Small and Simple Things

Sun salutations from your favorite two canches down here in Chimaltenango!! 

We're surviving, thriving, and WE GOT A FRIDGE!!! Some random guy names Tobias called us at 4:30 in the morning and said he was outside with a fridge, and we now have cold food!! I bought one apple to put in it- we don't have any bleach to wash it so we couldn't eat it, but it felt good to have a fridge with something in it all week.

This weekend was probably my favorite on my mission so far- so full of miracles! I can honestly say that I don't know if I've ever felt this happy!! First off, on Sunday Jeremy Garcia got baptized!!! I actually felt kinda bad about that- the whole reason we didn't do it last week was because he wanted to do it in the stake center with hot water. We didn't realize that the water still comes out cold, but gets run through a system to heat it up. So it takes a few hours to get warm. We filled the font 20 min. before the baptism...Haha. We went down into the font and as soon as he touched the water just started screaming; "Ahhh no! I'm not gonna do it, too cold! Better to wait for another day!"  (but in Spanish) it took about 10 minutes of convincing from his uncle and mom, but they finally got him down in the (cold) water. His uncle said the prayer about as fast as an auctioneer and dunked him under even faster. He came out of the water screaming "Never again! So cold.!!" It actually ended up being a super spiritual experience- usually one of the leaders gives the welcome into the ward, but all of the leaders were in a relief society activity in our building so we had no one to do it. His friend Aaron who's 9 got up to share. He congratulated and welcomed him, then got emotional and talked about how Jeremy's his best friend and has changed his life. I went up to him after to thank him for coming, and for speaking. He just looked at me and said, "Well after all he's done for me, I had to didn't I?" 

Sunday was absolutely incredible; it was the ward's primary program, and the leaders had no idea what they were going to sing the songs to, but Elder Campbell and I got transferred here right in time to play the piano! (He is an unbelievable piano player) I played the 1st half of the program and E' Campbell the second. Sitting up there with all of the kids, there was such a pure feeling of joy. The primary has a very unique and special spirit, and the simple testimonies of these kids (and all primary kids) were so powerful. It was a perfect church service, which was great cuz we had 5 investigators there attending! 3 have primary age kids that they brought, and after the program bishop sent others down to bring them up on the stand with the rest of the kids. He then addressed the primary, and then the parents in the congregation. After that the kids all fit right in; they gave them necklaces and bowties and tons of cake! 

One of our investigators is our old landlady. She is 40, a single mother, and has a 7 year old son and 5 year old daughter. Also she is a strong Jehovah's Witness, but her kids absolutely loved church and she did too! She found out she knows a tons of members there, and all her friends came and visited her after. She always makes us food, calls us her 'Hermanitos', and is literally asking when the soonest was that we could come back and teach her!! (in Guatemala that never happens) 

Two of our other investigators were/are pure miracles. Hermana Verta is about 55 years old and lives with her daughter Cecelia. She has a 6 year old and a 2 year old girl. Both Verta and Cecelia are widows- Verta's husband died years ago and Cecelia's was killed 2 years ago. They were street contacts. In my first area we had 100's of street contacts, and never visited a single one, but these two stuck out to me as being unusually positive. Verta can't walk very well, so we told her we'd pass by their house in a tuc-tuc to bring them to chruch. (a tuc-tuc is a 3-wheeled Guatemalan taxi) She got super excited and said "Oh, would you? That would be fantastic!" We tracked them down Saturday night to visit them, and as soon as we walked in Verta put 2 massive bowls of soup in front of us. She can't work and Cecelia lost her job, but in spite of having almost nothing and only having talked to us for 30 seconds on the street they sacrificed to feed us. We had one of the best lessons about the plan of salvation that I've ever taught. They were both so happy for the message that they can see their husbands again! I've never met 2 people so prepared to receive the gospel. Cecelia said that our message or what we've been sharing is filling all the gaps and answering all the questions she's had. Verta told us; "The only problem I have with your church is that I don't know if I can wait another week to go again!" 

All of these things that have been happening aren't huge earth shattering miracles, but small ones. So small that if you're not looking, you wouldn't see them. Alma 37:6 says "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass" So it is with us on our spiritual journeys. Every day we have is full of these miracles, these small and simple things. If we are doing the things that we need to and following that guide, the way will be made easier for us. But Alma gives this advice: "Do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way." If we are not constantly pushing ourselves, it is easy to fall into complacency and forget to do those small and simple things. Daily study of the Book of Mormon, meaningful personal prayer, and attending church each week prepared to renew sacred covenants. I testify that as we make the extra effort to do these things, more miracles and blessings than we ever thought possible will come. As we look, we will recognize God's hand more and more in our lives! I have seen this in my life and we're seeing it now in Chimaltenango!! 

I love you all so much and thank you all for the emails and support! I can feel it, even 3,000 miles away!

-Straight outta Guatemala- 

Elder Tadje