A WORD FROM PRESIDENT MARKHAM, 6:00 A.M., KEEP PUSHING, ELDER MONTERO, LINDA VISTA

A WORD FROM PRESIDENT MARKHAM

"Please enjoy this photograph of Elder Sweat, whom we had the joy of welcoming into our mission on November 20, 2015.  We truly appreciate your efforts in preparing him according to the standards of the Lord now that the bar has been raised for missionaries entering the field of labor in Guatemala and everywhere in the world."  ---Melvin G. Markham, Mission President

6:00 A.M.
So, we actually didn't go to the mission home.  At like 6 in the morning, we got dropped off at a church.  We met a companionship from the mission and we had companion exchanges. 

KEEP PUSHING
This place is so much different than anything I ever expected. I know that I'll become a mejor (better) persona (person) through serving a mission. Right now, it is really hard.  We aren't having as much success as we want. But, when it's hard, I try to remember what President Holland said. He said that the atonement wasn't easy and there was never really an easy time in Jesus' whole life. This motivates me to keep pushing and I'm trying to improve everyday. 



ELDER MONTERO
My trainer is Elder Montero.  He is from the Dominican Republic.  He's a great guy and hard worker. He is also the fastest walker I've ever seen in my life!  I have to literally like jog to keep up with him and it is really hard!  Ha. He is super positive, funny, nice and he cooks a little.  In high school, he played baseball, as an outfielder. 



LINDA VISTA
My area is on the outskirts of the city.  It's mountainous, so it's really hard walking. I'm dying half the time and my legs are always sore and constantly hurting. Its called Linda Vista. But, yeah, the mission is definitely very hard mentally, physically and spiritually.  I just need to push through these 1st couple of meses (months).

Love

Elder Sweat

FATHER TO SON, ASK-SEEK-KNOCK, YOU ARE IN HIS HANDS, TAKE CARE OF YOUR TEMPLE, I'LL GO WHERE YOU WANT ME TO GO, NEVER LOSE FAITH IN YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN-WHO LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN COMPREHEND

Dear Elder Sweat,

TERRELL:  So good to hear from you this past week.  It sounds like you are progressing as a missionary.  I hope you and your companion are healthy now.  I'm pleased to hear that you are using your priesthood to bless others.  I'm so glad you had the opportunity to give a blessing before you left.  That was a special experience for me.

ELDER SWEAT:  We are still a little sick but not really. Ya, it was helpful for sure.  Thanks for taking me. 

 

Priesthood Session in SLC, 2012.  Gpa Sweat, Elder Sweat, Aldste Sweat, Terrell, Dante, Skyler, Coleby, Jason, Tyson, and Dusty...Priesthood Power!--Becca

Elder Sweat and Luke in the Salt Lake Conference Center at the General Priesthood Session of General Conference.

TERRELL:  How was your last week at the MTC? 

ELDER SWEAT:  Still here.  I leave on Friday, but it's really good.  President Cox and his wife give the best devotionals ever.

Aldste Sweat, Elder Sweat, Terrell, and Dante.  3 of the 4 best looking baseball players and coach in Madison County, but I am prejudice.--Becca

TERRELL:  Be obedient and follow the Spirit.

ELDER SWEAT:  I will.  I strive to be as close to Christ as I can.  It's hard, but faith without works is dead.  

Friends from Rexburg at the Oakland Temple.

TERRELL:  Be bold and don't let inexperience cause you to be hesitant.  

ELDER SWEAT:  That's sick.  Thanks.

"My favorites,"--Becca.

TERRELL:  The Lord will bless you as you need it and your companion will be able to step in to help when you need it.  Go for it every day and be lovingly bold.

ELDER SWEAT:  Yep, trust in the Lord. 

   

TERRELL:  Are you keeping yourself healthy, both in mind and spirit?

ELDER SWEAT:  I have been playing some basketball and working out.  Trying to get some quicker feet. It's hard to run anywhere here.  Haven't drank any pop except for when we went to Wendy's that one time and I wasn't supposed to drink the water.

TERRELL:  I was able to watch the City of San Francisco and San Mateo play yesterday (Saturday).  They are the #1 and #2 teams, respectively.  They were solid.  I loved the intensity of the game.  SF won.  I think you can play at that level, after you dedicate yourself 100% to the Lord for the next two years.  Keep your body in shape by putting the best food you can in it--it will give you the fuel you need to work hard all day.

Team Captains, vs. Prospect

ELDER SWEAT:  Oh, sounds like fun.  I saw some pictures from home and you need to hit the weight room,  Dawg!  

Kiki, Terrell, and Denzel.  Elder Sweat and his dad are constantly competing for "The Most Swole"--Becca

TERREL:  We love you and pray for you.  Continue to do your best in serving the Lord.

Love,

Dad, Mom, and Family

ELDER SWEAT:  "I will."  It's been great here with all my district.  Ha!  Great times and learnings.

TERRELL:  "My dear friends, your faith did not begin at birth, and it will not end at death. Faith is a choice. Strengthen your faith, and live to be deserving of the Savior’s approving words: “Great is thy faith.” As you do, I promise you that your faith, through the grace of Jesus Christ, will one day allow you to stand with those you love, clean and pure in the presence of God, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen." - Elder Neil L. Andersen, October 2015 General Conference.

ELDER SWEAT:  Funny, cuz Grandpa Sweat shared a very similar quote, if not the same.

