We've worked and worked and worked and we finally have seen some harvest. We have three people with different baptismal dates in October, so hopefully those will work out. We found a family in the junglish part of the mountain. When we entered there were menacing dogs all around us, barking like crazy, but we both felt like we should go ahead. We pressed on and eventually found a family who had some members that were baptized before! We gave the first lesson and a girl there the of age 9 said she wanted to be baptized on October 15th. We also found a different family, taught a nice lesson and he said he wanted to be baptized the 22nd of October! Angel, said he wants to be baptized and agreed to the 29th, but he thinks that will be too soon because 'he wants to get finished with all of his mistakes before he's baptized'' As he said that I started looking down at the ground and found a little stream of dirty water trickling into a nearby gutter. I then looked at my pure bottled water in my hand. The thought came to me so clearly: why do we find sin appealing? When we drift continually in the path of least resistance, we, like the water, will end up in gutters and filth. But when we sanctify ourselves, we live on exalted plains with nothing to fear, we receive a transparent soul, ready to be illuminated by the word of God! I testify with all my power that the happiest way is always righteousness. It's better to prepare and prevent than repair and repent. You kids that are preparing for a mission, and everyone alike: remember that.
I would like to say something here to those of you in the states. My message is this: DO SOMETHING: Learn French, how to juggle, read poetry, learn astronomy, go out and reach your dreams, quit watching Disney channel and Netflix and go make something of your life. I've started planning my hours and minutes of the day and I've found so much free time that I didn't know existed before. I'm now designate this time to missionary work, but those of you who are not full time missionaries! Use it! It's a gift! Read books, start business, talk to people! Life is so vast that we've barely skimmed the surface. People have amazing stories, there are books to be written and experiences to be had. Life is like a punching bag. You can just sit there and stare at it. Or you can get after it, take it places, and get stronger in the process.
Another thing, I want to say a few words about hope. There is always hope. When we make mistakes, we can repent and be completely rehealed. There is ALWAYS a way back. Don't think for a second that you are undeserving of God's love and unable to reach God's grace. Repentance is hard, but it's worth it. There is always a way back. Always.
I'll end with a little poem I scribbled in my notes after reading Alma 5 It's pretty cheesy haha.
There are a million steps on the stair case
From hell to heaven's door
Unless you make your journey on Earth
In which case there are only four
The first step is recognition
And al that this step takes
Is feeling Godly sorrow
And realizing you made a mistake
The next step is confession
Letting God and others know
That your heart is broken and spirit contrite
And you're choosing to let it all go
The third step is forsaking
Replacing the bad with the good
Abandoning the path you were on
And acting the way that you should
The last step is restitution
Restoring what you have lost
Assessing the damage you've made
And paying the coverage cost
And now, at last you've made it
You have a new identity
A person no longer defined
By who you once used to be
These four steps become much steeper
To take on after you've died
So what will you choose? The million steps
Or will you strip yourself of some pride.
Repentance is the medicine that nobody really wants but everyone really needs
Misc:
I'm getting more accustumed to the culture and the climbing. All the walking has made my legs a lot stronger, so when we played basketball today, I could dunk it with ease. I even got a sweet dunk over this one Latino: great preparation day. Everyone is fascinated by the piano, so we are going to have piano classes on Monday nights at the church. The old ladies are hilarious. When we contact them they start saying ''no no no no no no'' really fast. I think it's hilarious and I sometimes I can't help but start laughing. One of these times I might start beat boxing and we can start an impromptu rejection song haha.
Love you all so much!
Elder Young
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| Racanda |
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| Elder Hawkins and Elder Young with their investigator |
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| Elder Young playing baseball with a stick and a huge rock |
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| Elder Young with a goat on his back -just a normal every day occurrence |
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| Elder Young with his Tilley hat that he wears every day |
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| One of the ways they travel |
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| A Blake face |
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| Riding into momoestenango with Blake's trainer, Elder Hawkins. This is one of the fist visits that Blake had to the more "civilized part" of his first area. This is actually outside of his area but he gets to go here every so often to buy food and water for the week. |
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