Called To Serve - District Leader

President Kai D. Hintze

El Salvador, San Salvador West/Belize Mission

February 17, 2016

Dear family of Elder Stiles,

It is with love that we inform you that Elder Stiles, has been called to serve as a District Leader in the Mission. This is a responsibility and opportunity to lead missionaries by example.

As a District Leader, Elder Stiles will be required to hold a weekly training meaning and assist in the mission training program as directed by the mission president. He is expected to be an example to all of the missionaries in his district. We know that he will fulfill this responsibility with honor.

We thank Elder Stiles for his desire to serve the Lord and represent Him as a missionary in this great mission.

Sincerely,

Kai D. Hintze

Mission President

Jaguars and Clock Makers

Hey Everyone,

This was a really good week!  We started out by going to the zoo last Monday... and, no, I was not able to get my head licked by the jaguar.  The people that were going to split  the price with me ended up not going so maybe next time.  We saw deer, tapir, spider monkeys, vultures, toucan, speckled owl, ocelot, howler monkeys, puma, pelican, crocodile, jaguar, weird monkey squirrels, black jaguar, and harpy eagle.  By far one of the coolest things that was there was the jaguars!  We got so close to them.  We could of stuck our hand in the cage but I didn't want to get my hand bitten off so I decided otherwise.  There wasn't a ton of animals there but the ones we did see were crazy!  It was a once in a lifetime thing being able to see the animals up so close.  The big thing about why we went to the zoo was because Elder Tejeda had never been to a zoo before in his life so everything he saw was so exciting for him.  We were also kind of pushed on time so we had to hurry.

During the week we went up to an investigators house to teach him and turns out he owns a bunch of birds that they have saved from different accidents they had been in.  One had been hit by a car, one was blind in one eye, and one didn't know he was a bird... Don't ask me how he knew that but I trust him.  I don't know what kind of birds most of them were but he had a falcon and also another speckled owl which was amazing.  We got to hold a tiny rat.  We got to walk the birds which I probably won't ever get to do that again. 

We had a going-away bonfire for Elder Tejeda.  Elder Hansen and I made a video for Sister Alico about the family tree to the song of "Finding Your Cousin".  We ate pupusas Sunday morning at a less active members house. 

We had District Conference, or Stake Conference for those back home.  The Conference was way awesome!  I love hearing President and Sister Hintze talk.  One quote I like was by Vuter ( a French poet), and he said, "I cannot imagine how the clockwork of the universe works without a clock maker." 

Well the time has come... I am being moved away from Elder Freeman... but not too far because I will now be his District Leader in Bullet Tree!  I'm still in the same zone but just a little farther away!  It was unexpected because President Hintze said we would most likely stay together.  Starting Tuesday my new companion will be Elder Tuchan from Guatemala. He speaks a lee bit of English but mostly Spanish.  He is super cool and I'm way excited!  I'm so excited for this opportunity for leadership!

Well that's all for this week.  Stay tuned for next week.

Love, Elder Stiles

QUESTIONS:
What was the best part of the week?  The best part of the week was the zoo!

What miracle happened this week?  A girl named Chelsea who is 8 is going to be baptized this week because her dad is coming home.

When is your next change?  The Change is tomorrow and I'll be District Leader in the same zone. So I will be over Elder Freeman and still see him!

Why do you walk instead of riding bikes?  We walk cause they took the bikes away!  No more bikes... too many people were getting hurt, i.e Elder Leslie

Did you have to eat anything yucky this week?  No we don't really eat anything gross because no one feeds us here.

Are the roads paved or is everything dirt?  Most are dirt here but there are some paved roads.

How do your shoes get so much mud on them?  Well, they get muddy cause when it rains, dirt turns into mud so that's kinda just how things work. (haha)

Are you able to speak Spanish much?  Well I wasn't before but now I will be going into a Spanish Area! 

(Click on Photos to Enlarge)

Beetle Juice Street

Elder Jacob Stiles
El Salvador San Salvador West/Belize Mission
P.O. Box 1123
Belize City, Belize, C.A.

jacob.stiles@myldsmail.net

ElderJacobStiles.blogspot.com

Hey Everyone,

Well, it's Monday, and we have started by getting everything ready to go to the zoo today!

