The Last One.

Well, here I am. For those who didn't know already I am still at home. So when I came home I was sick with a strange heart condition. The symptoms went away, I got better but I continued to get sick with other things.  I was very confused on what to do at one point. So I prayed, and prayed, aaaannnddd prayed. Finally, I received my answer and it was to stay home and start on the next part of my life. 

I am very grateful for everybody that supported me. Especially my mission president and his wife, the Goldmans. They are so amazing and helped me so much! Working in the office I got to know them so well, even their more personal sides when we played tennis. Sister Goodman has a MEAN backhand! 

I have made some amazing friends, such as Elder Frehner. Freaking love that kid! I have made so many amazing memories with my areas and my companions and families that took care of me all the times that I had stomach issues, giving me strange bubbly drinks that cleared me up!

I love Guatemala so entirely much.

I'm especially grateful for my family that was with me every step of the way. I love them so much. I may have been 3,000 miles away yet my mom still found ways to take care of me. I am extremely grateful for her and everything that she has done for me:) I love you mom. My dad and brothers and sister too. They all helped me soooooooo much. Listening to my poop stories and double dragon accounts😂  I love you guys!!

I know that this church is true. I know that sometimes things don't turn out like we think that they would but our Father in Heaven ALWAYS has a plan. I know that very much. I love my Heavenly Father and I'm grateful for everything that he has given me in my life.

Elder Darling, over and out. 

So, I got sick.

I guess a little too sick to remain in the mission field. Do not worry, for I shall return to the field. I had the medical need to return home for testing and rest so that this missionary's body could return to a stable state for work.

Sooooooo, I am better now and have sent off the papers from Doctors offices to Salt Lake and we are currently waiting the response from the big guys up in church headquarters to mail me my "reinstatement" haha so that I can once more return to my missionary duty and finish the few 6 or 7 months that I lack in my journey.

Haha
 Yo se que esta iglesia es la unica verdadera en la faz de la tierra. Yo se que vive mi senor y que nos ama bastante. Yo se que nuestro padre celestial nos ama tanto y nos cuida en nuestros caminos. Yo les amo, y quiero que tengan paz en su hogar y en su corazon. Duden sus dudas, y suigan al Senor.

-(for now) Bro. Braeden Darling

Hello Family Dear

Hi, we are almost to call number #3 of the 4 times we call home on the mission, thats coming up in a few days haha crazy. 

Right now things are going slow being sick and all but we are having success and working with a few families that have some members and some non-members, they are pretty great. 

So, today I went and took some more tests because the cardiologist was thinking that what i have isn't directly related to the heart, but we will see. I am supposed to go to Xela to go see a specialist here soon, just waiting the call. Xela is like a few hours from Reu, i have driven there a bunch while i was in the office. i have sent some pictures. its a cool place that is where one of the 2 temples here in Guatemala is. 

Last week we had to go to a place called mazate so we had to catch a bus and had like 15 minutes to write, that's why it was such a lame p-day haha. but mazate was great. There is an Elder there named Elder Zavala. He is super dope. He and his brother have like the same exact story that Elder Whelan and I do. He is 21 and his bro is 20. both came out together and are both going home the same day, awesome!!! 

Yo sé que el señor dirije esta obra, y que estoy aqui por una razon, ayudarle a Él. 

Les amo muchisimo. Feliz dia de la madre!!!

pics. 

some pics from the thing i was hooked up to. fancy thai food in mazate, shrimp in curry sauce. and i bought a fanny-pack!!!!! #neverchange              [Editor's note: We apologize for the fanny-pack video]

No Time to Write!

hello family. I have been moved into a different area because of my heath problems. I am now in San Felipe with Elder Angulo, from Lima Peru. He is dope. I don't have like anytime to write because we need to go to a place called Mazate because early tomorrow i am going in for an appointment where they are going to put a thingy on my arm that will take my blood pressure for 24 hours. So we will see how it goes :)

San Felipe is awesome. It was rough leaving El Codo because there are some amazing famileis there that I miss a bunch but I will visit them when i come back to visit. 

