New Photos of April Zone Conference

I found the following photographs on President and Hermana Torres' Blog. 

They are photographs of April's zone conference. 

You can click on each photograph and it will take you to a link where they can be enlarged and you can zoom in up close.  

Carol Anne

Hayden is at the far back table on the very left back row. 

President and Hermana Torres. I never see Sister Torres without a huge smile.
She has got to be the happiest person I have ever seen.

Hayden (of course on the left -front) and his last companion Elder M. on the front right.

Hayden and his goofy face that we have all seen so many times!

This is a photo of Hayden's Zone, President and Hermana Torres and the AP's.
 Elder D.  (Hayden's good friend from home and one of the current AP's)  is standing next to Hayden.   Elder W. (One of the other AP's who just finished his mission and left to go home.) is on the far back row on the left. Elder M. (Hayden's first companion in his first area in the mission field  Las Victorias.) is in the middle on the back row  and Edler B. (Hayden's zone leader and the Elder that  he went on divisions  with around General Conference time —and LOVED)  is next to Hayden on the Left. 

Hey everybody!!!

Once again I can't beleive another week has gone by! Oh! before I forget again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRYAN! I was going to tell you last week but I guess I got distracted...Just so you know I didn't forget about ya. And Taylor, Congrats on the calling man! Thats awesome. You´ll tear it up. (Note from Carol Anne: Taylor was called to be the Teacher's Quorum President.)

But so, first of all, my phone call. So the thing is I guess you guys are supposed to call me instead of me calling you. I don't know why but that's the deal. So idk like who all is going to be there or whatever, but I'm going to leave that up to you guys to figure out. Ha ha ha. So I guess the best time for us for you to call is at 2.00 PM on Sunday. And we´re on the same time as you guys so at two o'clock your time too. I really hope that is ok with you guys! But if not...tough! Ha ha ha! Cuz you HAVE to call me!  But yeah, the number to call is, ****** So I hope everything works out alright. Sorry it's such late notice, but they just let us know too. 

So secondly, changes— My new companion is Elder N. He is from Tegulsigalpa, Honduras. He is awesome!!! And now I have to speak Spanish all day! Woo hoo! I am so excited to have him as a companion, he is a great missionary and the work is going great! There is such a great feeling in my home, in my area and in our ward.  We have like five people we are so close to putting dates with and we have found like 8 new possibilities just since the change!!! So I'm hoping this change is going to be amazing! But yeah, Elder N. only has 9 months in the mission and he has been senior companion most of his mission and has already trained and now he is a district leader. And he is like pretty much training me to be district leader— Ha ha ha— he is so funny. But these last few days have been so awesome!!! We are working way hard! Like our numbers haven't been so high— but it's because we are really trying to look for the people that are going to progress and that have been prepared for us. So I'm hoping we are going to tear it up this change! But anyway...so how´s everything going with the fam? I miss all ya´ll!  I think that that package is in the mission office. I think it came last week but we didn't get pouch last week because of the change conference, but I think I should be getting it this Thursday. I still haven't gotten E's letter finished cuz we´ve been workin' our little butts off! 

We played ping pong today for p-day and it reminded me of the summer afternoons, evenings, nights, and midnights of playing ping pong in the backyard with everybody!  Elder N is dang good! He and I played a ton. It's been way too long! He gave me a run for my money! I have pictures! But I'm going to get a ton printed today so I will send you all hard copies of pictures soon. I hope all is well! I am doing really well and I love you all so much! Can't wait to talk to you on Sunday!!! Sunday and two o'clock in the afternoon at the number *****. I am so stoaked!  And I hope I get to talk to all of you! But Bryan, one rule, no making fun of the Spanish........Ha ha ha ha. Alright, well I love you all so much and I will talk to you— LIKE FOR REALS!!!! on Sunday! 

Love,

Elder Welch

Just Received a Letter in the Mail from Hade!!! Written 4-11-11

Hey Everybody!

