January 18, 2010
Hey hey hey
Okay, so it’s been a pretty eventful week here in Hot Land aka Piura. To start, I have had a cold all week that came on out of nowhere last Monday. (Strange having a cold in the middle of the hot summer.) That was with me all week and was kinda lame, but I got through the week fine. My nose is still bothering me, but the sinus congestion and cough are gone, so it’s getting there. On Wednesday, my nose was really stuffy, and I was doing a work visit in another area and wasn’t in my room. I was so desperate for relief that I put Icy Hot up my nose to try and clear it. To make a long story short, that was probably the worst minute of my life (because it is ICY HOT), but it did work…for at least a half hour or so…but some relief is better than no relief. Later that night I went back to my area and got the pressurized nasal spray that Mom sent me a long time ago. That stuff is a miracle worker. Side note... The next morning I walked around for about five minutes after getting ready before realizing that something was walking across the top of my foot inside my shoe…and it was a cricket. That was not cool. I freaked out! Lesson learned… snooze to check the shoes or I may lose. (I don’t need THAT kind of company!)
The week was kind of a struggle - a bit slow - because of the cold symptoms. Martin got confirmed yesterday, and that was great, but there is not much more to tell about our invetigators. Harold did not get baptized yesterday. During the middle of the week he decided that he wanted to change his date until the end of the month. So, hopefully when that day comes he will feel ready and go through with it. He is still coming along pretty well though, so I’m not too worried about it. Melina is doing pretty well, too. However, she went to Lima yesterday and we don’t know when she is returning . . . could be up to two weeks. We are just hoping that she doesn’t get any negativity thrown at her while she is there.
On Friday, I did a baptismal interview for another area. I love doing baptism interviews. This was one of those times that was just awesome. I interviewed a 14 girl named LucyMar. She was great and had such a good testimony about the gospel. She told me about how happy she is whenever she does something gospel oriented. That was definitely one of the highlights in a week that was somewhat slow. On Sunday, I was playing prelude music when the bishop came and told me that my companion and I were scheduled to speak. I just love how organized my ward is…lots of things happen last minute like that here in Los Ficus. But, oh well. So I thought of something real quick to talk about and actually pulled a 15 minute talk out of nowhere. So that worked out pretty nice. The best part was that the bishop didn’t even tell my companion, just me while I was playing, so my companion didn’t know until the bishop announced us to speak, about seven seconds in advance. But I spoke first, so no worries.
My zone needs a bit of help right now. And to be perfectly honest, I am not sure what to do. We are finding and teaching a lot of new people, but we are struggling to get commitments, such as church attendance, acceptance of baptismal dates or to otherwise prepare for baptism. So I need something to help my zone get out of this little funk. But I am not sure what to do…so I ask for your prayers that my companion and I will be able to figure out what our zone needs right now.
Finally, I completed 18 months on Saturday! I absolutely cannot believe that. I am so happy to be here. I have heard a lot from missionaries that just recently went home and they pretty much all tell me the same thing…that getting home has its own set of challenges and to keep working hard on the work to the end. That is obviously what I intend to do. I don’t know why, but I was thinking of something amusing that probably only Brad (and maybe Jordan) will understand (from Arrested Development):
Michael: "It’s take your daughter to work day."
George Michael: "Hey Dad, does this skirt go good with this blouse?"
I dunno if that’s exactly how it is…but it’s something like that. I know, it makes absolutely no sense, but that just popped into my head and made me laugh. (Sorry Dad, not real spiritual, I know.) So on that note…life is good here. As far as anything I need, nothing really - besides maybe sun screen. (And please enclose the family Christmas letter. I still haven’t got to read it yet. Come on!) I am very happy in Peru, and so grateful to still have six months to serve as a Special Witness of Jesus Christ. I love my Savior. I love His gospel and I especially love testifying of His plan of salvation. It’s pretty hot here now, kinda miserable, but the Church is now and will always be true. And THAT’S what’s important. So love it, live it every day.
