So this week was nuts again and I know I wont be able to fit all the blessings in this week. So I will just state the facts. First of all, today we opened up a marriage process for a couple, meaning pretty much their baptism is in the bag (that was fun). Second, the marriage seems to be mended between Oscar and Claudia. Easily my favorite family I have ever taught. I am going to really miss these guys if I have to leave here in the next 9 months (which I will have to do). We had a spiritual lesson to end all spiritual lessons. Oscar was having trouble expressing what he was experiencing and Claudia couldn't get the smile off her face. The changes they are seeing are things that they have been waiting for quite a while. Their papers are on the way and I am really excited to see them get into the water. Our third couple is moving along at warp speed and we are struggling to keep up with them (this is a good thing). Also, yesterday was raining, which usually spells disaster for numbers and people that show up at church, but all of our couples plus a new one showed up. I can't even imagine what will happen this week. We do have zone conference tomorrow and I am excited. President said we have a church psychologist coming in and the office elders said he's a little weird. You know, some guy worried about what's going on inside our heads. I guess he heard about how crazy my companion and I can be. President told us to keep an open mind about the things he will say to us tomorrow and I am excited to see how that goes. It's zone conference... what could possibly go wrong?? ha ha ha ha.
If I could, I would like to write part of this letter to Kyle:
I want to express some gratitude for the work that he is doing up in Russia and probably like to say that the mind set here in Africa as opposed to Russia is a little different. Down here they believe that if you don't go to a church, that you will go to hell... which is great for us because we get a lot of respect, but it's also bad because they think all churches lead to the same place. It's kind of like Kyle said, even though they are super close to the truth, they are the hardest to get there. It's intensely frustrating, but I won't pretend to know how it is in Russia. In fact, that's the mission I wanted before I got my call. I wanted to go to Russia really bad, and I still do. I think I would be trying to hide the truth if I said that your situation isn't like some of the prophets in the Book of Mormon, something I am sure you have already thought of. For instance, Abinadi, Mormon, Moroni, Samuel, Nephi, and Jacob. You have a tough job calling repentance to those who don't want to hear it and maybe finding a few who do. I had a feeling that maybe that mission would be like that and the fact that you were sent there tells me something about what the Lord knows about you. He knows you're not weak. He knows that you will do your job when nobody is looking and He also knows He can depend on you. I also think about that plaque they have in the MTC that President David O. McKay saw in Ireland that says, "What e´er thou art, act well thy part." All the signs on that place are numbers and in any given direction they all add up to 18, whether you're a 2 or a 9, you all add up to the same end and if you were a different number then it wouldn't work. Some times you got to be the best six you can be so someone else can be an eight. The work wouldn't be complete without you, though. Think of it this way, the Savior had to be a perfect ten so that the apostles together could be eights and add up to eighteen. Therefore, completing the work for the great apostasy and later for the wonderful restoration of the fullness of the gospel. I guess the trick here is that realizing your calling is to be put into somewhere not as fruitful and prepare the ground so that the sower can plant seeds and then someone else can harvest it (see the parable of the sower). It's a hard job and the Lord only chooses his best to get the job done. He also knows who he can count on to be loyal to the cause they signed up for. He knows He doesn't have to remind these workers to do what is necessary because their only desire is that of the Fathers´. Here's a scripture as well... try Helaman 10 on for size and see if you can relate some similarities between you and them. I especially like verses 4 and 5. I wouldn't trade my mission for the world, but I do know why He sent you there and I mean every word of it. Some people have talents that everyone can see. Others work quietly to make theirs known and others give of their ability freely and receive their reward at the end of the long journey. I'd like to bear my testimony that I know this work is true and that this gospel is that rock of salvation that Nephi talked about. From the experiences that you have had on your mission, you have fortified yourself there and I can't wait to talk to you face to face after the mission. The anticipation is killing me! (I also want to here what Russian sounds like) I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Sorry that was kind of long. I think I will answer your questions here.
Yes, the spiders are ginormous here and I will try to take more pictures of them...ha ha! Ask Dad about spiders in Australia and it's about the same.
Primary programs in Sacrament meetings are a negative, Ghost Rider. They are still trying to get good leadership into other auxiliaries so they can get a stake up and running. We are under construction, but the kids do get juice and cookies when they come to church. Most leave the house without getting much to eat.
I do share your worry about the Armed Forces and it's also something I have to pray about. I think I might be able to stay in school until his term is over. I know at least a bachelor's degree is about four years of schooling, so if it's in the planning, I think I can skirt his presidency a little. I have a strong desire to serve my country.
Anyway, I think that's it for this week. I love you all! Keep working hard. Oh, and congratulations Elder Blake on a job well done. I am sure the Lord is extremely pleased with your work. Now is when the real work begins.
***Elder Proksch's companion Elder Poyfair wrote to his family: "2 hours ago Elder Proksch and I became the first missionaries in over a year to open up a marriage process from T3! Anyways, Sunday the attendance at church was 85 and 15 of them were our investigators. So they really came out strong! I’m having so much fun out here! There is a lot of work to do, but I love it. My companion and I get along great. We are both goofballs, and neither of us really know 100% what we are doing but we are figuring it out! I can't even describe how awesome it feels helping these people. And yes, there are things to complain about, like coming home at night after a long
day in the hot sun and having to eat cold oatmeal, write in your journal by candlelight, and sleep in your sweatiness because there is no power or water, but it's the funnest thing ever and there is no where else I would rather be."
Lots of love,
Elder Proksch
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