Tikal Area

About Tikal.. it was accually built after book of mormon times... They say the Mirador (which they are discovering now) is twice as big and could be a good canidate for BOM times...Are you learning how to breathe in the sweltering conditions? Its the sweating that sucksWhat are the tricks in learning how to cope there? Drink 2 quarts of water a day AND STILL GET DEHYDRATED.... just time helps..Have you got ready made investigotors or are you going to have to find them? we have a babtism no the 18th.. and a canadite for the 25thish
How much of conference did you get to hear? the first session half was in spanish.. And the last session of the last session was spanish.. the rest in english What's your new area like? really big.. like 5 to 10 houses on each block. thats why i had my shoes fixed... the change of streets started to hurt my feet.. Im still waiting on the shoes but im using my boots today How many wards/branches/stakes? ALL branches.. but 3 branches go to the same building.. about 4 missionaries each branchHow many missionaries in your district? 6 in my district.. we have an older couple in our district.. The Bomans... from LoganWhere do they all live? the bomans live really close to us (She cooks AMAZING left overs) and the others i dont know yet..What does your new assignment entail? I have to make sure they are all focused and ETC. Work with them..
Did you get your Easter package yet?Tell us about E Castro. Well he is accually Amazing.. I have never had a more spiritual companion.. our first week i just sat in Aww... listing to him talk to the people.. he is tall, dark and handsome. speaks perfect english, likes to joke around alot but what can you do...

This week was a hot one.. It stays about 100 degrees everyday. this week we went to some caves... It was an adventure.. we had to army crawl just to get through some parts of the cave.... once again i had my laser and we had fun.. I am cooking breakfast and dinner again.. hopefully i can eat good and with this heat... lose weight..
anyway i told nikki happy B day but i will tell her happy b day today
well thats all for now... any questions let me know
I wont be on to chat next monday (im not sure how much time it is to see tikal)Elder Taylor Wood

Castro - Member of LDS Seventy

Jose A. Castro

(2003)

Jose A. Castro, 37, of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Employed as temple recorder in the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple. Recently released as president of the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Stake. He is a former bishop, high councilor and counselor in bishopric. Married Marisol Alvarez Rojas; three children.

Elder Wood, Elder Argumeda, and Elder Tzunux - Taylor's first companion in the field and his last companion before transferring to Peten.

el Trebol, Peten

What day do you get released? Jan 19th
How long to you want to sight see? Not quite sure.. Tikal is a 5 hour deal, not to mention a 8 hour drive one way!

Transfers effect you today? Sure did!!! How does PETEN sound? That means i will be seeing Tikal on the 13th. I changed places with an elder in peten. Get this Distric Leader.. yah.. thats what i thought... Anyway my companion is Elder Castro.. he is from Honduras but speaks perfect English.. Did i mention that his dad is in the 70.. Personally i think that President Torres is punishing me in a verry Nice way (I mean im in peten for crying out loud as a District Leader) Anyway He seems really cool. Ohh ya about peten.. It was 116.2 degrees last thursday.. Im freaking dieing of heat here.. I feel like Im swimming in a AIR pool. I mean seriously 116.2 WITH THE HUMIDITY:: THATS INSANE

We are thinking about putting your bed in Nikki's room and her's in yours.
You won't have any extra space if we do that but sleeping will be better

when you come back. You okay with that? I come home in 10 months.. you can plan places to visit... About my room... Just dont touch my hotwheels.. IF i dont like it i can always whine and change it next year.. Go for it!!

Sounds like Kim had a good experience in Phoenix. We all learn from mistakes. But some mistakes we can enjoy.. At least you have a car.. i remember buying a RETAIL LIST of computer monitors.. luckily we got our money back... just enjoy the new car and i will enjoy smelling like a dog in 115 degree weather..!!

Anyway my area is El Trebol 2 (trebol means clover like with the cards...) there is a sick lake in Flores Peten and we are like 10 to 15 minutes away.. Anyway... Sorry i couldnt write yesterday.. I was on an 8 hour bus ride.. I sent some pictures of my travel buddies.!!

Thats all for this week.. we have zone conference next week..
Elder Taylor Wood

March Zone Conference

Thanks el Presidente y Hermana for the fotos.

Well another week gone. i still have a little cough and some flem but its nothing like it was before.. at least i can walk up a hill without dieing! This week was decent. once again we are found with NO investagaters. but needless to say we have been working with the ETERNAL investagaters. Specifically a 16 year old kid named Nestor. I have been working with him for 4 months now.. he has been in church and seminary for about 7 months now. When we finally babtized him yesterday.

We also had the WORST day on saturday.. Suposably we had to plan an activity to do but they young single adults said they would do it so we didnt worry about it.. Needless to say we didnt do ANYTHING that day!! but what can you do?

