Microwaves and Toxic Poptarts

Hey everyone!! 

We've had a pretty crazy week here in Barcenas. Elder Velez said he starts his journal entry every day with: "so here's what Elder Tadje did today..." haha Thursday we went to help the Hnas with some things at their house. As we were leaving, they told me the buttons on their microwave didn't work and asked if I could try to fix it. Of course I said yes- so I took it apart and in the end it wouldn't even turn on. So I must have gotten microwave karma or something cuz the next morning, we got back from the gym. I showered first, then made breakfast. I've been trying to eat healthier so I've made scrambled eggs every day! Our zone is also the only zone in the mission with WALMART!!!!! (I'd almost forgotten what that was) We went on Pday and found Poptarts!!! I had forgotten what those were too. I decided that poptarts would go well with my eggs, and thought why not try to throw one in the microwave. I read the box for instructions and saw the number 3. We don't have plates, so I put it on top of a plastic cup and hit 3 minutes. I started eating my eggs and reading Jesus the Christ, when all of the sudden I heard the smoke alarm go off! Which is good cuz this is the first house I've had with one of those. I looked behind me, and there was thick smoke pouring out of the microwave!! I threw the microwave door open and the entire room(house) filled with smoke. Elder Velez ran out of the shower in his towel trying to figure out what was going on; we opened all the windows as much as they would go and started whipping blankets over our heads to try to get the smoke out. 

What happened was the poptart fell apart and fell inside the cup, and then got so hot that the plastic cup caught on fire. Our house still smells like burned plastic and poptart.

Other than that this weeks been great!! It was my turn to go to immigration this week so I saw all the elders I entered with after about 6 months! We also found a miracle- a little 9 year old kid named Anthony!! We met him, and 5 minutes later got permission from his mom to baptize him. He skipped their family trip Sunday and took a 30 minute bus ride alone to get to church so he can be baptized this Sunday! (without telling anyone he was going)

I have been thinking a lot recently about the Chapin (Guatemalan) attitude. Every time we invite someone to church, they give us one of a few responses. 'Primeramente Dios,' or 'vamos a ver que dice Dios,'or 'si Dios quiere.' In everything they do they're willing to follow God's will, but many times they are not able to recognize it. I think that it is the same with us. We are always quick to say we follow God and his will, and will always do what he asks of us. But what are we doing to discover and recognize His will?? It doesn't matter if we are willing to follow Him if we don't know how. We need to be humble enough to recognize where His will is found- places like the scriptures, our leaders, parents, and even the examples of those around us. But especially, the words of modern prophets. As we have one month left before this upcoming conference, I want to invite all of you to read the conference talks we have already been given, and also the Book of Mormon to be able to find and recognize the will of God. Then as we find it, we need to follow!!

I love you all so much, and am so blessed to be able to be here in Barcenas Guatemala!!! This church is true and God loves each one of us!!

Elder Tadje