a justice sandwich

Dear Family,

I have a few important details to report this week. Tuesday morning, the assistants called to let us know that we would be having an emergency transfer - Elder Cavazos would be going to a different zone (actually just the other zone in Chimbote) and Elder Miranda (from that other zone) would be my new companion. That was more than unexpected, but it's nothing new for me to say goodbye to current companions and hello to new ones. We realized the transfer early Wednesday morning. Elder Miranda is from Oruro, Bolivia - we get along just fine.

Thursday, we did a work visit with another one of our district leaders (Elder Pari, also from Bolivia). Elder Miranda went to the district leader's area and worked with him, while I stayed here and worked with his companion, Elder Castro (also from Bolivia). In all my time as a missionary, I haven't found a Boliviano that I didn't like. Fabulous missionaries. The same held true with Elder Castro. He started his mission just two months ago and teaches like a pro. We even went running in the wee hours of the morning (luckily the sun rises here at 6ish every day, always), though we started a little fast and about ran out of breath half way through.

Saturday was the highlight of the week, in my opinion. In the mission, President Mora has asked us to "alzar la voz" - that is, lift up our voice ("as with the sound of a trump," as it were) - at least once a week. Last week we had the afore-mentioned car wash. This week, we were scrambling for ideas, since there wasn't enough time to plan a large activity like the car wash. Our best idea turned out to be a good one. We took down our whiteboard and wrote in big letters on it "NO A LA PORNOGRAFIA," which, translated, something like "down with pornography" or, literally, "no to pornography!" (see attached picture, if available - pictures have recently been permitted once again) I hung the sign around my neck, and we marched to the "ovalo" - the big roundabout where multitudes pass by on the sidewalk and get in cars and taxis. I stood about 20 feet from a little newspaper stand, trying to make a point, seeing how a mere glance towards it violates several principles of virtue. I'm not sure what attracted more eyes - the fact that I had a large whiteboard hanging from my neck, the fact that I was the only white person around, or if people were just really curious what I might say. I watched as passing bus, taxi, and moto-taxi drivers slowed down and read my sign. Some people nodded or thumbs-upped in approval. I'm glad I didn't cause any accidents (apparently the havoc of Peruvian traffic has made expert drivers out of every one of them - it's like Nascar out there, and I'm not sure how they manage it). Since the sister missionaries didn't have anything to do, we invited them to participate. We hauled a bunch of Chastity pamphlets out there and rewarded them to anybody who was interested. At a couple times, I was surrounded by a number of young women (they travel in groups, I suppose - is that called a "gaggle" of girls?) who, for some reason or another, wanted to hear my opinion. They heard it. I wasn't going to vacillate about the truth. We invited everyone to take a stand against pornography. I talked to the young women about modesty: one of them started trying to stretch her shirt out to cover her middle. They seemed to understand that addiction to pornography doesn't exactly stem from only the internet or newspapers. A young moto-taxi driver was appalled that I had never viewed pornography, drank alcohol, or entered a "discoteca" (which is the Peruvian form of a club with even less - if possible - security and morals). The activity was worth doing again. I wrote down the addresses of fifteen or so people who wanted to know more. And almost everybody committed to do something against pornography. The whole affair reminded me of a Tick quote: "evil is just plain bad!" (we are not two men, we are TEN men!) The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in this world is for good men to do nothing.

I took a little time to study Moroni 7 in the Book of Mormon this week. I came to this conclusion: faith in Jesus Christ leads a person to all good, because all good comes from Christ. Hope makes a person abound in good works, much like an anchor holds a ship in place, because we know that good works will lead us to better world, even at the right hand of the Father. Charity is the pure love of Christ that, once we get it in us, makes the possessor much like Christ was: selfless, loving, and serving. That is, a person with charity no longer "seeks (their) own," but "rejoices in truth." They no longer live for themselves, but rather live for the glory of God, the glory of Christ, the glory of that which is good. At that point the good is no longer around them nor really in them, but they are good, and good is them. There's no more fence-sitting. If I'm really going to hold to the good and cast of the bad, then I'm actively going to fight the bad wherever it "rears its ugly head." I love it! I don't believe there's a greater cause for man to unite himself to. What have I done today to support the cause of good in the world?

Love,
Elder Withers

p.s. I'll have to send the photo on another e-mail. This computer has no visible USB port.

a letter!

