Hola!
Well, this week has been lots of hard work and some interesting news has surfaced. We learned from one of the other elders in the house that one of his investigators who is Catholic said that the Pope declared that this year would be the year of missionaries! We all kind of thought to ourselves, "Is this in response to the declaration made by the First Presidency?" So, that was interesting. I am curious to see what comes of this, but to be honest, I am not worried. Oh, and about that investigator that we had with the Jehovah's Witnesses last week, we didn't have a chance to talk to him, but we talked to his son and figured out that his dad is like the priest of the big boss in his church around here. It kind of humbled me to be able to teach him, but what's funny is that all my questions that I have had about our church have been answered or are being answered and he is the one that is still missing a few. Yesterday we finally got an investigator named Evo to church. We had pretty much got everyone in his family to church except him and it has been a battle to get him to commit and not blow us off. So, he went yesterday and the members of the branch really stepped up and went and talked to him. What really made me want to celebrate was during a little break in the courtyard between class and Sacrament, he was about to enter the chapel and he said "I am no longer calling this church your church. It is my church too, now". I just wanted to jump out of my skin when I heard that. It was so awesome. So yesterday was really the pay off for all the hard work done this week and we had 15 new investigators at church and it really showed. It seemed like everything that needed to happen that day, did. When we woke up yesterday it was pouring rain and usually people don't even go to work when it is raining like that, but strait away after Elder Phillips and I got out of bed we had a short companionship prayer for our investigators to go to church and have the faith to do so. Well, let me tell you, the Lord does not disappoint when you ask for his help. It was really all a blessing because the rain let up for the rest of the day and we had the most investigators at church that we have had in a long time. What is event better is that we are beginning to gain the trust of the branch again. Let's just say that the Elder with Elder Phillips before me was a little explosive and he had the habit of exploding on the branch president and some of the members. Needless to say it has been an uphill battle a little bit with old investigators and people that knew the missionaries through him. I think one valuable lesson I learned through him is that you are always in the sight of someone and you really need to be doing your best or you are going to destroy the work that could have been progress for another. No one knows the extent of their influence and they really need to pay attention to this because of the good or the bad that can occur because of that person. Yes, we are beginning to receive the help from the ward that we so desperately need. I don't think they realize how much we need their help. I mean, we go out and find these people and try to bring them in , but all our work is for not if the members don't step up and try to fellowship these people. The biggest thing here is having friends and knowing that there is someone to help you through. It's the same thing for the Gospel. If you don't have someone from the beginning, the new lifestyle seems weird and it may seam like you don't have any friends.
Anyway, it has been a good week this week and the weather here is really weird in the fact that when it rains, it gets really cold here kind of fast, but then it gets really hot afterwards and it can be kind of hard on your body. I have been a little under the weather for a day or two, but nothing serious.... I have been watching it really close and it's not malaria, Mom.
As far as breakfast, I usually have some all bran cereal since the alternative is corn flakes and that's not really filling ha ha ha! For dinner last night I got to have spaghetti again. Really, it's usually the same things most every night. Idon't really get tired of them, I just get hungry. :) Oh, and yes, I am able to listen to my music and they have adapters and stuff so it all works and my companion and the other elders in the house really like me, if only just for that reason! ha ha.
The only person I have received mail from is Grandma Proksch and the Dear Elders mail. Nothing else has come, but then again I haven't asked the zone leaders about it or anything so we shall see. I am going to try to send more pictures, but I don't know how well it will work so I will send them in another email. So, I got the picture of Britton and it's pretty cool. It's just hard to believe that he's out the same time as me and just about everyone else it feels like.
I am super jealous of Charlie and everybody that had the opportunity to do the Mt. Charleston climb and I really feel lazy this week because the rain makes it hard to do exercise and I really wanted to run this week. I am not surprised with the awesome work that Charlie did in getting fourth place. I would like to say I am surprised, but I mean, come on, it's Charlie! ha ha ha. I still want to ride when I get back (100 miles) .
Oh and thank you so much for the email with President Monson's talk in it. I just barely read over it and I want to study it some more before I write what I think about it. Thank you so much for that. I have been dying to hear some Conference things and the Conference talks that we are going to see next week will be in Portuguese and it's a little hard to translate all the time. So any more that you can get a hold of would be great.
I am super excited to start Jesus the Christ. I feel like there is a lot of things in there that I can use to help investigators and then I think I am going to return to reading the Book of Mormon a couple of times. This week I started the Pearl of Great Price and, wow, it's like a temple visit all over again. ha ha But that's a good thing. I check myself while I read it sometime because I sit and think "Am I supposed to be reading this outside of the temple?" ha ha ha That is really fun and I liked learning about Enoch. I think it is interesting how when the Lord called him to be a prophet he told the Lord that he was slow of speech and felt as though he could not do anything. I love the result of the Lord working with him. All of the promises by the Lord were fulfilled (surprise, surprise!) and he made him mighty in word and deed because of his obedience. That's a good little bit to read and it's interesting. It helps you understand the temple with a little more knowledge and allows you to review some important parts that you may feel pass too quick. That was my reading this week and I am excited to keep learning.
I really like your comments about the sisters in the ward and if I may, I think that is the key to bringing your sisters together is bringing everyone to a level understanding like President Monson said in his talk. It's not enough just to talk about these things, but we must do them if we are to get any better. Even if that is calling someone to a new position (every souls worth is great in the sight of God). Don't you think he has a calling in mind for each of his children? That is probably why the First Presidency and the twelve really like doing mission calls for the members of this church because it is such a testament to them that he knows everyone individually and that he has a place for them to work in his vineyard. Do not think that this doesn't apply to the ward. I believe that the prophet is exactly right and the only way to help someone grow is first you need to stretch them (I can now speak from experience).
I love you a lot mom and dad and want you to know that I think of what you have taught me often. It helps me make the right decisions our here and keep my head on straight.
I love you all lots and thank you for your support thus far.
Your elder,
Elder Proksch
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