PREPARATION FOR WHAT REAL LIFE BRINGS...

February 24, 2014

Dear Family...

Here’s a thought...Life is a preparation to meet God, and the mission is a preparation for what real life brings, so everything that happens is for good.  The bad, the good, the ugly, the beautiful..it is all for our benefit, to make us stronger, and more prepared to face the trials that come...and to give us the power to stand in front of God in the last day. 

With that said, I’ll just say that it’s been a little bit of a tough week.  Not horrible.  Not like my training.  But it’s been tough, and I’m just looking for a little rest.   And that’s where my motto for this transfer comes from.  From hymn 112 “Savior Redeemer of my Soul”

“Change frowning foes, to smiling friends.”

There’s lots to do, but I’ve decided that line is my goal.  I want to work hard, and see what I can do to turn this around.  I don’t like it too much, because I don't feel like I have much personality, like how I felt earlier in my mission.  I feel like I can’t make a decision without a critique...and for this I am losing the spirit a little.  Like Taylor said when he had transfers from Kodorifu (I slaughtered it) [Koforidua]...that he kinda fell in a hole, and wasn’t really at the top of his game.  The same thing happened to me.  I was waking up in the morning with no energy, no desire, and my obedience was slacking. (nothing horribly bad)  I just felt bad and so tired.  

Until, yesterday.  We were walking to the church, and I was just praying in my head.  It was so spiritual.  I just felt so good.  I felt refreshed and ready to go.  And in that moment...I re-committed to my 100 percent obedience and decided to do my best.  And now, I am feeling the blessings that come from it. 

I really am not that bad, and sorry to unload...I just needed to put some of that out there.

Lots of things happened this week!  First I’ll start with service!  This week, we had service in the Chakras...Banana fields.  These bananas are sent to the USA and Europe and it was so cool to go there.  We went with this inactive man and helped him carry huge bags, of fertilizer.  We got close to the water and mud, kicked off our shoes, and just went for it.  Pretty cool experience.  Don’t worry.  I am fine.  Holy Cow! I have never seen so many different/new types of bugs.  Scorpions, spiders,mosquitoes , and everything.  Cool experience.  Also, we had the opportunity to help a investigator a dig a foundation for her house that burnt down.  A couple of hours in the killer-hot sun with a pick and shovel.  That is quite the service project! And my body feels it!  But I love it.

We have just had a hard week with lots of work.  Our area has to be one of the hardest areas in the mission because of this ‘Black Jesus Idol’ in the middle of town that everyone worships.  But it’s all good.  This transfer in going to be one of those ‘lots of work, but little progress’ transfers.  But we continue.

Also this week, we had a Family night with a family that lives a little bit far away from our area.  At the end, the brother agreed to bring us back to Querecotillo in his three wheeler-pickup-motorcycle mix.  So  we jumped in back and started heading home.  At this point its 8:45 and it’s all good.  We can be out till 9:00.  SO were going, and his motorcycle quits in the middle of nowhere.    Were in the middle of the road, in black darkness...in the middle of acres and acres of banana fields...without lights trying to fix a motorcycle.  We waited for like 45 minutes until someone came and picked us up.  Quite an experience!  A little bit scary, but its all good.


Mom’s questions:

Did you get to work in the banana field?  How was it? 
SO COOL.  I loved it!  I’m there in the photos.

Did you get to go see ancient ruins?  How was that? 
We didn't go to ruins, but we went to a place with mountains, ponds, and a river thats about 1 hour away.  It was really cool.   We played ultimate and a couple more games with our zone.  We really had a good time.  We passed through tons and tons and TONS of mango orchards.  I saw piles and piles and piles of mangos.  Like 5 feet high of mangos.  SO MANY.  I think thats were your mango came from.  It’s called Tambo Grande.

Companion stuff? 
We’re like half good. I just feel a little restricted.  I don’t know if it’s me, him, or if the people are just way harder here.

Ward? Have you made friends with the ward mission leader? 
The WML is our best friend.  Hes an RM from like 6 months back and hes really a cool guy.  Hes also our pensionista’s son, so were with him lots.

Health stuff? 
I am eating healthier, but I am going to try even harder this week!

It was a tough semana, but we’re working.  I love you all lots, Keep on truckin', keep on lovin', and keep on workin’! Know that I am good, and that it will all pass.

Elder Bradshaw

Who needs shoes in the banana field?