week 80:Elder Young The Priesthood Has Been Restored

Today we had PDAY with the assistants. It was fun. We went to Huehuetenango again (yep waking up at 4am) and we drove to the Lagoon Madeline and had fun. I got my shoes all wet. This past week we also saw tons of miracles. Many many many. I wrote them in my electronic journal but I'll tell you my favorite out of the many just for an idea. 

I had a strong impression on Tuesday to fill up my oil bottle with consecrated oil. I went to the temple and bought an oil container.  In the district meeting I asked a missionary next to me for a drop of oil to fulfill the prompting I had that I should get some consecrated oil. I went through the day wondering when I would use it and wondering why I had that prompting. We went to the hospital with two missionaries that were on their way home but  didn't use it there. Then I had to go to the office to help president with a bunch of stuff and finished up at 10:30pm.  I thought, "Oh well, I guess I won't use it after all."  We got home at 10:50pm and Elder Linares was still up which is very unusual. He was coughing like crazy and couldn't sleep at all. I went in my bed and said my prayers and prayed for a very long time and felt the spirit to a very strong degree.  I felt I should ask him if he wanted a blessing.

As we blessed him, a flood of words and thoughts and ideas washed through my mind. I made myself a conduit for the Lord and told Elder Linares about his own prayers, his own desires and the strivings of his heart. It was a long blessing and I finished and closed in the name of Jesus Christ. I felt so happy to do that.  He said "Gracias, gracias,gracias, gracias" while sobbing. We said a prayer of thanks for what had happened and all had a good night's sleep. Elder Linares has slept well every since.  The last drop of recently blessed oil was used up. 

I know that God lives, and based on the the experiences (countless might I add) that I've had. 

I know that the priesthood has been restored.

In the mission office with Elder Price. A great man. 

Week 79:Elder Young Driving in Guatemala

Blake is at the computer. It's 10:24 in the morning. He is wiping away the sleep from his eyes as he haphazardly places his newly-purchased Guatemalan bananas next to the computer, on top of his dusty Quiche Dictionary book. He organizes checks and wonders if he is doing his job well enough. Then he is called to go pick up the Toyota from the dealer. He agrees and drives with his companion across the Guatemalan suburb. He muses in his head about how funny it is that Guatemala is the United States but in the 1980s and in Spanish. He drives in spite of his musing. He pulls into McDonalds. His companion invites him to a McMuffin. Miracles do exist. He pulls away leaving tire streaks across the half paved road. Dogs have been here. He drives, hits the roundabout and is about to go around when he realized the Toyota dealership is straight. He goes straight. He arrives. Understanding Spanish, he fills out paperwork. He takes the keys. Understanding how Latinos work he lets his companion drive. They arrive at the cleaners. They pick up the Assistants. They drive to McDonalds again. The speaker gives us bad news. There are no McGrills. All four of us still believe in God, but less so. They streak into the two-lane traffic. Elder Young hits the speed bumps to test them out. They drive through a tunnel, emerging victorious on the other side. He gets a call from President.  President tells him that a missionary is going home early and needs a ticket. He returns to the office.
His office is locked with the keys inside. He picks up two paperclips, Googles how to unlock the lock and is thankful for the time he played Fallout. He tries. Wiggles the paperclip, wiggles it again. Does a wiggle dance. Then he gives up after 45 minutes of trying. He then looks at his name tag. He is a missionary. He prays and tires again. Nothing happens. he believes in God and calls upon experiences to give him faith. He gets more faith. Picks up a broom and wipes his desk clean from a distance and through the glass. No success. Messy room now. No keys. He does it again. Nothing. 

He then sticks his hand through the glass. He magically finds the keys, they appear in his hand. He opens the door and finishes writing in third person.  What has he learned in this three-hour excursion. He realizes for every McGrill not available at McDonalds there is a hidden miracle waiting for us as compensation. 

We found an old member lady and she gave me a free doctrine and covenants book and we helped with her yard. 

Week 78:Elder Young in Garibaldi

 I'm glad  to be here and happy to share the timeless principles that you and dad taught me. The more I get older, the more I realize how awesome my parents are. I think of that often.  The week has been great. Yeah it's very interesting here. I do a WHOLE LOT of stuff and a bunch of computer programming. It is fun and I get to help a lot of people and I am learning a ton. I'm with President  all the time.I love it.  Yeah we teach a lot.. Well I changed areas again. So the family of 5 is doing great and will get baptized soon I'll go there too. Garibaldi is about 15 minutes away. But we drive so its close. Yeah haha.. I'm in an  apartment with 4 Elders, I love it.  It's like 5 minutes from the temple and I go atleast once a change which I love.