And There Was Much Rejoicing

Hey everyone!!!

About a third of the missionaries in the Guatemala MTC in July
Elder Peacock is in the back row, second from the right

First I would like to say that the package was a life saver and yes, I did share [we sent a package with a friend who entered the MTC last week].  Elder Peacock 1:1 "..and there was much rejoicing among the people of the land of room 201".  Also, this last week Jenny came to the MTC!  Oh wait, I mean Hermana Pereira, haha [the aforementioned, much appreciated courier!].  Her group and transfer was tiny and the MTC is almost half empty now.  We made 5 districts when we got here and they only made two. I didn't think it would be so crazy to see her down here but there are only ten or so North American sisters here and it's crazy that I know one of them.  Also, in the new transfer there was another Peacock but they didn't mess up his tag so I guess they just weren't as excited for me to come, haha [his original tag was Elder Peacook--hope he got a picture!  They probably learned from their mistake...]. Oh well. Anyway, that's pretty much all that's really new for this week.  There will be pictures when I get into the field, by the way.   There are filters on the computers which do not allow pictures to go out.

Response to dads questions: I'm the bottom bunk below Elder Stewart and there is hot water.

Other than that, I guess I will talk about the teacher investigators since I don't have much new to talk about.  I have two teachers and they both play our investigators at different times throughout the day.  They go get into street clothes and go up into these rooms with cameras so they can record our lessons and watch them over again to give us feedback.  They try to act as though they are real people they actually taught on their missions and it is really tough stuff with a month of Spanish and no notes to speak of anymore besides using scriptures and maybe a folleto.  Sorry, I don't remember that word in English right now but you have Google and my brain hurts with Spanish flying around up there.  [Translation:  pamphlet.  Thanks, Justin]  Lessons are also really hard because they push us out of our comfort zones and make us try to teach before they show us how to do it.  They really expect a lot from us and I both love and hate it.  Our teachers were obviously amazing missionaries because later they demonstrate for us how they would do a lesson and even though the doctrine in the lessons takes a little more than 5 or 6 minutes you really can feel their Spirit and their care even when the investigator is non existent.  We have also really only been taught how to do the first two lessons so me and Elder Stewart have had to just kinda make it up as we go in planning then hope to remember it without notes.  Then, it's always a surprise as to whether they tell us we did terrible or are really progressing.  However we feel after the lesson, they usually tell us the opposite.

Anyway, still healthy, love the Gospel, don't have Zika and cant wait to be hiking up mountains all day every day!!

Elder Peacock

[Mother's Note:  I just learned about this awesome package delivery service for missionaries serving in Guatemala and El Salvador.  See HERE for the link to Mission: On the Fly.  I'm so excited.  After having missionaries in Mexico and Peru, I am so over the unreliability of international packages!]

Outside the Fence

Hey everyone!!

After my last letter, they let us go to a little mart around the corner and buy a little candy and it was like Christmas because they don't exactly give us tons of access to food or anything outside the fence.  The only thing we get to go out to do on a regular basis is the temple.  Speaking of which, we went to the temple this morning and the president of the MTC and his wife went with us, so that was cool.  They're super sweet.  Also, apparently Elder Stewart emailed our mission president before he got here and we can use backpacks in our mission because of the ¨mountainous terrain¨ so that stinks [because the packing instructions said that backpacks were not allowed, so Will only brought a messenger bag with him, much to his chagrin].  Also one of our two teachers leaves the MTC this week to start selling his designer ties which I think is kinda funny and not something I expected from our tiny Guatemalan teacher.  

Sundays are a blast because we get to take a break from Spanish but not before they essentially have the Hunger Games and call missionaries up at random to give a 7 minute talk in Spanish.   Luckily, I haven't gotten called up yet but you never know.  Two more Sundays with a chance of that happening.  Pray for your boy because that is not fun since were the only district in our Sacrament Meeting [main church meeting] that doesn't natively speak Spanish hahaha. [Mother's note:  I suggested that he might prepare a talk "just in case" because that's what moms do.  He assured me he has, so how bad could it be?]

