Proving my dependability

Dear Family,

I started off this week with a pretty nice sunburn from playing capture the flag on my last p-day. I've been more careful about putting sunscreen on each morning, especially since spring is coming on a little harder and the morning clouds burn off by noon on most days. We had a zone activity this morning that involved a few familiar games. I thought one was kickball at first, but instead we used a volleyball and hit it with an arm. And instead of a diamond, we played on a rectangle. And there were no foul balls. As you can imagine, this led to (and came from) a bit of confusion about the rules. At long last, we played soccer for an hour on the concrete (and I always wonder why my whole body hurts after these events..).

Sometimes it appears that our efforts aren't coming to anything productive. There are several people in this delightful little neighborhood who have recently come to the knowledge of the truth of the Gospel - they've felt the witness of the Holy Ghost as we've taught them - but it kills me to see that they aren't keeping their commitments. I've decided to never make excuses anymore, because it hurts me so much to hear excuses for not doing what we say we will. This Gospel is worth losing sleep over! It's worth taking 15 minutes to read and pray. Fifteen minutes amounts to 1% of your day.

However discouraging some appointments may seem, the Lord never fails us. I trust a lot in the promise that says, "go among your brethren...and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give you success." I remember that He gives us success if we're patient and diligent in doing what we know we should. We're finding more families to teach, we're working with the members, and we're being obedient.

I had a powerful experience this week when we returned home from a long day of failed appointments and few lessons taught. I was ready to go to bed discouraged, so I prayed my heart out for that courage that I couldn't seem to muster on my own. I can't recount everything that I prayed and everything that came to my mind, but to be succinct, three things came to my memory that I had memorized over the last 3 months. First was Joshua 1:9 (Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage..). The Lord has commanded me to be here and I'm following His promptings the best I can. I have every reason to be courageous. Second was Alma 26, the promise from above that if we have patience, the Lord will give us success. It reminded me that it will come in His time, such that we will know it wasn't our doing that brought success: this is His work. As Elder Holland told us, "This is not Burger King. You can't have it your way! It's His way or not at all." Third was a quote by Elder Maxwell, "The Lord does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only our availability. And if we then prove our dependability, He will then increase our capability." I'm pretty sure I've shared that one before, but it keeps me humble. Accompanying that quote was the most startlingly clear question I've ever felt: "Did I ask you for your ability?" I can't begin to explain how that question changed my attitude. I hope it's clear enough just to say that I understood where my Strength truly lies.

This week, we had a Theater Night put on by all the missionaries of our zone. We invited members, investigators, and anybody we thought might be interested. The props and sound coordination were a little rough, but everything went rather well. One skit I remember quite well involved two devils - one of them taking on a mission president type role, the other being a devil-missionary. His task was to destroy the Chavez family who had recently invited the Elders into their home. He brought his progress report back to the leader devil. The idea was simultaneously hilarious and profound. The family is under attack by any and all things that will keep them apart. In the end, the devil-missionary (though clearly invisible to all others present) got converted with the family Chavez.

Thank you for your letters. I received a few today that were sent to the MTC the day I left (about two months ago). The delay didn't seem to hurt them too bad, but it did affect some of the letters I've already written. =) I received a nice bundle of letters from the Primary, too. And a letter from Rebecca in Israel. That was pretty neat. I love you all!

Love,
Elder Withers

A ferreteria does not sell ferrets

Dear Family,

This week was a full one. Elder Gonzales del Valle and I know we need to fast for some of our investigators, but as we're both experiencing some form or another of stomach mutiny, we're waiting a little while.

As we make efforts to follow the Spirit, the Lord leads us to find those who are prepared to hear the message of the Restoration. Our numbers of progressing investigators is improving, and the Spirit is powerful in all of our lessons. I love it.

