Monday, June 25, 2012

This last week has been awesome!  We had our three baptisms with Michel, Patrick, and Douglas! Elder Erwin and I and the Noblia Branch were all super excited!  I baptized Michel and confirmed him at church yesterday.  It was a great experience and the whole time Michel had a huge smile on his face - it was awesome!  I was stressing about the baptism because I had to remember Michel's full name ... "Galdino Michel Antunez Tabarez."  Everyone here has like 4 to 5 names, it's crazy!

Anyway, it went really well and the spirit was definitely there.  One more thing - the baptism totally reminded me of my baptism because the water heater was broken.  The water was FREEZING!  I was super impressed with the boys because they had smiles the whole time.  The branch president and I

Monday, June 18, 2012

Everything is going great in Noblia, like always!  I played soccer with the teenagers last Monday.  Once again, they made me look really stupid but I love playing soccer with them and they definitely love making fun of me so it all works out! 

We have a baptism planned for this Saturday with three kids, Patrick (13), Douglas (11), and Michelle (9) (all boys).  They will be my first baptisms and I'm pumped!  They are the coolest and smartest kids ever.  I'll make sure to send you a photo of them next week!  The area has been really, really tough.  The last change when I went to go pick up Elder Erwin, other missionaries were asking me where my area was.  I told them Noblia and they all just looked at me and apologized for being in

Monday, June 11, 2012

Dang! I´m super bummed about the photos.  Just this past week my other memory card got damaged and I lost all those photos and videos, too.  I'll have to buy some bubble wrap or something.  Anyway, I'll make sure to try and take more photos.

[Zach's dad:  Zach sent home a memory card full of pictures and videos, but the envelope arrived this past week, torn and without the memory card.  The letter came in a plastic bag with an apology from a sorting facility of the U.S. postal service.]

So this week has been another great week! We´ve been teaching the Rodriguez family and three other boys (Patrick, Douglas, Michell) and it's been going great!  They love us to death and they are

Monday, June 4, 2012

Well, it's been another great week in Uruguay!  I'm having a blast with Elder Erwin in Noblia.  We are finding a lot of people who are interested and having many lessons. I absolutely love the mission! It's been awesome!

Last week after I wrote you guys from Tres Cruces, me and Elder Erwin had the opportunity to go to McDonalds!  It was the best thing ever!  McDonalds here seems like a super nice restaurant so it is really weird; however, it tastes the same.  I also got the package from Alex Sisk this last week! You´ll have to tell him that I love the tie and that I think his tie idea is great - I want to do it!  I´m sending a picture of me wearing the tie.

Monday, May 28, 2012

It's been another awesome week in Uruguay!  I'm actually in Montevideo writing you today.  We took a bus at 12:30 in the morning and got here at 5:30 in the morning.  I feel like I've done this drive one too many times.  I had to come to Montevideo again for a medical thing.  I guess all new people in the country have to get a physical exam, so that's why I'm here.  I'll be heading back to Noblia by bus around 2:00 p.m., so we´ll have another nice trip back.  I'm starting to get used to the drive!  I'm writing you from Tres Cruces.  I'm in a huge bus station!  It's like an airport but for busses - it's crazy!

Well, this week we've had some great lessons.  We taught a ton of people and things are going great. I absolutely love the mission!  It's been so awesome!  This week Elder Erwin and I planned a soccer activity with the youth of Noblia at the church. We had a great turn out! We had about 25 kids there all

Monday, May 21, 2012

Well, my new companion is Elder Erwin.  He is the funniest guy I've ever met.  He is a complete opposite of Elder Jackson.  He is way into drama, acting, and singing, but he likes sports, too.  He is almost 6'5" and pretty skinny.  All the people here in Noblia really like him and get along with him great!

The bus trip back from Montevideo was a lot quicker this time.  It didn't seem that bad because I knew what I was doing and when we made quick stops for snacks I actually knew what was good to eat (and knew what I was eating).  When I went down to Montevideo with Elder Jackson we went to his favorite area and talked with some of his converts.  They love him so much and gave us a ton of food!  We also went to his favorite restaurant where this guy made these really, really good calzones.  It was awesome!  After that we went to the church by the mission home and that's where I met Elder Erwin.  I'll send a photo so you can see him.

