email dated 10/10/09
I am coming home. Don't be alarmed next Saturday when I don't write. Rather, call home and ask me how I am doing. I may just need it.
Lorena was baptized on Saturday. She had invited her mom and some friends and I thought it was kind of funny that she got up to bear her testimony and it reminded me of a "coming out of the closet" kind of thing. She said "Well, I just wanted to invite you all today and be able to tell you why I did what I just did. In the first place, I believe in God. One thing I love about church is the good values that it teaches. I know that it is something I need in my life." I thought what she said was cool. I hadn't realized that to her one of the most attractive things about the church to her were our values. But that was what made the difference for her. She saw the difference in the people her age that were active members and she liked it. She had gone to some institute activities and that really helped. Beyond that she had really changed and felt that God listens to her. I remember when I first met her I said I saw "lonely eyes" and those eyes are now filled with light. She is visibly better. That comes from having a healthy relationship with her Heavenly Father. Prayer is so important in our lives.
10 Trunky Plans:
1. Buy new garments
2. Buy new running shoes
3. Buy maybe new clothes if needed?
4. Buy the Wendy's that I never got to eat before I left
5. Smile and listen to music - Any music I want
6. Play the Piano a lot - ANY SONG!!!
7. Figure out what direction I am heading in life, work, and school
8. Play Nintendo with Christian, that one car game where we would always run from the cops.
9. Go Trick or Treating with Teddy
10. Be grateful for the blessing of the mission and remember it fondly while looking to the future with good plans and living happily in the present.
I don't know what really to write about this week. I will be landing in Salt Lake on Friday around noon. I love you all so much! I could try to be sentimental or really spiritual in this email home, but you will see all that when I give my homecoming talk and maybe I will cry then. For today, I am very excited that I will be seeing y'all soon. I have lots of things to do today to finish my goodbyes and purchases. Take care!!
Andy
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Lorena to be Born Again
email dated 10/3/09
Today is General Conference. For me at 1:00 is the first session and at 3:00 Lorena Dacuña will be entering the waters of baptism. She finally made it and I think you all so much for your prayers in her behalf. She means a lot to me and I cant think of a better way to come to the end of my mission than baptizing Lorena. A perfect day!
This week I was doing divisions in Artigas 1 with Elder Rodriguez from Uruguay. We had a really good time. He is a really funny guy. He will work a lot of miracles in his mission. He is a very talented missionary. I was trying to figure out what made him so good and I came to the conclusion that it is because he loves the people. He is from Uruguay and so he learned quick to love the people. It was something he already knew how to do. He has only been out for 5 months but I can tell that he is a future leader not only in the mission but a future church leader in Uruguay. I was very impressed with him. Last night together, we taught the very best first lesson I can remember in all my mission. We had practiced tons of techniques and ideas to meet our missionary purpose. We know that our objective is to baptize and so we went in honest and sincere. We went up to a couple sitting on the front porch and asked if we could sit down and share a message with them for a few minutes. They said sure and so we did. Elder Rodriguez and I had been talking about this all afternoon and we finally got to try it out. We asked if they believed in God and that He was our father and they did. So he asked to start "If you knew that I had authority and power to baptize and that you could be forgiven of all past misdeeds, would you be baptized?" And the wife replied "Well, sure if I knew you had that kind of power." And then I came in and said "That is what we want to share with you today. That Jesus Christ came to teach us the path to Eternal Life, or in other words, the way to live happily ever after with Him and our families. Baptism is a step in that path and today we want to present you a message that will help you to understand how it is that the power and authority to baptize is on the earth today and that we have it in the Restored Church of Jesus Christ." We taught a 15 minute lesson in which we mainly focused on what baptism is and priesthood, and then we told the Joseph Smith story. We said "baptism" I think almost every other sentence. We spoke so positively and so full of faith that I don't think that it was possible for them to reject the message. I have always talked about how being positive and full of faith and sincere is the key and I saw it work last night. We said things all throughout the lesson like "And when you are baptized you will feel that remission of sins and the spirit and you will know that your Father in Heaven is proud of you." We talked to them as if they were already baptized. And my favorite was after they accepted the conditional invitation "When God makes you feel that this message is true will you be baptized?" They said "Sure." And so we said "Perfect!! I know you will want to feel prepared to make such a big decision, right? (nodding my head and they nodded back). Of course, and that is why we want to help you prepare so that when you are baptized you feel good about it. So when you go to church this weekend you will feel such and such, etc...And we will visit you frequently and pray with you to help you prepare." They accepted everything and answered questions, asked questions, participated in the lesson, etc.. Elder Rodriguez is going by on Sunday to accompany them to General Conference. I felt a fire within me! We were literally a fire. As we left that lesson we could hardly contain ourselves. We jumped up and down in the streets and talked about all the Preach My Gospel applications we had never noticed before. We smiled the whole way home.
I love you all very much! I am so happy that soon I will be with you again. I am nervous, but not scared. I hope that you don't recognize me at first. And then I hope you look into my eyes and realize that I am more me than I have ever been!
Andy
Today is General Conference. For me at 1:00 is the first session and at 3:00 Lorena Dacuña will be entering the waters of baptism. She finally made it and I think you all so much for your prayers in her behalf. She means a lot to me and I cant think of a better way to come to the end of my mission than baptizing Lorena. A perfect day!
This week I was doing divisions in Artigas 1 with Elder Rodriguez from Uruguay. We had a really good time. He is a really funny guy. He will work a lot of miracles in his mission. He is a very talented missionary. I was trying to figure out what made him so good and I came to the conclusion that it is because he loves the people. He is from Uruguay and so he learned quick to love the people. It was something he already knew how to do. He has only been out for 5 months but I can tell that he is a future leader not only in the mission but a future church leader in Uruguay. I was very impressed with him. Last night together, we taught the very best first lesson I can remember in all my mission. We had practiced tons of techniques and ideas to meet our missionary purpose. We know that our objective is to baptize and so we went in honest and sincere. We went up to a couple sitting on the front porch and asked if we could sit down and share a message with them for a few minutes. They said sure and so we did. Elder Rodriguez and I had been talking about this all afternoon and we finally got to try it out. We asked if they believed in God and that He was our father and they did. So he asked to start "If you knew that I had authority and power to baptize and that you could be forgiven of all past misdeeds, would you be baptized?" And the wife replied "Well, sure if I knew you had that kind of power." And then I came in and said "That is what we want to share with you today. That Jesus Christ came to teach us the path to Eternal Life, or in other words, the way to live happily ever after with Him and our families. Baptism is a step in that path and today we want to present you a message that will help you to understand how it is that the power and authority to baptize is on the earth today and that we have it in the Restored Church of Jesus Christ." We taught a 15 minute lesson in which we mainly focused on what baptism is and priesthood, and then we told the Joseph Smith story. We said "baptism" I think almost every other sentence. We spoke so positively and so full of faith that I don't think that it was possible for them to reject the message. I have always talked about how being positive and full of faith and sincere is the key and I saw it work last night. We said things all throughout the lesson like "And when you are baptized you will feel that remission of sins and the spirit and you will know that your Father in Heaven is proud of you." We talked to them as if they were already baptized. And my favorite was after they accepted the conditional invitation "When God makes you feel that this message is true will you be baptized?" They said "Sure." And so we said "Perfect!! I know you will want to feel prepared to make such a big decision, right? (nodding my head and they nodded back). Of course, and that is why we want to help you prepare so that when you are baptized you feel good about it. So when you go to church this weekend you will feel such and such, etc...And we will visit you frequently and pray with you to help you prepare." They accepted everything and answered questions, asked questions, participated in the lesson, etc.. Elder Rodriguez is going by on Sunday to accompany them to General Conference. I felt a fire within me! We were literally a fire. As we left that lesson we could hardly contain ourselves. We jumped up and down in the streets and talked about all the Preach My Gospel applications we had never noticed before. We smiled the whole way home.
I love you all very much! I am so happy that soon I will be with you again. I am nervous, but not scared. I hope that you don't recognize me at first. And then I hope you look into my eyes and realize that I am more me than I have ever been!
Andy
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Step in the Right Direction
email dated 9/19/09
Another week has come and gone. If I am writing too early for you to write me email today than you will need to email me at urugoest@gmail.com today or tomorrow so that I get it. I have to write now because today we are traveling to Paysandu for a Stake Conference and I lose another Pday. But I live in the offices and so any emails I get pretty much the same day anyway, but I wont be able to check my emails again today. So that everyone knows, anytime that you write to urugoest@gmail.com I get those any day of the week while I am living here.
This week we had the Zone Conferences in Tacuarembo and Salto and Mercedes. I was on the road all week and I am really tired but we still have one road trip left to go. We talked about the importance of setting your goals and committing yourselves to the goals. Making that the goals drive your plans and not your plans drive your goals. It is probably the hardest thing that we do on the mission and I didn't feel really capable or worthy to teach it. For me, setting and getting goals is harder than anything else we do. On the mission all of our goals have to do with the actions of other people and we have to avoid the doubts or fears that "oh their agency makes us incapable of achieving our goals". It is easy to make that excuse. What I have come to realize is that if we don't get a goal we don't need to criticize ourselves or beat ourselves up. We just analyze what happened. If we did our best we go out and do it again, maybe adjusting the goal or our plans. Nephi was commanded to get the plates and 2 times failed. It was a commandment from the Lord to achieve the plates!! He could have wondered why it didn't happen right the first time, as did Laman and Lemuel. We just gotta keep going at it with a positive attitude.
I don't have much more time. I love you all very much! I bear witness that Heavenly Father loves His children and that we have the necessity and responsibility to seek Him every day of our lives! It is a journey towards perfection in which we daily need to be advancing. The good news is that God is no respecter of persons. Wherever we are on the path the only responsibility that we have today is to make a step in the right direction. I love you all!!
Andy
Another week has come and gone. If I am writing too early for you to write me email today than you will need to email me at urugoest@gmail.com today or tomorrow so that I get it. I have to write now because today we are traveling to Paysandu for a Stake Conference and I lose another Pday. But I live in the offices and so any emails I get pretty much the same day anyway, but I wont be able to check my emails again today. So that everyone knows, anytime that you write to urugoest@gmail.com I get those any day of the week while I am living here.
This week we had the Zone Conferences in Tacuarembo and Salto and Mercedes. I was on the road all week and I am really tired but we still have one road trip left to go. We talked about the importance of setting your goals and committing yourselves to the goals. Making that the goals drive your plans and not your plans drive your goals. It is probably the hardest thing that we do on the mission and I didn't feel really capable or worthy to teach it. For me, setting and getting goals is harder than anything else we do. On the mission all of our goals have to do with the actions of other people and we have to avoid the doubts or fears that "oh their agency makes us incapable of achieving our goals". It is easy to make that excuse. What I have come to realize is that if we don't get a goal we don't need to criticize ourselves or beat ourselves up. We just analyze what happened. If we did our best we go out and do it again, maybe adjusting the goal or our plans. Nephi was commanded to get the plates and 2 times failed. It was a commandment from the Lord to achieve the plates!! He could have wondered why it didn't happen right the first time, as did Laman and Lemuel. We just gotta keep going at it with a positive attitude.
I don't have much more time. I love you all very much! I bear witness that Heavenly Father loves His children and that we have the necessity and responsibility to seek Him every day of our lives! It is a journey towards perfection in which we daily need to be advancing. The good news is that God is no respecter of persons. Wherever we are on the path the only responsibility that we have today is to make a step in the right direction. I love you all!!
Andy
Saturday, September 12, 2009
One Who Understands
email dated 9/12/09
I had a very strange trunky moment today. The intercom in the offices rang and the voice "Elder Shepherd line 2, line 2". I went and sat at the secretaries desk and was about to pick up the phone when I saw a certificate with my name on it. "Dear Elder Andrew Wade Shepherd, you are hereby released as a full time missionary...signed Steven K Peterson". It made my stomach turn over. I think that it goes in the packet they send to the stake President. I wasn't supposed to see that. It didn't actually make me trunky. But it was weird to see and thus I call it a trunky moment.
Elder Clark and I have the idea of baptizing 6 people before I go home. We have the people found and challenged. Now the trick will be progressing and going to church. We will continue to find during these weeks as well. We are determined and we will succeed.
Lorena is doing well, her new job still didn't help and she realizes that she wants to work without having to work Sunday. She really wants to be baptized. A girl who when I first met her said she didn't really believe or disbelieve in God, said this week "I have felt the spirit and I know what I felt. I know I need to be baptized."!! Your prayers have helped her. Keep praying for her.
Elisa is good. The bishop knows her a little better and she has accepted a date to be baptized in September. She has already been to church the required 3 times and so she is good to go. We could do it today if we wanted to. I think we will give her another week or two to prepare.
We found a full family yesterday!! Father, mother, two sons. Jose Luis, the dad, says he would like it for his kids to have faith. He said in their home they haven't talked much about God, although they believe. And that with the death of the grandparents the kids could use an idea what there is beyond all this life. The problem is again that he works a TON, 65 hours a week, and Sunday is rarely free. The Devil is winning WAY too many points on the Sabbath Day. I gotta say that after what I have seen on the mission I am convinced that Sabbath Worship can make or break the attitude of a society. The Uruguayan truly believes "I am ALWAYS working. I am NEVER home." They say it in a way I never heard busy people in the States mean it or say it. They don't say it as an excuse. They truly and honestly believe it. And for some people it is true, but all say it. But when you have the Sabbath you always know that there is a day to be with your family. As I look back on life Sunday is my favorite day of the week. I love going to church and coming home and having the whole afternoon where I have already decided I wont do homework on that special day, so I read, watch movies with family, eat chicken and mashed potatoes or yakisoba or whatever it is...I love Sunday. And I will keep the Sabbath Holy the rest of my life. The Lord blesses those that keep His commandments. Those blessings are real and too often go unnoticed. But I know they are there.
Anyway, I gotta go. I hope that everyone is doing just dandy. Take care. I love all y'all!
Andy
I had a very strange trunky moment today. The intercom in the offices rang and the voice "Elder Shepherd line 2, line 2". I went and sat at the secretaries desk and was about to pick up the phone when I saw a certificate with my name on it. "Dear Elder Andrew Wade Shepherd, you are hereby released as a full time missionary...signed Steven K Peterson". It made my stomach turn over. I think that it goes in the packet they send to the stake President. I wasn't supposed to see that. It didn't actually make me trunky. But it was weird to see and thus I call it a trunky moment.
Elder Clark and I have the idea of baptizing 6 people before I go home. We have the people found and challenged. Now the trick will be progressing and going to church. We will continue to find during these weeks as well. We are determined and we will succeed.
Lorena is doing well, her new job still didn't help and she realizes that she wants to work without having to work Sunday. She really wants to be baptized. A girl who when I first met her said she didn't really believe or disbelieve in God, said this week "I have felt the spirit and I know what I felt. I know I need to be baptized."!! Your prayers have helped her. Keep praying for her.
