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. 

Conference Week

I wrote this poem this past weekend;

I am the governor of my tomorrow and God is the lawyer of my today.

Loosed from the chains that kept me down.

Grew my wings on the whisper of the spirit.

Only I can hold me back, occupying human limitations as my restraints.

Yet, 

I know that limit is a lie.

For I live limitless.

Godliness is my glory and mortal life is my training ground.

Nothing can hold me back.

Nothing can tie me down.

Free to exceed my human possibilities because I am a god,

instead of training wheels I walk on mortal feet. 

I follow no man, 

I am my own.

With nothing but time to dictate my life

And through obedience to the Almighty I shape my being.

I know who I am, for He knows who I'll be. 

Forever exceeding power is the potential that I have been chosen to hold.

However I am the same as you, My Brethren.

One day I will bow at his feet,

Finally called to my eternal assignment.

Hi :) This last weekend we have had the chance to listen to conference and it was awesome!!! The main focus was around love and the power of the priesthood. My companion and I went all around inviting EVERYBODY to watch it with us and had a little success. But the Spirit was awesome. 

This keyboard has an awful spacebar and I have little time and patience but this last week was great:) at least for me haha. 

This week we went to the beach. here are some pictures. Last week I was super dirty because I dug some holes. Made a shake with beans and eggs but ended up dumping it out, it wasn't actually that bad though. Love you! gotta run! 

Picts and a Brief Convo

[Editor's note: This week Braeden and I exchanged a few emails but he didn't really send a long email. Feel free to email him to give him a nice but stern scolding :) ]

Braeden: HI dad! What are you up to?
Dad: living the dream! Students left half day today, mom picked the boys up from me, then took us 
         to Taco Bell, Just downed a Nacho Bellgrande without spilling anything on my tie so winner! 
         How are you?
Braeden: SAME!!!! haha but I had a meaty burrito and a crunchy taco
Dad: Bet you don't feel as gross as I do right now, sitting on my butt in front of a computer, doing 
         nothing to help digest that fake mexi food. :)
Braeden: hahah basically the same but I had to walk half a mile to get to the internet place haha. 
         Cool, the house looks great! its coming along soooooo well. 

Dad: Any fun plans for conference? Watching at the church?

Braeden: we are going to set up a projector in the little chapel that we have to watch it. 

Dad: Make sure you explain a little about these picts. What the crap is on your tongue in that video?

Braeden: Ink... I will but next week. Gotta run! Love you!!!!

[Editor's Note: We are deducing from the sequence of pictures that what we're looking at in this cup is a product of what was in the blender. Enjoy!]

Humble Hello and a Smile

This past week has been a little crazy but successful. My companion went to Guate on Monday and got back on Tuesday, yesterday so we didn't get to do a lot of work for the bus time that we had to travel. BUT, he have been getting work done, which is great. We are gaining the trust and support from the branch president and working a lot with the members. its guuud. 

If there is anything that I have learned in my mission it is that people will always, ALWAYS be more willing and softer hearted if you treat them from the first second that you make eye contact with them, how Christ would treat them. With a humble hello and a smile. Our Lord and savior Jesus Christ has taught me a million lessons here in Guatemala, and this is something that has helped my soooo very much. Humility and love. Yes, I am light skinned and have lighter brown eyes and light hair, but I am no different from you. Yes, I have challenges that I face everyday, so do you. I am NOT perfect, but through Christ I strive for perfection, and you can too. I may appear to have money, as I hide the holes in my shoes that make my left foot filthy. You may think things of me, but I have grown to love you before I have met you. 

We are teaching a woman named Enidalia and we started with the Book of Mormon. It was an amazing lesson and she is going to read the Book of Mormon and prepare for her baptism after praying to know if it is true. When she left her from door, she found a humble hello and a warm smile. 

I JUST SUFFERED THE WORST CRAMP OF MY LIFE!!!!!

Our Father in Heaven and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ love us unconditionally. (like the Katy Perry song) Trying to be like them helps us have success as missionaries and as members. Love everybody no matter what. If they are dirty, tatted up, talk weird, have a potty mouth. Doesn't matter. they are children of an eternal God that loves them just as much as he loves you. Prey and strive to be like them, I will finish with a short testimony in a beautiful language,

Yo sé que esta es la lección que mi padre celestial quiso enseñarme a mi. Yo sé que el libro de mormon es un libro perfecto en la faz de la tierra. Yo sé que un día yo estaré allá con mi padre celestial dando me cuenta de lo que había hecho yo aquí en la tierra. Yo no soy perfecto, pero mi padre celestial y Jesucristo si son. Ellos les aman a ustedes, ellos me aman a mi. somos hijos especiales de ellos y quieren que vivamos bien y que podamos regresar con nuestras familias eternas después de esta vida. "Olvídate de ti mismo y ponte a trabajar" y amar. Les doy muchas gracias a ustedes por sus ejemplos y oraciones. Les Amo.

