email dated 2-25-2008
I don't have a lot of time today, but I still wanted to write my group email. I am doing just peachy this week!! Better than peachy. If there is a fruit you like more than peaches, replace that fruit into the phrase as to more fully comprehend and appreciate the sentiment which I am trying to put forth.
We have 3 baptisms this weekend and I couldn't be happier for them. They are all very good. Silvia and her daughter Melanie. Silvia recently left her abusive husband and was having a very hard time. Just this last week he tried to come and get her back. One day we showed up and saw her talking to a big guy (he is a boxer) under a tree. They talked for hours and hours. We never got to have a lesson that day. I was super worried. At this time she already had her baptismal date, keep in mind. She told him off. The next day we came back she told us she had told him to go away and never come back. I had never seen her smile wider. This week she will experience the healing waters of baptism and her and her 4 kids will head down a very different and better path. The other is a 14 year old girl named Silvia. She is absolutely amazing. She always reads and keeps her commitments. When we ask what she read she always says "I don't really remember. I didn't read a lot. I just read something about..." and then she will recount more thoroughly and more efficiently whatever part of the scriptures she read than I can. She is super smart, is super ready, and loves the church. Her aunt and uncle are members in Montevideo and that is what sparked her interest. We didn't even find her. She was a reference from Montevideo. I am glad we got to teach her.
The Bishop is still a ball of fun, but he can't destroy my attitude, at least not this week. He tried cancelling our baptism because we are having it in the Stake Center instead of our chapel because the Zone Leaders organized a Stake Baptism for this Saturday with the approval of the Stake President. The Bishop tried refusing to permit the baptism because he was so outraged that we weren't doing it in the chapel like he is used to. I really do feel bad for him. He just doesn't understand or comprehend much around him. He just likes things the way he is used to. He has a granddaugther he wants baptized. She is only 8. I told him that the missionaries don't need to teach her because she is a member baptism. I said set up a baptismal date and we'll come help you do it, we'll even make the program for you if you want. But he couldn't handle it because he isn't accustomed to that. He just told us he wanted to wait for the next baptism that we do and just throw her into the mix. So next month we have a baptism and will baptize his granddaughter for him because he doesn't want to do it. What can ya do? I am convinced he is trying his best and I tell myself that every time he does something stupid like tell one of our investigators that they don't belong in church in pants. (a lot of people here are poor and don't have dresses or skirts). Whatever. We do our best and so does he. That is all the Lord asks.
We are ridiculously busy all the time. We never have to stop and ask "what now?" Our biggest challenge is finding time during the day to visit all the people that we need to. We are getting along just peachy, Elder Davies and myself. He is a good kid from Pocatello Idaho. This week he realized that he goes home in 4 months and has no clue what he is going to do. I have been talking to him about it and he is considering going to BYU-Idaho now, something he never considered before the mission. I encouraged him in this. It is a good match for him, he can get in, and I know that he would like it. I got really good at talking about this kind of stuff with Elder Dennis. Sometimes I think I could be a high school counselor instead of a teacher, but I still think I would rather be in the classroom. Anyway, random tangent. We are doing well together. We don't clash in lessons and we are in agreement in almost everything we do . . . except for what we eat. He likes to spend money more than I do.
I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!! I finally have arrived. I am more used to it now, I am speaking Spanish better than ever and understanding, and we are having success, which I am sure doesn't hinder me feeling this way, and I am seeing miracles. I have more faith than I ever have before. I say with certainty to the people in Artigas "if you will read the book of Mormon, you WILL feel the Spirit and you WILL be able to know for yourself that it is true". I always believed this, but after seeing how the Book of Mormon brings about such a "mighty change" in people, I cannot deny the truthfulness of that book. It is more than a testimony now, I really feel that I can say that I know it is true. The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a reality. It isn't a good idea that helps people live better lives, it is the truth! I love being a missionary.
I love you all so much!! Everyone of you, family, or friends reading on the blogpage, have done something to help me to be who I am doing what I am doing right now. I cant begin to thank or name all the people who I am grateful for, but suffice it to say, that I feel blessed of the Lord to have had the opportunity to have the family and friends that I have. Take care! God bless you!
Andy
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Oh Montevideo, Oh Montevideo
email dated 2-18-08
Okay, so today I am in the capital of Uruguay, Montevideo. Which by the way is a good 8 hours away from my beloved Artigas. But I got a call a few nights ago from the offices that I had to come to Deo to sign some immigration papers and so last night at 10 I hopped on a bus and got here this morning. I went to immigration and signed the paper, 30 seconds later I was back in the streets of Montevideo. Now I have to wait til 10 tonight before I can go back home. Tomorrow morning I will get off the bus, go home and take a shower, and go straight to work. I remember what that was like because I did it my first day in the mission field. I am going to be tired because it is hard to sleep on the bus, at least it is for me.
My companion wanted McDonalds for lunch, and I didn't. So he got McDonalds, and I didn't. I sought out a good, better, and 10 pesos cheaper meal. Mine was still more expensive than I was used to, but I wanted to try it because it looked good and I don't know the next time I will be in Montevideo. He was pretty jealous. His food made him feel sick, my milanesas and salad made me feel good. He should have listened to me. The stupidest thing about McDonalds down here is that it is more expensive than the common meal. That makes no sense. You eat McDonalds for the cheap factor. Here it is more expensive than everything else and more expensive than it is in the States. I just don't get it. I don't know why one would choose to eat McDonalds when a combo meal is 135 pesos, and it is a common known fact that a really good meal down here should be about 80 pesos. It makes no sense to me.