Monday, May 14, 2012

[Zach's dad:  For Mother's Day we were able to talk to Zach by Skype for over thirty minutes.  Technology in this day and age is amazing.  Although half a world away, Zach sounded and felt like he was in the room next door.  His enthusiasm about life and missionary work is contagious.  Zach followed up yesterday's call with an email today.  Here are some excerpts.]

It was the best thing ever to talk to and see you guys yesterday! I love Skype and I thought it worked great!  I could hear and see you guys perfect!  I'm sorry it was so short.  Another missionary had just got to the house we were at.  He was supposed to talk to his family an hour before, but I guess Skype wasn't working at the house where he was.  So he came to the house we were at to jump on and quickly talk to his family.  It was super hard to say goodbye, but I was glad we were able to talk.  I

Monday, May 7, 2012

All is well here in Uruguay!  It's been a crazy week but I'm starting to get used to it.  I'm pretty sure every week is gonna be crazy for the next two years.  

For Mother's Day, I have awesome news!  We are going to go to Melo on Sunday night and do Skype from a member's home!  I'm super excited to do it!  I will get on the computer and talk to you at 6:30 p.m. Uruguay time (3:30 p.m. Utah time).

I haven't received any of the other packages besides the one you sent me for Easter.  I have gotten some letters and I'm trying to write back.  It's just super hard as we are constantly busy!  It's crazy!

Monday, April 30, 2012

It was another great and exciting week!  Uruguay is awesome!  It was nice to hear from all of you.  I love hearing what's going on and what everyone is up to.  I got mail this past week from Shelly, Cole, Jordan, and Grandma Gardanier.  I also received the Easter package.  Thank you so much!  It hit the spot! 

Mom, in answer to your questions, when we buy food here in Noblia we typically buy from this little store on the main road.  A member of the church works there so she usually hooks us up!  That is where we buy pretty much everything.  They have told us a little bit about Mother's Day and they even said we could Skype.  However, we are out in the freakin' boonies so we won't be able to do that.  But I will be able to call!  They'll tell us more this week and then I'll let you know what the plan is.

Monday, April 23, 2012

So it's been another amazing week!  I love the mission!  I'm meeting a ton of cool and amazing people everyday!

So today for P-day me and Elder Jackson (who is from Ogden, Utah) helped some missionaries move out of their house to an apartment.  After that we went and looked for some supplies for our house.

Just this last week we got an oven, washing machine, and a whiteboard for our house.  Our house is brand-new so it didn't have anything in it.  We've been slowly buying things for the last couple of weeks.  It's been a pain, but it's all good!  One of the pictures I'm sending is how we got the washer, oven and whiteboard to the house.  It's pretty funny, I thought.  Good ol' Jorge and his bike!  He's a

Monday, April 16, 2012

I had another amazing week!  I'm learning a ton from Elder Jackson.  In answer to your question, I haven't received any packages or mail yet.  Our mission president says it typically takes about a month to receive packages and about a week or two for mail.  It's interesting how they do mail here. We give our mail to our district leader who then sends it to the Mission President who then sends it through the mail to the U.S.  I don´t quite understand how it works, but anyway, I think you guys will receive my letters faster than I will receive yours.  I hear the mail here more reliable than other places in South America, but I'm still kinda hesitant.

We eat a lot of meat down here! A lot of noodles and meat, or sandwiches. Yesterday I ate a dog (I'm pretty sure I'm not joking).  I was trying not to think about it while I was eating!  It tasted alright. 

Monday, April 9, 2012

I´m doing great!  This week has been absolutely crazy and I don´t even know where to begin.  Monday was the longest day of my life. When I got to Uruguay (on Tuesday) we went to the mission home for two hours and then I found out I had to drive another 7 hours to get to Melo, spend the night, and then drive another hour the next day to get to Noblia.  It was the longest day ever - but it's all good.  Noblia is absolutely tiny and the people are super poor.  It's been a really humbling experience and I am super blessed to have the things I have in my life.  We live in a tiny, tiny house and have hot water for our showers but everything else is cold.  Elder Jackson is an absolute stud and has been showing me the ropes.  He works hard but he's been impressed with my attitude because I always want to work.  He's also impressed with my boldness.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