This week housed some of the best and worst days of my mission. Elder G is our district leader, and he being concerned with the status of an Elder in our district (who has 23 months and leaves in a week and a half), did a "visita de trabajo" (which I guess translates to "work visit" - I'm not sure.. there are missionary terms that I've never learned in English). He went with this Elder for a day (Friday), and I got his 7-month-old companion, Elder Uribe. I did my best to lead him around our area - knowing it pretty well for the most part by now - and take him to our scheduled appointments. All of them fell through. We entered two houses the whole day: one, the Primary President (whom we invited to fast to help us in the missionary work) and another an inactive member. Entering so few houses and having no appointments work out meant that we were knocking a lot of doors. And Elder Uribe had a different style of knocking doors than Elder G. Elder G knocks doors that he feels we should knock, but Elder Uribe determinedly went at them one by one. It was rough. By 6pm, my feet were aching from walking all day, it was cold, and I was miserable. It was the longest day of my mission and I wanted it to be over. No offense to Elder Uribe - he's got a lot of talent - but I wanted to be with my companion. I made an effort to follow the Spirit, but it was still hard. At 7pm, it was dark and we just stood in the middle of the street, wondering where to go next. We were close to the pension (the home of the sister who cooks our food) and I felt like we should go there and ask for references. We opened the door, and Hermana Pilar was very happy to see us. She had been praying that we'd stop by - she wasn't feeling well and wanted a blessing. We gave her a blessing of health, and I felt a renewed sense of hope. But we still had two hours of proselyting to do, and back out in the street was hard all over again. But as we walked onward, the words of the hymn "Be Still My Soul" came into my mind. I began to sing it out loud and I felt entirely new. The Lord comforted me in my trial and I bore out the rest of the night with more patience.

Yesterday was the National Census, so nobody was allowed to leave their houses until 6pm. So there weren't any church meetings, and we had several hours of study time. We went out at 6 and taught a couple lessons - one of which to an investigator in an Evangelical church who really likes her religion. She had some doubts, and it was a real struggle to get them out. But we managed to help her see things anew. We could see that she knew what we're teaching was true. We could see the mental struggle she was going through as she wrestled between the truth and her own comfort and tradition. At the end of the lesson, we invited her to pray. In addition to being started and ended in the correct manner (which some people struggle with here), it was the most beautiful prayer I've heard uttered by an investigator. She may not have realized it (though I can't see how), but she bore testimony of the truth of the Restoration and the divinity of our missionary calling in her prayer.

Today, as a zone we met at the ruins of Chan-Chan and played capture the flag. You might call it a cultural history activity. You might call it sport. Either way, it was really fun and I got all dirty (the ruins are composed mainly of dirt).

Thank you for your love and your prayers!

Love,

Elder Withers

Pictures and More

October 15, 2007
Dear Family,

I attached pictures of all my companions, our house in Trujillo, a typical breakfast in Peru, Plaza de Armas in Trujillo, me right after my marine hair cut in the Peru MTC, and one of the pictures I took from the roof of our house. I don't dare send any more - I hope this computer can handle sending 5MB of pictures. Should work.

We had interviews with President Mora this week. That was awesome: he's proof that the Lord really qualifies who he calls. He gave us some goals to work with the members and find families to bring into the church. We were planning on having me teach some English classes, but he said that we're not going to have missionaries teach any more English, because whole families don't go to those classes - usually just singles. But after two sacrament meetings here, the Bishop asked if I could teach some of the youth how to start playing the piano. We're going to have to ask President Mora if that's okay. I'm not sure. It would definitely be a service to the ward and help us gain their trust.

We've been visiting lots of members, trying to apply the doctrine of Preach My Gospel; I guess I can't expect them to hand me references right off the bat, so we're working toward that goal. We came up with a plan to increase member involvement in missionary work, based on the missionary bucket we used in Sunset Hills, but tweaked a little bit, since we lack a bucket and the idea wouldn't work as well here.

I've been here two and a half weeks now, and I'm trying to be patient. I've never had my patience tested so much before. We haven't been able to meet with a couple of our investigators - the ones with the most intent and strongest spirit when we teach - because they aren't home at the scheduled time. I'm finding that to be a common practice with lots of people - we just have to work out our timing better.

Yesterday, a priest from our ward accompanied us to a couple of appointments. He didn't say much during the lessons, but he bore simple testimony at the appropriate time. His testimony brought the Spirit, and two of our lessons during the time he was with us in particular were really inspiring. I think I'm getting to become a better teacher through all of this; and my talking-to-strangers (and loving them) ability is slowly improving.

The weather has been a little colder this week, though the sun did come out a couple of times, and I saw the enormous mountains in the distance (as well as the stars at night). The little neighborhood of Buenos Aires is becoming home.

We taught some interesting people this week; Carlos and his friend Miguel are what my companion calls "fifis". That is, their names coincide with masculine characters, but their appearances (and personalities) are a bit contrary to that sentiment. We have high hopes for them to feel and understand their purpose in the Plan of Salvation and find a place in the church. It's one of the hardest things to look at people and try to see them as they can be, rather than as they are at present. But as I look for the good in others, even if it's obscured by the unordinary, it seems to stand out a little better. They're just rocks on the outside, but there's pure gold in there somewhere. And if you shine some light on the rock, you might just catch a hint of what's inside.