Oh yeah, and my email costs more today. Everything is more expensive in the City. But this city is HUGE!!! I didn't notice last time how big it really was, but the buildings are big and it goes for miles. Last time I was still all culture shocked I didn't even pay attention. But the contrast from Artigas is striking. Montevideo is a big city. And it is really modern too. Inside the city you would think you were in a normal United States big city if it weren't for the even crazier driving and Spanish signs everywhere. I am kind of bummed that I lost a peaceful P-day with my Artigas Zone. We were going to have a lamb-BBQ today with some members. Now I am in a huge mall. It is a little different.
Yesterday in church there were well over 60 people, maybe over 70. I thought that was really cool!!! That is improvement for sure. And the talks were actually really good. Yesterday I had this realization that church is still for me too. I usually am always so worried about how church is going to be. But yesterday a guy from the Stake Presidency came and gave the best talk I have heard in Uruguay. I left church feeling edified. It was a good feeling. I had forgotten what that felt like for a while.
The work continues on. We have enough investigators to keep us busy all day. We never have to stop and ask "what should we do now?". I take that as a good sign that we are doing okay. We always have someone we can visit and teach. We have some progressing investigators, and some now investigators with a date, etc... I wish I had time to tell more stories but I can't. The work is going fine.
I am doing well. I am healthy, por lo menos, and I feel good. I still haven't gained or lost any weight, but it sounds like things are changing at home. Dad lost 42 pounds and Mom 15. Matt will be married, and hopefully clean shaven, Luke won't be there... I wont even recognize home when I come home.
Anyway, I hope that you are all well. I hope that you all have good excuses for not writing me this week. I even did email late today. It is past 9 in the morning there.
Oh yeah! I will have you know I am a famous musician down here. Every ward in Artigas is now calling to invite me to play at their sacrament meetings and at every baptism. I regrettably don't have time to play for them all, but I try to when I can. And they think I have the voice of an Angel. In the States I am not what you would call a good singer. But here I am sent from God to sing to them. Last week a guy in the Hermana's ward asked if he could bring his tape recorder to record me singing. Just thought I would let you all know that I am famous now. I always knew I would be.
I am well. I love you all. Dont forget to write!
Andy
Okay, so today I am in the capital of Uruguay, Montevideo. Which by the way is a good 8 hours away from my beloved Artigas. But I got a call a few nights ago from the offices that I had to come to Deo to sign some immigration papers and so last night at 10 I hopped on a bus and got here this morning. I went to immigration and signed the paper, 30 seconds later I was back in the streets of Montevideo. Now I have to wait til 10 tonight before I can go back home. Tomorrow morning I will get off the bus, go home and take a shower, and go straight to work. I remember what that was like because I did it my first day in the mission field. I am going to be tired because it is hard to sleep on the bus, at least it is for me.
My companion wanted McDonalds for lunch, and I didn't. So he got McDonalds, and I didn't. I sought out a good, better, and 10 pesos cheaper meal. Mine was still more expensive than I was used to, but I wanted to try it because it looked good and I don't know the next time I will be in Montevideo. He was pretty jealous. His food made him feel sick, my milanesas and salad made me feel good. He should have listened to me. The stupidest thing about McDonalds down here is that it is more expensive than the common meal. That makes no sense. You eat McDonalds for the cheap factor. Here it is more expensive than everything else and more expensive than it is in the States. I just don't get it. I don't know why one would choose to eat McDonalds when a combo meal is 135 pesos, and it is a common known fact that a really good meal down here should be about 80 pesos. It makes no sense to me.
Oh yeah, and my email costs more today. Everything is more expensive in the City. But this city is HUGE!!! I didn't notice last time how big it really was, but the buildings are big and it goes for miles. Last time I was still all culture shocked I didn't even pay attention. But the contrast from Artigas is striking. Montevideo is a big city. And it is really modern too. Inside the city you would think you were in a normal United States big city if it weren't for the even crazier driving and Spanish signs everywhere. I am kind of bummed that I lost a peaceful P-day with my Artigas Zone. We were going to have a lamb-BBQ today with some members. Now I am in a huge mall. It is a little different.
Yesterday in church there were well over 60 people, maybe over 70. I thought that was really cool!!! That is improvement for sure. And the talks were actually really good. Yesterday I had this realization that church is still for me too. I usually am always so worried about how church is going to be. But yesterday a guy from the Stake Presidency came and gave the best talk I have heard in Uruguay. I left church feeling edified. It was a good feeling. I had forgotten what that felt like for a while.
The work continues on. We have enough investigators to keep us busy all day. We never have to stop and ask "what should we do now?". I take that as a good sign that we are doing okay. We always have someone we can visit and teach. We have some progressing investigators, and some now investigators with a date, etc... I wish I had time to tell more stories but I can't. The work is going fine.
I am doing well. I am healthy, por lo menos, and I feel good. I still haven't gained or lost any weight, but it sounds like things are changing at home. Dad lost 42 pounds and Mom 15. Matt will be married, and hopefully clean shaven, Luke won't be there... I wont even recognize home when I come home.
Anyway, I hope that you are all well. I hope that you all have good excuses for not writing me this week. I even did email late today. It is past 9 in the morning there.
Oh yeah! I will have you know I am a famous musician down here. Every ward in Artigas is now calling to invite me to play at their sacrament meetings and at every baptism. I regrettably don't have time to play for them all, but I try to when I can. And they think I have the voice of an Angel. In the States I am not what you would call a good singer. But here I am sent from God to sing to them. Last week a guy in the Hermana's ward asked if he could bring his tape recorder to record me singing. Just thought I would let you all know that I am famous now. I always knew I would be.
