Hola
Mi Familia!
This
week has been really, really good. I am starting to get a hold of the Spanish
more and more every day, and that makes me so happy! I can understand a lot,
but it´s still a little difficult to talk, but it´s coming. It comes without me
knowing sometimes, where all of a sudden, I will just be understanding what
people are saying to me, and I will start talking without knowing how. It´s
really cool. I have gained a strong testimony of the gift of tongues while
being out here. It´s great. I love that
I have the opportunity to speak this language and bring this message to people
in their own language. It makes me think
of the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 90:11
11) For it shall come to pass
in that day, that every man shall hear the fullness of the gospel in his own
tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this
power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the
revelation of Jesus Christ.
What an awesome
scripture. I am so glad that I can be
someone that can fulfill this promise. I
honestly can’t explain how amazing it is that I am now a full-time
missionary! It’s by far the hardest
thing I have had to do in my life, but in just these 3 months, the payoff has
been huge, and I am so grateful for this opportunity and the blessings I have
received from it and will receive in the future!
We didn´t get to baptize
Paty, but we finally figured out what the problem was. This whole time, she has
known that what we are teaching her is true, but the reason she hasn´t committed
is because she wants to get baptized with Indira. We aren´t sure how that is going to happen
because Indira isn´t really progressing. She has been gone for 2 weeks in the
US and won´t come back until the 5 of December. So now we are going to try and
set a date for Paty when Indira will be here, and say that if she gets baptized
then she will set an example for Indira and her daughter to follow, and that it
will work out for all of them in the end, but we will see. I really hope she
decides to get baptized because she is so ready!
Brenda´s baptism was
such an amazing moment, and it was so amazing to see her just light up when she
came out of the water. It was so cool. And no, I didn´t do the confirming, one
of the bishopric did, but that was such an amazing experience too. Her whole family
was at the baptism and they came to church for the confirmation too. Apparently,
they are all interested and want to start taking lessons now, so that should be
awesome!!!! It´s amazing to see how this gospel really changes the lives of
people, and especially families. It´s amazing.
This has been the
biggest anticipation week for me with everything going on with Gunner. He about
gave me a heart attack. It was so hard not to be there with you guys trying to
comfort him, do something to help. It was really hard. I won´t lie, it brought
me to tears just thinking about it, and I just got really scared. But I am so
glad to hear that he is getting better. Just tell him for me to take it slow, to
take his time to heal because it won´t happen overnight.
How was the life-flight
helicopter ride?? You are so lucky! I would love to fly in a helicopter. I bet
dad was really jealous that you got to ride in one! What is the Ronald McDonald
house, because I have no idea what that is? Have tests come back positive for
Kawasaki Disease or no? How is everything going back at home?
So this week, one of my
zone leaders, Elder Rojas who is from Panama, is going home today, so last
Saturday, he wanted to go to this small village in the middle of nowhere that
was like an hour by bus from our area, so me, Foster, him, and his comp all
rode a bus out there, and the bus we rode on was nuts!!! I will send a picture
of it, because it was packed. It was nuts!! While we were driving there, we
were about 10 minutes away, in a school bus packed with people passed its
maximum limit by at least 30 people, on a horrible dirt road with pot holes
everywhere, going down this huge hill, when we turned a corner, and there was a
group of about 30 people, men women and children, with yellow tape blocking the
road. The bus stopped to see what was going on, and then 3 guys get on the bus
and say that all the natives needed to pay 5 quetz each to all the people
"to help fix the road" but they just wanted money I´m pretty sure.
People started getting pretty upset for a good reason, and the people said that
if you don´t pay then you have to get off the bus and walk down instead of
using the bus. It honestly made no sense, but it was like one of those gangster
hold ups straight out of a movie. It was nuts. People ended up having to get
off the bus, while others paid, and after that we went on our merry way. It was
pretty sketchy, but they gave us no trouble at all.
We got into the village, and it was such a cool area. It makes me want to go to a village area out in MoMostenango so bad!!!! It was really cool. We rode the bus back, and then got off back in the zone leaders´ area. Then we went home and relaxed for a little bit because it was about 7:00 pm. It was awesome! A really cool experience. I can´t believe all the things I have already seen out here, and I only have been out here almost 3 months. It´s amazing!!! I love it!!!!
PEAK MOMENT: Going to that village with Elder Foster and Elder Rojas, it was
so cool!! I loved it!!
PIT MOMENT: Again, Paty not wanting to be baptized yet, because she is so
ready!
MOST EXCITING THING FOR THE WEEK: Being right in the middle of a “gangster hold-up”
haha! It was so weird to be there when it happened!!!
SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO PRAY FOR: I would say for Gunner, but of course you
already are, so pray for Brenda´s family that their hearts can be softened and
they can start taking lessons, either from us or the missionaries in their
area.
SOMETHING YOU LEARNED THIS WEEK: To solely rely on the Lord with the language. As
I have been doing this I learn so much more without knowing how. It has been
amazing to see my Spanish growing so fast. I know I am not even close to
fluent, but it´s coming, and I am so happy about it!
I hope you all have an
amazing week. I love you and miss you so much!!! Talk to you next week!!!
Love Elder Harward
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