Okay, Catch Up

HEY EVERYBODY.

OKAY.... So, these last couple weeks have been crazy.  San Marcos is really far away from everything, and I have to go to Cholu a lot, and.... BAH.  Stuff gets hard sometimes.  BUT, I'm happy and working hard.  Finally, I'll give you guys the laydown of San Marcos. 

San Marcos is in the South, but it's BEAUTIFUL and the climate is super nice, unlike the rest of the south.  It's really far away from everything, and as such the ward is just starting out.  By that, I mean there is no ward.  Nor is there a branch.  We are just a group.  A group of like, 5 active members and us.  One active preisthood holder who is the group president.  Other than that...  It's us.  

We usually end up directing the sacrament meetings, blessing and passing the sacrament, giving the talks, giving the classes, even taking the tithings of the few active members (like, 3 or 4).  It has been really interesting and I'm learning a LOT.  We have a LOT of investigators, which are all willing to listen, but struggling to act.... But then again, with such a small LDS population here, it's hard to blame them.  It's been really crazy....  But it's a huge adventure.  Every day is an adventure, learning new things, growing and trying to accomplish things that seem impossible.  

Honestly, it's hard to know what to tell you guys.  I guess, if I could...  I just want to say that it amazes me the way everything in the gospel seems to fit together.  I'm so far from being a perfect person, and this area reminds me of that.... But then I come to realize that the hardest moments come when I lack the very fundamental of missionary work.  That's what I think I need to tell you all. 

I've said it before, and yet I feel like it's the thing we manage to forget the most.... It all, still, without fail, comes down to love.  If we love, and learn to love more purely, it all fits together.  

I will have more things to tell you in the coming weeks, but until then, that's all I can leave with you.  Love you guys.

Elder Huff

 

Song of the Week: White Balloons - Sick Puppies

Quick note!

I am sorry guys - 

This week’s letter is also going to be short because I was at a Zone activity on the other side of Honduras, which is a 4 hours bus ride from my area, so my time is short!   But hey, we went to the beach – so that’s cool.  (Just a little FYI - My area is the farthest area away in the Mission and it is so beautiful here!  It’s the kind of place that you only see in your dreams – ahhh I love it here!)

Quick rundown of the week - super busy, working really hard - AND – I gave 4 interviews on Friday for baptism on Saturday.  I also got to baptize Flor, who is the sweetest little 9 year old, on Saturday! 

I will write more next week, I promise. 

I love you all, and if you need anything, I will do what I can from Honduras.

Elder Kristian Huff

Song of the week: I Hope They Call Me on a Mission!

(and next week’s messages will be better – I promise!)

Let's Do This.

HEY GUYS.

Look, there's a lot I could tell you, but right now, I gotta keep it short.  Next week I'll write a bigger explanation.

I had changes. 

To a really freaking cool place.

It's in the South, and it's called San Marcos de Colon.

Time to get some stuff done.  Or... At least try to and hope the Lord will do what I can't.

I'll tell you why it's so cool next week.  Love you guys.

Elder Kristian Huff

P.S.  All the family that recorded me - I LOVE YOU GUYS.  Especially Caroline and Gracie and Kenzie and all the kids.  I LOVE YOU ALL SOOO MUCH! THANK YOU!

Song of the week: Glorious written by David Archuleta, sang in Spanish

This is the Villa

Hey Guys!

It has been a crazy week....  I mean, I still can't believe that we've lost two beloved apostles of the Lord.... They will be sorely missed.  Honestly, I just wish I would have taken more advantage of their words before my mission, but what I've learned from them is highly based in their example.  They died standing unmoved in the truth that must be proclaimed to all the earth.  I advise everyone to read their words carefully, and don't seek to counsel the Lord's anointed, or take their inspired words out of context.  The truth has been stated, and we ought to support it even until the end of our lives, as these valient men have done.  I am grateful for them, and I will show that gratitude by doing, at least a little, what they have done.  

Elder Putnam, Isis, and Elder Huff

Next little thought, Cries of Freedom crew, I LOVE YOU GUYS.  I know you guys were AMAZING.  I definitely rushed into the fire on the fourth of July in honor of you - even if that fire was actually a baptismal font. 

Finally, after 2 changes together, Elder Putnam finally got to baptize for the first time.

Isis Cruz - and she's PILAS.  Super great, and hopefully next week Elder Putnam will throw Fernando in.  It was a wonderful baptism, and it was humbling to watch my kid put her in....  First try, too!  Words, perfect, ordinance, perfect!  SO proud, guys.  Great way to head out the Villa, huh?

Fernando and Elder Huff

And.... Speaking of that.... Although it isn't totally sure, I've had four changes here in the Villa.... 

