Importance of Member Missionary Work! (And pics!)

Here's Elder McMullan's email from today:

"Pres. Dalton called me once he found out the surgery went good, so that was cool!" 

"Man, I get so down sometimes because I really want to help the people out. This past week,  like all the promising people pretty much said they don’t want us to come by anymore... which is like well.....BAH, dang it!   Then we find people, but they just don’t....care? I guess that’s the word or they don’t understand truly the importance of it all. "

"This guy we talked to, did say something pretty wise, well obvious really. He just said  "honestly, I’m not interested at this moment.  I don’t feel the need to go to church and  do stuff, but if I ever do I know where to find you. I know you guys are good and do commitments and stuff, but I won’t complete them unless I have the desire..,. Which I currently don’t have. I Just want ´people to WANT to do things you know? " 

 "Honestly it’s easier I think, for members to find people, then pass references to the missionaries.  People most likely will listen to their friends before the missionaries.   It’s really better that way.  But eh, nothing I’m not used to." 

"Hows everything up in the northern hemisphere?"

"Cake with a topping of truth"

"Hieroglyphics on a mountain " 

"A Cotton plant/tree"

"Me picking cotton"

"Us doing service a couple of weeks ago" 

"We rock..., and WAY TOO MANY PEACE SIGNS"

"Elder J as the hunchback from young Frankenstein"

"Sushi and the cake we made"

"I took a seed from the cotton plant and planted it next to Elder J's little plant thin.  We didn't look at it for like 4 days and it exploded with life and now he's mad because we believe that its killing his plant (I think its funny, didn't expect the thing to grow)"

View from Elder Pakar's apartment

WHY MAKE OUR LIVES MORE DIFFICULT?! RIDDLE ME THAT ONE!

Pierce sounds great!  Here is his email today:

"So I hope all goes well with the surgery and stuff. Mom I'll be praying for you.  It’ll go well!

This ward is awesome!  We found like 5 or more people to teach last week, which was awesome!  No baptisms yet because all of the really promising people have been disappearing lately, which sucks.  (Vacation time)  The people we have are really good but work terrible schedules.   ALWAYS happens.  They work like 10 for 10 14 for 7.... BAAAAAHHHHH stinks, but not much we can do there.

Elder J and I get along really well.  We like the same stuff, we quote The Princess Bride and Star Wars.  He’s not like some others, who are like really immature and stuff sometimes, so that’s good.  We’ve been making food a lot.   Milkshakes and cakes, and we found this place that sells Completos for 500 pesos, less than a dollar!  It’s SWEET! 

I’m pretty sure like Satan or something wanted me to see failing marriages my ENTIRE mission. Like honestly, I had seen like 3 guys/girls cheat on their husbands/wives in my entire life…, then I get here and it’s like TOO OFTEN. I swear I met like 4 families torn apart by infidelity just this week.  Most of them, the person they were cheating with was also married.  WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO MAKE OUR LIVES MORE DIFFICULT PEOPLE? RIDDLE ME THAT ONE. 

 It’s just awful because I see the kids and they’re angry and hurt and it’s just the worst thing ever! Freaking Satan is so smart with destroying families.   Each of those families were torn apart in a different way.   All subtle at first.  It’s so bad, it must happen a ton at home too, but I never saw it.  Then again, I am the most oblivious person ever so that doesn’t help.   Oh my,.. just bad!  This one lady did tell me something like "He's scared" and I said "who?" "Satan, because he knows time is running out, that’s why he’s trying so hard to destroy the family"  VERY true I think, because from what I hear, (don’t know if it’s true or rumors) world war 3 is around the corner?!  Japan declared war on some new country?  Ebola is still a thing.  All those things are in revelations. "

"D - Day" (Diaper day)

Elder McMullan is doing great!  He's loving his new area, comp, ward, members and people there!  He had quite the eventful week last week.

Here are a few excerpts from today's email:

"So this week was like, weird.  We went to help out this older woman.  She was moving stuff around and we went to help her.  As we were moving stuff, she fell!  But I caught her before she hit the ground, so  that was good.  She’s just old, but was really happy that we were there.  Then her husband went to the bathroom.  He’s pretty much.., well dying, but he can walk.  If you can call it walking?   He asked me to hand him a diaper... then asked if I knew how to put it on!   Elder J didn’t understand what he said I don’t think, because he said yes!   I quickly said NO NO NO NO NO NO"

"Then the other day we went to go give a lady in the ward a blessing.   I went to do it and  she fainted right there!  She WOULD NOT WAKE UP!!   I carried her to a car and  we got her to the hospital!  One of the bishops counselors showed up RIGHT AWAY. Pretty sweet!   Then later, we saw a kid the same day fall off a bike and slam his face into the pavement, then another biff it off a skateboard going like 40!   Pretty crazy day."

"A guy in the ward got married so we got to see the wedding.  It was pretty cool, not going to lie!  They are a really good family."

"I’ve been like sick with something in my stomach, all last week.  I think I'm finally better now."

"Some guy came to church yesterday and was like,  “Hey I was taking the missionary lessons in another place but now I'm here.., can I get baptized?”  Well,  yes…., YES you can!  We are going to teach him first, of course."

"Today we went to do papers for Elder J’s  passport, but we went TOO early and ended up sleeping on park benches.  Pretty awesome basically.   And yes, I would like for you to contact Hermana Dalton and stuff about your surgery!  That’d be cool."

 

It's Hip to be "Square?" (And Tons of Pics)

New Area/ New Companion!  It's always nice to move on to a new town for a change of pace, even though  Pierce loved the members and the investigators there in the cute little town of Huasco.  He's excited to be serving back in Arica (Where he started 19 mo ago.  Different area though!)  He seems to really like his new comp too!

Here are a few excerpts from his email:  (Not many since he spent his time sending pics!  Not complaining!)

"The bus ride to Arica was 22 hours...NONSTOP THOUGH....eh, I think my butt is still a square shape!"

" Elder J is really cool.  He has like 8 months on the mission.  He’s from Maryland,  not many are from Maryland which is cool!  The ward here is REALLY AWESOME,  just like President Dalton told me.  The bishop is really straightforward and loves missionary work. I'm really excited to be here!"

" I’m hoping to see Estefany and Bastain and all of them soon because a lot of people here, have friends in Las Acacias.  It’ll be sweet to see them all again!!"  (People he baptized there in Arica) 

"Hey,  my belt broke too finally, so i have a new one!! "  (I've never been so excited about a belt breaking before!)

Elders McMullan and Pacheco :)

The inside of the Huasco house.  

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Huasco Kitchen.  (where were these pics 3 months ago??)  Notice the nice coastal breeze flowing  in through the window??  

Huasco house

Backyard.  (A.K.A Dumping grounds?)

View from the front of the house in Huasco

Branch President of the Huasco ward with Pierce

Pierce sporting the "Apron Swag," we sent him at Christmas!

Members and Investigator friends 

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His best FINALLY broke!  THANK GOODNESS!

Goodbye Huasco!

Saying goodbye to his Companion, Elder Pacheco.

"The TENTH hour of the bus ride."  The background was the scenery for the ENTIRE 22 HOURS.

Being a goofball.  Showing us his new camera.  FINALLY.  (LOVE the hand on the hip action)