I am well. I love you all. Dont forget to write!
Andy
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Quaraí Brasil
email dated 2-11-08
So we went to Brazil this morning for Pday as a Zone. Us 10 Elders and 2 Hermanas. I finally decided to spend the Christmas money I took out 2 months ago. I bought a Brasil Soccor Jersey for what would be an American 11 dollars and I bought a pretty sweet pair of Brazil sandals for what would be 5 bucks. And then we had all you can eat lunch with dessert for 6 bucks. The jerzey wasn't super cheap, there were cheaper ones, but I didn't want a trucho one that would destroy in the wash the first time. I went wild with my Christmas money and I still have 80 percent of it left. That is one cool thing about South America. But other stuff is more expensive. Cereal costs more, all electronics cost more, milk costs more and is nowhere near as good and it comes in dripping bags, etc... Oh yeah, and Soda costs more than it does in the states. So I drink nothing but bottled water down here. I hate soda anyway. I only have Soda when members offer it to us. Oh yeah!!! I bought a machette for 3 bucks. I don't know how to spell it, but it is pretty amazing. We do service every week cutting grass or tall weeds or something, and those mini-swords come in mighty handy. I was sick of using the dull machettes of the members with bad handles that without fail give you blisters. So I bought my own. I couldn't help but think of Nacho Libre. That was a pretty decently funny movie. All in all I had a fun morning in Brazil. I like how we can just walk to Brazil. On our way back from Brazil this morning as we crossed the Bridge that is the border at the river, we passed the Brazilian missionaries walking back the other way to Brazil from their morning in Artigas Uruguay. It was pretty funny.
I had a really good week this last week. I felt really good, and I am happy to report that my average amount of crunches every morning is up to 500 and my pushups are up to 50. I am in pretty good shape. But that is all the work out time I have is pushups and ab workouts. That is good enough for me. At least I am not getting fat. But I am certainly eating enough. I think my favorite thing to eat is the food of the poor people, rice and black beans. I wish people wouldn't try to impress us when they cook. They buy these really bad knock-off meats because it is all they can afford, and they think they have to feed us meat to impress us. There is no nice way to say I would prefer rice and beans. So we eat gratefully all that we are given. Mom, you would be so proud. Yesterday I had a plate full of rice and onions and tomatoes and nothing else. It had so much onion. I eat anything now. I can eat whatever I want. I will go back home and feel secure saying that I will never be a picky eater again. If nothing else, the mission has helped me to grow up in that aspect. I am good to eat whatever.
Oh yeah, I don't remember if I told you about the alcoholic Ice Cream I ate a few weeks ago. You have to be careful with some ice cream places because they put alcohol in it. There wasn't enough to do anything to us, but when we found out after it was still pretty funny. Now I can say I have had alcohol and I had it on my mission and I did it without breaking the Word of Wisdom because I didn't know. Cool huh?
Not really. Oh well.
I am not really that funny today. I don't know what is wrong with me. But I feel good so that is all that counts.
I feel really good this week. I am doing well, we just committed a family to be baptized that we have been working with, and there are some good prospects. My favorite story from this last week was in a recent convert visit to Rosana and Karen, the mom and daughter Elder Dennis and I baptized last change. They are AMAZING. Rosana felt like she was confessing, but she told us that she had refused missionaries once before years ago. That they came by and she told them she didn't have time and wasn't interested. I told her she shouldn't feel bad and that the Lord was probably working with her all this time preparing her for the day Elder Dennis was going to knock on her door again. She is already facing persecution from some neighbors, and to be honest I didn't know how she would be able to handle it, but she is doing great. She tells them very simply that she believes it and bears her testimony. She doesn't have a ton of knowledge now, but her testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Restored Gospel is enough armory to keep her going. She will continue to progress, and that is what we have been focusing on this week is always progressing. That the plan of God is perfect and that he always asks our best by judging us for who we are. They are amazing. I love them so much. A few months ago they had nothing to do with any church, but their lives are different now and they will be the first to tell you that it is a good change in a better direction in their lives.
The Book of Mormon is true. I have seen people that I thought would never progress or even move, some of the most unmotivated people I have ever met in my life, start doing something and start changing because they started reading the Book of Mormon. It didn't matter which part we gave them, or if it was the people that started from the beginning, there is a power in reading the Book of Mormon that I cannot deny. I have felt it. I have seen it open the hearts of people to a message that they had once viewed as crazy. I have seen it help a mother of 4 kids to begin in her path to quit smoking and trying to go back to the temple, or another mother of 4 kids tambien that is trying to quit smoking, but also wants to go back to school, make something of her life, and never go back to the way she was as she gets away from her abusive ex-boyfriend. The Book of Mormon brings the spirit. It changes lives. I cannot deny the power of that book. I have seen it change me. I hope that when you all see me next you can see that change in me. I feel very different. I can't explain it, but I am different.
Anyway, I am in a rush. Sorry I didn't have more time. I love you all. Take care!! Open the Book of Mormon and read at least a little every day! I love ya!!
