Week 54:Leaving Quiche

Aunque es triste salir de Quiche, Estoy listo para trabajar. He decidido que voy a hacer estos próximos cambios en la misión los más espirituales posibles, y estaré completamente consagrado en la obra. Estoy comprometido de hacer todo lo que esté a mi alcance para aplicarme y encontrar a toda la gente que Dios quiere que yo encuentre. Mi tobillo mejorará y voy a hacer lo mejor posible, trabajar duro, y estar completamente consagrado.

El libro del desafío de los mormones me ha ayudado a comprender cuán importante es asegurarse de que los investigadores lean. He recibido revelación personal para mi propia vida y fuerza para seguir adelante en el desarrollo de los atributos de Cristo.

Atte, Elder Young

Even though it is sad to leave Quiche, I am excited/ready to keep working.  I have decided that I will make the next few transfers of my mission the most spiritual possible, and will be completely consecrated to the work.  I am committed to doing all that's in my power to devote myself to finding all the people that God would have me find.  I'll do my best, work hard, and be completely consecrated.  

The challenge/promise in the Book of Mormon has helped me understand how important it is that investigators read.  I have received personal revelation for my own life and strength to continue developing the attributes of Christ.

Elder Young

Week 53: My Testimony

 I have very little time today, but I wanted to send a letter to anybody who follows the blog--just a little testimony.  [This is the one-year mark of my mission!] 

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church and that Jesus Christ leads and guides it. I KNOW THAT THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE. I know that Christ lives. I know that every effort to follow Him IS WORTH it. I know that God loves us. I know that He wants us to be happy and loves to forgive us and loves to see us change. I've changed so much as a person. I know that Jesus Christ suffered for our sins because I feel His power and strength in my own life through applying his teachings. I've learned in this year in my mission that GOD LIVES. Faith is real and important, and that God is the same yesterday today and forever, He took upon himself our struggles to set us free. It works. BELIEVE ME. 

I know a little bit of the path of Gethsemane. I know enough to say I know that I am nothing compared to our amazing Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I know that the Plan of Salvation is real. Temples are real. Joseph Smith was a prophet, Thomas S Monson is a prophet. The gospel has been restored. It's here, TODAY NOW. 

There is nothing quite as satisfying as inviting people to repent and be baptized and cleansed to enter in the Kingdom of God. These things are true. I leave my name with my last year of service declaring with all of my soul. 

YO SE QUE VIVE MI SENOR!

I know that my Redeemer lives. 

This work is true. What an AMAZING YEAR THIS HAS BEEN. I've come to love Guatemala and the gospel and love everything in general. I was just sitting in a restaurant today and I felt just at perfect peace. I have the gospel, it has changed me, made me happy, given me peace, and rescued my soul (2 Nephi 1:15). I just want to share it. And I do. I pass out pamphlets all I can and share it. I'm only going to keep getting more determined and happier and better. I love the gospel. I love this world. I love God. 

Anyway, I'm still the normal Blake. I still like to play chess, piano and eat sushi. I know in whom I have trusted (2 Nephi 4) and I can sing the song of redeeming love (Alma 5) even while I walk through this mortal world with an immortal and eternally-bound soul. 

What I have learned in this last year. I cannot describe it. I've learned so many things. Humility, love, patience, hope, charity, virtue, kindness, forgiveness, and how to truly smile and the power of the atonement in my life.  I've learned so many things. 

I've ridden in the back of pick up trucks, been mocked, been hiking in jungles and in volcano covered lands, I've knocked on doors, said "BAAJJIC KUJ MISSIONARIOS Y KAKAJ JACHO JUNTIZ JONEM UWUK" and seen miracles come of it. I've seen my best friends enter the waters of baptism, I've baptized my best friend. I've cried with them as I say good bye and they tell me that they've found true peace in their life. I've seen strong men overcome alcoholism. I've seen the faith of missionaries revive like Lazarus.

I've seen a man become healed from a priesthood blessing, I've seen children becoming new again through the priesthood. I've seen peace enter in the lives of converts like the Sun melts the dew in the morning. I've seen power in the priesthood. I've hugged an apostle. I've learned Spanish, I've learned a little Quiche, I've eaten tons of things I'll never figure out what they even were.  I've been to places I've never imagined, seen sights I've never dreamed of and met people I didn't know existed and found them to be so sincere. 