Well this next monday we have changes... so i dont know what will happen.. I think my companion will go to coban and speak a mayan language (he knows 1 mayan language but he will have to learn another but they are slightly simaliar.

anyway thanks for the letters.. as of now we are dried up as an area.. and changes next week.. But thats all.. no questions this week. Mom can you find out how many people are living in delta... so i can say how big my home town is.. alot of ppl ask

The Hair Game

14 months

Well another week past. Still sick but doing a little better!
This week was normal. First of all.. I started buying a few Dvd´s I though why not. they are like a buck fifty and i can get 1 to 3 movies on a disk.

Next we did a little bit of service. Like working on the REAL mine! I exited with minor injuries. Like the war in Vietnam but worse.. I was getting shot at from every direction!! We would use a pick axe and hit the rocks when the rocks really started flying. HIT THE DECK!!! or SNIPER!!! whichever you want to use. Rocks flying around like bullets!! Just then A Zinger right into Private Xcaban!! A fatality!! MAn.. a few died but i tried my hardest to be humble and save them.. Then i decided, (after a spliting blown blister) I gota save my self.!! So thats what i did. Running to Home base with the 7 up in hand!! But seriously.. I coulda died!

Anyway.. nothing much is new,, Still sick.. But a little better
Anyway thanks for the letters.. not sure what else to write..
Wood

He's smiling ....

so it must be okay.

Guate Temple

Taylor's Mission Car

Well, Taylor didn't really tell us anything about these pictures, but since he is still hitch-hiking we'll assume that he just liked the looks of this one.

March 2, 2009

Well im pretty sick. 3 weeks now and im starting in the bronciotus.. this week we had 4 babtisms. Enrique Caño, Beatriz caño, lesly (daughter) and jeackalinne (cousin) that went good.. we are gona confirm jeackalinne next week.
Well i dont really have much to write about.. I have just been sick ETC!! anyway.. sorry its a bad letter.. i didnt have questions so i dont know what to write..
Wood

Feb 23, 2009

Well this week was a crappy one. I got a nasty case of pink eye this week.!! HOLY SKID that sucks.. Might as well jab a pencil in my eye. Luckly its been cloudy this week because the sun REALLY bothers it. What a blessing. i have some eye drops that cost like 20 dollars for a small bottle. They really help...

We have a few babtisms this week Enrique caño, Beatriz caño, and lesly caño. We babtised antonio a few weeks ago and now i will finally get my family. they are really golden.. Also Ismael Rodregez. he is a 18 year old kid who had his GF dump him so he has had it rough. he is scheuled for the 28th with the family but we have an appointment with him today to verify. Jeackalinne is finally getting babtized.. She is the sister of our babtisms in december and she FINALLY wants to get babtised.. She is for sundey. Anyway.. Other than a cold, pink eye, and other things, things are fine. Thanks for all the letters (Nikki i cant get your songs.. i rarly have head phones and its hard to download them But thanks for writing me)
Thats all for this week..

THanks! Wood

Conversation between Kim and Tay

Taylor,
I really hope I haven't missed you already this morning. Especially since I've held you in suspense all week. So here's the news you've been waiting for: The new bishop is Bishop Channan Day, First Counselor: Scott Sandavol, Second Counselor: Ron Arrington. That's all of the changes for now, but we expect several more in the coming weeks.

Colton woke up very sick yesterday morning, but Josh had to be there to be released and I was needed to play the organ. We decided to take him just in his street clothes, and Josh would take him home right after he had born his testimony. Colton didn't make it that long. He gaged on the bread during the sacrament and threw up in the chapel. Josh was on the stand, and I was still at the organ with no clue this was going on. Mindy McBride and Ron Arrington took him out and cleaned him up. What a day. I'm hoping that next week marks the start of easier sacrament meetings as Josh will now be able to sit with us and lend his assistance.

Colton's preschool teacher, Mrs. Kathy died last week. I went to her memorial service on Saturday. It was the first Catholic service I have ever attended. I was surprised to learn that the service was uplifting and focused mostly on the resurrection of the Savior. But the spirit wasn't the same, and the insense made me sick.

Oh, and here's some news. I don't mean to rub it in, ok well just a little. Last week Bashas had this crazy deal. You could buy a 5 pack of mac & cheese for a reduced price and it came with a $2.50 off coupon for tombstone pizza. Not impressed you say? Well tombstone pizza was on sale for $3.50 so the coupon made it only a dollar. Still not impressed? Well, they ran out of tombstone and were substituting Dijorno. That's right. Dijorno for $1. No we did not stock up on them for you. That's a lot of mac & cheese to buy. But we did think of you as we enjoyed our pizza.

