Feliz Navidad!

Buenas noches mis amigos!  Espero que todos de uds. tenian una buenisimo Navidad :) I had a great Christmas!  It was a little stressful because of the internet situation.  First theres only one person in our ward who had a computer and he was hard to find!  Then on Christmas day everyone that had a computer in the area was trying to use it so I kept calling my family on Skype and the calls kept dropping!  But finally after about 3 stressful hours it worked and I talked with them for a long time!

Talking to my family was absolutely amazing.  Just seeing all their faces for the first time in 4 months was incredible!  I originally called on the telephone Christmas eve night and my mom didn't know but I was just calling to set up a time for the next day to skype.  I won't forget how my mom answered the phone!  She was just so excited to hear my voice and I was too haha. We both were tearing up pretty good just for a short phone call.  But skyping was fantastic. I got some solid gifts...a blow up deer (yes a lifesize deer) for the house with a target and a nerf gun to "keep up my redneck skills" while Im gone.  It was pretty dad gum funny. 

Sam's Christmas selfie sporting his new tie and tie clip.

Christmas night was probably the second worst night of the mission to be honest (after my first night in the field when i was locked out of the house in the freezing rain and yeah y'all know the story).  It was super hard.  But I prayed super hard and again was blessed because I woke up the next morning and felt like normal!  

Me and Elder C went right back to work the next day and I feel like we maybe had our best week teaching wise thus far.  Weve had about 4 investigators that we originally didn't think much of start to really progress and came to church as well!  One in particular is an "antique" investigator that has been through every set of missionaries since about a year and a half ago only to debate and say whats wrong with our church.  We had an amazing talk with him and he finally began reading the Book of Mormon and everything has changed.  He came to church and it was great! 

I gave another talk in church this past week as well which I think went super well.  It was just on simple faith, but it went great.  In Ether 12 (in the BoM) the word faith, I counted, is mentioned 34 times.  Its an amazing chapter .  Verse 4 gives an example: faith is our anchor.   I talked about how our ship is made up of all different types of Christlike attributes and hope and charity and everything!  But our anchor is faith.  And the greater and bigger and stronger our anchor, the less affect the storms and temptations and hardships in our lives have on our ship.  

So my invitation this week is to read Ether 12 because its one of, if not my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon! 

Anyways hoped you all had a great Christmas!  I think my mom made an album on my facebook if you wanna see all my pictures from the mish thus far.  

Texas Forever 

Elder G

Ether 12:4  "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."

Christmas Eve service project

Finally getting Skype to work!!!

Christmas with friends!

The Week Before Christmas...

Well interesting final week before Christmas and a good one! I got punched in the back of the head by some boracho (drunk) in the street.  I hadn't said anything or looked at him but he whacked me haha I saw him run off.  Theres literally tons of cops on every corner of Limon and it happened right in front of 3 of them literally 10 feet away, and they just watched and did nothing. I kinda threw my arms up and said why don't you do your job right? I was ticked off but apparently it's a big problem in Guatemala and latin america in general.  Tons of cops that don't do much.  Whatever! haha

I cant believe the Mavs got Rondo.  And the Cowboys flippin won the NFC East its almost like I'm a bad luck charm.  If either of them end up winning the whole thing I think that would be the worst and best thing to ever happen... mixed feelings mixed feelings haha

Anyway I'm gonna keep this letter short Im whiped out but I wanted to share just a little bit.  Elder C is my companion and has been my whole time in the field. We were getting along decently in the beginning but we would get in fights from time to time.  To be straight up not trying to be a jerk, but yeah every time it was his fault we were fighting hahahaha and he knew it and knows it.  Ive been super relaxed with him and he just has trouble with his anger sometimes.  About 3 weeks ago we got in a big fight.  I was pretty down and prayed for about an hour straight just asking Heavenly Father to help me get through these last few days until the next change on Jan, 6.  Well Heavenly Father has more than answered my prayers!  Me and C are great friends and getting along great and Im really glad that we get to spend Christmas together.  

