But what does Mama want? She wants a more detailed account of every day life, so that's what you guys are going to get!
Listo?
We like to start at 6:30 am every day with the same spicy Latino music alarm that somehow my companion has not gotten sick of, but I sure have. After rolling on my knees from my bed, I say a prayer with the thoughts I can form together, then usually lay there in praying position and count to 20 to enjoy the last 20 seconds of blankets. Because as much as I sweat every day in a button up shirt and tie, my companion also likes to keep our room a whopping 17 degrees Celsius (63 degrees F) and on full blast throughout the night. His Chicago blood comes out when he says, "you're not happy if you ain't cold!" Can you tell who wears the pants in the relationship?
After staggering out the door, we each grab our thick blankets we keep in a corner, spread em out and 'start' our 30 min. workout. It's more of a battle of will than physical strength as my goal this last week was to get out a staggering 30 push ups in the 30 mins. I have, and not fall asleep once. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. But it is cool, because we usual listen to a different General Conference talk every day.
After that we have an hour to get ready for the day and eat breakfast-- usually an egg with toast, or an apple. I got that Halloween package and LOVED that oatmeal (who am I?) Then by 8:00 am fully dressed and getting into personal study. Right now I'm reading through the Book of Mormon and Doctrine &Covenants (where the freak has that been my whole life) and going through and writing any and all scriptures that would be cool to use in lessons. 9:00 am comp (companion) study for two hours where we talk about what we learned in personal study and the usual watch The District videos and practice lessons or train. 11:00am is language study and it's cool, I worked out a plan I like where I do something different every day of the week, then the next week repeat it. So every Monday is the same, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.
ALMUERZO después. (Lunch after) Our favorite meal to make is Alrofl Chalfa (spelling very well could be wrong here). It consists of rice, sausage, seasoned chicken, sauteed pepper and onion, and fresh chives and tomato all thrown together and eaten with mayo. RICISIMO TUSHA SI O SI. We love that! Usually, we eat and watch some Mormon Messages, and then we are out teaching lessons. Yesterday was a stellar day of lessons, and this is the dream of how we should teach every day, I think.
Met with familia S, an active family we were able to share a lesson with. Get them to commit to reading the Book of Mormon every day as a family (a goal our branch has is to finish the BOM before next Conference and I just have a huge testimony that if everyone would read just a little EVERY DAY this church and the people would be so incredible) and then were able to get some references from them. After, we taught A, the daughter-in-law of the branch president in the other area. An inactive that we're reactivating and getting her ready to go through the temple! We were able to teach the lesson with her and the president and his other daughter-in-law, who although was sealed to one of his sons, was left and abandoned with her two kids so the son could be with another woman (D&C has some things to say about what's in store for this guy--piece of work). She has asked if she could join in on our lessons and come out of inactivity too, and be worthy to enter the temple again. Super tender and spiritual moment where tears were shed and we, along with President R (their father-in-law and an amazing man) gave them blessings of comfort and strength. They too will be reading and praying every day because it's what we should all do because it fortifies us like crazy.
After that we visited G, our recent convert, and she is doing awesome and in Helaman chapter 7 right now. She reads every day and her testimony grows stronger. She too, is preparing for the temple and wanting to do baptisms for the dead, and get her patriarchal blessing. We had to leave a little early, because her visiting teachers (YES! FINALLY THE BRANCH IS DOING VISITS AND FELLOWSHIPPING) came by. Awesome to see! She too, is reading the Book of Mormon every day. (Say what Elder Yocum? Every day? That's too much, I have a busy life.) Yes!! If only you knew the power that you could receive from 10 mins a day. Try it out for a week and see what you can feel.
After that, a lesson with A, an investigator and boyfriend of I in the branch. One gutsy, 17 year old kid, who although has a strong Catholic background, really wants to look for God's truth. I have not had a physical manifiestation like that for as long as I can remember and we prayed on our knees with him to know if this Church, and the Book of Mormon, was of God. I almost started sweating and body almost in pain the spirit was so hot and powerful!
Such cool stuff happening here in Paraguarí, people! Beautiful day of teaching yesterday. We taught and strengthened an active family, less active members, recent converts, and an investigator. Powerful stuff!
We usually get home around 9:30 PM and head right into daily planning and figuring out what we are going to do the next day and close with another prayer.
Then I have some time where I get to take a cold shower, because Elder G, that crazy Columbian Elder I love so much, broke our coil, and then make a small mess of food. I usually have just enough time to write in my journal, or read just a little more scripture. After thanking my Heavenly Father for all that I have, and crawling into bed, I let my brain slip into thoughts of home, family, and friends. I end each day truly and totally exhausted--mentally, physically, and spiritually drained. But you know what? I have never been happier.
All the love in my heart,
Elder Parker John Yocum
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