Elder Owens' Guatemalan Mission

November 23, 2022 This week's been a rather mellow one. We dropped a lot of people who won't progress, so we're working on finding new people. This means a lot of door knocking... and a lot of "another day"s and "I'm catholic"s and general un-answering of doors. By the way, it's very easy to tell the difference when your not home, and when your avoiding us. You can't hide from the spirit. So we've just been walking around, exploring new neighborhoods, knocking new doors, talking to new people. Pretty relaxing really. We're starting to find more people who actually want to hear and listen to us, which is awesome. Trying to teach an uninterested person is very difficult. There's still purpose to it, but it's SO MUCH NICER talking to someone who cares. Like I said. As a missionary, if worthy, we are often blessed with the gift of discernment. What that means, is we pick up pretty quickly on who you are and what your intentions ar...

November 17, 2022 This email is really long, but it holds a very special message. I stayed up till 3 writing it. Please set apart a little time to read it. I worked hard on it just for you guys. Well, I've already been out here 6 months. Crazy, time literally flies by out here. Anyways. We had a lot of service opportunities this past week and we've been the busiest this week than any other I've had on the mission. But that's the way I prefer it. I want to finish saying I gave my absolute all; I don't want it any other way. I'm going to jump right into, not the highlight of this week, month, transfer, or even mission, but my life as of now. God is One of miracles, and He still blesses us today. Anyone who says otherwise is actively lying to themselves. I may be a child, 19 years of age, but I boldly proclaim to any and all without fear, doubt, or reproach: that God speaks to His children today. That He knows each by name, and loves them. He knows us better than w...

(Service for some people we just met.) November 9, 2022 Soooo, this was a long week. Long because we've been really busy and hard at work. Now that we've talked to a massive number of people in the area, people are a bit more open to us. We've played soccer with the kids occasionally and we've helped around service-wise as well, so people know that we're normal people, but with a special purpose  . It's been really fun honestly. Spiritual thought: A mission is hard. It's supposed to be. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Grapes are crushed to make wine, diamonds are formed under pressure, olives are pressed to make oil, seeds grow in darkness. When you feel crushed, pressed, under pressure, or in darkness, you're in a place of powerful transformation. It's up to you whether you change for the better or not. I've changed a lot in how I interact with others. Anyone who knew me before, I didn't talk with strangers. Ever. I didn't try ...

October 31, 2022 Well, we just got transfer news (that's why pday is today). Elder Ellsworth and I are staying in Lima, which is good. This area needs a lot of work, and we wanna work hard. I've really been trying my best this transfer, and going forward, to show as much love and care as humanly possible. Even if people don't "progress" or accept our message, I know that they cannot deny the love that I've exhausted myself to emulate. And if these people we talk with only remember one thing when I'm gone, I hope and pray that they remember the love that the missionaries shared with them. I hope that I stay in this area long enough to see the fruits of our work. I want to leave this area knowing that I did absolutely everything within my capabilities to open the hearts of the people here. To be worthy of the name and title I wear over my heart everyday. In 15 days I will complete my 6-month mark, which is 1/4 of the mission. This really got me thinking abou...