Andy
So we went to Brazil this morning for Pday as a Zone. Us 10 Elders and 2 Hermanas. I finally decided to spend the Christmas money I took out 2 months ago. I bought a Brasil Soccor Jersey for what would be an American 11 dollars and I bought a pretty sweet pair of Brazil sandals for what would be 5 bucks. And then we had all you can eat lunch with dessert for 6 bucks. The jerzey wasn't super cheap, there were cheaper ones, but I didn't want a trucho one that would destroy in the wash the first time. I went wild with my Christmas money and I still have 80 percent of it left. That is one cool thing about South America. But other stuff is more expensive. Cereal costs more, all electronics cost more, milk costs more and is nowhere near as good and it comes in dripping bags, etc... Oh yeah, and Soda costs more than it does in the states. So I drink nothing but bottled water down here. I hate soda anyway. I only have Soda when members offer it to us. Oh yeah!!! I bought a machette for 3 bucks. I don't know how to spell it, but it is pretty amazing. We do service every week cutting grass or tall weeds or something, and those mini-swords come in mighty handy. I was sick of using the dull machettes of the members with bad handles that without fail give you blisters. So I bought my own. I couldn't help but think of Nacho Libre. That was a pretty decently funny movie. All in all I had a fun morning in Brazil. I like how we can just walk to Brazil. On our way back from Brazil this morning as we crossed the Bridge that is the border at the river, we passed the Brazilian missionaries walking back the other way to Brazil from their morning in Artigas Uruguay. It was pretty funny.
I had a really good week this last week. I felt really good, and I am happy to report that my average amount of crunches every morning is up to 500 and my pushups are up to 50. I am in pretty good shape. But that is all the work out time I have is pushups and ab workouts. That is good enough for me. At least I am not getting fat. But I am certainly eating enough. I think my favorite thing to eat is the food of the poor people, rice and black beans. I wish people wouldn't try to impress us when they cook. They buy these really bad knock-off meats because it is all they can afford, and they think they have to feed us meat to impress us. There is no nice way to say I would prefer rice and beans. So we eat gratefully all that we are given. Mom, you would be so proud. Yesterday I had a plate full of rice and onions and tomatoes and nothing else. It had so much onion. I eat anything now. I can eat whatever I want. I will go back home and feel secure saying that I will never be a picky eater again. If nothing else, the mission has helped me to grow up in that aspect. I am good to eat whatever.
Oh yeah, I don't remember if I told you about the alcoholic Ice Cream I ate a few weeks ago. You have to be careful with some ice cream places because they put alcohol in it. There wasn't enough to do anything to us, but when we found out after it was still pretty funny. Now I can say I have had alcohol and I had it on my mission and I did it without breaking the Word of Wisdom because I didn't know. Cool huh?
Not really. Oh well.
I am not really that funny today. I don't know what is wrong with me. But I feel good so that is all that counts.
I feel really good this week. I am doing well, we just committed a family to be baptized that we have been working with, and there are some good prospects. My favorite story from this last week was in a recent convert visit to Rosana and Karen, the mom and daughter Elder Dennis and I baptized last change. They are AMAZING. Rosana felt like she was confessing, but she told us that she had refused missionaries once before years ago. That they came by and she told them she didn't have time and wasn't interested. I told her she shouldn't feel bad and that the Lord was probably working with her all this time preparing her for the day Elder Dennis was going to knock on her door again. She is already facing persecution from some neighbors, and to be honest I didn't know how she would be able to handle it, but she is doing great. She tells them very simply that she believes it and bears her testimony. She doesn't have a ton of knowledge now, but her testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Restored Gospel is enough armory to keep her going. She will continue to progress, and that is what we have been focusing on this week is always progressing. That the plan of God is perfect and that he always asks our best by judging us for who we are. They are amazing. I love them so much. A few months ago they had nothing to do with any church, but their lives are different now and they will be the first to tell you that it is a good change in a better direction in their lives.
The Book of Mormon is true. I have seen people that I thought would never progress or even move, some of the most unmotivated people I have ever met in my life, start doing something and start changing because they started reading the Book of Mormon. It didn't matter which part we gave them, or if it was the people that started from the beginning, there is a power in reading the Book of Mormon that I cannot deny. I have felt it. I have seen it open the hearts of people to a message that they had once viewed as crazy. I have seen it help a mother of 4 kids to begin in her path to quit smoking and trying to go back to the temple, or another mother of 4 kids tambien that is trying to quit smoking, but also wants to go back to school, make something of her life, and never go back to the way she was as she gets away from her abusive ex-boyfriend. The Book of Mormon brings the spirit. It changes lives. I cannot deny the power of that book. I have seen it change me. I hope that when you all see me next you can see that change in me. I feel very different. I can't explain it, but I am different.
Anyway, I am in a rush. Sorry I didn't have more time. I love you all. Take care!! Open the Book of Mormon and read at least a little every day! I love ya!!
Andy
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Only 20 months-ish left!
email dated 2-4-2008
I always like joking with the Hermanas in our Zone about the time I have left, because my trainer Elder Dennis always did. He was in his last change, and he would call them just to say "387 hours left" or whatever. He would just make up times but they always believed it and would be like "ELDER!! DONT BE SO TRUNKY!!" So I have adopted the habit of teasing the Hermanas like that because they are so gullible. We ran into them today at the Cyber for email and the first thing I said was "614 days left". I don't actually know, but that sounded pretty good to me. "ELDER!!" Oh dear, oh dear. I am just too funny for my own good.
