A Taste of the Jungle

I've never been one for the jungle as a story setting. It always seems to take control of the plot, and is so exotic that it's hard to relate to. When I heard there was a good deal of jungle in our mission, I was excited to visit something so different, but not ridiculously anxious. We recently spent a couple days there for a multi-zone conference. My perspective changed a little.

Let's start with the air.  The atmosphere is thick and hot, opposite to the Junin atmosphere so thin that oxygen comes at one breath's worth of air for the price of two. The air was sweet, and reminded me of vacation. Strips of evaporated water floated around hills of jungle forestry framed by the branches and vines of nearer plant life stretching into the sky. We stayed in a hotel where a thin sheet replaced the five heavy wool blankets I'm used to, a refreshing fan blowing over the room while we watched church videos on the TV. Cold water is all they have for the showers in the jungle, but it hardly matters at all. We had nothing to do while we waited the night before the multi-zone, so we played cards, caught up with other zones who were staying there as well, and played foosball. I was in paradise. Our dinner was spread on wood tables outside underneath a covering. Bugs hummed in the background. It was the most refreshing experience I'd had in a long while, and I think I woke up the next morning smiling. It continued as we had an enlightening conference with our mission president.

When I returned, luckily, the successful work load of the remaining week kept my mind off of paradise. We're happy where we are, and we're looking forward to the progression of the area. I wouldn't mind serving in the jungle one of these days, though!

Ah. Did I take pictures? Hum, I suppose that's all for this week! Till next time! I go back to the jungle for another conference in three weeks!

On Faith

This week was a strong success, and we were elated to spend it inside the homes of many. Usually we don't get lots of lessons in Junin, but things worked differently this time. Many people we visited had suddenly been shattered by recent devastating experiences. While this concerned us, it did soften their hearts to listen to our message, and we could provide comfort and support. Many expressed the need only to have someone who cared enough to check on them and talk them through it, as it was awful to bear alone.  I believe that upon seeing the situations turn out alright, their faith in God will increase.

Faith is not just a principle of hope in the future, nor does it rest in reliance on blessings yet to come. At one point this week, I prayed for heavenly direction according to what my faith merited. In other words, I wanted a bank withdrawal, cashing in on my faith for what it was worth.  Is this the currency of heaven, a system in which miracles, blessings, and spiritual promptings come as we reach certain levels of faith?  On the contrary, I think part of faith is merely placing greater worth in what we have. Rather than upgrading to what my faith merited, I found that what we already have becomes more than what we merit. In belief, we find God's discourses in the Scriptures; a personal Almighty Father listening to our concerns; a modern prophet guided by revelation; and unbreakable purpose to our actions. Outside of belief, all monumental blessings such as these become mere cultural traditions to provide a relief to spiritual concern.

As faith increases, so then does an understanding that we have far more than we 'merit'. By faith then is the entire world transformed, and steps in our lives carry dramatic import. By so believing, my mission rises from a valuable foreign experience -- to an indispensable growth opportunity -- to an eternally significant service -- to their service to my deepest desires granted, all inextricably connected and rising on to something understood fully only on some distant day when all promises are fulfilled. 

Such faith's fate at the end of its evolution is not, I think, only knowledge...for Hebrews 11 says God created worlds without end through faith rather than factual understanding. Faith, then, ought to be our goal. For through it and the action it demands we wax transcendent. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, the center of faith in this world, Amen.

Adventures in Sharing the Gospel

Elder Burt and Elder Granstaff

Well, here I am emailing on Tuesday...a little late as we were exploring deep underground caves all of yesterday for P-Day. As missionaries, we're always looking for opportunities to preach the gospel, and we did so to all we encountered. We found a small kid named Tom Sawyer looking for buried treasure...we explained we had a treasure that would never rust even unto the next life, but he said he never believed in any of that religious hogwash anyways. He refuses to stay in church for all three hours, so we figured it's time to drop him. Deeper down, we found a real strange investigator named Smeagol, but he's got some powerful addiction problems and may take quite a bit of time to help. He struggled with the concept of tithing, too... ´Gives one of my ten fishes away to a fat gringo, always stuffing their faces???´  We found a really cool cave down a bit called the Chamber of Secrets, but Tom Riddle had already formed some Secret Combinations named the Death Eaters, and we figured that might put a halt on progress. The Goonies just swore at us.

Sometimes missionary work is hard, but it's always adventurous. We  share our testimonies and know that is enough. As the Lord said in Doctrine and Covenants 127:4, "Let...all the works which I have appointed unto you, be continued and not cease; and let your diligence, and your perseverance, and your patience, and your works be redoubled, and you shall in nowise lose your reward. And if they persecute you, so persecuted they the prophets and righteous men before you. For all this there is a reward in heaven."

I know this is true, and I know we ought to continue on without fear, but rather with joy and trust. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.   

Growing the Branch

[Today Andrew spent time answering a question about his branch in Junín, particularly about attendance and their efforts to re-activate many people around the town.]

Attendance is looking optimistic, it used to be in the teens a lot before I got here, and now we're regularly in the mid-twenties with several less-actives attending. We want to get over thirty before we leave, as President said a decent branch should have more than thirty.

Andrew relaxing in his blanket fort.

This week we spoke to a number of less-actives. My favorite sort of lesson is when the atmosphere is quiet, the limited room causes us to sit right next to our investigator/less active, and we can just have a very quiet, personal conversation. Opportunities such as that allow both of us to feel the Spirit strongly as we share the story of the Restoration. I also enjoy the strength in teaching a family, where all can participate and feel gathered in an activity. 