So I don't know when you guys are going to get this but today you just told me that you are in Vegas and on your way to meet up with the S. Welch's in Cali! YOU BIG FAT LOSERS!!!! Ha Ha! Just kidding. I hope you guys had an awesome time! I'm sure you did. Well, right now I am just sitting here on the roof of our house looking down into this pretty crazy Guatemalan canyon thing. (I will send you pictures—but I do not know if pictures will do it justice.) But yeah, we just got done doing one of my favorite things ever, shopping at the market! I bought some amazing Guatemalan fresh fruit! They have some crazy, awesome fruit here and it is SO GOOD! I am going to bring you guys back here and show your for sure. Mom, you would love it I bet! I wish I could take pictures of the market to show you guys, but we are not supposed to really use our cameras like that. But, yeah, it is like the next best thing about P-day next to emailing! It is so much fun, especially now that I -like- have confidence to talk to the people and actually shop for myself. But anyway, so we just got back from all of that, put our food away, did a little cleaning around the house and now we are getting ready to go have "Noche De Hogar" or Family Night with this girl and her mom who are members. The girl is preparing to go on her mission to Argentina real soon so they asked if we would come have family night with them and talk to them a little about it. Alright well, I better go so we are not late. Sorry It's kinda a short one, But it's better than nothing! Ha Ha! Sorry I'll do better! Well I love you all so much! Thank you all for everything! Can't wait to hear from you again!

Love,

Elder Welch

Easter, Alfombras and New Investigators

Hey everybody!

I can't believe that another week has gone by! It is going faster than I ever thought it would! It's crazy! But at the beginning of this week it looked like it was going to be the worst ever! Because it is "Semana Santa" or holy week. And everyone has work off and every store is closed and everyone leaves on vacation and whoever didn't leave on vacation is all working on the "fombras".

Mom I think you know what fombras are right? They are the things they make in the middle of the road. I was gonna send a picture but I will try next time. I have too much to tell.

(Note from Carol Anne: I have included a few photos that I found on the internet of Fombras. And a  discription of what they are at the bottom of the post. They are so beautiful!)
 

 So anyway, our whole area was like a ghost town!  So we went out and just started contacting and knocking on doors and no one was answering. It was kinda frustrating but we kept on going and we ended up finding like two or three investigators that I think are really good possibilities!!! Oh yeah— so that leads me into my next topic, Changes! For some reason they let us know about changes last night instead of tonight! I'm staying here in Las Victorias and Elder M. is getting a change. We have our change conference on Wednesday so I'll let you know what happens next week. But I am actually way excited to stay here! I have been hoping this whole time to get a change out of the capital but this last little while I have really started to make real good friends with everyone in the area and I have worked way hard with a lot of these investigators! What I am most excited for is the baptisms we are planning on having this next month! We have just started to have a bunch of success with a lot of the investigators and we, well I...am planning on having six baptisms within this next month and like at least four more baptismal dates with others if everything works out with them. I am way excited!!! We have actually done really well lately! Our zone for the previous change only had 3 baptisms. This month we had a goal of sixteen as a zone which is six areas and we completed that so if we get 6 baptisms in this next month in my area that will be WAY good! I am so excited! So that is pretty much how my week has gone.

Oh and about Easter. It was so weird! Like here, for some reason it really felt like easter back home. Like not what we did or anything but just like how it felt. Like it has been raining the last few days so it was a little colder like it is back home during Easter and Idk....it just felt like easter time which was weird! And yesterday morning the only thing I did for Easter was I made pancakes (that really isn't what I eat every morning I promise. It just so happens I just always tell you about the days that I do) But so I made an Easter Bunny pancake!!! Ha ha ha —It was pretty sad looking I'm not gonna lie, but it was funny. I made pancakes for me and Elder M. and we were cracking up about it —Ha ha ha— it was pretty funny. I have a picture of it. I'll try and send that one too next time.

But things are going really well. I'm a little nervous for the change, just cuz it's my first and it's something new, but I'm sure I'm going to love it. Almost all my friends from the zone are leaving though, so that kinda sucks.


That girl that has been talking to Taylor on facebook told me she hadn't responded for a while cuz she didn't know what to say in English, so I told her to just type it in Spanish and Bryan can translate. And all of you can add her too I'm sure. We are going to take pictures at her house with her family tomorrow because Elder Montierth is leaving and she said she's going to put them up on there so if you want you can add her and tell her to tag you or something—Ha ha ha— Idk but she´s funny. She's pretty cute too Tay, maybe after I baptize her and you guys come to pick me up in two years....you never know.........Ha ha ha ha— just kidding! But she is way cool and way smart! I've been planning already for when you all come pick me up!  Cuz everyone in the ward and all the investigators keep asking if I'm going to come back and visit and I figured, this is my first area and it's way close to the central market so I've been telling them "Oh yeah! I'll come back and bring everybody!" Ha ha ha! So you know what that means...you cant make me a liar!!!!! You better start planning it! And also every year our bishop takes a trip to Coban with his family so he told me he could like take us on a tour!

