I Love You All!!!

July 24, 2012

Dear Family....

I just have one scripture for you all….

3 John 1:13-14.

I love you all!

Elder Sutton

P.S.  We had a baptism last week!  It went great!  Thank you for the prayers!!!

We really needed them.

The Battle's Never Over

July 17, 2012

It sounds like you had quite the great anniversary this last week and I didn't even know that dad was such a romantic guy?  I have to write that down so that when it happens to me I’ll give my wife some roses.  Plus now dad can look good in some nice sun glasses and mom can watch her "grey's anatomy" (p.s. I don't even know if you still watch that show..)  And you went to Olive Garden too?  I remember that was the last place we went right before I went into the MTC.  Great food, huh?  Soup Salad and bread sticks.

It sounds like the group of missionaries is all coming back that went out with me.  It seems like I’m the last one to be coming home?  Skyler, Damon, Chris, Jared etc...  Man it’s alright, I guess, "last the best of all the game" right?   haahah - just kidding guys.

From what I understand, Tyler is coming back and he is going to make some phone calls or try and see if he can stay back a few more days but it’s all up in the air. I'm not sure.  He has to be back by Saturday but who knows.  He says that he can hang out with us for a while.  I hope so... BUT one of my mission buddies is going to be married on the 3rd.  He is going to be having his reception at like 6.  I would love to go to that but if not he'll understand.  Maybe I could bring you all with me or something... Too many things are happening and my missionary senses are making me need to plan it all out... haha

So there actually are a lot of us are going home at the same time and we're going to be all in the airport at the same time.  I think that we all go to Dallas at the same time and then from there we all split up.  But there are lots of us.  I'll try and take a picture of all of us when we're there so I can show you.  But that’s not for a few weeks so don't worry yet.

So our adventures of the week... Let me see...

Well actually went to LAMANI again!!!  It was really great actually. it’s really nice to be able to relax and be able to have some fun with the elders so that we don't just pass around like robots. But as usually it’s always breath-taking to see all that the Mayan people could do.  They started inhabiting Lamani from about 500 B.C. until like 1800 A.D, if I’m not wrong, so it’s one of the longest inhabited Mayan ruins in the world!  It is always beautiful when you go up in the forest and out of nowhere you see a giant Mayan temple.  But we all as a zone went and were able to hang out for a few hours.  I really enjoyed it even though it was a long ride - like almost 2 hours out there!

Also this Saturday we're going to have a baptism of a girl named Sherraine!  I'm really excited because we've been praying and fasting for this to happen.  Just like D&C says, every souls is precious in the eyes of God.

But apart from all the things that have been happening today it has been kind of a hard week for me.  Not because I didn't want to work or I'm getting "baggy" but that I’m learning some of the hardest lessons.  How hard we have to work and how small we each are in the whole aspect of it all.  The only thing that makes us successful is that we have the Lord on our side.  If not, it would be the whole world against us.  The Lord does things in his own time and in his own ways.  All we can do is try our best to help us all along in the process.  Do all that I can to be the best "tool" that he has.  In the words of Pres. Packer, "Life is not easy or simple; it never was meant to be."  

God really does love me. I know that what I’m teaching is what he has sent me here to do.  That even though I was called by a prophet I know he was inspired by God to send me here.  I love you all and I hope that you all keep working just like I am.  The battle's never over.

Love Elder Sutton

4th of July in Belize

July 10, 2012

Man that was such a surprise to see all that you wrote this week!  This was one of the longest letters that I think that I’ve gotten my whole mission!!!  But the best thing is that the whole thing is packed full of cool stuff that is going on. This is how your weeks should always be!  Full of fun stuff!!!

Well, let me tell you all a little about what we did here for the 4th of July. When I got up I think that my companion was the first person that told me happy 4th of July.  But actually throughout all the day people in my area were telling us about it. It’s funny how everyone knows about the independence day of the United States of America.  But the best thing is that at night one of the members here, the Swift family, invited us over to eat and she said that she cooked us "all American food".  So we ate fried chicken, KFC style, and Mashed potatoes, salad and Jell-O!  So I ate a lot there.  I didn't even eat breakfast the next day because I still was really full after all of that food!  Other than that nothing else really happened. =/  We just were out there working hard!

Speaking of talents - over the weekend I was sent up to Corozal to work there for a few days and see what damage we could do there.  So my companion stayed here in Orange Walk and I went up there with Elder Flores (from Honduras) and we worked and just for the record every time that I go there it rains.  But they had been going months and months without anyone who could play the piano for them.  So I did that and it was really great.  That is just one of those gifts that just keeps giving and giving.

