Elder Jordan Dean Blake: Week 7 (Week 1 in the Field)

Hola de Oaxaca!

This week has been awesome. Yes there's no doubt at all that it has been one of the most difficult - definitely the most difficult - thing I have ever done in my life. But it's just so amazing. I really don't know how to put it in words. I know that our Heavenly Father needs as many people as possible to help build His kingdom and that's what I'm here in Oaxaca to try my best to do.

The language is different, yes, and I've been laughed at multiple times, but I'm alright with that. I'm just allowing that to make me work even harder. When people somewhat laugh at me because my Spanish isn't great or I can't understand the language I just think of what Heavenly Father is thinking right now and I know he doesn't care. The thing he does care about is how hard we are trying. I also know without a doubt that he didn't send me here to fail!!!!

This week we had our first baptism. It was so dang awesome. Her name is Hermana Xochitl (pronounced Sotchil). It's a very different name that's for sure, but she is so awesome! We had visits with her and she really wants to learn English so I was basically helping her out with everything I knew in Spanish and helping her translate it to English. It was awesome. She was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. What a blessing it was to see that.

Mexico is so dang different though with absolutely everything - like they wait until 15 minutes after 10:00 to even start Sacrament because everyone is late. Like Hermana Xotchil's baptism was at 5:00 and she didn't even show up until 5:30. We were super worried, but she made it.

It's also crazy how much my companion has me participate in the lessons. It's so awesome because it helps me out a lot. Like I thought I'd just kind of listen for the first little bit, but he's pushing me really hard. Most of the time he will just kind of look at me during the lesson and I won't really know what's going on, so I'll just bare my testimony about what we are teaching and how important it is.

Anyways, a couple of funny things this week. So I had two crazy things happen. The first one was we were at Hermana Xochitl's house for dinner and she made stirfry. And you all probably know how bad I hate stirfry. So as she's bringing me the plate, I just happen to notice how much is on that thing. It was literally loaded to the max. I said a prayer in my heart to let me eat this meal so I don't offend Hermana and it was literally the best meal I've had since I've been in Mexico. It was amazing!! It's crazy how much I'm already starting to love vegetables down here - especially cooked onions.

The second funny experience I had was I was at another members house and the plate she brought out was just loaded. I was super hungry so I was excited and I took the first bite and it was absolutely horrible. My tongue died when I tasted it. So I said another prayer asking Heavenly Father if he could help me finish that place and literally, by His grace, I was able to put it down!!

One more super short experience. So Sunday was Fast Sunday and everyone was sharing their testimonies just like normal and I got the prompting to share mine. I was just kind of like my Spanish is not good. How am I going to do that? But then the thought came to my head and it was basically this: How is Heavenly Father going to bless me with the ability to speak Spanish if I don't even have the courage to share my testimony. So I got up and I shared my testimony. It was very short, but I'm extremely grateful for that prompting and thought that came to me. I know a lot of times things may be tough, especially sharing the gospel, but we HAVE to be courageous!!

There's so much to talk about but I don't have a lot of time, ever. I just want you all to know how dang much I love you and how truly grateful I am for this opportunity to serve. Have an amazing week, everyone!

Love,
Elder Blake

Outside and inside my apartment and my neighborhood.