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!]