I wasn’t even sure where it was, prior to the end of July this year. In fact, I wasn’t sure if it were a country or
a city to be very honest. Now I can tell you, it is both. I’ve learned a lot about this small country in the last two months. All due to a tiny little connection we have with it.
We have a family that we are friends with. They live not to far down the road and our lives have been intertwined by Water Polo, and the fact that our kids have spent so much time in the pool together. Friendships developed over games, and trips to exotic lands like Cedar City and Tooele.
We waited with excitement for Tyler’s mission call to come. For those of you who are not familiar with the lingo, a mission is where a young, worthy LDS boy at the age of 19 or a young woman of 21 can dedicate two years of their life to preaching the gospel. They are those kids that knock on your door and ask you if you want to hear about the church. Even if you don’t want to be bothered, you might want to let them in. They are kids of parents who send them, sometimes to far off lands to share our beliefs.
Well, Tyler received a letter in the mail telling him that for his two years away from friends and family, he would be teaching folks about our church, in an amazing place, called Guatemala.
We immediately started to research this neat city and country. We read about its people, its language and everything we could find, in order to understand where he would be going.
Having shared in a small way, this experience has been incredible. Watching him prepare for this adventure has been really neat.
He left on September 23rd and we have received a few letters and emails from him. He is busy learning the Spanish language and how to give the lessons he has been assigned to teach. He is living in an apartment in the largest city he has ever seen, and he is loving it. Absolutely loving it.
The impact this has had on our lives has been profound.
Watching him live the principles he has been taught by his parents. Making choices that are productive and giving. Seeing how he has changed, in just this little amount of time, has been an incredible lesson in love for all of us.
So be good to Elder P, my dear Guatemala. He is out there, with a big heart, a lot of love, and a zest for sharing what he believes.
I am so grateful for this country. For it’s people and for this opprotunity for our friend.
How neat!