faith moves mountains

Dear Family,

The weather is getting hotter as we continue through February. Our water comes from a big (1000L), black tank (lower emissivity) on the roof, and right before we go back out at 3 in the afternoon, the water comes out at the perfect temperature for a morning shower. Unfortunately, morning showers happen in the mornings, and the water gets nice and cool all night.

About every other day, all the missionaries in our zone gather at a nearby chapel and play soccer. The church buildings are smaller here, usually accompanied by an outdoor, concrete basketball/soccer "field": thereon we play between 6 and 7am under the light of dawn. But surprising sunrises do little to stop the game. That excercise, combined with walking (uphill both ways) through Pueblo Libre every day for a couple months, helps us keep going throughout the day and not tire of it.

We were teaching a lesson this week to a woman named Nancy - she lives in the house on the corner of the block. It's a little more significant when you have the house on the corner here: you have two exterior walls, whereas all the other houses are packed side by side and you only see the front. As we were teaching, I sat on the broken couch with the window at my back; my companion was off to the right a bit, with a wall at his back in a similar chair. Outside, some kids were playing with a soccer ball; somebody kicked it hard and it smashed one of the panes above my head, showering the room with glass shards. I felt a few of them fly past my head, but none of them touched me. When the dust settled, I found just two tiny particles of glass stuck in my arm-hair and combed them out. Nancy was a polio victim as a child and has ever since used a wheelchair, so I grabbed the broom and swept up the broken glass, and we continued teaching. I was grateful for the Lord's protection as we were doing His work, and I offered a silent prayer of thanks as we left the house.

We played volleyball in the street for a couple minutes with some young investigators the other night; they were a little more prone to listen to us after that, and they even came to church yesterday, too. We're going to play with some members here in an hour, so that should be fun. The youth in our ward are great, as well as the young single adults - we're hoping that the other adults will follow their example and start to build similar friendships to increase the unity in our ward (Zion: where members are friends outside the chapel). Attendance is getting better: we're getting to the point where we might need to open the partition and set up more chairs to accomodate everyone.

I read Mosiah 18 again this week, and a whole new perspective stuck out to me. I wondered how 204 members could increase to 450 without any missionary involvement (preaching the gospel in public was the fastest way to a martyr's grave). It helped me understand a lot by thinking about the way Alma organized teachers in the church and the way every member ministered to the needs of others. It reminds me of Robin Hood, but with less "robbing the rich" and more "feeding the poor," doing what's right in spite of wicked kings.

We had a service activity this week that involved moving a large pile of dirt (more accurately, sand) from the back "yard" of a member in to the front "yard." We were directed to pull up all the plants growing in the front and there pile the dirt. We carried it bucket by bucket through the house until we were directed to stop. My arms are still a little sore, but I felt good about getting a lot done. I'm not sure if I prefer bucking hay or hauling sand (either way, the undesired substance seems to reach the nethermost parts of any clothing worn); at least we had a time limit, rather than a goal of moving the whole earth.

Thanks for your letters and your prayers! I know the Lord is watching over all of you and pray that we can all see even more how His hand is working in our lives.

Love,
Elder Withers

beating the heat

Dear Family,

I suppose February here is like August in any other normal climate - it's hot. As is the custom on most Mondays, we are the only room without electric power on the block (which unfortunately means no refreshing fan and no p-day only music). Hopefully the power will come back when we get back to the room.

On Wednesday this week, we had a multizone mission conference in a nearby stake center. President Mora was quite outgoing in his message. He stressed a lot of "getting at the heart" of the investigators we teach. He used a few videos from U-tube to demonstrate the point, including scenes from the 2004 olympic archery final as well as a characteristic bull fight. I wasn't called upon to play the piano - rather, Elder Smith got to take my place. Elder Smith lived in the apartment right above me at BYU, and we played on the same intramural basketball team. It was neat to see him there. The conference motivated me to a new level of effort, and I gave it my all when we started out in the afternoon. The feeling was rejuvinating.

The Elders in Indoamerica, the area adjacent to ours, are changing apartments, so our service project this week was helping get things ready for the move. This involved painting the room that they're about to start renting. The man who owns the room is from Great Britain, and he speaks with the expected accent. It was interesting to meet somebody else who speaks English - but we didn't really have much interaction with him while we painted.

