Friday, December 30, 2011

Great Christmas in Belize

December 28, 2011

Well, let me tell you, my dear family! It was my last Christmas experience here on the mission! But that’s good and bad. As you know I’ve got mixed emotions about how much time that I’ve got..... =( The best part about today is that its Amanda’s birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I sure hope that you do something special for my favorite older sister. =) So today is a little groggy too. It’s been raining off and on all day long. Who knows why because in the morning it looked as clear as can be. "Red skies in the morning - sailors take warning, red skies at night - sailors delight". Right dad? hahah

Man, I’m sad to hear that grandma is having more troubles going around now. I remember how much she loved to go out and have fun in Mexico or wherever! I sure hope we can go with them one more time before they sell their time share thing in Mexico. But who knows what will happen - maybe if she feels better.

Well as you knew a little about my Christmas here it was full of fun and food! So all the weight that I had lost over these few weeks I think I got it all back in just one day! They have some awesome cake here - Black Cake. But you have to be careful because they love to just throw whisky on it to keep it looking nice and shiny. But definitely I ate turkey and chicken and all that.

Well I have some cool news. Today I’m going to San Pedro to work there with an elder and supposedly it’s going to be very beautiful there. My comp says it’s the most beautiful area in the mission; I guess we'll see. But the thing is on this island we have to go on an 1.5 hour boat to get there and then on the island they don't have cars. They just ride around in golf carts. Supposedly they have tons of Tourists and they even have their own power plant and everything. It’s just super expensive. So I’ll be sure to take some pictures of that one to show to you how it really is.

Well some investigators and some awesome stuff like that:

*Well there is the Smart family. They are really awesome (Wally and Katina). The only problem with them is that they need to get married. But I already feel like we're a part of their family. They have 5 kids all ranging from the ages 15 to 1 year old. They all love when we come over and read the Book of Mormon and are just amazing.

*We have a lady named Willa. She loves to giggle. The only problem with her is that her family is completely against her and don't like her to listen to us. She is like 50 something and she is a ball of fire. She loves to laugh - like I said.

*There is sister Pearl. She lives with her handicapped son who is like 20 something and she has been going to church for about a month now. She is just having some guy problems recently so we're working on that.

*We have the Cocoam family (Efrain and Dianna). They are awesome. We are great friends with Efrain. He is actually a tour guide here in Belize and he takes groups to ruins here and knows just about everything about the Myans (can't spell).

*We have some AMAZING recent converts here - GEORGE SANDER AND BENNY RUCKER. Man, they are way amazing. They have already blessed the sacrament and all that. I think I talked to you about them already but they are being great. The problem that George is having is his wife is sick right now, but it’s not too serious. And Benny is looking for his wife.

Well that’s just a few of the people that we're teaching. There are lots more but I’m getting tired of writing. (hahaha) I hope you all knew how much I loved my Christmas presents! I also loved talking to you. And I can't believe that you are doing all of that for your son.

I do really feel the love that you all show me and I hope that you’re having an amazing New Years which will come very soon. I think that it’s all going amazing for all of you. I even got my package from Grandma Sutton! Thank you so much for the candies and chocolate! I love you lots! All of you!

Feel free to write me a letter or two..... not trying to be greedy or anything...... hahah But I love to hear all the amazing things that you’re all doing with your lives. Keep it up.

Love you

Elder Sutton

Monday, December 19, 2011

Feliz Navidad


So my dearly beloved family and friends!!!!
Feliz Navidad and Merry Christmas!
So definitely I’m feeling a lot more Christmas-y this year.  Also as you can see, I’m writing you all a day early this week because tomorrow we have our Christmas party with the Cordon Family.  The great news is that it’s going to be really awesome, but the bad news is that they haven't informed us at all what is going to happen with the call or anything like that...  But my companion is going to call President right now to ask and I’ll tell you later in my letter. =)  From what I know I’m thinking that we can find some machines to Skype but we just need to ask some favors of people.

Wow!  Really so much just happened last week that I can't believe it either. It looks like you were as busy as I was!  And mom winning that raffle thing????  Man!!!!  I'm going to send my sons and daughters on missions when I get older so that I can win cool stuff like that.. hahah But really mom must be really being good this year huh?  There actually is a family here that we were teaching off and on and recently the wife just won the Jackpot here and then the husband got promoted in his job, and they say it’s because we started to visit them..  We're sure that they are blessings from the Lord and they all of a sudden have become a lot more positive.  Really the whole culture here and the people are so different than those that I have met in the past; sometimes I just need to step back and breath. Some people are just so ready to hear the gospel that it surprises me. If all works out, then we have a wedding this Saturday!  Then later the family will be baptized.

It sounds like Megan is continuing in her race car life style. =)  She wouldn't be part of the Sutton family if she wasn't, right?  I can really remember how we all had to do our own running around growing up like Amanda and me and now its Megan’s turn.  Let’s just hope that she can handle it well.  And from what I'm hearing, she does. =)

But man!  Amanda is going to be a real teacher now??  (Only for 6 months??)  But that’s still way awesome!  Now she is the real deal huh?  I always pray for her and you all and it’s all turning out alright. =)  But that’s no problem for her to handle a few 6th graders.  We had some interesting kids at the PEAK and I’m sure what she has been doing recently has prepared her for this. The Lord prepares us for life.  Sometimes we just don't notice it.