This week we have paid a lot of attention to the street signs because they're very interesting.  They're things like "Puma St." and "Jaguar St.".  We found this new area we now work in but a lot of members live in it.  We've had to walk a lot so my legs are really tired.

We also found this overly friendly British man who showed us his wine brewery which was actually really cool. 

We are working with a man named A_.  We have been going through the "Addiction and Recovery Program" with him and he has been really progressing.

For Wednesday night we do a Family Night and the members put it on and they teach a new principle each time.  This week was the Word of Wisdom.  They did a contest of working out (exercise) and people had to go against (compete) each other. 

The next day we went to Belmopan so that Elder Freeman could get his work permit.  So, we woke up at 4 o'clock am to get there. 

We also met a Canadian who was a rugby player and we talked forever. 

Elder Freeman lost his agenda and it was very sad because it has all of the memories of this change.  Then this Sunday a random guy came to church and brought him his agenda!  Him and I had been praying that he would find it, and it came to pass!

This week we brought two investigators to church.  Christopher, as usual, and a woman named Janelly.  We found her the day before church.  She said that she had been praying for the truth to come teach her.  A month later we came to her door.  She is looking for the truth and she came to church.  Her husband wants to know but is kind of iffy about it.  She was a reference from a member and that's the best way to find the people that are ready.

Love, Jake

(Click on Photos to Enlarge)

Interesting Street Names

Houses of Belize

Church

Sister Mendez from Honduras

Coconuts

Carving that a woman gave me

British man's winery

Bananas, 25 cent water, and dollar juice

Chinese Book of Mormon

Food that was made for us

Jake's shoes are filthy!

 

Quinten L. Cook Visits Belize

Hello Everyone,

Well this week was one of the coolest weeks!  For P-Day we went to the Branch Mission Leaders house and we ate BBQ and played Uno and soccer.  I also learned that a lot of people like Chicken Feet... but not me.  I got attacked by a random wasp that stung me.

January 26 was an amazing day!  First of all we had to wake up at 5am to go to Belize city to have a Missionary Multi-Zone Conference with Elder Quinten L. Cook (member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles).  We got there and we had breakfast which was these cinnamon roll things and these croissants.  We then took pictures.  We listened to President Hintze, Elder Ochoa, Sister Cook and Elder Cook.

Prez Hintze - Talked about calling on the powers of Heaven, and how in these days we are able to see visions, and how we must find our reason for being her on the mission.

Elder Ochoa - Did an example of our purpose here and explained how everything we do is part of our purpose - "Teach and Baptize Converts".  And how if the way we act/dress/talk gets us away from our purpose then we NEED to change it.

Sister Cook - "The only thing more powerful than truth is truth in a musical setting."  She then led us in "Hark All Ye Nations." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZFwifDjFvc

Elder Cook - The church is set up in a way so that everyone can receive help.  Elder Cook also said, "It is no small thing to be an Emissary of the Savior."   THE END

We found this really cool guy that works for a bird place and he takes care of birds.  He has a bunch of snakes and he brought them out for us to hold.  At one time the snake went all the way into Elder Freeman's pocket.

We had our interviews with President Hintze.  We also painted a school.  It was an Anglican school, and we painted a big part of it for service.  One of he brothers in the ward does service projects all the time with the missionaries.  

The pictures of the two people are Christopher (who is preparing to be baptized).  Also, Mama Jackson (who is a recent convert).  Mama Jackson gave me  this cool carving of the Mayan Goddess of Healing which was very nice of her.  Next, the food - you can see the traditional Fried Chicken dinner and Stuffed Jacks.  Stuffed Jacks have meat and cheese in them and are cooked in oil... Healthy, I know.

Today we will be going to the Zoo here in Belize.  I'll finally be able to see my first Jaguar!

Love you all, 
Elder Stiles 

(Click on Photos to Enlarge)

This is the Internet Cafe Jake goes to each week to Email our letters

Teaching in the streets of Belize

Elder Cook

Mama Jackson

Christopher

Painting the Anglican School

Fried Chicken Dinner

Stuffed Jacks