Letter 9 - Week 10

Hey papa! 

That’s so cool that you shared my experience! There are so many parallels between our work and your work. Keep sending me spiritual thoughts because they do help! 

I was reading through moms letters and she talked about in D&C:88 how we are rewarded upon our desires. I believe this to be true and it makes me happy and sad at the same time. I talk to so many people here that know our church is true in their heart. We testify to them the truth and they feel it. They tell us in their own words that they believe that we are sent from God and they have so much respect and love for us. They feed us and give us water, they feel the spirit when they are with us, they see it.... but they are too stubborn to accept all of our message. 

Many of these people have desires of the world, they don't want to change. If they can find a loophole, they take it. They tell me that they are blessed and they believe that all we need to do is believe in God and we will be saved. James 2:14-26 “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” They love their churches because they are easier. It makes me so sad to have to just let it go and leave their house saying I did all I could.

I am learning quickly that this is going to be one of the greatest experiences of my life, not just fun, but most of all, a testimony builder. My faith and testimony grows each and every day as I practice obedience. It feels so good to be able to have confidence in my Heavenly Father that he is going to have a path for me to take and prepare the way. You are 100% right, about this being the perfect place to exercise agency and faith and test the principles of the gospel. There is no better environment than the field, where it's just you and the Lord. My testimony of obedience has grown the most.

Oh to answer some questions in letters: 

Grandma: so our area is outside the capital of Guatemala, right on the border of the jungle. Although, I don't get to go out in the jungle much because there isn't anyone out there to teach haha. We aren't close to the ocean right now. I would love to have an area near there at some point, but it’s supposed to be super hot and I don't do well in the heat. I love it up here in the mountains, where it’s warm and chilly haha. Oh, and yeah, the people here hate Mexico and Mexicans because Mexico stole Cancun or something. LOL

Thanks Aubrey for your letter about small and simple things and moving forward little by little! So true, but hard when you’re impatient like me!! I have to humble myself to your words constantly! haha

This week I had the opportunity to eat pigs feet... hairy pigs feet.. they tasted good, mostly just fat.. the little hair made it so hard to put down. The family just sat there and watched me with smiles waiting for our compliments haha...

Also, lately I have been eating a lot of fried platino (huge bannano looking things) with beans... it’s so delish...

I love and miss you all so much.

Jared's friend Donavaghn left for his mission in Guatemala a few months before Jared.  

They finally got to see each other and were really excited!

Letter 8 - Week 9

Hey Momma, 

This week has been pretty amazing. Man the time is starting to fly, we work so hard that we never have time to have time. As soon as I get to my apartment I plan, pray, and desmallarse en mi cama (go to sleep.) 

The spanish is coming, but there is just soooo much. I get really impatient and want to just have it all already. Right now I contact by myself and can do lessons by myself. Usually anything gospel related is cake, as long as I have the spirit with me. I can tell when I have the spirit guiding me because I’m not focused on what I’m going to say. Im listening carefully and respond with whatever comes to my heart. 

The gift of tongues is so real... many times a day I say things that come to my head that I’ve never learned, that just feel right. The other day our faithful friend and convert of three months, Marco Tulio, (who has an awesome story and is the coolest champine en todo el mundo) was accompanying us in our lessons. He said he was so impressed with my spanish and could tell such a big difference between my spanish in lessons where the spirit was present. 

It’s such an awesome feeling to understand what people are saying to me. This last week I’ve been pretty much able to understand anything said. I used to translate the spanish in my head, but now I don’t. This is what has helped me the most, being able to feel what they say like it’s english. Now when someone talks to me in english, if I’m not prepared, I can’t understand what they say because my head is just ready for spanish and I’m like “que manda?”.

This last week we had a huge reunion con missions este, sur, y central, and listened to Elder Anderson speak. I met up with Donavon which was awesome!! He is doing awesome and that really lifted my spirit a lot. 

Oh, also this week I got hit by van. That was scary. I was walking on the side of the road and its side swiped my shoulder. 

Three people got shot right down the road from our apartment.. that was a huge eye opener..

AND THIS IS HOW MY SON’S LETTER TO ME ENDS!  SERIOUSLY?!?!?!

SCROLL BELOW THIS PICTURE AND THE LETTER TO SEE THE PICTURES OF HIS APARTMENT AND THE AREA :)  (Several of you keep asking me where the pics are)

Elder Dabel's first baptism!  His companion is on the left :)

Letter 7 - Week 8

So this week was pretty awesome. To start off, my companion and I just had a baptism!! We baptized an 18 year old who's name is Ever Hernandez. He asked me to do the baptism, which was an awesome experience. We are working so hard, I contact so much every day. 

The language is coming poco por poco (little by little). I know a ton, but it’s still not enough. Right now I can contact almost anyone by myself and can struggle my way through a lesson if I have to. Usually my companion doesn't make me do that though haha. I usually just pray and bear my testimony. 

Also this week I GOT TO GO TO A BIG reunion for the south mission. We had a huge arm wrestling competition, and believe it or not, I beat everyone!! So you don't need to feel bad about me beating you dad. It was pretty crazy, after I BEAT everyone they put me up against my mission president, who is freaking huge and coached football. I was like, there is no way I’m beating this guy, but I did it anyways. I don't know how, but I beat him too!! I have yet to find someone that can beat me lol... and I’m the first ever in the mission to beat the president haha.. I’m trying to get a hold of the video so you guys can see. 

The food is still the same... EVERY. FREAKING. DAY... I’m a little jealous that Gavin gets to try all those cool things, but then again I feel so blessed that I’m getting food that I know I can put down, and the language probably isn't so insane here. Luckily a lot of the words are common in english. I have a few pics. I’m going try to upload them and send more next week.

Don’t worry momma I got the pictures you sent  :) Thank you so much, they were all perfect!!! It’s sometimes really hard to look at them though. It hurts bad to think about you guys and look at the pics. I’m so jealous you guys are going on a cruise haha!! But I’m glad everything is going well and the finances are being taken care of by the Lord. Oh and I got the letters you sent! I love being able to read through them over and over again. 

I’m getting your letters dad and I love them!! I love hearing about everything, but it’s such a struggle to write everyone. I’m so glad to hear about Gavin. I pray for him every day. I’m glad to hear that you guys fixed the car, man I really miss getting my hands dirty... 

I love you all very much!

Love,

Elder Dabel

Jared's sweet kitchen!

His 1st apartment!

It's actually pretty nice!