We taught a family this week - and that in itself is a feat, because men are always working and never home, and if the parents are interested, most often the children are playing in the street or at some school function. But we taught father, mother, son and daughter all together. There was something special about that scenario, knowing that it's how we're supposed to be teaching. The Spirit was powerful, and both parents had clear intentions to keep their commitments. There are 3 other kids in the family that weren't present, so if we can get them all together next time, it will be an even more amazing experience.

Looks like it's time to go. Glad to hear how things are going! Good luck with weddings and volleyball matches to come!

Love,
Elder Withers

The Working of Mighty Miracles

October 8, 2007
Dear Family,

My second week in the field is one I doubt I'll ever forget. Together with conferences, this week was phenomenal. Tuesday/Wednesday we fasted, because we didn't catch the news to do it Sunday - it was amazing what the results were as we went about contacting Wednesday as we entered the 24th hour of our fast. Everybody we talked to was very receptive, and the Spirit was guiding us where to go and what doors to knock. The blessings of fasting were readily apparent.

Friday night was unforgettable. We went with a recently returned missionary from our ward to visit a few people, and then he had to go home. Elder Gonzales del Valle walked a ways to get to our next appointment with a man named Hugo Chavez. He was a very personable, not-the-president-of-Venezuela, hard-working man. We offered to help him paint his house the day before when we set up the appointment, though he insisted on doing it himself. When we arrived Friday night, the house had a nice new coat of paint on it. He let us in, and his wife - having listened to the missionaries once before - decided not to join us. As we started, he said he was delighted to have us in his home and happy to see us doing what we were doing; but he insisted that he was catholic, and he believed in God (Whom he knew as Jehovah), Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and nobody else. His knowledge didn't stem from reading the bible, however. We felt impressed to start teaching the plan of salvation. We showed scripture after scripture (and I showed him how to find all the books in the bible we were using - he wasn't familiar with it) as we explained where we came from and why we're here. We came to mortality and the fallen nature of man, and he seemed to have a lot to ask about why people are so inclined to evil. He worked in the police force for many years and saw plenty of corruption and evil and very little good. We explained about the nature of man, and somehow that lead into him verbally expressing the need for Apostles and Prophets on the earth today, to guide those people who so readily choose evil. I could hardly keep from interrupting him and bursting into a smile to shout that they're on the earth. At that point, we taught the second half of the Restoration lesson and gave him a Book of Mormon. We didn't even have to commit him to read it (though we did anyways), he said he would before we asked. The miracle was the outstanding change that came throughout the lesson. I know we didn't change his heart: we don't have that capacity. The Spirit was there and moved him profoundly. He already knew it was true. At the end of the lesson, he asked, "Given the circumstances of my job and my family, if I decided to join your church, is there a way I could come with you and be a missionary, too?" (Granted it was in Spanish and I don't remember how he worded it, but it was to that effect.)

Elder G and I walked (I may have been skipping, in fact) away from his house unable to do anything but just smile and wonder. We passed by the home of a less-active family and knocked. We found out that only the parents were members - their two daughters and son were not. We showed the video of the Restoration and shared scriptures to "animar" them (that's "encourage", but animar just works better, I think). The two daughters (14 and 9 or so) came over and sat by me and started inspecting my scriptures. They were fascinated (my Spanish bible is pretty nice - it has tiny font, so it's the same exact size as my spanish triple). The Spirit was quite strong as we testified of the need to live the Gospel. I think with a couple more visits, they may be unable to stay away from the chapel any longer.

The area might be a little bigger than I first imagined it. I'm still getting a handle on the scope of things, but I know where I am a little more than half the time now. On a sunny day, we stopped to look at the ocean for a minute. The waves were big enough to merit surfing, though the beach was empty. (It has been between 50 and 60 degrees on average here.) I'm not sure what parts of Trujillo have the weather.com statistics, but everyone here tells me that it gets up to the 90's and 100's in the summer.

I got to watch conference in English with the other Americans. That was a great blessing (though we missed the first session because we had a teaching appointment). I took about 20 pages of notes from the sessions we did watch. It was quite powerful. I've got a nice, long list of things I need to do better.