Dear Family,

I did a work visit with the missionaries in San Jacinto on Tuesday. I had been to San Jacinto before, but only for a limited time, usually to do baptismal interviews. This time, I got to stay a whole day. It was fantastic. The scenery was wonderful: being off at the foot of the mountains, I could see the rolling hills climb ever higher in the distance, fading into the looming dark masses known as the "cordillera negra" (snowless mountain range). I had Elder Briceño, the district leader I was working with, organize a meeting with the Branch President and ward mission leader so that we could talk business. I was delighted to find that after an opening hymn and a spiritual thought, I was given the floor (and the chalkboard) with somewhat unlimited speaking time. I talked about all the points that President Mora has been asking us to focus on in our areas, and left them with some goals to make it happen in their branch. Our other proselyting activities went well - in the morning on Wednesday, before going back home, we went to the main plaza and sang "Creo en Cristo" ("I Believe in Christ" in Spanish) to a bunch of older men who were sitting in the shade. We testified to all of them and invited them to hear our message individually, but we were politely dismissed by all of them. Then we walked over to the marketplace and asked a woman selling juices if we could borrow two stools. She obliged, and we stood on the stools amid the masses (of 10 to 15 people) and sung "Soy un Hijo de Dios" and "Las Familias Pueden Ser Eternas" ("I Am a Child of God" and "Families Can be Together Forever"), followed by each of our testimonies. After returning the stools, a couple people accepted a return visit and gave us their addresses. All in all, a good experience in San Jacinto.

But that doesn't mean I got to sleep in my own bed any sooner. On Wednesday night, we took a bus to Trujillo and arrived at around 9:30pm. Luckily, the office elders had reserved us hotel rooms, and I ended up sleeping in the same room (and same exact bed) that I stayed in my very first night in Trujillo a little over a year ago. I slept very well. All day Thursday, we had a meeting with President Mora and all the zone leaders in the mission. It was an inspiring experience, and we know what we need to work on to achieve the results we seek. The conference started at 8am, and with breaks for bathroom and lunch, lasted until about 7pm. (It takes a really good meeting to beat no meeting... and a really long meeting? - requires a really good lunch. We ate in the mission home. Fantastic.) We went out to eat afterwards, and it was too late to take a bus home that same night, so we took the first bus back to Chimbote on Friday morning.

Friday evening, we had an interesting experience. We taught a lesson to a young man named Bryan; we've been teaching him for a couple weeks, and he came to church last week. At the start, he had a question about the identity of Jehovah (being Jesus Christ). I pulled out my Book of Mormon in a heartbeat, searching for a scripture I had found a few days ago that showed very clearly the answer he needed to hear. Nevertheless, for all the searching I did, I couldn't find the scripture I wanted. I looked at my companion, hoping that he'd give his own answer or otherwise talk while I searched for my scripture; he shrugged, then told Bryan that the answer doesn't really matter. He reminded Bryan (and me, as a matter of fact) that the important thing was knowing that Joseph Smith was a Prophet and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that by the power of the Holy Ghost. When I heard that, I closed my Book of Mormon and offered my own personal testimony. We talked with Bryan about what the Lord sees in him, about who Bryan really is and what Heavenly Father plans for him. He is a child of God, first and foremost. After baptism, he would be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. Later, he would receive the Priesthood and be a personal representative of the Lord in blessing the lives of others. Further on, he would serve a mission and stand in the shoes of Jesus Christ, being a witness of the Restoration of His Gospel in the latter days. As I talked with Bryan about this, I was personally uplifted. It was fascinating to contemplate the depth and purpose of God's plan for us - it made baptism seem like a simple and small step(yet a necessary one) in comparison with the rest of the plan. With that, we invited him to be baptized next Saturday, and he accepted. We were all edified in that lesson - and the scripture I wanted was never found.. and I suppose it didn't really matter. :)

Saturday morning, we had a fun activity at the Stake Center. The Stake missionary work representatives organized a car wash, convenient to the Stake Center's location (right by the freeway) and size. Some missionaries were in charge of getting cars to come in, others helped wash, and the rest of us talked to the drivers while their cars were washed. I was thinking this would be a simple spray, scrub and rinse job - but I was impressed when the members involved drying, waxing, and even putting on "silicona" on the interior. I think every car wash was a $10 one where I come from. We served some 20 cars before we ran out of time. Nevertheless, the results were accepted. I believe we're going to do it again, just with more people and cars next time.

Well, time is running out, but I'm happy and healthy and doing well. Take care!