Elder “Still a Lousy Soccer Player” Royal
Monday, January 18, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
The Gospel is My Glue
Hey hey hey
Ok, let me think back a bit to what happened this week. I didn’t take good notes so now I gotta try and remember. We had some positive progression from our investigators this week. First and foremost, Martin Pintado got baptized yesterday! That was exciting because it was the first baptism we have had here. Having been here for nine weeks now with nothing, it was getting kinda frustrating. But things are finally coming along. Martin got baptized yesterday, and we should have two more in the next two weeks. So that is great. The service went well. Ex-Elder Crickmore (now known as Reid) will like to know that his buddy Jairo from Piura Central performed the baptism, so that was cool. Elder Michaelson and I sang "Nearer my God to Thee" and I played the guitar. That went well and the service turned out great.
We had a cita with Harold and his family. His wife is inactive and recently is coming to church again. We have been teaching them for a bit now and they are coming along great. Harold has a baptismal date for next Sunday. So we went to their house Friday night for a cita and his wife answered the door with a "this might not be a good time" look on her face. She let us in anyway and we sat down. About a minute later, in came Harold with his four year old daughter – both with cut, bruised, bloody and bandaged faces and arms. It was quite the sight, and it was very sad to see little Milena all bandaged up and crying. They were riding a bike a couple hours earlier, and his daughter was in his lap and somehow her sandal got caught in the front wheel, acting as a brake and sending them both over the front of the bike and into the street. They got beat up pretty good from it. We gave them blessings and still managed to have a nice visit with them. At least it wasn’t worse. Good old Harold, though, was just worried that he wouldn’t be able to go to church. He didn’t go, but at least we know he has a good excuse - and his heart is in the right place. He is still on for his baptism next Sunday and is even helping his eight year old son understand as well so they can do it together.
The 24 year old Melina is coming along as well and we had help from the single men everyday this week. We taught her twice and she is doing well. She also accepted a baptismal date for the 24th of January and came to church yesterday. So she is coming right along and things are progressing here in Los Ficus. There is something I haven’t been able to figure out lately…and that’s for the past two weeks or so, everyday at the end of the night I smell like glue. Or at least that what it smells like to me. Kinda weird. We had zone council today with President Chipman and it was awesome. It really helped and was perfect for me and with what I need right now. President Chipman is the man and so powerfully, yet humble, speaks. I am happy to be a missionary. Time is going by so fast, seeing as we are already in 2010…and I am as happy as ever to be here. By the way, are you taking pics of the whole process with the landscaping and stuff, because I’d like that - too see the yard all naked and what not. And I definitely think you should put in a little porch in front of that big window to chill on in the future. That would be sweet. I love you all very much! And never forget, the Church is true, absolutely, positively true!!! Learn it. Apply it. Live it.
Elder "Sometimes Smells Like Elmers" Royal
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Happy Peruvian New Year!
Hey hey hey
Well, it's January and we are ALL ABOUT starting a new decade down here in Peru. So happy new year to everyone! We didn’t really do anything for New Year's Eve, but that’s ok. Things have been good here and my area is really starting to improve – and that makes me very happy. I have been here for about eight weeks now with very little success, and things are starting to finally take off. The ward, which has been rather cold and not helpful, is starting to get its feet wet in the missionary work. Example – normally we have four people in the missionary correlation meeting, and that includes my companion and me. Yesterday, we had about 20. Boo yah! So things are improving significantly.
