Merry Christmas

December 22, 2014

Hey Everyone,

I just want to wish you all a Merry Christmas. Here it has been pretty interesting. We are currently trying to move houses, so everything is kind of crazy. All our stuff is packed and ready to go, but we just got a call saying that maybe we will have to wait a few days. Maybe. Haha. We'll see how it goes.

My new companion, Elder Flores, and I had an insane week. We pretty much just contacted, and I can count the amount of times people rejected us on one hand! It was a amazing. We found 15 new people to teach. It was a great week.

I am starting to really be able to teach. We did special visits yesterday, and I went with a priest to visit the people who didn't go to church, and I totally lead the lesson. It was a pretty cool experience.

We also played soccer this week again, and I was once again the star. I hope you all are following my progress, because one day I'm going to be the best soccer player the world has ever seen ;)

I encourage you all to look up "He is the Gift" on YouTube (El es la Dadiva in Spanish). It's a great video that really brings the Spirit. I love the Savior. He isn't just there to take away your sins, but to help take away pains and heartaches (and even homesickness) caused by everyday life. He is the gift that never expires and never runs out. Use it often.

I love you all and wish many happiness upon you and your families this Holiday Season.

-Elder Aldrich

New Adventures

December 15, 2014


Hey Everyone,

As I have said previously, this last week was changes. My companion was changed, and I now have Elder Flores as my companion. He is from El Salvador as well, and he was even companions with Elder Diaz in The MTC. He's cool. He is great at teaching and especially with service. We have contacted a ton of new people to teach and we have probably moved fifty pounds of dirt for several people.

Olanchito is pretty cool. By pretty cool, I mean freezing. I don't really know where the cold came from, but it's here. I had to use a long sleeve shirt, and I almost used my suit. Who said Honduras was hot?

We played soccer today as a zone, and I totally rocked, just saying. I scored a few goals, then saved some as goalie. It was super fun. We have an awesome zone, and I think this will be a fun change.

That's all I have for this week. Our days have been filled with walking and visiting every house I have ever been to. I can't wait to share all our awesome stories from this upcoming week with you all. I love you all.

-Elder Aldrich

¡Somos Famosos!

December 8, 2014

Hey Everyone!

I hope everyone is doing well. I personally am doing great, and we are in Christmas Mode here in Olanchito. I've learned all the Christmas songs in Spanish, and we even went on TV to sing some Hymns. It was cool, and all sorts of people have been stopping us saying, "We saw you on TV!"

We've had a week full of service. On Friday we visited the Old-Folks home here in Olanchito and cleaned. Elder Gibbons found an old guitar and played each one a song on it. One guy took the opportunity and begin to sing at the top of his lungs an opera about the Holy Ghost. It was strange, but he was happy, so we all just listened and smiled. Haha.

On Saturday we built a "Bathroom Hondureño," which is basically a giant hole in the ground covered by a slab of cement. We used coke bottles to put holes in the cement for the toilet pipes and everything. It turned out pretty well if I do say so myself.

During a lesson Saturday afternoon, a dog peed on my leg. He somehow did it from behind, and under a chair. I didn't even see him. It scared me pretty good, and I got to make a mid-day wardrobe change.

I am seeing miracles here in Olanchito. My companion and I have been teaching a man that we never expected to accept us. He is the husband of a recent convert, and when I showed up in August, he wouldn't even shake our hand. However, he decided to listen to us in the beginning of November. Now, he has a baptismal date December 27th. We have truly seen the power of fasting and prayers offered by his wife and other family members.

I would just like to finish with one thought. It isn't just important that we do things. We need to do them happily, with faith in God. What's the difference between Nephi and Laman and Lemuel? They all followed their father, went back for the plates, crossed the ocean, endured hunger, and set up a new home in the Promised Land, but we all want to be like Nephi, not like Laman. I leave you all to think about that and hope you all work through your daily trials a little happier ;)

I love you all so much and am so grateful for your support. Have a great week.

-Elder Aldrich

My Main Man, Dengue

December 1, 2014

Hey All,

Unfortunately, my week has been very boring. I have a sickness called "Dengue." Pretty cool right? Basically it's a fever, joint pain, and boredom. I was told by the Mission Nurse that I should be be better by Wednesday. I have been ordered to stay in bed, and drink as much water as I can.

I have left the house since Thursday, but it isn't all bad. I pretty much read Preach My Gospel entirely, and I got to hang out with a priest named Jose. He just put his papers in and is awaiting his mission call. He stayed in the house with me so my companion could visit our investigators.

This experience has definitely given me a new perspective. Time flies when you're working hard, and crawls when you have to chill in bed. Moral of the Story: Work Hard. Haha.

The one really interesting thing that happened was today. We played kickball as a zone today (I watched), and pretty much all of Olanchito came to watch us. They were so confused, it was genuinely entertaining.

Also, my companion and I are preparing our investigators for the very strong possibility that Elder Diaz will be having a change. The good news is this has scared them into learning my name. Haha. Changes are next week, so we'll see how this goes.

Anyway, I'm really so my email is so short and lame this week. I'll be sure to make it twice as good next week. There will be car chases and quadruple back flips and everything. Promise.

Love you all. Stay awesome :)

-Elder Aldrich