The reason my letter is a little late is that today the MTC cleared out of all the Latinos and the older group [they have completed training and ready to enter the mission field] so they sent us to the town square here to go to the market and hand out copies of the Book of Mormon!!  You know, the Spanish they teach here in the MTC didn't quite sound the same as the Spanish they were speaking.  But somehow, we still handed out four books when everyone else handed out one, two or none at all [he's not competitive or anything].  It was a super good experience and the people that we talked to were so incredibly nice and willing to listen to our three week Spanish.  Elder Stewart refuses to think that he does well with the language but he does really well.  Actually, I should just say now that the gift of tongues is super real because we already can teach the first four lessons in almost perfect Spanish (according to our teacher because we don't think its so perfect) without notes.  Truly the work of the Lord to be able to speak as much Spanish as we do already.  

After the handing out of the BOMs, we went to the market and the place was huge and had just about anything.  I got a lapel pin of the Guatemalan flag and a shirt that says "Guats Up"... get it? Guats up, cuz ya know I'm in Guatemala?  The teachers that took us said that the trip today usually only happens every other transfer so we were lucky we got to go out today.  I'm sure dad will be pleased to know that we ended the outing today with some Wendy´s.  I say that because he told me about all the places that were around the MTC.  Little did he know that they don't exactly let us come and go from the MTC.

I know this Church is true.  I'm healthy, happy, and ready to work.  I love Guatemala already and can't wait to be out in the mountains of Xela teaching the people.  It is truly inspiring even just doing it for 50 minutes like we did today.  Love you all and I pray for you all.

Elder Peacock

[We forgot to get a transfer cord for his camera before he left, so it is flying to him tonight with another missionary who is arriving at the Guatemala MTC tomorrow.  Cross your fingers that this means we'll get real pictures next week!]

Al Que Cree, Todo le es Posible

Hey everyone!

Sorry for the the cheesy title line in Spanish.  It means: to him that believes, everything is possible.  I really like that and it touched me, so I've decided that is going to be my mantra and try to remember it when I get down.  

I'll be honest, it is tough living in the box that is the MTC and doing the same thing every single day of my life with the same people.  We only get to leave on Pday [Personal Day, once a week] to go to the temple and back which is like 100 yards away.  I love my district though and they are all just solid elders.  I found out there are 20, give or take, missionaries headed to Xela ( the real name of my mission here ) that are all from the same transfer [meaning they all arrived at the same time].  My district has about half of those missionaries, and it's amazing.  I know I was blessed with them for sure because they are all smart, funny and obedient missionaries and they are a great influence and a great group to be around. They all joke asking for each others sisters' emails and marrying them when we come back, it's really funny being around them.  But it really is true that we live in kind of a box.  We get yard time and have everything planned out for us ahead of time.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I am so happy to be here, but after teaching now our third fake investigator I just want to teach some real people.  

I can only speak the Spanish that is in the lessons and a little bit besides that, but I can't wait to get out there.  Spanish is coming along really well.   My companion Elder Stewart and I kill the lessons and our teachers tell us we have a lot of potential and that we really work together well.  The other companionships did not get such compliments apparently haha.  One even had to restart their lessons with the investigator because they accidentally said, "We milk and eat people in the church," hahaha.  The investigators are our teachers and they really play their parts well.  They really make it feel real and stressful especially because with only two weeks of Spanish, we can't say that much and forget a lot so sometimes there are some very long pauses.  

The wife of the MTC President is super nice.  She gives all the pep talks.  Also, we had the health talk on Sunday and we have pretty much accepted death because they showed pictures of some things we could get down here and it looks quite bad.  Good thing dad packed me the pharmacy.  Love ya, dad. [Jeff is known for his preparedness.]

