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!!