He's had a tough life.  He lives with his grandma because his dad left him when he was young and his mom paid a coyote to take her to the U.S. when he was 7.  They still talk but don't have much of a relationship.  He's mentioned a few times how hes sad hes not getting anything for Christmas. But because I have the most amazing mom in the world she sent him some presents in my Christmas package and i seriously cant wait to give em to him.  He doesnt know that by the way. hahah Anyway I'm just super excited to give em to him because I know hes gonna be really happy!  

And I'm gonna be freakin happy cause ya boi gets to talk to his family in 2 days!!!!!!

I'm just having a great time right now and December has been great.  I thought i was going to be pretty homesick but thanks to my buddies in the mission and the people weve been teaching I've had a lot of fun.  I kinda understand why its hard for people to go home now.  I'm definitely going to be excited to go home no doubt about it, but there will be a lot of things that I will miss about the mission.   

Short letter.  But just want to wish y'all a Merry Christmas from the big G :) I love all of y'all and hope you enjoy and cherish this Navidad with your families.  

One love!

Elder Gurksnis

P.S. I didn't have time to get back to everyones emails today but i will next week :) I wanted to thank everyone who sent me an email this week! Merry Christmas!

Find a way, make Him room, let Him in.

Soild week!  We continue to work hard.  Ana Lusia who was our most progressing investigator moved to a different zone :( but we got her in contact with the missionaries in the other area so I hope she continues to progress.  Right now we don't have a ton of solid investigators were doing a lot of searching.  This week we found a bunch though and a lot of families!  

We also got to go to the temple today and it was awesome!  Everything you do in the mission is just a whole different experience in that you're normally so close with the spirit and you just pay attention to everything more and its easier to learn and everything.  For example I think I mentioned it back then but General Conference in October was so great just because i was so focused on everything being said and learned and felt the spirit so much.  Its the same with the temple.  Its such a spiritual experience everytime I go!  

We had interviews with President Crapo this past week.  It was short only about ten minutes long because obviously he has 250 missionaries to interview this week, but it went great.  He's a really solid mission President and I respect him a ton.  He kind of helped me with what I was talking about last week with the question "who do we baptize?"  He said essentially its crucial that we have faith.  We read D&C 20:37 which is basically the "standard" for baptism for lack of a better word.  We are all commanded to be baptized.  But again if we don't endure to the end and don't continually keep the covenants we make at baptism, our baptism doesn't mean anything.  But this scripture says (off the top of my head because its not in front of me) if one comes to the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit having truly repented of all their sins then they are ready and willing, it's our job as missionaries to look upon our investigators with more faith and less critically.  He used the phrase, "with eyes open more with the love of the spirit", and i loved that.  It helped me a ton!  

I feel like the greatest thing that my mission has done for me by far is I feel I have truly come to know the love of Christ.  I'm constantly comforted by Him in prayer and scripture study.   I just feel so close to Christ and continue to feel His love stronger and stronger.  This Christmas season is truly amazing and so different on the mission.  Obviously I'm so much more focused on the meaning of Christmas rather than all the other distractions.  One thing I've been doing in our lessons a lot this month is sharing the picture of Christ knocking on the door with no handle on the outside.

One Christmas song that I love says, "find a way, make Him room, Let Him in."  Christ's door is always open to recieve us even when we have sinned, because thanks to Him, we can always repent.  It is our job to let Him into our lives.  He is constantly knocking in different rhythms and tones trying to find the right one that will get you up to answer.  Find a way.  Nothing is more important than He. Make Him room.  He will comfort you and love you in a way that you have never felt before.  Let Him in. He is always knocking.  That's my invitation for the week :) And remember why we have this amazing holiday!

I'm so grateful for my Savior and His love for me.  Although I miss my family, I will continue to share this amazing message we have with all.  For, "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light." (Luke 11:33)  

Merry Christmas!

Elder Gurksnis

He is the Gift...