What does that mean?  

It means I'm probably out.  Which is sad and kind of sucks, but....  I'm kind of learning you need to get used to it.  But....  I'm not very good at that.  So.... I figured I'd give a couple last words to the Villa Olimpica.

When I first came to the Villa, I did NOT want to.  I had given my heart to Danli, and I missed it more than words could describe.  I missed my old investigators, I missed the other members and I missed the feeling of Danli altogether.  So... Coming to the Villa, as optimistic as I tried to be, made me incredibly sad.  There were many times that I said that I would never love an area like I loved Danli....

Well, I think I was wrong.

To describe the Villa, I'd have to put it like this....  I've already said that the city is pretty full of people asking for money and mocking us and saying bad words in english and laughing hysterically because they're probably using drugs and all that.  And, to be honest, that is exactly what I saw when I first came here.  It was not a shellshock, cuz I'd already seen it before, but it was sad cuz there was so much MORE of it.  

Villa Olimpica

But then, something happened.

I stopped thinking about all that.  Instead, I made kind of a secret oath to myself to meet everyone in the area, and try to understand why life is how it is here.  Did I accomplish it?  Definitely not.  Did I meet a LOT of people?  

Villa Olimpica

Villa Olimpica

..... um.... I think it's safe to say yes.  Like, a LOT of people.  And guys, there is something beautiful amongst this people.

And weirdly enough....  When I started doing noticing that, I started getting closer to all of them.  And....  From there....  I just started getting close to everyone.  There were a couple parts of the area where I don't think anyone had not talked to us at least once, and there are few people who don't know Oof and Pootman.  I know these streets so well, and I know all the dogs and the dips in the road and the time of day to avoid and it just... It's kind of come to feel like home.

So.... Where am I now?  

Well, honestly, lost for words.  When I walk down these streets now, I see a hundred people who I've already gotten to know - or more like... A family.  My family.  I see them smile, and I see the seeds that are growing every day within each of them.  If I can leave something with the people of the 28 de Marzo, and the Residencial Maya, and Villa Universitaria, and Monte Verde, and Los Ciruelos and the Magical Valley of Waste and the whole Villa Olimpica, it would be this:

I love you.  Thank you, each and every one, for the role you played in my life.  Every family, every person, everyone who gave us food, everyone that shut the door in our faces, everyone who didn't even open the door even though we could see you look through your mail hole, everyone that DID let us in, everyone who I now call a part of my life - Thank you.  You've taught me so much, and I look forward to talking to all of you after the mission.  You will NOT be forgotten - and I kind of hope you don't forget me either.  Plus, we have a long time in the future to see each other again - I'm totally gonna take advantage of that.  

Stay strong, and keep doing the most important work in the world.  Because THIS is the work, and THIS is the Villa.  See you soon, if it so is. Y una vez mas.... Les amo mucho. 

Elder Kristian Huff

Song of the Week:  Still by Ben Folds, Over the Hedge version.

Thank you Jesus!

The Greatest Gift God has Given

Hey Guys!

It is a great day here in Honduras, and I'm looking forward to what will probably be my last full week here in the Villa Olimpica.  I'm gonna miss it guys.  I never thought I would, cuz Danli had my heart...  But, the Villa Olimpica now has a special place their as well.  I'm going to miss these people a lot... But, so is the mission, I suppose.  I'll probably do a tribute next week, or something along those lines.  

So....  I think again I'm going to dive straight into the subject of the day.  So, with that, firstly here is the background story.

The last few days, we've been having a lot of lessons with people that are trying to justify bad and selfish action by saying that 'it's our right to choose,' which is true, I suppose.  With this, a lot of it has been focused in on the gratifying of carnal, and frankly, sexual desires and justifying it by a 'romantic' standhold - saying things like, 'enjoy it now, because there may not be a tomorrow, and maybe tomorrow feelings will change - so take it now before it's gone.  Love in the moment is the most intense, passionate kind of love.'  

OKAY - before I continue, I NEED to address this.  I think it is interesting how this was my already my chosen topic for the week, and how it also happens to be the week in which gay marriage was legalized in all of America.  I'll write my thoughts on that as well, but I am not in ANY way alluding to those acts in the states.  This is strictly what has been happening in Honduras, anything else that has occurred is completely coincidental.  I will explain my thoughts on this as I go.

With that said, I continue.  

What I've decided, is that in order to respect any of God's laws or standards, we need to focus on the 'whys' of any given commandment.  I believe that all of the laws and customs and governing truths of the heavens and earth come down to the greatest gifts God has given us, and then show which of the three I personally believe is the greatest of the gifts.  Here are the three:

1.  Agency

2.  The Family

3.  The Gospel

So.... Here we go, as a response for the immorality that pervades the world.  You can look at all of this alsowith the perspective of what brings a 'real' or 'fake' happy.

