What Nan's Thinking About

Dear Family,

How are you?  We are off today to take out an uñero (ingrown toenail).

We are trying to help reactivate a hermana (sister) in our ward and then baptize her kids, but progress is difficult.  She came to church yesterday, but doesn’t want to accept the Book of Mormon.  She always comes up with interesting reasons why she thinks what she is reading isn’t original.  We have decided we probably shouldn’t focus so much on her testimony of the Book of Mormon and just commit her and her family to start following the commandments, since that’s really what’s important. 

We did have some good Bible bashing last night, though.  Christ is the God of the Old Testament.  You can see God.  Our spirits don’t die.  None of these things are really the point of the gospel or are really that important, but at least we set the record straight.  I figure if we can get her to use the Book of Mormon to teach the different principles she needs to live, and she lives them, then she will not have any problem accepting the Book of Mormon.  She is reading and coming to church after all.  

I am grateful for prayer.  I have been trying recently to get daily instruction through prayer.  When you know what you need to do and Who is asking you to do it, it is easier to get work done. That’s what Nan’s thinking about.
 

Feely

I realized I need to do better at celebrating the triumphs of others.  Sometimes I forget we are all on the same team even when I don't like how some people do things in the church.  There are differences of administration of gifts, but it is the same God who worketh it all.  I think I just need to focus on doing what the Lord wants me to do, no matter how large or small.
 

Well, I love you all.

Brother Nan

Prepare for Your Interview

Grant didn't write a formal letter last week due to our attempts to communicate with him by phone on Mother's Day.  I just posted his little blurb of 5/14/12 for posterity's sake!

Dear Family,

I am sorry to hear that Granny has passed away.  I guess it is true that she was ready to go.  I had been feeling this was going to happen for the past few months.  I am glad I was able to send something to her.

It was great to get to talk to you all last week, although I like how we did it in the past more.  I would have liked to have been able to have talked with everyone one on one.  It was harder to talk to everyone at once. I guess that is how we are supposed to teach as missionaries, focus on people one by one.

Jenny Gomez and her daughter Melisa

I really like the note you sent in the last package I received where David O. McKay talks about how our PP interview with Christ will be.  One of the very effective tactics that PMG and Presidente Montalti have taught is that we need to focus our teaching on the questions for the entrevista bautismal (baptimsal interview).  Not only does it help make the investigators more comfortable about the interview, it helps the missionaries know where the investigator is struggling and what they need to teach.  I guess the same is true for our entrevista celestial (celestial interview).  Everything we do with our investigators we can ask, ¿is this helping my investigator to be better prepared to answer one of the baptismal questions?  We can ask ourselves the same thing about our final interview.  It is good to have the questions ready.

Fernando Silva, far left, next to Rafael Suarez

This week we have been teaching a man named Rafael "Chalupa" Suarez.  He is an ex futbolista and had a bad knee surgery and is waiting for funding to repair it.  He has been really receptive. He said he is not that proud of everything he’s done in the past (I think he feels empty from his soccer career) and wants to spend the last of his days tranquilo (in peace) and just get to church every Sunday.  We are happy for him.  I think he is going to buy a white shirt and tie this week.
 

Feely

This week I talked with Elder Packard about Perfectionism.  He said if I learn to 1. be more and more assertive in my interactions with others and 2. learn to set realistic expectations for myself and for others, then I will feel less and less anger and fear.  I need to learn to stop criticizing myself and others.  I am still kind of struggling with it all though.  I got really frustrated the other day for not studying well enough how I can balance working hard with enjoying what I am doing in my life.  It seemed kind of ironic to me.

Anyway, I love you all,

Hey you, mister 123

Phone Problemas

We tried all Mother's Day to reach Grant on his cell phone, but were not able to get through.  We received this message the following morning.  We had a wonderful visit with Grant on the phone Monday evening.  We were even able to Sykpe Daddy B in from New Jersey.

Dear Family,

I am sorry about the call.  Our phone sometimes has some problems. Would it be easier for me to just call you from a phone booth?  I don't have permission to do Skype.  I don't even know how to get in.  I could write later if they tell me I can do it. I was thinking of just calling you at 5-6 pm.  Is there anyway Dad could do a conference call? 

Love, Grant

Grant Why Writes Again!

Dear Family,

They still haven’t told us anything about Mother’s Day.  Here’s my number: 084470638.  Is there some way you can do a three-way call with Bup on the line?  That’s a lot of international calling.  EEUU to Italy to Ecuador.  I forgot to set up a calling schedule with the other three missionaries.  I was thinking you could call at 9:30 pm at my time.  That way it wouldn’t interfere with missionary time.  I still have the old pink pictures camera.  Hello Livi!

Everything is going well here.  We had a ward council meeting last week.  That’s a big deal.  Elder Velasquez and I are still looking for new people.  We found one lady that really likes the church and the Book of Mormon, but is being stubborn about baptism.  We are trying to discern what is holding her up.  Alma 12:7.  That’s the scripture they always have us study about spiritually discerning needs.  We had another lady we thought was doing great until she disappeared Sunday morning.

Good news to hear about the birthday package!  Did you know that Elder Velasquez and I have the same birthday? (wish I would have known!)

Well, family I love you all.  I am guessing they’ll let us write again if there are any developments with calling arrangements.  I’m excited to hear from you …

Dear Levi and Holt,

How are you guys doing?  My mom sent me some photos of your trip to the beach.  It looked like you had some fun.  Sorry there were only sisters.  My family is short on guys.  I heard you've all been pretty big into school sports.  Is there some pretty good competition up there?  Here there are only two sports.  Soccer and volleyball.  Here they don't play by the normal rules.  They have their own version called Ecua-volley, which is a girlier version of regular volleyball.  They like to block off the entire street to play.  Have you ever liked soccer that much?  We aren't allowed to do sports in this mission. 

Anyway, I was wondering what you two were thinking about doing a mission.  I guess it still seems like a long time off, but you can start getting ready right now.  Do they have seminary up there?  Going on a mission could be the best decision of your life.  What are we going to do about my family moving to NJ?  I don´t know what I´ll do when I get back to see the whole Oregon gang.  When I go to school at BYU, I guess I´ll be a little closer.  Well, I thought I'd just send you a quick note.  Hope you write back.  Remember to take good care of your mom.

Love,
Elder Leaky-Boots

Mucho cariño,

Grant Why the Science Guy

Grant's "trunky papers" came to us this week from the travel office.  He will be flying to Newark via Miami on September 4th!