October 22, 2013
First Guatemala is great it is pretty humid but I'm used to
it from Virginia but others are having a hard time. It rains constantly here
and the rain here is a lot and hard. It's
like the hardest rain we ever would get in Virginia and the people here think that's
absolutely nothing. You see the poverty all around you even in the city which
has more than half the population in it. And you definitely see the classes here
from the poor and the wealthy.
In the CCM we study a lot! Whether it be gospel and teaching
to the language. It was like
school but only on a few subjects. We do teach people though every night in
complete Spanish. It's a bit tiring and I'm definitely ready to get out there
and do the real thing instead of sitting and reading about others doing it.
Last week we took a field trip to a map that is 99%
accurate. It really got me excited for
my mission because I could really see what it is going to be like and look like. It's all in the mountains except for the
coast and we have the most volcanoes in our mission so that really excites me. I'll
send you pictures when I can and when I get out on the mission I'll start
sending letters to.
We also went to a market that had tons and tons of venders
of just everything you can think of. I started to bargain with the venders to
get everything as cheap as I can and I ended up getting everything for half off
or a bundle package and pretty much getting something for free. It's definitely
different here. Me and my companion also
met a guy you was at the market who seemed like he needed help. We talked with him and we ended up giving him
a Book of Mormon. One thing that is different here is that people will call you
angels and that's what this man did to me and my companion. He thanked u.
We told him to try to find a church near where he lives (if he even has
a home) and that they will help him and he kept telling us that God sent us to
him. It definitely feels good when you bring them closer to their Father and
truly help them.
I'm beginning to
notice now it's getting harder to talk in English and especially writing and
spelling so I'm sorry for that. Me and my companion went street contacting a
couple days ago and it was SUPER hard. It
was hard to understand the people and nobody wanted to listen so that definitely
humbled me and made me realize I still have a lot to learn.
It's funny when you
and Dad send me these scriptures because every time it's something I have studied
recently or in the past. It's crazy now
that i think about it how much you get familiar with the scriptures and know where
everything is. But everything is well here were on our last week and I think
everyone in my district is ready to get out of here. We went to the temple really
early this morning but it was good. I'll miss being able to go every week to the
temple. I met someone that I met at the CCM he was one of the first guys to
leave when I got there and it was cool to see him again and ask him how it's
been and see what it's like to be out for about a month now. He did tell me
that there are a lot of missionaries here in Guatemala that do not follow the
rules and get in trouble. And he said because of that it is hard. And that
sometimes people get trainers that are one of those missionaries which they
call (Apostales) missionaries and that makes me nervous. I hope I get a trainer that works
hard and is good. But I can't wait to hear from you soon and
see how everything is going.
Also find out if you can get me Sam's email and Scott's as
well and also McCarthy's and AJ's or any of the cousins.
But we also heard a devotional from Elder Bednar who has to
be one of the best apostles out there. He talked on how do we know if we are
feeling the Spirit or we are being guided by it or if it is just us which is a
great question because I know I ask that all the time and always question
myself or wait or expect to feel some amazing thing. And I was a little surprised
to what his answer was. His answer was that it doesn't matter. Just don't even
worry about it. The Spirit guides the people that act and are not acted upon
and will guide you when you are moving not sitting. And that is what we needed
to be worried about is just always being worthy to have the Spirit in our lives
and show faith because that is when we will be used not when we are just
sitting there waiting to feel something or being told to go to something. When
we are prompted by the Spirit it can be something as simple as feeling uneasy
or having something on your mind. The reality is there is no where that it says
the Spirit is supposed to be some huge thing like fireworks. It's quite humble
and subtle most of the time. We have to prove and show that we are willing to
do whatever we are prompted to say or act if we want to gain the trust of
being prompted to do more or feel more. And even then it will not be a huge rush
of energy going through you. It shouldn't have to be. And that is something
that I will try to always explain to my investigators so that they can take their
faith and go forward and after showing their faith receiving the power of
confirmation that comes and the blessings and Spirit. Missionaries always want
to feel the Spirit and have it with them constantly which makes it hard and
discouraging at times. But it's important to understand that we need to act and
do first always then the Spirit comes when you need it the most and for that
time.
Love
Elder Toma
