Sabbath Day Worship- and Christmas Photo Shoot

HOLA!

The kindness of the people here continues to amaze me. The other day we were walking down the street, and crossed to the other side to contact a family. They were walking out of church and the dad had on a tie with a wiener dog wrapping around it- really strange! So  started out the conversation by saying, "Hey, nice tie!" He immediately said, "You like it? Here, it's yours!" and started pulling it off from around his neck. I tried to tell him that I didn't want to take his tie, but he just said that he has lots of ties and doesn't need that one. They ended up not wanting anything to do with the church, but he gave me the clothes right off his neck because I said I liked it. There is a special feeling here in Guatemala that I've never felt anywhere else. The people in general are amazing, and the members even more so!

Some of the strongest and most faithful members I've met here. Two of the converts from El Bilbao are Victoria and Rufina. They are two sisters about 70 years old and live up in the jungle. Victoria is completely deaf and can't speak, but is NEVER not smiling. Rufina is partially deaf and can speak a little. They live about 40 minutes fast walk from the chapel. I don't think I passed a single Sunday without seeing them at church. These two deaf sisters, despite barely being able to communicate (or walk) attend church every Sunday because of the special spirit they feel there, and the blessings they recognize in their life that only come through church attendance. They understand the role of the importance that Sabbath Day observance is in their lives. Not of just doing it as a routine because that's what you do every Sunday, but going prepared and ready to make and renew sacred covenants with the Lord and be nourished by his word. My dad used to tell me a saying whenever I played sports- you get out what you put in! It's the same with the church. If we show up late because the mornings been crazy and we're distracted and thinking about other things and not focusing on the Lord, we miss out on opportunities to learn and grow.

One recent convert is named Marcelo Munoz. When we found him, he was living with his wife Aura, who's a member. They weren't married because they didn't have enough money for it. They live in a shack made out of bricks and wood. He had found a piece of laminate to use as a roof. They owned a mattress, and small table, and row of clothes, and a small stove. Their chairs are made from bricks- or blocks. They didn't have enough to pay the rent (which was about 40 U.S. dollars) because he had lost his job. They didn't even have enough money for food. We brought them a few cans of beans and Aura began to cry because they hadn't had actual food in so long. But they were about to lost the house and have to leave the Puerto San Jose, over an hour away. We told them that the Lord knew about their situation and promised them blessing if they could make it to church- that weekend was General Conference. They said the landlord hadn't asked for their money yet, so they decided to come to conference. They came to both Saturday sessions, but he told us that night they would probably have to leave. Sunday morning came and they were there again! Their bags were packed and they were ready to leave right after the session. But he told us he remembered our promise as representatives of Jesus Christ and came to church in faith. He had been fasting and praying and believed that the Lord could and would provide. Towards the end of the 1st session, a friend of Marcelo's who he hadn't talked to in years called him. He said he remembered that he owed him money, and was coming to pay it. That ended up being 1/2 of the rent, which they gave to the landlord who said they had until Monday night to pay the rest. They attended the final session of Conference and Monday morning, another old friend called. He said there was a day job available if Marcelo wanted it. This ended up being just enough to pay the other 1/2 of the rent. They kept the house, paid for their wedding and he was able to be baptized the following day! 

Maria Lusia is another convert. She lives alone with her daughter and grandkids. One Sunday she woke up and they had no food. She only had a few dollars left, but decided to use them for the bus fare to attend church instead of buying tortillas, because we had just talked about keeping the Sabbath Day holy. They got back to the house and her cupboards were full of food! One of her neighbors had come over and brought food because she knew they didn't have any left and a not saying that she loved her. 

The blessings of attending church are real! The Lord sees our efforts and blesses us for them, especially if we take the extra time to go spiritually prepared. I promise that if everyone reading this can get up a little earlier Sunday, take a few minutes to study the Book of Mormon, and get to church early to listen to the prelude and think about Christ, that your experience will completely change (this applies to missionaries too). Sacrament meeting will become a sacred and special experience, something you'll look forward to all week and will bless your lives! 

Elder Campbell and I are doing great here in Chimaltenango! Not as completely lost as we were for the first week- Ok so we're still lost, but we're seeing miracles! Our first day here we found a kid named Jeremy Gonzales, whose mom is a member. He's 9 years old, one of the most amazing people I've met, and going to be baptized this Sunday! Last Sunday we were able to watch a special broadcast from Salt Lake City especially for Guatemala! M. Russel Ballard spoke, as well as a member of the 70 and a member of the General Relief Society Presidency. It was awesome to actually be able to understand all of it!! For any present or future missionaries; the gift of tongues is real! Just trust in the Lord and have patience; it will come. Also always make friends with your leaders. Our 2nd counselor gave us both blankets and sleeping bags so we're not going to die in our sleep of hyperthermia! But I love you all, always thinking and praying for you!

Straight outta Guatemala,

Elder Tadje