Howdy everyone!  Yes I hit day 100 in 2 days so only 630 left to go ;) 

I know my letters are getting shorter and shorter but its just because mission life gets more and more normal.  haha.  And some of the stuff that's not so every day in the states is just day to day stuff to me now.  BUT we did have a great week!  We baptized Maryuri M on Tuesday which was a bit of a surprise because she originally wasn't going to be baptized until late December but we visited her that day and she said she couldn't wait anymore and her mom agreed!  It was so awesome. 

She's another great baptism who i know will stay active in church.  That's one thing I've learned.  One thing that bugs me about the mission is numbers and stats.  They're necessary because President needs to know who's working and who's being a chambon (lazy).  But some missionaries get caught up with the numbers.  Some baptize those who aren't ready and who aren't going to endure to the end after their baptism and I don't want to be one of those missionaries.  Because if one doesn't endure to the end, their baptism doesn't mean much.  I think 2 Nephi 31 20 ish in the Book of Mormon?  ("Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.  Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.") Not sure but I do know that even though I may have less baptisms at the end of my mission that I'm not going to baptize anyone unless Ive prayed really hard about them and know that they re going to change and not just be baptised but truly have a change of heart.  Because this gospel is a lifestyle!  Not just something you can say and it be fine, you have to live it.  One great thing Ive learned on the mish.

One (kinda) funny thing that happened this week was I left a shirt on the floor for like 2 days and didn't see it.  It was absolutely destroyed by rat poop and urine :)) Hope it was a comfy poo!

The Christmas season has been great and super hard at the same time.  As expected.  I miss my family so unbelievably much and sometimes I torture myself at night with Christmas music and pictures haha.  Last night i was reading through all the Christmas cards my family sent and the ward sent.  My niece, little Bailey Smith's read "Dear Sam, I hope you have a great Christmas!  Love B.S. !"  I laughed pretty hard and couldn't help but think Erik or Kevin put her up to that. But anyways we have an amazing opportunity especially this month to share this gospel and especially focus on Christ.  We have these cards that we've been contacting with that have a picture of Mary and the baby Jesus that say El es la Dadiva, which means He is the Gift.  We get to tell people that no matter the celebrations and gifts we receive there is no greater gift ever given than that of God: His only Begotten Jesus Christ. With our investigators we share this video which is a beautiful video.  Its about 3 minutes long and I encourage all of y'all to watch it :) 

I wanted to leave yall with one thought that I had this week.  We have been using the members a lot recently especially with these little cards for references and I think it'll be a big success. We gave each of them one card and said we expect next Sunday for yall to have given this to a friend or family non member with a day that we can come with you to their house to share the video and a short message!  When i was sharing with them our idea I just asked them 1. How are you growing your own testimony? What do you do on a daily or weekly basis to grow closer to Christ and His atonement? Are you truly and sincerely doing everything you can to strengthen your testimony? 2. How are you growing the testimony of those in your family and growing your relationship with each individual member of your family?  Are you having family home evening every Monday and family scripture study and prayer? Are you spending quality time with your family on a regular basis? and 3. How are you helping with missionary work?  Are you constantly looking for people who are ready to receive the gospel and trying to share this thing that is most important in your life with others? Because missionary work is very unsuccessful without the help of the members.  The blessings that we receive for doing the Lords work are simply remarkable and this opportunity and challenge that we have given you is a great way to start!  So I would encourage all of you to think about those three simple questions!  And i would encourage you this Christmas season to involve yourself with the missionaries as well as immerse yourself in service.  We as Americans have so much to be thankful for and especially in Prosper, we have so much.  Take this Christmas season as an opportunity to give to those who don't have as much.  

This Christmas for me will be one I know I will never forget!  I have a testimony of this gospel and I know that Christ is my and our Savior of the world.  His birth is an amazing story that I'm so grateful that I can share with these people of Guatemala.  Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Have a great week!  Don't forget the reason why this time is so special :)

Feliz Navidad!

Elder Gurksnis 

#Limonlife

Welp… hit day 90 today and 3 months on Wednesday.  Fastest time of my life that’s for sure! 

