Okay lemme take you through week three:
Spiritual
highlights of this week have to be finishing the Book or Mormon, going
to the temple this morning and contacting at the university on Friday.
I started reading el libro de Mormon the Wednesday
I left and just finished it this morning. I could feel the Spirit so
strongly when I read Moroni 10 3-5 and even though I already knew with
all my heart that it is true, the confirmation of the Spirit was so
strong. I especially loved reading this week in late Alma about Captain
Moroni and the Stripling Warriors, but also Ether and the brother of
Jared. (I'll probably name one of my kids Mohonri Moriancomer or however
you spell it if my wife is down.) All of these men from the BofM are the
greatest examples of spiritual savages and I pray daily to be more like
them. As my Patriarchal blessing states, the BoM will be a great friend
throughout my life. I seriously am so excited to wake up every day and
dive in to this fountain of knowledge. I finished in English and gonna
start it in Spanish tomorrow! Wish me luck!
Oh man, contacting at the university on Friday
was insane! I was so nervous. We shared a brief message about the
restoration and handed out pamphlets. The first woman we talked to was
about 25 and asked us to sit down and she was sooo nice. Maybe it was our American charm, but she seemed seriously interested. About half way through it started dumping buckets and my companion and I were stuck
inside a building with about 30 Dominicans haha we talked to all of them
about the restoration! The best contact we had was with a woman we had
inside the building. She spoke English and after we introduced ourselves
she asked if we could just speak in English haha. Anyways, she believed
in God and prayed but didn't feel the need to go to church (basically
every Dominican) but wanted to know more about our church. I can't remember exactly what she asked but I felt prompted to tell her that the
answer to any question she has would be in the Book of Mormon. I whipped
one out and gave it to her and she promised she'd read it and call the mission office. DOPE! I didn't want to leave.
And Lastly
this morning the temple was insanely spiritual. I got to see the film
with Dallyn Bayles as Jesus and I freaking loved it. My mission has put
my eternal worth into perspective and the desire to share what I know
is true with everyone. I can't really explain why I felt the Spirit so
strongly this morning but I don't really care haha.
Okay
lemme take you through some other highlights from this week. The phrases
and things I say at home and with everyone have really caught on here
in the CCM, its freaking awesome. Everyone is saying "My Boar!"
"Farting" and answering phone calls from inanimate objects. Just imagine
a district of 8 missionaries all yelling my boar before bed, its nuts.
Another phrase I have coined here, thanks to 781 local rap sensation Cam
Meekins is "Lamping" which basically just means chilling. The 45 minutes
we have between lunch and class and from dinner and class are dedicated
"lamp" sessions where me and my roomies (Elder Lester, Thayler and
Oldroyd) will just chill and tell funny stories. They absolutely love Coach Tracy stories and I am considered the "funny" elder in my district. It's not true. Everyone is my district is just lame and not
funny haha. But don't get the impression that we're always goofing off!
When I'm in my classroom I am 100% dialed in and working my butt off.
This week all my lamping will be in Spanish. As a district we have
challenged each other to only speak Spanish this week. Spanish is going
well and I can teach without a script but I know that this will help so
much, and I know that Heavenly Father will bless us as we diligently
work to better ourselves and the idioma!
Next, I have
officially decided that the food here is gross! Elder Tippets confirmed
yesterday that he has a tape worm, or some weird, sketchy kind of worm
that he got from the meat we eat everyday. It's so boney and tastes off
so that I kinda stopped eating it about a week ago, but this freaking
sealed the deal. What's really scary though is that this is the CCM
food! Probably the most sanitary food I am going to eat on my mission!
So thankful for the trail mix and jerky I brought from home!
Since
Monday the three guys in my room and Elder Holbrook and tried to devise
a plan on how to get to the McDonalds down the street. We thought up a
prison break style escape and Holbrook was "planning" to go yesterday
during gym time. Haha it was all hypothetical but then we asked this
savage Meastro (teacher). "Jeac" this Haitian if he'd go and buy us food. He said
"Clado!" (Dominican way of saying of course) and putting those oreos in
my satchel was probably the closest we'll ever get to the feeling of
buying drugs haha. None of our other teachers would get us stuff, but
Jeac pulled through.
Okay before I sign off for the week I want
to finish with an other great spiritual experience I had yesterday. I
was sooo frustrated with the language lesson we were learning about
"direct object pronouns" and my companion and I weren't getting it
whatsoever. I guess I was visually frustrated and my favorite teacher
Nuñez after class gave me a little paper star. He told me to go to my
room, kneel down and pray and then open up the star. I did as he said
and written on the paper was Joshua 1:9, I wish I had my scrips right
now but the spirit hit me like a wall. To summarize I think the scrip
says to fear not because Dios is with thee. I shed a tear or two as I
read that in my bed. Mom and Dad when you come to pick me up in two
years you're going to meet Nuñez.
I'd love updates on
everyone in the family. I'm so glad you're all doing well; I pray that
you can feel my love every morning, meal and night. Continue to let the
light of Christ shine. I regret not reading my scriptures more and not
being a better example of Christ and challenge Anna and Noah to read in
the BoM for 30 minutes a day. You'll thank me some day I promise!
Anyways
I love you all so much. Thank you for your kind letters. I'd love
pictures of any and everything! Also hand written letters (find Mother
Mary stamps because the people here are superstitious and there will be a
better chance I get the letter haha. Shout out to Maddi Bishoff for the
dope idea).
Until next week!
Love, Elder Blake #52
Lamping on my bed |
In front of the Temple, I wear dad's tag and my elephant
tie every p-day. Gotta keep traditions here in the CCM to not go crazy.
|
The Birkenstocks I made from and old torn up pair of shoes I found in my room
|
No comments:
Post a Comment