-Elder Darling

photos, we went out to eat after the soccer game and i took some pics:)

 

Still in El Codo

HELLO!!!!!! How art thou bretheren?? Life is good:) I have a new companion, Elder Leishman from Paradise Utah. He is super funny and excited to work! 

Our area has a branch and the Branch President apparently didn't get along with the last few missionaries that have been there and even with my last comp, Elder Gonzalez. So when I passed by to introduce my new companion he got excited and set a date for us to meet and talk about plans that he has for the branch, it was super weird but COOL! now we have support and help from the branch prez. 

I honestly had been a little baggy (trunky) near the end of the last transfer to the point where i wanted to go home. I didn't feel excited for the work, I was only thinking of the house and work and school and things that I could be doing there and with family and friends. I was.... done. I had been praying for help and inspiration and emotion to work, and I didn't feel anything. then we had changes, I felt the same. But Elder Leishman sat down with me and told me that this was his last chance because he had some things happen and president gave him one chance and it opened my eyes. He is my last chance too. I am nowhere near perfect, nor a good example haha. But President trusts me to help my companions to be good missionaries for some reason and the Lord does too. 

We are all loved children of God, he doesnt care how imperfect we are, he knows and trusts us. I love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the example that he gave and gives me of living a perfect life as an example for us to follow. 

"Venid a mi"- Jesucristo. 

Come unto him, share your worries, and stresses, and heart aches. He wants to help you, you WILL find peace in christ if you come unto him. I know it, and you will know it too of you try. 

-Elder Darling

I had to sew my shoes, purchased a new watch, this is my Mamá and one of her little daughters.

Bought a shirt off a guy's back...

Hi mom! I am going to answer your questions and write my big email at the same time:) two birds, one keyboard. First of all, I am good:) and my week was good as well:) The area that I am in is easily in the 100s right now and we are about to come up on rainy season here in a month or two. Our area is right next to the beach so on p-days we can go to the beach. other than that its kicking rocks between my comps legs, and chasing chickens around, haha, which i do very frequently. 

I did give the belt to a member and he wears it everyday haha. His name is Temo. People in my area are very humble and open to hearing the word of God. Everybody here in Guatemala knows who Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father are, but the hard thing is getting them to really open up and go to church and stuff like that because there are churches here literally on every corner. It's like Utah, but different churches haha. That was funny. I laughed out loud...

I was thinking the other day and I really miss you guys and my friends but thats about it. I can last a little longer here in sunny B. E. A. Utiful Guatemala. 

I am looking forward to conference, its going to be great. I might cook something:) I am surprisingly a good cook haha. Fo real doh. 

Do I need anything from you??? Your prayers for my investigators, my companions, and I. More pictures of stuff would be nice too:) like the house, Selah, lax, Idk.

OHHHHH!!!!! Before I forget!!! Today, we had lunch as a Zone and they ordered food to be delivered, and the guy shows up to drop off the food wearing the SICKEST LAX t-shirt. So I bought it from him, right there off of his Body!!! HHAHAHAHAHAHA It was AWESOME!!! He actually let me buy it! I am so happy, I have been looking for a good shirt, and here it is haha. Can you believe it!?! I bought it off of his back! hahahahaha. ahhhhhhh it was cool. [Editor's note: 😬😳]

Thanks mom, I love you!!!!!!!! Tell everyone hi!

-Elder "Weirdo"

My Birthday and Poo-Pourri

[Editor's Note: We didn't receive much from Braeden via email this last week, but he did send us videos using the Poo-pourri he received for his 20th birthday. In case you're not familiar with Poo-pourri, you spray before, use, then enjoy. We believe Braeden is demonstrating this very sequence.]

I love being back in the field!! Thanks for the email, Dad. Yes, Mom, I got my package. And Mom, thank you for shaping me into somebody that's self-sufficient and ready to take on the big bad world. I love you two. My birthday was great:) In the nighttime we went with my Guatemalan "mom" haha and she made us dinner and spent like 4 hours making the most humble cake. I hugged her for her love and I could feel you. I have not really missed my family, until now. I miss you a lot. I have a lot going on in my head right now, but I know a few things. Jesus lives, and YOU are my eternal mother and we have an eternal family. Thank you!! 

