August 29, 2009
Hey hey hey
Alright…another week gone by. Unfortunately, I am thinking back again and can't remember all that happened. Last week was a blessing that I was able to remember. Ok, one thing I can remember right off hand – it was hilarious. There is a missionary here in the office here – Elder Poma. He makes things interesting here - especially when he…loses himself emotionally. I took Elder Poma with me to teach Kengi, and I thought that the lesson went very well – and while it's usually pretty tough to teach with him, because he does weird stuff. But, he did a very good job – and I really thought it was a great lesson. So we got back to the office and I started working on some stuff and Elder Poma came into my office and just stared at me for like a minute. I didn't really pay attention because he always does that. (Like I said, interesting.) Then, he broke the silence with the following: "If we teach again together and you don't testify of what I say one more time, I am going to kick you." It was one of those things where someone says something that doesn't register right away and then your head pop up and you ask for some clarification. I said: "I'm sorry? I'm sorry, what?" Long story short, that turned into about a 20 minute discussion and ended with me explaining that there is a better, more loving way to give counsel to your companion rather than directly threatening to kick him. (I am so wise. Ha.) We got it straightened out, but it was hilarious. Actually, I have to say that I have made improvements in how I deal with situations like that. I am more patient, I've been working on letting go of pride, eliminating negative and hateful feelings. I have a new personal motto: "Erase yesterday." The goal is to start every day new and erasing everything that had annoyed me, made me unhappy, or which I allowed to take away my peace of mind and spirit. It is really making a difference for me.
Our zone conference was really cool this week. In the last zone conference, President Chipman told all of us that we needed to all have talks prepared for the future conferences and warned that we would randomly be chosen to give a five minute talk. I had something kinda ready - just a modified version of the talk I gave a couple weeks ago - but didn't think the president would call anyone from the office to do it. Anyway, I walked by him about three minutes before the meeting was to start and he grabbed me...like, hard, and it scared me (haha), and he said, "Elder Royal, you are going to give the first talk." Awesome. So I gave a talk - which seemed a bit messy and rushed, but I guess it went okay. Public speaking is really something I want to improve in. I am getting better, I think. Anyway, I guess everyone liked it, because those that got up and gave any type of message afterward, including the president and his wife, made mention of something I said. Anyway, I just thought that was interesting. The president mentioned to everyone that he had me speak because he wants the mission to know that the office is working. (haha.) I am glad President Chipman has so much faith and trust in me. Not...completely sure why...but I don't mind. I am not complaining. Trust is good. I want to always be trustworthy. Anyway, another great zone conference. President gave amazing messages. He compared us to the stripling warriors. I have heard that thousands of times, but whatever he did he made it seem so new and fresh. President Chipman is just an amazing man and I have all the respect in the world for him. He focused a lot on the way we ask questions to our investigators, and how by asking the right question the right way can depend a lot on how someone will progress. I loved it.
Our teaching is coming along. We met a new family yesterday that we taught a bit – well actually only the mom, but its still a start. It is the family Reyes. They are pretty Catholic, but…ya know. So we had a good discussion with her about the Book of Mormon and what it is, why its important. People just love talking up the Bible here, which is fine…but they actually understand very little of it. I love teaching the lesson of the restauración. It just makes so much sense, and it's so simple. I love teaching about Christ and His earthly ministry and explaining the foundation of His church, based on prophets, apostles, and Jesus Christ. My favorite thing to do is to (politely) ask someone if they know of an existing church that has the same foundation of the church that Jesus Christ established while He was on the earth. It's so awesome to see their faces change when they actually consider the possibility that He has, in fact, restored His gospel to the earth, that He has called a living prophet and apostles through whom He reveals truth to the world today. All in all, we had a good discussion with her and committed her to read the Book of Mormon – so we are gonna see how that goes. Kengi is, Kengi still. We still teach him but his dad is pretty set on that he will not be getting baptized until he is 18. Just a ploy for him to wait and forget about it. That will take some time, and work. We also had a baptism for this week, a young girl named Karla…but it didn't happen. . . YET! I think we will put that one together this week.
So that's about it for this week, mixed with taking missionaries to the hospital and cool stuff like that. Boy, I think that is my favorite part about the office – driving around Piura. Sooo much fun. But, maybe it's the hot showers. Maybe. Because that's quite the blessing. Well, I hope that everything is going well at home – now that classes have started up again and all that. Back to the real world - for y'all at least. I'm still in the missionary world, which is so much better than school. Special happy birthday greetings to Grandma Royal. I love you!! How do you feel, Grandma? Wiser? Well you ought to, because that's what the primary song says. I owe you a big happy birthday for all the happy birthdays you have helped to give me - but mostly just for being an awesome grandma. The best Grandma Royal a Royal could ask for. I hope this is a special day for you.
I am glad to hear last weekend went so well for Kelli and Jason, and that my great cousin Jason has now entered the MTC and joined me in the mission field. That is exciting. I am sending a few more pictures - mostly of me wearing sunglasses. I don't know why, but I just wanted to wear them for every picture so you'd see I can still look kinda cool. (Ha) Thanks for all your love, prayers and support everyone, and have a great week. The Church is most definitely true.
Elder te voy a patear Royal
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