Elisa is good. The bishop knows her a little better and she has accepted a date to be baptized in September. She has already been to church the required 3 times and so she is good to go. We could do it today if we wanted to. I think we will give her another week or two to prepare.
We found a full family yesterday!! Father, mother, two sons. Jose Luis, the dad, says he would like it for his kids to have faith. He said in their home they haven't talked much about God, although they believe. And that with the death of the grandparents the kids could use an idea what there is beyond all this life. The problem is again that he works a TON, 65 hours a week, and Sunday is rarely free. The Devil is winning WAY too many points on the Sabbath Day. I gotta say that after what I have seen on the mission I am convinced that Sabbath Worship can make or break the attitude of a society. The Uruguayan truly believes "I am ALWAYS working. I am NEVER home." They say it in a way I never heard busy people in the States mean it or say it. They don't say it as an excuse. They truly and honestly believe it. And for some people it is true, but all say it. But when you have the Sabbath you always know that there is a day to be with your family. As I look back on life Sunday is my favorite day of the week. I love going to church and coming home and having the whole afternoon where I have already decided I wont do homework on that special day, so I read, watch movies with family, eat chicken and mashed potatoes or yakisoba or whatever it is...I love Sunday. And I will keep the Sabbath Holy the rest of my life. The Lord blesses those that keep His commandments. Those blessings are real and too often go unnoticed. But I know they are there.
Anyway, I gotta go. I hope that everyone is doing just dandy. Take care. I love all y'all!
Andy
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Amazing Grace
email dated 9/5/09
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound
That Saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found.
Was blind but now I see!
Twas grace that taught my heart to feel
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
And when this heart and flesh shall fail
And mortal life shall cease.
I shall possess within the veil
A life of Joy and Peace.
My chains are gone Ive been set free!!
My Lord my God has ransomed me.
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing Grace.
I would like to think I wrote that, but I do have it memorized and that is almost just as good. What I have accomplished is that I have come to know that that Amazing Grace of which we sing is very real. It is by grace that we are saved. One thing I have come to learn is that only God knows the heart of a person. Not even the person necessarily knows his own heart, but our Heavenly Father always knows. And our Savior Jesus Christ, having felt what we have felt, knows us better than we know ourselves. Jesus suffered our afflictions and pains, which are only inadvertently connected with sin on account of the fall, but truly are not consequences always of bad choices we make. Yet He suffered those specific pains anyway so that He could know us and love us. And that is why His grace and His love is perfect.
This week we met a woman in the hospital named Marinela Deluche. She lives in a little town called Chuy in the other mission. She had been in a motor accident and had temporarily lost her memory. She had lesions that haven't healed in 4 months and she had an eye surgery as a result of the accident. They found a brain tumor and are in the process of finding out if it is operable or what will happen to her. We had gone to the hospital to look for her to give her a blessing because a member who was in the hospital had called our offices and requested one. It turns out that the member wasn't even there and Marinela had no idea we were coming or who that member was. We stuck around anyway to talk to her. A woman named Rosa was also there. Rosa didn't know Marinela before her accident and is living here in Montevideo. Rosa is a good christian. I needed to meet her. She would frequently visit Marinela just so that Marinela wouldn't be alone. Marinela has a 14 year old son named Emiliano and an ex-husband. Well, for 4 months her son has been with her ex and she has heard not a word from him or her son. She very well might die and what she really wants is to talk to her son. I felt so helpless. She accepted the blessing at Rosas insisting that we could help. We have visited her twice there. She doesn't know her sons number or that of her ex-husband but she gave me an idea of where they might live. I called the missionaries that are serving in Chuy and sent them and they told me that they found it!! We are going to be able to get her a phone number to call and talk to her son. We haven't really talked to her about baptism at all, which is usually the main thing I have been talking about to the people I am visiting. It just hasn't seemed the need with her right now. I think Heavenly Father isn't done teaching me about Charity and I have quite a few lessons to learn. Visiting her and Rosa has renewed my faith and hope in the good people of the world.
I love you all very much! Take care!!
Andy
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound
That Saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found.
Was blind but now I see!
Twas grace that taught my heart to feel
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
And when this heart and flesh shall fail
And mortal life shall cease.
I shall possess within the veil
A life of Joy and Peace.
My chains are gone Ive been set free!!
My Lord my God has ransomed me.
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing Grace.
I would like to think I wrote that, but I do have it memorized and that is almost just as good. What I have accomplished is that I have come to know that that Amazing Grace of which we sing is very real. It is by grace that we are saved. One thing I have come to learn is that only God knows the heart of a person. Not even the person necessarily knows his own heart, but our Heavenly Father always knows. And our Savior Jesus Christ, having felt what we have felt, knows us better than we know ourselves. Jesus suffered our afflictions and pains, which are only inadvertently connected with sin on account of the fall, but truly are not consequences always of bad choices we make. Yet He suffered those specific pains anyway so that He could know us and love us. And that is why His grace and His love is perfect.
This week we met a woman in the hospital named Marinela Deluche. She lives in a little town called Chuy in the other mission. She had been in a motor accident and had temporarily lost her memory. She had lesions that haven't healed in 4 months and she had an eye surgery as a result of the accident. They found a brain tumor and are in the process of finding out if it is operable or what will happen to her. We had gone to the hospital to look for her to give her a blessing because a member who was in the hospital had called our offices and requested one. It turns out that the member wasn't even there and Marinela had no idea we were coming or who that member was. We stuck around anyway to talk to her. A woman named Rosa was also there. Rosa didn't know Marinela before her accident and is living here in Montevideo. Rosa is a good christian. I needed to meet her. She would frequently visit Marinela just so that Marinela wouldn't be alone. Marinela has a 14 year old son named Emiliano and an ex-husband. Well, for 4 months her son has been with her ex and she has heard not a word from him or her son. She very well might die and what she really wants is to talk to her son. I felt so helpless. She accepted the blessing at Rosas insisting that we could help. We have visited her twice there. She doesn't know her sons number or that of her ex-husband but she gave me an idea of where they might live. I called the missionaries that are serving in Chuy and sent them and they told me that they found it!! We are going to be able to get her a phone number to call and talk to her son. We haven't really talked to her about baptism at all, which is usually the main thing I have been talking about to the people I am visiting. It just hasn't seemed the need with her right now. I think Heavenly Father isn't done teaching me about Charity and I have quite a few lessons to learn. Visiting her and Rosa has renewed my faith and hope in the good people of the world.
I love you all very much! Take care!!
Andy
Monday, August 31, 2009
Pooh Corner
email dated 8/25/09
Good news!! Lorena has decided to look for new work and it may just be that she has already gotten it! She was riding by on her bike yesterday and came up to us and said "Maybe I got a job!" She was happy and it did me so good to see her that happy. If she gets the job she wont have to work Sundays and will be able to go to church and be baptized. Prayers are being answered. Thank you for your prayers!
In other news I have received my final assignment for my last transfer...I am staying right here. So I really am going to end my mission here in Montevideo. I have no served more than a year here in this city. It is my home. I stay with Elder Clark and starting next week I am the oldest missionary in Uruguay.
I am really glad to hear that I am still Teddy's favorite. And rightly so. He and I will have to get a happy meal or something when i get home. It will be super fun to see nephews and nieces again and to have a new sister in law. I am really excited to come home...in 6 weeks that is. I am not trunky.
De hecho, I have baptizing to do. No time to be trunky. Elisa couldn't get her interview this week and will have to be baptized next week or the week after and we are still working on Lorena. We found 12 investigators this week, Elder Clark and me, and we have high hopes to baptize at least one of them. They all seem great but we always see everything through rose colored glasses. I always believe every person is going to be baptized when we find them, and maybe all eventually do. I am certain we will baptize a few of them.
I am exercising a lot more. I weigh 160 pounds. I started the mission at 150. So it is a good weight gain. I don't want to lose it, but I do need to tone it. I still have beautiful blond hair and have no signs of going bald or ever getting to an age where I could grow a moustache. The good news is that I don't want facial hair anyway. Me with my feather blond hair they already try to make me the Belle at the ball, I don't need any facial hair.
Keep working hard! Don't get trunky! I will still need mail. We aren't done yet. Take care! I love you all!!
Andy
Good news!! Lorena has decided to look for new work and it may just be that she has already gotten it! She was riding by on her bike yesterday and came up to us and said "Maybe I got a job!" She was happy and it did me so good to see her that happy. If she gets the job she wont have to work Sundays and will be able to go to church and be baptized. Prayers are being answered. Thank you for your prayers!
In other news I have received my final assignment for my last transfer...I am staying right here. So I really am going to end my mission here in Montevideo. I have no served more than a year here in this city. It is my home. I stay with Elder Clark and starting next week I am the oldest missionary in Uruguay.
I am really glad to hear that I am still Teddy's favorite. And rightly so. He and I will have to get a happy meal or something when i get home. It will be super fun to see nephews and nieces again and to have a new sister in law. I am really excited to come home...in 6 weeks that is. I am not trunky.
De hecho, I have baptizing to do. No time to be trunky. Elisa couldn't get her interview this week and will have to be baptized next week or the week after and we are still working on Lorena. We found 12 investigators this week, Elder Clark and me, and we have high hopes to baptize at least one of them. They all seem great but we always see everything through rose colored glasses. I always believe every person is going to be baptized when we find them, and maybe all eventually do. I am certain we will baptize a few of them.
I am exercising a lot more. I weigh 160 pounds. I started the mission at 150. So it is a good weight gain. I don't want to lose it, but I do need to tone it. I still have beautiful blond hair and have no signs of going bald or ever getting to an age where I could grow a moustache. The good news is that I don't want facial hair anyway. Me with my feather blond hair they already try to make me the Belle at the ball, I don't need any facial hair.
Keep working hard! Don't get trunky! I will still need mail. We aren't done yet. Take care! I love you all!!
Andy
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
August 22nd 2009: A day that shall live in...
email dated 8/22/09
Today I fulfill 21 years of life. I have never broken any bones to this point, but I have fractured my neck and probably my pointer finger in my right hand. I have enjoyed life immensely until now. From Tee-Ball to Junior Jazz, to Cross Country, to Student Government and being a Youth Senator, Deacons Quorum President to Teachers Quorum President to Assistant to the Bishop to Assistant to the President...Life has been good to me. I have had so many opportunities to learn the most important things about life, namely faith, hope, love and compassion. I have a long way to go on this road and I am eager to keep on keeping on.
We have a baptism set up for this next Sunday of a woman named Elisa. She has had a son go to prison and her sons live kind of a rowdy life, at least the 2 that live with her. I have a good relationship with the sons and they listen if they have time. They need repentance in their lives. They need that amazing peace that the atonement provides when we repent and the Lord forsakes our sins. The weight on our shoulders can be lifted. Elisa is loving church and the peace she feels with us and the people at church. She prays and reads. She is progressing well.
Lorena is looking for a new job she said. But we have work to do yet. We are still delayed in the process and if she stops going to church and gets discouraged she will stop keeping commitments and all the spirit that she has felt will be forgotten. She is great though and I believe that she will overcome the trials of her faith. She has to pass through this so that her faith is made sure.
So Elder Harmon went home this last week. It was weird to see him go. I didn't really feel like it was any goodbye because I will see him soon. With the departure of his group in a week and a half I become the oldest missionary in the mission Uruguay Montevideo West.
The mission goes well. I am happy and working hard. This week I did divisions with Elder Krogman from Canada. Good kid. He played college football and is a way funny guy. He will go far.
I received a great compliment from Sister Peterson. She said that her and President were talking and I am one of 2 missionaries in all their time as mission presidents who they think is really good on his feet in front of people. I think I learned that when I was an SBO President and had to speak in front of my whole school. Speaking to 40 missionaries is a piece of cake compared to 2000 students.
It is now time for everyone to write 21 things that they like about Andy Shepherd. 1 for every year of my life. Go!
Andy
Today I fulfill 21 years of life. I have never broken any bones to this point, but I have fractured my neck and probably my pointer finger in my right hand. I have enjoyed life immensely until now. From Tee-Ball to Junior Jazz, to Cross Country, to Student Government and being a Youth Senator, Deacons Quorum President to Teachers Quorum President to Assistant to the Bishop to Assistant to the President...Life has been good to me. I have had so many opportunities to learn the most important things about life, namely faith, hope, love and compassion. I have a long way to go on this road and I am eager to keep on keeping on.
We have a baptism set up for this next Sunday of a woman named Elisa. She has had a son go to prison and her sons live kind of a rowdy life, at least the 2 that live with her. I have a good relationship with the sons and they listen if they have time. They need repentance in their lives. They need that amazing peace that the atonement provides when we repent and the Lord forsakes our sins. The weight on our shoulders can be lifted. Elisa is loving church and the peace she feels with us and the people at church. She prays and reads. She is progressing well.
Lorena is looking for a new job she said. But we have work to do yet. We are still delayed in the process and if she stops going to church and gets discouraged she will stop keeping commitments and all the spirit that she has felt will be forgotten. She is great though and I believe that she will overcome the trials of her faith. She has to pass through this so that her faith is made sure.
So Elder Harmon went home this last week. It was weird to see him go. I didn't really feel like it was any goodbye because I will see him soon. With the departure of his group in a week and a half I become the oldest missionary in the mission Uruguay Montevideo West.
The mission goes well. I am happy and working hard. This week I did divisions with Elder Krogman from Canada. Good kid. He played college football and is a way funny guy. He will go far.
I received a great compliment from Sister Peterson. She said that her and President were talking and I am one of 2 missionaries in all their time as mission presidents who they think is really good on his feet in front of people. I think I learned that when I was an SBO President and had to speak in front of my whole school. Speaking to 40 missionaries is a piece of cake compared to 2000 students.
It is now time for everyone to write 21 things that they like about Andy Shepherd. 1 for every year of my life. Go!
Andy
Saturday, August 15, 2009
The Man Who Knew Too Little
email dated 8/15/09
Well my dear and avid readers, another week gone and we are 7 days away from the 21st birthday of our hero, Elder Andy Shepherd. They say he looks older, more mature, manlier, and certainly more handsome. Don't forget that all fan mail needs to be sent before Saturday so that our hero can read it on his P-Day.
This week I did divisions twice. I first did them with an Elder named Johnson from Elkridge, UT. He is a really cool guy. He was in a scream-o band before his mission. I really enjoyed talking to him and we found some good new investigators. And then for just an evening I did divisions with a new Elder named Wisnom, who is Elder Jonson's neighbor! What are the odds. We had traveled to Mercedes for the Zone Conference and so those were short divisions but we found a family!! That family is really cool and there are 6 kids. I had most fun talking with the 6 year old Guillermo, or William. He asked so many questions "well who is Jesus? what he do?" He made that lesson so powerful and his Mom really felt it as we explained, literally, the gospel of Jesus Christ as simple as possible so that it be understood by a child. The family really enjoyed the visit and asked us when we were going to come back! That is always good.
