week 40 | well......time for another change!

Hey guys!

Happy late fourth of July. To be completely honest It was about one o'clock on Wendsday when another elder reminded me that it was the fouth of July hahahaha. I totally forgot about that. When you don't live in the United States anymore I guess I forget that stuff now ha. Happy Birthday America. I was wondering if the river raft was gonna be coming out soon! Im excited to hit the river again one day.

Well speaking of fireworks Im just going to get this thing started with a "bang". Haha that was for Brother Pettey. Haha. For a little context I've only been here in zona Molino for one change or six weeks. We received the change calls from the assistants and I have a CHANGE! I still honestly cannot believe it. Almost all the companionships of ZLs have changes which is crazy. So now I'm packing my bags again and hitting the road. Maybe I'm going to be going outside of the capital to open up a new zone or something who knows??? I really have no Idea whats going to happen. The mission just split so with the five zones here in the capital we received five more from the south mission. So It seems like president is sending alot of us over to the old south mission. 

Quick little note. At the consejo de lideres on tuesday I asked around from the ZLs in the south mission and Shaun Gondola is now here with me in the East mission! How crazy is that! Me and Shaun are in the same mission and Im pretty sure we are going to go home together now. Im excited to see him.

This week was just a rollercoaster ride. On Tuesday we went to leadership meeting which was so good. I always feel so inspired and motivated to change after these meetings. President Watts is inspired. I feel like I'm am just now beginning to understand the role and calling we hold as missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. I feel privileged to have been called to serve in such a sacred calling. I went on a division this week to Durazno this week. Its a little pueble just outside of the capital and way up on top of a mountain. Pretty cool area. Its all dirt roads and little lamina houses. They have a beautiful chapel up there that just sits in the middle of the pueblo. Wow its pretty breathtaking. Unfortunatly the branch and the missionaries have had some difficulties. Assistance is way down and the Elders haven't had any success. So I got the chance to go up and see what we can do to help them. I loved it! For some reason the following day Thursday and Friday were so hard for me. To be completely honest some days on the mission are just flat out difficult. I relied heavily on the power of prayer this week. Its hard for me to explain what makes some of these days difficult but it is. I know all missionaries can relate. The cool part is the hardest days or weeks in life usually teach us the most. The lord lifts and carries us when we cant go any farther. I have felt this countless times in my mission. Especially with leadership assignments we are given superhuman stamina to keep walking and to keep working as hard as we can.

I was so shocked to have a change. I feel like I just got to know all the elders and members here in the ward hahah. I think the hardest part is remembering all the names haha. In just six short weeks I have grown to love the people in my area. I feel so blessed to have seen so much success in this last six weeks. I am a little sad to leave. But I know that the Lord needs me somewhere else in the time of change in the mission. I have a feeling I might be going to Puerto Barrios which is on the east coast of Guatemala. A new zone is going to open up there! President Watts has always been full of suprises for me. I strive daily to always be worthy of his confidence and trust. 

One basic truth I have seen this week is the fact that our Father in Heaven loves us. Each and every one of his children. His greatest desire is that we continue to change and better ourselves. In this last conference President Uchtdorf stated " Your heavenly father knows that you will make mistakes. He knows that you will stumble- perhaps many times this saddens him, but he loves you. He doesnt wish to break your spirit. On the contrary, he desires that you rise up and become the person you were designed to be" I love those inspired words. I have so much to improve on. But I know that our loving heavenly father is there right beside us cheering us on as we struggle to improve and overcome the challenges of life. Use his atonement and make a list. Write down a short list of things you need to improve on spiritually. Pray and make a plan of action. Make your dreams and wishes a reality. I know that the Savior lives. He has restored his Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith. If you do not know this, pick up a book of mormon, read and pray. You will see the fruits of the restored gospel shine through in your life.

Have a great week guys. Who knows where im going to be on Wednesday  Not really looking forward to pack everything up so soon but Im excited! I love you all so much. Mom, Dad, Riley, and Zach you guys are the best hands down! My family rocks!

Love

Elder Hughes

Thanks for the money mom your the best ever! Im actually gonna get my suit made today I think and then get it sent to me wherever im at.