Man, I’m feeling the love from all the family!  Grandmas, Holly, Kathy, the Dinsdales, everyone!  Wow!  I’m definitely going to buy me new scriptures because the other day it poured rain here and they got wet.... =(  They still work just are a little crinkled.... but not anymore!!  And this time I’m going to put them in bags every time I leave the house. Then maybe buy some little things here and there for my comp and I.  (Maybe shoes for me. =D)

I wish I could have seen Justin!  I actually have thought about him some on the mission and how he is doing.  Along with my other friends that DON"T WRITE ME!!! (haha)  How often does he come home?  Maybe next year I can see him?  And Grandpa is already making some plans for next year!  We better have a HUGE party because I’m going to be there. =P So Sarah Stanger is getting married?  Dangit; someone has to tell here sorry and that I’ll have to miss it... =(   I feel like the time is flying for me. There is so much to do here and so little time that usually the days just fly by so fast.  Plus my companion and I are doing pretty well here. This last Sunday, Benny Rucker and George Sanders (new converts) talked in sacrament meeting!!  They have been members for like 2 months and they both blessed the sacrament and talked!  They did it all that day!  It’s amazing to see them progressing!

Well this week on Saturday we had our branch Christmas party too.  We had a blast with all the people and 7 investigators showed up and ate good food - rice and beans, with chicken and potato salad and stuffing that was more like powder...  I think that’s what they eat here. But it’s all good. =)  But they started to dance.  EVERYONE. from the grandmas down to the 2 year olds.  They all are born with an amazing ability to dance!  But really music is something so special to the people here. It’s different then the Utah. They just feel it.  Like if we're out with a member and he hears music, he automatically starts to bob his head or starts swaying.. It’s just what they do here. I am the only ugly duckling here that can't dance. haha.

But as you can tell Christmas here is really different, but it still is about Mas-Christ... haha - I just came up with that one.... But this year Christmas means something different for me.  I just feel different about it. It good though.  I have a million great memories of Christmas time with the “Fam”, but I know that I’m making lasting memories here that will not only shape the present but the future.  I'm understanding what it means to have a better relationship with not only those around me but with Christ.  I hope that you can say the same thing about me like you said about Justin.  How great of a change it was for him.  If not, then I just basically wasted the past year and a half.  But don't worry; I feel different - I think different.

Mom, I love you and I know that you love me, even when I thought you didn't because we fought. I know that every little thing you had me do was because you knew that it was going to benefit me in the future. I know that you are a great example of a hard worker and how to not expect less of us as your children, but expect the best. You have helped shape me who I am now. I can be a man and a father because you taught me to be one. I love you mom.

Dad, really we were more of friends then anything.  I know that it was hard for me coming on the mission and being away but I believe deep down you know why, and it’s not just to serve the Lord.  ALL the great times we had, football, jr. jazz, basketball, lacrosse whatever it was - you were always there two feet in there with me. I should have done more what you wanted to do (fish, hunt, hike).  I know that you are a great example of sacrifice.  You, like mom, have worked all my life to give me the best.  Even down to my friends and x-box we did together. Don't worry, that won’t change. I love you dad.

Amanda, man you really are a superhero to me.  You are an example that really it’s possible to live our lives correctly.  Seriously I pushed myself in everything because you were first great in it (music, sports, friends).  You were my older sister.  Funny, happy and always smart. I regret not ever really hanging out with you before.  I know I got on your nerves at times but you taught me that it’s possible to push myself.  I love you Amanda.

Megan, don't think that I’m forgetting about you. =)  My little sister.  I know right now in your life you're defining who you are.  Friends, sports, school, everything.  You have a lot in you.  I wish I was right there to help you out with your final years in high school.  But really listen to mom and dad. They have lived it. They know. You have taught me that love is for everyone, even my little sister.  I remember when I would ask you to do something for me and all I had to do was hug you and I never wanted to do it.  You are a great sister Megan. I can see you doing so much.  Heavenly Father has blessed you with so much.  All you have to do is use him to the fullest.  I love you Megan.

Well I don't have time to write all my family and friends but know I really think about you.  All the way down to Sarah Dinsdale and Barbara and Roy and Kathy - I have thought of you all and include you in my prayers.
I hope that this year is as special for everyone as it is for me!

With lots of love
Elder Sutton

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Enjoying Elder Rabanales (my comp)

Well not going to lie, I was expecting more from you on the writing department today. Now that President said we couldn't email from this account to anyone anymore I got 3 emails today! I definitely will have more time to write you guys. And maybe send my pictures that I copied on some DVD's. I don’t know; the computers are a little "sketchy" here so I’m kind of worried about viruses.....

A big THANK YOU to grandma & grandpa and Holly for the Christmas money!!! :) I’m going to use it wisely…

But yeah, I think the temperatures are going to start to climb here soon. For example today, I’m feeling a lot hotter than usual. But they tell us that this is winter here in Belize. I just don't want to see what it’s like here in the summer!!