So we had a really good week this last week. Our best investigator finally committed to baptism. It has been 4 weeks that we have been working with her, maybe a little more, actually yes, it has been more like 5 or 6. Anyway, she came to the funeral service for President Hinckley with us on Saturday afternoon. It was SO good. She got to see the Conference Center, and the Brethren, etc... She started crying during the closing song while they showed footage of President Hinckley. I can't make fun of her because I did a little bit too. He was always the prophet I have known. Anyway, after that she went to a baptism that we didn't even tell her to go to or invite her too. She came up to me after the baptism and told me "Okay. I want to be baptized. What do we do?" I LOVED that so much. We didn't even challenge her to be baptized. She knew that was the end result. We had never even brought it up. She used to study with the Jehovahs Witnesses, who are pains in the neck sometimes but are really good faithful people and I wish our members were as faithful, etc... Anyway, she's a really good one. We were taking flak for not challenging her for so long, but we really wanted to take our time. And it paid off. We never had to challenge her. She wants it for herself!! In our ward, we have take time with people and we work with the ward a ton. Every week we take flak from the Zone Leaders for our numbers, only because we aren't finding as much by means of contacts. But I really wanted to point out to them that last week we had more lessons than they did with a member present, we taught more menos activo lessons, and as much other lessons as they did. We had a third the contacts they did, but we are the ones with investigators who have baptismal date. But I can't say things like that because that is pure pride and I know it. But I get so frustrated every week that they harp me for numbers. Every week its the same thing "Why aren't you finding!!??" We are finding! We have investigators. We work all day. We have never had even an hour this last week where we had to stop and ask ourselves "what should we do now?" because we plan our days and we have enough people to fill them. I hate numbers with a passion!! The zone leaders know it and they can think whatever they want about Elder Shepherd. I feel good with the way we are working. We still bring in the numbers that count: investigators in church, people in church, baptisms, lessons taught. What more do they want. I hate numbers. Every time they bring it up and try to make goals for me to do more contacts, I tell them I will do my best and that is all the Lord asks. They hate that. I always say if we do our best, and follow Preach My Gospel which says talk to everyone anyway, and we try to meet the needs of our specific area, we will have success. PMG lists 10 different ways to find people. Contacts is only one of them. And we do our contacts!! We just don't get their beloved 10 a day rule they are trying to institute. It is 110 degrees outside. Nobody is in the street to contact except for teenage girls dressed really immodestly and young punk kids that swear at us. Occasionally you see someone legible. What we are doing here is teaching lessons. We have more investigators than menos activos that we visit. Elder Davies and I have less contacts than the ZL's because we are in the house teaching!! Anyway, sorry to vent for a minute, but I had to get that out to somebody. If I am ever a zone leader I will NEVER EVER harp on numbers to anybody. I am working my hardest and trying to be as efficient a worker as possible. If they want 70 contacts a week I can try to stay out in the street more, but I don't see what that is going to help. I am not alone in this sentiment. The rest of the zone pretty much feels the same way as I do. But that is a bad thing because I am one of the leading rebellors in the eyes of the Zone Leaders. I am trying to up my contacts to respect them, but in the end if I am doing my best that is all that counts to me. And I am doing my best and working as hard as I know how.
This week I had a really fun experience with cigarettes. A menos activo in our ward is trying to quit. So we went to visit her the other day and her little girl had just bought a pack from the Almacen down the street and was taking it home (here little kids can buy anything). I took it from her daughter, and then walked into her house and opened it and gave her 4 of the 20. I said "you can only smoke 4 of these today, and tomorrow we'll see how it was. If that's too small with start with more, maybe 6 or 8 or 10, whatever it is you need, but you are going to stop smoking. Not only to go to the temple, but to be with him longer (and I pointed at her 7 year old son Douglas who is ADORABLE in every way and reminds me of Teddy)." She is trying. 4 was too small. She is accustomed to 30 a day. We'll have to start smaller and work our way gradually. She was so upset that she couldn't do it with 4. But she apparently went hysterical after we left and after she had smoked her 4. She refused to buy more because she wants to quit, but she was losing it. Smoking is such a hard habit to quit. It breaks my heart to see her hurt. She was crying when she failed and told me she finally had to buy more. But we stayed calm, told her we loved her, and helped her to institute a plan to quit and made her a chart. Anyway, the funny part of this story is that I wouldn't throw away her cigarettes because she bought them and she was going to end up smoking an x amount more anyway, if I threw them away it would be a waste, so I went around with cigarettes in my pocket for a few days. It was kind of awkward. But now she has her plan and so I won't have to carry her cigs anymore. Anyway, my heart ached to see her crying because she felt like a failure. I bore testimony of the miracle of forgiveness, told her that quitting smoking is one of the hardest things anyone can do in life, that I loved her and I would be here to help in anyway that I could, and that with faith and patience and step by step, she would be able to quit smoking. It is a work in progress.
Well I don't have a lot of time. I wasted way too much time venting about numbers. I apologize. I shouldn't be that way. I will try to be better. I need to not let it get to me when they harp on me either. Because it isn't going to change the way I work, but if I let it get to me it will make me less effective because it will hurt my attitude. I can't afford to have any negative feelings. I need the spirit all day to help me in this work. I will try to be better.
Anyway, I love you all. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, I speak Spanish. I had another epiphany week and I just started understanding. I don't understand every word, but I understand the gist of everything and a majority of the words, but it does depend on who I am talking to, some people have ridiculous accents and stupid Portuguese mixes that I still struggle with them, but I am progressing. I feel pretty good about Spanish. And I try to still do my hour of study every day, I want to expand my vocabulary WAY beyond missionary words. I can teach the lessons, but I want to be able to talk about anything in Spanish. That will take some serious time. But if I keep studying for 2 years I think I can get there.
Love yall. Take care and don't forget to write. Missionaries love news from home. Proverbs 25:25. Ciao!!