1.  Agency

Agency is the God given right to choose to act as we please.  We are not forced to follow rules or to listen to advice, nor will we be forced to follow God's laws.  It is completely and totally our choice.  Many people use this to justify stupid and sinful action, but what they do not comprehend is that although we may choose what we will, we have NO power over the consequence, even if it seems that in the moment we do.  For example, in regards to sexual immorality, SUPPOSEDLY:

It is your right to choose to have sex, but you cannot choose whether you get pregnant or not.

It is your right to leave the woman you got pregnant, but you cannot choose what it will do to the woman and the unborn child.

It is your right to choose to abort the unborn child, but you cannot choose the future physical and psychological damage it will cause you, nor the guilt that comes from the doubt.

Of course, there's a chance that none of these said outcomes come to pass, and maybe 'that won't even happen' - but as I said, you cannot choose the outcome.  

And.... Going out of a worldly view, you DEFINITELY cannot choose the consequence of the judgment of God for the sins you willingly and blantantly committed - cuz in your heart, you DO, by the light of Christ given to every man, recognize right and wrong, regardless of justifying before men.  You can lie to men, but you cannot lie to God.  I'm sure that most religious beliefs would agree with this statement.  Now, continuing.

2.  The Family

I could say many things about the family, but I'll put it all into a basic sum up, regarding the principle of 'love in the moment:'

The greatest thing about the family, is that it is full of true love.  True love isn't taking what you want and then leaving. nor is it giving up when it gets hard.  If you love something, you fight for it.  And, let's look at it like this.  When things suck with a friend from school, what do you do?  You stop being friends.  Obviously not completely founded on true love, especially if you're willing to trash talk said 'friend' the moment you have differences.  Not the definition of love, in my eyes.  But, when one in your family has differences with another, what do you do?  You suck up your pride and try to make it work.  THAT'S love.  It's putting other people before yourself.  So.. What am I trying to get at?

'Love in the Moment' is NOT true love, nor will it ever be.  A better word for said feeling is lust, and is condemned in the majority of religious and cultural beliefs, even if the members don't always choose to follow (you know... agency and such).

Family love is the purest love we have in the world, and it is how we learn to become a better person, even if at times we fail. THAT'S the beauty... Even though we fail, they won't leave.  Thus - one of the greatest gifts God has given us.  People that we can call our own, and even when we fail, they stay.  Kind of sounds like someone whose name I carry over my heart, don't you think?

3.  The Gospel

What is the gospel?  Well... Basically, we teach that it is faith, repentance, various ordinances and enduring to the end.  But.... I'll sum up the gospel by sharing a little of what it means to me.

The gospel is the opportunity to change and become better.  No strings attached.  If we do our part, God promises us happiness.  If we don't, there's no way we can be.  The law is written because God UNDERSTANDS what brings true happiness and what doesn't.  So... Even if we choose to use our agency, if we use it incorrectly.... We won't achieve true happiness, regardless of what the world says.  And, if God really does love us, don't you think there's a REASON why there's commandments?  

Now, what is the greatest of these?  Well, they're all linked.  Firstly, I would at first glance say the gospel, cuz it pretty much promises a way back to God.  So, what does the gospel require?  Well.... Sincerely, and interestingly enough, it requires handing in our agency.  In order to be truly happy, we need to give our agency back to God.  So... True happiness doesn't come from doing what you want and seeing what happens.  True happiness is trusting in Him who knows better. But even with all this said, I've decided that the gospel isn't even the greatest of God's gifts.

God's Greatest Gift is the Family.

Why?

Because the family allows us to learn all of this in a place filled with love. 

(Also, interesting side note, notice how the said 'choices' listed under agency destroy the very essense of the family as well as the essense of true love.)  

We are spiritual beings, and we need love.  We can achieve all that agency and the gospel has to offer by doing so with other people who won't give up on you the moment you mess up.  The family is the greatest gift, because it is the way we learn to be like God.  The family is the most precious and beautiful gift, because it is the perfect example and learning environment for Christ's greatest attribute - charity and perfect love.   

If anyone would disagree, I would be very interested to hear your thoughts.  Also, keep in mind that this is directed at an audience that already believes in God and Christ, so.... Yeah.  

So, now... My thoughts on the gay marriage announcement.