So some interesting things here in Belize:

1. They have some amazing little things called cold cups.. They are just like they sound - little plastic cups with frozen juice and stuff in them but they are like 12 cents. So we have become a fan, Elder Rabanales and I. (like my grammar at the end????)

2. Well yesterday I ate some Lebanese Food... Man that was AMAZING! It’s kind of pricy for here like $6 Americans. But man, it was good like jicama and these amazing tortillas and all that jazz.

3. My companion & I broke down and bought some ice cream the other day. Man we were in heaven that day.

4. There are some senior missionary couples here in Belize - Elder and Sister Pattee. The awesome thing is that we had a family home evening yesterday with a new family we found, but I found out some awesome info about them. They served a previous mission in Ukraine! I don't remember where exactly but maybe Eric will know them. =)

Preguntas

1 – Have you heard when Pres. & Sis Cordon will be traveling there for your little party? (I hope they will be delivering your package at that time…)

Well they are going to come here around the 20th and the coolest part is that I think that they are going to be here for a few days. Like they are bringing their whole family here and then have a Belizean Christmas! (which is very similar to the ones we have in the USA....)

2 – Have you been checking on the possibility of SKYPING again for Christmas? (Less than 2 weeks until our call!!!!!)

Well I defiantly want to use Skype and talk to you guys again and I’m pretty sure that Elder Rabanales wants to also; we would just need to find a computer for the holiday. Maybe if we go to the distribution center or something? We'll have to figure that little detail out first huh?

3 – How’s the bike riding? Have you forgotten how & is traffic much of a problem?

Well let’s just say bike riding uses a whole lot of different muscles then walking. For the first week my knees were hurting me and my legs just because they are completely different, and I was so used to walking everywhere! There are a lot of cars here in the city though. Definitely there is like a "rush Hour" here also. But because we are on our bikes we can weave in and out of the traffic no problem. But the great news is that I haven't crashed on my bike yet. =)

4 – What is the main source of income (jobs) in Belize?

Well I definitely would say that tourism is a huge profession here. Then there are like fishermen and then like construction and all that. But tourism is huge! Apart from that, there are just random jobs like we are teaching a police man, a construction guy, one guy that fixes printers and scanners.....

There is an island (San Pedro) here where all the tourists go too. We have some missionaries there and they say that there are constantly people there on trips and vacations and all that jazz.

5 – Do you have a cook & a person to wash for you in Belize?

Well we have a wash lady. Usually we just eat at like a little restaurant here for lunch for a few dollars. The wash lady really is an amazing lady! BUT a lot of people here have washing machines. It’s not like in El Salvador where everyone does it by hand. But sadly we do sometimes wash a few shirts here and there. I tried not to bring much from El Salvador here so that it wouldn't be a hassle.

Well I'm definitely really enjoying myself here in Belize with Elder Rabanales. He is really charismatic and loves to run around. We are trying to enjoy ourselves as much as possible here by doing the Lord's will. Sometimes it’s hard, don't get me wrong, but I know that everything will turn out amazing if I just do my part. We can't bite off more than we can chew, but I’m not going to spend the whole day eating.... So we're constantly pushing ourselves to become better. Plus, I got my hair cut by my first Belizean guy yesterday and it looks alright. (haha) I can't complain much.

They are actually doing an EFY thing here called SOY (strength of youth) so that is something really new here in Belize. The thing is that the missionaries have only been here for 30 years and man we're growing.

I love you a ton family and friends.

Sientanse libre a enviarme cartas a mi nuevo correo!!!!! (Please feel free to send me letters to my new mail address!!!!!)

Elder Sutton

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Cruise Ships Look Cool

Well good afternoon my family and my friends!!!

It’s really cloudy and sprinkling here in Belize; I hear that it'll get even colder here too. But man last night I was soooo cold and I just had my fan on. I am definitely 100% going to die when I get back to the cold.

But the NBA has finally gotten an agreement too? Man I bet a lot of people are really happy including a lot of the Utah Jazz Fans (like Eric etc......) Someone will have to keep me updated on what’s going on. =P

Well this shout-out is for Graydon! You need to keep those lacrosse kids in shape! Put them through what we had to go through! I’m going to do the same when I get back. There are just a few things that I need to finish up here first. =) More people to find etc.

1 – Have you purchased new tennis shoes? (We have deposited $50 from your Grandma Carlene for you for Christmas as well as $50 from us so don’t wait – $40-$50 is pretty standard here.)

Well right now the thing is that I would love to buy me a new hymn book and maybe a new Quad.. I think that I’ll use my money for that and just find me some “ok” Tennis shoes until now. I think the scriptures are a little more important.... hahaha But thank you so much Grandma and mom/dad.

If anything I’m trying to have the best Christmas this year because it’s my last on the mission. And that doesn't just mean the best stuff to buy. Haha

2 – What type of currency do they use in Belize?

Well they use Belizean money. It’s like got the queen on it and all that because if you look into the history of Belize, they were once part of England (I believe) so they still have money like that. But they are not pounds. The money here is about 1-2 or 1 American to 2 Belizean, and if you look at the pound it’s the other way around.