So, I'm almost out of time, I better get going. But just so you know, I am doing really well. I am excited for the up-coming change! Especially if I have a Latino companion! That would help me with my Spanish so much!!! Everything is going perfect! I couldn´t ask for it any better. I love hearing from you all! And I am still waiting intently for my other Easter package! I'm so excited!  I almost have my letter for Edgar done so I'll send that soon. Thanks for everything everyone! And thanks for all your support and prayers and everything! I love you all more than anything and I think of you all -all the time! Give Avery a big old hug and a kiss for me! and don't let her forget me!!!  Make sure you send me pictures! Of course of everyone but especially of her!  I'm dying cuz I'm missing her grow up! Its the worst!  Oh and bryan I just retold that story of you, me Kale and Garrett Ore running from the cops decked out in our camo and everything today! Ha ha ha remember that? Good times....Haha alright well I better go, ten minutes over. OOOOPS. Adios! Espero que todo sea muy bien. Manda mi amor a todos y diga les que estoy disfrutando la mision mas que cualquier otra cosa! Les amo muchisimo y no puedo esperar por la siguienta vez que pueda escribirles. Es el mejor cosa de mi semana. Menos las almas de que yo este salvando por supuesto! Hahaha. Pero en serio, les amo mas que uds. pueden creer!

Con amor,

Elder Welch

P.S. I sure hope my Spanish makes sense! Ha ha ha

Here is more info on Hayden's "Fombras"—the internet an amazing thing.....

In Guatemala as in many places in Latin American the week before Easter—Holy Week—or "Semana Santa"—is celebrated in grand style. They have processions in the streets, fireworks and religous services. They learn of Christ's life in different ways throughout the week. Unique to Guatemala is something called alfrombras  (the carpets) this tradition was introduced form Spain during the Spanish conquest.
Alfombras are beautiful carpets made of  sawdust, sand or rice, dyed in beautiful colors—traditionally sawdust is used. In the photos you can see that they also accent with many other organics. The alfombras are planned weeks in advance and preparation of the sawdust starts days in advance. They must wake up early in the morning to work on the construction of the alfombra—the designs are intricate, the process is complicated and time comsuming—kind of reminds me of Ukrainian eggs—:).  They build a rectangle frame with boards and fill it with the first layer of sawdust and then use planks of wood to pat it down and smooth it out. Some time stencils are used to create the elaborate patterns and designs. When finished the celebration continues with the the procession of Via Cruxes (or way of the cross) right down the street and over the top of all of the alfombras.  During the Via Cruxes they have 14 stations or stops where they learn of the life of Christ. To me personally the alfombras bring to mind the triumphal entry of Christ. So—COOL if you ask me!And what a great opportunity to  remember the Savior and his sacrifice in such a beautiful way.
Carol Anne

This is some of the materials that they use to make the alfrombras.

A beautiful Easter Basket

A new take on the "Easter Egg"

Fruits as an accent

More fruits and vege accents

The children play a big part in helping and being involved in the process of making the alfombras. What a great tradition!

A wedding, two baptisms, a good shoe shine and cousin Seth's twin— All in one week!!

Ok everybody, 


So— these are some of my pictures from this week. I'm going to try and send another email with pictures after these ones are done downloading. But Idk if I will have time cuz this computer is real slow! As for the pictures, the first three are from the wedding of I. and D. and then the other is obviously from their baptism! They asked two of their freinds to baptize them—the one by me in the baptism photo is a returned missionary—he´s way cool! And then the one by Elder M. is our ward mission leader—he´s way cool too! So they asked me to direct the service! Ha ha ha! That made me pretty nervous I'm not gonna lie. But it was alright!  It was really cool! When they get married in the temple in a year I will be able to come back and go to it! I am way excited for that! 


Note from Carol Anne: I am disappointed to say that we only received one of Hayden's photos that he sent from D. and I's wedding and none from their baptism. Hopefully he will send them again next week.

My pictures just got done uploading so I'm gonna send some more! These next ones are my favorites! Ok! So —these are all of a zone activity that we did. It was the best!!! We all went to the market that is by our house. It is so cool! But we all went for a contacting activity. We had three people giving free shoe-shines and the rest of us went and contacted people and brought them back and also, while people were getting their shoes shined we just like contacted them and taught them a little and got their reference information and stuff. It was SO fun! So the person shining the shoes in the picture of me teaching is Elder M.

I sent the farther away picture of me teaching too— cuz the elder in the background looks EXACTLY like Seth!!! Crazy huh? You should tell him that! 