Love you guys so much. Keep having fun

week 39 | Oh yeah, the Fourth of July is this week!

Hey guys!

Its so nice to hear from you dad! Its pretty hot in Rocklin eh? I remember those summer days haha. First of all congrats to Sarina and Chrisian. Holy Moly I cannot believe she got married. Its kind of weird to see everyone all grown up on missions and getting married. Your awesome Sarina. You and Christian look great in your pictures. I guess you will have to pay me back someday for getting married while Im out on the mission hahaha. Wish I could have been there for sure. Riley league champs thats awesome. Tell Jeffery and Jamie good luck for me. I know exactly how they are feeling right now. But everything works out and the lord will help and support them throughout everything.

Well this last month and change has just flown by. Im not really sure where June went whew! It really is like a time bubble here in the mission field  I was just remembering that I went through the temple exactly a year ago hahah. We had another very busy week. With zone conference and baptisms! On friday we had our zone conference with Molino and Las Victorias. It went so well. President and Hermana Watts always help me out so much. The more I get into my mission and my personal conversion to the gospel the more I realize how much I need to change hahah. I spent some time after the conference setting some personal goals and trying to apply these changes into my life. The good thing is I get to see them at leadership meeting tomorrow with all the ZLs. So excited!

We were able to find some amazing new investigators this week. We found B and her son L. We found them from a member reference which is always the way to go. They have been so prepared by the Lord. I havent seen someone grab and read the book of mormon faster than her. Sometimes people really suprise us. I sure love the people here in Guatemala. I know that if we pray fervently to be filled with charity which is the pure love of Christ like it says in Moroni, the Lord will fill our hearts with sincere love for everyone. Hermana Watts is the greatest example of this. If I had to describe her and president in one word it would be Love.

H and V were baptized this saturday. Another one of those special moments on the mission. It has been amazing to work with them for the last month. The gospel has really blessed their lives. For two very young people they have had some big trials in their lives. I was talking with H in the bathroom while we were changing and he told me he felt something indescribable when he came out of the water. He said he felt like someone else was their with him. I had the oppourtunity to confirm him a member of the church the following day. Like you dad I wish you guys could meet these people. I hope that one day we will be able to come back to Guatemala and do just that.

I would like to share a quote really quickly from president Monson "When we have sampled much and have wandered far and have seen how fleeting and sometimes superficial alot of the world is, our gratitude grows for the privilege of being part of something we can count on, home and family and the loyalty of loved ones. We come to know what it means to be bound together by duty, by respect, by belonging. We learn that nothing can fully take the place of the blessed relationship of family life" I love all of my family and the ward family that I grew up in. My heart is filled with supreme gratitude for my loving Father in Heaven who has blessed me with such amazing family and freinds. Im not sure what I could ever do to repay him or my loving earthly parents. I hope we all can express this gratitute for what we have been given. And the best way to do that is to serve the lord and those around us. I Love my Savior. And express my deep gratitude for his atoning sacrifice.

Have an amazing week! So much love!

Elder Hughes

week 38 | Guats up family!

Hola mi familia!

¿Como les va? que es eso hay lluvia en Junio!

Hey guys! Wellllll its that day again. I hope your guys are doing well! Im glad you guys could watch some of the conference last night. All the Elders and Hermanas in the zone watched it together in the stake center. Wow how cool was that! Its amazing to see how much emphasis they are puttting on missionary work. We are living in an amazing time. I feel really blessed to be serving with 70,000 other Elders and Hermanas in the world. I felt the spirit strongly in all the talks and videos. With the upcoming changes with technology in the mission field we were pondering that with my companions. I think we will see some changes and enhancements but not sure. None of us have cell phones in the mission here just a house phone hahaha. It really would make things easier for communicating but who knows.

We had a very busy and active week here in Sion. Its raining everyday now hahaha. We had a storm come in and soak us this week. On Tuesday we returned from some morning appointments to eat lunch and it started pouring hahahah. I dont think I have ever seen it rain so hard in my entire life. Just about daily now we look up in the sky and huge dark clouds come rolling in. "Quick get the jackets out!!!!" 