3 – Have you seen lots of beautiful flowers & unusual plants in Belize? (Della & Barney have a customer who travels there half of the year and said they are gorgeous.)

Well actually to be honest I haven't paid attention to the plants much here. I'm kind of in the city but I have seen some beautiful water lilies. But I’ll pay special attention this week and try and take some awesome pictures of them. I can be a photographer too like you dad. =P

4 – Do you have luxuries like a micro-wave &/or regular oven or is your cooking still on a hot plate?

Sadly we don’t have a micro-wave and or an oven. We just have like a cooking plate. BUT the good news is that we got a new iron; last week ours was broken so we had to heat it up on our little stove thing and then hurry and iron.. It was quite funny. =D

5 – Have you eaten anything different in Belize? Is sea food still a no no?

Well they love eating chicken and rice and beans mixed with coconut water... It’s actually good because they make it a little spicy. But they have a lot of sea food here. Just this week we saw 5 cruise ships in port and tons of foreigners! It’s quite the cool experience to see lots of white people again!

Well this week we baptized the wife of George Sanders! Probably the biggest guy every. (I’m sure that he could give dad a run for his money.) But he actually baptized his wife and man was that a special experience.

Also, here in Belize because we are so far away from president and all that there are senior missionary couples here. And last night we had the privilege to have a Family Home Evening in their house with Efrian and his wife. Man that guy is amazing. He is actually a tour guy here in Belize for the people that come in on Cruise ships. He looks white and all that but he was born and raised here in Belize. But this guy is amazing. We just got to know his wife this week and she is just as amazing as him. The only problem is that she is going to Honduras for Christmas so we'll go a while without seeing her. =(

Really here in Belize it’s a new country. And you can say “duh”, but it was a shock for me. The people here are different and it was tough in the beginning but I’m getting more used to it.

But the great news is that we have a nice house. =)

I love this Christmas season. Really you don’t have to believe me but I have changed A LOT of how I see it. Before I know it was a lot about that but now it’s so different. Now that I know what to expect and what to feel, I love it even more. Life’s more simple without having to worry about presents etc.. I love my Savior. Really I have grown to know him and this season I want to give him the greatest gift of all. Myself. Christmas means a lot to me on the mission. I hope it means a lot for everyone out there. I encourage everyone to go on lds.org and see the new videos about Jesus and his birth. I love them a lot. The church worked hard on them.

Elder Sutton

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Address in Belize!!!

Dearly beloved family..

So as you all can see today isn’t Monday so I’m pretty sure that you are all wondering what all happened to me and why I didn’t email you yesterday. So the p-days here are really weird like we do all the regular stuff on Monday like p-day - buy, clean all that just on Tuesdays we write all our families. The thing is that there are some areas like Corazol that are 3 hours away in bus one way! So it’s 6 hours of travel here. So we do everything on Tuesday like we meet together and talk about our investigators and all that, then we go and write...

BUT today was extra special and extra crazy. We had thanks giving dinner. Well Belizean style. It was actually really nice. The senior missionary couple here did the whole thing and then we just ate some good food. Not quite as good as your rolls mom... MMmmmmmm, but still way better than just plain beans! (haha) The food here is a ton different. They don’t really eat beans! So, I’m afraid that I’m going to get even skinnier.

FAMILY AND FREIENDS!!!!!! READ THIS

If you send me mail from the regular address of the mission it won’t get here only when president personally comes here on a plane. So send it to the P.O. box here!

P.O Box 1123

Belize City, Belize, Central America

1 – Did you get a bike?

Yeah, I finally got a bike. I didn’t have to walk for the first time in my life!! I love it, but man it definitely works different muscles. The bike looks a lot like the bike that dad has but they don’t have gears. Not many people here have mountain bikes and stuff like that. OHHH but also, my house is soooooooooo nice. I can see the ocean from my house and it’s so beautiful. I could say that we have one of the nicest houses in the mission. Finally running water and a shower that I don’t have to dump out of a bucket!!! I’m working on the pictures and stuff.

2 – Are you still using your Spanish or do you speak that foreign language “English”?

Well as you know my companion, Elder Rabanales is from Guatemala. Yes, that’s my 4th from there, but he lived in the states and studied there with his family. So he speaks English perfectly, but he sounds like a gringo. =) He was from Sandy then his family moved to Alpine, Utah. But I speak to him a lot in Spanish so I don’t lose it. But a TON of people here speak like 2 or 3 languages. Like all the stores here are owned by the Chinese or the people from India. There are a lot of Latin people. There is a Latin branch here in the same building and then all the people here speak Kriol.......... Man that language is going to be the death of me. Literally it’s a language. When I heard before the mission about it, I thought it would be a lot similar to English - BUT ITS NOT... SURPRISE!!! Sometimes in a lesson a guy will talk to us and tell us a story and I just sit there and I have to look at my companion because I didn’t understand a word of it.... I bet it’s worse because I come from El Salvador and just speaking Spanish, but seriously it’s soooo hard.. hahaha.. but really fun. I love the people here.

3 – Is church big enough for a ward or a branch?