Do you all remember Lorena? She is the girl that didn't believe in anything, wasn't anti-God but also didn't believe in God. She said that prayer in the first visit that got the chills all over my body. Well, she accepted to be baptized at the end of this month!!! Elder Clark and I asked her after having had a lesson about keeping the commandments if she believed in God. "Now I do." She replied. "Do you believe Jesus Christ is our Savior and road to salvation?" "Yes." "Do you believe this is the true church of Jesus Christ." "Yes I do." So we challenged her to be baptized again and she accepted. Sweet right!? Not done yet...
She is in med-school. Justito this week she was offered some kind of internship time or hours that she needs for her career and guess what is the one day that she would work per week. Sunday from 11:00 to 4:00. ... I just don't get it. Our Sacrament Meeting is at 11:00. She now needs to make that decision. I know she can get another job. It is a job to further her future career in medicine. That is why it is only 5 hours a week. Pray that she makes the right choice. She has been such a great investigator. I knew from the first lesson that she was special and I wrote you all that story a month or two ago. Pray for my 24 year old medical student Lorena Dacuña.
So I have some fun news. I got a G-Mail from Jessica Zamudio this week! Her little brother Emilio is getting baptized!! Big news? Yes!! He is only 16 and Jessica's dad asked her to wait til she was 18 to get baptized. The cool thing is that Diana, the 8 year old, goes to primary every week too. Jessica was in Mexico teaching English for 4 months and she gets back this week. her little brother was waiting for her to get home for his baptism. I smiled from ear to ear as I read her G-Mail. It could very well be my very favorite letter that I have received in my whole mission. It was all such good news and it was great to hear from an old friend!
Se me acabó the time. It must needs be that I continue on. I love you all very much and I pray that you are well! Be excellent to each other and consider the lilies of the field. God loves us all very much!
Andy
Well my dear and avid readers, another week gone and we are 7 days away from the 21st birthday of our hero, Elder Andy Shepherd. They say he looks older, more mature, manlier, and certainly more handsome. Don't forget that all fan mail needs to be sent before Saturday so that our hero can read it on his P-Day.
This week I did divisions twice. I first did them with an Elder named Johnson from Elkridge, UT. He is a really cool guy. He was in a scream-o band before his mission. I really enjoyed talking to him and we found some good new investigators. And then for just an evening I did divisions with a new Elder named Wisnom, who is Elder Jonson's neighbor! What are the odds. We had traveled to Mercedes for the Zone Conference and so those were short divisions but we found a family!! That family is really cool and there are 6 kids. I had most fun talking with the 6 year old Guillermo, or William. He asked so many questions "well who is Jesus? what he do?" He made that lesson so powerful and his Mom really felt it as we explained, literally, the gospel of Jesus Christ as simple as possible so that it be understood by a child. The family really enjoyed the visit and asked us when we were going to come back! That is always good.
Do you all remember Lorena? She is the girl that didn't believe in anything, wasn't anti-God but also didn't believe in God. She said that prayer in the first visit that got the chills all over my body. Well, she accepted to be baptized at the end of this month!!! Elder Clark and I asked her after having had a lesson about keeping the commandments if she believed in God. "Now I do." She replied. "Do you believe Jesus Christ is our Savior and road to salvation?" "Yes." "Do you believe this is the true church of Jesus Christ." "Yes I do." So we challenged her to be baptized again and she accepted. Sweet right!? Not done yet...
She is in med-school. Justito this week she was offered some kind of internship time or hours that she needs for her career and guess what is the one day that she would work per week. Sunday from 11:00 to 4:00. ... I just don't get it. Our Sacrament Meeting is at 11:00. She now needs to make that decision. I know she can get another job. It is a job to further her future career in medicine. That is why it is only 5 hours a week. Pray that she makes the right choice. She has been such a great investigator. I knew from the first lesson that she was special and I wrote you all that story a month or two ago. Pray for my 24 year old medical student Lorena Dacuña.
So I have some fun news. I got a G-Mail from Jessica Zamudio this week! Her little brother Emilio is getting baptized!! Big news? Yes!! He is only 16 and Jessica's dad asked her to wait til she was 18 to get baptized. The cool thing is that Diana, the 8 year old, goes to primary every week too. Jessica was in Mexico teaching English for 4 months and she gets back this week. her little brother was waiting for her to get home for his baptism. I smiled from ear to ear as I read her G-Mail. It could very well be my very favorite letter that I have received in my whole mission. It was all such good news and it was great to hear from an old friend!
Se me acabó the time. It must needs be that I continue on. I love you all very much and I pray that you are well! Be excellent to each other and consider the lilies of the field. God loves us all very much!
Andy
Monday, August 10, 2009
a crazy day
email dated 8/8/09
So today I never did find time to write. It was a pretty crazy week for everybody. Departing missionaries, birthdays, and weddings, etc... I got Matts wedding announcement today in the mail.
Happy Birthday Janice!! The 6th right? I think.
Happy marriage Matt!
We have had a kind of sad week here. There are some missionaries going home tomorrow.
P day didn't give me time to write today. I will write better next week. Tomorrow we should have some great investigators in church.
I am happy and healthy.
Anyway, I gotta go. Take care! I love you all!!
Andy
So today I never did find time to write. It was a pretty crazy week for everybody. Departing missionaries, birthdays, and weddings, etc... I got Matts wedding announcement today in the mail.
Happy Birthday Janice!! The 6th right? I think.
Happy marriage Matt!
We have had a kind of sad week here. There are some missionaries going home tomorrow.
P day didn't give me time to write today. I will write better next week. Tomorrow we should have some great investigators in church.
I am happy and healthy.
Anyway, I gotta go. Take care! I love you all!!
Andy
August means 21, mission, marriage
email dated 8/1/09
So life just keeps on moving without me there in Utah. The good news about my life here is that I turn 21 this month. The other good news about my life here is that we invited a ton of people that we have been finding to get baptized last week and 8-ish said yes. I figure if we get at least half of them to church a few times then we can have 4 baptisms in August, which is our goal. I have hope that we can do it.
We are still working on Lorena. I wrote about her a month or so ago. She had no christian background but said the prayer and was one of the most spiritual lessons-moments of my mission. She is starting to be more sure that God lives. We read Alma 30 with her last night, the story about Korihor and Alma. My favorite vs 44 as always was the highlight of that lesson. All things denote that there is a God. We have the evidence that He lives. There is no evidence to disprove God. In a positive light, all evidence just tries to prove positively what is believed. Anyone studying evolution will find the merits of the theory, because there are many. There is evidence to back just about anything believed. And that is why a phrase I really focused on with Lorena was "By their fruits ye shall know them." If it is good and makes us want to do good and be happier and to better actions, words, and deeds, then that is something worth investigating and aspiring for. We need to trust how we feel. And that is why Galatians 5:22-23 is so key. "the fruit of the spirit is love, hope, kindness, etc... against such things there is no law." (I am thinking in Spanish). No law can place love, faith, goodness, or other such feelings in a bottle or a tube. We just got to look at the fruits and think about how we feel. "By their fruits ye shall know them."
We are teaching a woman named Diana that we found on accident while looking for someone else. Those accidents are never coincidence. After 3 lessons she told us that her aunts are members of the church. She went to church last week and will go this week. I think she will be baptized. The only problem is her boyfriend...who I want to kill. She, she is great. She reads, prays, loves church, and feels that it is right. Her boyfriend...he hits her. We aren't allowed to give relationship counsel too much, but we are able to teach doctrine. The doctrine: the law of Chastity. Hopefully she will be truly converted and able to understand that law and decide to take the right steps toward her goals in life. She is 23 years old. Last night she told us that her dream is to have a good family, her own home, to finish her studies, to live the gospel, etc... I really pray for her a lot and I ask that you do too.
I have had a really hard time finding time to write in my journal this last month. I am looking for a house to move out of the offices. More than President saying we could he said he wants us to do it. I love being here, but among 10 missionaries the shower schedule in the morning, even with 4 bathrooms is always complicated and in the evening it is hard to find quiet time to write or study. Plus, I have to take a bus to my area or drive each day. Anyway, I opened my journal this morning and was dismayed when I found that my last entry was July 4th!! There was a time in my mission where I wrote every day. I filled a whole journal for my first year by writing about all the miracles I had seen and now I went almost a whole month without writing. I feel ungrateful and it is no good. Don't forget to write in your journals. That is my spiritual advice of the day. You will never regret writing in your journal. And your journal will be a valuable resource to you and your children and the history majors in 200 years. Write!
I love you all! Take care!!
Andy
So life just keeps on moving without me there in Utah. The good news about my life here is that I turn 21 this month. The other good news about my life here is that we invited a ton of people that we have been finding to get baptized last week and 8-ish said yes. I figure if we get at least half of them to church a few times then we can have 4 baptisms in August, which is our goal. I have hope that we can do it.
We are still working on Lorena. I wrote about her a month or so ago. She had no christian background but said the prayer and was one of the most spiritual lessons-moments of my mission. She is starting to be more sure that God lives. We read Alma 30 with her last night, the story about Korihor and Alma. My favorite vs 44 as always was the highlight of that lesson. All things denote that there is a God. We have the evidence that He lives. There is no evidence to disprove God. In a positive light, all evidence just tries to prove positively what is believed. Anyone studying evolution will find the merits of the theory, because there are many. There is evidence to back just about anything believed. And that is why a phrase I really focused on with Lorena was "By their fruits ye shall know them." If it is good and makes us want to do good and be happier and to better actions, words, and deeds, then that is something worth investigating and aspiring for. We need to trust how we feel. And that is why Galatians 5:22-23 is so key. "the fruit of the spirit is love, hope, kindness, etc... against such things there is no law." (I am thinking in Spanish). No law can place love, faith, goodness, or other such feelings in a bottle or a tube. We just got to look at the fruits and think about how we feel. "By their fruits ye shall know them."
We are teaching a woman named Diana that we found on accident while looking for someone else. Those accidents are never coincidence. After 3 lessons she told us that her aunts are members of the church. She went to church last week and will go this week. I think she will be baptized. The only problem is her boyfriend...who I want to kill. She, she is great. She reads, prays, loves church, and feels that it is right. Her boyfriend...he hits her. We aren't allowed to give relationship counsel too much, but we are able to teach doctrine. The doctrine: the law of Chastity. Hopefully she will be truly converted and able to understand that law and decide to take the right steps toward her goals in life. She is 23 years old. Last night she told us that her dream is to have a good family, her own home, to finish her studies, to live the gospel, etc... I really pray for her a lot and I ask that you do too.
I have had a really hard time finding time to write in my journal this last month. I am looking for a house to move out of the offices. More than President saying we could he said he wants us to do it. I love being here, but among 10 missionaries the shower schedule in the morning, even with 4 bathrooms is always complicated and in the evening it is hard to find quiet time to write or study. Plus, I have to take a bus to my area or drive each day. Anyway, I opened my journal this morning and was dismayed when I found that my last entry was July 4th!! There was a time in my mission where I wrote every day. I filled a whole journal for my first year by writing about all the miracles I had seen and now I went almost a whole month without writing. I feel ungrateful and it is no good. Don't forget to write in your journals. That is my spiritual advice of the day. You will never regret writing in your journal. And your journal will be a valuable resource to you and your children and the history majors in 200 years. Write!
I love you all! Take care!!
Andy
The Big Number 50
email dated 7/25/09
They say that there is a 50th wedding anniversary this week! I am sad that I can't be there. But I wanted to just say congrats again to the best grandparents around.
We played basketball again this morning. My ankle was still a little tender from last week and so I couldn't run 100%. But I still made my shots. We still lost to AZ. Moving on.
My new companion Elder Clark is a nice kid. We should have a good transfer. He is the 8th of 9 kids and he goes to BYU, plays the piano, and likes musicals. Moving on.
We are in a finding phase. We have given a lot of baptismal dates but the people who have received those dates don't make it to church. Se les complica ¿viste? We are looking for someone elect. Yesterday we found a lady named Diana who said she would go to church and get baptized when she knows it is true. I was thrilled that she said, "yeah, why not. I will go to church on Sunday. What time?" She is pregnant and the man is nowhere in sight. I feel bad for her. OH WORLD!! Obey the commandments. Especially the law of chastity! Mosiah 2:22-24, 41. All the Lord asks of us is that we keep His commandments. In the first place we are debtors to Him for giving us everything. The only thing He asks is that we keep His commandments and give Him our will, because we cant give Him money or possessions. And if we keep those commandments, He blesses us and we continue in His debt. We are happy when we obey the commandments.
This week 30 new missionaries came to our mission!! In a mission of 140 missionaries, only 6 leaving and 30 coming, you could say that that is a significant event. It is cool because with the new missionaries I bet we reach our goal of 150 baptisms in one month. We have been getting close already without them. It was one of the funnest things I have ever done in my mission, greeting the 30 new missionaries and seeing the nervous faces, the tired faces, the excited faces, the pride-filled I already know what is going on faces but I am soon to be humbled and fall flat on my face faces, etc... Talking to the new missionaries and telling them about their mission was a lot of fun.
I love you all! I gotta go! Take care!!
Andy
They say that there is a 50th wedding anniversary this week! I am sad that I can't be there. But I wanted to just say congrats again to the best grandparents around.
We played basketball again this morning. My ankle was still a little tender from last week and so I couldn't run 100%. But I still made my shots. We still lost to AZ. Moving on.
My new companion Elder Clark is a nice kid. We should have a good transfer. He is the 8th of 9 kids and he goes to BYU, plays the piano, and likes musicals. Moving on.
We are in a finding phase. We have given a lot of baptismal dates but the people who have received those dates don't make it to church. Se les complica ¿viste? We are looking for someone elect. Yesterday we found a lady named Diana who said she would go to church and get baptized when she knows it is true. I was thrilled that she said, "yeah, why not. I will go to church on Sunday. What time?" She is pregnant and the man is nowhere in sight. I feel bad for her. OH WORLD!! Obey the commandments. Especially the law of chastity! Mosiah 2:22-24, 41. All the Lord asks of us is that we keep His commandments. In the first place we are debtors to Him for giving us everything. The only thing He asks is that we keep His commandments and give Him our will, because we cant give Him money or possessions. And if we keep those commandments, He blesses us and we continue in His debt. We are happy when we obey the commandments.
This week 30 new missionaries came to our mission!! In a mission of 140 missionaries, only 6 leaving and 30 coming, you could say that that is a significant event. It is cool because with the new missionaries I bet we reach our goal of 150 baptisms in one month. We have been getting close already without them. It was one of the funnest things I have ever done in my mission, greeting the 30 new missionaries and seeing the nervous faces, the tired faces, the excited faces, the pride-filled I already know what is going on faces but I am soon to be humbled and fall flat on my face faces, etc... Talking to the new missionaries and telling them about their mission was a lot of fun.
