Alright, well the weeks just seem to be flying by faster and faster – and when I stop to reflect each Saturday everything is usually a blur. This week was, sadly enough, largely spent working out money and other office problems. Hooray. Things are still coming along pretty well in the office, I'm becoming more efficient and that's good. We have changes coming up in the next two weeks. President Chipman and the assistants are already working on them. I guess there was something the First Presidency said about working on transfer changes earlier – so that's what's up. I will complete my third transfer in the office, and I figure I have at least two more…maybe three. Who knows? Actually, I have no idea. I can make a guess based on the previous two secretaries, but I seriously have no idea how President Chipman is going to work things, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I am happy to serve wherever I am needed.
We had a cool FHE with Damaris and Yesenia and their parents this week. Their father has been very inactive for quite some time now – but . . . . He came to church last Sunday! So that was way cool - the first time he has been to church in at least a year. I was pretty excited. We decided to do something different than how we normally teach when we go over there. So we took the white board from the office, and that by itself was sufficiently different. Not too many white boards around here in Peru. We taught them about families from the Proclamation to the World. It went really well. We discussed the importance of being united as a family and went over all the responsibilities of parents and children. It was cool, and I am really hoping it will help the father get back on track, and ultimately have the desire to take his wife and children to be sealed in the temple. After the lesson we played "Don't Eat Pete!" I don't know how many people out there know the game, because all the Americans I have asked about it have no idea what it is. But, it's a game where you have nine squares (or however many you want), put a piece of candy on each square, and one of the numbers is "Pete." One person at a time gets to eat the candy pieces, but when they go to eat Pete (everyone but the person eating knows which one Pete is) everyone screams "Don't Eat Pete!" and then your turn is over. It's a real good time, especially with three little kids. I, being the witty, sophisticated guy that I am, changed the name to "No Comas Pablo!" to fit the Peruvian language needs. I used the HUGE bag of Skittles that Mom sent me, so that worked out nice. (I have never seen so many Skittles, by the way.)
Kengi is coming along pretty well. He had his baptism planned for today…but that's not going to happen - and I'll take the blame for that. It was pretty exciting when Kengi first expressed a desire to be baptized – and I guess in the excitement of it all…we forgot to teach him about the commandments until Thursday. SOOO, he's got a few things here and there that he is NOW committed to not do – and we're gonna see how that goes this week. He's a really good kid, all of our lessons are really awesome with him. He always expresses his fear of sinning, which is actually one of the reasons he didn't want to get baptized, knowing he would sin after his baptism. So we are helping him through that, explaining the importance and magnificence of the Atonement, the ongoing process of humble repentance with renewed commitment to serve the Lord, and getting him committed to do the things that will help him be more confident in himself and ultimately much happier. I think he'll get there soon. At the same time, we are working on his father (because Kengi is a minor), who is reluctant to allow his son to be baptized because he does not like the idea of Kengi possibly serving a mission when he is older. He does not really grasp the spiritual side of religion, the very real sacrifices we are asked to make in response to the Savior's call: Come, follow me. That is a problem down here, with many people feeling religion is just like a fast food drive thru where you order something quick, pick it up, and leave, without thinking much beyond that until it's time to make another short visit. The Savior asks for our full commitment to Him, not just a little here and a little there - but to have a heart willing to give Him everything we have in this life. That is a very difficult concept for many here to grasp. But, we are working on it and I have faith we will help Kengi's father see to give his blessing for Kengi's baptism.
Well family, I don't have much else for ya today. But of course…happy birthday Mom! Dad wrote me about the surprise lunch party and it sounded pretty cool. I hope everyone is doing good. Hooray for Brad and only having one more week of selling, hooray for Kelli and Jason with two weeks away from their temple sealing, and hooray for Jordan . . . because he is Jordan and got to experience The Summer of Jordan. (I never had a Summer of David. What's up with that?) Seriously Jordan, glad you had a good time at BYU volleyball camp, that you can finally jump (it's about time, haha, jk). I love you all. The Church is true. Know it, love it, live it.
Elder "Be Sure to Teach Everything Before It's Two Days Before the Baptism" Royal
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