August 1, 2009
Hey hey hey!
Well, another week is gone. This morning we got invited to breakfast by one of the hermanas in our ward – which consisted of eggs mixed with hot dogs (a delicacy), bread, paneton (fruitcake stuff), and hot chocolate. It was a real Peruvian Christmas style breakfast. Pretty good, too. They eat that paneton stuff by the kilos at Christmas time, and man I was getting that stuff shoved down my throat and just hating it – but at the time the typhoid was making it hard to eat anything, haha. But, it's grown on me. Yes, I actually kinda like it now. So it was a pretty delicious start to the day.
It was a good week, overall, I'd say, filled with all kinds of crazy stuff, lots of good mixed with some bad. (Those are usually the best weeks.) It started out kinda rough on me, just ... because, and got a lot better as the week went on. On Wednesday I had my first actual personal interview with President Chipman. We talked for a while and it may have been the best interview I have had on my mission so far. The man is absolutely amazing. I've had a great impression of him since the first day he got here, and it's easy to see how much he loves EVERYONE. And how humble he is. The first day he was here, and missionary asked him: "President Chipman, what do you think is the most important calling that you have had?" I wondered how he would respond, knowing he has served as a bishop, in stake leadership, was a Seventy, and is now a mission president. Without hesitation his response was: "A Father." He is just an amazing man that does not glory at all in his title or mantle, but only seeks to serve. It is so cool to be able to be here and work directly with him in the office.
We had another pretty good teaching week. I spent a lot of time in the office getting the money ready for Agosto, but we were still able to get out and teach quite a bit. The biggest news of our investigators is that Yesenia is getting baptized today! Did I tell you about her yet? I can't recall. Anyway, Yesenia is the 11 stepsister of Damaris. We began teaching her and she progressed a lot. Anyway, Yesenia agreed to attend church last Sunday so long as I went with her to primary. So, we went to pick her up...and sadly neither of the girls were there, and her mother said that she was not going. And I was really kinda down about that. Later, at the conclusion of sacrament meeting, I noticed Yesenia sitting all alone in the front of the chapel. What?? I was ecstatic! I talked to her afterwards and she said: "Yep, I came by myself, and remember that you have to go with me to primary, elder?" It was so awesome. And it's not a short walk from her house. I think she grabbed a moto taxi by herself. Haha. So I went to the two hours and got to mess around with the primary kids. At the end of the block, she got up and started talking to the teacher. The teacher quieted everyone and said: "Everyone listen! Yesenia has an announcement!" Yesenia: "You're all invited to my baptism, this Saturday at five." Me: "WHAT!?" She did that all by herself - did not even tell me beforehand. It was so awesome. Afterward she was dragging me around saying: "We have to tell everyone about my baptism! Did you tell that hermano yet, Elder? Does he know yet? Go tell him!" It was so funny, so exciting. Yesenia was just so happy, all dressed up, glowing. She had 20 cents with her and asked: "How do I pay my tithing?" Wow, just an awesome little girl. Her stepsister Demaris is awesome, too. And her baptism is a very exciting for us, because we really worked hard with her - and love her very much.
The first time I met Yesenia she wouldn't come out of her room, but just peeked at us from behind the door (actually, the door to her room is just a sheet) and now we are now the best of friends. It's been so awesome teaching her, and helping her understand the gospel, and watching her change, seeing her light shine. She is so much happier. The gospel is just so amazing like that. No matter what age we are, the gospel literally turns on an inner light in our eyes. I know the gospel is helping that girl be happier. This week I purposely stopped asking to being our discussions with a prayer, and would just jump right into a lesson and wait for her to cut me off and say: "Wait! Elder ... shouldn't we start with a prayer?" haha. (I just liked messing with her.) There are still some family problems in that house, with the whole stepmom/stepdaughter thing. The mom kind of upset me yesterday because we were all in the same room together and she started complaining about how hard she has tried for the past four years (since the families combined in marriage) to help Yesenia be obedient and do the right things, and that she has struggled because Yesenia does this and that, and . . . ugh. It was terrible! No one said anything, but I just watched Yesenia as her smile disappeared and was replaced with a look of shame as her mother talked about her that way – completing her comments by stating that her own daughter, Demaris, is an angel by comparison. Now, Damaris is a very impressive nine year old, but so is Yesenia. They are just different and after a couple minutes of that I had to cut off the mother by changing the subject because it was really upsetting for me to have to listen to that. No child should have to hear his or her own parents talk that way about them. Anyway, we have a busy day planning for Yesenia's baptism. Today is when we start fasting, after lunch, so Yesenia was kinda disappointed about that, because there won't be a cake at her baptism – because she wanted it to be "just like Damaris' baptism." So I'm trying to plan out something really special for it today so that she will be able to enjoy it and be happy despite that lack of a torta. So now the whole family will be baptized members. Sweet! Next Mission: Unite them as a family and get them ready to be sealed in the temple. That would be one of the best things I have ever experienced.
Dad, that was really cool to hear your news with getting in touch with your old investigators. Quite an incredible story. I am very happy for you, that you got in touch with Evelyn and learned that she has been so true to the faith. It was really fun reading all your old mission journal entries about your teaching of her. It took me quite a while to get through the longest letter to a missionary ever (ha) but I really enjoyed it. Reading of your great story just made me that much happier to be a missionary. I look forward to those same, wonderful kind of experiences - and hope there will be many. Doesn't the gospel just do amazing things?!
Oh, before I forget, Jordan and Mike Taylor will love this ... earlier this week we went to teach Damaris and Yesenia, and they were watching a movie in the back room of their house. I didn't pay attention to it, but during the lesson I recognized the music from "Ice Age." (I've just seen that movie so many times.) The voices were dubbed over in Spanish of course, but right during the middle of the lesson I recognized that it was the part when Sid was trying to get the melon for the baby …and I knew it was coming, yeah you know what I'm talking about. The slow motion part when he starts running is not dubbed over, and I heard it perfectly … and I started laughing soooo hard! We were reading 2 Nefi 32 about prayer, and I just busted up laughing. Real spirit killer this Elder here. Finally for Elder "TJ" Gibson – I think I found the picture that you're talking about…yeah I guess it kinda looked like me, ya goober, got a real kick out of it, just like you said. Oh, and Mom, I got the package! You are always so great about taking care of every detail, from the nose drops, to the Pop-Tarts, to the CDs, etc. Oh, and thanks for the diccionario and the ring. I have it on right now...hace tiempo. I've been a long time without this bad boy. And how could I forget the sour strawberry strips! Awesome...looks like the right ones, too...let's give it a taste ..... awwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhh - awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww yeeeeeeeesss. So good. Wow, that is heavenly. ;)
Alright I should finish this up. The mission is absolutely wonderful. There is nothing better, and I love laying down each night and thinking: "I still have this much time left…yes!" I am very happy to be here, to continue learning and changing for the better. The Church is most definitely true. When I say "live it," I'm serious. Just do it, live the gospel, revolve yourself around it. There is nothing better!
Elder "Why Can't I Think of Anything to Put Here Any More?" Royal
P.S. Happy Bday Whitney! Let me know when you get my letter.
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