7 months left in the mission, thats cool hahaha. I am the oldest missionary in my zone, thats super weird because it is the same zone as where I started the mission in Brillantes hahaha. 

We had a baptism this last Saturday so that was neat haha. I never taught the lady, just showed up to see her get baptized basically. 

Don't have time to send pictures, sorry. 

I love you guys!!!

[Editor's note: Braeden has had headaches, high blood pressure/heart rate, and felt very fatigued for the last 2-3 weeks. He's gone to see a couple of specialists, and tomorrow (Monday) is going to see a cardiologists. We spoke with his mission president tonight. He's not extremely worried but is concerned and wants to get to the bottom of it sooner rather than later. Hopefully this week's emails from him will provide more clarity and good news.]

"Big Email"

Now this is a story all about how my life got flipped turned upside down so id like to take a minute just sit right there, I`ll tell you how i became the prince of a town called Bel-Air. 

daaaaa dun du du duuu da 

I have totally rewritten the fresh prince of belair theme song to my life as a missionary but i dont have my notebook with me. 

Hi everybody. this past week was really lame:) I am and have been sick and not very functional as a missionary, resting and slowly fading away into the dust that I was made from. hahaha, but i am still happy. 

Changes are tomorrow and my companion, Elder Leishman will be leaving and I will be staying in the area, El Codo, which I super like. 

 I was almost murderd by a pitbull the other day. I was sick, like i am right now and we were walking from the chaple (soccer tournament for the young men) and it was like 8:45 and dark. To get to our house there is a patch or road that has no light so you just follow the street. 

In the middle, between the chapel and the turn for our alley, there is a dog named Spike. Spike is a maldito stupid-head. excuse my spanish. 

Anyway. we were walking and hear, grrrr. on the other side of the road. His house is on the left but he was on the right in the flippin bushes, "YOU'RE IN THE BUSHES!!!" Darn you spike. Then, he came at us. I didnt even think once, I took off back to the chapel where the court lights were on, turned around and he was chasing me. then he turned around and ran back to his house. I think an angel kicked him in the face. I HATE THAT DOG. 

Anyway, I forgot my camera in my house because we left early to catch the bus for my doctor's appointment so there will be no pictures attached, those who just look at my pictures, you will be disappointed hahaha and probably haven't even read this email. 

love you guys

-elder darling

Hi

This last week we had a baptism. We baptized a lady named Ana. That was a cool experience. It helped me to realize that I am really not here to do my work, but to do the Lord`s work. She was prepared without missionaries to come into the Lord's fold. 

this week, nothing big has happened. I am actually kind of sick. 

nothing much to report from this past week. 

pics.

Elder Jones supposable had my camera during exchanges, and doctor's hand-writing hahaha

MIracle

Hi. Elder Darling here. 

This last week has been pretty good:) On Friday night we got a call from the ZLs that we needed to call and talk to the branch Prez to ask a few questions like how the branch is and if there are any persons that are attending that are not members. "yes, there is one hermana that has been attending for  2 months." 

Me:  *gasps* "Sweet! when can we come down and meet her????" 

Prez: "Sunday"

Me: "we will be there"

Anyway so we showed up on Sunday but the Prez had a meeting in the stake and couldn't be there but we met with the son and he took us to their house. 

Turns out that the son in 20 and has been a member for 8 years, his brother is 15 and is also baptized and active, they have an older sister that has never gone to church with them. And the Mom, Hermana Ana knows that the church is true. She will be getting baptized this Saturday by her oldest son, wow. What an amazing blessing to be able to be a part of the help that brought this family a little closer together. 

This week, actually yesterday we had interviews with President Goodman and it was pretty awesome. The more time that I accumulate in the mission i think the shorter my interviews get, but something stuck out to me during the prayer. He said, "we are thankful for the peace, patience and hope that we feel." 

God, loves me and you. We are his children. He likes to know what we are grateful for just like parents like to know if you like your birthday presents. We need to let him know constantly of the things that we are grateful for through prayer. 

elder darling

pics. I have....crazy eyes.