That Aint No Symmetry‏

email dated 7-8-08
Our hero has suffered much this week. The desired "symmetry" as he brilliantly put it was unrealized. The doctor took well over half of the toenail, cut so deep that it still bleeds a little bit, and it has stitches...but hey, at least it feels better!

The suffering never stops, however, for our hero in the land down under Brazil. After months of off and on stomach aches and nausea he reluctantly took advantage of the opportunity to see a doctor. It turns out young Elder Andrew Shepherd is suffering from the ever common GASTRITIS!!! UGGH!! OH I so had it coming!!! How do you spell Karma? I actually don't know. Anyway, I teased Matt like crazy for coming home from Peru with Gastritis. And now look at me. I am not even a full 9 months into the mission and I got the disease. My stomach lining is apparently in complete shambles. One word: SICK! And the Doctor tried saying, "well, avoid eating anything with too much oil, or any sweets. Avoid rices, milanesas, porotos, anything with noodles, etc..." which is EVERYTHING that they feed us down here. One of the best parts about it is that I was DYING on Monday and I couldn't figure out why. I had had my toe surgery and guess what the doctor had me take. Go ahead, guess! Aspirin and Ibuprofen!! There are no drugs worse for someone with gastritis than Aspirin and Ibuprofen. They rip your stomach to shreds. My stomach ache was unbearable on Monday. And the saddest part is that I blamed my stomach pains on emotional stress...nope. It was gastritis, only I didn't know it at the time. So there you have it Matt. Yuck it up and enjoy it while you can. Because I am going to beat you up when I come home. Way to jinx me!

In later news, Elder Shepherd has decided that Global Warming is a definite reality. I am supposed to be in the coldest month that Uruguay knows. But we hit a warm front and last week my companion and I went around in short sleeved shirts. It has been SO nice. Our roof is dripping like crazy on us from humidity, but I could care less because at least I am not cold. Pero, éste calamiento global me preocupa bastante! California won't exist by the time I finish my mission and I still want to go to Disneyland one more time at least. But, I am delighted to report that this warm week came as a result of your prayers. I am decided on that. I criticized you all last week for not praying hard enough, and I felt your prayers this week. Not only did we find some "in the bag" investigators this week, but it has been really warm. Thank you for your prayers! Uruguay owes you all a debt of gratitude. If they only knew that God gave us good weather just because Elder Shepherd's fans back home were praying...

It did rain yesterday, however. It wasn't cold at least. However, the rainy day provided that I was carrying my umbrella. As often happens, all of our morning appointments fell through and we were left out in a rainy empty street. My companion asked "now what do we do?" I stemmed my umbrella from the top of my head and began making radio noises. I turned the umbrella to try and catch the signal. To no avail. I said "I am not getting anything...hold on a second...no I am not getting anything." I continued making my radio noises and he still didn't laugh yet. I was most disappointed. I am so funny that they should put me in movies, and he didn't even crack a smile. He eventually admitted that it was funny.

Speaking of Elder Oliphant, he will be the first companion I stay with for longer than one transfer!! We're staying here in Tacuarembo. I am glad. I feel really good about it. I wasn't ready to leave. I haven't done everything I need to do here yet. We are getting along just swimmingly. Yesterday when I suggested we write a song-poem for companion study about the mission, he actually agreed. Sometimes you need a day like that. It was fun.

So here is my story for the week. We got a guy to reactivate and start going back to church...to the Catholic Church. But here is the best part. I feel GREAT about it. Half of his family are members of our church, but he isn't. He never went to Catholic mass, nor did he even own a bible. He doesn't want to change yet, but we have been inviting him to read the bible. He has been reading the bible and going to church for a month now. His mom yesterday thanked us with tears in her eyes. "I don't care if he is going to the true church yet" she tells us, "but at least he is back on the path of Jesus Christ." He is reading, and praying, and went and found a job for the first time in 5 years and he is 25, he is going to church, etc... That is missionary work. That is inviting someone to come unto Christ, which is our purpose as missionaries. I feel really good that he is going to church again.

Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your love. I am feeling better than I remember ever feeling out here on the mission. I love you all so much! Take care!!

Andy