I love you all! I gotta go! Take care!!
Andy
Sunday, July 19, 2009
July 18th Already!
email 7/18/09
Next week is Luke’s farewell and Matt will be married in a few weeks. I rolled my ankle this morning playing basketball. It hurts. Two unrelated statements! How does he do it?
So I was working in Tacuarembo with Elder Ahlstrom last week. We had a really good time and found some good investigators and had a baptism. And then President and his wife picked me up in Tacuarembo with my companion and we traveled doing interviews and yearly house inspections all this week. I never thought traveling would be so tiring, but I am just as tired as when I walk in the street all day.
Transfers are next week. Elder Harmon will no longer be my companion. I am really bummed about that. I thought I was going to get to kill him, but I thought wrong. My new companion will be Elder Clark. He is from UT and has a transfer less than I do. He is cool.
I wanted to give a shout out to Grandpa and Grandma Shepherd. I am not sure if I remember right, but I know their anniversary is coming up or just recently past or something like that. Is it number 50? I am not quite sure. I am a bad grandson and I apologize, but I wanted you to know that I love you both so much!! I have such fond memories of being in your home and being with family. Thank you for everything!!
Time to go! Take care! The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church! I love you all!
Andy
Next week is Luke’s farewell and Matt will be married in a few weeks. I rolled my ankle this morning playing basketball. It hurts. Two unrelated statements! How does he do it?
So I was working in Tacuarembo with Elder Ahlstrom last week. We had a really good time and found some good investigators and had a baptism. And then President and his wife picked me up in Tacuarembo with my companion and we traveled doing interviews and yearly house inspections all this week. I never thought traveling would be so tiring, but I am just as tired as when I walk in the street all day.
Transfers are next week. Elder Harmon will no longer be my companion. I am really bummed about that. I thought I was going to get to kill him, but I thought wrong. My new companion will be Elder Clark. He is from UT and has a transfer less than I do. He is cool.
I wanted to give a shout out to Grandpa and Grandma Shepherd. I am not sure if I remember right, but I know their anniversary is coming up or just recently past or something like that. Is it number 50? I am not quite sure. I am a bad grandson and I apologize, but I wanted you to know that I love you both so much!! I have such fond memories of being in your home and being with family. Thank you for everything!!
Time to go! Take care! The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church! I love you all!
Andy
Traveling
email 7/8/09
Hey, I just wanted to write you all and let you know that you are off the hook this Saturday. I will not be having a P-Day. I am going on divisions this whole week and then we have an interview tour and so I won’t write again until Saturday the 18th.
The baptism of the Garcia Family was AMAZING!! Dardo, Gonzalo, and Santiago all received the Aaronic Priesthood on Sunday, and the ward received the family really well. Everyone bore their testimonies and said "congratulations Garcia family. Welcome to the ward!" There was a real spirit of brotherhood and friendshipping of new members that I have never had with a baptism. Perhaps it is because the whole family got baptized together. Dardo, (who is tall and with dark hair and an intense man with a deep voice), bore a sweet testimony in the baptism. He said, and I quote "I wasn’t sure about the whole religion thing. And they talked to me about Joseph Smith and baptism and a few times I just wanted to ask them to leave. But I remember one day when they were there I felt something that I couldn’t deny. I wont try to describe it because you all must have felt the same thing and that is why you are here. I received my answer from the Holy Ghost and I knew that what the missionaries taught me was true." :) - I think that about says it.
Well, it isn’t my P-day so I gotta go. I just thought I would throw you a quick line en vista de que no tengo un dia de preparacion esta semana. Cuidense! Les quiero!!
Andy
Hey, I just wanted to write you all and let you know that you are off the hook this Saturday. I will not be having a P-Day. I am going on divisions this whole week and then we have an interview tour and so I won’t write again until Saturday the 18th.
The baptism of the Garcia Family was AMAZING!! Dardo, Gonzalo, and Santiago all received the Aaronic Priesthood on Sunday, and the ward received the family really well. Everyone bore their testimonies and said "congratulations Garcia family. Welcome to the ward!" There was a real spirit of brotherhood and friendshipping of new members that I have never had with a baptism. Perhaps it is because the whole family got baptized together. Dardo, (who is tall and with dark hair and an intense man with a deep voice), bore a sweet testimony in the baptism. He said, and I quote "I wasn’t sure about the whole religion thing. And they talked to me about Joseph Smith and baptism and a few times I just wanted to ask them to leave. But I remember one day when they were there I felt something that I couldn’t deny. I wont try to describe it because you all must have felt the same thing and that is why you are here. I received my answer from the Holy Ghost and I knew that what the missionaries taught me was true." :) - I think that about says it.
Well, it isn’t my P-day so I gotta go. I just thought I would throw you a quick line en vista de que no tengo un dia de preparacion esta semana. Cuidense! Les quiero!!
Andy
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Baptisms
email 7/4/09
Yesterday I went down the street to my last area of Barrio 12 to baptize Kariza Nuñez Vargas, an 11 year old girl of a member family that I was teaching while I was there. When the Elders gave her a baptismal date they asked who she wanted to baptize her and she said "the tall blonde that used to come". And thus I was called upon to baptize Kariza. Her parents are both police officers, named Leonardo and Mariza, and they are way cool people. I like them a lot. It was really good to see old friends and my old ward. My old ward mission leader’s wife is pregnant. I asked her what they were going to name the baby girl and she said "Mía", which means "Mine". I said that that wasn’t a good idea and that they would regret that when she was a teenager because she would have teenage boys calling her "Mine" all the time. So I suggested a middle name to make the name more safe: "Mía No-Me-Toques Gutierrez", or "Mine Don’t-touch-me Gutierrez". I thought it was a hilarious idea and it made her laugh, but I got a scold look from our Zone Leader Elder Perez.
Tonight we have the baptism for Dardo, Graciela, and Santiago. They had their interviews this week and Elder Layton, my old companion, did the interview and said that they seemed REALLY prepared. Elder Harmon and I are going to do another musical number. We have done so many musical numbers together that I have lost count.
I am driving now. I got lucky because my Utah license expires next month but my Uruguay license doesn’t expire until 2019. At the DMV place down here the lady asked me if my name was spelled right and then looked at me and said "I think we will just give you a license for 10 years, is that okay?" And I replied "That’ll be fine." That was a real blessing because had she wanted to she could have expired my license in August with my Utah one. The good news: I can drive without any problems in Uruguay until July 2019. I compared the pics of my 16 year old license to the Uruguay one and I have concluded that I have grown up a lot in 4-5 years.
This week Elder Harmon went up to Rivera and I stayed in our area with an Elder Martinez from El Salvador. He was really cool and really good at English. We had some good lessons together, including a lesson in the chapel with Lorena, the girl I wrote about last week. We do divisions every week for half the week or more. It gets tiring because we come and go on buses and don’t get much sleep at nights on the buses. I am really tired today and I didn’t even have to travel this week.
Have ye any questions for me? Anything y'all wanna know? I don’t know if there is much left to tell. Take care! I love you all!
Andy
Yesterday I went down the street to my last area of Barrio 12 to baptize Kariza Nuñez Vargas, an 11 year old girl of a member family that I was teaching while I was there. When the Elders gave her a baptismal date they asked who she wanted to baptize her and she said "the tall blonde that used to come". And thus I was called upon to baptize Kariza. Her parents are both police officers, named Leonardo and Mariza, and they are way cool people. I like them a lot. It was really good to see old friends and my old ward. My old ward mission leader’s wife is pregnant. I asked her what they were going to name the baby girl and she said "Mía", which means "Mine". I said that that wasn’t a good idea and that they would regret that when she was a teenager because she would have teenage boys calling her "Mine" all the time. So I suggested a middle name to make the name more safe: "Mía No-Me-Toques Gutierrez", or "Mine Don’t-touch-me Gutierrez". I thought it was a hilarious idea and it made her laugh, but I got a scold look from our Zone Leader Elder Perez.
Tonight we have the baptism for Dardo, Graciela, and Santiago. They had their interviews this week and Elder Layton, my old companion, did the interview and said that they seemed REALLY prepared. Elder Harmon and I are going to do another musical number. We have done so many musical numbers together that I have lost count.
I am driving now. I got lucky because my Utah license expires next month but my Uruguay license doesn’t expire until 2019. At the DMV place down here the lady asked me if my name was spelled right and then looked at me and said "I think we will just give you a license for 10 years, is that okay?" And I replied "That’ll be fine." That was a real blessing because had she wanted to she could have expired my license in August with my Utah one. The good news: I can drive without any problems in Uruguay until July 2019. I compared the pics of my 16 year old license to the Uruguay one and I have concluded that I have grown up a lot in 4-5 years.
This week Elder Harmon went up to Rivera and I stayed in our area with an Elder Martinez from El Salvador. He was really cool and really good at English. We had some good lessons together, including a lesson in the chapel with Lorena, the girl I wrote about last week. We do divisions every week for half the week or more. It gets tiring because we come and go on buses and don’t get much sleep at nights on the buses. I am really tired today and I didn’t even have to travel this week.
Have ye any questions for me? Anything y'all wanna know? I don’t know if there is much left to tell. Take care! I love you all!
Andy
Monday, June 29, 2009
email 6/27/09
Another week gone by and still no baptisms. Just kidding. But really, we didn’t have any baptisms this week. But the good news is that this coming Saturday we should have 3 baptisms. The Familia Garcia, composed of Dardo the dad, Graciela the mom, and Santiago who is 14. And the week after that we have a baptism of a lady that we found and taught yesterday named Adriana. She had been an investigator a while back in Fray Bentos, and now lives here in Montevideo. She has been to church a lot of times already and so we just told her that it was time to get baptized. We had a really spiritual lesson with her and talked a lot about prayer and the positive attitude and blessings that we gain from the gospel. The problems never go away but our understanding of our purpose in life changes completely how we react to life’s challenges. She accepted a date for the following Saturday.
We found a great girl named Lorena last night. My companion had contacted her earlier in the week, but we had to set up for last night because she is a pretty 23 year old girl that lives with her college roommate. They are both in medical school. So we got a young member couple that was recently sealed in the temple to accompany us to the visit. Lorena was there alone and we talked mainly about the existence of God. She didn’t have any religious background. She said that she didn’t disbelieve in God, nor did she believe in Him. We talked about how we need to try and know Him, and we read John 17:3. “This is life eternal, that they know thee the one true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” She is really smart and a very special person. I have a really good feeling about her. She accepted the invitation to say the prayer before we left. She was nervous because she had never prayed before. We all bowed our heads and she waited probably ten seconds. I was about to tell her she didn’t need to say the prayer today when she said “Padre Celestial…” I got the chills all over my body. She said a short prayer in which she thanked God for her family and friends and for our visit. She accepted the conditional baptismal date, meaning that when she knows these things are true she will be baptized. My companion and I invite people to be baptized in every lesson. Anyway, I found myself immediately loving Lorena. When I asked her about her family and she told us that her parents were divorced but that she saw them every now and then, I sensed a sad and broken heart in her. She is really alone. She is a humble and beautiful person. I hate that it is against mission rules to hug women. I agree 100% with the rule because I understand why, and it really is a necessary rule, but I really wanted to hug Lorena. Didn’t do it, but I sure wanted to. I wanted to assure her that she had friends and family with us. But her praying to God will prove to be even more valuable for her so it is alright. She said she would start praying.
My companion Elder Harmon and I are having a great time. Life is great and I love being a missionary and teaching. I love talking to people. I have grown up more on my mission than you can all imagine. I can’t describe how different I feel now. I feel that I have learned to love people in a way I couldn’t even fathom before I left. And I smile now a lot more. I feel more sincere and happy. I have come a long way since Tacuarembo a year ago.
Take care! I love you all!!
Andy
We found a great girl named Lorena last night. My companion had contacted her earlier in the week, but we had to set up for last night because she is a pretty 23 year old girl that lives with her college roommate. They are both in medical school. So we got a young member couple that was recently sealed in the temple to accompany us to the visit. Lorena was there alone and we talked mainly about the existence of God. She didn’t have any religious background. She said that she didn’t disbelieve in God, nor did she believe in Him. We talked about how we need to try and know Him, and we read John 17:3. “This is life eternal, that they know thee the one true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” She is really smart and a very special person. I have a really good feeling about her. She accepted the invitation to say the prayer before we left. She was nervous because she had never prayed before. We all bowed our heads and she waited probably ten seconds. I was about to tell her she didn’t need to say the prayer today when she said “Padre Celestial…” I got the chills all over my body. She said a short prayer in which she thanked God for her family and friends and for our visit. She accepted the conditional baptismal date, meaning that when she knows these things are true she will be baptized. My companion and I invite people to be baptized in every lesson. Anyway, I found myself immediately loving Lorena. When I asked her about her family and she told us that her parents were divorced but that she saw them every now and then, I sensed a sad and broken heart in her. She is really alone. She is a humble and beautiful person. I hate that it is against mission rules to hug women. I agree 100% with the rule because I understand why, and it really is a necessary rule, but I really wanted to hug Lorena. Didn’t do it, but I sure wanted to. I wanted to assure her that she had friends and family with us. But her praying to God will prove to be even more valuable for her so it is alright. She said she would start praying.
My companion Elder Harmon and I are having a great time. Life is great and I love being a missionary and teaching. I love talking to people. I have grown up more on my mission than you can all imagine. I can’t describe how different I feel now. I feel that I have learned to love people in a way I couldn’t even fathom before I left. And I smile now a lot more. I feel more sincere and happy. I have come a long way since Tacuarembo a year ago.
Take care! I love you all!!
Andy
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
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
Monday, June 15, 2009
Saturday in the Park
email 6/13/09
I supposed I should have warned you all that my P-Day has been changed to Saturday. My lack of email today is very much my own fault. But that is okay.
This week was transfers week. I stayed in the same stake but am in a different ward. My new companion is Elder Steven Harmon from AZ. We are gonna have a lot of fun together. He is already my favorite companion.
As of this week I am hitting the big 20 month mark in the mission. I feel really old. On the mission board with the pics of all the missionaries I am on what they call "death row". From top to bottom by age is the board and I am on the very top row. It is weird. It is definitely true that the 2nd year of the mission goes by twice as fast as the first. I haven’t been able to hold on to a transfer or a companion for more than a few days it seems like. I can’t believe how fast the time is now flying by.
So this next week Elder Bowen of the 70 is coming to the mission. He is the President of the Area South America South. I just hope that he doesn’t attack me like Elder Aidukatis did. Elder Aidukaitis is from Brazil but he looks like a Russian and he speaks English, Portuguese, and is learning Spanish. He was an intense man. But the way he dropped the cane on the mission seems now absolutely necessary. Our mission has improved in the number of baptisms by at least 20 percent since he was here. And we are going up. I am a little nervous for Elder Bowen to come but I think it should all be alright.
