Bolivian Blazer: July 29th, 2015

My dear friends and family,

This week has been absolutely incredible. Definitely the typical challenges of the CCM, striving to be exactly obedient, learning the language, adjusting to the food, and learning to live with a companion. The biggest challenge this past week though was having almost the entire CCM be sick with a head cold/flu of some sort that I'm just starting to get over. Since the start of my time here, I have gotten here a day late and missed orientation, gotten sick with a pretty bad sore throat, lost my CTR ring, been swamped in Spanish, had a bunch of 18 year old elders blow me out of the water in their knowledge of the gospel and the language, had some wonderful trials in digesting the food here, and now gotten sick again.... but I don't think I've ever been happier, learned as much as quickly as I have been, or met so many incredible emissaries of the Lord at ANY other time in my life. I have officially finished a month of my mission.... INCREDIBLE how fast time flies out here. I am now what we call an advancado or advanced missionary here at the ccm. For the first two weeks, one is a principiante, then for the next two an intermedio, and the last two, an advancado. I had an epiphany of sorts this past week and realized that there is a virtually ENDLESS amount of work we have to do here in this mortal life in order to progress, learn, and grow, I think that if at any point in your life that you feel that time is moving slow for you, then you're doing something wrong. Granted there will be times when you just dislike the subject of the class you're sitting in, or are not a fan of that long meeting, or just need some time to relax.... but there is work to do brothers and sisters, and I am not a fan of the how I feel when I notice that time is moving slowly.

The random updates of the past week include the following: I have officially discovered some of the best ways to stay awake in class, work, or any setting you may find yourself falling asleep because the entire CCM experience is ABSOLUTELY exhausting but I cannot afford to miss a second of it: always carry your favorite gum with you, something to fiddle with in your hands that is not very distracting such as silly putty, a rabbit´s foot, in my case some limpiotipo (tac), or whatever your heart desires can be a lifesaver, and always try to take notes in a small notebook or binder of some sort. Also, we watched a video this week called Missionaries in Turkey about the first four missionaries that were allowed into the country of Turkey partway through their missions in the country just adjacent. It solely belongs to the CCM´s around the world and every missionary is only allowed to see it once This video was perhaps the most inspiring video I have ever watched regarding the gift of tongues in learning one of the HARDEST languages in the world. These four missionaries worked with a Turkish to English translator memorizing 100 new words a day, perfecting the pronunciation after reading one chapter of scripture, and were fluent in 2 months I believe. Absolutely inspiring and helpful for everyone here in trying harder to learn Spanish.

We got to go PROSELYTING OUTSIDE the CCM on Saturday this past week in southern Lima about 45 minutes away from the CCM in a town called Churavilla or something along those lines. I encourage all of you to look up pictures of this place because the geography and set up of the city is so interesting and unique. The entire bus ride I couldn't peel my eyes away from the windows. Half of it is a big bustling city, 1/4 of it is favella like housing built on top of each other up the sides of mountains (extremely poor), and the other 1/4 is barren, rocky, hills and mountains with abrupt transitions between each of these. I spent all of my time with two other CCM elders from different companionships, one of which was a latino, a member from the area, and an experienced elder that had been serving in this area for just over a year by the name of Elder Clark. We spent our time on a rescue mission visiting homes of less active members to try and share a message with them. We spent a good hour and a half just trying to find their houses with the crazy addresses in this gated community of apartments, the rest of the time knocking on doors with no answer, and about half an hour actually TEACHING a lesson to a younger brother and sister of about 15 years old each about the atonement and church attendance. Elder Clark rightly took almost all the time and the Latino elder with us talked a minute or two and then I got a turn.... wow is the gift of tongues real... I said and asked in nearly perfect Spanish to these two how they felt right then (they were obviously feeling rather awkward and shy about the lesson and not being very talkative at all) and they gave their usual one or two word answers. I said I knew that it was difficult at such a young age to learn about and take a part in the gospel, especially without your parents (their parents were not members and were not there to take a part in the lesson), and they nodded. I knew they would probably rather be doing other things like playing with their friends or watching movies on their rather good sized TV they had in their house and they nodded again. I told them how I remembered being their age and struggling with the same thing. Then I shared Ether 12:6 with them and bore testimony that I KNEW that this was the right thing for them to be doing with their lives right now and that it would bless them in their lives to come. That they would be blessed for being examples to their parents. Elder Clark took over again and talked for a bit longer and then the member with us talked as well. We committed them to come back to church tomorrow and left with a prayer. It was a little rocky overall, but a very eye-opening and interesting lesson.

I forgot to mention that while on the bus ride I saw a KFC, McDonalds, a DeWalt power tools store, two Cinemark movie theaters, a huge mall, two universities, flags everywhere for the week of celebration surrounding Peru's independence day on July 28th, indoor soccer fields, Starbucks, a Hard Rock Cafe, Gold's Gym, Burger King, and so much more that made the city seem like an American one. But then again, I also saw a huge Cristus statue on a hill, INSANE driving, and tons of 3 wheeled cars I think are called tuk-tuks to remind me I wasn't home.

My spiritual advice and testimony for this week is on companionship inventories. Each and every week on Sunday, my companion, Elder Smith and I have an hour to sit down and compliment each other on our strengths and what we did well in the past week as well as offer suggestions for each other and ourselves to improve in obedience, our character, our teaching, and more. Our branch presidency realized a few weeks back and mentioned it in sacrament, that it would be VERY useful to sit down and have a companionship inventory with their wives (who are out here in the field serving with them as senior missionaries). Elder Smith and I have quite a few differences between us but we have improved our relationship and improved as a companionship solely because of this companionship inventory each week. The once a week meeting allows me to write down my thoughts of something I dislike about him, I, or our relationship, cool down, and then discuss with him in a respectful and spirit-guided atmosphere (start and end with prayer) things we both can improve on. Another key is asking How can I help? I DEEPLY admonish you try this with your spouse, loved one, friend, or anyone you think it could benefit... I will always support talking about your problems rather than letting tension and frustration build on such insignificant things.

Last thing for this week, I was one of the 4 missionaries that got called up to give their talk this past Sunday. Every elder and hermana has to prepare a 5 minute talk about a certain part of our missionary objective each week completely in Spanish to prepare for randomly giving talks out in the field in small branches and wards that will inevitably need our help. Once again my testimony of the gift of tongues was strengthened as I gave a talk fully in Spanish on the Holy Ghost and felt like I did pretty good. Little did I know virtually every member of the audience was going to compliment me and say how much they loved my talk! :D It was such a tender mercy because I have had nothing but humbling experiences since I arrived at the CCM. My two role models in the branch presidency here, President Murray and Elder Hansen both complimented me as well calling my talk a grand slam and complimenting how incredible it was that my Spanish had already progressed so much. One elder said that it was the best talk he had heard yet here at the CCM. Once again my missionary plaque scripture came to my mind... Alma 26:12.

Last suggestion! Please go watch Meet the Mormons and/or 17 Miracles again or for the first time if you haven't already! Amazing movies. More next week. Love you all. Praying for you and your individual struggles always.

Sincerely,

Elder Van Horne