March 14, 2016---COUNCIL LEADERS, MIRACLES AND FAITH, FOOTBALL AND KITCHEN, HER GRANDPA WAS HEALED

Consejo de lideres en Villa Nueva (Council leaders in Villa Nueva ) 

MIRACLES AND FAITH
It's going well.  The work in our area is starting to pick up and we are finding more people. Yesterday we had 2 miracles.  We went to go visit 2 families that are menos activo (less active) and pfs but they weren't there. But we found 3 news en camino (new on the way) too.  So that was awesome that we were able to open our mouths and follow the 1st impression of the spirit.  And they were all positive.  I have the faith that they will get baptized. 

Los reinos de futbol y la cocina (The kingdoms of football and kitchen)

HER GRANDPA WAS HEALED
We also have another hermana that goes to church and stuff but struggles on the thought of baptism.  But Elder Cancino gave her a promise that her grandpa would heal cuz he was about to die.  A couple days later after changes he healed and everything.  She still hasn't been baptized but we are helping her and she is a lot more positive every time we go with her.  Sometimes we can't take "No," for an answer dijo (says) Elder Rasband and Pres Markham. 

Les Amo

Elder Sweat

A FEW WORDS ABOUT MY CURRENT AND EX-COMPANION, FINDING NEW WAYS, THE INNOCENT SUFFER THE MOST

The bus.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT MY CURRENT AND EX-COMPANION
Elder Santos is a great joker and likes to work and he's just a really great guy overall and he's tall like me, hahahaha, JK.   My ex-companion, Elder Guzman, wrote me today and I could really feel the love and the spirit reading what he wrote so that was awesome. 

*Surprise photo sent to me from a tourist in Guatemala today.  Looking good Elder Sweat and Elder Santos.

Viva Mexico, Pt. 2

That unity en ropa (in clothes) haha.

FINDING NEW WAYS
Yeah, we are working hard here finding new maneras (ways) to trabajar (work) in our area. Lots of people are a little cerrrado (closed) so we have to find different ways to find the escogidos (selected).   This week was a little hard cuz we almost don't have anyone (to teach) so we were working hard to find the people that are ready and willing to act. 

Alien

Tuk Tuk

Viva Mexico!

THE INNOCENT SUFFER THE MOST

Something that I'm learning here on the mission is that the innocent suffer the most. There are lots of people here that are passing (through) lots of hardship that need the help of the gospel to understand everything.  

Les Amo

Elder Sweat

March 1, 2017---NEW COMPANION, KNOCK LIKE CRAZY AND BUILD BRIDGES, TOES ARE GETTING BETTER, I KNOW, RIGHT? QUOTING PRESIDENT MARKHAM, FIND HIM, WHERE'S WALDO

MARCH 1, 2017

NEW COMPANION
Yeah so my new companion is Elder Santos who is from Mexico. Photos of the new zone.  In front number 7 Elder Santos and number 42 Elder Sweat .

KNOCK LIKE CRAZY AND BUILD BRIDGES
We were able to baptize one of our investigators and it was a great experience. The teaching is a little tough right now.  We are starting from square 1 and a half cuz we have one person that can get baptized, but from her there is no one.  But it's all good.  It's like opening an area again cuz you got to go back to the "antiguo invitation"--- knock like crazy and build puentes (bridges) with the members, etc.  But it's all good.  I have the fe (faith) that we are going to baptize.  This week was great and just got to focus on the work. 

TOES ARE GETTING BETTER
I have been doing mostly core for my toes cuz my 2 big toes got operated on, not just one, haha.  But they are getting better and don't really hurt. 

I KNOW, RIGHT?
*In response to his dad saying, "Before you know it, your full time service will be over and you will be involved in many aspects of life.  This is the one time you can devote everything you have in the service of our Heavenly Father so continue to make the most of it.  I'm sure as you do that you will be blessed."   I know, right?  Everyone says,  "Man, your time will pass by super fast now."  My companion says they say the same thing to him.  He will finish one change before I do.  I know, I just want to be able to focus and work hard my last part of my mission. 

QUOTING PRESIDENT MARKHAM
"We need to make the atonement personal for us."  Presidente Markham.

Les Amo

Elder Sweat

FIND HIM
Conferencia de Zona.   Elder Sweat---find him.

WHERE'S WALDO?
Conference with Elder Rasband.  Where's Waldo? (haha) Find Elder Sweat.

February 21, 2017---THE FLAVOR OF FLOWERS, LAST WEEK TOGETHER, "THE SPIRIT IS THE ANSWER," CHILLING AND CHURRASCO, *NOTE/**NOTE FROM THE EDITOR, SURGERY AND GLASSES

 THE FLAVOR OF FLOWERS
A fruit that you eat here that has the sabor (flavor) of flowers.

LAST WEEK TOGETHER
We have 2 baptisms planned for this week and it's the last week of our change together so we are super pumped for that.  

"THE SPIRIT IS THE ANSWER"
"The Spirit is the answer."  Presidente Markham always says that, haha.  Elder Rasband, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles,  talked to us.  It was super awesome!   I learned a bunch of things from Elder Rasband, but some things that stuck out to me is don't give up and look for ways to feel the Spirit and the love of Christ in our lives.  The church is true.  I really felt the spirit and love from our Savior.  It was such a great experience.