And also If this gets posted on my blog thing or whatever, Nannette, I got your letters! Ha ha ha! Sorry I haven't gotten a chance to respond yet! But I haven't forgotten about you. 


And then the last one is of one of these little girls who loved talking to us! And we gave them like all the pamphlets and stuff and they loved them! Ha ha ha— it was so funny! We got a group picture with them and all of us missionaries but it is on Elder M's camera so I couldn't send it. Oh crap, well it just told me that it won't let me send that fourth picture of the little girl so i'll try and send it next time. She's stinkin' cute! 


(Note from Carol Anne: This photo did end up coming through after all and....she IS "stinkin'" cute!!!!)

Also transfers are on the 26th of this month and everyone thinks that I am getting a transfer. Idk why but that's what everyone is saying. So I guess we´ll see. The Hermana´s think I'm going to "the chik" Ha ha ha!  But I'll be a little sad if I do, just because I really want to see Neddy get baptized. We had to move the date to the 21st of May because he has to go to church 4 more times before he can be baptized— so that's why it has to be so late. But alright, I have to go. I hope ya´ll like the pictures! I have more to send next week! Maybe I´ll have to print some and send them in a letter. OH! also we went to the marcado central again today! And I got some presents! So I'll figure out how I'm gonna send them and I'll get them off. I am definitely bringing you all back here! Its the best!!!

I love you all SOOOO much!

love,

Elder Welch

Neddy has a baptism date!!!

Hey everybody!

So I don't have too much time—Again. Ha ha! Sorry!  But— first I had computer problems and then that was a pretty long email this time and you know how fast of a reader I am! Ha ha ha ha —but I loved it!!! I love hearing about all of that. Bryan was definitely right. That doesn't mean it doesn't make me freaking jealous!!!! Hahaha but I love to hear about it! 

(Note from Carol Anne: The family went on a trip to California and I did not know if I should tell him all about it or if he would be homesick. I asked Bryan and he said that while you are on your mission you sometimes live vicariously through the letters that you get from home and that I should most definatley give him all of the details. So I told him about our trip  and that is what he is referring to.)

So all's well here... just still chuggin' along tryin to be obedient and trying to make my mission worth all I that I can. Kinda tough at times when the other one doesn't really seem to care. Ha ha ha— but thats OK. I am having a blast! I just feel bad for him.

I can't remember if I told you this or not but N. has a baptismal date! And we have these two ladies that are sisters that I am so close to putting a date with!!! I'm hoping they will all be baptized by the end of this month! Which would be awesome! That would be almost as many baptisms in one month for our area as for the whole zone in a whole change!!!

But anyway...so I went on divisions with a guy in the ward yesterday and he was telling me that he was impressed with my Spanish. I hadn't talked to him for like two and a half weeks or so and he said that it has improved a ton already! So I guess that's good. He said that when I talk, I sound like a Latino that was born in the states —Ha ha ha. That made me laugh pretty hard. I thought it was funny. But I definitely have some improving to do! Thats for sure!

Oh yeah, so I am about filled to my eyeballs with candy! You guys are the best! And I just remembered the other day that I had candy left from my Valentine's package! Ha ha! —and I just ate that caramel corn cob thing last night and it was the best! And the fruit snacks—best idea ever!  Oh yeah,  just to save you the trouble for if you send me another package, I'm not allowed to chew gum. Sorry I should have told you that a long time ago, but I forgot. But it's totally OK cuz I'm just going to give it to the little kids —I think. Oh yeah, so speaking of lending things,  I lent a pair of shoes to Neddy to go to church yesterday and now they reak!!! Ha ha ha! But it's OK, it was worth it. He even ended up going on a youth activity meeting thing where he got to meet and hear from Elder Hinkley! So that was way cool and definitely worth it!

So I am way jealous of you guys and your trip! I SO wish I was going! You too Lexi! You all are ditchin me! TOGETHER even!

(Note from Carol Anne: While the family was in Las Vegas on our way to California we ran into Lexi and her family. We did not "go together" or even know the other one was there. It was quite the coincidence to run into each other as we were walking through the busy streets of  Vegas! It was very funny! We sent him some photographs.)

Ha ha ha— but it really does look like you guys are having a way good time! Especially Taylor in MY shirt! hahaha its a pretty good one eh?

