Una Semana mas en el CCM! - Week 5

Como esta?! Estoy muy feliz porque yo tengo una semana mas aqui en el CCM antes de la camp. Estoy listo por el campo pero el tiempo en el CCM fue muy rapid tambien. Mi disticto y yo, estamos excelente y muy listo porque seis semanans aqui is muy largo. Pero, necesito usar este tiempo aqui ayudar mi espanol mas y saber comó ensenar mejor. Me gustan mis companeros y alli es mas unidad con nosotros. Hoy fue el ultimo semana ir al templo aqui en Ciudad de Guatemala y fue un gran experienca y me encanta el templo aqui. Lo siento, pero, proximo semana no puedo escribir a ustedes porque proximo martes yo salgo el CCM por el campo en la manana. Retalhuleu es 4 horas del CCM pero, estare con buenos misioneros en el bus! Mi estomago es mucho mejor y la comida esta bien.

Here is the translation of the paragraph above (based on Spanish to English translator and what Chandler’s mom, can figure out from what didn’t translate well):

How is it going?! I am very happy because I have one more week here in the CCM before the field.  I'm ready for the field but the time at the CCM was also very fast. My district and I are excellent and very ready because six weeks here is very long. But I need to use this time here helping my Spanish more and to know how to teach better. I like my companions and there is more unity with us. Today was the last week we can go to the temple here in Guatemala City and was a great experience and I love the temple here. Sorry, but next week I cannot write to you because next Tuesday I leave the CCM for the field in the morning. Retalhuleu is 4 hours from the CCM but it will be with good missionaries on the bus! My stomach is much better and the food is good.

To answer your question mom about around the MTC, there is a hill right behind the temple (which we can see from the windows of the MTC) it’s where a lot of rich people live because the houses up there are mansions and just massive and pretty nice but right below on the streets with the MTC there are a lot of poor areas and where a lot of less fortunate people live but it still isn't too bad.

The weather here isn't too bad because it actually gets pretty cool at night and I need to sleep with a blanket but the weather during the day gets pretty warm except it rains like crazy here just about every day. Except for the rain the weather is pretty close to the same in Colorado so that’s nice but I keep hearing that the weather in Retalhuleu is very, very hot because it is right next to the coast but I'm down for sweating for the next two years!

The time here in the MTC has gone by so fast and I can hardly (is that a word?) believe I have been here for 5 weeks and only have 1 more left! All of us in my zone (about 40 missionaries) are all really excited to get out of here and to experience what a ''real'' mission is like.

So each week there are some people that come here and sell stuff to the missionaries that they might need and some stuff that is custom to Guatemala as well. I bought some ties that I guess are ''too thin'' to wear on a mission so I'm thinking about sending those home to Dad, Tanner, and Connor because there are 3 of them that are ''too thin''. I plan on sending you all a package home for Christmas (depending on how much it is) with some nifty things in it but if not then I apologize! However, me or no one else except for 1 elder has not gotten any physical letters in the mail yet which is kind of depressing but we have to understand that letters can take a while to get down here and I hope the MTC isn't just holding onto them until we leave the MTC.... but I don't know!

Me and my 2 companions are still getting along pretty well and are learning how to be in a trio because it can be difficult but it is definitely getting better though. Being zone leader is still going pretty well and I try to help others out as much as I can. Oh so a few days ago on Friday, my district and I had the opportunity to go outside the gates of the MTC to go talk to whomever about the church and to handout copies of the Book of Mormon. We talked to a few people who accepted the books and we got their contact information to give to the missionaries in the area to go visit them. It was a really great experience and definitely made me realize that I can talk to people about the church, get to know them, and just talk to them in Spanish.  It was a really cool n to practice my Spanish and practice being a ''real'' missionary. I'm just ready to get out of the MTC and start teaching real people. My testimony here has definitely been strengthened and last week I really focused on the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how his Atoning Sacrifice in our/my life. My testimony on it increased and helped with my relationship with my Savior. Doctrine and Covenants 58:42-43, (42 Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.  43 By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins-behold, he will confess them and forsake them). This scripture has helped me to better understand God's love for us and the love we need to have for the Savior to come unto him because he has his arms open wide for us, all we need to do is repent of our sins and come unto him (Alma 5:33 - Behold, he sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you.).

I'm glad you are all doing great and I miss you all too! Sorry if I didn't answer all your questions mom but maybe in a physical letter I write I can. Love you all and miss you all! Stay sweet!

                        Love, Elder Kahl

Here is a photo of my district in front of the temple.

The Guatemala City temple.