I'll Be Home For Christmas
Hello all friends and family! I hope you all enjoyed Christmas! Here we had a great Christmas! The obvious highlight was being able to talk to the whole family yesterday! We received many great blessings and gifts from the members and people around town this week too so it definitely felt like a very special Christmas. I apologize that I am writing so late. Apparently Belize celebrates Boxing Day so everything is closed and we had to share one laptop between the 4 missionaries here. Also won't be able to send pictures until next week. Well the new year is coming in already. It seems pretty unbelievable. But I hope that even in the New Year you all will be able to carry the special Christmas spirit always. Who wouldn't want that anyway? So I am giving you all permission to listen to Christmas music well into August. At least. I don't have too much more to say nor the time to say it. But just remember that the church is true. Jesus Christ is our Savior. And that I love you all. Okay have a great week!
Elder Abilez
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Week 74 Corozal, Belize-December 19, 2016
Christmas Vacation
Hello my friends and family! So this last week we did a whole lot of traveling (and we are doing even more today!) So it was like traveling on vacation but not really because we were working haha. The meetings that we went to in Belize City were super good though and we learned a ton! The Christmas Multizone was super cool and really got us focused on the real meaning of Christmas. We also had our zone conference so it was fun getting together with the whole zone and getting pumped for the rest of the transfer. So we are already down to the last week before Christmas. Crazy right? After that comes in the New Year. It will be a great time to be able to think more in the Savior. Also, in these last couple of days I have also been thinking about how those two holidays are connected. New Years comes exactly one week after Christmas always. It's the holiday of "resolutions" and "new beginnings". Sounds a little bit like repentance right? How perfect is that then? We spend a whole month thinking about the Savior, the birth of the Savior, and the life and mission of Him. Then, with that significance in mind, we can use our testimony and faith in Him to make our resolutions for the New Year (and follow through of course). Thats powerful! A lot of times we have the tendency to let Christmas pass and then be done with it. But it can, and should, just as easily be carried over into the New Year and then for the rest of the year. A Christ centered life can begin this Christmas. And it's never to late to start! So I hope you all enjoy your holiday with friends and family. I know I'm excited to see my family! But always keep the Savior in your thoughts as well. I love you all! Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad!
Elder Abilez
Hello my friends and family! So this last week we did a whole lot of traveling (and we are doing even more today!) So it was like traveling on vacation but not really because we were working haha. The meetings that we went to in Belize City were super good though and we learned a ton! The Christmas Multizone was super cool and really got us focused on the real meaning of Christmas. We also had our zone conference so it was fun getting together with the whole zone and getting pumped for the rest of the transfer. So we are already down to the last week before Christmas. Crazy right? After that comes in the New Year. It will be a great time to be able to think more in the Savior. Also, in these last couple of days I have also been thinking about how those two holidays are connected. New Years comes exactly one week after Christmas always. It's the holiday of "resolutions" and "new beginnings". Sounds a little bit like repentance right? How perfect is that then? We spend a whole month thinking about the Savior, the birth of the Savior, and the life and mission of Him. Then, with that significance in mind, we can use our testimony and faith in Him to make our resolutions for the New Year (and follow through of course). Thats powerful! A lot of times we have the tendency to let Christmas pass and then be done with it. But it can, and should, just as easily be carried over into the New Year and then for the rest of the year. A Christ centered life can begin this Christmas. And it's never to late to start! So I hope you all enjoy your holiday with friends and family. I know I'm excited to see my family! But always keep the Savior in your thoughts as well. I love you all! Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad!
Elder Abilez
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Week 73 Corozal, Belize-December 12, 2016
Spanglish
So I have now been exposed to my fifth language on the mission. Spanglish. Here in Corozal that is one of the most widely spoken languages. And this isn't Spanish 2 high school students throwing in a spanish word from time to time to prove they learned something in class. This is another level, grammatical, english here a little there a little, spanglish. Its pretty funny actually. But so far things in Corozal with Elder Rasmussen has been super great! The area is awesome and the branch is actually really strong! Probably the strongest branch that i have been in my entire mission! The work here is always tough but there are a lot of really great people preparing for baptism and less active members who want us to help them get to the temple! The people here are a temple loving people and there isnt even a temple in this country! I have learned a lot already just being here for a week. I hope all of you are doing good keepin up with the Christmas initiative still. Serving others always. My comp and I are gettin pumped for our last Christmas in the field and have been decorating quite a bit in the house. Its gonna be a good one. This next week we have meetings and multizones so its gonna be really busy and fly by quick. Christmas will be here before we know it! I hope you all continue enjoying the season and continue seeing miracles in your lives. Love you all so much!