We have five people progressing right now, which is the best that we have had so far. It's been great to have people to teach for more than just one or two lessons. Seriously, I just feel so awesome that people are progressing and listening to us! I was thinking about it last night as we reported the numbers and for the first time on a Sunday night, I felt content with the numbers in my area. Usually I think, "What are we doing WRONG???" So yesterday, it was a pleasant surprise to see that things are picking up. We found a new investigator on Saturday who is really cool. Her name is Melina, and she is 24 years old. When I met her she asked me where I was from, and when I told her the United States, she got a surprised look and said she thought I must have been from Puerto Rico because of my Spanish. :) That made me feel extra good. Melina recently came in contact with the missionaries after meeting some LDS guy on Facebook who was teaching her a bit about the gospel. Kinda a weird way to find out about the gospel, but hey, it works. So there ya go. Facebook is a great gospel sharing tool - and you never know when you just might lead a golden investigator to some missionaries praying for success. So Melina came to church yesterday and . . . well to be honest I think more than anything she is the reason that most of the ward is interested in the missionary work now. All the young singles were surrounding her, asking questions, offering service, all kinds of stuff, and I just thought, "Wow this girl is never gonna come back here because these guys are gonna scare her to death." That being said, a large number of the 20 in the correlation meeting were young single men, all of a sudden asking us, "Elders when can I come teach with you? I’m free all day ever day." (ha)
But besides finding hot singles for unmarried members in our ward, ;) we are teaching two families right now that are both attending church, and another young man, Martin, 27 years old, who I think I mentioned last week. He is absolutely pumped for his baptism which is set for the 17th. We may move it to this week just because he is coming along SO well. So we’ll see. But he really is awesome. He is so excited about the gospel and it is great to talk to him and listen to him talk about how he struggles with his past drinking habits and such but is working so hard to overcome – either by reading the Book of Mormon or going running or something when he feels tempted. He is awesome. We have also started teaching the new member/investigator class in our ward. That is fun. It's cool because it makes a more relaxed environment for the investigators and it's easier for them to participate in open discussion and ask questions. So I am looking forward to doing that in the upcoming weeks as well.
Things are going good here. On the 1st we had the afternoon to play sports and stuff since everyone I, ya know, hung over. Well, because of poor planning we never really got everyone together, and I ended up throwing around an AMERICAN football all afternoon with Elder Michaelson, which turned out better than soccer anyway. So life is good. It's getting warmer, but I am definitely adjusted to Piura so I guess I don’t really feel it anymore. We are working hard, feeling good, feeling happy, feeling positive. Being a missionary rocks. The Church is true.
Elder "I'm Learning to Be Nicer to People" Royal
Well, it's January and we are ALL ABOUT starting a new decade down here in Peru. So happy new year to everyone! We didn’t really do anything for New Year's Eve, but that’s ok. Things have been good here and my area is really starting to improve – and that makes me very happy. I have been here for about eight weeks now with very little success, and things are starting to finally take off. The ward, which has been rather cold and not helpful, is starting to get its feet wet in the missionary work. Example – normally we have four people in the missionary correlation meeting, and that includes my companion and me. Yesterday, we had about 20. Boo yah! So things are improving significantly.
We have five people progressing right now, which is the best that we have had so far. It's been great to have people to teach for more than just one or two lessons. Seriously, I just feel so awesome that people are progressing and listening to us! I was thinking about it last night as we reported the numbers and for the first time on a Sunday night, I felt content with the numbers in my area. Usually I think, "What are we doing WRONG???" So yesterday, it was a pleasant surprise to see that things are picking up. We found a new investigator on Saturday who is really cool. Her name is Melina, and she is 24 years old. When I met her she asked me where I was from, and when I told her the United States, she got a surprised look and said she thought I must have been from Puerto Rico because of my Spanish. :) That made me feel extra good. Melina recently came in contact with the missionaries after meeting some LDS guy on Facebook who was teaching her a bit about the gospel. Kinda a weird way to find out about the gospel, but hey, it works. So there ya go. Facebook is a great gospel sharing tool - and you never know when you just might lead a golden investigator to some missionaries praying for success. So Melina came to church yesterday and . . . well to be honest I think more than anything she is the reason that most of the ward is interested in the missionary work now. All the young singles were surrounding her, asking questions, offering service, all kinds of stuff, and I just thought, "Wow this girl is never gonna come back here because these guys are gonna scare her to death." That being said, a large number of the 20 in the correlation meeting were young single men, all of a sudden asking us, "Elders when can I come teach with you? I’m free all day ever day." (ha)
But besides finding hot singles for unmarried members in our ward, ;) we are teaching two families right now that are both attending church, and another young man, Martin, 27 years old, who I think I mentioned last week. He is absolutely pumped for his baptism which is set for the 17th. We may move it to this week just because he is coming along SO well. So we’ll see. But he really is awesome. He is so excited about the gospel and it is great to talk to him and listen to him talk about how he struggles with his past drinking habits and such but is working so hard to overcome – either by reading the Book of Mormon or going running or something when he feels tempted. He is awesome. We have also started teaching the new member/investigator class in our ward. That is fun. It's cool because it makes a more relaxed environment for the investigators and it's easier for them to participate in open discussion and ask questions. So I am looking forward to doing that in the upcoming weeks as well.
