Week 7: I Drink More Coke Than Water

Me with President and Sister McClellan

Hola todos!!

Made it to Honduras last Thursday and it is actually incredible here. But first I'm gonna do a quick wrap up of the CCM.

CCM was amazing. I spiritually grew more in those 6 weeks than I did in my whole life before. So many amazing people that I will miss a lot and so much knowledge from very wise people every day. Definitely gonna miss devotionals but so glad I got to finish with a live streamed devo from the Provo MTC with Elder Bednar.

Ok time for the stuff people actually want to read.

We woke up at 2am on Thursday to catch our flight to San Pedro and we didn't have a gate until 10 minutes before our flight which was super awesome but hey I'm here so we're chill. It was so hot when we got off the plane. Like so hot. But supposedly it was pretty average for San Pedro so that's lit.

We hopped on a bus to the mission office where they had tons of Little Caesars for us. I love pizza so this was a nice token to help ease the slight bit of culture shock occurring from the drive through the city. We chilled there for like 6 hours and then walked to and slept at the APs house.

The next day we got our training from President McClellan (he is one of the most loving and spiritual person I know I am so lucky to have him as my mission president for the next 2 years) and our trainers! My trainer is Elder Perry and he is so awesome. He is such a hard worker who is doing a really good job of teaching me how to be a strong missionary and also enjoy the work.

My first area is Copan Ruinas!! Soooo lucky hahaha. So this area is the one area of my mission that is 90+ degrees every day and is probably the most beautiful place in the mission as well. We are minutes away from ancient temple ruins and the town is both cobblestone streets and dirt jungle roads. There is always a beautiful view and occasionally you see a rainbow macaw flying overhead. I love it (except for being eaten alive by mosquitos yesterday but its chill). The people here are incredible too. Everyone is so friendly and so hospitable to us even though many of them have so little. Also we have a pensionista which means we have a lady who cooks all of our meals for us which is clutchhhh because I can't cook at allllll. Like the title says, Coke is served with everything... and Im not complaining. Also huge W... Elder Evanson is also being trained in Copan!! So I still get to see him every day and it is so awesome.

The work is amazing though. It's pretty hard to say the things I want to say in lessons but I have been able to contribute a little to every lesson so far. I can also understand a solid 50% of what's being said and I'll take those numbers for being in the field for 2 days. We walk everywhere and it is really tiring but extremely fulfilling work. In the last two days we taught 23 little lessons we call "charlas" with friends who show interest in the church, new people, and some members here and there. We share a scripture, talk about it and the principle of the gospel it applies to, say a prayer or two, and leave them with an invitation. I love being able to testify of my Savior and help these people feel the Spirit and the love God has for them every day.

Faith has been on my mind these past couple of days. Faith is believing, but it is also acting. Here in Copan, there is a woman named Carmencita. She is about 4 feet tall and 100% blind. Every Sunday we walk her to church up and down rocky and muddy (and slippery) hills, across a wooden bridge with holes in it, and along a busy highway. She has so many reasons to not make it to church, yet she faithfully makes that trek every Sunday because of her faith. The Lord blesses us for our faith and gives us strength for our efforts. I see this every day as I walk. The Lord is with each and every one of you and if we do all we can to turn to Him, he will lift us up. He will bless us immensely and we can be a source for a lot of good for a lot of people. Pray for the strength to act in faith for the good of others and He will give it to you.

Love you all so much!!

(And please pray Copan's running water will work soon🙏)

Élder Snyder