Elder Jakob Lutze: Semana 5 (Eating Bananas, Swimming in Puddles, and Hard Things)

Querida familia y amigos,

This week was the hardest week I have had yet. It was a good week. But there were some things that happened that were difficult. But I'll get to that.

The days essentially are all pretty much the same. Wake up at 6 to go to the gym, eat more food than necessary, classes, and partying it up as a district. The days go by really quick. But they all just blur together. Luckily I have a journal.

The sports we played this week were volleyball, lightning in basketball, and kickball. They are always so fun and I know as a missionary I'm not supposed to be prideful... but my team won every game in volleyball and kickball. But that doesn't matter....

This week I had some really good opportunities as well. Each day I met with companionships in my district just to see how things are going. And it was amazing. They are all so amazing and are working hard. And I feel their testimonies and spirit every time I talk with them. Some are going through hard things and I was also given the opportunity to give them blessings. Every time I can feel the spirit so strongly.

More opportunities were on Sunday. I always love sacrament meetings. But since General Conference is this coming week, it was fast Sunday. I always love the food here. So fasting from Dinner on Saturday and Breakfast on Sunday was definitely one of the biggest challenges I have had to face. But Sunday was so amazing. I bore my testimony in sacrament, great district meetings, great devotionals, and my district had the opportunity to go serve the comedor workers (Cafeteria workers) by doing a small devotional and blessing the sacrament for them. It was such a special experience to be able to serve those that serve us everyday.

It also was pouring rain one of the days. It was absolutely amazing. We had been let out of class early and had about 30 minutes until we had to be back home. So Bowen, Carling, and I changed into other clothes to go be in the rain. We were splashing in puddles and having a good time. We probably shouldn't have done any of that, but it was fun. Then we may or may not have gone swimming in a puddle..... just don't tell President Kirkham.

Another story I have for everyone is about bananas. I don't know if you remember my email from last week about how Elder Rosso eats an insane amount of Bananas. But I had to give him some competition. So at dinner one night. In one sitting. I ate 20 bananas. Yes, 20. It was disgusting. But so worth it. His reaction was priceless. Sadly the 20 bananas were after I ate my entire meal.... I felt gross after, but like I said, so worth it.

Personal study has been good this week too. It's my favorite time, and I don't get enough of it. Day by day, even if I don't realize it my faith grows. But what I do realize is that day by day my love for Christ grows. I also know that the gift of tongues is real. When teaching my teachers I will say things in Spanish perfectly and extremely fluently without really knowing what I'm saying. And my teachers always just look at me in shock. And tell me that they are surprised by how well I speak the language.

Something I've really been trying to do is to talk by the Tongue of Angels or the Holy Ghost. And it has been really cool. Leading, talking, teaching, and testifying by the Holy Ghost is the best possible way to do anything. I can't really explain it, but recently I have just been listening and I know what to say. Every time. I lead district meetings, and our presidency will be there and tell me that I need to teach something, or testify on the spot. And by listening it just comes to me. And it has been really powerful.

And now onto what made this week hard. On Monday I had a strange feeling all day. I couldn't explain what I was feeling. Something was just off. I felt that way the entire day, and at about 9pm I found out why. A member of our district, Elder Danielson, told us that night that he was being sent home and was leaving Wednesday.. He explained why. Lots of us began to cry, especially me. He wanted me to say a prayer. And I did. It was through sobs, but the spirit was definitely present. This was a really hard thing on all of us. But we are proud of Elder Danielson. Myself and Haynie talked to him a lot about things. And hopefully he will return to us in Panama. Please keep him in your prayers, and my district as well. Before I left on a mission my bishop said to me, "You have to learn to have that love for the people you serve. It may be painful at times, but you have to have that for the people." If I'm being honest I didn't think that was possible. But this week proved to me that it is. Serving my district as their leader I have grown to have such a strong love for each and every one of them. And hearing this news hurt like nothing else. I also happened to study charity this week. Many of the scriptures say the same thing. "Without Charity, there is nothing". We will miss Elder Danielson, but he was so grateful for this district and said that our strength and power is what helped him the most. Our charity. So I ask you all to learn and pray to develop charity. Because there isn't a point to anything without having charity.

The rest of the week not much happened. I have some amazing quotes from Elder Rosso, and some pretty good pictures. Also I was very close to passing out in some of the pictures, but I managed to look up and pose for the picture. Very long story that I don't want to share. hahaha

Elder Rosso quotes:

"In the vernacular of today's youth; Facts"

"Your facial complexions are quite pulchritudinous"

Con amor,

Elder Jakob Lutze