I watched a kid break a clock‏

email dated 1/5/09
We are now moving into week 64 of the mission. Elder Thacker, my good Zone Leader, is always capable of telling every missionary how long they have been out and how long they have left. At one point in time I knew that I had exactly four hundred and something days to go but I never count. And it isn't because I am anti-counting or anti-trunky or anything like that. I am just too lazy to count. It is easier to just do the mission and not think about it too much.

I am very glad that we have moved passed the holiday season. To be honest, I really didn't enjoy it very much. Looking back on it it wasn't so bad, but at the time I just was really bored because we weren't allowed to do anything and I was really hot because my fan broke. I took a nap. I wrote some letters. It was actually more boring than a normal P-Day because we weren't allowed to go out and do anything. Today is more fun than Christmas because we came into the city and had lunch and I finally bought some hats for souvenirs. Today is a good day.

Well, we didn't have any investigators in church yesterday, however we did confirm Caroline and her Dad came again and looks to be reactivating. We are teaching and finding. Elder Chapman and I are actually working really well together. We have found quite a bit of people but we cant find the people that are willing to go to church. One trick in missionary work is learning to not let your happiness rely on the actions of others. It is difficult because our entire work is trying to change others lives...but I am trying to remember to find my joy in my work regardless of the results. Anyway, in church yesterday we had fast and testimony meeting. It was a really good meeting I thought. One of my favorite converts in the whole mission got up and bore her testimony to the congregation. She said "my family was happy before. We didn't know we were looking for anything. But we are even happier now and I didn't know that it was possible." The truth about them is that they already were an amazing family. They were so good, they did family home evenings without being members, playing games and watching movies, having treats. The only thing we taught them was the closing prayer and thanking God for everything they have. Anyway, she bore her testimony that she knew the true church of Christ had been restored and demonstrated an understanding of the principles I didn't know that she had. Sometimes I think I don't give enough credit to these people.

One of the members of the Bishopric named Brother Baez shared his conversion story with me this week. He was an investigator for 15 years!!! I cant even imagine that because now he is the best most positive attituded, and normal, member in the word that i know. He tried reading the Book of Mormon to prove it wrong. He tried a few times but found himself loving the book rather than disproving it, and found himself with a faith in Christ that he didn't know he lacked. I thought it was a very cool story.

There really are some good people here. I was thinking about our Stake President here in our ward, named President Guartechi, and he is one of the men I respect most in this world. I have had lunch with him a few times and you can see that what the gospel does for his family. I love his 6 year old son that every Sunday brings me and my companions one piece of candy each. After church yesterday I decided to go and thank Sister Guartechi for her beautiful son and told her "every week him giving me candy after the meeting is my favorite part of church." I come to find neither she or her husband had any idea that he was bringing us candy. The boy just did it because he loved to share with the 4 Elders in the ward. Every week he brings 4 pieces of candy in his pocket to church that she assumed he was eating. Isn't that the cutest story?

Anyway, I gotta go now. Find happiness and love in your lives by being with your friends and family. There is no better way!

Andy