Finding Things in the Temple

This week I had a funny experience with an investigator who came to the temple. So in the tours we give at the temple, we walk around the temple and en fin we enter into the lobby and the investigator can pray and feel the especially strong spirit that's there and get answers. Anyway at one point we invite the people to the touch the temple. To hug it, love it, feel it. And then we ask the gente, "How is it?" Answers vary. Smooth, solid, hard, firm, cold, hot, etc. and then we ask how they feel in their heart to touch it. (It doesn't sound nearly as cheesy in spanish.) Well this week we had a very interesting investigator se llama Juan come visit. We jokingly told him to hug the temple and he did so. Then when we asked him how he felt in his heart. He's like, "Cold! Becuase my chest is touching it!" It was so funny. And then we specified and asked what feelings he could feel by touching it. He then proceeded to knock the temple and put his ear up to it as if to listen. He then told us that they aren't just felt you have to look. He knocked for a good solid 5 minutes but every once in awhile would said, "Oh I found one!" And would tell us what feeling he found. Some were Peace, Tranquility, Repentance, Sincerity, Honesty, and Security. Now it was quite a humerous site to see a kid of 15 knocking and listening to the walls of the temple. But I also like the sentiment behind it. If we want to find peace, tranquility, repentance, sincerity, honesty, security we need to look for it. And what better place to look for it than in the temple? The temple truly is a place where we can find the guidance we need in this life. We can find it at home through prayer and scripture reading and all that jazz. But it's so much easier and quicker if we look in the temple. I love that people who've never heard of or been to a temple can learn that just by visiting for an hour. I think it's the spirit that teaches it. So remember it people! Go to the temple and find what you need!

Anyway in other news I found more than that funny experience in the temple this week. This week Elder Christofferson came to visit Guatemala South. Last year when Elder Cook came we had a mutli-mission conference. This year we did not have that and I was actually really disappointed at the fact I wasn't going to have the opportunity to meet Elder Christofferson. Welp I didn't need to worry! There's perks to being a temple sister. Let me tell you what happened Friday. So me and mi compita linda had a tour to give at 8 a.m. so we got there early as always to find the presidente del templo (Presidente Alvarado), the presidente de la area (Presidente Cordon), and one of 70 presidencia (Presidente Jaun Uceda) just chatting and kind of blocking our way. So we greet them, the temple pres. introduces us and what we do at the temple, (he's our friend) and Presidente Uceda says, "Que poderoso hermanas. Estoy envidioso del llamamiento que ustedes tienen." (you can use google translate) So that was kind of cool. It made me wonder though why those three were together if Elder Chirstofferson wasn't going to show up later as well. So we started our tour that we had planned and when we were at the half way point I saw from afar Elder Christofferson get out of a car and walk towards the temple. My mind was like, "Crap! Now I'm not going to get to meet him 'cause he'll be inside the temple forever." I need to chill sometimes. But anyway we enter the temple lobby to finish the tour and we find Rudy Rodriguez. He's besties with all the missionaries. He's the head of security for all of Central America and the missionaries are one of his top priorities. He says hello and asks if we saw Elder Christofferson. We tell him we saw him but didn't meet him and he's like, "I hope you get the chance to saludarle." I told him he should help us out. I mean he's technically the body guard. He said he'd see what he could do. So the tour ended, the elders and investigator left, and out came Rudy signaling us over. And soon there after Elder Christofferson came out and shook our hands. Did I tell you guys I lost my badge? I think I did. I still haven't gotten a new one. Welp when he went to shake my hand he's like, "Hermana.....Judd?" (I had my chafa badge I made myself.) I told him I lost it and he just gave me a knowing nod. Of all the weeks to lose my placa it had to be the week I met an apostle of the Lord. He asked where I was from and that was pretty much it. But I talked a ton with his wife. So that was cool. And before they both left he said, "Nos vemos en el fin!" It was sweet. Let's be honest I probs won't meet him again in this life. But at the end of it all it's probable. 

He's not the only cool thing I found in th temple this week! I found my besties from Venezuela Jordy y Katy! They're both leaving for missions! Mis patojos ya son grandes! Benja already left for Brazil, Katy is going to Costa Rica in April, and Jordy should be getting his mission call in a week! It's weird how fast time goes by. But it makes me happy that my patojos are doing sooooo well! I also saw my converts from Tesoro! Karisha y Nathaly! They were doing baptisms for the dead and it made me so happy to see them being firm and strong in the church! Being a temple missionary brings me a lot of joy. I'm learning I'm quite a social thing and seeing my friends brings me immense joy! I not only saw my old area friends, this week the whole mission has been coming in zones to go to the temple. So everyday I've been able to see my missionary friends as well and I just feel extremely happy. A little over happy if it's possible. I love the mission. I love life. And all is well. Anyway there it is. This was an extremely long weekly letter. I hope you enjoy it. Nos vemos! 

Marley