Week 15: Elder Young finding people to teach in the Mountains of Racana!

This week went very well. We found a family in Castros and we have a couple new fechas for baptism. One of them is a man who cannot speak or hear: he can only see. He communicates with his daughter through a primitive sort of sign language and teaching him has proven to be a a great joy and a challenge. We managed to talk about the restoration of the gospel and we asked him if he would like to be baptized. His response was that he would be so excited that he would dance in the baptismal fount! He started dancing around and with his hands gesturing to the sky he expressed his desire to live with God again someday with his voice and understanding completely restored.

Think about that. There are so many people in this world, and yet God still can send two missionaries to the house of a man who can't speak or hear and invite him to be baptized. These experiences happen all the time in Racana, so much so in fact, that I'm beginning to abandon my perception of what is normal and what is not. I'm increasingly coming to the conclusion that the life I'm experiencing now -the one that involves serving in the fields with the people and talking about God 24/7- is closer to reality than the previous life I was living. 

Teaching him and the other investigators has been a true joy. I'm thankful for these priceless experiences. My time out here has opened my horizons to a world I never before had imagined. 

Elder Young

The back of the truck -the way they travel

Resting!

Momostenango -the closest place to buy groceries

Elder Young in Racana another day of hiking and finding people

Racana

Racana

One of the many many dogs the Elders have to deal with but Elder Young says they have actually made friends with many of them.

Elder Young

Elder Hawkins 

This dogs name is "tyson" he lives outside the house and we always fed him a little at night. One time I tried to give him a bath because he was so dirty and he lost a little trust in us. In the morning he would go out and contact with us through the mountains. 

Corn fields -Elder Young spends lots of time getting the kernels off the corn to help the people

Elder Hawkins in the corn fields

and they walked and walked and walked

It's harvest season right now!

Lots of service rebuilding churches in the area and other projects people need help with

A basketball court right by their apartment -you know Blake loves that!

Dancing with the children

The silly Blake we all know

Elder Hawkins 

Indoor field in Momostenango

Pday!

Week 14 Elder Young in Racana and Hermalinda's Baptism Day

Hermalinda was baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday! Her family is progressing very well, and there were about 10 investigators at her baptism, so that was pretty nice. It was refreshing to see the baptismal fount fill up again. As it filled I thought about what a special day it was, and how there is literally nothing more important in this world then the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I lack time, but I would like to express a quick, baptism inspired thought: Too often in life we offer a mere thimble to the powerful torrents of God's blessings that could fill lakes and oceans. 

In all honesty, the only reason that we aren't as spiritual as the pious pioneers is because deep down we probably never really intended it. I've learned that when we cleanse and abase ourselves, fully allowing ourselves to be submersed in the will of God, we can finally begin to experience the fullness of joy this life was intended to give. 

Essentially, instead of enjoying the raindrops of peace and comfort, why not immerse ourselves completely in the love, acceptance and approval of God?

These thoughts get even more insightful when applied specifically to the ordinance of baptism. Interesting isn't it?

Elder Young

Misc,

We walked an hour in a half through the mountains (one way) and found two families in an area called The Castros that seemed positive. We're going to visit them tomorrow. We're also helping out some people here build a Catholic church and another family with the harvest coming up. My companion almost got bit by a dog, a cow charged at me, and Hermalinda's mom didn't have a signature so she stamped her thumb print on it the baptismal records instead.

Pretty typical week basically...

Adios  

A trip to the city. There were "manifestations" going on because the light bill was way to high. So people came to protest. 

Daily planning. The power went out. 

Baptism Day! Elder Young and Elder Hawkins

Hermalinda's Baptism Day!  Picture with Elder Hawkins, her family and Elder Young

These are local kids that went to our English class so we invited them to stay at the baptism. We had over 20 assistance because of that. 

Week 13 Blake in Guatemala

Elder Young riding on the flete with some locals going towards the church. 

Elder Young in Racana. THis is his house. 

Elder Young and a Bull, across the street where he lives. 

Elder Young with a new hair cut

Elder Young dunking it with ease on the goal outside his house. 

Week 12: Elder Blake Young in Racana -I absolutely love this mission!

Today was transfer day and Blake is staying in Racana for at least another 6 weeks with his trainer, Elder Hawkins.

With 6 baptism dates, 9 new investigators and 8 people attending  church this week, the work has gone very well in Racana. We are going to have a baptism and hopefully more to come. I'm so thankful I have a companion that wants to work hard. I absolutely love this mission, the people, and the experiences with all my heart. The best moment this week was when we taught the Plan of Salvation to Santa. It suddenly hit me so hard that there really are three kingdoms of glory, and there really is a kingdom with our Father in Heaven. I think it was a little bit unnatural for them when a 6 foot 5 gringo started to break down and cry as he talked about the afterlife. But, suddenly, in that moment, I wanted more than anything in the world to be there with my family and for Santa to be there too. I was hit with an unexplainable feeling of immense love for her and her family, and when we extended the baptism invitation there was no denying it was the right thing for her to do.

As I explained this basic doctrine, I was hit with a stunning feeling of the reality of what I was saying. As we walked home that night, I envisioned all the people of that blessed little village wearing temple clothes and making covenants of righteousness. There truly is nothing more important than the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

We drove in the back of a truck for 45 minutes to watch General Conference on a TV. We watched it in Quich'e and Spanish: 

(For those of you who don't know, General Conference is an opportunity to hear the words of a living prophet in the world today. If you are reading my letters and think that a mission is an amazing experience, but you're not sure about whether or not the church is true. I'd invite you to watch General Conference and read the Book of Mormon and pray. I promise, as a representative of this church, that you will receive an answer for yourself.)

I don't have much time to to write, but the church is true!!!! 

I LOVE YOU ALL

Elder Young

This is the way Elder Young travels unless he is walking!!