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!]

Rewind: The Temple

[May 10, 2016]

One of the most important steps a missionary takes in his preparation for his mission is to attend the temple for the first time.  A temple is different than a chapel for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  A chapel is where we attend church on a weekly basis--to worship, partake of the sacrament and receive instruction.  All are welcome to visit our chapels.  

A temple is quite literally the house of the Lord.  We go there to receive instructions, make covenants and complete sacred ordinances for ourselves and on behalf of those that have died without receiving saving ordinances.

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:19)

Due to the sacred nature, we must qualify for the privilege to attend by faithfully living the commandments and receiving a recommendation from our local leaders.  Attending the temple is not something we do lightly as increased responsibility and accountability comes from taking this next step in our progression.

 For more on temples, see HERE.

We attended the St. George Temple in May with Will.  The clouds provided a lovely backdrop, right?

It is a pioneer temple, dedicated in 1877.  There are currently 150 operating temples, including two in Guatemala:  Guatemala City and Quetzaltenango.   I love the beauty of the St. George Temple--gleaming white in the midst of red rock--but every temple is beautiful, with its own character and history.  I love that it's only 15 minutes from our house and that I can see it almost every day as I do daily errands.  But mostly, I love that I can feel the Spirit more strongly there than anywhere else.  It brings the peace to my soul as described by President Thomas S. Monson:

As we attend the temple, there can come to us a dimension of spirituality and a feeling of peace which will transcend any other feeling which could come into the human heart. We will grasp the true meaning of the words of the Savior when He said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. … Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

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

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