There may be two days in the last 200 that I've not eaten rice for lunch; and I've finally convinced our pensionista to serve me a little less each day. But I think she compensates by adding extra of whatever goes with it. Blank space on the plate is not allowed, apparently. Nevertheless, I get to eat a dinner of cereal and yogurt (milk just isn't the same here) every night before bed, instead of the regular rice, chicken, mashed potatoes, etc. It makes me feel right at home.

Most dogs run free in the neighborhood here, so it's always useful to carry a Book of Mormon or other scriptures in the hands to fend off the aggressive ones. There's an ancient race of dogs that were raised by the Chimu natives a few hundred years back: they're called "perros colatos," which if I understand correctly, translates to "naked dogs." And, well, they are. Black and hairless, they roam the streets like underfed pigs from a coal mine. Luckily, there aren't too many of the unfavorable creatures. There are a number of cho-chos (which I'm not sure whether is Spanish or English or slang) - the orange-brown, fox-like, puffy-haired ones - as well. If you can tell where this is going, you'll understand why it's amusing to see the various mixes that wander the streets. The best I've seen is a mix of the "perro colato" and the "cho-cho," which resulted in a black dog, half-naked with orange hair. I don't know enough biology to question said dog's fertility, but I would, at least, discourage further breeding.

We knocked on a door (which is a rare occurence in our companionship - the occasion was that a member was accompanying us and felt like we should knock) last Sunday, and taught a woman about the Restoration. When we came back this Thursday, we asked if she had prayed about what we had taught her: she said that she had, and that she knew Joseph Smith was a prophet. It was simple, yet extraordinary. Those who really want to know are those who find the truth sooner. I remembered praying specifically that she would be able to feel the answer she sought. It's phenomenal what a little more faith, charity, and hope can bring into our lives.

Well, that's all for this week. Thank you for keeping me in your prayers! You are all in mine as well.

Love,
Elder Withers

pizza hut, repentance, and prophets

Dear Family,

We were blessed to have two baptisms this Saturday, and the proceedings went well. An investigator we had been teaching since November finally got baptized; he's an elderly man, but he hasn't missed a day of church in three months, and he has read the whole Book of Mormon already. The other was a cousin of a member who recently came to live with their family; it was delightful to see that sort of member-missionary work. We always have much more success when the members invite their friends and relatives to come to church and to listen to the missionaries. I would send pictures, but the rules were just recently changed and we can't send pictures by internet anymore. ("For thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey. Amen." - see the last verse of the book of 2 Nephi)

Saturday morning, my companion had District Leader Training with our Zone Leaders, so I got to come along and benefit from all the ideas being shared. Afterward, we went downtown to the recently-constructed mall and ate at Pizza Hut. My companion and I split a large Hawaiian Pizza. It was wonderful: I hadn't eaten anything like it in several months. Nevertheless, with the meeting in the morning, the baptism in the afternoon, and the worldwide leadership training meeting in the evening, we were left with one hour at the end of the day to visit people. But it was a very inspiring day. I especially liked Elder Oaks' straightforward remarks about the family with regards to the rest of the world's fluctuating ideas of what a family is.

Saturday night, about 10 minutes prior to bedtime, the 1st Counselor in the Bishopric came by our house and told us we were speaking in Sacrament Meeting the next day. I think that might have caused some worry before my mission, but missionaries are always full of things to say, right? We were assigned slots of 5 minutes (for my companion) and 10 minutes (for me). My companion went first and took 13 minutes, which made my remarks a little easier. The Bishop was to come after me, and Brother Bott (my mission prep teacher) taught us to never encroach on the presiding authority's time: so I shared a scripture and bore my testimony, then sat down. Hopefully next time I'll be able to share a little more.

I haven't always been prone to approach and talk to strangers, but this week's experiences have helped change that disposition. After our Zone Meetings, we were full of desires to find new families to teach. And as we walked home, I began to see many potential families just waiting for us - walking in the street, sitting on a park bench, etc. But as I felt spiritual desires to talk to them, I felt physically timid and a little introverted. After a day of passing by what seemed a multitude of strangers, I had resisted the Spirit long enough. I felt bad for not lifting up my voice, and as we continued on, I wasn't able to feel that spiritual desire to talk to them anymore. I understood that repentance was in order. After many prayers and a little chastisement, I pondered on the scriptures that told me to never fear man more than the Lord. I asked my companion to help me contact families in the street, and we started talking to strangers. Once again I was able to feel when we should talk to people and when we shouldn't. We found many people who were not only interested, but also receptive to the gospel message. We talked to large families, young families, single adults, youth; we talked to them through windows, through doors, or walking alongside them in the street as they took a family walk. I'm still not the most outgoing person in the world, but I'm getting over my fears through the strength of the Lord. Like a certain quote I remember, "courage is not the absence of fear, but the realization that some things are more important than fear" (from The Princess Diaries II, I think). It only takes a moment of meditation to realize how important this work is.

