message from Michael - November 2nd

Weekly update: So generally I write Mondays but yesterday we spent all day contacting at a cemetery because of some crazy Halloween like holiday were people cry over their dead ancestors. It was pretty cool, actually. Its full of huge catacombs and tombs and stuff. Too bad I can`t take out my camera anywhere without the expectation of being robbed. I get yelled at A LOT here. People don`t like Americans. Some guy thought it was insulting to call me a Yankee. Night time is scariest though. A lot of creepy drunk guys on the street threaten to kill me. I think back to Kirtland and the early saints being tarred and featherd... No. These people will literally draw and quarter me over my watch. Oh I also get sassed a lot because Americans don`t consider Central America a continent. I tried to explain to them that it`s broken up by hemispheres and its nothing personal but my Spanish isn`t THAT polished yet. So has anyone looked at Guatemalan crime stats lately? Someone is killed in Guatemala City every 80 minutes. Now I won't die. No way no how. BUT, it wouldn't surprise me if I got shot or something cool like that. Some US Embassy guy who looked pretty bad, (he had a cool shady eye and was really buff) said this place is going down hill fast. We could have another Venezuela like situation where they pull everybody out. I hope not.
    As far as the people we`re teaching and stuff its going well. We have a few nice families we`re talking to. My companion is from El Salvador and knows pretty good English so we`re able to communicate well. It`s kind of gross how when we`re at a families house for dinner he cleans his plate with his fingers... Table manners don't really exist here.

Conclusion: People here don't like me. I`m a little grossed out by them. I`m having a good time.

Michael Rex