Intro? There’s not time for an intro! We have to get moving, now!
I will categorize all that I have to fit in. This is done in order to streamline this process, because it’s gonna be huge!
Things of minimal importance, but still worthy of note:
I found out this really cool way to get this new style of garments, and you don’t even have to go to the distribution center. All you have to do is come here to Aranjuez, throw your garments into the wash, and then accidentally throw a white shirt with a big red print in. It is really cool. They come out in this beautiful, pink hue. I often feel like a flower. A pretty, pink one.
Jason. I heard some songs that I think you will love. They are by Shawn Mcdonald called “take my hand” and “all I need.” You should listen to them, get pumped, and use the extra energy you receive to maybe put them, and others similar to them, on a cd and send them my way.
Karston. Last week I was over at a house teaching this family and something notable happened. We were chatting with the 25ish year old and then I noticed his shirt was a capoeira championships of brazil shirt. Of course we got onto the topic immediately. He then flew out of the room and came back carrying a Berimbou. He let me play it. He said I am horrible. I thought I sounded nice. While I was serenading my companion to some PARANAWEH he slipped silently out of the room and returned with a memory card, which I slipped stealthily into the dvd player. He had downloaded home videos of the street performers in Bahia onto this very memory card. They were awesome. I think they gave me whiplash, you know, from not watching them…
Aaron. I went on exchanges last week with a missionary from Arizona named Elder Hinton. It turns out his brother is the bass singer for Inside-out. I got all the inside scoop, and some free cds. Very successful exchange.
Graham. I want you to know we had our first Zone Conference with the new president and one of the most amazing things happened. He actually fed us during the designated lunch time. Potato bar, very delicious. Much better then the previous roll and apple. I am not sure what this has to do with you, but I figured it has been a while since a made a shout out. Consider this yours.
Mom. I am good on cytolize and down to 2 jars of peanut butter. I have been rationing it all pretty well. As for the magic tricks, I am not really sure how you expect me to see the video, but cute idea. Maybe just explanations or something of really easy tricks with coins, strings, etc.
Tara. It’s a boy. I was really going to guess that, but mom spoiled it.
Everyone. Wait, mom first. I love the idea with the guitar. I talked to president about it and he loved it. He asked me to write up ideas and a game plan for it. Now to everyone. I want more ideas. Ideas of things that we could do to get people involved in classes or anything of the sort. For example: there is an elder in Madrid who is ranked in Europe for martial arts and is teaching self defense. Some sisters are teaching American dance classes and cooking classes. President is really cool with just about anything. Consider me, my talents, and what would be fun. I need your creative juices. Ready, set, go.
As for your question about what the leadership thought of my translating… I think they have given up on me. Whenever I do anything they just laugh and shake their heads and say, “of course.” In fact, I think they may have even taken to heart the phrase “if you can’t beat them, join them.” They do smile more because of it, but that bring me to another category…
Things of maximum importance, so good I suggest you restrain from blinking the entire time:
I got a call that I was to report to transfers but that my companion would be coming in the day after, so I would have to stay with another missionary for the night. I got to stay with Elder Read which was way fun reminiscing of the old days. Well, turns out they want more little Elder Carrs running around, because he is hot off the press. His name is Elder Driggs from Provo, Utah. He is so so so sweet and almost as green as I am. There was a total of 4 missionaries coming in this transfer from the MTC so all of us showed up together to the mission home yesterday. There we got some training, ate some killer burritos, and hung out. Funny moment real quick: I was talking to the new missionaries about the rap guitar cd I want to come out with, and giving them samples from said cd, when Presidents daughter showed up. She flew in Monday and was super jet lagged still. She is about 18 and very tired, well, that is all I found out about her. She walked past and into another room and Hermana Watkinds said, “well there’s Emma, you can get to know her later.” This was said in general to everyone in the room, but of course, I figured it was directed at me, just like everything else. I responded at a high volume level (so they say) “are you taking crazy pills? I don’t know how to talk to teenage girls anymore!” She laughed and said, “Its okay Elder Carr, she will be good practice.” Naturally, I assume the worst. I now have free reign to flirt it up with the president’s daughter. So back to the main agenda, we continued on with everything smoothly. We got to the end, which is when they announce the companionships. I got up, told everyone about how sweet the area none of them have ever heard about is, and them jumped up and down screaming when they told me I got the Driggster… the Driggster, I have never thought of that before. I wonder what he thinks of it. Let me ask him really quick….