Not too much crazy happened this week except we did have to drop 2 investigators because they’re extortionists :)))) aka hit men, well women in this case.  We always saw them using the public phones every day even though they had cell phones but never thought anything of it.  But one went to jail this week and a woman in our ward told us the same day that she overheard her on the phone and … yeah they’re totally hit women. lol #limonlife

I was sick almost all week including Thanksgiving and lost a good amount of weight.  We didn’t get to do anything for Thanksgiving anyway. It was just a normal day!  That morning Elder Turley, our zone leader and buddy in the zone, sent a text to all the Nortes just saying Happy Thanksgiving!  And it was somewhat long and thoughtful and then at the end he put Solomon 8:8 and I went to read it... just started dying laughing! hahah Y’all will just have to go look it up in the King James version haha it was such a Turley move it was really funny.

I gave a talk this past Sunday in church on humility that was about 12 or 13 minutes long.  I think it went pretty well. I put a lot of thought into it!  Just basically saying how nothing is much more humbling than this whole situation and having to learn a new language.  But I think it went well!  

We have two baptisms set for this month and then we committed Ana Lucia to baptism as well!  In fact marriage too! haha She has children and her and her husband aren’t legally married so in January our bishop will perform a legal marriage and hopefully her husband will have had time to hear the lessons by then and can be baptized with her. Then in a year they can have a temple marriage!  Pretty amazing.  

But yeah somewhat of a slow week but I’m feeling better now and we’re gonna hit it hard this week!  

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!  You all have a lot to be thankful for especially our amazing country and state and everything that we have and the luxuries we have in the states.  Thankful for all of you! 

Texas Forever 

Elder Gurksnis

The Domino Effect

Hey everyone! Hope everyone had a great week! 

So first off I got my christmas package from my mom this week. And I also got this awesome Christmas gift from the Opfars and I want y'all to know that I seriously love it!  Thanks so much for thinking of me.  In the christmas package from my family was a big christmas tree drawn on this monster paper and these "ornaments" which were different pictures of Christ.  On the back were messages from a bunch of different families from my ward back home.  I loved it so much!  It means so much to me to have so much support and so many prayers from my ward back home. Ive always loved my home ward but yes Ive realized that I definitely took all of the amazing families and leaders for granted.  Just wanted to say thank you for the example that all of you have set for me and again the support I know I have from you guys back home.  Y'all are amazing.  I also had some family pictures with little notes from each of my family members on the back of them... needless to say it was really rough reading those.  I loved them so much.  Thank you guys, all of you!

So as far as this week goes not too many crazy things.  I had the opportunity to baptize our investigator Fredrick Adolfo Ambrocio Aquino this past saturday!  I have his full name memorized like the back of my hand because I was super nervous I was gonna screw it up in the baptismal font so I practiced like crazy haha.  It was truly an amazing experience. He asked me to confer the Aaronic priesthood on him as well and that was pretty incredible too.  Both were firsts for me! I wouldn't be surprised if he's the best investigator I have in all my mission.  He has a desire to serve a mission already and is already preparing!  It makes you realize how even though it's one person and one baptism, how many more people than just one you're truly affecting.  All the people that he eventually affects in his mission is because we found him and were able to teach him.  And all the people that I affect on my mission are because of the missionaries that taught and baptized my dad in this church.  It's all a big miraculous domino effect of the Lord's work.  

We have a few more solid investigators.  December will be an interesting month because we have a lot of different types of investigators right now. We have one named Ana Lusia.  She was an original contact by Morgan and Cano, Morgan the companion of Cano before me.  But originally she didnt want to really listen to the lessons.  But something has changed and she really wants to be baptized!  She is really really doctrinally and "Bibley" smart and has a lot of great questions, but we've done a good job I think of responding to all of her questions with solid answers.  

As far as spanish, I think I really hit a new stride this week and I'm really starting to understand not everything but a lot!  It's starting to really improve!  Maybe another 2 months or so and I think Ill be super solid with spanish.  

