Guatemala City, Zona 21

Holidays 2010

Found a Kentucky Fried Chicken. Each Elder had a ten piece dinner with the works. He looks pretty happy!

Elder Briggs had his district over for a BBQ.

I'm sure this shower is not code here in the USA. Electricity and water are a dangerous combination.

A Guatemalan Christmas tree.

Christmas dinner at the Area 70's home. Elder Cardon and his family.

They were doing service for a member. Digging a sewer. It looks like he's out of shape. His hands were bleeding.

I'm not sure if this one should be on the blog. He said he was hot so he filled the sink up and

cooled off.

Elder Briggs loves to cook. They jimmyrigded an old sink and made an outdoor kitchen, and cooked up a "few" tamales.

Made a bunch of cookies and handed them out with pictures of Christ for Christmas. They gave them to a lady who said she hadn't had anyone give her a present in over 8 years. She was so grateful. They all cried.

Sorry, Elder Briggs followers, I've been lazy, busy and I have not been good about updating the blog.

He's doing great! He's still in the same area, Villa Nueva. Has gone through 2 Latino companions and currently has an American. As you can tell by his photos, he's lost some weight. But all is good. We are excited we get to talk to him on Christmas Day. We can't wait. It's been great to watch him grow. We are grateful for his service, bring people to Christ. He's a great missionary and a wonderful representative of the Church.

Rooster Stew

Choosing the poor Rooster for the Stew. He also had to kill it by twisting it's neck.
Birthday party for Elder Briggs
One Sister made tons of Papusas for his birthday
Learning how to make them.
Elder Acietunos, Elder Briggs old companion, his last day on the mission.
Thanksgiving Feast! Guatemalan style, 2 for 1 domino's pizza
Elder Briggs has been working with this family for a number of months. They were not married, due to legal complications. He says it's really hard for people to get married and that it cost lots of money in legal fees for paper work. But this is the final outcome. They were married and Baptized.

For the wedding, Elder Briggs arranged for her to get a make-over, at an investigators Hair Salon. She needed to feel special on her wedding day. I'm impressed that he thought of that!

On the hunt. Sorry to include this photo, but he was really proud of his kill.
Just messing around, doing service at a members home, helping them build something.
A family had them over for a hot dog feed. She made 100 hot dogs.

A great week!

My cousins from Spain sent me a sweet package on September 8, I just got it last week. It was full of tasty treats.

My favorite! Pata Negra Iberico Ham. Thanks Paloma and girls.

Enjoying a tasty bean sandwich. (didn't have the ham yet)

We had the opportunity to baptize a family of 5 we've been working with for the past month and a half. it was so cool. I got to baptize the mom and the 17 year old son.

My District.

Feeling better!!!

Elder Briggs has been ill for almost a month. He was hoping that what ever it was, would leave on its own. It never did, he eventually went to the Doctor and got some antibiotics. He had some intestinal infection . He lost 15 lb. Elder Briggs has been eating like crazy to make up for the month he was sick. I'm sure he'll gain that 15 lb. back in no time.

"gringos paradise! nachos, buffalo wings. and large sums of money.

"conference was great! its like a vacation for missionaries. We just made a ton of cookies and got a ton of chips and just kicked it. Saturday night we even went to eat dinner at a place that changed my life. I'll have to take you there when you come here. It's pretty good. $50 for 4 gringos to get full. I'm down. It's just like a monster mound of meat and tortillas. We just chow. It was awesome!"

"The Gringos, a good group of guys. Elder Pegram from Bedford Tx is in this picture. he's sitting in front of me. Elder Deering the big guy. Our district leader from Arizona. and Elder Childs a new guy from Utah. All a good group of dudes. We are all in the same district."

"Had a baptism Sunday. Baptized a 9 year old girl into a family that had previously neglected the church and are committing themselves back to the church. Wei have 7 baptism scheduled for this week. Doing Them all together. Should be good."

" this girl has had a crazy life. Mom and Dad died and she lived on her own from like 8. Crazy stuff"

"raid doesn't work on them (roaches) they go off somewhere else to die. if it does work, burning them on the other hand is very effective, especially in a concrete house." (Can't get the fire out of that kid.)

Elder Briggs enjoying a bit of home with his Dr. Pepper in Antigua on P-day. Not to mention getting his shoes shined.

Testimony

I've been on my mission now for a little over 12 weeks and the things I've learned are too many to describe, but I will try to list a few. Humility; this attribute seems to be a hard one to develop, especially having grown up in middle class white suburbia, but I can testify firmly that a humble heart in all things is truly the key to happiness. It's taken me a long time to develop this trait and I find it growing daily. The people on your mission will be different then you, possibly poorer then you. The only thing you can do is love them. I have had the opportunity to sit amongst friends in the most humbling of settings, where one fluorescent bulb lights the damp and dark cinder block walls. There are no chairs to sit on, only a mattress on the floor, and the rain drowns out the sounds of the street as it pounds on the tin roof. It's a chance to teach, an opportunity to teach love, and charity. This all culminates into the gospel of Jesus Christ, the restored and true gospel that I get to share every day in these humble settings. I have experienced an enormous change in my life in such a short time here in Guatemala. The counsel and advice that I can give today is love, unconditionally. No matter what, no matter who.

I share these short words with you and testify of their truth as I have experienced them, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

San Jose Del Bosque

Baptism of the Woman of the part member family. Her husband and some of her older children are members. Elder Briggs loves this family and was hoping to be able to stay in this area long enough to see the Woman be baptized. He will be staying in San Jose for at least another 6 weeks. He has a new companion, he's from Honduras. (Elder Briggs leaves out some details in his e-mails like names of people).

Enjoying homemade (by Elder Briggs) Spaghetti and Meatballs "blew them away"

No Bake Cookies made By Elder Briggs in his kitchen

The "Gringos" enjoying an American Meal. Not sure what they are eating? It's like a Paneras.

A part member family. The husband was finally baptized. His wife has been a member for many years. Elder Briggs is a giant down in Guatemala.

"The stairs gone on for miles, lined with tin houses"