email 6/20/09

This week was an impacting week in my mission. The Elder Bowen conferences were very spiritual. He had a very different style than did Elder Aidukaitis. I learned from the experience that both leaders inspired a great desire for change in us and to be better. I also learned that there is more than one way to roll the dice, or more than one way to eat a Reeses. Elder Bowen was a teddy bear. He is a sweet man who showed his love for the missionaries. The both of them were called of the Lord to help our mission. I feel bad that I now have about 21 months in the mission and I feel like I am just barely learning how to be a faithful missionary. I guess that is how life is.

He talked about knowing who we really are. He said that if we really understand that we are a people of the covenant than our mission president should never again have to wonder about or talk about our obedience. I am an obedient missionary, nevertheless I realized there were things to improve upon. The trick is having a good attitude about it all. I really liked it when he put it this way: “Can we be perfect? No. But can I be a perfect tithe payer? Of course I can. Can I have perfect charity for all mankind? That is a little tougher. But I can be a perfect tithe payer. Are there any mission rules that are impossible to be perfect at? Up at 6:30? In bed at 10:30? Obeying the schedule? Etc…” He also wasn’t extremist. He recognizes that things can happen. He didn’t want questions like “what happens if…” to which he always responded “follow the spirit.” Every little detailed question he was given he said “follow the spirit”. “If you feel square with God than I am okay with that. Just remember the words of Huckleberry Finn: You just can’t pray a lie.” When he said that he became one of my favorite people.

I am an Assistant. I am having a hard time telling you all stories because all the fun stuff would give it away. I wanted to see how long I could go without telling you all, but I give up. So this week I was shaking in my boots. We had a general authority come and the first thing he asked me was, “Is your area the best baptizing area in the mission?” “uhhh…no sir.” “Will you all work and make it the best baptizing area in the mission?” “Yes sir.” The thing about it is that he really made me believe that we can do it. If we are obedient and faithful I really know that we can turn our area here in the city into the best baptizing area in the mission. It is going to happen. Faith is always accompanied by a positive attitude. We don’t have to be unrealistic, and I don’t think that what he asked was unrealistic. Elder Harmon and I can do it. Last week we baptized a man named Gonzalo, age 25. His family wasn’t really coming along. We went and taught his parents and his little brother and challenged the three of them to be baptized. It was a very spiritual lesson. We started talking about the pioneers for some reason, showed them the maps in the back of the scriptures, and I had no idea how we were going to tie it into baptism. Elder Harmon and I have a goal to talk about baptism and invite in every lesson. It is the whole philosophy, the more applications you fill out the better chance you have at getting a job. Dardo, is the name of the father and Graciela the mother, and the little brother is Santiago. Well, after talking about the pioneers, my family ancestry, and a little about the succession of prophets, we just asked them why they hadn’t been baptized yet. They said they needed to and now they will get baptized next week!

This is why Elder Harmon is my favorite companion. As soon as we walked out the door and into the night we both started singing at the same exact time in harmonies because he has a great singing voice, “Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest.” We want to be humble but hungry. I am glad the lesson was how it was because I know that it wasn’t our teaching abilities that spoke to them at all. We had no idea why we were talking about the pioneers. The spirit spoke to them and as always the glory belongs to Heavenly Father.
Elder Harmon and I got to do the road trip for the conferences. We drove up to Tacuarembo and I saw some familiar faces. I never had been happier to be in T-bo. I recognized that cold city as my refiners fire from the year before. I had all the money for the conferences, 25000 pesos to be exact, and I had to not lose a single receipt or peso or else it was on my head. I was so nervous. I was really jumpy about it all week, but I will have you know, that when the week ended and I reported to the financial secretary Elder Hughes I presented receipts and change that added up to 25003 pesos. I told him to keep the change.

One morning before a conference Elder Harmon and I went to President’s hotel to get his computer equipment to take to the church and set up. He told us to stay 10 minutes and grab a quick breakfast. We went in and grabbed some muffins and orange juice and were eating when Elder Bowen came and sat down right next to us. We had been trying to stay out of his hair, but he was asking for it. My 10 minute breakfast turned into 30 minutes of Q and A. I kept trying to let Elder Harmon ask something, but every time I did he didn’t say anything. I wasn’t afraid to ask questions and so I kept talking. Elder Bowen didn’t seem opposed at all and I loved talking to him so we had a good little chat that morning. It was a fun experience. That man has a profound love for the gospel and a deep understanding of the mysteries of the Kingdom.

My week was a fun road trip with Elder Harmon. We swapped manly stories and talked about how to be better missionaries and some deep doctrine. It was a good time and I didn’t lose any of the church’s money! That was probably what I was most happy about.

Well, I must be going. I love you all very much! Take care and be positive! Life is always better when you have a positive attitude!

Andy