Andy
I always like joking with the Hermanas in our Zone about the time I have left, because my trainer Elder Dennis always did. He was in his last change, and he would call them just to say "387 hours left" or whatever. He would just make up times but they always believed it and would be like "ELDER!! DONT BE SO TRUNKY!!" So I have adopted the habit of teasing the Hermanas like that because they are so gullible. We ran into them today at the Cyber for email and the first thing I said was "614 days left". I don't actually know, but that sounded pretty good to me. "ELDER!!" Oh dear, oh dear. I am just too funny for my own good.
So we had a really good week this last week. Our best investigator finally committed to baptism. It has been 4 weeks that we have been working with her, maybe a little more, actually yes, it has been more like 5 or 6. Anyway, she came to the funeral service for President Hinckley with us on Saturday afternoon. It was SO good. She got to see the Conference Center, and the Brethren, etc... She started crying during the closing song while they showed footage of President Hinckley. I can't make fun of her because I did a little bit too. He was always the prophet I have known. Anyway, after that she went to a baptism that we didn't even tell her to go to or invite her too. She came up to me after the baptism and told me "Okay. I want to be baptized. What do we do?" I LOVED that so much. We didn't even challenge her to be baptized. She knew that was the end result. We had never even brought it up. She used to study with the Jehovahs Witnesses, who are pains in the neck sometimes but are really good faithful people and I wish our members were as faithful, etc... Anyway, she's a really good one. We were taking flak for not challenging her for so long, but we really wanted to take our time. And it paid off. We never had to challenge her. She wants it for herself!! In our ward, we have take time with people and we work with the ward a ton. Every week we take flak from the Zone Leaders for our numbers, only because we aren't finding as much by means of contacts. But I really wanted to point out to them that last week we had more lessons than they did with a member present, we taught more menos activo lessons, and as much other lessons as they did. We had a third the contacts they did, but we are the ones with investigators who have baptismal date. But I can't say things like that because that is pure pride and I know it. But I get so frustrated every week that they harp me for numbers. Every week its the same thing "Why aren't you finding!!??" We are finding! We have investigators. We work all day. We have never had even an hour this last week where we had to stop and ask ourselves "what should we do now?" because we plan our days and we have enough people to fill them. I hate numbers with a passion!! The zone leaders know it and they can think whatever they want about Elder Shepherd. I feel good with the way we are working. We still bring in the numbers that count: investigators in church, people in church, baptisms, lessons taught. What more do they want. I hate numbers. Every time they bring it up and try to make goals for me to do more contacts, I tell them I will do my best and that is all the Lord asks. They hate that. I always say if we do our best, and follow Preach My Gospel which says talk to everyone anyway, and we try to meet the needs of our specific area, we will have success. PMG lists 10 different ways to find people. Contacts is only one of them. And we do our contacts!! We just don't get their beloved 10 a day rule they are trying to institute. It is 110 degrees outside. Nobody is in the street to contact except for teenage girls dressed really immodestly and young punk kids that swear at us. Occasionally you see someone legible. What we are doing here is teaching lessons. We have more investigators than menos activos that we visit. Elder Davies and I have less contacts than the ZL's because we are in the house teaching!! Anyway, sorry to vent for a minute, but I had to get that out to somebody. If I am ever a zone leader I will NEVER EVER harp on numbers to anybody. I am working my hardest and trying to be as efficient a worker as possible. If they want 70 contacts a week I can try to stay out in the street more, but I don't see what that is going to help. I am not alone in this sentiment. The rest of the zone pretty much feels the same way as I do. But that is a bad thing because I am one of the leading rebellors in the eyes of the Zone Leaders. I am trying to up my contacts to respect them, but in the end if I am doing my best that is all that counts to me. And I am doing my best and working as hard as I know how.
This week I had a really fun experience with cigarettes. A menos activo in our ward is trying to quit. So we went to visit her the other day and her little girl had just bought a pack from the Almacen down the street and was taking it home (here little kids can buy anything). I took it from her daughter, and then walked into her house and opened it and gave her 4 of the 20. I said "you can only smoke 4 of these today, and tomorrow we'll see how it was. If that's too small with start with more, maybe 6 or 8 or 10, whatever it is you need, but you are going to stop smoking. Not only to go to the temple, but to be with him longer (and I pointed at her 7 year old son Douglas who is ADORABLE in every way and reminds me of Teddy)." She is trying. 4 was too small. She is accustomed to 30 a day. We'll have to start smaller and work our way gradually. She was so upset that she couldn't do it with 4. But she apparently went hysterical after we left and after she had smoked her 4. She refused to buy more because she wants to quit, but she was losing it. Smoking is such a hard habit to quit. It breaks my heart to see her hurt. She was crying when she failed and told me she finally had to buy more. But we stayed calm, told her we loved her, and helped her to institute a plan to quit and made her a chart. Anyway, the funny part of this story is that I wouldn't throw away her cigarettes because she bought them and she was going to end up smoking an x amount more anyway, if I threw them away it would be a waste, so I went around with cigarettes in my pocket for a few days. It was kind of awkward. But now she has her plan and so I won't have to carry her cigs anymore. Anyway, my heart ached to see her crying because she felt like a failure. I bore testimony of the miracle of forgiveness, told her that quitting smoking is one of the hardest things anyone can do in life, that I loved her and I would be here to help in anyway that I could, and that with faith and patience and step by step, she would be able to quit smoking. It is a work in progress.
Well I don't have a lot of time. I wasted way too much time venting about numbers. I apologize. I shouldn't be that way. I will try to be better. I need to not let it get to me when they harp on me either. Because it isn't going to change the way I work, but if I let it get to me it will make me less effective because it will hurt my attitude. I can't afford to have any negative feelings. I need the spirit all day to help me in this work. I will try to be better.