 We had the oppourtunity to baptize F this week. She is amazing, one of the truest converts i have seen on the mission. She was so prepared and has just learned at such a fast pace. Unfortunatly her boyfreind who is in the ward couldnt baptize her so we asked her who she wanted. To my suprise she chose me! It is such an honor every time I get to lead someone down into the baptismal font and baptize. I feel incredibly grateful and honored to be a part of such a special moment. We spent alot of time getting things set up for her baptism Saturday night. Right when the first hymn started she began to cry... what a special day for her. There is no joy greater than to see a son or daughter of our heavenly father enter the waters of baptism. Sacrifice does bring forth the blessings of heaven.

We have had a tougher time finding some new people to teach. I have found it hard sometimes to balance the time we spend preparing and baptizing and finding new people. This week we are really going to focus in on finding with faith. We are preparing our last two fechas J and V to be baptized this next Saturday. J is 13 and V is 9. We have reactivated the family and are working with their father also. I have seen a huge change in both of them. When we started visiting them they had lots of contention and problems within the family. Its amazing to see how the teaching of the gospel directly effects families. I already love these guys so much!

Just like Taylor said a few weeks back I feel like the Book of Mormon writers when they say they could only write a hundredth part of what they saw and experienced. Its hard for me to describe the many experiences I have weekly here in the mission. We had our zone activity today which went well. We went to a bowling alley by the temple. I actually bowled a 173 hahaha. All that bowling in Wisconsin is still paying off hahahaha. I am really excited for this coming week. We are going to have zone conference on Friday! Im a little nervous because I have been assigned to teach with Elder E one of the assistants about how to teach with inspired questions hahaha.

I was reading the Conference edition of the Ensign this week. I loved the talks by Quentin L Cook and Richard G Scott about finding peace in our homes and in our personal lives. Elder Cook stated " Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are and knows that we have faith in him, love him, and keep his commandments" I know that when we live simple pure gospel principles true internal peace is found in this busy world. Prayer, daily scripture study, and living the commandments of the Lord qualify and purify us. Where can I turn for peace? We can always turn to the savior. Through him is found the only true and lasting peace. 

I love you guys! Have another great week! Mom I loved your thoughts about the June Ensign. I also read that article by President Uchtdorf. I pray for you all daily!

Love 

Elder Hughes

week 37 | what's up?

Hey guys!!!!!

Happy one day late fathers day DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad you guys are doing well. Mom I loved the pics of girls camp hahahaha. Loving the get up too! You guys are just so awesome you know that. I was shocked at how tall Zach has gotten in that picture with his scout uniform on Holy Moly! Riley and Zach look like they are just getting so much bigger ha. I think I might be shrinking hahaha. I have definetly lost weight here. I exercise every morning so im trying.

Well starting off with fathers day! Actually they celebrate Fathers day today here in Guatemala so Im not too late hahaha. Dad I was really thinking about you this week. I cannot not tell you how much you mean to me. I thank my Father in Heaven daily for the earthy father I have been blessed with. Dad your constant example of love, patience, and hard work did not go unnoticed. When people ask me who my heroe is It has to be you! Thanks for always spending quality time with me and really listening. I have to say my favorite memories were the times we would go on a drive and just talk! Thats probably one thing I miss most on the mission. Dad I love you! I feel so proud to be your son and I strive daily to be an example of both the names on my missionary nametag. One is Jesus Christ and the other is Hughes. I look at my name tag everyday before I put it on. Your soooooo awesome DAD! Never forget it. I pray for you daily and I am so happy to know that in a short time we will be able to go on another drive and talk! WoooooHoooooo! Happy Fathers Day!

I have had a hard time finding some big thing to write about this week. Sometimes weeks in the mission seem like a huge blur of alot of the same stuff. Theme of this week.....The Lord answers prayers. I had a few tough days this week as thoughts and feelings of inadecuesy( I cant remember how to spell in english ahhhhh), and self doubt. I have been praying for some help and support. On about three seperate occasions this week I found it. As the gentle calming voice of the spirit whispered "dont worry you are right where I need you". I know and testify of this simple truth. Our father in heaven answers prayers. When we ask in faith we will always recieve an answer. It might not come exactly when we want it but it will come. The Lord works on his timetable not ours.

