1 more week in the MTC!

     Elder McLain's group email from last week. He is getting more and more excited to get out into the field. He is preparing hard with Spanish and doctrine. He should be leaving next week on Tuesday to his first area. 

Well hello Everybody.  Hows life in the 801?

Life here in Guatemala has been rather fun considering we are locked inside of the MTC. 

This last week was great. My absolute favorite part was being able to watch the Joseph Smith movie. Every single time I watch that, any doubts I have, any questions that I have, are all answered by the spirit that you feel as you see Joseph Smith Act in faith. The movie is so powerful and I encourage all of you to watch it either for the first time or just watch it again.

 After we watched the Joseph smith movie we had the chance to hear Ballard give a devotional.

Let me tell you Elder Ballard is amazing. He had a room full of about 150 Missionaries, silent. We were all so impressed with the power that he shared the gospel. He read from 3rd Nephi which is where Christ comes to the Americas, and we were all in tears.

One thing he shared was: The gift of the Atonement is the greatest gift that gas ever been given to the human family. Focus on it. Dont be afraid to use it.

2 Weeks ago 3 Latinos arrived in the MTC, Elder Nuñez, Elder Vasquez, and Elder Lopez. They are three of the most amazing people I think I have ever met. They came here with basically nothing but their testimonies. They had given up almost everything to be able to serve a mission. Elder Miles and I had the privledge to share a room with them and it allowed me an opportunity to realize how much we all have in the United States and how much we take for granted. I think we can all try a little harder to be thankful for what we do have, and not be afraid to help out somebody who might be struggling.They left this morning and it was difficult to see them go, but I learned a lot from them, and one of them is planning on inviting me to his wedding in two years....Haha so we will see how that all plays out.

I love all of you back Home. 

Love, Elder McLain

One Step Closer to the Field

We got another email from Elder McLain on Wednesday. He keeps telling us that he is having a fantastic time. His Spanish has improved immensely and he is ready to get out into the field. He informed us that he will be leaving the MTC on September 2nd. We are so excited and proud of him and all he will and has accomplished. Here is his email to all of you about the MTC, enjoy! 

Hello Everybody!

Another Week at the MTC is done. I'd say that this was my most productive and favorite week yet! I learned a lot and I am really beginning to speak Spanish more fluently. Last Tuesday we got to hear from missionaries serving in Guatemala City who only had one or two months left each, we got to ask them questions about the mission and it was really great to see how mature and powerful their testimonies are. I learned a lot from them such as that exact obedience, 

Exact obedience to the mission rules and exact obedience to the commandments bring more blessings than we can imagine and when we are out in the field, exact obedience will provide us with more opportunities to invite others to come unto Christ. We also had the chance to go to the market in Guatemala and experience some of the culture outside of the CCM. I got an awesome shirt and a cool little tie there from a sketchy store so that was fun. 

The rest of the week consisted of arm wrestling, playing hacky sack, and basketball. Elder Miles and I are the tallest guys here so you can imagine basketball comes pretty easy for us. However, as for arm wrestling... We aren't necessarily the best.

My absolute favorite part of the week was listening to a devotional from Elder Bednar on Sunday.

I learned a ton from him so I will just share a few of the things that I really liked.

• Understand who you are and you will be able to overcome all Temptation.

• Your connection with God is much better when you are asking to bless or help somebody besides yourself.
•  And faith is a principle of action.

 Well I'm going to end it with that. I hope all of you are doing wonderful!

Love, Elder McLain

Missionary Pictures

      Elder McLain's mission pictures are finally all edited and ready to share. Thanks to Breanna Reynold's Photography. She did a fantastic job! We love this missionary of ours!!

The Guatemalan Flag

Mother and Son

The First 2 Weeks

       Elder McLain has been out on his mission for about 2 weeks now! We have heard from him three times and he is really loving it so far! His companion is Elder Miles from Draper, it is funny how that worked out.  They are getting along just fine and have really become great friends. Elder McLain told us that he loves playing basketball everyday and feels as if he is gaining weight because they have to eat their whole meal otherwise they don't get the next one. Something exciting: he was able to do was go to the Guatemala City Temple last week and spend some time in the temple. Unfortunately, he isn't allowed to take pictures while in the MTC. They took all of the cameras away from the missionaries until they get out into the field. Luckily, a nurse that works at the MTC sent us some pictures of Elder McLain and his zone outside of the temple.

View of the temple

Elder McLain with his companion and other missionaries.

Sisters and Elders outside of the temple. 

         For this week Elder McLain sent an email for everyone to read, some of you may have already gotten this but if you haven't here it is....

          Hello Everybody! Life down here in Guatemala has been pretty crazy as of late. Its almost the start of week 3 which is hard to believe! 

When I first got here I got to see a little bit of the town and I fell in love. It is absolutely beautiful. When we got to the MTC i met my companion Elder Miles who went to Corner Canyon, and has  some crazy stories! The second day wasn't so fun however, they called me and Elder Miles out of class and lead us into this room, we had no idea what was going on then they proceeded to basically shave our heads. My hair has sort of grown back but I feel bald. Haha. Besides that, the first week was smooth sailing. As for the second week however that's a different story. Things I learned the second week:

•       You can get Tape worms that will grow up to 33 feet inside of you.
•      There are parasites in Quetzaltenango that if you get, will never leave your body.
•      I learned I had to get a tetanus shot.

       And that's about all of the bad news from the second week. 

We did however have the chance to attend the temple which was amazing. There is always such a calm feeling when you are inside the temple and you just forget everything that is going on, and focus on why you are here.

      Things I miss so far:

•        My family of course
•       My friends.
•       Poco.
•       Being able to play my own music.
•       McDonald's.
•      And my abnormally large California King Size bed.

 I do know however that I do not miss those more than Heavenly Father Misses His children down here. I am so excited to get out into the field and be able to share the gospel and the eternal blessings that come from obeying Heavenly Father's Commandments. I read a scripture that kind of just lays everything on the Line. It is 2nd Nephi 33 verse 10. I encourage you to go and read that if you have a minute.

 I love and Miss you all.

      Elder McLain

Austin is loving his mission and has told us that there is nothing else he would rather be doing. Keep checking back to his blog for updates on this Gringo in Guatemala and all of his adventures.