Elda Abilez
So I have now been exposed to my fifth language on the mission. Spanglish. Here in Corozal that is one of the most widely spoken languages. And this isn't Spanish 2 high school students throwing in a spanish word from time to time to prove they learned something in class. This is another level, grammatical, english here a little there a little, spanglish. Its pretty funny actually. But so far things in Corozal with Elder Rasmussen has been super great! The area is awesome and the branch is actually really strong! Probably the strongest branch that i have been in my entire mission! The work here is always tough but there are a lot of really great people preparing for baptism and less active members who want us to help them get to the temple! The people here are a temple loving people and there isnt even a temple in this country! I have learned a lot already just being here for a week. I hope all of you are doing good keepin up with the Christmas initiative still. Serving others always. My comp and I are gettin pumped for our last Christmas in the field and have been decorating quite a bit in the house. Its gonna be a good one. This next week we have meetings and multizones so its gonna be really busy and fly by quick. Christmas will be here before we know it! I hope you all continue enjoying the season and continue seeing miracles in your lives. Love you all so much!
Elda Abilez
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Week 72 Dangriga, Belize-December 5, 2016
From one beach to another
Hello everyone! I hope you all watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional last night because it was super good! This last week was strange (especially considering that i like just emailed you all on wednesday) because of how the work week turned out. But it was a great week anyway. We made donuts! Anyway, so last night we received the call for the changes and I will be leaving Dangriga. I am a little sad because i do really love this little town but I know that the Lord has His hand in where I am going. My new area is Corozal, all the way up north. And it is also by the beach! I dont think it is as close as it is here but I am happy I dont have to give up the beach just yet. My new companion is Elder Rasmussen! He is from my MTC group (well he actually went to Provo) and will end the mission with me. Hes a super good guy. I was actually in the same zone as him for a transfer back in Layco. It will be an awesome transfer for sure. I hope youre all enjoying the christmas season so far and continue to enjoy it and to spread the christmas spirit with everyone. I love you all lots!
Elder Abilez
Hello everyone! I hope you all watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional last night because it was super good! This last week was strange (especially considering that i like just emailed you all on wednesday) because of how the work week turned out. But it was a great week anyway. We made donuts! Anyway, so last night we received the call for the changes and I will be leaving Dangriga. I am a little sad because i do really love this little town but I know that the Lord has His hand in where I am going. My new area is Corozal, all the way up north. And it is also by the beach! I dont think it is as close as it is here but I am happy I dont have to give up the beach just yet. My new companion is Elder Rasmussen! He is from my MTC group (well he actually went to Provo) and will end the mission with me. Hes a super good guy. I was actually in the same zone as him for a transfer back in Layco. It will be an awesome transfer for sure. I hope youre all enjoying the christmas season so far and continue to enjoy it and to spread the christmas spirit with everyone. I love you all lots!
Elder Abilez
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Week 71 Dangriga, Belize-November 30, 2016
Mormon Family's 25 Days of Christmas
Hey guys! Can you believe it's the last day of November already?? I can't...So sorry for not writing on Monday but like I said we had our conference with President Duncan of the Area Seventy. It was super good. He shared a few of the same things he said to us in the MTC more than a year ago but it was a really great reminder for some solid principles in the mission. The whole meeting was packed full of really great stuff to help us out. We even had a Thanksgiving lunch in the middle complete with turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and rice and beans (because we are in Belize). It was such a great meeting. So now that we are on the eve of the month of December, I hope all of you guys have seen the new Christmas initiative set out by the church, Light the World. I love it. If you haven't seen the video go watch it! I especially love it because, well, I'm a missionary! So I get to fully immerse myself with this theme. But I hope that all of you as well can go out and be a light to the world. Remember, Christmas and this whole theme isn't a matter of getting people to accept the gospel or come to church or any of that. Christmas, this whole season, is all about Christ. So don't be afraid to just try to be a little more Christlike to others. The smallest action of kindness and charity can literally light up the life of another and maybe change their own world. That's why I love this theme so much. And if anything really cool happens during all of this activity in the month, let me know! I love hearing stories from you guys. Any little experience is great. Alrighty, I love you guys. I miss you guys. And I hope you are all just as excited as we are for the Christmas season. Have a great week!
Elder Abilez
Hey guys! Can you believe it's the last day of November already?? I can't...So sorry for not writing on Monday but like I said we had our conference with President Duncan of the Area Seventy. It was super good. He shared a few of the same things he said to us in the MTC more than a year ago but it was a really great reminder for some solid principles in the mission. The whole meeting was packed full of really great stuff to help us out. We even had a Thanksgiving lunch in the middle complete with turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and rice and beans (because we are in Belize). It was such a great meeting. So now that we are on the eve of the month of December, I hope all of you guys have seen the new Christmas initiative set out by the church, Light the World. I love it. If you haven't seen the video go watch it! I especially love it because, well, I'm a missionary! So I get to fully immerse myself with this theme. But I hope that all of you as well can go out and be a light to the world. Remember, Christmas and this whole theme isn't a matter of getting people to accept the gospel or come to church or any of that. Christmas, this whole season, is all about Christ. So don't be afraid to just try to be a little more Christlike to others. The smallest action of kindness and charity can literally light up the life of another and maybe change their own world. That's why I love this theme so much. And if anything really cool happens during all of this activity in the month, let me know! I love hearing stories from you guys. Any little experience is great. Alrighty, I love you guys. I miss you guys. And I hope you are all just as excited as we are for the Christmas season. Have a great week!
Elder Abilez
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