Love,
Elder Withers

some blessings

Dear Family,

My computer monitor and chair are not quite the Intel ergonomic standard: my eyes, instead of being level with the top of the screen are staring into a well-placed web camera atop the monitor. I imagine that comes in handy to some youth who frequent the internet cafè, but it does me little good. But I'll give you all a smile anyways! (Use your imagination.)

As things get colder up north, the weather is warming up here. The nights are still cold, but the days bring potential for sunburn. Every day last week, we got up early and followed our oft-neglected missionary health guidelines for exercise. I found a little secret to waist-thinning. I'm sure it's not new, but I thought it a psychological booster for those of us seeking to fit better in our pants. After running for 20 minutes, I just have to do a little upper body workout (with the limited heavy things lying around) right before heading to the shower. That way, in the moment of checking the results, the shoulder-to-waist proportions look healthier and I feel like I've made a dent. The effect must be mainly psychological, but it serves to keep up the exercise plan.

Transfers this week brought two brand new missionaries into our zone, plus several others who are new to the zone. There were a lot of changes, so everybody is excited to work hard at something new. This week was one of stress, trial, achievement, tender mercies, and success.

In our zone, we had to close an area - both missionaries were sent to other areas in the mission, and we had to take charge of their furniture. Handily, we also opened an area; San Jacinto - a nice isolated town driven by it's sugar cane harvesting and factory - which already had a pair of missionaries, received another pair this week. Monday and Tuesday we were frantically searching for a way to move beds, mattresses, desks, and everything else imagineable from downtown to a little town 45 minutes away. The best offers were looking around 100 to 130 soles round trip. In the end, we called Presidente Calderòn, a counselor in the mission presidency who lives in our zone, and asked if he could loan us his pickup. He agreed, but said his wife would do the driving. Wednesday afternoon, we picked up a bunch of ropes and strings (basically really long shoelaces) from the family that rents us our room, then loaded an unnatural amount of furniture in the back of the truck. Apparently, the truck was designed to support one ton of cargo, so we didn't worry much. We arrived at the old area's house - expecting to find no one - greeted by a couple men who didn't really have a reason to be home, but were right on time to load up the truck (tetris-style and ten feet high, it seemed) and tie it all down. They used some complex knots that two retired boy scouts like my companion and I might not have remembered. Their help was greatly appreciated. Sister Calderòn filled up the tank of her diesel truck with 200 soles of gas and said, "Elders, don't worry about it!" She let us pay the tollbooth on the way back (7.50 in soles), at least. We made it to San Jacinto and back right on time to go pick up the new elders. Since the elders live in the Branch President's house in San Jacinto, he said we could just leave it there on the patio and he'd put everything together. When we were at the bus station picking up the new elders, the Bishop from Buenos Aires (a ward with sister missionaries in it and our right-hand man for taxi rides) helped us take two missionaries (with all their luggage) to an area where both missionaries had left. Then he hauled us back to our apartment to end the day. He also said, "Elders, don't worry about it. You can pay me next time!" All in all, blessings received were innumerable, and somehow everybody arrived without a problem.

Friday morning, I got to call President Mora and report about the goals we had set during our district and zone meetings this week. In the course of the conversation, President told me I needed to be more humble. I suppose you can imagine a little bit of what I felt upon hearing that; I tried not to resist receiving correction, especially because a day before I had born testimony to my zone that President Mora is a man called of God, inspired to direct this work. I have that testimony, but I realized a little bit of what the Lord wanted to tell me by having him say that to me - that I haven't been acting in accordance with that testimony. The next morning, I took advantage of my study time to read about humility, searching in Preach My Gospel, True to the Faith, and the scriptures. I found what I needed. In Preach My Gospel, it said that if I'm humble, I have confidence to do whatever the Lord asks of me. With some of the goals we've been urged to meet, I had been wondering if I really could reach them. I had been committing a near "Laman/Lemuel" error of thinking that it was just something that President required of us. However, the truth is on the contrary: the Lord has given me those goals to elevate my vision and increase my faith. The effect was immediate and the change unseen. My heart was softened and I changed. I know what I'm working at now. I understand a little better what the Lord has in store for me.

We watched Hercules this morning as a zone. We're allowed to watch a select few videos once in a while. It was surprising to see how well the plot correlates with the plan of salvation. Premortal life, the fall, repentance, the spirit world, and even exaltation are portrayed. I love the plan of salvation! Life just makes sense when we know who we are and where we want to go.

