Hey everyone!
This
week was really great, the best of my mission so far! I am starting to really
get to know the ward members, and our investigators so that`s a good thing. And
of course, that is just my luck that my bank card would get hacked! I have bought some groceries, but I haven`t
been to the temple here yet, so I have no idea what that charge is about, I
have also bought a Rubiks cube to play with, but other than that, not a whole
lot. I did pull some out for a little bit this past 2 weeks because my mission
card wasn`t working, but we got that figured out, so I have no idea. I really
am sorry, and I promise I am not just blowing my money. I am keeping track of
it. I am sorry that it`s all gone. I was still playing soccer at the time you
asked me about, and we didn`t finish until about 6:30 so I know I didn’t make the
charge you asked me about. That`s too bad, though, and people who do stuff like
that are dumb! That`s alright though. I should be good with
$$ for the time being.
I had my first baptism
this past Saturday, and it was amazing! It was such a cool experience! It made
me remember my baptism day, and how special it was to me. I am so happy that I
have the experience to bring those same feelings to these people here in
Guatemala. It was just such a spiritual time. I loved it! Brenda is such a special person, and she has
been touched by the Spirit, you can see it in her eyes. She is going to be a true convert, I know it. She is amazing! I am so blessed I could be there to see
it. It really puts into perspective how
important this work is, and how blessed I am to be able to be out here, right
in the thick of it, sharing this amazing message with people I love. I truly can’t wait for two more years of
this. Don’t worry, of course I took
pictures. I forgot to bring my camera
today, but I will send them soon. During
Brenda’s baptism, I was asked to give a 5-minute talk about baptism. It was a
little nerve racking, but everyone said it was really good, so I am happy with
it.
As far as Paty, people
are telling us she wants to be baptized, but might have something she needs to
repent of, but might be afraid to share it with us. We are going to try and bring our Zone
Leaders to one of our lessons to see if we can be more direct with her, and she
if she will open up, I’m sure she will decide soon enough, though. We are hoping for this Saturday for her,
which would make 2 baptisms in two weeks, and in the last 3 months, which is
apparently unheard of here in this mission, so me and Foster feel incredibly
blessed
The language... oh man
the language; it is coming more and more for sure, and I can understand more
than I can talk, but it’s coming slowly but surely. Two Sundays ago is when it
kind of clicked for me. I am nowhere near speaking like a native, but I can
understand almost all of what people are saying. I have gotten an ear, FINALLY,
to what they are saying, and how they say it. It`s a whole other thing for me
to be able to talk. Just some of the grammar is still a little iffy for me, but
it`s coming so much faster than I thought it was going to be! I can`t wait till
I am fluent! I am grateful for the opportunity I have to learn another
language, and I am so happy how useful it will be in years to come. Mom said a couple weeks ago said you both were
going to maybe try to learn Spanish? Is this true, are you guys doing it or not?
The time out here is
flying by, and yet my comp says that it will just keep getting faster and
faster. He says one day I will look back and say, “Wow, I can`t believe it was
7 months ago that I was being trained,”, and then next thing I know, I will be
home. It`s been flying by though, it`s nuts!!! I can’t believe that I am
halfway through month 3... It`s crazy!
My favorite part this
week has to be the baptism this past Saturday. It was just amazing and really
put into perspective that although I might not get many baptisms out here,
because I have heard that teaching is really hard here, in fact, this is the
least baptizing mission in Central America, which has made it that much more
special. It was a great experience!
Another fun part of the week was playing
soccer. It was so much fun! They are really cheap and they flop so much, but I
scored 3 goals, and one of them was a heel flicker. They all crapped
themselves, which was fun to see, it was so funny! I felt I could totally hold
my own against them, which made me feel really good. I even played against a guy
who plays on the Guatemalan National Team. He was awesome, but I just had to
stick him up like everyone else. It was so fun!!!
Mom, your lesson sounds
like a really good lesson! I don`t know why you feel nervous about teaching,
you have always been really good at sharing lessons. You always keep it simple,
and you always seem to touch people. The
topic of, “ME + CHRIST = MORE” is
definitely true! I can`t even try to explain how much I have learned that in
just the 3 months being out here. At
first I thought that I needed to try so hard to do everything on my own to
receive blessings, or to see a change in my life, but I have realized that as I
turn everything over to the Lord, still doing my part, I have received so much
help and blessings. It`s really humbling, and it has been so amazing to witness
that change that has come over me!!! I have loved this experience and how much
it has already matured and humbled me. It`s awesome, and I will never be able
to thank Him enough for it!
I am so glad to hear
about Peity! She finally seems to be taking the steps to take her to the places
she wants to be, which is so good! She could really get somewhere with this if
she keeps up the hard work. Just tell her not to be nervous, and to play like
she knows how, and she will do amazing! I know it. When I come home, I want to
start practicing really hard with her to get her better and to get me better
for college because I really want to try out for a team when I go.
I hope Brody does well
with wrestling. He just needs to learn some discipline with his body, how to
control it and use it to his strengths. He will get there. And he has to be
able to take some pain! That`s cool that Gunner has been working out with you.
It would be so good for him if he keeps going! I like having an hour to work
out every day here. I thought that it was going to suck to have a whole day
planned for me while I was out here, but it`s honestly pretty nice.
I hope you have an
amazing week this week!!!! I hope you know I am always praying for you guys
back at home, and am so grateful for all your support. That has been the
hardest thing for me being out here, not having you by my side just being able
to talk, play sports, relax and things. It`s been rough, but I have grown so
much in these 3 months. More than I ever thought I would have, and it`s great.
I`m still me, but just a little more matured. I have been taking more pictures,
mom, I promise!!!! I will be sending you sometime this week. I hope you have an
amazing week!!! Wish Gunner luck for me, I hope he is starts getting better
soon. I love you and miss you all so much!!! Talk to you next week!
Love Elder Harward
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