Basically, I put it like this.  I love everyone, regardless of their 'sexual orientation.'  I don't believe that something like that should be a defining characteristic of somebody - I'm more interested in what kind of a person you are.  If you're rude and pushy, I don't care if you're gay or not, you're still rude and pushy.  If you're kind and giving, I don't care if you're gay, you're still kind and giving.  Being gay is NOT a defining characteristic, as much as being straight is a defining characteristic, and you don't get to use either of the possible orientations to justify or judge someone as good or bad.  Gay is just that.  Let's focus more on the kind of people we are.

Now, as one who loves and fears God, I cannot say that I support the choice that has been made.  BUT, it is NOT because I'm judging anyone.  More, it's because I trust God.  So... If you've read all of my letter up to here, you understand that if we comprehend the greatest of God's gifts, you understand that if God has set His standard, there's a reason.  

And the reason isn't because He wants us to be constricted, hated or judged for who we 'naturally' are. 

But more, because He understands better than we do how to be truly happy.  And... Because of all the greatest gifts He's given us, they all point to the same truth:  He wants us to be like Him, and to have all that He has.  And... He knows how we'll achieve it.

I have a true, full love for each of you, and therefore, I want you to be eternally happy.  God's taught us how.  Please, learn to trust in Him a little more, is my prayer.  I do not have a perfect knowledge of anything, and I deeply apologize if my thoughts or choices offend anyone.  But, choosing is one of God's greatest gifts, right?

Elder Kristian Huff 

Song of the week: Endless Night - The Lion King

Count Back 11

Hey everybody!

Thank you to all who wrote me, once again, I'll do a big shoutout next week.  For right now, I have a special kind of message for all of you.

Honestly, It's hard to know where I want to begin.  I guess.... Where I could start would be with a question.

How do you count back 11?

Maybe that's vague, and maybe a little nonsensical, but...  This question, for one reason or another, has been in my mind for the past couple of days.  I suppose I don't mean it literally, exactly.  I also suppose that the reflective aspect of the question depends on what the number 11 refers to.  I'll try my best to put into words how I look at the number 11.

I suppose it's also fair that I give you all a little explanation as to what I want to talk about.  What I want to write about is personal to me and my family, but I think it is only fair that I allow all of you to benefit from the story that has benefitted me for so many years... You could even say 11 years, to be exact.

So, with that said,  I want to count back 11.

11 back, I was 8 or 9 years old.  It had just been me and my mom for a very long time, and the two of us were convinced that it would always just be the two of us.  I always felt a little out of place, and felt a little like I didn't understand everyone else because a typical family consisted of three - and I suppose mine did, kind of, as well, including my grandma. But still, there was a huge hole in our family, and we both knew why.  Still, 11 back, we didn't really dare to hope for a normal family.

11 back, he was 24. Frankly, I doubt he had any idea the life that was in store for him, looking from 11 back.  He was studying, and preparing for a life in the medical field.  I think it was normal life to just be alone for him, although I imagine he tried to convince himself that he was content at the time being so. 11 back, I'm sure he was just trying to get ready for his life.

11 back, I could have never known that I would actually do something in Boy Scouts.

11 back, he had no idea he would become immersed in a world of music and theater.

11 back, I seriously didn't know that I would actually do something in Boy Scouts.  I'm serious guys. 

11 back, he didn't know that he'd 'help' a teenager build a three story tree house.

11 back, I didn't think I'd ever watch a man become a father.

11 back, he didn't know he'd have to teach a child how to forgive.

11 back, I could never have known that a typical family is ANYTHING but typical.  I could never have known that someone could have a love pure enough to change their career, their dreams and their whole path of life for me.  I didn't know that there was someone brave enough to try to become a part of me, even though I had already convinced myself that that couldn't happen.

11 back, he couldn't have comprehended the years of struggle that would follow, nor could he have understood the amount of heartache he would have to carry on behalf of an already struggling family.  

11 back, I could have never imagined I'd see the inside of the temple.

11 back, he didn't know he'd spend years trying to teach and earn the trust of a young child.

11 back, I didn't know I would one day call someone 'Dad.'

11 back, he didn't know he would send a son on a mission.

And... 

11 back, we met. 

Guys, it is impossible to put into words the gratitude I have for this man.  And, as yesterday was Father's Day, all I can say is... Well, Thank You.  I love you, Dad.  Guys, if you don't know my dad, get to know him.  He is the perfect example that family are those who decide to be a part of your life - and, for that, I'll be eternally grateful for him.  Although honestly it's really hard to put into words all that I want to say... I hope that this at least says a little.  So, one more time for you... Hi Dad.

Have a great week, guys.  I'll talk to you soon.  

Elder Kristian Huff

Song of the Week: Any Dream Will Do - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  That song's for you, Dad.  you know.... Cuz of lots of stuff.