Things are going good here. On the 1st we had the afternoon to play sports and stuff since everyone I, ya know, hung over. Well, because of poor planning we never really got everyone together, and I ended up throwing around an AMERICAN football all afternoon with Elder Michaelson, which turned out better than soccer anyway. So life is good. It's getting warmer, but I am definitely adjusted to Piura so I guess I don’t really feel it anymore. We are working hard, feeling good, feeling happy, feeling positive. Being a missionary rocks. The Church is true.
Elder "I'm Learning to Be Nicer to People" Royal
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Christmas and Sunglasses!
Hey hey hey:
Alright well I need to get through this kinda fast so here we go. Last Monday we went to the airport to see off the big group of departing gringos. (I bet at least some of them may read this, so . . . What's up guys?) It was cool to be there. I got pictures with all of them and a few videos of them walking out the gate and stuff, and of me giving them hugs. It was kinda sad, but life goes on. I have already heard from a few of them. It's cool to hear they are home and doing well, adjusting to post mission life and all that. On the other hand, about 15 new gringos arrived the following day and they are…well they're very new. One of them, Elder Michaelson, lives in my room. He is a good guy, pretty innocent, good kid, really focused, which is awesome.
Christmas was cool. It was much, much easier to get through this year than it was last year. Yeah, for sure, the second Christmas in the mission is easier. Christmas Eve was fun. It's way different here, with fireworks at midnight and stuff, but it was great. We spent Christmas Eve with our pension's family. Christmas was pretty lazy most of the day while everyone was trying to get a hold of their families. So, talking to you guys was pretty awesome, and again, not the trunky feelings I experienced last year. (Well, for the exception of Brad talking about Muse and Mom and Dad asking me about what I want to do at the end of my mission. I have seven months left, c’mon people.) We had a Christmas Conference with President on Christmas Day as well. That went pretty good. We had five zones there and all of them were supposed to have a little song ready to perform. I think we were the only ones that actually practiced something. I used our zone meeting day (earlier in the week) only to practice a song for the Christmas Conference. We sang "Angels We Have Heard on High," and I played the guitar. It pretty much turned out awesome and blew everyone else out of the water. ;-) The best part was that I started playing for a second, stopped, pulled President Chipman's HUGE sunglasses out of my pocket, put them on, and then started again. It was awesome. I have a video . . . you'll see it one day. I met a bunch of the new missionaries that day. Most of them seem pretty shell shocked. They all said it didn’t feel like Christmas. I know the feeling. It was like their second day in the mission field. That must have been interesting. Oh and it was 100 degrees - so it did not have a real Christmassy feel. But, they'll adjust, get focused on the work, and figure out that life marches onward, and that nothing is better than doing the Lord's work.