I´ve made it to Uruguay safely!  This is a short email but I´ll be able to write more on Monday.  Monday is our P-day.  My new companion is Elder Jackson.  He's a cool guy and has been showing me around.  It's a lot different here, but it's awesome.  I´m living in Noblía and me and Elder Jackson are the only ones living in the house.  Noblía is close to the border of Brazil.  My zone leader is Elder Griffin and he is actually in my district.  He's a really awesome kid and it was nice seeing a familiar face.  [Zach's Dad: Elder Griffin is from Mapleton, Utah and we've known their family for many years].  I'm healthy and doing great!  It's a crazy world here!  Oh, and my Spanish is horrible; but it's all good.  I love you guys! I´ll talk to you on Monday!

Zach's dad:  Click here for a link to Zach's new city (or town, rather)

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Zach leaves for Uruguay tomorrow.  A couple of random videos from the MTC before he leaves:

Thursday, March 29, 2012

I can't believe I'm basically done here in the MTC!  It flew by so fast!  I had my last class today with my teachers and it was really sad.  They were honestly the best teachers I could have had and I was so blessed to have them.  I got a few pictures with them so I'll make sure to send some photos before I leave for Uruguay.

Life has been really crazy this last week!  It is really busy because of General Conference and other meetings we will attend since we're leaving this Monday.  I'm super nervous to leave for Uruguay but am also really excited.  I've learned a ton of Spanish but I still feel like I don't know anything.  The Lord is gonna have to help me quite a bit with the language down in Uruguay!

Monday, March 26, 2012

A couple of pictures we recently received:

Zach with a couple of missionaries from his district.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Today we should be getting our flight plans. My whole district is super excited but the five missionaries that are supposed to go to Argentina don't have their visas yet and we heard they might be reassigned ... they are kinda bummed. I'll let you know what my flight plans are. I will try and send another email tonight and let you know what's going on.

Elder Oaks and his wife came and spoke to us on Tuesday. He is an amazing man, but I was really impressed by his wife. She just had surgery on her foot but she still wanted to come speak to the missionaries.  She told us how much she loves the missionaries and said she wouldn't miss coming and speaking to us for the world. She was really kind and spoke to us like a mother. I felt like I was sitting in her living room and she was just giving me motherly advice. She was awesome! Elder Oaks

Friday, March 16, 2012

It was another great week! There were some frustrating moments with Spanish, but I learned a lot from my teachers and my fellow missionaries, so it is all good! I'm learning!

I sent my picks for March Madness. I totally guessed on everything (and received some divine revelation). You'll have to keep me posted on how my picks are doing.  I heard BYU lost to Marquette but had an amazing play-in game. We try to get as much information out of the teachers here as possible or ask new missionaries what the latest news is. It's pretty funny to see all the missionaries that have been in the MTC for awhile crowd around the missionaries that have only been here for a day or less and try to get as much information out of them as possible.

Friday, March 9, 2012

I had another awesome week! It was my first week of being a zone leader and it went awesome. Me and Elder Hicks have to set up our Sunday sacrament meetings and assign who is doing what.  We attend many meetings every night. They are basically about our district and making sure everyone is doing alright.  It's been a good experience.

I've been sleeping great! Each night I crash at 10:30.  I honestly can't wait to go to bed each night. It's the best thing ever! My roomates, however, are not as good.  They complain about my snoring.  They even wear earplugs.  However, I guess I'm still pretty loud.  But they'll live.

The Spanish is coming along.  My teachers have told me they are impressed with how much better

Friday, March 2, 2012

Today I had one of the most amazing P-days!  We went to the temple.  After we were changing we discovered the temple cafeteria.  The food was absolutely amazing!  (Just because I think we were all used to the MTC food. Not even comparable to your cooking, momma!). Anyway, we all were in heaven and left with full stomachs. Our district is gonna do it every week now!

My companion Elder Hicks is a great example to me and I look up to him. He's really active and loves the outdoors. He rock climbs, hikes, skydives, and does ice climbing. He basically does it all. I can't remember if I took a picture of one of the pictures he has here in our room, but anyway he had the longest hair in high school! Its hilarious! He looks like a chick and I remind him of that every day. Anyway, he's a stud.