Straight Outa Guatemala

Week 4 down! Wassup Utah???? Life down here's good- livin it up, learning Spanish, serving the Lord!!! Every devotional we watch, they say that we'll never have another chance like this to live this closely to the Lord and for this long. And it's completely true- I can feel the difference, and I can feel the changes it's making in me! 

We had a bunch of new missionaries show up last P day. They all look like they're about 12 years old, and they told us all that we look like we're thirty. The CCM ages ya. They also cut our hair again- but this time I asked him to only cut the sides, so now I have a mix between a hard part and Mr. T's hair! Wearing all of the exact same clothes for two years gets kinda boring, so you've gotta find ways to mix things up a little bit. Sweater vests are always appreciated.

But last Pday we were able to go to the zoo, which was WAY better than Hogle! I don't know if it was because it's central America or what, but the animals were all incredible- and we got to meet a a big group of missionaries that were on their last day on the mission! It was super cool to be able to talk to them, and know that that'll be us in 2! We went to a super cool Tienda afterwards (market) where there's just a bunch of shops with little knick knacks and stuff. You don't even have to barter, you just have to perfect a kind of disapproving and skeptical look, and they'll just start dropping the price on whatever you're looking at. Being so tall that you can't completely stand up in their shops also helps.

The videos and devotionals here are incredible! Every single time we watch a talk by an apostle (and conference talks can't even compare to the ones they give at the MTC) I end up with pages and pages of notes and feel like I'm gonna walk outa that room, be able to turn the floor into water, and straight up start walking on it. That still hasn't happened yet- but al que cree, todo lo es posible! We were able to watch the Testaments on sunday, and being here where all the events might have happened added a whole new perspective to it that made it so unbelievable powerful. In case any of you have any doubts- JESUS CHRIST LIVES! He lives, and he knows each and every single one of us, and he loves us more than we can even comprehend. If there's one thing I've learned here it's that! 

I want to testify to the power of the Holy Ghost. No matter what we're doing, we've gotta have Him with us. We had a devotional on how to know if it's the holy ghost's promptings, or just you and your thoughts. In the words of Elder Bednar: "It doesn't matter!" If you're trying to live right and you're trying to do all you can to follow God's commandments, if your will is aligned with his it won't matter. You will be in the right place in the right time, you will be prompted and guided by the spirit and be an instrument in the Lord's hands, and most of the time you might not or never will know it. I can't even say how essential that is to have that relationship and that connection. If you're trying to teach the gospel and get people to change their lives without the spirit, you might as well be your company's HR rep giving a lecture on your 401k. Whether you're on a mission or not, none of us will ever get a single convert. I know for a fact that's true. It's not until we realize that and turn to the Lord and start trying to become what he wants us to be that we can truly make a difference. The Lord wants us to be our own first convert. Everything that he wants for the people that we are trying to teach, he wants for us. If we want them to pray a little harder, He wants us to pray a little harder. If we want them to repent more sincerely, He wants us to repent a little more sincerely. If we want them to gain a more solid relationship with the Savior, He wants us to gain a more solid relationship with the Savior. The title of the way we teach is 'Preach MY Gospel.' As missionaries we need to remember who the My is. It's not our gospel, it's the Lord's. We need to do it his way. And I testify that it is the true gospel. I testify that He is there, and loves us. The one consistent thing I've heard about a mission is that it's gonna be the best two years of my life. But because I have been given much, I too must give. And I too GET to give. I can't say how grateful I am for the privilege of being able to serve my Lord, and the people of Guatemala.

And about a mission- I have also always heard that is the Best 2 Years. And being able to spend them feeling the love of the Savior 24/7, I know why. 

I want to extend a challenge to anybody reading this for next sunday. There is a difference between fasting, and just starving yourself for two meals. If you decide to fast, pray with a purpose and ask to be spiritually fed. And I promise each one of you that if you do this, you will be fed spiritually and you will feel the love of God and his Spirit in your life. 

Thank you all so much for the emails- an hour's a short time to talk to all the people I love, but it's strengthening me more than you all know to be able to feel your support through your words! 

Until next week!

From the CCM in Guatemala, 

Elder Tadje