I hope everything is going great, still. How's the college football world, just the rankings?

Love Elder Sweat

Aldste Sweat, Gpa Sweat, Terrell, and Elder Sweat...True Blue fans!

MEMORIES, LETTER FROM HOME, YOUR FAITH WILL NOT GROW BY CHANCE---BUT BY CHOICE

MEMORIES

Grandpa Sweat, Dominique, Dante, Grandma Sweat and Elder Sweat at Giovanna and Chad's wedding, 2014.  

Twins. 

Elder Sweat and Arianna supporting Tiana at one of her basketball games last year.

Christmas 2014 in San Francisco with Terrell and Dante.

LETTER FROM HOME

Terrell:  Dear Elder Sweat

Hello!  Sounds like you are learning how to teach and contact investigators in Spanish!  This is something that you will likely learn on an ongoing basis throughout your mission.  The more that you can improve your teaching and your Spanish, the better off you will be.  I still like the idea of choosing 15-20 words per day, writing them down, and learning them. 

Elder Sweat:  

I've been trying to speak solamente Español through out the day and that has helped me a lot. I try to memorize around 20 or 30 words.  It's hard to fit in sometimes, but I want to learn. 

Terrell:  

How is Elder Trepanier doing?  I liked your scripture in Matt. 9:37-38.  I'm pleased to hear that you are finding scriptures that are meaningful to you.  It's hard to believe, but your time in the MTC is coming to a close.  I hope that you are making the most of it as it's a great time to be totally focused on learning and preparing to go out into the real world and serve.  I look forward to hearing about your week!  I'm so pleased that you are serving and doing your best.  Stay strong and keep up the good work! 

Love,

Dad, Mom, and Family

Elder Sweat:  He is doing pretty good.  He got pretty sick and I ended up giving him a priesthood blessing cuz he felt like he needed one, so that was def new. Ya, the scriptures have some pretty cool stuff in them and applicable for today. It was def written for this generation. Ya, we actually leave early.  Not a full 6 weeks cuz of meetings with the stake presidents or something, so really soon, ha. This is the last full week. I'm trying hard to stay focused and not waste time. Ya it will be crazy. More missionaries left today in the morning, so it keeps getting faster and faster. Nothing too much happened this week. Still a little sick, but it's all good.


Terrell:  

"Although your beginning fire of faith may be small, righteous choices bring greater confidence in God, and your faith grows. The difficulties of mortality blow against you, and evil forces lurk in the darkness, hoping to extinguish your faith. But as you continue to make good choices, trust in God, and follow His Son, the Lord sends increased light and knowledge, and your faith becomes settled and unwavering. President Thomas S. Monson said: “Fear not. … The future is as bright as your faith.” - Elder Neil L. Andersen, October 2015 General Conference

Elder Sweat:

That's a sick quote.  Thanks.

Love,

Elder Sweat

YOUR FAITH WILL NOT GROW BY CHANCE---BUT BY CHOICE

SICK FROM WENDY'S, ALARM AT 2 AM, AT THE MTC, MATTHEW 9:37-38, PRESIDENT AND SISTER COX ARE GREAT

SICK FROM WENDY'S
Everything is going pretty well overall. Me and almost our whole district got sick from Wendy's so that was pretty fun. Right now I'm just sick with a cold so nothing too bad now.  My Spanish is going fairly well. Elder Trepanier and I teach without anything but pamphlets, scriptures, and impressions. Our hardest lesson so far to teach is The Plan of Salvation cuz there is so much stuff in it and we tend to try and get too much in depth.



ALARM AT 2 AM
We did have an alarm go off in the MTC and it was like 2 in the morning and we were all super confused and trying to figure out what do do and we found out the there was a malfunction on the computer or something so it was a false alarm. Ha.  Still kinda sketched at first, haha.

AT THE MTC
We have been teaching "investigators." All of ours are committed to baptism right now.
At the MTC, we are eating food, working out, playing basketball, studying and teaching.
We had a great breakfast today and so it's a pretty good day. We went to the temple, ate, emailed, played sports, and studied some, and then had a devotional, so pretty good.



MATTHEW 9:37-38
My district is great, they build my testimony. I've been reading in Mathew.  It's a pretty good book, so far.  You should check it out. Mathew 9:37-38 is one of my favorite passages. I think it's talking about all those serving right now or those who are going to.

PRESIDENT AND SISTER COX ARE GREAT
President Cox is super awesome and he gives awesome devotionals. He had the chance of being drafted for baseball and stuff but he went on a mission as a, like, 1 year convert or something. He and his wife are great. The workers here are also pretty great, too.

Love,
Elder Sweat

Guatemala Missionary Training Center
Robert Thomas Cox, 61, and Rebecca Eugenia Friend Cox, four children, Tulare 2nd Ward, Porterville California Stake. Brother Cox is a former president of the Mexico Leon Mission, counselor in a stake presidency, stake executive secretary, bishop, ward mission leader, temple ordinance worker, and missionary in the Andes Peru Mission. Owner of Cox Farming. Born in Tulare, California, to Howard Marion and Dorothy Marie Cox. Sister Cox served with her husband in the Mexico Leon Mission and is a former counselor in a stake Young Women presidency, ward Relief Society and Young Women president, and temple ordinance worker. Born in Santa Monica, California, to Rollis Lewis and Mary Viola Friend.