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
Monday, April 20, 2009
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
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