Well, all the churches here are Branches. There aren’t wards here. They don’t exist. But there are two branches in my building - one, English (me) and then the other Spanish. But I love my ward. A LOT of people came this week, 112 people. The church here is so new. It’s been here for 30 years, there are 12 branches and 2 districts, but it’s 3 times bigger than El Salvador and there are like 28 missionaries. (hahaha)

4 – How’s the temperature compared to El Salvador?

Well like these last few days it’s been sooooooooooo cold. Man I have slept with all my clothes on and all that. It’s like a cold spell here but the temperature is about the same as Sonsonate just it’s a different type of heat. Like it’s more of a burning heat and not a humid heat.

5 – Any basketball?

As of right now I haven’t played. We have a basketball court right next to our house and I’m going to play with some of the members here one day. Hopefully on Friday! But the problem is I don’t have shoes...... hahah… I had to leave the ones I bought in El Salvador back there because I was over weight in my bags.... and the problem here is that everything is so expensive here... haha (I don’t mean to whine to you.) It’s just part of life. Maybe I’ll just use my church ones and be intelligent. =P

Well the problem is that Elder Finlinson and Elder Brimley are in the other zone here - Cayo. I’m in Belize City zone. So I don’t see them much just Elder Mendenhall and Elder Winters. Some others too but I’m not sure you know them. =)

I love you all so much and I hope that you had a great Thanksgiving holiday.

Elder Sutton

PS: So put on the "to eat list when I get back"
1. Your cinnamon rolls
2. Your regular rolls with butter. =D
Love your hungry son,
Elder Sutton

Monday, November 21, 2011

Transfers!!!

Goodness! Today I have like a billion things to say to you and such a short time- like in Alyson and Wonderland (Alice in Wonderland). Haha - I’m sure that I didn’t spell that correctly. Well the first thing I’ll tell you are the big huge news. So this week was changes in the mission and yesterday President Cordon called me in the night time and told me he is going to send me to BELIZE!!!!!! Man, this Tuesday I have to be in the office and have all my stuff ready. So I only have today to pack. The thing is that I’m going to be in the area Belize City. So I think that’s good. But the bad is that I have to leave my comp and this amazing area behind. Seriously we are going to have some awesome baptisms in this area this month and the problem is that someone in Belize needs my help. Whomever that is? But I have to be there for Christmas. That’s the problem too. It’s very inconvenient for me right now. But it’s what the Lord says

I need to do, so now I have to do it. Right? But man, I’m going to miss Elder Diaz. We had so much fun these last days. Then all the people that I’ve gotten to know here and the people that have been baptized. I’ll miss them a lot. Who knows maybe it’ll just be hotter in Belize. But at least they play basketball.

Well supposedly they are going to have a thanksgiving thing here, but I’m sadly going to be in Belize so I’m not so sure what’s going to happen there. Or for Christmas for that matter. Then the package that you sent me.... Lots of questions huh? BUT I can only take 2 suit cases there so I’m going to drop off my small one with a member here that I can trust. =)

1 – Any words of wisdom &/or thankfulness you want to pass along to your “readers” (tis the season - hahaha)?

Well things I’m thankful for. Man I could go on for hours, literally... Well the first thing I’d say would have to be my family. Like all that they had to do so that I could have all these opportunities in my life. Seeing the people here and they just dream of all the opportunities that I had daily in the USA. That and the knowledge of the gospel that I have. How what I’m teaching the people here is the best thing that they could find in their whole life. Not because it teaches them how to earn more money, or just to find more food, cars, but it teaches them that it’s possible to be a good person and keeping the commandments of God and then do more, be happy and content with whom I am. Learn how to progress spiritually then physically. I don’t know, I just wish I would have had this knowledge before my mission. Ha-ha

2 – Have you done any fun/interesting service activities lately?

Any activities lately... well really nothing. We have been eating pizza the Mondays but really not a whole lot. Um - we have been sweating a ton but that’s nothing new. (haha) Even in the night time you wake up and I’m still wet from sweating while I’m sleeping.

3 – The ward choir sang today in church. Have you ever vocally performed in a sacrament meeting? (That would be fun!)

Well kind of, I have sung as a group for the choir like as missionaries but that and only for Pres. Eyring. That’s it. I really do like singing because I’m like a super star here because I can keep a tone. But really I think that I could bring the family here and we could sing on the corner and we’d be millionaires. Hahaha I love the people here but that isn’t the blessing they have received - musical training. =)

4 – Have you had any good soccer games lately? What else do you do on p-days?

Lately we haven’t been playing soccer. We have had to go to Santa Ana a lot recently and we don’t have time in the mornings to invite all the kids to go and play. And when we do play they show up and no one has a ball. But I’m slowly getting better. I still think I could beat Megan. =P

Well it’s quite the exciting week this week. The next time I’ll be in Belize if all things work out. But man I’m sure that I’m going to have to drink even more water or just die. hahah Because it’s tons hotter there then it is here. I think that I need to brush up on my English. Play blow the dust off my Spanish scriptures. (?) Man it’s going to be quite the experience. =)

Wish me luck.