So Matt is now 2 months away from getting married and Luke is 2 months away from leaving on his mission. Bummer. Looks like Matt will now have a wedding minus 2 brothers.
I am really tired because today for P-Day we got together and played basketball in the church. It had been a really long time since I had played basketball. It was a lot of fun but I now have blistered feet and am really sore. I have never really understood how Preparation days are the day for sports. It does anything but make me feel prepared. I am going to hurt for days walking around. Nevertheless it was worth the game.
I don’t have much to tell this week because of transfers. Still in Montevideo and so not much is new. Don’t forget that from now on you all need to write me before Saturday. I totally forgot that my P-Day was changing and so I forgot to warn you all. Take care. The church is true. I love you all!
Andy
I supposed I should have warned you all that my P-Day has been changed to Saturday. My lack of email today is very much my own fault. But that is okay.
This week was transfers week. I stayed in the same stake but am in a different ward. My new companion is Elder Steven Harmon from AZ. We are gonna have a lot of fun together. He is already my favorite companion.
As of this week I am hitting the big 20 month mark in the mission. I feel really old. On the mission board with the pics of all the missionaries I am on what they call "death row". From top to bottom by age is the board and I am on the very top row. It is weird. It is definitely true that the 2nd year of the mission goes by twice as fast as the first. I haven’t been able to hold on to a transfer or a companion for more than a few days it seems like. I can’t believe how fast the time is now flying by.
So this next week Elder Bowen of the 70 is coming to the mission. He is the President of the Area South America South. I just hope that he doesn’t attack me like Elder Aidukatis did. Elder Aidukaitis is from Brazil but he looks like a Russian and he speaks English, Portuguese, and is learning Spanish. He was an intense man. But the way he dropped the cane on the mission seems now absolutely necessary. Our mission has improved in the number of baptisms by at least 20 percent since he was here. And we are going up. I am a little nervous for Elder Bowen to come but I think it should all be alright.
So Matt is now 2 months away from getting married and Luke is 2 months away from leaving on his mission. Bummer. Looks like Matt will now have a wedding minus 2 brothers.
I am really tired because today for P-Day we got together and played basketball in the church. It had been a really long time since I had played basketball. It was a lot of fun but I now have blistered feet and am really sore. I have never really understood how Preparation days are the day for sports. It does anything but make me feel prepared. I am going to hurt for days walking around. Nevertheless it was worth the game.
I don’t have much to tell this week because of transfers. Still in Montevideo and so not much is new. Don’t forget that from now on you all need to write me before Saturday. I totally forgot that my P-Day was changing and so I forgot to warn you all. Take care. The church is true. I love you all!
Andy
Transfers
email 6/9/09
Another transfer...are we counting? I am going in to my 14th transfer and in the mission for a person who spent 9 weeks in the MTC there are 16 transfers. I will soon complete 20 months in the mission. I see all the greenies coming in and they see me as old. I am almost 21! And the fact that they are new to the mission and I seem to already know what is going on makes me appear ancient to them. I remember what that was like. I was talking to my hijo Elder Ericson and he just thinks that I am so old and good. He looks up to me the way I looked up to my trainer. It is funny how that works. And as we get older in the mission we come to realize that the mission becomes normal to you and you begin to love it. I used to view the old missionaries as on a higher plane, as all knowing, near perfection leaders, etc... And now that I am here I see that that is not the case. And I talk to my hijo and it seems he views me the same way I viewed them, and I bet they looked up to the older missionaries when they started. What a crazy thing!? I don’t know why I didn’t see that before.
I was transferred but I stayed here in the same stake, just a different ward. My new companion will be Elder Harmon from AZ. I LOVE Elder Harmon! He is Josh Wilson’s twin. He is tall, plays basketball, sings, is brilliant, works hard, etc... I feel like I am with my best friend all the time again. It is cool. Still here in Montevideo and couldn’t be happier about it.
The mission goes well. I am working hard and being obedient. Pray for me. I love you all!!
Andy
Another transfer...are we counting? I am going in to my 14th transfer and in the mission for a person who spent 9 weeks in the MTC there are 16 transfers. I will soon complete 20 months in the mission. I see all the greenies coming in and they see me as old. I am almost 21! And the fact that they are new to the mission and I seem to already know what is going on makes me appear ancient to them. I remember what that was like. I was talking to my hijo Elder Ericson and he just thinks that I am so old and good. He looks up to me the way I looked up to my trainer. It is funny how that works. And as we get older in the mission we come to realize that the mission becomes normal to you and you begin to love it. I used to view the old missionaries as on a higher plane, as all knowing, near perfection leaders, etc... And now that I am here I see that that is not the case. And I talk to my hijo and it seems he views me the same way I viewed them, and I bet they looked up to the older missionaries when they started. What a crazy thing!? I don’t know why I didn’t see that before.
I was transferred but I stayed here in the same stake, just a different ward. My new companion will be Elder Harmon from AZ. I LOVE Elder Harmon! He is Josh Wilson’s twin. He is tall, plays basketball, sings, is brilliant, works hard, etc... I feel like I am with my best friend all the time again. It is cool. Still here in Montevideo and couldn’t be happier about it.
The mission goes well. I am working hard and being obedient. Pray for me. I love you all!!
Andy
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Mr Brown, first test I will not call you that
email dated 6/1/09
So life continues. Our mission baptized 126 people in the month of May!! That is the record for the past 10 years or so. And June looks even better!! That is pretty cool.
I am having fun. I really love the companions that I have around me. I am as happy as I have been in the mission. It has been getting pretty cold these days. I am not a big fan of the cold but I will survive. The knowledge that it is my last humid winter helps me stay warm at nights I think. It is frigid. The wind cuts straight through my trench coat and jacket and shirt sometimes. But I have invested in cocoa this year and have a cup of hot chocolate every morning. That helps me start off the day on the up and up.
My investigator Maria Elena who I believe will be baptized in June now helped us teach the Plan of Salvation to her niece. She and her niece were both active catholics. Maria Elena was converting but the niece didn't like it and didn't help us out. We finally had a lesson with the niece involved and ended up getting through to her too as Maria Elena herself explained the pre-existence and our purpose in life. The doubt was the need for eternal marriage if we are all brothers and sisters in God. Maria Elena said something to the effect of "We had our gender before coming here. And if I am not mistaken we have a heavenly mother, and if we want to become like Him and Her, celestial marriage would be completely legitimate". !!!!! I was knocked over by the spirit. I was so impressed with her help in that lesson.
Anyway, I gotta go. Se me fue el tiempo. Take care!! I love you all!!
Andy
Thursday, May 21, 2009
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
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
Foreordination vs Predestination
email dated 5/11/2009
This week we got to teach a woman named Dale from Florida. She is very rich and has a grand piano in her 11th floor apartment on the beach. She gave me a Coke and I was grateful. Well, Dale is very well versed in her bible. She is better versed in the scriptures than any other person I have ever had to teach while on the mission. I enjoyed bringing my English scriptures and the chance to speak my native tongue while preaching the gospel.
She read 3 Nephi 11 as we had marked for her and she got very excited that Jesus had visited a peoples in the American continent. The idea fascinated her and excited her. She loved that He came to the Land Bountiful, as it is written. She then referenced us a scripture in Daniel about a Beautiful Land. She said upon reading she really enjoyed and found fascinating the "Mormon idea and doctrine". She asked "I am not saying that it isn't possible that there be more scripture, but I just would like to know if you have any way in the bible of showing that there could be more scripture." I asked her first to define scripture and we agreed that scriptures are the words of the prophets for the benefit of men. Okay, good. I then showed her that in Matthew it says "thus fulfilling the saying that Jesus would be a Nazarene." and then demonstrated that nowhere in the entire Old Testament does it say that Jesus Christ would be called a Nazarene. We know a prophet said it, but where are his words. The Bible is merely a collection of books, not necessarily every book any prophet ever said. I said that the Old Testament makes mention of the Book of Nathan the prophet at the time of King David. Where is the book of Nathan? Would not the words of this prophet be considered scripture? After I had said this she was really interested. She said so. "I am really interested to know a little more. But do you have a verse that would cite and say that there will be another significant scripture. I tend to think God would have to warn us in the Bible somehow with the Bible being such a crucial piece of Christianity." I agreed and took her to Ezekiel. After explaining that the Lehites that left Jerusalem were of the lineage of Joseph we read the passage in Ezekiel about the prophet taking a stick for Judah and writing upon it (Jesus being of the tribe of Judah and the people in Jerusalem), and another stick for Ephraim and writing upon it, and then putting them both in one hand. I then put my Book of Mormon on top of my Bible and said "prophecy fulfilled!" SHE LOVED THAT!! I have never taught anybody here on my mission that would have know that Jesus was of the tribe of Judah, or that there would even be any significance of being from any tribe for that matter. I have never in my entire mission needed to use that scripture because nobody here in Uruguay really asks us those questions. It was a lot of fun.
Well Dale loves the idea of the Book of Mormon and is gulping it right up. She reads and she cross references with the Bible. She continually said, "The one thing that the Book of Mormon does such a great job on is going into profound detail of the doctrine. That Nephi brought out the interesting and very true point that no other Christian has been able to explain to me about the opposition in all things." (2 Ne 2) She would appear to be a golden investigator huh? But we have a doubt.
Predestination. She ate up 2 Nephi 2 but she didn't like how Lehi said that "men are free to choose." She said that nowhere in the Bible is the word "agency" mentioned. She essentially believes in a scripted world of predestination, but she doesn't accept the Calvinist doctrine because they don't take it far enough for her liking. She essentially thinks that since God knows everything, He placed you in your world and He knows what you are going to choose, and so therefore you really have no say in the matter. You were scripted to play that role. No agency.
And here I arrive at the difference between Predestination and Foreordination. I tried explaining to her that she was really close to understanding, but that "we Mormons" use a different word entirely which is "foreordination". She asked "what is the difference?"
The difference is Agency. Foreordination takes into account the first estate of our existence. Life didn't begin here on Earth nor does all choice end when we die. We chose to come here. We made character developing choices in our first estate. God knowing our characters and what he wanted us to learn in this life was able to position us in the best possible place for us to learn and grow. The difference between Foreordination and Predestination is that nobody is destined to fail in the true doctrine of the Plan of Salvation. We may not be able to understand everything about it, but we do know that by Judgment Day, that last day, we will have all faced equal opportunity. Instead of saying that "All men were created equal" I prefer now to say that "All Intelligences were created equal". Along the path of this 3 Act plan, we all get the fair chance. It is obvious that we don't all get a fair chance at mortal life. But God is just and faithful. We need to understand the purpose of our existence which is to become like Him. And how is He? He knows the difference between good and evil and ALWAYS chooses good.
I said all of that to her and she had no problem with a preexistence or the idea of becoming like God. She still wont let me say the word Agency and I had to fight to get the word "choose". But we finally got it when I asked "Can God then not choose? Will you try and take His power to decide what to do? Did He not choose to create the world? Did someone make Him do it?" Obviously not. "Therefore, if we are to be like Him we too must learn the difference between good and evil, and be capable of choosing the good for ourselves." I think she will get it. She was coming along but we had to go and didn't have much more time to teach.
It is a deep doctrine and I am looking for more insight. We cant understand everything. Read Mosiah 4:9. That will take the headache away. I have been trying for days to figure out the difference between foreordination and predestination. I am getting there.
Gotta go. Love you all!!
Andy
This week we got to teach a woman named Dale from Florida. She is very rich and has a grand piano in her 11th floor apartment on the beach. She gave me a Coke and I was grateful. Well, Dale is very well versed in her bible. She is better versed in the scriptures than any other person I have ever had to teach while on the mission. I enjoyed bringing my English scriptures and the chance to speak my native tongue while preaching the gospel.
She read 3 Nephi 11 as we had marked for her and she got very excited that Jesus had visited a peoples in the American continent. The idea fascinated her and excited her. She loved that He came to the Land Bountiful, as it is written. She then referenced us a scripture in Daniel about a Beautiful Land. She said upon reading she really enjoyed and found fascinating the "Mormon idea and doctrine". She asked "I am not saying that it isn't possible that there be more scripture, but I just would like to know if you have any way in the bible of showing that there could be more scripture." I asked her first to define scripture and we agreed that scriptures are the words of the prophets for the benefit of men. Okay, good. I then showed her that in Matthew it says "thus fulfilling the saying that Jesus would be a Nazarene." and then demonstrated that nowhere in the entire Old Testament does it say that Jesus Christ would be called a Nazarene. We know a prophet said it, but where are his words. The Bible is merely a collection of books, not necessarily every book any prophet ever said. I said that the Old Testament makes mention of the Book of Nathan the prophet at the time of King David. Where is the book of Nathan? Would not the words of this prophet be considered scripture? After I had said this she was really interested. She said so. "I am really interested to know a little more. But do you have a verse that would cite and say that there will be another significant scripture. I tend to think God would have to warn us in the Bible somehow with the Bible being such a crucial piece of Christianity." I agreed and took her to Ezekiel. After explaining that the Lehites that left Jerusalem were of the lineage of Joseph we read the passage in Ezekiel about the prophet taking a stick for Judah and writing upon it (Jesus being of the tribe of Judah and the people in Jerusalem), and another stick for Ephraim and writing upon it, and then putting them both in one hand. I then put my Book of Mormon on top of my Bible and said "prophecy fulfilled!" SHE LOVED THAT!! I have never taught anybody here on my mission that would have know that Jesus was of the tribe of Judah, or that there would even be any significance of being from any tribe for that matter. I have never in my entire mission needed to use that scripture because nobody here in Uruguay really asks us those questions. It was a lot of fun.
Well Dale loves the idea of the Book of Mormon and is gulping it right up. She reads and she cross references with the Bible. She continually said, "The one thing that the Book of Mormon does such a great job on is going into profound detail of the doctrine. That Nephi brought out the interesting and very true point that no other Christian has been able to explain to me about the opposition in all things." (2 Ne 2) She would appear to be a golden investigator huh? But we have a doubt.
Predestination. She ate up 2 Nephi 2 but she didn't like how Lehi said that "men are free to choose." She said that nowhere in the Bible is the word "agency" mentioned. She essentially believes in a scripted world of predestination, but she doesn't accept the Calvinist doctrine because they don't take it far enough for her liking. She essentially thinks that since God knows everything, He placed you in your world and He knows what you are going to choose, and so therefore you really have no say in the matter. You were scripted to play that role. No agency.
And here I arrive at the difference between Predestination and Foreordination. I tried explaining to her that she was really close to understanding, but that "we Mormons" use a different word entirely which is "foreordination". She asked "what is the difference?"
