Dear family,
Well where to begin with this letter? This week has had its ups and downs. And I
won't lie, there has been times where I felt like I should just go home and that
would be easier. But everyone feels that way here at some point usually in the
first two weeks. I find everyone has their challenges and personal struggles as
well as personal discomforts and lack of confidence. I strive everyday that the
Lord will make His yoke easy and my burdens light. The food here is pretty good
with LOTS of potatoes, eggs and beans, but everyone ends up sick. I think it's because none of us is used to
the food. It's pretty bad.
They are doing lots of renovations here, updating things and
what not. We get to move up to the third
floor which has brand new things and bathrooms and showers that are so
nice. We are all super excited especially
because our old bathroom had so many problems.
You don't even want to know, especially when over 60 guys have to use it. It's horrible.
The weeks go by super fast but the days go by super slow. It is funny how Sunday ends up being the best
day other than P-day because we just go to meetings and relax. I'm constantly tired and just want to crash.
All of us are constantly tired.
Well we have been teaching this investigator for about a week
and a half and in that time period we taught him in Spanish and English and I
was prompted to bare my testimony and when I did I invited him to
baptized and he said he would. Well I found out that we won't be able to teach
him anymore because he really is already a member and he is our second teacher.
I was somewhat disappointed. My companion was happy because he didn't want to
feel like he ruined this guys life. But I understand why they do that and make
you believe he is real so you can learn better and for them to tell you what
you need to improve on.
To answer the dry cleaning thing, no, my mission is not in
the city so I will not have anything comfortable like that at all and we aren't
allowed to just go where we please. It is incredibly dangerous here and that's
not an exaggeration. In my last email I told you we have body guards that
follow us around with shot guns and semi automatics. It's insane here but I'm
super excited. Unfortunately there have been problems here. I believe that Polo
watch you gave me has been stolen.
Elder Bednar did a talk on worthiness and how we must
already be on a side and choose who to follow. We can't just expect to be able
to go out and teach people to repent and to follow the commandments and be
examples if we don't do it ourselves. Our
tongues will be tied and the words will be choked in our mouths and
the Spirit will not be with you. The
Spirit is the true and ultimate teacher. And then you have already failed
your companions and your investigators and truly yourself. Which is why it is
so important, so necessary for us to always be worthy from the beginning not
trying to play catch up. I felt unsure when I heard that message am I truly
worthy? Am I truly feeling the Spirit? It made me nervous and scared I just
sat there and thought for awhile and I wanted to know for myself. I
prayed hard. I cried unto the Lord that I may know He is real that He is there
and that if He is really there, do I have the privilege of carrying His
name. I can testify I received an answer
and that if you truly desire an answer, you can receive it.
Send me everyone's emails and addresses through a
letter not email. That's dangerous. I'll try to start writing letters soon. Oh yeah, they also have this thing called "dear
elder" which lets you send letters super fast. But I'll talk to you soon. This is definitely not enough time to write
everyone. I'll definitely try to just do
letters for more personal and detailed things.
Love,
Elder Toma