We have continued to work with F. Wow she is so ready to go. We taught her all the commandments this week which went well. She has stopped drinking coffee completely and just loves the Ward. We are getting things all set up for her baptism on the 22nd! This next week is going to be a busy one. We are going to be running around doing baptismal interveiws for the other areas in our zone. As a zone we have thirteen baptismal dates set for the next two weeks! Elder S and I are trying to do everything we can to help the Elders reach their goals!

Crazy story of the week.... Randomly walking down a street the other day. Some guy just came running strait at us full speed. It literally all happened in like three seconds.  He had a bottle raised over his head just charging at us. It really suprised me but not one of us moved an inch. He got right up to us and just fell to the side and ran away. Hahaha. Super weird. Its really weird to me but as a missionary I have never been scared here. Im not exactly sure why. Missionaries do receive protection that I know to be true. Sorry mom if that was too graphic, your gonna have to tell me if you want to hear stories now or after the mission hahahah.

If I remember right I think Sarina is getting married this week. I might be wrong. Tell her I say hello and congratulations! Wish i could be there.

Well Im out of time. Have a great week everyone. I love this work! There is nothing better than helping and serving others. I love you all. Mom, Dad, Riley, and Zach. Enjoy the summer days baby!

Love 

Elder Tanner Hughes

 Tanner's new dwelling!

week 36 | Sion!

Hola familia!

Hey Riley, Zach, Mom, and Dad! So nice to hear from you guys. I love mondays too mom! That sounds like some crazy heat there in Rocklin Whew! Shout out to Scott Pulsipher and Jordan Mayne. How insane is that same mission same day wow! That puts all of us in the mission field now. I love that group of guys I grew up with. 

Have fun at girls camp Mom! Get pumped. hahaha. Im sure your going to have a great week with them. Scout camp and girls camp makes a big impact on the lives of the youth. And the leaders have a big role in that. Enjoy it and be sure to send some pictures down here to Guatemala.

Well Im just going to start with your list of questions for me hahahah.

How is it where I live? We live on the second story of a normal house here. I will send you guys some pictures next week. Its nice, not very big so with three people here can be a little tight but I like it. We have cold showers hahaha. At first that was hard for me here in Guatemala but now its pretty normal. I just have to flex and man up before I run beneath the water hahahah. "WHOOO" pretty cold.

How is the area different? It is alot smaller and compact. I really like that part. Instead of waiting and taking busses all day we do alot of walking between appointments. I like working closer to the Bishop and Ward mission leader here. They really support us which is nice. Alot of the difficulties remain the same though.

Companions? I love my companions! Elder S is great. We are developing our relationship more and more. Elder C is good. A little different but I love him. Im not sure how much longer he will be with us though.

Resonsibilities of a ZL? There are alot of them haha. Basically if any of the elders or hermanas have a big problem or occurrence they call us. We oversee and direct the work in the Zone. We do alot of divisions where we travel and work with the elders in their areas. Its definetly alot of work. I am pretty beat right now hahaha But I love it. I just really try and support, love, and ecourage the missionaries. Thats really what we all need in life anyway!

Some highlights this week. On Tuesday we got up at four in the morning to go to something called "conselio" or leadership meeting. We have this meeting every month in the mission. All the Zls in the mission come to President and Hermana Watts house for training. I loved it. We go over some of the problems and news in the mission and then President and the Assistants adress us. The meeting the month before Elder Martino of the Seventy came. So on tuesday we skped him and reported all the accomplishments we had the month before. He set some big goals for us. In the mission we baptised 127 people in the month of May! He set new goals with us and informed us we will be coming back for the next meeting on the second of July ahhhhhh. Well we need to baptize 15 people in our zone this month hahaha. The coolest part is after we all go up to where president and hermana Watts live to eat a homecooked meal from Hermana Watts. Oh my goooooodnesss It was like going up into heaven for an hour hahahah. The best meal Ive had in my mission hands down! And we all get a little taste of home when were up there. It was so hard to leave hahahah. This was the last conselio for Mission Norte. The mission is literally splitting in a week or two. Poor hermana watts was crying when the elders from the new coban mission left :(.

