Week 70 Dangriga, Belize-November 21, 2016

"They say Joseph Smith was a true prophet. Is that true????" "Yes! He was a prophet!" "Okay, thank you!" "Ok..."

That was a quick conversation we had with a slightly crazy man early one morning last week. It gave me a good chuckle. So this past week was pretty interesting to say the least. Garifuna Settlement Day 2016. The whole week in terms of working was pretty lackluster. No one let us in. And pretty much all of our investigators just told us that we had better try again the next week after the holiday was over...A whole lot of people came to Dangriga from all over the country (this is the "Culture Capitol") to celebrate the 19th so the streets were full. The actual day itself wasnt all that exciting. There was a parade and a fair and a lot of music and drum playing. We still enjoyed ourselves and got into the cultural buzz. The trip to the zoo was really really fun. Didnt get to hold a toucan though...this next week we are starting to plan some cool activities that we hope will start to get the members excited. This last week we began to start making some big realisations about the work here. We have been trying really really hard to reactivate and fellowship inactive members. But, this whole time we have been neglecting that in fact the active members need just as much help. If not, more. We were busy searching for the one when the ninety and nine were also starting to stray off. So before we start to go off looking for the one we need to make sure that the rest are okay and can manage for themselves before we go out searching. If that makes sense. We are all children of God. And so our needs are great. Whether we are active or not. So we hope that helping these active members first will help the Spirit thrive here and see that the branch becomes more self sufficient. Dangriga is a blessed place. This next Monday we will have a multizone with President Duncan of the Area Seventy so I am not sure when i will be writing next. So just be ready at all times. Be prepared. As they would say. Alright well I hope you all enjoy this week and especially Thanksgiving! Give thanks to all and especially thanks to the Lord. I am especially thankful that this thanksgiving I get to keep being a missionary. Love you all so much!
Elder Abilez

Week 69 Dangriga, Belize-November 14, 2016

Article of Faith 12

Just a reminder....I know that with the whole national business that went down last week....just remember what WE believe in. No matter what the outcome was (even since all of the outcomes would have been pretty bad). Thats all in that respect! Hey! this last week was good! We had a visit from some of the District Leaders yesterday in church and they gave us and the other leaders some really great counsel! Especially one of them pointed out the absence of youth in our branch (which is a sad truth). We have come to find out that there is a lot of young men in our branch who actually never have received the priesthood! So now we are on emergency rescue plan. In my last area (Central) one of the greatest parts of that ward was the great strength of the youth there. I know that the youth have a huge impact on the spirituality of a church unit. And if the ward or branch is spiritual and thriving, the work will follow suit. So all you youth, remember how important you are and what big of a difference you can make for your peers and other members. To all the adults, take care of the youth, and dont take them for granted. Dangriga is a blessed place and I love being here. It is very, very tough but I am very happy at the same time. I dont have too much time to write because we are going to the zoo today! I have a goal to hold a toucan. life goal. This next weekend is a national holiday so we will most likely not be working at least on saturday but maybe not on friday either. should be interesting. Okay I love you all so much and hope you have a great week!
Elder Abilez

Week 68 Dangriga, Belize-November 7, 2016

He was a Buffalo Soldier

Hello friends and family! This past week was a really really quick one! On Thursday we had our zone conference and then on Friday I had to spend the entire day in Belize City for Immigration business. But we still had a really great week and a lot of success. After searching for a couple of weeks we finally found Pamela again! She wasnt able to make it to church this past weekend because a problem came up but she has accepted a baptismal date for the end of this month! We are going to be working super hard to help her meet this goal. There are a few other really good people that we want to be helping during this next week as well. Especially we are trying to get the members involved and support the leaders so that the branch can grow. Other than that there isnt too much to contar here. Just remember that it was Buffalo Soldier. Okay love you guys lots! Be good this week and always follow the Spirit and look for the small miracles in life! Im starting to write down and remember more the blessings and miracles I see everyday and it really amazes me! Have a great week!
Elder Abilez

Week 67 Dangriga, Belize-October 31, 2016

Happy Halloween!

Hello everyone! I am sure you are all getting ready for your halloween festivities today. Here in Dangriga nothing much happens. Supposedly some kids go out and do some trick or treating but its not a huge ordeal. This last week for us was a great one! My new companion is Elder Alvizuris from Guatemala (like I said last week). He has a little more time than I do and he is just coming from being in the area of Melchor (where Elder Arriaza just got sent off to). So far we have had a lot of success and worked a ton this last week. We found a really really great family that we are going to start teaching this next week and are hoping that they will start coming to church and accepting the gospel. Really great miracle there. More than anything, this past week we gave a lot of service. We raked, chopped, and cleaned several yards, including in front of the church building. And we helped out with a Relief Society Potluck (I promise that they asked us first and we didnt just go for the food). The sisters in this branch are really incredible and understand their divine calling as daughters of God. I hope that all of you can also remember the divine callings that God has extended and be willing to accept and magnify those callings. have a great and safe Halloween! Eat Milky Ways! Love you all so much!
Elder Abilez