Love Elder Sutton

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

New Family - Navas

DANG look at how great my family is. All the bishops knew that my family was the best so therefore they made you all talk! But this is like the first time that you have talked in church in quite a while huh, mom? How long has it been? But yeah, I think that my family is the best. My comp also spoke in church here. It was like missionary Sunday here to get the people helping us in the missionary work. =)

1 – You haven’t spoken too much about your companion only that he’s from Panama – what is he like & do you work well together? Are changes coming soon and will lose him?

Well my comp is ending the mission in February so that’s not going to be a lot of time left. I’m almost sure that we are going to be together for another change, but nothing is sure in the mission. He is from the capital of Panama. He loves to play sports mainly soccer and he is pretty good at it. We work soooo hard, he is actually a little down on the weather. But he likes comics which isn’t a problem - I like them too and we laugh a lot. He is the second missionary from his family and he got baptized when he was 11 years old. He thinks that Japanese girls are attractive and wants to marry a white girl or a Japanese.... Weird huh?... but he loves being serious with the elders and sisters in the zone but really he just puts on an angry face and then with me we just have fun. We are working hard in the sun and he says Panama is really hot too. Lots of gringos and lots of Chinese people, because of the Panama Canal. I told him when I’m presidente of the USA I’m going to invade Panama and make it the 51 state. (hahah - just joking.) =P . (Oh, by the way, we have another baptism for this Saturday with a kid named Carlos.)

2 – Do you still have the opportunity to play the piano in church?

No, sadly we have the stake president’s daughter to play. She isn’t good at all - just the right and the left hands play a basic cord, but I told her that she has to do it so that she can get better. Playing in front of the people is the best way to learn. THANKS MOM. =D

3 – Are you allowed to go over to the temple ever on your p-day or any other time?

Supposedly we were going twice in these last months before the new year, but we haven’t gone yet. There is a rule for us that we can only go 2 times every year because the temple is in the other mission..

4 – Have you been on any adventures (like when you went off to the volcano) since you’ve been in this area? Are there even any landmarks that are neat?

Adventures… I haven’t had yet... I feel like my area is an adventure because we just barely got more! So there used to be elders in my area and another area called Santa Emilia. The thing was that president took the elders out of Santa Emilia and told us to go there including our other area so we are running about a million miles an hour to try and cover them all. But Santa Emilia is really poor. Lots of houses made of bags and not a lot of people work.

5 – Were you able to get your pictures copied from your memory card by your friend? Are you saving them all to your hard drive? (We’ve only received pictures once since you’ve been there – you are still there ?.?.?) :P

Well I still haven’t gotten it back from him yet. I still need to pay him for the DVDs. But as soon as I have it I’m going to send it. JUST DONT LOOK AT THEM YET!!!!!! I want to do something cool with all my pictures when I get back and I don’t want you all spoiling the surprises of my pictures. =D

So this week we found lots of people and had lots in the church so if all works out how we plan it then we are going to do some baptizing. But we found a new family, Navas, and they are awesome. We have taught them like 4 times and as soon as we taught them about the Book of Mormon, the girl who is 17 took it to school to read it and she went to church with some of her family.

Well just so you know, grandma I did get your package with the lotion and cologne in it - thanks. And also I’ve gotten some dear elders from Emily and Carissa and I already sent off some letters to Amanda and other people in the family and friends. =) Cool huh?

But yeah, I love the mission. I know that I’m helping people out here to understand how to get the eternal life. It’s not hard to love them. The only hard thing is being in the right places in exactly the right time.

I love you all. I hope we all can receive the blessing that God has for us.


Elder Sutton

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

A Few Infirmities?

Good day, family of mine, back in the hills of Utah!!!

It really has been a while since I've been able to talk to you guys!!! So that’s really funny that someone has been saying stuff like that to you guys. But you should tell me who is saying it so that I can beat them up! (haha) As you know, I kind of got sick in church or something.... Not a huge deal or anything - I was just sick due to quite a few infirmities. =) They all combined to make me really dehydrated and then after that I got light headed in church. I DIDN'T FAINT! I just got light headed or something but man everyone really kind of freaked out.

So on Monday when I got back from the doctor, I got to baptize 6 people - our investigators (the Sanchez family and the Esquivel family). It was quite the coming home party! I love it. But really you need to tell me who is this elder or sister is. The gossip flies faster than the internet... haha

Man it sounds like Megan is going to do what Tasha used to do, or something like that. I can see her having a blast though! Plus she will be getting an income so she can buy her favorite brother a sweeeeeet cell phone when he gets back from his mission!!!!!! =D

KEITH IS BACK! Man, I feel like he just barely got out there!!! You’ll have to tell me how his talk is going to be and all the stories. Like he served in Russia right? Sounds like a tough mission, but Keith is an amazing guy. I’m sure that he baptized all the world of Russia.

Kyle Smith and Miles Penrod!!! Man that’s so cool that they are going on the mission! I love hearing people talk in Portuguese because they sound like Spanish with rocks in their mouth. I can understand it; just a few words change. But it’s awesome that Miles is going state side. He’ll baptize like 9 million people.

Kathy’s birthday huh? No one invited me to go to the party and have fun on a birthday. How was it? Did you all have tons of fun? I hope she had a great birthday!

