I want all of you to know that I love you individually and personally.
Okay, this week has been really, really crazy! Training is difficult! I'm so not ready to be a dad!
In the mission, one's trainee is often called his "kid" and that missionary's trainer is his "dad," and there's a reason for that. The missionary who trains you will have an effect on you that will last for your entire mission. I still find myself doing things (good and bad) that I inherited from my trainer. So, I keep finding myself in a lot of the same awkward gray areas that a father might find himself in. All I can say is that I have a ways to go before I want to have to really face that challenge.
A long ways.
Anyways! This is Piro'y! It means freshness or coolness in Guaraní. It's a lie.
There are three pairs of missionaries in this WARD. Yeah, it's a ward. With a really awesome bishop and all the garnishings.
We inherited the area that's the biggest, but most deserted. I never plan on transversing my area all in one day, because a large part of it are fields and empty places, and we either have to take a bus or walk places. The emptier parts of my area consist of two long, paralell roads that run up the area. The roads that run all the way along those two take like fifteen minutes to walk end-to-end, so that's pretty big. Exploring in there, we were able to find a number of people, and even a new investigator.
Also, in this area, there is an "Asentamiento," AKA the poorest possible locations near marshes or lakes where the government gives loads of free land to poor folk. What does it compare to? Basically, a more spread out version of my last area. I didn't realize it at the time, but my last area was incredibly poor. I love it still, and never felt really in danger, but now that I've seen what "normal" Paraguay is like, I've realized that my first area wasn't really it.
What is normal Paraguay like you ask? BEAUTIFUL.
Red earth. Green everywhere. Incredibly diverse wildlife and plantlife. Hills and beautiful views. The sky is farther away here, but that means you can see more of it at a time and sunsets and sunrises can get pretty epic. I love this place so much and I can get distracted just walking around. I've been pressing and taping flowers during my time in the field, but this place has too many!
Houses are also nicer, with whole families and very accepting hearts. This is a brilliant place and it was inspired for me to come here.
Elder Gallegos: Coming from Guanta, but having spent months each year in the Peruvian section of the rainforest, he's actually really well acquanted with this place. He says it's just like the jungle there. I was kinda disappointed by that, because it's always fun to show cool stuff about the country to the new guys.
Anyways, he studied Industrial Engineering in a University not too far from home and was able to reactivate in the faith and leave on the mission. He's taught me a number of things about living on one's own and he cooks bachelor dishes like mad. Mind you, they are Peruvian bachelor dishes (Arroz con Leche, Tortilla Peruana, French Fries with Fried Egg, etc.), but they're good and we like showing each other random foods from each other's countries. We talk about the differences and similarities of our countries a ton. Peru is a cool place, and I definitely want to visit.
He's kinda quiet, though he converses easily if you get him interested. He gets a little nervous when the pressure is on, but learns very quickly and we're starting to get some good harmony in our teaching. I'm too dominating in lessons still, but we're working things out.
The people are amazing! We have the stake Patriarch in our Ward, and they feed us on Thursdays, and his son Ariel is recently out of work, so he's been going and doing visits with us like crazy. So we see them quite a bit, and that man is so special. Patriarchs have a very special spirit about them. It's amazing.
We get lunch every day! Except Mondays and Tuesdays, but I'm serious! These members feed us! It's fantastic! They also have an excitement about the work that we need to start using a little better. I'm struggling to find more efficient ways of planning lessons so that we can get members out with us each day, but every once in a while we get something golden.
So far, we have some really good possibilities as far as investigators go, but nothing's super solid, so I don't want to mention things quite yet. You guys will probably hear a lot about Samuel though. Samuel is a 17 year-old who was baptized a few weeks back and he's going through a really rough time at home. Our goal is basically to be a role model for him and guide him to do what is right in his life. He is a really good guy and has a good heart, but sometimes either peer pressures or a desire to rebel make him do less-gospel friendly things (like getting his ear pierced! That punk!)
Those were a lot of outward changes, but may I remind you all about CONFERENCE!
It was so brilliant. We were doing a fast to get more out of it, and I really did get a ton out of it. It was so uplifitng and strengthening. One of the things that impacted me the most was an idea stated a few times that we must listen and come with the disposition and desire to change. Listen to God's servants in this day with a desire to change your heart.
Here on the mission, I learn more and more every day how love and devotion to God are the most important things and the foundations of gospel life. Our love for the Saviour is what drives us to live righteously, to make covenants, to serve others, etc. My love for the Saviour is expressed by my obedience to His commandments and promises I've made to Him. In the end, love is that force that drives us to bring ourselves closer to and serve the object of our love. If we truly love our God, we will do His will, knowing that by doing so, we make ourselves One with Him, which is as close as you can get, and by doing so, we serve Him in a more perfect way than we could ever imagine. Let us be humble and desire to do the will of God. His word and His work were made for our success. Jesus Christ didn't suffer, die, resurrect, or creat the world, nor will He end the world for the sake of a few. He has done and will do all things for you individually that you may be saved. The Plan of Happiness is that, happiness. Any other alternative outcome makes that plan null or useless. Let us make us of the plan! Let us fulfill the role of our existence! I testify that doing so means living the Gospel and following the Saviour. "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in Him."
I invite us all once again to do so.
In the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Love,
Elder Harris
P.S. here's a picture of the area and myself and Elder Gallegos
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