To end this week, I just want to give a quick shout out to my mom.  I promise you that no one has a more amazing mother than I do!  She did so much to prepare me physically and spiritually for this mission.  She has done and continues to do so much for me.  The other day me and Cano ran out of money for the month because of a TON of sucky coincidences, and she was so worried and emailed our finance officers and sent a card and all this stuff all because she didnt want me to have to be without money for a while.  Just a small example of everything she does for me.  Mom, I love you so much!  Can't wait to talk to my family on Christmas!

Next week!

Texas Forever, 

Elder Gurksnis

 Guatemalan doorways can be hazardous to your health.

Great reunion this week with some of Sam's friends from the MTC.

The greatest 8 year old EVER!

Well if you haven't read many of my emails I would read this one! haha Well we had our baptism for Marcos this past Saturday!  It went great. He is honestly the most awesome 8 year old I've ever met in my life. He's hilarious and so nice.  His reaction in the baptism was so funny when he walked down the steps into the cold font water.  Priceless. Lol The next day at church he sat next to me after he had his confirmation.  He was just so awesome and kept asking me these questions about the church and the spirit and everything and he's just the most awesome kid.  He's had some family problems I think.  His dad who was baptized about 4 months ago had a relapse on his alcohol addiction and showed up to one of our lessons with Marcos completely drunk.  It was really sad to see and just awkward.  But were gonna go visit their family again this week and see whats up.

No leche comments this week haha but its honestly just funny!  I love the people here so much already.

My funny story for the week... so we went to this inactive families house the other night and talked and stuff and the wife gave us sandwiches with nothing but ketchup, mayonnaise and a cold hot dog in sandwich bread.  I got through it, thank you haha.  So we had a follow up this past Friday.  I was nervous because i knew she was going to offer us food again and refusing food is about the rudest thing you can do here.  She set down about 6 tortillas on a plate with what she said was eggs beans cheese and this sauce inside.  Doesn't sound to bad right?  She said "hope you like it its a little bit of an experiment."  Well this wasn't your average McDs breakfast biscuit.  I took one bite of tortilla wrap from hell and hollllly crap.  I don't know how but I got that one bite down without throwing up all over her couch.  I waited a few seconds and asked, "Hermana do you have any water or fresco by chance?"  And I'll tell you what son... the second she turned around I stuffed the rest of that thing in the front pocket of my shirt so fast.  She had set 6 down on a plate.  Thankfully, Cano has a gift/curse and can literally eat anything.  He was dying laughing and at the same time crying inside from the food.  But he took one for the team and downed 5 o 'em suckers.  He was up a lllllll night puking it up. But I think thats a story I won't forget haha!

So Thursday I think it was, we were on our way to the house of one of our new investigators, Bertha S.  She lives in not a super sketchy area but somewhat sketchy.  The second after we had left the appointment before, I immediately had this super weird feeling.  I felt like we shouldn't go to her house and I had no idea why.  I wasn't ignoring the feeling, but I decided I wouldn't say anything and just wait til we got to her street and see if I was still feeling that way. So we get to her street and I just told Cano, "hey hombre hold up. Lets pray real quick."  It was something we had never really done before and he just looked at me weird and asked why?  I said straight up I have no idea but I just feel like we should.  So I said a prayer for us, and as soon as I said "amen", Cano said we can't go to this appointment.  I hadn't said anything to him about my feeling before that.  And I just said, "alright I'm feeling the same thing. I guess we'll just go to a members house and wait for a little bit."  We were talking about it and were just like dude that's just weird that I was feeling that and you felt the same thing after the prayer.  So we get to the members house, and POP POP POP!  We hear about 4 or 5 gun shots coming from the direction we just came.  It was pretty nuts, to say the least. We went back to Bertha's house about 2 days later and she just said she heard them too but didn't see anything.    I'm just thankful!  I don't know what would've happened but I've always known not to ignore promptings from the Spirit but never had it been so strongly demonstrated in my life obviously.  But that's the thing about living here, although it's dangerous, I'm not worried in the least because I know as long as were being obedient and listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost, nothing bad will happen.

So thats all I got for this week.  Loving it here more every day.  Our first change is this Thursday but I won't be going anywhere. Changes, btw, are every 6 weeks and it's when missionaries get sent to different areas or change companions but not every change.  But it's a possibility that Cano moves, but I dont think he will because he still has another change of training to do with me.  But well see!