We then as Zone leaders have a zone meeting every month where we teach and adress the whole zone. I was pretty nervous! We had our meeting on Thursday morning with everyone. I really tried to animate the zone. Getting everyone focused on our goals and our personal conversion as missionaries. I am definitely not the most experienced missionary. I cant say Im the greatest teacher or finder in the mission. But I try and have hope and enthusiasm in all that I do. We only have one mission. So we need to take advantage of every day.

To end the week we had a Baptism! C got baptised. We spent most of the morning cleaning the church and getting ready for the baptism. All went really well. Its nice when we can get everything planned and taught so that our ward mission leader directs the meeting. A member baptizes  And everthing is ready. So all we had to do was sit, watch and enjoy. We have our investigator F who is looking so good. She is getting ready for the 22nd of June!

Whew! this week has been a little nuts. With meetings, divisions, baptisms, and alot of other little problems hahah. Being here in Molino is going to be yet another big learning experience. The lord always knows how to stretch and teach us. I am so grateul for the oppourtunities I have been given to serve. I love that word SERVICE. We did not come to this world to be served. But to serve others. I have come to understand on my mission what real missionary service is. We do not need a nametag, a calling, or an invitation to serve. Every member of the church has a duty to serve. We all made a promise with our heavenly father that we would do so. Just read in Mosiah chapter 18. At the end of the day when we all stand before our Father in Heaven all the callings, jobs, and recognition we receive in the world and in the church will ALL be secondary to how much we have loved and served our fellow man.

This week just flew by! Im glad to hear summer is getting started with all the kids out of school. Enjoy it! I love you all so much. All my friends and family back home. I pray for each one of you. Have  a great week!

Love 

Elder Hughes

Hermana Watts

with Elder G!

a very large bug!

 all the Zone Leaders

week 35 | Wow, a week of change!

Hey Guys!!!!!

Well coming at you guys today from my new area in Los Preyectos Zona 6! So glad to hear you guys are doing well and enjoying time with Friends in Rocklin. All that food is making my mouth water. I think I have forgetton what American food tastes like hahaha. Well this week was a little busy to say the least. On Wendsday morning I headed out to change conference where I was informed Im going to be the new Zone Leader in Molino. AHHHH I was pretty shocked. My new companion is Elder S, he is from Mexico. The stake center where we have change conference is the Molino stake center so I didnt move very far from the conference.

It was pretty weird for me at first changing areas. I know Llano Largo like the back of my hand but I felt so lost at first. The thing with all the streets and adresses here is there is no order to it hahaha. You just have to learn by sight and experiece. I feel really humbled and excited to be a ZL. It comes with lots of responsibilities and extra things to do haha. President told the four new ZLs in an interveiw that we have to be perfect and the mission and missionaries cannot surpass the leaders. If we need to improve and have more success it starts with us. Whew! 

A little bit about my new area. Its called "sion" or zion in english haha. Right now im actually in another trio. We have Elder C with us. He is waiting for his visa to go to Peru and has had some issues so far in the mission so he is with us for a while. I love my new area. It's alot smaller than Llano Largo which I like because it seemed like we lost alot of time walking taking busses between lessons. Where we live its pretty calm and quiet. The bishop and about seven member families live really close to us so that is way nice! Our ward Mission leader Z is AMAZING! He was baptized a year ago in one of the coolest conversion stories Ive ever heard. He is a huge help to us here always leaving with us! He has a wife and a little two year old daughter. Im really excited about the area. Lots of members are active and strong in the church.

I will stay here in the new Mision Guetemala Este with President and Hermana Watts so im pretty excited about that!

We have three investigators here that are progressing well. We have a baptism planned this next Saturday for a woman named C. she is the only non member in her family. After working through a few problems this week looks like she will be baptized this coming Saturday! F is another one. She is a reference from her good freind in the ward. She is progressing and learning very quickly. We taught her the second lesson my first night here! And Lastly E, Love this guy. His wife D is a member and they just had their first child about a week and a half ago. We got them all to church on Sunday! I am excited to keep helping these people progress and receive the many blessings their father in heaven has in store.

