I too, remember the day I left for the MTC, excited and ready to work, like Ian is now. Just plain ready to go and get moving. I knew what I would be doing and the benefits that would come. The mission is so great and there is no other opportunity like it in life. I don´t think I will be able to do anything better or of more worth in my lfe. Yesterday, I was teaching a few investigators about the Book of Mormon and about the restoration of the church. Bible bashing is something we try to avoid because nothing good comes out of it, but when I was teaching, being polite the whole time, letting the people speak, respecting their beliefs the wife started to smash on me and our religion. I thought, "How rude. Here I am listening to you, being considerate and you want to pick a fight with me." She claimed that the Book of Mormon isn´t true, even though she hasn't readi it, saying that it has no relation to the Bible and why doesn´t the Bible say anything about Joseph Smith in it. In my mind I thought, "How very very inconsiderate and close-minded." First of all, I am listening to your bag of apostasy and being kind, then you have the nerve to come and say everything I believe is a lie. You claim to have read the Book of Mormon, when I know you haven´t. You only reached First Nephi and haven´t even prayed once about that which you have read. Her credability with me just dropped to zero. I pulled out a few choice scriptures and the introduction of the Book of Mormon taught Moroni's promise AGAIN and left with a prayer. In my mind, bearing powerful and true testimony of the Gospel is the equivalant of shaking the dust off my feet at their door. She was basically denying the presence of the Holy Ghost. The only reason we will be going back is to see if she is going to keep this commitment she has made. Not with us, but the Lord, and because of her husband who has actually been to church and has a testimony of the Gospel. It's small, but it's there and that's what we are here for is to help others come to Christ by faith, repentance, baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Tell Logan thanks so much for that little slice of wisdom he shared with me about the canals. It doesn´t matter who you are, controlling your mind like your tongue can be one of the hardest things to do. It is so much a worth while task.
Reid, it doesn´t matter how interesting or boring you think what you have to say is, you are always my little brother and that makes everything interesting to me. I love you so very much and I too, look forward to spending time with you when I get back.
Mom, I'll try and remember a few of your questions. Yes, we did have a water ballon fight and no matter what time of the year here it is, it feels good because there is only a wet and a dry season. When it's wet it's hot and wet. When it's dry it's hot and muggy. So, yes that happened.
This past week I told you I had a leadership training. Kind of puts one's nerves on end because changes are coming and there is the possibility of being put in a tougher position. It seems that whenever things start to get going smoothly, they throw a bump or 3 in your path, making the road more difficult to handle. I know it's just the Lord's way of refining me more. If I let him in, the only outcome is good. When we think we are having bad times I like to think of Section 121 of the Doctrine and Covenants. I don´t know what verse, but it's somewhere to the middle-ish and end. When the Lord talks to Joseph, saying, "Fear not my son, thou are not yet as Job in thine affliction, be but a small moment and that which is to come is for thy good." That scripture always make me feel good. To sum up what I am trying to say is the training was great and nice to know that the president trusts me. He is a good leader because he inspires us to do good and resist temptation.
Things with Jimbo aren´t going too well. He hasn´t come to church in 4 weeks, so if he doesn´t come this next week, we have to leave him. It's hard but it's what we need to do. Dad asked about the investigator pool. We have a healthy pool of about 20 different people to visit and it just keeps growing.
This past week we had a guy read the Book of Mormon in 3 days and had a lot of questions about it. I guess it's good that they are reading it, but maybe they should slow down and study it. That way it will have more worth to them. I hope this next week is just as exciting for me as it will be for you. I'm a little low on cash right now because I am trying to pull off a baptism for two people who need to get hitched and we can do it for about 20 bucks, but my companion spent almost all his money, so I have to pick up about three fourths of the expense. I am happy because he might get changed and finacially it won't be a burden anymore. He is still a great guy and there is aways somthing to be learned from your companion. I might need a little for that first baptism in the area. Yes, still trying for that first baptism here in Villa Mariona and it has taken alot of personal sacrifice.
The work is good. Life is good. No more beans or rice or tortillas please. I think I am going to die of malnourishment or bean posioning. If that's possible. ha ha ha.
love lots ALEX
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