So, on that delicious thought, I will let you go.
Love you,
Kimberly

Pizza for a dollar THATS REDICULOUS!!!!
What are they like. How many people usually attend? My ward there are 200 each week. In SALAMA there is 100 in the branch.
Are they wards or branches? depends on the area.. if your out there is always a branch.
Are there several strong members or do a few carry the majority of the responsibility? here the members are amazing
What is your relationship with the ward as a Missionary? Its not like UTAH.. EVERYONE knows the missionaries
How often do you interact with the members? Daily!!
Do you get asked to speak very often? NOPE!! THANKFULLY!! Etc...
Elder Taylor Wood

Taylor's House back Home

Bad time of year for a picture but here is the front of the house. The view from the front windows are even worse at this time. It's just dirt where green fields will soon be.

Taylors Hot Wheels 2006

Sorry these are old pictures. I haven't got new ones taken.

Transfer - Nothing New

I thought i would make my letter be more drastic with the CAPS LOCK on changes.. Well Its not that drastic. I stayed in my area with my companion.
Anyway i got a killer cold wednesday.. I still am hacking p my lungs with the mucus attached.!!
WEll nothing else is happening .. Remember my last babtism? Antonio Caño? well we are gona babtise his mom, Dad, And sister The 28th of Feb. Also a 18 year old kid who i worked with about 2 months ago. He never wanted to go to church but now he does.. Ismael Rodregez. his is also set for the 28th. next Christen (not sure the last name right now) He is the cousin of Oscar (babtism in Dec) (and Antonio) babtism in Feb. he is about 15 years old.. other than that, Im sick, I dont want to do ANYTHING, i hate talking to people in the streets. AND last week we got NO NEW investagators...
Other than that, O wait. And its FREEZING (about 68 degrees) but other than that i dont know what else to write.. Thanks for the letters !Wood!!1Elder Taylor Wood

Manti Temple

Salt Lake Temple

St. George Temple 2

St. George Temple

Missing Cowboy Life in Utah

Guatemala Scenery

Lasers in Guatemala

Feb 9, 2009

Well nothing much happened this week.. We had divisions, and 2 babtisms in our ward. one was ours..Antonio Caño he is 14 years old and pretty golden.. We put a babtism date with his mom and dad for the 28th but it will probably be the next saturday.. We are still working with his sister (age 17) but she is a SR this year and has alot of work.. Its hard to find them .. Anyway there are changes this next monday so i might be in a new area and i might not. No one knows..
Well i got more letters from Girls and x missionaries than i did family. Nikki is probablly my only faithful writer THANKS NIK!!!!
Anyway, sounds like everythings good (accually i dont know about ANYTHING.. so let me change that..) Im Assuming that everything is good.. Thanks for the letters (wait... i need to change that also) Thanks for your support.. Untill next week.
ME!!

Bus Race

First i have a list of things to write about.. I need a photo of the house and a photo of my hotwheels.. ..

We had a meeting with elder Rasmand from the 70. it was a good little devotional.
Modern transpertation. dont worry mom we dont take the buses (anymore) . Well their objective is to go as fast as possible so they can get more into the bus and earn money. well they like to ¨Battle for passage¨ or race so they can get in front of the other bus.. Needless to say.. a bus hit a truck, then rolled.. killing the bus drivers wife, and the bus helper.. He said .. GO GO Dont let them win the race.. dont worry.. Anyway.. they flipped and 2 died, 6 in the hospital.

anyway.. i was getting into a hichike today and i ripped my pants.. We got off at a members house (not near our destanation) and they had a sewing maching.. just so happens my companion is a tailor.. He fixed them in less than a minute and within 5 minutes we were took our next hichike to our destanation.

anyway we have a babtism this friday.. NAme Antonio. he is 14 years old and the cousin of a babtism from DEC.. that will go good.
anyway.. thanks for the letters.
TELL steve thatcher i wanted the steelers to win but i thought they played NEXT WEEK.. Needless to say he owes me a candy bar and a MT DEW (I accept VISA, or packages)Elder Taylor Wood

Blow Out!

Kims letter
- No questions for you today. Just the usual.
Baptisms? Yes one on friday,. a 14 year old kid who is the cousin of a babtism i had in Dec?
Neat Spiritual experiences? Not really
Funny life experiences? so you know how we NEVER TAKE BUSES¿? maybe not.. today i was asking for my normal hitch hike when a truck stoped. We jumped in as normal just when i hear a RIP!!!! yeah my pants ripped.. about 6 to 10 inches... I thought about sewing my pants in the truck (because i had a needle and thread because i just sticked my name in my bad.. BAD idea.. didnt want to do it. anyway.. we got out of the truck and we werent quite in our destanation... stopped at a members house. and there it was A SEWING MACHINE.. just so happens that my comp is a tailor.. who´da thought¿? What happened this week thatyou might want to remember someday? PANTS RIPPED
Find out that kids name that knows me..
DONT SLAUGHTER PEOPLE.. (The family played Catan and Kim slaughtered us) you need to be humble like ,me... I´m the most humbile person i knowElder Taylor Wood