Oh and O from Llano largo was baptized and confirmed this last weekend. AHH of course three days after I leave hahahahah. I was so excited to hear that. Elder M baptized him too!

I really feel like im turning a new page on my mission. I have spent a little time reflecting and looking for ways to improve. I love the concept that we can change and improve. In reality we are always changing and becoming someone new. Yet we can either change deliberatly or accidentally. Thats our choice! I love this gospel. I know that this church is true. And I love to be a missionary!!! The savior loves each and every one of us personally. I have been a witness of the purifying power of the atonement. Its real and people can and do change. Through our works and the power of Christs Atonement we can become so much greater. I love my Family and freinds so much! Have a great week!

Much Love

Elder Hughes

week 34 | Big News!

Hola familia! 

I loved all the pictures Mom! I didnt even think about it being memorial day.....Santa Cruz, Ziplines, Giants games. That's how the Hughes family does vacation right there. I talk about you guys and California all the time down here. What a privilege we have to live in such a beautiful state. Big shoutout to Grandpa Val on winning the Utah, Senior Amaetur. Love you grandpa I even pray for your golf game down here. Even though all of yours should be directed towards mine for when I get back hahaha. Just have the docs put in the newest bionic shoulder and your gonna come back better that ever! I got a letter from the Harless' thanks! I love you guys.

Its change week sooooooo drumroll everyone................... I am going to have my first change in the feild!! My suitcases have sat in the back corner of my house for six months haha. Time to clear off all the dust. Im going somewhere else hahaha. They dont tell us where we are going on change nights. So I will find out on Wendsday morning at change conference. I do know that im not going to be training but thats about it.

Thats the big news from this week. It really feels weird right now. Llano Largo feels like my home and its hard for me to image walking around in some other place hahahah. I have been incredibly blessed in my first area. With companions, members, and many many great memories. The mission is like ripping a bandaid off over and over again. You get attached to your companions, members and investigators and then it all changes. I feel really excited to turn another page in my mission and continue to learn, grow and help others. For my "kids" Elder L has a change which really suprised me. Elder M is going to stay in Llano largo. I am really not sure at all whats going to happen. There are so many options for me. This change is really big because in a couple weeks the mission is going to split. Honestly I want to stay here in the Capital with President and Hermana Watts but we will see! But im good with anything. I really just want to go where the lord needs me doing his work. 

Someone left the sink on up there in the States because it is starting to rain ALOT! hahaha. We are definetly into the winter time now here. Im getting used to wet feet and being really wet hahaha. The rain really makes Guatemala even more beautiful. Everything is turning really green and the clouds sit really close to us. Guatemala is Beautiful!

I got my comps up early on Wendsday to go on a RUN! We ran for Heidi. I remember going on runs with her in the winter time. Heidi is always in my heart and thoughts here. And im definitely going to go on a run every 22nd for the rest of my life hahahah! Love you Greenwood family. I continue to pray for you guys.

The work seemed slower this week. Alot of fallen citas and missing members but thats the mission hahah. I really saw this week how the lord blesses us after we push through the trails and problems. I think I have mentioned to you guys an investigator named O. We reached a point in the process where we told him "O you have to get your own answer" We challenged him very clearly to pray with real intent, in a quiet place. Asking the lord if you need to take this step of baptism. He answered us a few days later. These moments always scare me hahahah But he told us he got his answer and he wants to be baptized this next Saturday. Music to every missionaries ears hahahah. We were also able to set another baptismal date with Alex this week. A young guy we found from contacting a few weeks back. The Lord continues to bless us here. It is REALLY hard to leave these people this week. 

Dont have much time but just want to share a quote I saw this week. "God does notice us and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore it is vital that we serve one another." Spencer W Kimball. I have seen this truth in my life. The Lord has surrounded me with so many amazing people. Family, freinds, teachers, mission presidents and other missionaries. The Lord watches over all of us. This I know to be true. Sometimes we just have to stop and look around to see it.

Love you guys! This week is going to be CRAZY!  I had a hard time sleeping last night. But Im so excited to see what the Lord has prepared for the next stage of my mission. I love this work! And I love all of you.

Until next week in a different area ahhhhhhhhhhh!

Love 

Elder Hughes