BOX ELDER LACROSSE IS THE BEST TEAM EVER IN THE WORLD!!!!!!

So I did just get a little sick and all that jazz but I’m better. I need to drink more fluids.... Maybe if you guys could send me a cool water bottle for Christmas or something!!!!

Well I’m happy and I've learned my lesson and I’m going to drink more fluids.. Don’t worry mom. Thanks for caring about me =)

Elder Sutton

Monday, October 24, 2011

Snow in Heaven?

Well like you guys know I have been cut down really short on my writing time due to some changes in the mission by President Cordon so I don’t have much time to write you guys this week.

I have to send presidnte a report on some things in my area so I will just have to answer your questions really fast... I know that all my fans (mom included) are going to be really mad this week... =(

1 – How is the flooding situation coming along?

Well the thing with the flood, it only lasted 9 days so now it’s over and there is the scorching hot sun again. My comp is loving it because he is from a really hot country too. He talks about how it isn´t a Christmas without sun and I tell him that it isn´t Christmas without snow and then we get debating as to if there is snow in heaven. I´m sure there is. =P hahahah

2 – Did you buy yourself a new backpack yet?

That’s on my to-do-list today actually. I´m going to go look for the bargains and then the best because if I buy a bad backpack it won’t last long enough and then I’ll just end up buying another one in a few months again. So I’m going to do like my mom taught me and buy intelligently!!!

3 – What kind of things do you do on p-day now that everything is so so so wet? (Megan’s question)

That’s the thing... when it’s wet we don’t do anything. We’re Just inside the house and when we leave we run from building to building to try and not get any more wet then necessary.. Maybe we go to a little restaurant and eat inside. That’s about the only things that I can do when it’s raining…. but now it’s not!!!!!!!

4 – Kevin Tyler is home on leave and said he has written you 2-3 times & you haven’t written back…. Is he up in the night?

That would be a huge lie because I haven´t gotten anything from anyone over there. I thought that kid just fell off the face of the planet. Make sure that he is sending them to the right address. I want to talk to him and I can get the permission necessary.

5 – How was the baptism? Did it happen? What were the details?

Not yet but this weekend we´re planning on it... ahhh the time..

6 – Tell us about your new companion… he’s from Panama - yes, short?, speaks English?, his family?, how long has he been out?, you get along?, etc.

Well he is short and brown and he definitely is learning how to speak English with me but as of right now he cannot. But he has like 20 months in the mission so he is on the downhill, but he is a really hard worker. He has like 4 brothers and sisters and parents that are all members of the church and they are really great from what I hear. I think that he is the 3rd youngest and has 1 bro and 2 sis.

AHHHH if you only knew the rush I was in...

I love you all and I promise next week will be better for us..

LOVE ELDER SUTTON

Monday, October 17, 2011

Mini Flood

Well now that was something new seeing a picture of Megan in a dress with a new guy.. Someone needs to keep that girl on a leash because man, she is getting older and older. hahah =P Don´t worry, we all love Megan right? But man that really was a shocker to see her there in a dress and all that..... =/

Well my new comp is Elder Diaz!! He is from Panama. But this guy is super cool. I´m going to have so much fun with him – I am already. I've been with him less than a week but already things are going great. If all works out well and God blesses us we´ll baptize 2 families this next coming week. My comp used to be in Santa Ana in the old area I was in. It’s called Paraiso. He loves the Book of Mormon and he says it’s his life, food and his wife. =) But he is funny and I’m working on the pictures but today I didn't bring my camera..

Well it’s been raining a whole 7 days straight here. I believe it’s a tropical storm or something. Like all the rivers here have risen and people’s houses are falling apart. The problem is that they don´t make their bases of their house correctly! They just throw down cement on the earth, and so when it rains it washes everything away!!! But definitely everything I own is wet - all my shirts, shoes, etc. I’ve actually used my boots the most now! They work really well - thank you Bryant slash mom. =) But yeah the only way to have dry clothes is if I put a fan on them all night. The problem with that is that the light bill goes up like a crazy man.

But hey, what’s up with the family singing for the general authorities?? (Megan’s madrigal group is singing for the Pres. Monson the week after Thanksgiving.) I think it’s just a requirement to live in our house huh? So now only Amanda needs to sing for them. Wait, I think she already has right?

But what’s up with the losing streak that’s going on in Brigham City? Man, we need to change that – ASAP. I know that they can do it because they are the SUTTON FAMILY!!!!

Well actually I wasn't aware of Mimi Rex going on a mission? That’s some new information that I would have liked to know! But now that I know, it’s all good. But it’s not the same mission as Chris Darais, right? I know some elders here from California. They are usually really tall - taller than me. I wish I was tall like dad. Dangit..... =(

But Right now I don´t have any stories to tell you guys other then I’m pretty sure this is going to be the second mini flood in Central America. But you gotta love it. I´m actually cold here and I wore my sweat shirt sleeping a couple nights in a row. (hahaha) I think it was like 70’s or something – hahah. But yeah I love the rain and I love being wet. Let’s just hope that I don´t get sick. =D

LOVE Y´All!!!!

