hoy no tengo mucho tiempo‏

email dated 2-25-2008
I don't have a lot of time today, but I still wanted to write my group email. I am doing just peachy this week!! Better than peachy. If there is a fruit you like more than peaches, replace that fruit into the phrase as to more fully comprehend and appreciate the sentiment which I am trying to put forth.

We have 3 baptisms this weekend and I couldn't be happier for them. They are all very good. Silvia and her daughter Melanie. Silvia recently left her abusive husband and was having a very hard time. Just this last week he tried to come and get her back. One day we showed up and saw her talking to a big guy (he is a boxer) under a tree. They talked for hours and hours. We never got to have a lesson that day. I was super worried. At this time she already had her baptismal date, keep in mind. She told him off. The next day we came back she told us she had told him to go away and never come back. I had never seen her smile wider. This week she will experience the healing waters of baptism and her and her 4 kids will head down a very different and better path. The other is a 14 year old girl named Silvia. She is absolutely amazing. She always reads and keeps her commitments. When we ask what she read she always says "I don't really remember. I didn't read a lot. I just read something about..." and then she will recount more thoroughly and more efficiently whatever part of the scriptures she read than I can. She is super smart, is super ready, and loves the church. Her aunt and uncle are members in Montevideo and that is what sparked her interest. We didn't even find her. She was a reference from Montevideo. I am glad we got to teach her.

The Bishop is still a ball of fun, but he can't destroy my attitude, at least not this week. He tried cancelling our baptism because we are having it in the Stake Center instead of our chapel because the Zone Leaders organized a Stake Baptism for this Saturday with the approval of the Stake President. The Bishop tried refusing to permit the baptism because he was so outraged that we weren't doing it in the chapel like he is used to. I really do feel bad for him. He just doesn't understand or comprehend much around him. He just likes things the way he is used to. He has a granddaugther he wants baptized. She is only 8. I told him that the missionaries don't need to teach her because she is a member baptism. I said set up a baptismal date and we'll come help you do it, we'll even make the program for you if you want. But he couldn't handle it because he isn't accustomed to that. He just told us he wanted to wait for the next baptism that we do and just throw her into the mix. So next month we have a baptism and will baptize his granddaughter for him because he doesn't want to do it. What can ya do? I am convinced he is trying his best and I tell myself that every time he does something stupid like tell one of our investigators that they don't belong in church in pants. (a lot of people here are poor and don't have dresses or skirts). Whatever. We do our best and so does he. That is all the Lord asks.

We are ridiculously busy all the time. We never have to stop and ask "what now?" Our biggest challenge is finding time during the day to visit all the people that we need to. We are getting along just peachy, Elder Davies and myself. He is a good kid from Pocatello Idaho. This week he realized that he goes home in 4 months and has no clue what he is going to do. I have been talking to him about it and he is considering going to BYU-Idaho now, something he never considered before the mission. I encouraged him in this. It is a good match for him, he can get in, and I know that he would like it. I got really good at talking about this kind of stuff with Elder Dennis. Sometimes I think I could be a high school counselor instead of a teacher, but I still think I would rather be in the classroom. Anyway, random tangent. We are doing well together. We don't clash in lessons and we are in agreement in almost everything we do . . . except for what we eat. He likes to spend money more than I do.

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!! I finally have arrived. I am more used to it now, I am speaking Spanish better than ever and understanding, and we are having success, which I am sure doesn't hinder me feeling this way, and I am seeing miracles. I have more faith than I ever have before. I say with certainty to the people in Artigas "if you will read the book of Mormon, you WILL feel the Spirit and you WILL be able to know for yourself that it is true". I always believed this, but after seeing how the Book of Mormon brings about such a "mighty change" in people, I cannot deny the truthfulness of that book. It is more than a testimony now, I really feel that I can say that I know it is true. The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a reality. It isn't a good idea that helps people live better lives, it is the truth! I love being a missionary.

I love you all so much!! Everyone of you, family, or friends reading on the blogpage, have done something to help me to be who I am doing what I am doing right now. I cant begin to thank or name all the people who I am grateful for, but suffice it to say, that I feel blessed of the Lord to have had the opportunity to have the family and friends that I have. Take care! God bless you!

Andy