care of by the Lord. Oh and I got the letters you sent! I love being able to read through them over and over again. 

I’m getting your letters dad and I love them!! I love hearing about everything, but it’s such a struggle to write everyone. I’m so glad to hear about Gavin. I pray for him every day. I’m glad to hear that you guys fixed the car, man I really miss getting my hands dirty... 

I love you all very much!

Love,

Elder Dabel