Elder Sutton

Thursday, October 13, 2011

I Love Where I Am

Man, so I’m not even joking when I say that I forgot what cold is. The only time I experience cold is in the mornings when I have to get my bowl of water and shower myself with that. The first time I throw water on my back, it’s definitely a shocker but I’m pretty sure that it’s warm water I’m just sooo used to being hot every day that I would die if I had to go back in December.. But the good thing is I’ll come back in the beginning of August so it’ll still be warm and I can gradually get used to the cold. =P

Question/Answer: So don’t you have an actual shower? Do you have to do pan baths or is there a nozzle that comes out of the wall?

Well we have like a little tub and a faucet that comes out of the wall, and then you get your bowl and have to pour it over your body. =P Kind of a weird experience but I’ve been doing it for like 3 months now... hahah

It sounds like Megan is doing amazing! Geeze - I wish I was there to see. But maybe my family will be loving enough to take photos or videos of it??=?!!!!!! But if they win, that would be the best news in Box Elder in a long time! So what position does Megan play again? Mid-field? I kind of am a ditzy bro and I forgot.

Well so here is the deal... I actually am still with elder Alonzo but they called us last night and told us that he has changes and so that I’ll be getting my new companion on Wed. Maybe if I’m lucky, tomorrow they will tell me who he is. But I’m really just content because: 1. I love this area and we work so hard; 2. I have a family that really supports me and gives me so much... and 3. I’m here learning what I need to so that I can be a better person... Really the mission has taught me more about myself and working then I thought could be possible. When I thought about the mission I thought, "hey that sounds like an adventure!!!!!" But little did I know how much it really is. Walking in the rain, we had a rain storm that the water reached up to the knees of the people here and my shins... and knocking lots of doors, trying to turn on my gringo charm so that they let us in their house. =P Convincing people that really God loves them and that they need to keep the commandments of God to be able to return to His presence after we die.

Well we did do an activity this week and if I do say so myself we had quite the success.. What my comp said was that he wanted to break a piƱata, so we used that idea and transformed it into an activity with water balloon volleyball and all that. We had a number of investigators come and participate. It was really awesome... Also, I don’t know if you remember a mother and daughter that I baptized a while ago, Leticia and Fatima, but they are really awesome this week they started talking to some organizations. After a while they got a hold of some wheel chairs to donate to people here in the community. So what we are going to do is invite the people to come and then after we are going to teach them in their house - an awesome way to get references. Also they got us some baptismal pants and a pair of church pants for my comp and I. They are really great.

Well I don’t know if you have any more questions? But I think I’m going to send ya’ll my letter. =)

Love, Elder Sutton

Monday, October 3, 2011

Immigration + Wendy's = Happiness

Well Family just so that you know, nothing really as exciting as last week has happened. Actually, during this week my companion has been complaining about pains in his side too; I highly doubt that it’s anything but if it is he will be the 3rd consecutive missionary that has had appendicitis in that same bed!!!! HAHAHA crazy huh?

But also I did remember the birthdays of the Ken Sutton and especially Megan, my not so little sister... Dangit - will someone just tell the world not to move anymore! I still remember when she was growing up and had the really crooked front teeth! I remember how excited she was to get braces; how she would go and play bunch ball in basketball and soccer....Where in the crap has that little girl gone? Just so you know, I’m not so happy with you right now Megan =(...... But…. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

But yeah I actually listened to conference in English this time. They set up a whole room for us to listen in English so I just decided what the hey, I’m going to listen in English. Just so you know we did keep our tradition of buying treats and drinks to have while they talked. But I don’t know, I felt like the conference went like 20 minutes... someone needs to tell the people to speak longer.. I guess I’ll have to wait until April. (My last conference here......)

hahah – Ronald Beltran!! If I’m not mistaken, he is from my first area and he is going back to Uruguay to finish his mission. He had to come home for a while (I don’t know why) and now he is going to finish!!!! That’s super awesome!!! I’m really excited for him.. =) (I had asked Derek what Ronald’s post said on his facebook: “el 10 de octubre me voy para la mission asi que no voy a estar por un rato!!”)

But hey I got another surprise package from mom this week!!! I got the coolest stuff inside including some really really really needed shoe insoles. Like my feet were hurting really bad so I threw them into my Eccos and now I’m feelin’ good. =)

Well I think it’s like story time or something now.. But I’m not so quite sure what to tell you guys. Well here is a baby story I can tell you. So last Tuesday we went to San Salvador to fix our immigration because I just barely completed one year in the country. Supposedly we have to do that every year. But we were there for quite some time and that’s not the best part. Afterwards we went and got in a taxi to go to the bus stop. And at that point I thought fast and asked the guy to take us to Wendy’s.... and the best news is we ate Wendy’s!!!!! I bought a double baconator... (It’s so hilarious to hear people say that in a Spanish accent.) Elder Reed and I ate that on the bus ride to our area. It was the best feeling of full I’ve had in a long time... We decided that we are so tall in the states because we get our proteins from real meat and not beans... hahah

I don’t know what else to really say... =( I love you all and honestly I pray for you every day.

I also thank you for helping me go on the mission :I I hope that these two years can be something I treasure for the rest of my life.

Elder Sutton