12-13-10
Hey!
I loved your emails, it sounds like life is so busy right now, but so
great! You guys sound so happy! Way cool.
Although I envy the cold weather, and the chance to go skiing, and all
that, I really love hearing about it all! Sometimes when I'm sweating
bullets in the heat I just try to imagine myself elsewhere (like the
mountains) and it almost helps to cool myself off haha!
I don't really know where to start with this week. On Tuesday
afternoon I went to Tiquisate on a split with Elder Aguirre (Elder
Grover's companion). Elder Grover came to Nueva to do baptismal
interviews. I got to teach with Elder Aguirre, and I learned so much.
He is an excellent teacher, and he teaches like I was taught to teach
in the MTC and CCM. I felt like I didn't know anything haha! He
taught with the Spirit and with love. It felt very different, way
better, than a lot of the lessons we typically teach in Nueva
Concepcion. I'm trying to apply all the things I learned, and bit by
bit, I'm learning. While I was with Elder Aguirre, he would see
things that I was doing (or not doing) and correct me. Like when we
left the house, I didn't have a Book of Mormon in my hand. He told me
that we are always to have a Book of Mormon in our hand. Otherwise
people just thing we're rich gringos selling things. He asked if my
companion carries a Book of Mormon with him. I cringed a bit as I
said no (because he had asked a lot of other similar questions about
my companion and I told the truth). I explained that Elder Herrera
really does have a desire to do what's right, and I don't like to rat
him our for things like that, because that makes him sound chambon
(like a slacker). Elder Aguirre just said, 'noooo don't worry elder,
I'm not gonna say anything to him, and I know he's a good missionary.
But he should be doing this stuff. It helps me know how to help him
when I know what he's doing.'
My companion is a bit stubborn, but I hope I've helped him here and
there. I've learned a lot from him, and I'm so thankful for the time
I've had with him. We're entering the last week of this transfer, and
he's been here for six months. President told him he'll be leaving.
And in my email to President last week I asked him a couple questions.
All he replied was something like, 'just keep it up, keep being bold.
You will soon have a new companion with the same ethics as you.' I'm
way excited to see what happens next week.
Elder Aguirre told me not to stop learning Spanish. Although I can go
on splits with members and teach by myself, I still have so much to
learn. But he told me that I need to be prepared to train by the end
of next transfers. That scared me a bit, and I don't know if he was
serious. But I have a lot to do. I feel way inadequate (sp?). I'm
happy, but not content. It's a weird feeling.
We had a baptism scheduled for Saturday, but our investigator ended up
having mental problems (I had no idea until the day of her interview
and we started noticing some things). It was so sad to find out about
that, but hopefully we can help her out and continue on with her plan
to be baptized. The Assistants are going to come this week and figure
out what to do with the situation.
Before this transfer, when all of Nueva Concepcion was our area, we
were teaching a man named Ezequiel. His whole family goes to church,
theyre all members except for him. He started attending church awhile
back, but didn't want to be baptized. He has talked with the
missionaries on and off for ten years, and he loves the missionaries.
He played professional soccer for a long time, and we play with him on
Mondays. It's way fun. But towards the end of our last transfer, I
asked him if he would be baptized. I explained how he has a wonderful
family and how important it is to be an example for his children and
to support his wife. He said something like 'we will see'. Elder
Rigby and Elder Thorley have been teaching him since they got here.
They again invited him to be baptized, and after ten years of meeting
with missionaries, he agreed to go through with things. On Saturday,
Elder Herrera and I got to attend his baptism. Elder Rigby baptized
him and everything went really well. After the closing prayer,
Ezequiel and his wife embraced for the longest time. They were both
crying and it was such a cool thing to see. The family was so happy!
They were finally united in the gospel. It was so awesome.
That was the highlight of my week. Other highlights included Elder
Herrera's birthday (we ate so much cake, it was sweet haha pun?),
fireworks all over the place every night (Christmas tradition),
painting the outside of Paty and Eu's house, and getting the Liahona!
I finally got to read some of the talks that we missed from
conference. We missed a few talks because we were late and then some
others because the satellite went out.
Tomorrow we get to go to Reu for the mission Christmas partay! Ah I'm
so excited! I get to see Elders Hock, Taylor, and Shannon again.
I'm really excited for everything coming up. Tomorrow will be great.
Transfers are always exciting, though I will be legitimately sad to
say goodbye to Elder Herrera. And then I get to talk to you guys!
Whoa. I can't wait!
As Christmas approaches, remember the reason why we celebrate! I look
forward to spending some time just thinking about the significance of
the birth of the Savior. Life as a missionary practically forces you
to forget the material aspect of Christmas celebrations and really
reflect on the meaning of this time of year.
I hope you guys have another great week! Dad, be safe in Chicago.
Haley, finals are important. You know that. Just work hard this last
little bit. Work really hard. That will make the break seem so much
better! And Mom! keep on doin what you're doin. You should look
into snowboarding, I can see you doing that. Just sayin...
In my emails, is there anything I'm missing? For example, I realized
that if I want to love my companion, it really doesn't help to talk
bad about him. Then I realized that it doesn't help to think anything
bad about him. So I've tried to stop that. I just don't want to slip
into the trap of developing bad habits early on, like Dad warned me
about. So if you notice anything, please let me know. Gracias.
I love you guys! Brock, good luck with finals!
Love,
Elder Austin Tyler