Hope everyone has a fun safe week!
Texas Forever,
Elder Gurksnis

… thy adversity and afflictions shall be but a small moment...

Hey everyone!

Another week in the G.  I can't tell y'all how fast time goes here its honestly weird.  Pday (preparation day … each Monday) and then another pday and then another.  Super fast.

First shout out to my favorite brother because big guy turned 17 on the 10th.  I was pretty homesick thinkin about you but I hope it was a great one bud love you so much!

So I have a quote of the week this week jaja.  This guy Elder W is in our zone and he got in the transfer before me.  Hes such a good dude, but such an Idaho/Utah kid whos the most innocent guy on the planet haha.  We were on a bus to go to eat on Pday and he was talking about his girlfriend.  He shows me a pic and I just said, "yeah dang dude shes a cutie!" "Yeah, Elder she really is.  And she gets her braces off in TWO WEEKS!"  hahahahahaha Maybe it was a had to be there moment but I had to keep myself from crying laughing in that moment.

I'm a little frustrated with the locals now.  I can't tell you how many ridiculous things happen with them.  They all try to speak english to me and say phrases and sometimes its hilarious. Like we were walking home last night at like 830 pm and this group of gangsters yelled, "Good morning!" That was funny, but most of the time they just know English cuss words and they scream them at me. haha The other day we were walking in the street next to the soccer field and everyone stopped playing and came up to the fence and yell, "Hey Leche!! mauh muah muah!" Leche means milk............. so done with the locals. hahahahahah they make for good stories though.

I'm also so stoked to get the Christmas package my mom sent me this week!  Cant wait to see all the useful stuff I get in this one like the "LOCTITE fun-pack Mounting Putty" I got in the last one!!!! ;) Just kiddin mom, I couldnt resist though.  Hahaha

Not too much happened this week that was too out of the ordinary,except the beginning of the week was rough with my comp.  He's very hard to explain but he's really quick tempered and doesn't like to do anything not his way. 95% of the time hes great but the other 5% is really absolutely horrible sometimes.  We were in an argument and it was pretty bad.  I was seriously mad and I just kinda left the conversation and went into my room and opened my scriptures and the first thing I opened to was Doctrine and Covenants section 121 I think.  For those that don't know too much of the story of Joseph Smith, he was imprisoned in one of the most horrible prisons you can imagine for doing absolutely nothing but being the leader of the Mormons.  The Mormons in that time experienced horrible opposition to the point where many were killed by mobs and were forced to flee across the country in the dead of winter when countless members of the church died.  Not to mention the prophet Joseph Smith was killed by a mob along with his brother and many others. Anyways thats a huge story but I'll get to my point: I opened to D&C 121 when Joseph Smith was in Liberty jail. Joseph had been in this unimaginable horrible place for months and he felt as if God had forgotten him and he began to pray very hard and this was the answer he received, "My son, peace be unto thy soul.  For thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment."  It seems a little dramatic but me and Cano were on the verge and I honestly just wanted to go home at that point.  And when I read that, it's honestly something I'll never forget the sense of peace I felt at that moment.  I felt like I wasn't just reading it but Heavenly Father was really saying that to me in person.  I just had the biggest overwhelming feeling of calmness and peace Ive ever felt.  Again something I'll never forget!  (By the way me and Cano are fantastic now and were getting along great and working hard!) 

The next day, we went to Silvia's house to teach a lesson (one of our investigators).  She's read the BOM completely and knows its true but she doesn't come to church.  We have always thought its because she has problems with the chastity. And it turns out we were right, because she's pregnant lol.  But she was telling us her boyfriend left her when she found out and it was just some crap.  So I quickly had the thought to share that same scripture.  She started crying and we had a great deep discussion with her.  Hopefully this changes things and she comes to church this week.  I think it will!  We're baptizing Marcos this Saturday and Fredrick the next.  They're both awesome.

Anyways, theres my letter for the week.

Texas forever.
Sincerely,
Leche