Anyway, I love you all. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, I speak Spanish. I had another epiphany week and I just started understanding. I don't understand every word, but I understand the gist of everything and a majority of the words, but it does depend on who I am talking to, some people have ridiculous accents and stupid Portuguese mixes that I still struggle with them, but I am progressing. I feel pretty good about Spanish. And I try to still do my hour of study every day, I want to expand my vocabulary WAY beyond missionary words. I can teach the lessons, but I want to be able to talk about anything in Spanish. That will take some serious time. But if I keep studying for 2 years I think I can get there.
Love yall. Take care and don't forget to write. Missionaries love news from home. Proverbs 25:25. Ciao!!
Andy
Friday, February 1, 2008
My Prophet
email dated 1-28-2008
This morning I got a call from my district leader telling me the news of the passing of our beloved Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley. It felt very strange. For as long as I can remember he has been my prophet. I was really young with Benson and Hunter. As long as I can remember it has been Hinckley. He is my prophet. This is sad news today especially because yesterday we got our new members to memorize the names of the First Presidency. Yesterday!! I don't know what, how, or when I will tell them this. Mostly the question is how. It is a sad thing, but I am happy for him. He is with his wife again. I am sure he finished his work in the eyes of the Lord.
I got my new companion this week. His name is Elder Davies. He is from Pocatello, Idaho, and is very different than me. He wants a truck and to be rich, I want a mini van, 6 kids, and to be a teacher. He wants an RV, boat, 4 wheelers, and I want a tent and a fishing pole. We are different, but that isn't what concerned me. He has already served in Artigas 4, and for that I was very nervous. This is one of the hardest areas, at least it has a reputation as being one of the worst. His first day here I was VERY nervous. He said, "I am in the same freaking house. Same freaking chapel, etc..." It was very clear he was not happy to be back to this Infierno, as he put it, meaning Hell. But I tried to stay positive. I made sure to look for the good. We worked hard during the week, I showed him the area, and he was shocked when we came home one night having taught 8 lessons. He asked, "Did we really just teach 8 lessons today?". We needed that day. Because on Friday in planning he said "I don't know why I am back here, but we are going to find out. Don't let me complain. If I complain you can hit me." We had a good day Saturday, but church yesterday saved us both. We had 4 investigators in church, including one Gonzalo, a 30 year old history professor Elder Dennis and I worked on for weeks and could never get him to church. We had a good turnout, and had good classes and Sacrament meeting. It was the best day of church I have had since I have been here. Last night, Elder Davies told me he felt something he never thought he would feel here. He said he felt at home. We are going to have a good transfer here. We are working well together in our lessons, we don't clash in teaching style, and we both want to work. We are going to have a good transfer. I have a lot to learn from him, and I am going to do everything I can to get out of him what I need to. The Lord doesn't make mistakes with companions. We are together for a reason. I constantly remember Dad's counsel, that your companions may be the most important people you are in contact with your whole mission. We strengthen each other, and help each other to grow. I know Elder Dennis and I were meant to be comps. We are best friends now. He said he learned a lot from me, and I helped him to change his perspective on life in many ways, and he helped me to gain the perspective on missionary work. He was going home and I was just starting. It was a match made in heaven.
I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon I have never had before. There is a menos activo family we are working with, and the mom was impossible. She didn't want to come to church. She didn't want to quit smoking. She said there is no way she would keep the law of chastity (awkward), etc... Very difficult woman. We kept visiting because we felt we needed to. So much focuses on the mom. The dad died a year ago. If she is active, her sons may serve missions and her daughters will be active, maybe serve missions, and will live a better life. But it all hinges on the mom. We got the family to take the challenge to read the Book of Mormon, cause we challenged the whole ward for 2008 and put their pictures up and made a whole display which has paid off in gold because people are reading and moving their pictures under the books they are in, anyway....She is reading. The family started reading as a family. Next thing I know, she wants to get her husband's temple work done, and she wants go to the family history center this week, she wants to become worthy of a temple recommend, she wants to come to church every week, etc... She thanked me 2 days ago and said, "You missionaries changed my life. I am a different person today than I was a month ago." I told her that we didn't. Because we didn't. She wasn't progressing until she started reading the Book of Mormon. I told her that there is an inexplicable power in the Book of Mormon. She is intelligent and asking quesitons. In weeks she has read through Alma. She has taken off. And to think we discussed not visiting her anymore because she didn't seem to be progressing. The Book of Mormon is a miracle. She was crazy! She told us straight up she would never do these things. But with time, an increased exposure to the Spirit, her heart has been softened, and she is heading in a good direction. We have some solid investigators, some iffy's with baptismal goals, and a lot of time for finding new investigators now. We are in the finding phase. We have some knocking to do this week. It will be good. I love teaching first lessons to people I don't know. It is always an adventure. You run into some crazy people too.
There are so many old people here. Really old, meaning over 70. And they say the darndest things. OH YEAH!! My dog story. I got bit by a dog my first week here when walking by this one house. I never said anything. I was so in shock that I had my first dog experience I forgot to ever write about it. But I can't forget now. We were walking yesterday in the street, and I see this dog come running toward me. I quickly recognized it. I thought to myself, "You dont want a piece of this. Not again." It came just the same and bit me in the same right ankle. It clasped on but I had no patience today. I kicked it squarely in the side and it flew a little bit and ran away with a whimper. I felt SOO bad. I had never kicked a dog before. I heard its whimper and I felt SO bad. But it had it coming. What more could I have done. Anyway, I have been bit twice out here by the crazy strays. There are more stray dogs here than people, I swear.