We have started to get a better teaching pool here. It's coming along. It's tough in this ward but things are moving forward a bit better. It is encouraging to see results. We met a guy named Martin this week who has lived a pretty bad, sinful life, but now wants to change. We have taught him three times and he is completing compromises better than anyone ever does. He is reading, even studying what we give him, praying, and showed up to church all on his own - well dressed and clean shaven. He is a very good guy. Martin put his baptism date a few weeks forward just to give him time to get past his alcohol addiction and stuff. We are helping to strengthen a lot of people in the ward as well. It's just a bit weak and the members need a lot of help. We are trying to help a man named Ricardo, who got baptized about four years ago, but still doesn't actually believe in the Book of Mormon, nor has he read it. It's kinda sad but I hope we can help him because he is really wearing down his family. So, although the work is a bit more difficult/challenging here (the richer, more prosperous part of Piura), I am enjoying it and we are constantly trying to find new ideas for something that might work better to lead people to Christ.
Christmas was great, and I love being a missionary. I bet Crickmore (oh, and yes, I can actually call him that now that he's been released, Dad) wishes that he had seven more months with me - because we would be an awesome companionship. So things are going great. I hope that everyone had a good Christmas, and that the new year is good, too. The Church is true as true can be. Love it. Live it.
Elder "I Sing Christmas Songs With Sunglasses On" Royal
Alright well I need to get through this kinda fast so here we go. Last Monday we went to the airport to see off the big group of departing gringos. (I bet at least some of them may read this, so . . . What's up guys?) It was cool to be there. I got pictures with all of them and a few videos of them walking out the gate and stuff, and of me giving them hugs. It was kinda sad, but life goes on. I have already heard from a few of them. It's cool to hear they are home and doing well, adjusting to post mission life and all that. On the other hand, about 15 new gringos arrived the following day and they are…well they're very new. One of them, Elder Michaelson, lives in my room. He is a good guy, pretty innocent, good kid, really focused, which is awesome.
Christmas was cool. It was much, much easier to get through this year than it was last year. Yeah, for sure, the second Christmas in the mission is easier. Christmas Eve was fun. It's way different here, with fireworks at midnight and stuff, but it was great. We spent Christmas Eve with our pension's family. Christmas was pretty lazy most of the day while everyone was trying to get a hold of their families. So, talking to you guys was pretty awesome, and again, not the trunky feelings I experienced last year. (Well, for the exception of Brad talking about Muse and Mom and Dad asking me about what I want to do at the end of my mission. I have seven months left, c’mon people.) We had a Christmas Conference with President on Christmas Day as well. That went pretty good. We had five zones there and all of them were supposed to have a little song ready to perform. I think we were the only ones that actually practiced something. I used our zone meeting day (earlier in the week) only to practice a song for the Christmas Conference. We sang "Angels We Have Heard on High," and I played the guitar. It pretty much turned out awesome and blew everyone else out of the water. ;-) The best part was that I started playing for a second, stopped, pulled President Chipman's HUGE sunglasses out of my pocket, put them on, and then started again. It was awesome. I have a video . . . you'll see it one day. I met a bunch of the new missionaries that day. Most of them seem pretty shell shocked. They all said it didn’t feel like Christmas. I know the feeling. It was like their second day in the mission field. That must have been interesting. Oh and it was 100 degrees - so it did not have a real Christmassy feel. But, they'll adjust, get focused on the work, and figure out that life marches onward, and that nothing is better than doing the Lord's work.
We have started to get a better teaching pool here. It's coming along. It's tough in this ward but things are moving forward a bit better. It is encouraging to see results. We met a guy named Martin this week who has lived a pretty bad, sinful life, but now wants to change. We have taught him three times and he is completing compromises better than anyone ever does. He is reading, even studying what we give him, praying, and showed up to church all on his own - well dressed and clean shaven. He is a very good guy. Martin put his baptism date a few weeks forward just to give him time to get past his alcohol addiction and stuff. We are helping to strengthen a lot of people in the ward as well. It's just a bit weak and the members need a lot of help. We are trying to help a man named Ricardo, who got baptized about four years ago, but still doesn't actually believe in the Book of Mormon, nor has he read it. It's kinda sad but I hope we can help him because he is really wearing down his family. So, although the work is a bit more difficult/challenging here (the richer, more prosperous part of Piura), I am enjoying it and we are constantly trying to find new ideas for something that might work better to lead people to Christ.
