This week has been soul stretching and rather rigorous, but so is every worthwhile experience. We've talked with everyone and we got over 10 lessons this week! The highlight was when we went tracting in the mountains and found a man that can speak Spanish and knows the bible well. We gave him the Book of Mormon and he was enthralled! Hopefully he reads the Book and prays about it to know if it is true. It's awesome how that's all we have to do. We just invite them to come closer to God and He does the rest.
Also, we had about 10 new investigators that promised they would come to church but the church fleet (truck) broke down and so none of them were able to come, but that's okay because that means they'll come next week and I'm sure sacrament meeting is going to be great next time too. On Thursday, we went out to visit a member to talk with his family about the Book of Mormon. He lived about 10 miles away, in the thick of the jungle and we had to traverse unpaved paths most of the way there. It took hours of walking and asking directions, and when we got there they fed us breakfast but by the time we were there it was already past lunch haha. He's such a sweet sweet guy. He is one of the most active members in our little branch, but he's deaf and speaks only Quiche so we always yells at us and we write our answers back in Quiche haha.Come to think of it, the best members of this branch are either blind or deaf. Interesting I think in total on Thursday we walked near 20 miles and taught two lessons. My companion keeps telling me the only reason this place is still open is because president likes and and if the missionaries weren't here it would fall apart, but I still have faith that one of these people out here will realize that there is more to be offered, and so we preach on the back of the trucks and invite everyone to church.
Rejection is normal, I just laugh it off now, but all the rejects got me thinking about my own life with God. I can really understand it now, it's palpable. How many times does God offer us blessings in our lives and we have refuse them and turn away just like the people do to us.
Another cool experience happened. It was last Pday and my companion and I were both sick, but to be obedient we were required to proselyte for one more hour. We agreed that it'd be fine if we cleaned up the house and prepared dinner because we were both under the weather, but I thought of a random, guy that I passed the other day and we decided to at least go at least meet him. We did and we ended up teaching the first lesson and he was extremely positive. I wasn't even looking at the clock until we arrived home and our one meeting had filled up all of our proselyting time. I know that when we strive to be obedient, God will bless us and prepare a way.
I love teaching English class, and playing piano on Sundays is so much fun. The kids love hopping on the piano and changing the buttons.
Well I really do love the experiences I'm having here. It's definitely a challenge, but wow, guys life is so vast. These people spend all of their time working for just enough food, and then afterwards, with what little money they have, they buy pots and pans and clothes. And yet, here we are, in the luxury of life. My friends of the states, we have been given so many blessings. We should always be thankful for things I've taken for granted until I've seen how these people live: floors, clean water, variety of food (they eat the same food almost every day), clothes, cars, education, tooth brush, socks, good shoes, etc. We have been given so much, and to think that we still squander away our time with things of little importance when we could be sharing our talents and goods with others.
This mission has already changed my life so much. I don't have time to put my poem on here, hopefully I will have time next week. I love you all!
Elder Young
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| Elder Young hiking in the mountains! Missionaries are pretty awesome -Especially this one! We love Elder Young! |
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