Value in Hard Work

Hello World,

So this week was awesome at church: four families and 14 people total.  I have never had that many people at church.  There is value in hard work and its in all the right areas.  we don't do a whole bunch of contacts because we don't have time to.  Most of our time is spent teaching people and running from lesson to lesson so that we can teach all the people that we have.  It's really a scramble to get to all the lessons we have each day.  This past week we have found new people and also all our core families are progressing nicely.  Manuel and Aida are doing well on their documents (this is the man with two wives) and yes, he has chosen a wife, it's Aida.  They are coming to church regularly and they are awesome.  Whatever you guys are saying in your prayers, it's helping.  Next is Jose and Cristina.  Jose and Cristina are this humble little couple but Jose has a drinking problem and his wife sells beer, so that doesn't help, but he is honestly trying to stop and Cristina is looking for another way to make money.  This man, Jose, is the same guy who, in the first lesson with him, basically recited the First Vision for me  before he heard it.  I mean, granted we had a picture there, but his words were pretty close.  His wife is really intelligent.  Even though they don't look it, they are a great couple.  Their next door neighbors are taking the lessons as well.  Agostino and Tereza... Agostino has no family and Tereza has very little family on her side.  Agostino almost got baptized a while ago in my old area, Macarungo, (before I got there, of course), but he is very knowledgeable about the gospel and his wife has a little daughter named Marcia.  She is super cute and just talks for days, even during the lessons.  All these people are headed for the seventh of June to be baptized and married.  The other family that came to church I don't know yet because I haven't met them.  We went on a division this week and I went with my district leader Elder Hillman.  This is his first time being a district leader so we talked a lot about things hes experiencing as a leader on the mission and little tips to help him with his job. It was a very rewarding experience.  It's starting to get colder and colder over here, which tells me how close my time is, it's not enough to have the rest of your house counting down for you, but getting signs from outside the house to remind you.  That being said, I think I will be focusing on working hard and trying to master that skill so I don't have to think about it.

I would like to say congratulations to Reid for earning his Eagle Palms.  That is awesome!  I saw the picture.  I just felt this overwhelming sense of pride for my little brother.  That is so cool!  Way to push the envelope.  Sorry to hear about his girlfriend moving to Indiana.  That does give you a bit of time to get prepped for your mission, though.  In fact, I can't wait to get home to tell you some things or at least help out a little bit and find out where you are going.  Enough of that, you still have some time before you go.

I also appreciate the quote from Elder Bednar.  Missionary work never stops, even when you are home.  Anyone who thinks different is deceived.  I get the feeling the only reason why you would stop is because you think you're getting a break when you get home, but that's far from the truth.  It's like getting transferred and you have other stuff to do.  Yes, it probably slows down, but it doesn't stop when you get home.  This week I feel like I need to study chapter eight in Preach My Gospel which is how to manage your time wisely.  I feel I could do that better and a better understanding of how to to that would greatly increase my efficiency.

Anyway, thank you for the letter and the pictures.  Yes, I will look to get the nativity.  Most of my old clothes that aren't in too bad of condition, like the shirts, will be going to my companion.  He doesn't have a camera or enough money to buy one and mine is in good enough condition.  I will leave mine with him (keeping the cards, though).

Lots of love, 

Elder Proksch