The stake patriarch (I assume he's a patriarch because that's what my companion calls him - the patriarch) runs a business that does laundry just for missionaries. He comes by on P-day and picks up our clothes and brings them back the next day, cleaned and folded. We give him 50 soles (about $16) a month per missionary. It's nice to not have to worry about doing my own anymore. (However, the next-day service precludes washing my single fitted sheet. I'll have to find a way around that loophole. Perhaps another sheet is in order.)

I took some time last night (instead of sleeping) to apply Moroni's promise again. I prayed, then read all of Moroni 10 before lights out. After the lights were out, I took some time to actually do what it said: to ponder on the Lord's mercy toward the children of men, from Adam to the present. I thought of every gospel dispensation I could and recounted the blessings bestowed in each. It turns out that the Lord has been quite merciful toward us. I especially love the mercy he showed in calling a prophet in this last dispensation, in bringing about the Book of Mormon, in revealing truths that have never been revealed before. I got to the present time and reviewed, as best I could, the times I've read the Book of Mormon. I studied it out and came to the conclusion that it's true. Following the pattern for personal revelation, I couldn't think of anything more I could do on my own. At that point, on my knees again, I asked my Heavenly Father if I had come to the appropiate conclusion: if the Book of Mormon was really true. I could try to describe the feelings I had, but I'd rather not. I'd just say that I have a personal testimony that the Book of Mormon is true - given from God; a conviction that man didn't give and cannot take away. It's true.

Dad, I know you and I were among the few who knew what Elder Richard G. Scott was talking about when he mentioned quarks and leptons. I was afraid he was going to stop at protons, neutrons and electrons as he verbally dissected the atom from the pulpit. But he didn't, and that made me smile. His talk meant something special to me.

(If I get to a computer with USB next week I'll see if I can send some pictures!)

Love,

Elder Withers

A Real Letter

10/1/2007
Dear Family,

Well, I successfully made it to the field. I haven't disappeared off the face of the earth entirely, so don't worry. My p-days are Mondays now, and if the server had been working earlier I would have had more time to write a longer e-mail. But I'll do what I can.

I'm in an area called Buenos Aires. It's in the city of Trujillo, right on the beach. Our area reaches to the edge of the water. It's not such a big area, maybe a square mile or two. I have running water (and it's hot sometimes) for the shower. My first shower was a shocking experience. The water is electrically heated, and I thought to adjust the shower head while under the trickle of water. Woke me up, it did. =)

This area hasn't had baptisms in a few months. Four or so. I'm here to change that. My companion, Elder Gonzales del Valle (and yeah, that's just one of his last names), has been in the area for little over a month and on his mission for 13. He's also our district leader. Presidente Mora (who, by the way, is really awesome and equally humorous) purposefully put all the new people with district leaders. It helps a lot. Elder G is an awesome missionary.

Everyone compliments me on my Spanish. And I've been called gringo, gringuito, gringazo (that's the opposite size of gringuito), and maybe other things but I haven't been able to hear any. I understand most people, but some of them don't talk too well, and it makes it hard for me. At least I can make them understand me.

We committed a sister to baptism my second night here: that was exciting. She's very promising. We're hoping she follows through. But she works weekends and has school the rest of the week: it'll be her prueba (test) of faith to give it up so she can come to church.

The living conditions aren't too bad for us missionaries. Our room is clean (and so is Elder G, thankfully), the toilet flushes, and my bed is free of any visible discomfort. Though it is mighty lumpy.

Driving in Peru is something I don't think I'd ever be able to accomplish. If you've ever played or seen Crazy Taxi, it's kinda like that. And I was in a taxi just a few minutes ago. Frightening.

The food is great (for the most part) and I'm healthy. I felt sick my first morning in the field, but the assistants simply told me I'd feel like that my whole mission. I hoped not and therefore annihilated whatever it was with four Peruvian equivalents of pepto bismol. It seemed to me like an overdose, but that's what the zone leader told me to do. It worked, and I'm fine with that. Our pensionista (a member woman who lives a few blocks away) cooks all our food and follows the mission rules. We're not allowed to eat anywhere else unless it comes pre-packaged.

The ward here has no pianist. But now they do! The piano isn't too out of tune, so I'm content to play it for them. =)

This work is hard. The first few days went by pretty slow by themselves. We've seen both success and failure. The MTC is cake in comparison. Even calculus is cake in comparison. But it's great. I love it here. The joy of doing something hard is in doing it. So here I am.

Congratulations, Drew! Sorry I'll miss the wedding.

I'm not going to write paper letters home anymore. No time, and it costs 2 bucks to send any more than 1 letter a week by mail. So save my e-mails!

Love,

Elder Withers