The difference is Agency. Foreordination takes into account the first estate of our existence. Life didn't begin here on Earth nor does all choice end when we die. We chose to come here. We made character developing choices in our first estate. God knowing our characters and what he wanted us to learn in this life was able to position us in the best possible place for us to learn and grow. The difference between Foreordination and Predestination is that nobody is destined to fail in the true doctrine of the Plan of Salvation. We may not be able to understand everything about it, but we do know that by Judgment Day, that last day, we will have all faced equal opportunity. Instead of saying that "All men were created equal" I prefer now to say that "All Intelligences were created equal". Along the path of this 3 Act plan, we all get the fair chance. It is obvious that we don't all get a fair chance at mortal life. But God is just and faithful. We need to understand the purpose of our existence which is to become like Him. And how is He? He knows the difference between good and evil and ALWAYS chooses good.
I said all of that to her and she had no problem with a preexistence or the idea of becoming like God. She still wont let me say the word Agency and I had to fight to get the word "choose". But we finally got it when I asked "Can God then not choose? Will you try and take His power to decide what to do? Did He not choose to create the world? Did someone make Him do it?" Obviously not. "Therefore, if we are to be like Him we too must learn the difference between good and evil, and be capable of choosing the good for ourselves." I think she will get it. She was coming along but we had to go and didn't have much more time to teach.
It is a deep doctrine and I am looking for more insight. We cant understand everything. Read Mosiah 4:9. That will take the headache away. I have been trying for days to figure out the difference between foreordination and predestination. I am getting there.
Gotta go. Love you all!!
Andy
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
All I Need is a Miracle
email 5/4/09
I am still in Montevideo and now my companion is Elder Shawn Layton from Globe, Arizona. We are going to get along very well. He is a funny guy, he ran cross country in high school, and we like talking about running and may actually do a little bit of it in these coming weeks. He looks a lot like my cousin Brady, I think, and we both have about the same amount of time in the mission. We will have a good time.
There aren’t many new and exciting stories to tell; we continue to do what we do.
I have been thinking a lot about how to increase faith. I was wondering if increasing faith is just merely reading more scriptures and saying more prayers. It always seems that is the answer that we are pointed to. I am finding that increasing faith obviously is involved with our works, but I consider reading and praying some of our works. Then there is keeping the commandments and upon keeping said commandment we gain faith in the principle of that commandment. Okay, now where do I go? I am not perfect, but my sins are generally omission and not commission. Where do I go?
I found it!! My vocabulary. That is how I am going to increase my faith in the next months. Faith is the opposite of doubt. Faith and fear cannot dwell in the same mind at the same time. Fear and doubt and negativity hinder faith. My goal is to take all the negative words and phrases out of my vocabulary. Obvious examples would be not complaining and not saying bad words. But there are also more subtle ways at it. For example: "Is your husband home?" accompanied by a quizzical look and tone of voice. Compare it to: "I assume your husband is home, isn’t he?" accompanied by nodding your head. I am still asking the same question with the hopes that a man will be in the house so that we can go in, but it is harder for them to lie to me with the second one. They have to have a harder heart to lie to the second one I think. And that is because I say it in a more positive way. Positivity and positive attitudes in vocabulary as well as actions will increase faith. After all, they are outward manifestations of the faith that is within us.
It is strange to me that 5 months have already passed since Christmas and that I get to call home this week. I completely forgot until I read Mom’s email today asking when I would call. That just goes to show you how fast time goes by. I hope you all recognize that this will be my last phone call home as an Elder. Woot woot!
We are still trying to get Alvaro to quit smoking so that he can be baptized. We try planting all sorts of seeds of faith in him by saying things like, "When you are baptized you will have the opportunity to prepare to go to the Temple so that your family can be sealed forever." If we teach temples we say that. If we are teaching about prayer we say, "After you are baptized you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost so that you will be able to be more sensitive to the answers brought you by the Holy Spirit." We keep our eyes on the prize. It is a matter of patience. But I sure do love him and his wife Celeste!! And their children who live in the other ward have already been baptized as well. Alvaro is the last one to finish the family.
Ummm...What do you want to know? Is there something you are all dying to know about Uruguay? I will tell you that I have yet to see the effects of the economic crisis down here. My dollar is the same peso that it has always been and the prices have stayed relatively the same my entire mission. I keep expecting a crash or something but it doesn’t happen. I think that you all back home in America should remember to have hope and faith that things will improve and be back on the up and up. If you obey the commandments you will prosper in the land. (Every page of the Book of Mormon)
Si yo supiera que escribirles... lo haría de inmediato. El problema es que yo he escrito tantas cosas a ustedes que ni sé que es lo que debería escribirles a ustedes. Les quiero mas que puedo expresar. Cuídense!
Take care of thyselves!
Andy
I am still in Montevideo and now my companion is Elder Shawn Layton from Globe, Arizona. We are going to get along very well. He is a funny guy, he ran cross country in high school, and we like talking about running and may actually do a little bit of it in these coming weeks. He looks a lot like my cousin Brady, I think, and we both have about the same amount of time in the mission. We will have a good time.
There aren’t many new and exciting stories to tell; we continue to do what we do.
I have been thinking a lot about how to increase faith. I was wondering if increasing faith is just merely reading more scriptures and saying more prayers. It always seems that is the answer that we are pointed to. I am finding that increasing faith obviously is involved with our works, but I consider reading and praying some of our works. Then there is keeping the commandments and upon keeping said commandment we gain faith in the principle of that commandment. Okay, now where do I go? I am not perfect, but my sins are generally omission and not commission. Where do I go?
I found it!! My vocabulary. That is how I am going to increase my faith in the next months. Faith is the opposite of doubt. Faith and fear cannot dwell in the same mind at the same time. Fear and doubt and negativity hinder faith. My goal is to take all the negative words and phrases out of my vocabulary. Obvious examples would be not complaining and not saying bad words. But there are also more subtle ways at it. For example: "Is your husband home?" accompanied by a quizzical look and tone of voice. Compare it to: "I assume your husband is home, isn’t he?" accompanied by nodding your head. I am still asking the same question with the hopes that a man will be in the house so that we can go in, but it is harder for them to lie to me with the second one. They have to have a harder heart to lie to the second one I think. And that is because I say it in a more positive way. Positivity and positive attitudes in vocabulary as well as actions will increase faith. After all, they are outward manifestations of the faith that is within us.
It is strange to me that 5 months have already passed since Christmas and that I get to call home this week. I completely forgot until I read Mom’s email today asking when I would call. That just goes to show you how fast time goes by. I hope you all recognize that this will be my last phone call home as an Elder. Woot woot!
We are still trying to get Alvaro to quit smoking so that he can be baptized. We try planting all sorts of seeds of faith in him by saying things like, "When you are baptized you will have the opportunity to prepare to go to the Temple so that your family can be sealed forever." If we teach temples we say that. If we are teaching about prayer we say, "After you are baptized you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost so that you will be able to be more sensitive to the answers brought you by the Holy Spirit." We keep our eyes on the prize. It is a matter of patience. But I sure do love him and his wife Celeste!! And their children who live in the other ward have already been baptized as well. Alvaro is the last one to finish the family.
Ummm...What do you want to know? Is there something you are all dying to know about Uruguay? I will tell you that I have yet to see the effects of the economic crisis down here. My dollar is the same peso that it has always been and the prices have stayed relatively the same my entire mission. I keep expecting a crash or something but it doesn’t happen. I think that you all back home in America should remember to have hope and faith that things will improve and be back on the up and up. If you obey the commandments you will prosper in the land. (Every page of the Book of Mormon)
Si yo supiera que escribirles... lo haría de inmediato. El problema es que yo he escrito tantas cosas a ustedes que ni sé que es lo que debería escribirles a ustedes. Les quiero mas que puedo expresar. Cuídense!
Take care of thyselves!
Andy
Friday, May 1, 2009
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
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
Monday, April 20, 2009
U R U G U A Y
email 4/13/09
So another week has gone by. Here Easter Week is officially called by the state "La Semana del Turismo," or Tourist Week. Nobody works and everybody goes on vacations. Everybody from Montevideo left, and people not from Montevideo came in. It was nothing really special. It seemed like a normal week. The only thing that was different was that there weren’t a lot of people outside in our area, and half of the people that were outside claimed to not be from around here, and, even though we told them we have companions where they live, they seemed to assume that the excuse that they weren’t from here would set them free. It usually did because I don’t like asking three times and I believe that contact work is mainly advertising. So we did a lot of church advertising this last week in the streets and we left a lot of good impressions.
Having that said we do have 2 good investigators that are progressing towards baptism right now. The earlier of the two is Estela, who will be baptized on the 25th. From the day I met her I told my companion "She is a truth seeker. She will for sure be baptized." And such has been the case. Her questions are transforming more into questions of faith, as I have noticed. Instead of asking, "What do you believe about the Sabbath Day?" she now asks "So, would it be better to not do my laundry on the Sabbath?" Now she asks with full intent on acting when she receives an answer. The change I have seen in her is remarkable. The other is a reference, the aunt of a former atheist convert to the church. Maria Elena is her name. We met her Thursday, taught her Saturday, and Sunday she went to church. In church she told us "I read Chapter 11 of 3 Nephi. I loved it. I feel that the book is true." She has a light in her eyes and she is willing to read and pray. As is always the case it seems, those that are willing to read and pray progress. I anticipate that she will be baptized sometime in May.
If I am properly informed, my older brother Matthew is now engaged. Good work, Matt. Welcome to the family, Shilah. I am disappointed that I will most likely miss the wedding, but you can make up for it by giving me one of the toasters that you will get so that I can have a toaster at college. Ha ha, j-k. But really, I wont complain if you do.
Luke now has his mission papers in. Very cool. My money is on New Jersey, Spanish Speaking. You will all see. Congrats Luke.
Christian is writing songs with alternate tuning techniques. Sweet.
Andy has still 6 months left in his mission. Don’t get trunky, that is a quarter of the mission. But I am trunky right now because here in the Cyber it is playing Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I love that song.
Take care, everyone. I love you!!
Andy
So another week has gone by. Here Easter Week is officially called by the state "La Semana del Turismo," or Tourist Week. Nobody works and everybody goes on vacations. Everybody from Montevideo left, and people not from Montevideo came in. It was nothing really special. It seemed like a normal week. The only thing that was different was that there weren’t a lot of people outside in our area, and half of the people that were outside claimed to not be from around here, and, even though we told them we have companions where they live, they seemed to assume that the excuse that they weren’t from here would set them free. It usually did because I don’t like asking three times and I believe that contact work is mainly advertising. So we did a lot of church advertising this last week in the streets and we left a lot of good impressions.
Having that said we do have 2 good investigators that are progressing towards baptism right now. The earlier of the two is Estela, who will be baptized on the 25th. From the day I met her I told my companion "She is a truth seeker. She will for sure be baptized." And such has been the case. Her questions are transforming more into questions of faith, as I have noticed. Instead of asking, "What do you believe about the Sabbath Day?" she now asks "So, would it be better to not do my laundry on the Sabbath?" Now she asks with full intent on acting when she receives an answer. The change I have seen in her is remarkable. The other is a reference, the aunt of a former atheist convert to the church. Maria Elena is her name. We met her Thursday, taught her Saturday, and Sunday she went to church. In church she told us "I read Chapter 11 of 3 Nephi. I loved it. I feel that the book is true." She has a light in her eyes and she is willing to read and pray. As is always the case it seems, those that are willing to read and pray progress. I anticipate that she will be baptized sometime in May.
If I am properly informed, my older brother Matthew is now engaged. Good work, Matt. Welcome to the family, Shilah. I am disappointed that I will most likely miss the wedding, but you can make up for it by giving me one of the toasters that you will get so that I can have a toaster at college. Ha ha, j-k. But really, I wont complain if you do.
Luke now has his mission papers in. Very cool. My money is on New Jersey, Spanish Speaking. You will all see. Congrats Luke.
Christian is writing songs with alternate tuning techniques. Sweet.
Andy has still 6 months left in his mission. Don’t get trunky, that is a quarter of the mission. But I am trunky right now because here in the Cyber it is playing Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd. I love that song.
Take care, everyone. I love you!!
Andy
Thursday, April 9, 2009
The Lighthouse
email 4/6/09
Today for P-Day we went and walked the coast and to a lighthouse on the beach of the ocean. It was nice. The fall weather is kicking in here and it was a nice cool day. I would have to say that the perfect day is April 6th. Not too hot and not too cold. "All you need is a light jacket." Name the movie because this one is easy. Also, April 6th is the real birthday of our Jesus Christ. So, the lighthouse was cool and today was the first day in months that I have taken any pictures. So I took many. It was a nice day.
General Conference was very good. I was very impressed as I realized that the messages all focused mainly on faith, repentance, the atonement, the spirit, the temple. The same stuff, but I was filled with the spirit and took many notes on deeper insights to things I had never thought about before. I did feel that a lot of sad stories were shared, and it seemed that every speaker quoted a little child that they knew, but I still loved it. Elder Holland’s talk on the Atonement went to new heights of understanding. I had never considered the need for Jesus to feel "spiritual death" before. I had never caught on to that. I was always familiar with the Father’s spirit departing from Him on the cross and those agonizing words, "Father why hast thou forsaken me?" In order for Jesus to atone for all of us, he felt all of our pains and sufferings, paid the price for our sins. But He always pleased the Father and never Had to be without His Father´s spirit during His mortal ministry. In order to truly succor us He felt even spiritual death, or separation from the Father, briefly.
I was impressed by many of the messages shared, but I do not have time to give a General Conference summary report. I know that today we are guided by living Prophets, who like a lighthouse, warn of dangers and rocky seas. The Apostles are inspired men of God who teach the Masters teachings. I bear testimony that these things are true.
I don’t have much time today. I have to go. I love you all. Take care!!
Andy
editorial note: In case you were wondering, the quote is from Miss Congeniality.
Today for P-Day we went and walked the coast and to a lighthouse on the beach of the ocean. It was nice. The fall weather is kicking in here and it was a nice cool day. I would have to say that the perfect day is April 6th. Not too hot and not too cold. "All you need is a light jacket." Name the movie because this one is easy. Also, April 6th is the real birthday of our Jesus Christ. So, the lighthouse was cool and today was the first day in months that I have taken any pictures. So I took many. It was a nice day.
General Conference was very good. I was very impressed as I realized that the messages all focused mainly on faith, repentance, the atonement, the spirit, the temple. The same stuff, but I was filled with the spirit and took many notes on deeper insights to things I had never thought about before. I did feel that a lot of sad stories were shared, and it seemed that every speaker quoted a little child that they knew, but I still loved it. Elder Holland’s talk on the Atonement went to new heights of understanding. I had never considered the need for Jesus to feel "spiritual death" before. I had never caught on to that. I was always familiar with the Father’s spirit departing from Him on the cross and those agonizing words, "Father why hast thou forsaken me?" In order for Jesus to atone for all of us, he felt all of our pains and sufferings, paid the price for our sins. But He always pleased the Father and never Had to be without His Father´s spirit during His mortal ministry. In order to truly succor us He felt even spiritual death, or separation from the Father, briefly.