Before

After

Hodge Podge

[Editor's note: we didn't receive an official email from Elder Darling this week, but a series of short emails responses to questions and such, hence the title]

Q. So how is your area? 

A. Hot, dusty, but great. The members are really amazing and help us out a ton! 

Q. How is the weather and your companion and the work?

 A. it is really hot and dry, and there is dirt and dust everywhere. yes! the field is sooo much better than the office! haha. My comp is awesome. He's from Honduras. 

Q. Any crazy things happen this past week? 

A. not really. 

Okay, Guatemala is crazy but organized. If you were to ever have a random urge to do something crazy, this is the perfect place. The kids are a little wild and always dirty, but so cute!!! sometimes they are real turds haha. the cities and towns are normally really dirty and there is garbage everywhere, but outside in the nature is super super super pretty. 

Hey dad, yeah valentines day here is Love Day haha. glad to here that things are going well. Your birthday package (which includes stuff from the Selah 1st ward YM) got here but i haven't picked it up yet, so THANK YOU!!!!! I love you! 

El Codo

Hey, just a thought, I told you guys that I had eaten mexican food, its because now my culinary palette is so fine that I can taste the difference between the foods. Hahaha, it was a mexican restaurant. 

Anyway, now I am in El Codo!!! this weeek has flown by! Its been crazy. We have a lot to do there in this area and there are a lot of really positive people. We have moved houses too. I sent pictures on a different email, the gross looking one is the old house, and the new looking one is the ...well i will let you figure it out :)  

this area has some very awesome members that help us out a lot! they drive us around and visit with us and everything. One in particular is named Tio Luis (Uncle Luis) haha we are his "nephews". he has a pickup and he helps us out a TON!

My companion is Elder Gonzalez, he is from Honduras and he is super cool. We are always sooo dusty when we get home at night haha. we shower twice a day because we are always so sticky and gross from sweating a lot haha. 

okay, Gotta run! Have a great week:)

-Elder Darling

[Editor's note: Pictures of of the old house, and the new house. Mom's always appreciate toilet comparison pictures]

Yay, I had Changes!

Yeah! I had changes! I am officially free and (still suck at speeling) and out of the office. This keyboard kinda sucks. But yeah, now I am in an area called El Codo (the elbow) with Elder Gonzalez, from Honduras. He is really cool. The house that we live in right now really sucks but we are moving into one super dope on Monday. (got pics of the undope house) So, yeah. Not much else has really been going on, SUNDAY IS THE SUPERBOWL!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Today I ate some great Mexican food. [Editor's note: We're not sure if he's trying to be funny, or if his culinary palette is so refined that he can taste the difference between Mexican food and Guatemalan food.] 

Changes were yesterday, So I got to meet some of the members and they are super cool. The area is super hot and dry so there is dust everywhere. Its just like one super long road about an hour long that is half dirt, but its awesome so far.  

Write more later! 

Fake Poop in the Shower

💩💩💩  Hahaha so to start off the email I want to share a small uplifting story about a little prank that I did with my companion. It wasn't anything big or crazy, rather simple and funny. So, I had received a few packages for Christmas from my Aunt Kathy and in it was a fake poop. So one day I did divisions with the Zone leaders and I went to their area with Elder Wayman and Elder Frehner stayed in our area with Elder Torres. 

Anyway, I put the poop in the shower where the water was leaking and so it looked very real. Elder Torres walked out of the bathroom at the end of the day and asked, "Elder Frehner, did you know that somebody took a poop in your shower?" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA he acted like he had no idea so the poop stayed there. Then when it came time to shower Elder Frehner just slip the "poop" over to the side and then showered around it. It was hilarious. My companion told me about it when i got back to the area. 

I believe that this is my last week in this ward and I am kind of grateful. They are amazing members but they expect that we do all of the fellow-shipping and that they do nothing. it kinda gets old, but they are amazing. I will definitely miss a lot of them. 

I will be sad to leave San Carlos behind because I have become very good friends with a lot of people there. There is a song about missionaries that talks about how "strangers become my best friend" and its so true. We talk to everybody and with time they all become your best friend. Its amazing. 

Other than that, life is great. We are still working hard with Familia Carrillo, Herbert, and Adrian (Herbert and Adrian are around the same age and both are interested in the gospel but the rest of there family isn't. they are amazing). Getting them ready to be baptized!!! YAY:) 

I finally have some pictures: