Second Week in the Guatemalan CCM

with my Zone Leader

Hello family!! 

First of all, if I make any strange accent marks in my letter just know that is because I'm typing in a third world country on a third world key board. I have many things to say! This week has been amazing in two ways: amazingly hard and amazingly fun. I've played the hymns on the piano for the congregation almost every week now, and I've taught over 10, twenty minute lessons all in Spanish. I've gotten to the point where I can converse in the language with the natives on an intermediate level, and extremely well on things that pertain to the gospel. I'm entering a strange limbo zone where my thoughts are in Spanglish, I guess that's what happens when you only speak, read and hear Spanish all day long. 

Today we got to go to the temple again. I honestly can't explain the feeling I have when I have time to sit, pensively in the quiet solace of the celestial room. For those who don't know, the celestial room is a place in the temple that symbolically represents what it will be like in Heaven.  I've grown tremendously as a person already, and I'm excited to get out in the mission field and serve the people of Guatemala with all my might mind and strength. I was teaching an investigator about the first discussion and as I recited the first vision in Spanish, the spirit bore a powerful testimony to me about the truthfulness of the restored Gospel. 

I know that God loves us and wants to be a part of our lives. It is important that each of us strive to reach out to him and consecrate our performance to him. This week, I´ve reflected on the reality of the divinity of Jesus Christ. Nobody can spend a week at this mission training center and still leave with the idea that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints isn't Christian. At 6:30 in the morning we rise, pray, and read our scriptures. We study Spanish phrases and vocabulary that help the future investigators we will teach to learn, pray, and talk to God. We begin each meeting with a hymn and a prayer and we are constantly thinking of ways to show more love in our actions to those around us. We study the Bible and fulfill the call to preach the gospel. All ten of us missionaries in my district were called from across the world and put in this room for a reason. In all my time of being here, I haven't heard a demeaning comment, foul language, or an inkling of contention. The spirit is strong at the MTC and I testify that we are doing God's work. 

On to the other funny miscellaneous stuff: I am, by and large, the biggest one here. Some of the Latinos are so small that I could literally step over them. It might seem funny, but that almost happened once at lunch haha.  They call me elder joven and think it's the funniest thing ever (joven means young in Spanish) haha. Everybody knows me here because I sing all the time, sometimes people sing with me, other times they don't but I keep singing either way haha.  The food here is amazing some days and absolutely like "Okay, what am i putting into my mouth?" on other days.  When it's good, I get seconds, thirds, and fourth servings. The Guatemalans don't eat as much as Americans I guess and so cafeteria ladies know me by name now :)  When in doubt, I just stick to the mangoes.  I'm confident my stomach is proud of that decision. 

I've written a lot of poetry, and unfortunately I didn't bring my poetry book with me to the computer lab so I'll have to share a little some other time. I wrote my first poem in Spanish yesterday and I'm going to share it in sacrament meeting soon. I've kept my goal of memorizing a scripture a day.  I think that the rigorous 8 hours of studying each day will make college more manageable when I get back. There are a million different things I'd love to say, but I lack the capacity and time to say them. I do have time to say a couple things:

God lives, and He loves His children. Our choices we make in this life are important. The atonement of Jesus Christ CAN and WILL overcome any problem in your life, if you choose to let it work within you. Also, the (expiacion) atonement of Christ can simply strengthen us when we need help. God cares about His children, and He is the same yesterday, today and forever. His gospel is on the Earth in it's fullness. The blessings of the gospel are here, now, and ready to claim. 

I have a testimony of this great work, and I know that as I humble myself and be obedient, God will use me as an instrument to preach the gospel to all nations kindreds and tongues and people (D&C 112:1) in spite of my weaknesses. 

I love you all, 

Godspeed, 

Elder Young

my main classroom

Bunks

"Scripture Power!" in the CCM hallway

Preparation Day with Elders from my District

Preparation Day with Elders from my District

Elder Young with Elders from my District

Elder Young's trip to Guatemala and the Mission Training Center

The airplane ride to Guatemala

The Volcano!!!

This view blew my mind.

Elder Young's CCM District

Time to Eat

Latinos like taking pics with me. I didn't understand a word but hey can't let them down.

The Bus

We were so tired.

Elder Young and his CCM companion Elder Cleverley. He had trouble with the language and believe in mermaids, but we got along great. 

This arch. I wrote a poem about it. 

THe mtc was so small. It felt like a little prison sometimes, but with good ice cream. 

The Guatemala City Temple

Jumping temple photo. I remember being very happy that day. 

Authentic clothing -Awesome ties in the background!

The view from outside the temple. The first time I saw it it reminded me of avatar. I felt like I was on an alien planet. Before I went home, however, I looked out at that same view and it felt like home. 

