July 18, 2011

Well, this new assignment isn`t quite like I hoped it would be. I`ve been getting lost a lot, I already spent all the money the mission gave me for the month on things we needed for our new house (and we still don`t have very much), and we aren`t having the success I would like to have. We only found one non member who would listen to us last week and she didn`t show to church on sunday like she said she would. I haven`t seen the assistants since last Tuesday; they didn`t even show up to church yesterday, and I still don`t have a cell phone. So I`ve basically been wondering around the whole week starting from scratch. The members are great though. They seem a little more willing to share the gospel than the members in my last ward. A lot them live in the same housing development as us. The bishop is brand new (called like 3 or 4 weeks ago) and he seems excited to help us out. The ward is huge. It was weird seeing so many people in sacrament meeting. Another problem is that several non-members went to church yesterday from the part of the ward that the assistants are in, but I have no way of knowing if they are already visiting them or if we should visit them or what. Besides all that, my companion, Elder Scoville, is extremely shy and struggling a lot with spanish even though he has 8 months in the mission. Actually, I met him when he first got to mexico because he started in the ward that attended church at the same building where my ward attended. So, I already knew him before they put us together. Actually, we stayed together the entire time when we hiked up the Malintzi as a zone. He lacks a lot of self confidence. It`s been like training a new missionary all over again. He`s a really cool guy though. We`ve always gotten along well ever since we first met in Tlaxcala. That`s why I thought it was kind of funny that they would put us together. Interesting as well is that Elder Hurtado didn`t have anything to do with my new assignment. He says he recommended someone else to open this area, but President Reeves decided to put me here. Either way, it`s been a difficult assignment. I feel like I`ve kind of had to do everything myself.


I always think that one day, once I get the hang of things better, the mission will get easier, but it never happens. I think life is the same way, Mom. It really is never going to get any easier. It`s not supposed to be easy. But, like you I`m grateful for these difficult experiences that have molded my character and strengthened my faith. I will never be same as I was before I came on a mission, and you will never be the same as you were before these trials. And with the gospel of Jesus Christ these tests and trials that all of us face can make us more like Our Heavenly Father. I love you mom, and I`m grateful for your faith and conviction, for your encouragement and support, and for teaching me so much.


Give Dad, Marc, Austin, and Sean a big hug for me


Brett