Oh yeah! and that girl! I don't know if she has still been talking to you in English Taylor — but she doesn't know any English! She used a translator for the first one. I told her that she could write in Spanish and Bryan could translate but idk...So if Bryan wants to talk to her and stuff, he can. She is pretty cool. We are teaching her English and stuff. TELL HER TO READ THE BOOK OF MORMON! —Well, El Libro de Mormon.

(Note from Carol Anne: Hayden told a girl from Guatemala that she could face book his little brother Taylor. Taylor did write her back with a translator but has not heard from her again—You never know what he "really" said after translation—LOL)

Alright well I better go everybody. Sorry I didn't have time to send any pictures. I don't have any good new ones anyway though, I was just going to send some more from the CCM. But I have my memories of Granny Mae written, I am just going to write a letter to you all and then get it sent off this week. Thank you so much for all your support and everything you all do for me! I love you all so much and miss you like always! Keep me informed with everything!!!

Con Muchisimo Amor!

Elder Welch

Hayden's  letter was a little personal today and I feel more comfortable just putting up the highlights. He is doing fabulous! I am so pleased with his growth, with his faith and with his determination to be obedient! So on with the highlights.
Carol Anne


• M. D. is now the AP in Hayden's mission. Hayden was very blessed to have him come visit him and spend time with him on a split.  Elder W. (the other AP) spent some time with Hayden's companion. Elder D. taught Hayden so much and he enjoyed their time together. Hayden says that Elder D. is an inspired missionary who is very in-tune with the spirit and he appreciated him so much. Hayden also got to spend some time with his zone leader Elder B. They went out on splits together as well, Hayden enjoyed every second of it. He felt that together they were able to accomplish so much and learned a lot from Elder B. I am grateful for wonderful missionaries that Hayden can rub shoulders with and learn from each day! I am sure that he and M.D. had some fun— catching up on old times. 


• Hayden enjoyed conference. Between the Saturday morning and the afternoon sessions he went to a "great little place to eat with his entire zone" and the food was "way good".  He said, "It was his conference party away from home—Ha-ha."


• Hayden was on a split with his Zone leader on Saturday and they took  15 year old investigator—N.— to the Priesthood session.  "So we went to get N. to go to the preisthood session and he didn't want to go at first but I convinced him to go and while we were on our way we put a baptismal date with him! I really hope it stays but we´ll have to see. He really liked the preisthood session but wasn't able to make it on Sunday so idk...we'll see."  


Please remember everyone to keep praying for N. and his brother J. C. Be specific and pray for N's safety!


• During the Sunday session Hayden and his companion Elder M. baked cookies for two of their investigators I. and D, that are getting married on April fifteenth and baptized on the April sixteenth. I is the Doctor that they have been teaching. 


 "They are way cool. It was D´s birthday so we baked her cookies at the church in between sessions on Sunday. And it was TORTURE! cuz I was fasting!"


•  Our first Easter box that we sent arrived I was so worried that it would not get there so I sent it way early! Did not take very long to make it to him.


 "So also, I got my easter package!!! Oh and I was really surprised at how fast it came! It came like last Tuesday or something! Maybe Monday! But I didn't get it till zone meeting on Friday."Thank you so much! I have been sharing with everybody! Ha ha ha— that was also TORTURE, cuz I brought a bag of the candy to share with everybody during conference on Sunday while I was fasting! Ha ha ha— but it was ok. I have still eaten a ton! Thank you so much! It is the best! And geez! you don't have to send me another one! You guys are the best!!! I miss you a ton! I probably need to go but I love you all so— so— much and I think of you all, all the time. 


(....fasting.... never was easy for Hayden! He is like a lot of the Welch's —they get a little onery when that blood sugar is low.  Makes me all the more proud he is doing it. Even with Easter candy and cookies! Oh! He is —All "growed" up!)


• He made some awesome pancakes and reassured me that he is eating well and cooking.

Hayden, I, D and Elder M

Hayden's "more than awesome" pancakes! 

For those of you who do not know—Hayden LOVES to cook!

Part of Hayden's zone at lunch in-between conference sessions on Saturday.

He ended his letter with this:

And thanks for the pictures! I loved them so much! And if you could still try and put some hard copies of some of the fam in that package! If not— it's ok. And I would love like a wallet size one too so I can carry it with me. Yes, of course one of you too Lexi!  Well, now I really better go! All is well in the city of Nephi! Ha ha ha! I'll talk to you all next week. Love you SO much! And tell Avery hi for me! I'm sure she's already forgotten who I am. I can't beleive how old she is getting!!! Alright for real this time. Love you all! You´re all in my prayers!

Con muchisimo amor,

Elder Welch