Christmas was great, and I love being a missionary. I bet Crickmore (oh, and yes, I can actually call him that now that he's been released, Dad) wishes that he had seven more months with me - because we would be an awesome companionship. So things are going great. I hope that everyone had a good Christmas, and that the new year is good, too. The Church is true as true can be. Love it. Live it.
Elder "I Sing Christmas Songs With Sunglasses On" Royal
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
The Circle of Mission Life - Bye Bye My Boys!!
December 21, 2009
Hey hey hey,
Well, I am trying to get through this kind of quickly. I will be going to the airport in about an hour to see off the 15 gringos that are going home today. It's pretty crazy that they are all going home now. I have known these guys since I first started, and it is really kinda sad to see them leave. I just don’t know the mission any other way. But, 15 new gringos are showing up tomorrow, and life as a missionary will go on, no matter what happens, or for how long I cry…we move forward. (I love these guys. They are awesome!)
We ended pretty well this week as a zone. It actually turned out to be the best week of the cambio as far as baptisms go. I liked our zone. We had a good group. Cambios are tomorrow. Elder Guerra is leaving and my new comp is Elder Meza. I don’t know him all that well but everyone says he is cool. So I am not worried. A lot of the zone is changing, but we have good missionaries coming in. We have one training who actually lives in the same room as me, so HOPEFULLY he trains one of the new gringos. The odds are pretty good…15 gringos and 2 Latinos. I have no problem with the Latinos, but to have a gringo join us would just be splendid. We’ll see.
I continue to learn great new things as a missionary. Before the mission, even before this cambio, I didn’t have a great understanding of the Holy Ghost. It has such a new meaning to me now: what the Holy Ghost is and how it helps and blesses us. The doctrine is incredible, really. I can't go into much detail because of lack of time and no one necessarily desiring to read all my preaching, but really, it's amazing and it just makes teaching so much for fun when I know more about what I am teaching and the truthfulness of it all.
We did NOT baptize Eva this week. Dang. She told her family and they flipped out - as predicted. And even though she is older, she said she will not be able to do it, talk with us again, come to church, talk to members, or do anything that would be remotely close to following the path of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Very sad and unfortunate. The Savior once challenged those unwilling to leave their family and follow Him (such as Peter, James and John, who left their professions altogether in response to the mere invitation: "Come follow me"). So we have not been able to get in touch with her this week. Maybe we'll get some luck here in the near future. So we won't give up hope. She has a great, courageous heart. But, it is always so frustrating when someone sees the light, gains a tender testimony, and is then entirely obstructed from proceeding due to severe family pressure (in some cases family disowning their own simply because they have embraced the gospel in its fulness).
Otherwise, everything is good here. I am happy, healthy, working hard. We had a special missionary conference yesterday. Our zone sang a special musical number that we practiced a few times this week and it actually came out pretty good. I was happy about that. Oh, on Saturday we were waiting at the church for an interview, and while we were waiting I played the bass guitar with a little band that the singles in my ward have put together. Haha, that was a GREAT 10 minutes.
I received a letter from the Stark family this week that just impressed the heck out of me. I really loved reading that and hearing about how well their children are doing and how successful every single one of them are. That is just so great. There are so many people that throw life away on pointless things. After I read that, it really made me reflect about what I was able to do in my childhood, what talents and skills I was able to develop, and see areas/times where I wasted time. I also thought a lot about how I will apply that after the mission to always be productive, constantly learning and improving in every aspect…because that's what we should be doing. (Yes Mom, I'll probably play less "Halo" in the days ahead.) So thank you Stark family for being so awesome. My whole family is awesome. It's so great to be blessed not only with such a strong family, but also with a great extended family. You guys are the bomb.com. I love you all very much, and thank everyone for their prayers and support. The mission is amazing. I am looking forward to Christmas this year. I shant lie, this Christmas will be MUCH easier on me than last, now being so adjusted to the mission. The Church is true. Have a very Merry Navidad!!