HAHAH - I know that I’m not supposed to laugh or anything but Chris and Damon have to wait like a week to be set apart!  That kind of stinks.  I could imagine them going and finding you up in Wyoming and getting set apart there.  But at least I don't have that problem. Someone should talk to him (the Stake President) about my return date so he doesn't plan any crazy vacations or anything. =)

Also, Happy Anniversary tomorrow parents!!!  I remember the good old 7-11 stores.  Actually a few days ago we were talking about that, my companion and I.  But yeah those are good.  Here there are some things like it but it isn't the same.  There is nothing that can replace a Slurpee.

Well any more special news?  Well there is a group of youth from the states that have come down to work here on a school right?.?.? (I think)  They had a great family home evening with a family we are teaching.  I hope that it will help us.  But I know that with a lot of prayers and with a little blessing, we're going to help them out.  If they don't get baptized with me here right now I'm not a failure.  I just will know that It wasn't time right this second.  But always with constant prayers something good is going to happen.

Also, we're going to Lamani again this Tuesday.  Supposedly.  This is our 4^th attempt to go.  But I hope that when I go I can take a few more pictures and pick something small up for some of the people back home......  Maybe.... hahah

The last thing is that we played some basketball with the Corozal elders yesterday and apart from getting even more sun burnt I schooled them!!!  We were only 3 because the other elder didn't want to play but we played 21 and all three times we played I won.  So just so you know I haven't lost everything. =)

Well I have to go and eat something and then I'm heading off to Belize City again for a few days.  Sounds like a lot of traveling huh?  I know...  But being obedient isn't always easy right?  haha

Love you all and have a great week!!!!

Elder Sutton

Respect the President :)

Buenos Tardes Familia

So I think that things are really different here then they are in good ol’ Utah.  Man I heard even down here about all the wild fires that are burning through the West up there.  EVEN THE PEOLE DOWN HERE HEAR THAT!  So this must be big news.  At least my house is ok.  Right?

Man it sounds like Megan is going to be good and skinny when I get back.  Well she has always been skinny.  (Haha)  Maybe I’ll go with them and I’ll do some running just to get into shape even that quicker.  I've got it planned out - I'm going to get up and lift weights and then lacrosse practice and then after I’m going to soccer practice and at night running again.  If I don't die then I’m going to be in the best shape of my life!!!  (haha)

So I really don't know anything about this trek thingy.  All I know is that you go out with your hand-carts and you have to live like they did.  I imagine that you go out and you can have some spiritual nights and things like that but what else do you do?  Even though I grew up in Utah, I didn't get the sweet experience of going out and living under the stars!  Is there like cooks?  Do you get to eat beans and corn bread?

Ok, so here is the scoop!  I have been talking to Tyler and he says that he is coming home and that he doesn't leave until like the 3rd or something like that.  I told him that I’m coming home on the 2nd so that we'll have like a day to hang out before he has to go back.  I told him that I’ll probably have family things to do but that I’m just going to drag him with me, if that’s ok?  I don't know how often I’ll get to hang out with him.  I hope that’s ok.. =)  But don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you family.

Also, here is the next scoop. They are sending out the missionaries on Tuesdays.  I talked to the zone leaders and they said that they don't send them out on Monday but they send and receive missionaries on Tuesday.  So sadly I’ll have a lot of running around to do.  HOPEFULLY I’ll be able to go to the temple in San Salvador too. They said that usually missionaries get to go there also on their last day.  I'm not too sure how certain that is.  So if I’m not wrong, it’s going to be a packed day. I'll do my best to get everything done that I can. =/

I saw that it was Jennifer's Birthday on the 3rd!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

Eat some cake for me and a giant thing of ice cream!!!!

This week was pretty sweet!  We saw this huge policeman throw this other guy in the back of their cop pick-up like a bale of hay!  That was cool!  Even President Cordon came over to our apartment and checked things out, and he said that it was clean but that we needed better stuff in it (mirror, couches, etc..)  But it’s always great to have President in our area and this was the first time that he has ever entered into my house!!!!!!

FUNNY STORY!

Ok so when President Cordon came, he came to do some interviews for people that were going to serve missions.  There were two boys there with their baggy clothes and hats on and the worst of it all was when President came by, they didn't stand up or take off their hat or anything like that...  “Mistake number one...”  The second mistake was they decided that they didn't want to shave either.....  “Mistake number two...”  So what President had us do was go buy some razors and right there he made them shave in the bathroom!!  So funny and then to top it off, he took a picture of it!!   I had to write fast I hope that story made sense... =/

I got to head back up to Orange Walk... right now we're in Belize City!

So I’m really thankful for your prayers and your love!

LOVE - Elder Sutton