Meeting some friends in the mtc. 

Elder Young's first letter from the CCM in Guatemala

Wow! I feel a myriad of emotions that I'll do my best to express, but I promise that this meager medium of online communication isn't capable of meriting the experiences and feelings I've experienced this week. 

First of all, on the airplane, I was able to converse with many people. The first lady I sat by was a devout atheist. We conversed for a couple hours about deep theology, the role of faith, creationism, and the importance or significance of contemporary religious organizations. I shared Alma 32 with her and it was an amazing experience. She said she was surprised at my open perspective and willingness to cleave unto all truth. She said she wanted to learn more about the church. 

The next flight, I sat by a man who, believe it or not, was from Honduras and had family in Quetzaltenango. We conversed in Spanish and had a pleasant experience. 

Then on my way from LA to Guatemala, I got to meet up with about 25 other elders and sisters and we all flew overnight to Guatemala. The whole time my thoughts were consumed with the peculiarity of the fact that I am now a missionary for Christ's Church. The woman next to me and a sister missionary spoke English, and she was so nice. She was impressed by our conduct and gave us her address, (which is in one of my friends missions) and told us to write her  if we need anything in Guatemala. Completely shocked, exhausted, but eager, we arrived at the Guatemala airport and had time to write home and say that we were alive and well. 

If I could describe that day in two words it would probably be "jet lag". It was super long, and the CCM (Mission Training Center) started us off on complete immersion in Spanish. I've caught on nicely with the language so far, and I don't think it will be a problem to speak in Spanish. 

The next day I was called as district leader, and I had the opportunity to play piano for the congregation, so that was refreshing. My district is amazing, and we had an amazing experience last night. It was extremely loud in the halls and in the adjoining classrooms, so I told the elders to think that they were in the houses of someone they were called to teach and we still need to feel the spirit. We all shared our testimonies. The spirit was palpable. I testify that the gospel of Jesus Christ and His amazing (expiacion) can and has changed lives. We went around the room and talked about why we want to serve a mission, our purpose and our goals. Our district is progressing amazingly. 

My companion is Elder Cleverley. He is the hardest worker in the whole CCM. His testimony is simple and sweet.  He is truly amazing. He sometimes skips his workout time to study Spanish. He is an example to me. I've seen the gifts of the spirit poured out upon him and all the members of our district:This gospel is true. 

At lunch, we have the opportunity to speak in Spanish with the Latinos. I've taken advantage of this. Every almuerza, I've sat with a different Latino, and I think that now I've met everyone one of them. They are so amazing, and they love it when I sing. So much so, in fact, that two of the elders asked me if I would come sing Les miserables with them in their hallway haha. I did, and it was amazing, the Latinos here are loving, kind, and understanding, one of the sweetest experiences was singing the song "If You Could Hie To Kolob" in Quiché  (an ancient Mayan dialect) with the elders. We sang the last verse and a feeling of profound peace and love came over us all. 

Missionary work is hard. We prepare lessons constantly and read Spanish books for over 10 hours a day, my brain is in a strange stage where I'm starting to think in Spanglish. This transition has been amazing but for some reason I haven't been able to write poetry as clearly in English. 

I cherish the moments when I can pensively sit back and write poetry and improvise the hymns on the piano. I've had many sweet experiences and in those moments, I know that even though I'm speaking a different language in a whole new world, the medium of music is always capable of expressing all my thoughts. 

I've covered the basics, but because I have a little bit more time; here are some other fun things.

The people here figured out I could talk like Kronk and now everyone in the MTC asks me to do a Kronk impression for them XD

I played piano for sacrament meeting

I've been fine waking up at 6;30 and I can already talk colloquially with all the Latinos. 

I love you all!

Until next time, 

Elder Young

For email only(read once a week)

blake.young@myldsmail.net

For handwritten letters or packages:

Elder Blake Daniel Young

Guatemala Quetzaltenango Mission

5A Calle 14-35, Zona 3

 09001 Quetzaltenango 

Guatemala

To sign up for Blake's weekly Blog go to the following link:

http://blakeinguatemala.blogspot.com/

Blake's Departure to Guatemala!

Blake being set apart to be a missionary by President Young

Checking in at the airport!

Bryce and Terra on FaceTime as Blake checks in at the airport 

One last family picture for awhile

The line up by age -Missing Bryce 

A

 Super hard Goodbye for Mom!

An Arkansas cousins picture

Goodbye Hugs

 G

 One brother home from Brazil, the other leaving for Guatemala

Hugs for Brooks

Welcome to my blog! This keeps track of everything that is going on: all the adventures, miracles and events that occur on my mission. If you aren't subscribed, be sure to fill out that box there on the left to get started. It is going to be a great two years! Enjoy!