He likes it too.
Now, for the other happenings that were lost in the terrible misfortunes of last week.
Michael’s baptism was planned for 1 on Saturday. We got there bright and early that morning to set up the font. Everything was going smoothly until the font was full. When it was at full capacity, we found a small hole in the back. No problem, I took my finger and saved the day. I called Elder Castro over to come help. Sadly, just as I was calling him is when the added pressure of my finger caused the font, which neither of us had ever set up anymore, to realize it was tire of holding up all that water with its un-tightened metal joints. So it fell. Luckily, with my free, un-wedged fingered hand I was able to reach up and catch it, while at the same time letting out a earsplitting scream. The scream was enough to get Elder Castro to come and see what was happening, and to get a member to run back to see what had happened to his daughter… she wasn’t there. It was me. They helped me hoist it back up and into place and all was good. Well, good for about 30 more minutes. By the time it was about 1230 we decided in would be good to call Michael. We called him up to see where he was and he said that he hadn’t left yet. That was bad. Then we told him to hurry and he said that his father had forbidden him from going. That was worse. We told him to stay put and that we would be over immediately. We grabbed a member and he took us to the outlying pueblo and dropped us off at the door. I rang up to his apartment, but the dad wouldn’t let us come up. Finally, I asked him to just meet us in the stairwell, and he agreed. As soon as he saw us he started yelling. He yelled that we didn’t know what baptism was, that his son was in no way ready, and that he would never be baptized. Then, because the volume levels weren’t high enough, the wife decided to join in to reach the desired levels. We tired everything we could. On the way over I had offered a prayer in my heart telling God that I would do everything I could, but I knew if would never work if He left it up to me. We tried to explain to him what was going on, telling him that we loved his son and just wanted to help, but he didn’t want to hear it. Finally, I just told him not to worry, the baptism was off. We would not be baptizing is son, but at the very least he could do is to let his son come and bare his testimony so he could know that he had learned something. He told us that he did not want to hear the words from the sweet tongue of a babe. I felt lost. I had tried everything I could. He just kept yelling and nothing would calm him down. We told him we would go but asked to talk to Michael before we left. Michael came out and Elder Castro told him not to worry, we would always be here for him no matter what. I was so confused. I had felt peace when we were going over, but this was not what God wanted to happen, I just knew it. As we were about to leave I looked at the father with such mixed emotions. I felt like punching in the head, but I was also grateful that he loved his son enough to try to fight for what he thought was right. I thanked him for it and then immediately felt very strongly that the least we could do is pray with them as a family before we go. It was weird, I couldn’t think of anything else. I asked him if we could pray with him, and he agreed. I asked if we could go inside, he said that was okay. I asked if we could kneel, he agreed. I asked if I could say the prayer, and he said that would be fine. After we prayed with them Michael was crying because he really wanted to be baptized. The mother then looked up at her husband and said something in Ebo (their language). Then she said it again. He argued a bit, but she said it again. He looked over at Michael and told him that when the time came to stand up for God you will not cry, go, get ready quickly, you are going to get baptized. He left and the mother asked us if she could come. All of us cruised over to the church an hour and a half late. Luckily the members were all there still and ready to get things started. Everything went perfectly. At the end I thanked Michael’s mother and she said to thank god. She said that God touched her heart during the prayer and she knew that her son needed to be baptized. She didn’t understand why until she was there. She has now been coming to church and has loved it.
I am sorry, but I am well out of time.
Hugs and kisses,
Elder Anthony Sky
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