I was impressed by many of the messages shared, but I do not have time to give a General Conference summary report. I know that today we are guided by living Prophets, who like a lighthouse, warn of dangers and rocky seas. The Apostles are inspired men of God who teach the Masters teachings. I bear testimony that these things are true.
I don’t have much time today. I have to go. I love you all. Take care!!
Andy
editorial note: In case you were wondering, the quote is from Miss Congeniality.
Monday, March 30, 2009
The Light Upstairs
email 3/30/09
The lights are out. The water is cold
in the third floor apartment.
Someone made a grave mistake.
Where once did light and warmth abound
All feels like cold cement.
Someone left a bill unpaid.
Darkness invites misery. This enemy is bold
and leaves in its tracks love spent.
Ignored the bill - Now all must pay.
A Help solicited. Our efforts fold
before overwhelming rent.
I asked support - The bill was paid.
My rage is cooled by hot water flowed.
Lights shine from heaven sent.
The price was paid!! The price is paid!!
by Andy Shepherd
I was inspired by another aggravating cold shower in the dark. A poem had to be written. So this morning after shivering my way out of the shower I sat at my desk and rough drafted that out. It was the first and final draft. The help has been solicited and my buddy Elder McClellan, the financial secretary, has already accepted and paid the bill, but we are still waiting electricity to return to our apartment. So my last stanza is currently a lie, or perhaps we can view it as a hope.
I failed to mention in my last email that the apartment is not my favorite apartment in the mission. The smell is hard to remove but we are getting there. But the unpaid bills from months past were beyond my capabilities. I was unaware of them and until last P-Day when I went home and found that our apartment no longer had light...or telephone. But luckily enough we still had water. There are some things that you just have to live through, and only on the mission would I ever get such an opportunity I think. While I enjoy my new ability to say that I have lived in an apartment too poor to pay my bills and had my electricity cut...I won’t miss this experience when it is gone.
We found some pretty cool families this week, seemingly golden. But I don’t want to jinx it so I am not going to get any more into it.
I got a letter from Faith that featured pics from her darling children. You all now have permission to cease sending threats her way from my corner. My righteous anger has subsided.
General Conference this weekend!! Don’t forget to tune in. Living Apostles of Jesus Christ are going to speak to us and a new one is to be called. I am excited because General Conference is really more like a vacation to me. Instead of walking I get to listen to 10 hours of conference in an air-conditioned chapel.
A few days ago I got a phone call from some very upset missionaries that were ready to kill each other. My companion and I had to go and make sure everything was going to be alright. We got there and sat them down for a talk. We asked what was happening, why they called threatening to kill each other, etc... Companion number 1 began telling us about some things that companion number 2 does that drives him crazy. But as he said them out loud he started realizing how stupid he sounded. "Well, I know he can walk faster than he does because I have seen him do it, but when we are walking home he walks a little slower even if we are late...", etc. He said a number of things having to do with how his companion talks, down to the way he closes the door. Companion number 2 isn’t innocent, but companion number 1 had to say all of that out loud to recognize how ridiculous he sounded. Companion number 2 is the senior companion. We asked if they were praying together as companionship. Nope. If they were doing their planning sessions every night. Never. Studies? Nope. We reached a solution very easily. And they reached it for themselves by just talking. All my companion and I did was ask a series of questions and they answered and talked and worked it out. We didn’t say a whole lot, almost nothing. We were there an hour and a half and probably only talked 10 minutes of that time and them the other hour and 20. I learned once again from this experience that listening is a crucial key in teaching. Had we gone in and preached obedience to them I don’t think we would have gotten anywhere. But by listening and making them talk and solve their own problem they were able to come together. I am glad they did because had they really been serious about killing each other we would have had to do divisions with them for a while. But I got to leave and go back to my area for a normal day’s work.
I only write that story for my own reference really. I am planning on putting all the emails I write home in a binder when I get back and I am trying to remember any experiences that are teaching me to be a better listener. Listening is something I always needed to learn to be better at. I have definitely improved on the mission.
This is a boring email now. I gotta go. The church is true. I love you all!!
Andy
The lights are out. The water is cold
in the third floor apartment.
Someone made a grave mistake.
Where once did light and warmth abound
All feels like cold cement.
Someone left a bill unpaid.
Darkness invites misery. This enemy is bold
and leaves in its tracks love spent.
Ignored the bill - Now all must pay.
A Help solicited. Our efforts fold
before overwhelming rent.
I asked support - The bill was paid.
My rage is cooled by hot water flowed.
Lights shine from heaven sent.
The price was paid!! The price is paid!!
by Andy Shepherd
I was inspired by another aggravating cold shower in the dark. A poem had to be written. So this morning after shivering my way out of the shower I sat at my desk and rough drafted that out. It was the first and final draft. The help has been solicited and my buddy Elder McClellan, the financial secretary, has already accepted and paid the bill, but we are still waiting electricity to return to our apartment. So my last stanza is currently a lie, or perhaps we can view it as a hope.
I failed to mention in my last email that the apartment is not my favorite apartment in the mission. The smell is hard to remove but we are getting there. But the unpaid bills from months past were beyond my capabilities. I was unaware of them and until last P-Day when I went home and found that our apartment no longer had light...or telephone. But luckily enough we still had water. There are some things that you just have to live through, and only on the mission would I ever get such an opportunity I think. While I enjoy my new ability to say that I have lived in an apartment too poor to pay my bills and had my electricity cut...I won’t miss this experience when it is gone.
We found some pretty cool families this week, seemingly golden. But I don’t want to jinx it so I am not going to get any more into it.
I got a letter from Faith that featured pics from her darling children. You all now have permission to cease sending threats her way from my corner. My righteous anger has subsided.
General Conference this weekend!! Don’t forget to tune in. Living Apostles of Jesus Christ are going to speak to us and a new one is to be called. I am excited because General Conference is really more like a vacation to me. Instead of walking I get to listen to 10 hours of conference in an air-conditioned chapel.
A few days ago I got a phone call from some very upset missionaries that were ready to kill each other. My companion and I had to go and make sure everything was going to be alright. We got there and sat them down for a talk. We asked what was happening, why they called threatening to kill each other, etc... Companion number 1 began telling us about some things that companion number 2 does that drives him crazy. But as he said them out loud he started realizing how stupid he sounded. "Well, I know he can walk faster than he does because I have seen him do it, but when we are walking home he walks a little slower even if we are late...", etc. He said a number of things having to do with how his companion talks, down to the way he closes the door. Companion number 2 isn’t innocent, but companion number 1 had to say all of that out loud to recognize how ridiculous he sounded. Companion number 2 is the senior companion. We asked if they were praying together as companionship. Nope. If they were doing their planning sessions every night. Never. Studies? Nope. We reached a solution very easily. And they reached it for themselves by just talking. All my companion and I did was ask a series of questions and they answered and talked and worked it out. We didn’t say a whole lot, almost nothing. We were there an hour and a half and probably only talked 10 minutes of that time and them the other hour and 20. I learned once again from this experience that listening is a crucial key in teaching. Had we gone in and preached obedience to them I don’t think we would have gotten anywhere. But by listening and making them talk and solve their own problem they were able to come together. I am glad they did because had they really been serious about killing each other we would have had to do divisions with them for a while. But I got to leave and go back to my area for a normal day’s work.
I only write that story for my own reference really. I am planning on putting all the emails I write home in a binder when I get back and I am trying to remember any experiences that are teaching me to be a better listener. Listening is something I always needed to learn to be better at. I have definitely improved on the mission.
This is a boring email now. I gotta go. The church is true. I love you all!!
Andy
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Elder Marroquin
email 3/23/09
Well, I am here in Montevideo again and just thrilled about it. My companion Elder Marroquin is a very good missionary from Peru. We live in a house of four missionaries. Elder Nordgren, who I went to high school with, is training a Peruvian from Cuzco, Peru. I said some of those bad ketchua words that Matt taught me to see if they worked and it got a raised eyebrow out of the greenie from Peru named Elder Champi. He is a recent convert to the church of only a year and three months. He is pretty cool. Last night he asked about polygamy. We all stayed up talking for a bit about that one. The house is horrifically ugly and smells bad and even I cannot clean the smell away. Oh well, we don’t spend much time at home anyway.
Elder Marroquin is a machine. He may go home in 5 weeks but he doesn’t show it. He never talks about it and he works hard. He is funny and obedient without being over the top fanatic. He falls very well with me. We are going to have a great transfer here.
We had a baptism on Saturday, which was one of the most spiritual baptismal services I have ever been in. I was placed in charge of the music and became instantly loved in my new ward. :) That never gets old. Her name is Celeste and we will be getting her husband Alvaro baptized after General Conference if he can quit smoking. The whole story of the family is a miracle. They had a son in prison, another son who is about to get baptized as well in the other ward, and the story is too long that I don’t have time today. When we baptize Alvaro I will write more about it. It is a cool family.
I love the ward here. The bishopric is strong and we have the best ward mission leader that I have ever had in the whole mission. They called him on Sunday. The Bishop felt so inspired that the missionary work needed to be helped by the ward that he released his own first counselor and placed him in the ward mission leader position. Usually here the calling of ward mission leader is left for last after the other callings have been given out and often turns out to be a new convert with whom the missionaries need to help rather than receive guidance and help from. But in this case we have a veteran member who is very good and very capable of leadership and very excited about getting greater ward cooperation between organizations. I have never been more happy about a ward mission leader in all the mission. One thing that the Bishop said was that the ward had no excuse to not be progressing in the aspect of retention. He said the missionaries cannot be blamed because the ward has had a long list of excellent missionaries working there. It was the ward that needed to step up and stepping up the ward is. I felt at home in this ward on Sunday. I am very happy to be here.
I hope that everyone is well and that life continues to provide happy experiences. I gotta go. I love you all!!
Andy
Well, I am here in Montevideo again and just thrilled about it. My companion Elder Marroquin is a very good missionary from Peru. We live in a house of four missionaries. Elder Nordgren, who I went to high school with, is training a Peruvian from Cuzco, Peru. I said some of those bad ketchua words that Matt taught me to see if they worked and it got a raised eyebrow out of the greenie from Peru named Elder Champi. He is a recent convert to the church of only a year and three months. He is pretty cool. Last night he asked about polygamy. We all stayed up talking for a bit about that one. The house is horrifically ugly and smells bad and even I cannot clean the smell away. Oh well, we don’t spend much time at home anyway.
Elder Marroquin is a machine. He may go home in 5 weeks but he doesn’t show it. He never talks about it and he works hard. He is funny and obedient without being over the top fanatic. He falls very well with me. We are going to have a great transfer here.
We had a baptism on Saturday, which was one of the most spiritual baptismal services I have ever been in. I was placed in charge of the music and became instantly loved in my new ward. :) That never gets old. Her name is Celeste and we will be getting her husband Alvaro baptized after General Conference if he can quit smoking. The whole story of the family is a miracle. They had a son in prison, another son who is about to get baptized as well in the other ward, and the story is too long that I don’t have time today. When we baptize Alvaro I will write more about it. It is a cool family.
I love the ward here. The bishopric is strong and we have the best ward mission leader that I have ever had in the whole mission. They called him on Sunday. The Bishop felt so inspired that the missionary work needed to be helped by the ward that he released his own first counselor and placed him in the ward mission leader position. Usually here the calling of ward mission leader is left for last after the other callings have been given out and often turns out to be a new convert with whom the missionaries need to help rather than receive guidance and help from. But in this case we have a veteran member who is very good and very capable of leadership and very excited about getting greater ward cooperation between organizations. I have never been more happy about a ward mission leader in all the mission. One thing that the Bishop said was that the ward had no excuse to not be progressing in the aspect of retention. He said the missionaries cannot be blamed because the ward has had a long list of excellent missionaries working there. It was the ward that needed to step up and stepping up the ward is. I felt at home in this ward on Sunday. I am very happy to be here.
I hope that everyone is well and that life continues to provide happy experiences. I gotta go. I love you all!!
Andy
I Cried Wolf
email 3/17/09
It seems that the Lord is either pleased or very upset at my work in Paysandu, because I have been transferred already. They are sending me back to Montevideo. Bright lights, Big city! Only 1 transfer here in Paysandu and I already have to leave my kid. He will be alright though. He is a faithful missionary and has been a very good companion. I have enjoyed the 6 weeks with Elder Ericson. I am going from a "greeny" to a "trunky". My new companion is in his last change of his mission, which means again I will be with my companion only one change. But I will probably stay put there in Deo I think. I love that city and I have no complaints going back. I get on a bus tonight.
The other good news about going to Montevideo is I am going just in time. Elder Walter F Gonzalez of the Presidency of the Seventy is going to be speaking to all of the missionaries tomorrow in Montevideo. We still haven’t received a visit from anyone of the Quorum of the 12 yet, but I am excited to go and hear Elder Gonzalez. He is from Montevideo and he was a Stake President here in Paysandu once upon a time. I have been reading a History of the Church in Uruguay book. It is fun.
I am still awaiting help understanding the lyrics to Yellow. Christian, you need to get on this. Luke and Matt you are invited to take a whack at it. I am sure that the song is about love and sacrifice, and especially possible that great Sacrifice for us all. But I would like help interpreting.
I know that Jesus Christ lives. I love Him so much. And I know that we can achieve closeness to God. Through prayer and humble seeking we can come to know Him better. His church has been restored to the Earth. I am so grateful for the Plan of Salvation, as was restored to understanding by the modern prophets. It is such a perfect plan. Because I know that Jesus lives, I know that His church is restored without a doubt. We know that God is fair, just, and loving. Only one church has the fullness of that doctrine and even comes close to comprehending the justice and mercy with which God will deal with us. I know that it is true. I love you all!
Andy
It seems that the Lord is either pleased or very upset at my work in Paysandu, because I have been transferred already. They are sending me back to Montevideo. Bright lights, Big city! Only 1 transfer here in Paysandu and I already have to leave my kid. He will be alright though. He is a faithful missionary and has been a very good companion. I have enjoyed the 6 weeks with Elder Ericson. I am going from a "greeny" to a "trunky". My new companion is in his last change of his mission, which means again I will be with my companion only one change. But I will probably stay put there in Deo I think. I love that city and I have no complaints going back. I get on a bus tonight.
The other good news about going to Montevideo is I am going just in time. Elder Walter F Gonzalez of the Presidency of the Seventy is going to be speaking to all of the missionaries tomorrow in Montevideo. We still haven’t received a visit from anyone of the Quorum of the 12 yet, but I am excited to go and hear Elder Gonzalez. He is from Montevideo and he was a Stake President here in Paysandu once upon a time. I have been reading a History of the Church in Uruguay book. It is fun.