I got a much-needed haircut this morning, but before heading to the hairstylist, we took advantage of my long hair. I styled it the best I could to model the picture on the cover of our Elders' Quorum manual, threw on a shirt - with the collar up and a tie tied loosely around the neck - and my suit jacket, and grabbed a Book of Mormon. I don't look too much like Joseph Smith, but the sun has bleached my hair and it almost matches the blond portrayed in our manual. (I'd love to send a picture, but you'll just have to wait.)

Sister Mora has asked me to come to the mission home and play a couple of primary songs that aren't found in the normal Primary Songbook in Spanish. She's going to record them and take them to help the districts out in the mountains/desert prepare their primary programs. We're going to take a taxi over to the mission home just as soon as our time runs out for using the internet.

Well, it seems like that moment has arrived, so I better sign out. Thank you for your letters and your prayers! They really keep me going. The work is moving along here. With a little more faith and some more hard work, we're going to see more results. I love it.

Love,
Elder Withers

He never left anything undone

Dear Family,

It's nice to hear that there's cold weather somewhere in the world - we're keeping it balanced down here with mostly blazing summer days where the sand and the asphalt are hotter than the sun. We met up as a zone this morning to eat breakfast and watch Disney's Hercules in Spanish - we got to the part right when they were going through downtown Thebes when the power went out. When the lights came back on, we were halfway out the door and on our way to the nearby stake center to play soccer (on the traditional concrete "field"). I took advantage of some of the free time to write a letter and a half. I also became reacquainted with sunburn, but luckily we weren't out there too long.

My new companion, Elder Tapia, is also from Callao (¡chin pun Callao!), just like Elder Gonzales del Valle. It certainly makes things easier to remember when my companions are from the same place. Elder Tapia is in his 21st month in the mission, and thankfully he doesn't seem to be focused on going home soon. I hope to learn a lot from him.

We had a very special lesson this week - it was with Xiomara, a young woman who was baptized last week (and confirmed yesterday). We had passed by her house to see if we could find her the day before, but we were told that she had left with a friend and that one of her classmates had passed away. When we came by, she was visibly distressed. We had planned since the beginning of the week to talk about the plan of salvation, but it seemed to have even more relevance in her situation. The lesson was interrupted by a quick phone call, and Xiomara came back crying - though clearly intent on finishing the lesson. We had reached the part about the Atonement of Christ, and we were able to share some of the most beautiful scriptures in the Book of Mormon about how the Savior took upon himself our pains, afflictions, temptations and illnesses. The Atonement seemed to apply more than ever in those Spirit-filled moments. Instead of continuing to the end of the lesson, we invited her to take her cares to the Lord and seek the peace only He could bring. I believe the most influential learning experiences happen on our knees, behind closet doors, and often where only One can see our tears.

We were also priviliged to attend the funeral services for President Hinckley. With the other North American missionaries, we watched in English while the rest of the stake center watched in Spanish. I was touched by the wonderful things said about our beloved Prophet. I'll miss him most if only because he was the only church president I've known. It's hard to imagine a world without him. He left a footprint in the world - in every temple, in every heart. I loved what President Monson commented, chuckling as he said it, when at the cemetery: "He never left anything undone."

As I've mentioned, Esperanza is built on a hill. It's not too steep, but in some areas it is. About halfway up, the roads are no longer roads, simply sand. It has a way of undoing the best shoe polish job, but still we take the hike just about every other day. Where the roads turn to sand and higher up, it's too dangerous to be there after dark. Even during the day it isn't too recommendable, but it's pretty calm in daylight. I trust a lot in the promises of the Book of Mormon, knowing that if I don't doubt, God will protect us. The 2,000 stripling warriors had such faith, and they all came away triumphant. If I'm obedient, I have no need to worry.

Thank you for your letters and your prayers. May you all do well in your schoolwork, sports, jobs, job-searching, wedding preparations, church callings - and of course those little moments when you get a break to read an interesting book or take a nap.

Love,
Elder Withers