The latino missionaries are some of the funniest and coolest people.  There are two elders here I know from Lima and one is the weirdest person I have ever met.  He keeps asking when they will give us some nice horse to eat because that is his favorite.  The other is just a funny guy and he and his companion were a match made in heaven because they always walk around with their arms around each other and are kinda like the two stooges. (yes, I know there are three but that is what they are like.)  

There is this fruit called rambutan here and its the best fruit I have ever had.

Ummm, other than that, we sit in class all day and learn Spanish.  I am happy, healthy and where I should be.  I love you all and I pray for you every day.

Elder Peacock

No Sweat!

[His message is actually entitled, "I dont sweat the entire time here!..." but I really have no idea what that means, so I improvised.]

Hola from Guatemala!

I have to apologize in advance because these computers aren't good enough to send pictures, so you will have to wait a little while and then there will be tons of pictures.  

I guess I will start from the beginning because my last email wasn't very long.  On the plane to Guatemala, there were probably around 50 elders and sisters on the plane.  Also, I learned very quickly that planes are very hot and suits are not ideal clothing unless you want to loose 20 pounds.  That plane ride was terrible and they gave us a tiny sandwich on the plane to feed us that was little more than bite size.  So dad, the food was much appreciated [his dad's parting gift].  Across the aisle from me was a tiny, old Guatemalan lady that probably weighed like 80 pounds soaking wet.  She couldn't stand up on her own so I lifted her in and out of her seat probably ten times on that flight at 3 in the morning.  

We got to the airport and luckily both my bags showed up, but not after quite some time, some stress and some quick prayers that it would all show up.  They loaded us all into some big buses and our things into a moving van because there was so much of it.  The city was just as you would suspect, little bikes going all over the place and tons of beat up cars everywhere and pedestrians walking through the middle of the street like no tomorrow.  After the 20 minute ride to the MTC, we got out of the buses and got our things to our rooms.  The area around the MTC is so beautiful it's unbelievable.  We finally got to get out this morning and went to the temple.  It is definitely the most beautiful temple I have ever seen.  It is small but it is breathtaking. 

My companion is Elder Stewart and he is from Bountiful, Utah I think? I don't know. somewhere in Utah because it's all the same really. [Says the California boy at heart.  
Apologies to our Utah friends, relatives and readers... Turns out Elder Stewart is the son of a friend of a friend so I actually know he comes from Perry, Utah] He is awesome and so is the rest of my district.  We are the district everyone wants to be in because we move so fast and seem to be further along in Spanish [!?! didn't see that coming] than everyone else but are also always having a good time.  We have two sisters in our district that are going to El Salvador and then 8 of us elders going to Quetzaltenango.  There are a couple more that are going to our mission but they are in other districts for some reason.  I love it here and I would not want to be in any other district.  

[Missionaries are organized into companionships, companions are organized into districts, districts are organized into zones, zones are organized into missions.  There are leaders at each level--senior companion, district leaders, zone leaders, mission presidents]

As far as food goes there are very good days and some questionable days for sure.  I heard some elders wished they had kept tortilla counts on their mission so I decided I would and I am on 9.  Our zone leader is part of my district and his name is Elder Miller and he is an awesome guy.  He was super well dressed at the airport and none of us knew if he was actually a missionary because he looked too well dressed.  He talks a lot and at first I wasn't a fan but as time went by he probably is now one of my favorite people here and I couldn't have picked someone better for zone leader.  His story is amazing and he is so spiritual and always has a smile on his face even when we are getting chastised in Spanish.  

By ProtoplasmaKid - Own work

Our group probably tripled the size of the MTC and we are the biggest group of gringos they have ever had by far.  There are 6 of us that sleep in the same room but it could fit 8. Most rooms are full but ours aren't for some reason.  We have community bathrooms that have filtered water and some shower stalls.  It's actually pretty nice.  We also have a volleyball court, a basketball court and a gym with some bikes and machines and stuff.  Sometimes the MTC is really depressing because the land around us looks so beautiful but we can't go outside much because we pretty much sit in class all day.  They also are very strict here about pretty much anything and everything and it is really testing me to be exactly obedient but I am doing my best to follow that advice.  It actually is beautiful weather wise here but with so many of us the building gets scorching hot.  