I am still awaiting help understanding the lyrics to Yellow. Christian, you need to get on this. Luke and Matt you are invited to take a whack at it. I am sure that the song is about love and sacrifice, and especially possible that great Sacrifice for us all. But I would like help interpreting.
I know that Jesus Christ lives. I love Him so much. And I know that we can achieve closeness to God. Through prayer and humble seeking we can come to know Him better. His church has been restored to the Earth. I am so grateful for the Plan of Salvation, as was restored to understanding by the modern prophets. It is such a perfect plan. Because I know that Jesus lives, I know that His church is restored without a doubt. We know that God is fair, just, and loving. Only one church has the fullness of that doctrine and even comes close to comprehending the justice and mercy with which God will deal with us. I know that it is true. I love you all!
Andy
Monday, March 9, 2009
Fall Back
email 3/9/09
So it seems the spring forward got the best of you all. Well here the fall back got us too. I don’t know how missionaries are supposed to know about that kind of stuff. Nobody told me or any of my companions. I always thought daylight savings was always on General Conference which isn’t for a whole month. My companion and I went to church yesterday an hour early to find a locked door and nobody there. We weren’t sure if maybe we had missed the memo on a Stake Conference or something. But finally a member in of the bishopric of another ward showed up and opened the building up.
We had a baptism this last weekend. It was a really nice program and it rained. We sang "I love to see the rainbow" which I thought to be very fitting for the day. Walkiria, the oldest daughter in the family we are teaching, was baptized first. Her mother Lorena still smokes and will be baptized in the weeks to come, but they didn’t want Walkiria to have to wait. Her little brothers as well will be baptized in the following weeks. I am glad that we had a baptism for my companion during his first transfer. I really wanted him to start his mission with a baptism.
I have an assignment for you all. There is a popular Coldplay song which to this day I have memorized. I want an analysis. At one part Chris Martin sings, "Your skin, yeah your skin and bones, turn into something beautiful. You know I love you so, you know I love you so." and later "Your skin, yeah your skin and bones, turn into something beautiful. For you I bleed myself dry, for you I bleed myself dry." Is he not talking about Christ? My question: What does "Yellow" mean? The other lyrics are potentially profound as well: "Look at the stars, look how they shine for you. I drew a line, I drew a line for you." and "I wrote a song, I wrote a song for you. I swam across, I jumped across for you." But after all of those lines he says "And it was all yellow too". What is Yellow?
So my companion has this terrible habit of saying the F word in Spanish. In Mexico and Spain there is a word for to get, to grab, to catch that is completely acceptable up there. But down here in South America it is the worst word you can say. The Andy Challenge for the week: Count how many times you say the word "get" and imagine how bad it would be to replace that with the F word and you will understand what my companion is going through. In his mind it is okay, but it has got to stop. It is a bad habit and he is working on it. The problem is that his mom is from Spain and he has said that word his whole life.
Anyway, I am just peachy keen and enjoying life. Next week are transfers so don’t look for me on Monday. I will be writing on Tuesday. I hope that everybody is well and healthy. It made me super trunky to hear that the Moab half marathon is coming up. Oh how I wish I could run!! Take care and control your language!! I love yall!
Andy
So it seems the spring forward got the best of you all. Well here the fall back got us too. I don’t know how missionaries are supposed to know about that kind of stuff. Nobody told me or any of my companions. I always thought daylight savings was always on General Conference which isn’t for a whole month. My companion and I went to church yesterday an hour early to find a locked door and nobody there. We weren’t sure if maybe we had missed the memo on a Stake Conference or something. But finally a member in of the bishopric of another ward showed up and opened the building up.
We had a baptism this last weekend. It was a really nice program and it rained. We sang "I love to see the rainbow" which I thought to be very fitting for the day. Walkiria, the oldest daughter in the family we are teaching, was baptized first. Her mother Lorena still smokes and will be baptized in the weeks to come, but they didn’t want Walkiria to have to wait. Her little brothers as well will be baptized in the following weeks. I am glad that we had a baptism for my companion during his first transfer. I really wanted him to start his mission with a baptism.
I have an assignment for you all. There is a popular Coldplay song which to this day I have memorized. I want an analysis. At one part Chris Martin sings, "Your skin, yeah your skin and bones, turn into something beautiful. You know I love you so, you know I love you so." and later "Your skin, yeah your skin and bones, turn into something beautiful. For you I bleed myself dry, for you I bleed myself dry." Is he not talking about Christ? My question: What does "Yellow" mean? The other lyrics are potentially profound as well: "Look at the stars, look how they shine for you. I drew a line, I drew a line for you." and "I wrote a song, I wrote a song for you. I swam across, I jumped across for you." But after all of those lines he says "And it was all yellow too". What is Yellow?
So my companion has this terrible habit of saying the F word in Spanish. In Mexico and Spain there is a word for to get, to grab, to catch that is completely acceptable up there. But down here in South America it is the worst word you can say. The Andy Challenge for the week: Count how many times you say the word "get" and imagine how bad it would be to replace that with the F word and you will understand what my companion is going through. In his mind it is okay, but it has got to stop. It is a bad habit and he is working on it. The problem is that his mom is from Spain and he has said that word his whole life.
Anyway, I am just peachy keen and enjoying life. Next week are transfers so don’t look for me on Monday. I will be writing on Tuesday. I hope that everybody is well and healthy. It made me super trunky to hear that the Moab half marathon is coming up. Oh how I wish I could run!! Take care and control your language!! I love yall!
Andy
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Sound of Silence
email 3/2/09
Another week in Paysandu. I hate the siesta. I really do. I do not approve of that lazy European tradition. I don’t care if it is hot at 2 in the afternoon. That is no excuse to put the entire day on hold and wait until 5 or 6 for life to begin again. Nobody ever feels good after an afternoon nap; you always wake up more tired. I may just be a slight bitter this week because we walked every day from 1 till 5 in the sun without getting in a single door any single day during those hours. And it is hot. Not even our members let us in. We had a member chastise us and say, "Elders, at this hour!? Are you kidding? Come another time." I think it is especially bad this week just because it is the end of summer vacations and everybody is living it up.
We had the world famous sin fest Carnaval this last month. It really is all the month of February, but last night was the final night and so it was the loudest and biggest celebration. Seeing as we live on main street we heard it well last night. I didn’t get much sleep. We put blankets on the windows and put all our mattresses in the most central room to try and get away from those drum beats, but it was seemingly inescapable. I eventually fell asleep and was out because I was tired enough to beat any noise, but it was rather annoying. I wish I knew more about Carnaval. We aren’t allowed to see it. But I do know some of what happens. I am not really interested in watching because it is famous for being especially rowdy. In Brazil for Carnaval, they blindfold the Christus Statue, you know the big huge famous one. They blindfold a statue of the Lord for a week in a sort of symbolic statement that "anything goes during Carnaval."
We are still working hard and working well. When it gets tough, some lyrics pop in my mind from a favorite song:
No one told me the right way to go about this
So I’ll figure it out for myself
Yet how much is too much to offer
Well I may never know so I’ll just give until there is nothing left.
Give Give Give
It is a Relient K song that gets stuck in my head but truly does make me move. It always reminds me Who I am doing this for and that I just need to give of myself and give it all.
I love you all. God lives and we need to give our lives to Him. When we put Him first all other things fall into place.
Andy
Another week in Paysandu. I hate the siesta. I really do. I do not approve of that lazy European tradition. I don’t care if it is hot at 2 in the afternoon. That is no excuse to put the entire day on hold and wait until 5 or 6 for life to begin again. Nobody ever feels good after an afternoon nap; you always wake up more tired. I may just be a slight bitter this week because we walked every day from 1 till 5 in the sun without getting in a single door any single day during those hours. And it is hot. Not even our members let us in. We had a member chastise us and say, "Elders, at this hour!? Are you kidding? Come another time." I think it is especially bad this week just because it is the end of summer vacations and everybody is living it up.
We had the world famous sin fest Carnaval this last month. It really is all the month of February, but last night was the final night and so it was the loudest and biggest celebration. Seeing as we live on main street we heard it well last night. I didn’t get much sleep. We put blankets on the windows and put all our mattresses in the most central room to try and get away from those drum beats, but it was seemingly inescapable. I eventually fell asleep and was out because I was tired enough to beat any noise, but it was rather annoying. I wish I knew more about Carnaval. We aren’t allowed to see it. But I do know some of what happens. I am not really interested in watching because it is famous for being especially rowdy. In Brazil for Carnaval, they blindfold the Christus Statue, you know the big huge famous one. They blindfold a statue of the Lord for a week in a sort of symbolic statement that "anything goes during Carnaval."
We are still working hard and working well. When it gets tough, some lyrics pop in my mind from a favorite song:
No one told me the right way to go about this
So I’ll figure it out for myself
Yet how much is too much to offer
Well I may never know so I’ll just give until there is nothing left.
Give Give Give
It is a Relient K song that gets stuck in my head but truly does make me move. It always reminds me Who I am doing this for and that I just need to give of myself and give it all.
I love you all. God lives and we need to give our lives to Him. When we put Him first all other things fall into place.
Andy
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Shoot an apple off my head
email 2/23/09
Paysandu continues to be a beautiful place and at the same time somewhat difficult as far as missionary work goes. It is a really good thing that my companion and I get along so well because we have many street hours together. I know that the trick will be learning to work with the ward. We can keep knocking doors if we want, and we do when we see a house that looks somewhat alive. The work is slow, not many investigators but we still do have some. We can't complain. There is a 30 year old woman named Lorena with 3 kids that went to church once with us and she is interested. Her big problem is that she has told us that she knows to get baptized she would need to quit smoking and that for her that just doesn’t appear possible since she has smoked since she was 12. We will get her eventually because she is reading and praying and people that do that always progress. In the meantime we need more things to do.
It rained all this last week and so there wasn’t a lot of people in the street to talk to. The other day it started to rain all of the sudden and we weren’t ready with umbrellas or anything because it had started as a sunny day. We ran to be beneath a balcony. When it rains here it pours and we knew if we went out into the rain we would be soaked in 2 seconds flat. While under the balcony we decided, "hey, lets knock this door. Maybe they will feel bad and let us in." The guy opened the door and shook his hand "we are 7th Day Adventists" and I said "that’s fine, we just wanted to let you know we are here under your balcony waiting out the rain..." and before I could say more he shouted "Stay there then!" and slammed the door. Some people are less than pleasant. I didn’t expect that from an Adventist because they are usually super nice with us and eager to try and convert us to their faith. Be nice to people. If the Jehovah’s Witnesses knock your door, offer them a drink. If it is raining really heavy offer to let them come in for a minute to wait out the storm.
My official quote and theme of the month is "Pray as if everything depended upon God. Work as if everything depended upon you." I believe that is true. As far as prayer goes I still struggle to understand the effects of prayer. Because in the end we are all familiar with those famous words "Thy will be done". For a while I wondered what the point of prayer was if God already knew everything and it is His will to be done. Will my prayer for a sick person really help that sick person get better unless God already wills it to be so? It was a complex question. In the first place, yes I do believe a prayer for a sick person does help and that miracles have occurred because of faithful prayers. But I think more generally prayer is about us showing our dependence upon God. When Jesus taught us to ask for our daily bread, He did so knowing we were going to receive the daily bread. Here is the kicker, I bet that whether or not I pray I will be given the daily bread. But when I do pray and give thanks for the bread and ask that He bless me, I am showing my dependence upon the Maker and I am humbling myself before Him recognizing that everything we have is part of His creation. Let us remember our true purpose in life, which is to progress. I grow as I place my trust in Him and recognize His hand in my life. Prayer sometimes is nothing more than a parent-teacher conference, a check up, so that we can tell Him how we think we are doing and He can help us to know what we can do better.
Anyway, I hope that all is well back home. Keep praying for me and I always do for you. Prayer is a very real power in our lives. I know that He is listening. If we are heavy laden or tired, He can give us rest. Those are the words of the Master and they compose a very real promise. He hears us and gives us rest. I testify of that. Take care of yourselves!! I love you!
Andy
Paysandu continues to be a beautiful place and at the same time somewhat difficult as far as missionary work goes. It is a really good thing that my companion and I get along so well because we have many street hours together. I know that the trick will be learning to work with the ward. We can keep knocking doors if we want, and we do when we see a house that looks somewhat alive. The work is slow, not many investigators but we still do have some. We can't complain. There is a 30 year old woman named Lorena with 3 kids that went to church once with us and she is interested. Her big problem is that she has told us that she knows to get baptized she would need to quit smoking and that for her that just doesn’t appear possible since she has smoked since she was 12. We will get her eventually because she is reading and praying and people that do that always progress. In the meantime we need more things to do.
It rained all this last week and so there wasn’t a lot of people in the street to talk to. The other day it started to rain all of the sudden and we weren’t ready with umbrellas or anything because it had started as a sunny day. We ran to be beneath a balcony. When it rains here it pours and we knew if we went out into the rain we would be soaked in 2 seconds flat. While under the balcony we decided, "hey, lets knock this door. Maybe they will feel bad and let us in." The guy opened the door and shook his hand "we are 7th Day Adventists" and I said "that’s fine, we just wanted to let you know we are here under your balcony waiting out the rain..." and before I could say more he shouted "Stay there then!" and slammed the door. Some people are less than pleasant. I didn’t expect that from an Adventist because they are usually super nice with us and eager to try and convert us to their faith. Be nice to people. If the Jehovah’s Witnesses knock your door, offer them a drink. If it is raining really heavy offer to let them come in for a minute to wait out the storm.
My official quote and theme of the month is "Pray as if everything depended upon God. Work as if everything depended upon you." I believe that is true. As far as prayer goes I still struggle to understand the effects of prayer. Because in the end we are all familiar with those famous words "Thy will be done". For a while I wondered what the point of prayer was if God already knew everything and it is His will to be done. Will my prayer for a sick person really help that sick person get better unless God already wills it to be so? It was a complex question. In the first place, yes I do believe a prayer for a sick person does help and that miracles have occurred because of faithful prayers. But I think more generally prayer is about us showing our dependence upon God. When Jesus taught us to ask for our daily bread, He did so knowing we were going to receive the daily bread. Here is the kicker, I bet that whether or not I pray I will be given the daily bread. But when I do pray and give thanks for the bread and ask that He bless me, I am showing my dependence upon the Maker and I am humbling myself before Him recognizing that everything we have is part of His creation. Let us remember our true purpose in life, which is to progress. I grow as I place my trust in Him and recognize His hand in my life. Prayer sometimes is nothing more than a parent-teacher conference, a check up, so that we can tell Him how we think we are doing and He can help us to know what we can do better.
Anyway, I hope that all is well back home. Keep praying for me and I always do for you. Prayer is a very real power in our lives. I know that He is listening. If we are heavy laden or tired, He can give us rest. Those are the words of the Master and they compose a very real promise. He hears us and gives us rest. I testify of that. Take care of yourselves!! I love you!
Andy
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