We spend a lot of time with the Youth, too, being completely in charge of them. We play simple games with them for Mutual like Liar's Dice and Uno.  We're also in charge of two-hour lessons with them on Sunday! We show a lot of videos, haha.

[Andrew will be Skyping with us next Sunday for Mother's Day (hopefully) and we're very excited!  We'll post some pictures and perhaps transcribe some of our conversation.]

Divisions in Tarma

I spent a significant amount of time this week outside my area. We spent P-Day in Tarma again, but I remained there another day to do Divisions (splits) with one of our Zone Leaders as one of them returned with my companion, a District Leader.  Tarma is a large city in a valley, washing up in the hills surrounding the area. As we began our work, I noticed how much Zone Leaders have to worry about outside the normal work. As he spoke animatedly with the man who was renting the Hermanas' house trying to lower the price, and the Hermanas listened pensively, I stood quietly and patiently a little behind. Suddenly, a long line of children passed by led by a teacher on their way to school. Always enthused to see a gringo, one waved at me timidly. I waved back and greeted him cheerfully, which boosted the confidence of the other several dozen children. The conversation behind me stumbled for a few minutes as the street erupted into cheers and shouts and stilted "hel-lo's" until I waved the last one by. I enjoyed the divisions.

We only had a short break in the middle of the week before we were off once more to San Pedro de Cajas, the other area in our district. We are the two towns in the middle of nowhere, isolated by an hour or so from the others in the zone. San Pedro's, however, is even smaller than Junín (and much greener), half the population consisting of sheep. Rumor has it the town used to be called San Pedro de Cacas (Saint Peter of Poop) before some heroic citizen changed that vital ´c´ into a ´j´, turning Saint Peter´s dominion into the slightly less mundane Boxes. Their central plaza, like most, has some iconic statues- the central one is the patron saint with his finger and his thumb in the shape of an L dangerously close to his forehead. The other symbolizes the model citizen- a colorful old woman stooped over knitting away furiously, real yarn looped in her fingers. The other half of the population not grazing in pastures consists of similar women. We were there for two reasons- firstly for another set of divisions and secondly a Zone Attack. For difficult areas, sometimes the zone will designate a day in which all missionaries will arrive and contact nearly everyone, giving a jump start to the area. I'm a supporter in such acts of unity of the zone, and hope it did some good.

When we came back, a highlight included a Family Home Evening we had with our Pensionista and her daughter, not members of the church. Practically the whole branch came and we shared a message, played games, and generally had a good time. The daughter confessed some increased interest in the church recently and has been attending regularly. Unfortunately, she goes for Lima today. 

Well, it was a great week. I hope you all enjoyed the week too, and recognize the little good parts of life- for by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. Life is good!

A Memorable Week

Stone fences and half finished house frames furnish rocky green fields. The paved town center branches out into dirt roads as one passes by the Plaza of Arms (with great statues of old war heroes rearing on horses), the railway tracks, and street corner shops. Every Tuesday, a maze of a market appears with slick vendors shouting miracle cures and vegetables rolling around the ground. Men relieve themselves wherever and whenever nature calls, causing some wise property owners to hastily write "Urinating is Prohibited" on their walls. Sheep pass unhurriedly by, sometimes accompanied by a llama or two.

This week was memorable. We spent a good portion of one day installing our underground piping to get water in our house. We also had a busy week teaching a lot of less actives, which paid off. A decent number of them came to church, which made for a happy Sunday. I like serving in branches such as this. My last area certainly had its perks, but with a large ward it's hard to get to know the members. Here, we're in charge of the Young Men's program; the President of the Branch is always willing to help on visits; and we know nearly all the members by name. This is an area I'll remember, proved by an unexpected meeting in the little house of a member. We found a couple from Utah sitting on the couch chatting with the President of the Branch and others. Brother Newton, as it turned out, served here twelve years ago. He and his wife animated us, promised our work and assured us it would make a difference. It encouraged us to strengthen the branch, and we left certain we'd be the missionaries to do whatever it took to lift this branch back on its feet. We are incredibly grateful for their influence, and we are seeing miraculous changes occur in the area. 

We are here to overcome difficulties. And we will do so. Those with midnight consciences often only need someone to light a candle to recognize it's dark. With that, the sheep will shed wolves' clothing and the Shepherd will rescue them.

Transferred!

So I've been transferred to Junin this time around! I'm with an Elder Grandstaff (from Washington as well), and it's cold!  I bought a scarf, and luckily they've got a warm jacket for whatever missionary comes in here. We're also the only area that gets bikes in the mission...though one of my pedals doesn't work and the seat is at a 45 degree angle, haha-  we might be walking more than anything. 

We went to a city named Tarma for Conference, and we're here for the weekend with the zone. General Conference was, of course, a highlight for the week as I really enjoyed the talks. President Uchtdorf and Elder Holland's were definitely the most powerful for me. However, Elder Bednar's was also really cool and deserves extra study. I enjoyed that he says the way we retain the remission of our sins was by the Spirit. The promise in the Sacrament is the Spirit, and the way we retain a remission of our sins is by the Sacrament. It clicked for me. Elder Rasband's and Renlund's were cool for me, too. I liked that President Eyring told us to look for pure testimony in the conference and feel the spirit.