Love,
Elder Withers

transfers, fish, strings, sanitation, physics, etc.

Dear Family,

I just got the phone call for transfers a couple of hours ago. We used to get that phone call on Friday night, but President decided that too many missionaries used the remaining days of the transfer to say their goodbyes to everybody and, in so doing, wasted precious time. Monday becomes, as it should be, packing day for the out-goers. It's going to be my first time ever staying in an area more than 2 transfers - Elder Cavazos and I are both staying. Everyone else in the zone, however, is having some kind of transfer. The two companionships of sisters are just trading companions. I would designate that a very healthy adjustment. I'm grateful for the patience of some very tolerant sisters.

We're opening one area and closing another, so the next few days may be a little busy with moving furniture, sending off missionaries, and picking up new missionaries. I love transfers. President Monson talked about changes. In Spanish, the word we use for transfers is "cambios" or, in English, "changes." This last week, I fasted and prayed to be able to accept the Lord's will in the transfers. President Mora said that making the transfers was a spiritual experience for him - I decided that it would be for me, too.

It was a very busy week. The weather hasn't changed much - "eternal springtime" has that trend. But summer threatens to be hot and smelly. Chimbote is widely known as one of Peru's fishing capitols. However, if the whole wharf only reeked of dying fish, I wouldn't be too disgusted - the penguins at the zoo often have such a smell, but the delight of penguins makes it all better. (Side thought: word has it that my pensionista had a pet penguin back in the day. If you're considering it, be wise: she says they're rather mischievous little things, and it turns out that when they couldn't keep it around any more, they were forced to eat it. As we say here, "que pena" - I should have liked to see a pet penguin waddling around and pulling practical jokes on one and all.) Nevertheless, Chimbote's one-of-a-kind aroma comes from the production of fish flour. I once thought that this product was used in cooking or making some sort of soup, but my error was corrected. The good parts of the fish are cut up, cleaned, canned, or otherwise sent out to be consumed by the hungry multitudes. What remains, like the head, fins, bones, innards and everything else you'd rather not mention or see, is processed into fish flour, which is (even exported) to be used as fertilizer. Chimbote does not smell like fish. The wharf smells like fish. Chimbote smells like everything evil, unclean and undesireable about dead, processed, and burnt fish remains. Luckily, the fish aren't being fished at the moment: their reproduction window lasts until November or December. Then the factories will fire up again and we'll enjoy a fulness of Chimbote's glory.

Speaking of things less than sanitary, we had a training meeting with the Area Doctor this week. He showed us some nice pictures and some scriptures to aid in our obedience to his advice. I was converted. I've been washing my hands while reciting D&C 4 for the last few days now. But the best part was highly spiritual and had to do with stress. Elder Drake, the Area Doctor, talked about how stress can have negative or positive effects. As part of his solution, he put up a slide (in his powerpoint presentation) of Gordon B. Hinckley's famous missionary experience and the correspondence between him and his father. I volunteered to read before knowing what it was, and as I read it out loud for the benefit of the group, I read some lines that had reflected some of my own personal feelings as of late. It was powerful. I almost didn't finish reading.

I have felt that, like the strings of a piano, we all have a sort of chord inside of us. The piano strings can resonate without touching the keys - in fact, the right pitch is contagious with its analagous string. Sound waves come off a moving string, and those same waves can come and move another string. Alright, I may be losing my ability to speak physics, but you can get the idea if you know how to use a tuning fork. I think that the strings inside of us - when pulled just tight enough - can resonate when the truth is spoken. It touches our hearts and rings loud and clear. Even after the words are said and heard, the little string keeps vibrating, producing a new and wonderful feeling.

I felt that many times in conference this weekend. Instead of jotting down as much as I could of every talk (as my study journal reveals in times past, with up to 20 pages of notes), I focused a little more on writing those things that rang true inside me. I paid special attention and hi-lighted the specific things I needed to do when conference was over. Almost every talk seemed directed to me. And one of my favorite parts was singing hymns in English together with the choir and congregation.

All in all, I'm happy and hopeful. Elder Uchtdorf's talk about hope got to me. I'm looking forward with faith and leaving tomorrow to take care of itself, making the most of today and leaving the past in the Lord's hands. Einstein said that the past and the future are more or less off limits for human intervention. That's why I'm glad we're not in a human work. It's God's!

Love,
Elder Withers