Week 32

Ahhh... another week.

Hello, family and friends, hows it all shaking down in real life? From what I read, it is sickness and oil rig explosions. Pretty crazy. This world is an amazing experience, no matter what time period someone lives in. Before Christ, one had to watch out and be on his toes, or he would get himself sacraficed by to some crazy idol god of the sea. In Christ's time, there were nations conquering nations willy-nilly, and the Savior was doing so many great things with the faith of so little. After Christ, we had the Dark Ages, with kings, castles, and people being turned into newts but spontaneously getting better. In the 1800s, we had a whole load of wars. And now? We have people going to space and volcanoes erupting and famine and what not. This is one heck of a world! Always something going on. But its a beautiful life, isnt it? And would be a load easier if we just paid a little bit more attention to the commandments.

Or would it? I was reading in Mosiah about the people of Alma, and how even though they were good righteous people, the Lord saw fit to test them with their bondage at the hands of Amulon and the Lamanites (that sounds like a band name). The Lord saw fit to try their faith and their dedication. And they fulfilled with his hopes! They had all the power sufficient to do so. They could succeed and they did, a wonderful story to encourage whoever. They prayed to the Lord in their hearts because their masters would have killed them if they did it openly. They found a way to be on the side of the Lord even when the outward and obvious was impossible. And the Lord blessed them, relieving their burdens, but not taking them away. Talk about faith and patience, both on the side of the Lord and His people. In time, they escaped, and were blessed to live in peace, but even then, they showed their love to the Lord by giving thanks. These were not the normal Jews, who, when the absolute need of the Lord was aliviated, quickly forgot. These were true disciples of Christ in all places and times. Let us be, therefore, of the people of Alma, who were called the church of God, and not abandon our great Master.

I am glad to hear that all is well at home, especially with the surgery of my father. And with his leg, that all is well. Sometimes I wish I could just sit back and relax on the Lazy Boy, have my dog at my side and my wonderful mother to talk too. But now is not my time to relax, but to work. This has been something that I have been thinking about lately, and something that alot of people realize, and at the same time, dont realize. I am here for 2 years (17 months now), and what do I have to do with thinking about the things of my house or what I want to do. Everytimes I feel really baggy, or want something from my house, or even have the desire to go home, I realize that there is something in common with every one of those thoughts. And it is this: They all start with "I". It is what I want, I care for, and not what the Lord wants, or what others need. I am reminded of the song "Have I Done Any Good in the World Today", when it says something like, "So waaaaaake up! And DO something more than dream of your mansions above. Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure, a blessing, a duty of love." I should wake up! And DO something MORE than just thinking of my mansion in Vegas with all its comforts and joys. Missionary work is not supposed to be glamorous, comfortable, or anything like that. When a certain man desiring to be a disciple of Jesus expressed said desire to the Master, He said something like, "Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of man doth not have a place to lie his head." How comfortable was it for Jesus to walk place to place, not having a set home, as Nazareth cast him out. Doing good, as we have experienced, IS a pleasure, much more than just sitting at home with myself and watching poorly translated movies or playing solitair. I remember fondly when we would go help move people, what an event it was, and that I really felt happy in the end. To be able to serve is a gift from God, a blessing in deed, and we should do all we can to use such a gift, indeed it is our duty, and just like the difference between the sacrifices of Cain and Able, our sacrafice of service should be done with faith and love in God and toward the recipient.

Wow that was a random tangent. I like it though. My comp is doing better, but we still took it kinda easy this week, as doing alot of things still tires him. He has to hold onto me to climb hills, for example, because the lack of strength. In pouch, I recieved the letters of David and Aimee, and also a letter from Eric Taylor, which was really cool. It was cool to hear from him. I actually just finished a letter to him, so I hope to send it soon, and have it arrive in Vegas in 2-3 weeks.

I did a little bit of calculation, and i realized that, yes I will definitely need a new journal sent in this package. and that the last day of my journal will be about July 26th, so...um... :D porfa! It takes 2 weeks for anything from the states to get here via pouch.

I love you guys, and next week is changes. Once again, make your bets. As for me, many think im finally leaving, but I think I will stay just one more change. Next change is 8 months and my birthday, so it would be awesome to stay in the area with people that I know well and celebrate with them. But hey, will of the Lord, right?

I will try to do better! Brazil beat Chile, I was rooting for Brazil. Cheers all around!

-Elder Hale

Week 26

Ho-lee Crap.

6 months! Tomorrow, I am gonna burn a tie, and gonna enjoy every ash of it.

How is it all going family and friends? You know how on your TiVo or DVR thing on the tv, or even on your DvD player, you push fast forward, and it starts going 2x as fast. Then you push it again, and it goes 4x as fast, then 8x if you push it one more time. That is what if feels like every change, that God is playing with some cool godly remote and speeding up time. It is crazy. 6 months already!

What have I learned?

I have learned it takes 2 weeks for mail to get from home to here and that it costs a literal buttload to send something there.

I have learned when your stomach tells you to go to the bathroom when you are in a foreign country, you listen the heck up.

I have learned that the difference in culture is only as great of a jump as we make it.

I have learned that I am not as awesome or christlike as I thought I was before the mish.

I have learned a little bit of what I can become, and how much more awesome and Christlike I can become through the mish.

I have learned that to think of oneself as awesome and Christlike is not either, and therefore doesnt matter.

And if the last 2 statements made no sence, then you havent been in Guatemala for 6 months. :P

I have learned to an extent that it really takes effort to love everybody, especially when they offend you, and that fact only makes Jesus Christ that much more of a God to me, and makes me that much more willing and wanting to worship him and do what he says.

I have learned how to shine my shoes and different ways to tie ties.

I have learned a bit of Spanish, and that I still dont like French.

I have learned that I have grown up in a priviledged home, with a family that, although is dorky sometimes, loves the heck out of me and only wants me to succeed.

I have learned and experienced the power of the Spirit, and why it is so desirable, and why it is so awesome.

I have learned how easy it is to fall, and how willing Christ is to help us back up when we have the correct desires and the fruits of repentance.

I have learned that sometimes the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, and sometimes the flesh is ready, but the spirit is the weak one.

I have learned the effect a mouth can have if the ear will hear, and how worthless it is when the rest of the body does the opposite.

I have learned that the coolest things and the most entertaining are not always on a computer screen, but in a conversation with other people.

I have learned how to stretch an email by saying I have learned over and over and then just filling in the blanks.

I have learned that typing in one language on a keyboard that is programmed for another is really annoying.

I have learned alot. I love you all. Lets see what these next 6 months bring.

Next week is changes. Time to place your ¨bets¨ to see if I stay or go!

Stay awesome.

-Elder Hale