The Suspense Must Be Killing You

email 4/28/09
Well, I didn’t have time to write last week. The P-Day just didn’t give what it needed to in order to provide me time to write. I am sure you have all been in suspenseful terror wondering if Elder Shepherd had a baptism this last week as was planned. He did.

We had a baptism on Saturday. A woman named Stella Gomez, 36 years old and single. Not Estela as we thought, but Stella. She is really cool. I just think it is great that her name is Stella, like the Tennessee Williams play. "STELLA!!!!" She bore her testimony and said, "I have noticed that since the missionaries have been coming and that I have been reading the Book of Mormon that I am changing. I am more patient and it is hard to explain, but I have been changing and I feel like a better person. I can now say that I know the Book of Mormon is true." Up till this point it was really good and I thought, "Wow! That is such a great testimony!" and then she added "It is harder for me to say that I know Joseph Smith was a prophet because I have been Catholic my whole life, but I can say that I believe he was a Messiah, as well as this...Monson is his name right?" ... It is funny after all is said and done. It is difficult for new members with all the terminology and vocabulary. She meant well and was sincere. The spirit was still there. And she is great!! She reads everything we give her. And she LOVES reading the Book of Mormon. There is a light in her eyes that wasn’t there. She goes to church every week, participates in all the classes, has questions, seeks answers, etc... One of the best investigators I think I have ever had. We just taught her this last week about the Temple and she loves the works for the dead. She wants to get started on Family History right away. She is a truth seeker. And those that seek the truth will find it.

My companion Elder Marroquin has hit the end of the road. He is headed for Lima, Peru this week and I am staying in Montevideo. My new companion is to be Elder Layton from Arizona. I have talked to him once before at a Zone Conference and he seemed like a really cool guy so I am pretty excited for this transfer. I am sad that Elder Nordgren is going home, who also lived in this house of 4. He went to my high school and it has been fun having him around. He was like a piece of home for me right out here in Montevideo, Uruguay. But he also has finished his mission and the thought that this weekend he will be sitting in West Jordan makes me feel somewhat trunky. But don’t worry, when I employ the word trunky I believe it has a very different meaning than many persons think that word means.

This new transfer looks promising. We have some good investigators and I intend on inviting all of them to be baptized tomorrow. We can never know if they will progress until we invite them to be baptized and go to church. The ones that refuse will likely not progress at all. If they say, "I am catholic and I will never change", I try to teach a little and gauge them for any level of listening or understanding, but if I see their hard hearts stay hard then it is likely we won’t continue teaching them. I am starting to find out that there are enough people prepared I don’t need to fight with the overly stubborn and hard hearted. That is why I always try to invite them to be baptized on the 1st or 2nd visit. The worst they say is “no,” often they will say, "I need to learn more" which is a really great sign, and sometimes they say "yes". Either way, it keeps the missionary work moving when we invite them to action. Are you taking notes Luke?

I also need to take a quick minute to wish a very happy birthday to Grandpa Shepherd! Que los cumplas feliz! You are young yet. Take care!! I love you very much!!

I need to go now. I hope that everyone is well. Pray for me as I am constantly praying for you. I love you!

Andy