On Sunday I gave the sacrament prayer and had to repeat it because it was in Spanish, and that was in front of the President of the MTC. oops.... Sacrament meeting [our main Sunday meeting where the sacrament is administered] was in Spanish but luckily the rest of the day was English.  Sunday was actually a day of rest and I understand that a little more because they aren't just shoving Spanish down our throats all day. 

I love seeing all the letters from people and wish I had more than an hour to write some responses because there is so much to tell and I can't wait to send pictures. Sorry if I can't respond to everyone because I'm not a fast typer but also these computers are ancient and all in Spanish.  I can't wait to be in the field and my testimony has probably tripled in size since I got here.  I love what I am doing and I am so happy to be here.  It's where I am supposed to be.  I love you all and will respond when I can.

FYI Pday for me is Tuesday.

con amor,
Elder Peacock

Rewind: The Call

[April 4, 2016]

Young people of a certain age in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are very familiar with these white envelopes...

When a young person feels they are ready to serve a mission for the Church, they meet and counsel with their bishop, fill out some basic information online, get medical and dental clearances, meet with the stake president and then push "SUBMIT".

In a period of about 2-3 weeks, an envelope will arrive with their "call".  It is a leap of faith.  The first of many.  With few exception, young adult missionaries do not choose their areas of labor or language.  Church leaders consider the needs of each missionary and mission and make assignments based on spiritual revelation.  

For a great explanation of the process, see HERE.

Will received his call on April 4th, 2016.  The packet came to our home in Washington so we arranged to meet him that evening at school in Cedar City. His brother Tyler and sister in law Meghan also drove down from Provo to be with us.  Numerous other friends and family members joined us in person and through phone and FaceTime.  It was pretty much a 10 minute party. 

This is what the letter said:

March 29, 2016

Dear Elder Peacock:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Guatemala Quetzaltenango Mission.  It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 24 months.

You should report to the Guatemala Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, July 13, 2016.  You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish language.  Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president.

You have been recommended as one worthy to represent the Lord as a minister of the restored gospel. You will be an official representative of the Church.  As such, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of  conduct and appearance by keeping the commandments, living mission rules, and following the counsel of your mission president.  As you devote your time and attention to serving the Lord, leaving behind all other personal affairs, the Lord will bless you with increased knowledge and testimony of the Restoration and the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Your purpose will be to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.  As you serve with all your heart, might, and strength, the Lord will lead you to those who are prepared to be baptized. 

The Lord will reward you for the goodness of your life.  Greater blessings and more happiness than you have yet experienced await you as you humbly and prayerfully serve the Lord in this labor of love among His children.  We place our confidence in you and pray that the Lord will help you become an effective missionary.

You will be set apart as a missionary by your stake president...

Sincerely,
Thomas S. Monson
President  

As a mom, it is also a leap of faith.   I am so grateful for the confirmation of the Spirit which whispers, "Yes.  This is exactly where he needs to go.  All will be well."  We can do hard things.

I'm Here!!!

Guatemala City Temple

Hola from Guatemala!

They aren´t giving us tons of time to type and the computer is in Spanish so this will not be the most quality letter I write!  Well, we weren´t right on our guess of how many elders I would meet up with.  I did not meet up with one or two or even three elders.  Instead, I met up with close to 50 elders and sisters all headed to the Guatemala MTC and different missions.  I only have five minutes to email so what I'll say is, there are tons of people here. They misspelled my name as Peacook, so I need my tags replaced.  Most people here speak Spanish and no English or the other way around.  I am rooming with 5 other elders and we are right next to the temple and around the corner from the airport.  The temple is probably the most beautiful one I have ever seen.  I love you guys!!

Elder Peacock