I don't have any more time. I have to go. I pray all is well with everyone. Oh yeah, I hear there is a possibility both Luke and Matt will be at USU this year. That would be something pretty interesting. You have my support in this. Anyway, I have to go.
Love you all!! Ciao!!!
Andy
This morning I got a call from my district leader telling me the news of the passing of our beloved Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley. It felt very strange. For as long as I can remember he has been my prophet. I was really young with Benson and Hunter. As long as I can remember it has been Hinckley. He is my prophet. This is sad news today especially because yesterday we got our new members to memorize the names of the First Presidency. Yesterday!! I don't know what, how, or when I will tell them this. Mostly the question is how. It is a sad thing, but I am happy for him. He is with his wife again. I am sure he finished his work in the eyes of the Lord.
I got my new companion this week. His name is Elder Davies. He is from Pocatello, Idaho, and is very different than me. He wants a truck and to be rich, I want a mini van, 6 kids, and to be a teacher. He wants an RV, boat, 4 wheelers, and I want a tent and a fishing pole. We are different, but that isn't what concerned me. He has already served in Artigas 4, and for that I was very nervous. This is one of the hardest areas, at least it has a reputation as being one of the worst. His first day here I was VERY nervous. He said, "I am in the same freaking house. Same freaking chapel, etc..." It was very clear he was not happy to be back to this Infierno, as he put it, meaning Hell. But I tried to stay positive. I made sure to look for the good. We worked hard during the week, I showed him the area, and he was shocked when we came home one night having taught 8 lessons. He asked, "Did we really just teach 8 lessons today?". We needed that day. Because on Friday in planning he said "I don't know why I am back here, but we are going to find out. Don't let me complain. If I complain you can hit me." We had a good day Saturday, but church yesterday saved us both. We had 4 investigators in church, including one Gonzalo, a 30 year old history professor Elder Dennis and I worked on for weeks and could never get him to church. We had a good turnout, and had good classes and Sacrament meeting. It was the best day of church I have had since I have been here. Last night, Elder Davies told me he felt something he never thought he would feel here. He said he felt at home. We are going to have a good transfer here. We are working well together in our lessons, we don't clash in teaching style, and we both want to work. We are going to have a good transfer. I have a lot to learn from him, and I am going to do everything I can to get out of him what I need to. The Lord doesn't make mistakes with companions. We are together for a reason. I constantly remember Dad's counsel, that your companions may be the most important people you are in contact with your whole mission. We strengthen each other, and help each other to grow. I know Elder Dennis and I were meant to be comps. We are best friends now. He said he learned a lot from me, and I helped him to change his perspective on life in many ways, and he helped me to gain the perspective on missionary work. He was going home and I was just starting. It was a match made in heaven.
I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon I have never had before. There is a menos activo family we are working with, and the mom was impossible. She didn't want to come to church. She didn't want to quit smoking. She said there is no way she would keep the law of chastity (awkward), etc... Very difficult woman. We kept visiting because we felt we needed to. So much focuses on the mom. The dad died a year ago. If she is active, her sons may serve missions and her daughters will be active, maybe serve missions, and will live a better life. But it all hinges on the mom. We got the family to take the challenge to read the Book of Mormon, cause we challenged the whole ward for 2008 and put their pictures up and made a whole display which has paid off in gold because people are reading and moving their pictures under the books they are in, anyway....She is reading. The family started reading as a family. Next thing I know, she wants to get her husband's temple work done, and she wants go to the family history center this week, she wants to become worthy of a temple recommend, she wants to come to church every week, etc... She thanked me 2 days ago and said, "You missionaries changed my life. I am a different person today than I was a month ago." I told her that we didn't. Because we didn't. She wasn't progressing until she started reading the Book of Mormon. I told her that there is an inexplicable power in the Book of Mormon. She is intelligent and asking quesitons. In weeks she has read through Alma. She has taken off. And to think we discussed not visiting her anymore because she didn't seem to be progressing. The Book of Mormon is a miracle. She was crazy! She told us straight up she would never do these things. But with time, an increased exposure to the Spirit, her heart has been softened, and she is heading in a good direction. We have some solid investigators, some iffy's with baptismal goals, and a lot of time for finding new investigators now. We are in the finding phase. We have some knocking to do this week. It will be good. I love teaching first lessons to people I don't know. It is always an adventure. You run into some crazy people too.
There are so many old people here. Really old, meaning over 70. And they say the darndest things. OH YEAH!! My dog story. I got bit by a dog my first week here when walking by this one house. I never said anything. I was so in shock that I had my first dog experience I forgot to ever write about it. But I can't forget now. We were walking yesterday in the street, and I see this dog come running toward me. I quickly recognized it. I thought to myself, "You dont want a piece of this. Not again." It came just the same and bit me in the same right ankle. It clasped on but I had no patience today. I kicked it squarely in the side and it flew a little bit and ran away with a whimper. I felt SOO bad. I had never kicked a dog before. I heard its whimper and I felt SO bad. But it had it coming. What more could I have done. Anyway, I have been bit twice out here by the crazy strays. There are more stray dogs here than people, I swear.
I don't have any more time. I have to go. I pray all is well with everyone. Oh yeah, I hear there is a possibility both Luke and Matt will be at USU this year. That would be something pretty interesting. You have my support in this. Anyway, I have to go.
Love you all!! Ciao!!!
Andy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
