Not Much Time‏

email dated 5/19/2009
I don't have much time today. Yesterday we didn't get the chance to do our email because it was another Uruguayan national holiday, which are just about every 2 weeks. The cybers that were open were packed full of jovenes playing video games and we couldn't get in. But I still need to send you all a line or two so that ya know that I am alright.

That is cool that Luke will learn Spanish now. 3 for 4! Christian will be the last, but watch, he will end up going to Japan which is where we all secretly wanted to go. There are huge benefits for serving in the United States so I hope that Luke remembers that. Your packages arrive quickly and intact, there is even same day delivery if you want it. The food is not a severe culture change that gives you gastritis. You still get to learn a new language and a new culture. It is a fun call. Look out Hartford, Connecticut, because another Elder Shepherd will now walk the Earth.

Elder Layton and I are doing alright in our area. I would like to find more investigators and I would like the ones that we have to get baptized. Any questions?

Just kidding. It is going well. We have some fun investigators and some fun families that we are visiting. I hope that this next week we have a baptism of a girl named Karitza. Her parents are both members from their teenage years but haven't been to church since. They are both police officers as well. They are so nice and they invited us for dinner the other day by surprise. I love visiting them. It feels like we are visiting investigators because we are teaching the lessons all over again because it has been years since they have been to church. The girl is 11 and goes to a 7th Day Adventist private school, where she learns much true doctrine and one big not true doctrine, which is the piano key that the Adventists pound to death: The Sabbath Day. I never thought I would have to tell an 11 year old that Sunday worship was not an evil invention of men. But she understands and her parents only send her to that school because the public education isn't very good. She loves primary and I think if we don't set her baptism for next week it will be for the week after. I hope to be here for it.

Maria Elena is a 50 year old woman who believes the Book of Mormon is true because it is by the power of that book that her atheist niece was converted and baptized. Her big fear is committing to baptism because she has been catholic her whole life, although she doesn't practice. She will come around. She loves the Book of Mormon and so we will keep reading it with her until she gets baptized.

Mario and Silvia need to get married.

Joana needs to get married.

Alvaro needs to quit smoking.

We need to find new investigators so that we don't fill all of our time teaching eternal investigators, as they are often called in the mission field.

That is the news on the area.

I am a really old missionary now. 19 Months old. That is getting up there. I hope that y'all "reckanize" the significance of that number. 19 is the number of years that John Stockton played professional basketball.

I live in a house of four, the other companionship is a Peruvian and a democrat from Fillmore Utah named Elder Roper. Elder Roper is a good man and I love him very much. It is like hanging out with Dad only 30 years younger. I imagine he is a missionary like unto the Elder Paul Shepherd of the 1970s. I don't know how to explain it but he reminds me of dad and it is fun. I have told him that a number of times. I love Elder Roper for his compassion for others.

I am in good hands and I am healthy. I hope that all-y'all are having a good time doing the things that you are doing. I am happy and working hard. Keep me in your prayers. I love you!!

Andy