I've found members living the gospel of Jesus Christ. I've seen Lamanites blossom like a flower.  I've received two answers that the Book of Mormon is true. I've seen Crazy miracles. I've been consumed with love. I've seen the power of the spirit work in mighty men.  Like Nephi, my heart has the rest of its life to ponder the demasiado grandes cosas he visto y oido (extremely great things I've seen and heard).  I know that this year has probably been the best of my whole life.  I've learned so much.  But the biggest thing I've learned, the summom and bonum, the tapestry that I've woven with all of these tiny amazing, miraculous experiences... is a monument to the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

I've learned Christ exists. I've learned that God loves me. I've learned that He is mighty to save, and His Grace is sufficient to guide and uphold us, each and every day of our life

Read the Book of Mormon, have more faith, repent more, be baptized in the true church, receive the gift of the holy ghost and let's all endure to the end. 

I've seen miracles in following that simple plan, I invite all who hear this message to do so. 

I know that the church is true and that what I've said is true. I am full of charity for each and everyone of you and for all the people I've known in my life.  I'm always here to help each and every one of you and I am striving to do my best and let God to the rest. 

Excited for a new year.....

I make an end to this stream of consciousness and thoughts that rambled out of my head, 

In the name of Jesus Christ, 

Amen, 

Elder Young

-- 

Week 52: Last Week with President Smith and one year mark of the mission. Loved the Multizone conference this week!

Today was an excellent day. I loved it. We went to Huehue for a multizone conference. It was President. Smith's last week in the mission so we said goodbye to him. He gave AMAZING advice. It was so spiritual. Me and my companion gave a great lesson to our zone. It was about recognizing the spirit and it went super well. President told us that we should do three things to stay  active when we get home: 1: Read scriptures every day 2: Pray with real intent and always have a communication with God 3: Keep the Sabbath day holy by really keeping it holy. He said that if we let our lives be governed by the will that God has for us and have his glory alone in our minds then we will stay active and have eternal life. I loved his talk. I played piano for the meeting. Sister Smith is so great. She always thanks me for playing and the practice before hand. She can hardly speak Spanish  but her testimony was super powerful. I've gotten to know a lot of Elders here. There are some awesome elders like Elder Luis, Mailo, Zuniga, Hawkings, Johns, Hansen, Nicols, Riley, Richins, Porter, Luce, Varvel, Febrezio, Whiting, and a couple more. There are some great sister missioaries too like Hermanas Hernandez, Valdebinito, Brocamonte, Ruis, and Thomas and more I can't remember. I know tons of people now from so many different parts of the world. Panama, Peru, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicorago, Salvador, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Dominican Republic, Hawaii, and so on. I met a guy named Elder Johns. He is taller than me by about an inch or less. He is a really great guy. He didn't know if he was going to go to college or not  so I encouraged  him to  go for it. Also Elder Luis is a great guy. He plays chess a lot and we have a bunch of stuff in common. He's a tall guy too. It stinks  because we can't be comps because he's leaving in 5 weeks. Also I got to see Elder Hansen again. We are great friends now. We had divisions like 4 times together and we had some great conversations. He is such a great guy. He told me today that his divisions with me in Racana were the favorite parts of the mission. He liked how we worked and helped the people. I am so grateful for his example in my life and what a good soul and a genuine heart he is. I love that guy really, we are going to be friends after the mission for sure. His dad works for a nuclear power plant which is interesting. Elder Porter is also a great sincere guy. I've met so many great examples. He is the secretary and we were together in moms a lot. He has a lot of good ideas. We've done a lot of fun things together. 

Week 51: Pictures of Elder Young's mission

Bosque

Calvario

Huehue Centro

Momos

Multizone 1

Multizone 2

Quiche (Elder Young's Zone)

Santa Fe

Totonicapan

Xela

Xela Oesle

Zaculeu

Week 50:Elder Young in Quiche

I love this district and all the people here. I love the other companions that we share the zone with: Elder Riley is awesome! We have a Walmart type store here too so thats nice. I love the house. I love the members and they work with us a lot. I'm really quite happy. I've been able to get along great with my companion and we are working really really well with each other right now. I love doing what is right to try to bring glory to God.  Life is like a bike ride. If you look down, you fall, but if you just let it go, you learn to love it and feel the breeze and enjoy it all. I like it a lot. The president is great. We are teaching piano classes on Saturday to members which will be fun. We are going to Waywaytenongo for a conference then we are going to a new meeting for all the leaders of the mission with the new president. It's fun. I like the mission. I've come to enjoy it a lot.