So awesome this week!   LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Les Amo

Elder Sweat

CHILLING AND CHURRASCO

Chilling with the homies.  Doing a churrasco for lunch with some members. 

*Note from the editor:  

I will share what I learned about Churrasco.

*Churrasco (Spanish: [tʃuˈrasko], Portuguese: [ʃuˈʁasku]) is a Spanish and Portuguese term referring to beef or grilled meat more generally, differing across Latin America and Europe, but a prominent feature in the cuisine of Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Nicaragua, Peru and other Latin American countries. The related term churrascaria (or churrasqueria) is mostly understood to be a steakhouse...In Guatemala, churrasco is regarded as a typical dish, often eaten in familiar gatherings and festive occasions. It is usually served topped with chirmol, a red sauce containing chopped tomatoes and onions, and accompanied by corn, guacamole, grilled potatoes, stewed black beans, rice and tortillas.  Source Wikipedia

**Note from the editor:   

We got a call early Monday morning from President and Sister Markham letting us know that Elder Sweat needed some minor surgery on his toes and that he needed to have his glasses replaced.  It was such a sweet experience to hear from President and Sister Markham.  They told us that he was a hard worker said Dietrich is becoming a man.  They also said what great parents we were.  Haha!  We have excellent children.  The phone call and sweet words brought such a warm peace to my soul.  I will share with you what Elder Sweat told me about it the surgery and glasses.  

SURGERY AND GLASSES

"It's all good.  It was both my big toes, but this time I got anesthesia, haha.  You know how I am with these things, so I was breathing crazy hard and started to sing hymn and stuff cuz I was going crazy, haha.  But it was all good cuz my companion was there with me too.  I told him he had to come with me cuz you (mom)  would always be there for me for things like that too.  So he was a homie and was there with me and is making sure I'm all good haha.  He is a great companion."

"No, yeah, my glasses, they were getting pretty destroyed so I felt like it was time haha.  Thanks you so much to help me out to get new glasses.  They will not be wasted."  

Elder Sweat has always been very frugal and careful with money.  Such a sweet and thoughtful trait.  I know they won't be wasted.  They must have been bad for him to request a new pair.  Love this kid!

February 14, 2017---QUICK FOTO, INSPIRED VISIT, A GREAT KID

February 14, 2017

QUICK FOTO we took cuz a convert wants to make some things for us with our photo.

INSPIRED VISIT
Another experience with the Spirit.  We were in an area like 15 or 20 minutes in bus from the main part of our area and we didn't have anyone that had chosen to give us lunch. So we were walking and a family came into my mind but I didn't say anything and then my companion a couple seconds later said the same family that came into my head. I was like dude that's what I was thinking haha.  So we called them and when it was time for lunch we went over to their house and it turned out that they were passing some really difficult pruebas (tests) right now so we were able to talk with them and try to give them a little bit of consolacion (consolation)  because they were really down. They said they didn't know why we called at that moment but knew that it was by the Spirit that we came and visited them. I know it's something not super crazy but if we are worthy and willing to listen to the Spirit we will be able to help people no matter where we are in the world.

A GREAT KID
Our zone is doing great we are finding a lot of people that can be baptized in this next couple of weeks.  We were visiting a compadre (member but that is a good friend) and he told us that his nephew turned 9 yrs old but never got baptized.  So we should be able to baptize him this coming week.  The meta (goal) is the 26th and he's a great kid and has a lot of support from family members.

LES AMO

Elder Sweat

February 7, 2017---I HAVE THE FAITH, "DO OUR JOB", DO NOT CLIMB, PHOTOS

I HAVE THE FAITH
We had some people come to church this week and we were walking by a sister like 3 times in the church.  I felt like I should ask her her name.  So the like 3rd time we passed I went and I talked to her and it turns out she is not a member, but her husband is.   She accepted a visit and asked if she could have a Book of Mormon. We will see what happens but I have the faith that she can get baptized and sealed to her family. 

"DO OUR JOB"
We are still on the search for more people and I know we can all baptize in the zone. We all have people but we just have to "Do Our Job" says Pres Markham.  He said that's what the Patriots had as a slogan and they ended up winning (the Super Bowl) as I'm sure you knew.  He called me early in the morning to tell me how the game went haha.  Presidente and Hermana Markham are so awesome and give us such great consejo (advice)

.

Les Amo

Elder Sweat

DO NOT CLIMB

PHOTOS

January 31, 2017---FUNNY STORY

FUNNY STORY
Funny story is that I was joking around with my companion, and you know how I am with jokes.  I go all out.   So I got up from my chair and ran and did like a wall-run-jump and forgot that I'm a little tall and smacked my head on the door frame.  I just heard a loud thud and was like,  "What was that?" and realized it was my skull playing "Bang-a-rang" by Skrillex on the wall haha.  I was like,  "Uh oh!" Then I felt my head and saw blood.   I was like,  "Flip!  I'm going to have to get stitches!  How embarrassing!"  But luckily we looked at it and it was just like a little scrapey scrape haha.   So don't worry, I'm fine but learned a lesson.  "Everything is fun and games until someone gets hurt...then it's hilarious," hahaha.

Les Amo

Elder Sweat