Elder "Hey, Who Won the World Series?" Royal
Hey hey hey,
Well, I am trying to get through this kind of quickly. I will be going to the airport in about an hour to see off the 15 gringos that are going home today. It's pretty crazy that they are all going home now. I have known these guys since I first started, and it is really kinda sad to see them leave. I just don’t know the mission any other way. But, 15 new gringos are showing up tomorrow, and life as a missionary will go on, no matter what happens, or for how long I cry…we move forward. (I love these guys. They are awesome!)
We ended pretty well this week as a zone. It actually turned out to be the best week of the cambio as far as baptisms go. I liked our zone. We had a good group. Cambios are tomorrow. Elder Guerra is leaving and my new comp is Elder Meza. I don’t know him all that well but everyone says he is cool. So I am not worried. A lot of the zone is changing, but we have good missionaries coming in. We have one training who actually lives in the same room as me, so HOPEFULLY he trains one of the new gringos. The odds are pretty good…15 gringos and 2 Latinos. I have no problem with the Latinos, but to have a gringo join us would just be splendid. We’ll see.
I continue to learn great new things as a missionary. Before the mission, even before this cambio, I didn’t have a great understanding of the Holy Ghost. It has such a new meaning to me now: what the Holy Ghost is and how it helps and blesses us. The doctrine is incredible, really. I can't go into much detail because of lack of time and no one necessarily desiring to read all my preaching, but really, it's amazing and it just makes teaching so much for fun when I know more about what I am teaching and the truthfulness of it all.
We did NOT baptize Eva this week. Dang. She told her family and they flipped out - as predicted. And even though she is older, she said she will not be able to do it, talk with us again, come to church, talk to members, or do anything that would be remotely close to following the path of Jesus Christ and His gospel. Very sad and unfortunate. The Savior once challenged those unwilling to leave their family and follow Him (such as Peter, James and John, who left their professions altogether in response to the mere invitation: "Come follow me"). So we have not been able to get in touch with her this week. Maybe we'll get some luck here in the near future. So we won't give up hope. She has a great, courageous heart. But, it is always so frustrating when someone sees the light, gains a tender testimony, and is then entirely obstructed from proceeding due to severe family pressure (in some cases family disowning their own simply because they have embraced the gospel in its fulness).
Otherwise, everything is good here. I am happy, healthy, working hard. We had a special missionary conference yesterday. Our zone sang a special musical number that we practiced a few times this week and it actually came out pretty good. I was happy about that. Oh, on Saturday we were waiting at the church for an interview, and while we were waiting I played the bass guitar with a little band that the singles in my ward have put together. Haha, that was a GREAT 10 minutes.
I received a letter from the Stark family this week that just impressed the heck out of me. I really loved reading that and hearing about how well their children are doing and how successful every single one of them are. That is just so great. There are so many people that throw life away on pointless things. After I read that, it really made me reflect about what I was able to do in my childhood, what talents and skills I was able to develop, and see areas/times where I wasted time. I also thought a lot about how I will apply that after the mission to always be productive, constantly learning and improving in every aspect…because that's what we should be doing. (Yes Mom, I'll probably play less "Halo" in the days ahead.) So thank you Stark family for being so awesome. My whole family is awesome. It's so great to be blessed not only with such a strong family, but also with a great extended family. You guys are the bomb.com. I love you all very much, and thank everyone for their prayers and support. The mission is amazing. I am looking forward to Christmas this year. I shant lie, this Christmas will be MUCH easier on me than last, now being so adjusted to the mission. The Church is true. Have a very Merry Navidad!!
Elder "Hey, Who Won the World Series?" Royal
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