Today (September 24):
Hey :)
First news and updates:
This week was the celebration
of Fiestas Patrias in Chile. We enjoyed a super fun lunch and program
activity with the ward. We danced cueca, ate grilled chicken and potlock
salads, and performed some musical numbers. (Photos are forthcoming)
Roberto is
doing wonderful. He got the Priesthood yesterday. In the actvity he
was participating in everything - setting up the decorations, dancing, singing,
dressing up in traditional waso garb, and washing dishes afterward.
Yesterday the Bishop mentioned in his talk how much of an example of
service he was. I`m so happy for him and the love he is showing to those
around. Right now he`s watching over a recent immigrant named Andres who came
from Uruguay and showed up in the chapel last Sunday. He didn`t have any
money and by chance Roberto was there to invite him to stay with him and to
work in his work, until he gets on his feet. He`s a wonderful example of
thoughtless service.
Spiritual impressions of late:
Life is not a series of checkboxes that are a recipe to
perfection. God has given us directions to success and our progession
towards his model for us. He created us different. We should avoid
comparison.
We are not the good people of the latter-days. There are
pletty of them throughout the world. We are the Saints of the
latter-days.
God loves you because of who God is. Not because of
anything you did or didn`t do.
Our consitution was made only for a moral and religious people. - John Adams
Science and religion are complementary configurating forms
of understanding that are clearly different but equally necessary in all
cultures. We need both science`s constructs of the mind and religion`s
constructs of the heart.
When He says come unto Me. It is because He knows the
way out, the way up. He knows because he`s walked it. He Is the
Way.
Con Amor y Bendiciones
Tu Missionero
Elder Parry Harrison
September 17:
Hey :)
It`s
not about the numbers
An
idea has been forming recently. The mission is an interesting time
because life is governed by numbers - times, "key indicators",
baptisms, contacts - all geared towards measuring one`s success. But the
truth of the situation is that it`s not about the numbers. Some Elders
lose themselves in worrying about numbers because it`s easy to define and
compare. Rarely are they good missionaries. The Lord
himself repeatedly cautions us against putting weight on the numbers.
"God`s time is not our time", "the worth of one
soul", and "the worth of the widow`s mite", are all examples of
how God is not concerned with the numbers, and that they are a construct of our
minds. What does this mean for me? That the one baptism I had last
week makes my whole mission worth it for me. That to become a better
missionary I need to be a better me, and follow the Spirit, not basing my
efforts on comparison with other companionships. In relation to the work
itself: a "cuadrado" (square) as we characterize them here is someone
who is more concerned about numbers than people. Last night we went to
the Plaza de Armas to try and do some contacting as we need to finish up the
requisite from the week. While talking with people, a man came up to us
and proceeded to introduce himself and recount his story. He served as a
missionary in the East Mission and had recently moved to the valley from the
South. Now, a cuadrado would have curtly listened but quickly move on to
"the real need" of finishing contacts. But I patiently listened
as this great man related his life, experiences in the mission, alone-ness,
depression, ostracision and inactivity. He commented towards the end of
the hour and a half conversation how grateful he was for the chance to talk to
somebody. I made a difference in one person`s life, just by listening, but
the one difference he needed. Where is the applicability in common life
from this rambling post? We need to focus on the value of moments, of
relationships, and of ourselves, instead of traditional measurable aspects.
Not how many kids one has, how much one makes, what is one`s calling,
grades, schedules, or age. But recognize that life is short, and if we
live in the moment, enjoying it, we live happy.
Also,
I had the privilege of confirming Roberto yesterday. I felt the direction
of power of the Spirit in the blessing.
Thanks
for bearing with me. I express my love and appreciation for you and your
support.
Con
Amor
Tu
Missionero
P.S. - This
letter was read in church by a Sister talking about how we need to listen, and
be aware of how we can improve as children and parents and I found it quite
good:
Carta
de un hijo a su padre
No
me des todo lo que te pida, a veces sólo pido para ver hasta cuánto puedo
tomar. No me grites, te respeto menos cuando lo haces, y me enseñas a gritar a
mí también, y yo no quiero hacerlo. No des siempre órdenes... Si en vez de
órdenes, a veces, me pidieras las cosas, yo lo haría más rápido y con más
gusto. Cumple las promesas, buenas o malas... Si me prometes un premio dámelo,
pero también si es castigo.
No
me compares con nadie, especialmente con mis hermanos. Si tú me haces lucir
mejor que los demás, alguien va a sufrir, y si me haces lucir peor que los
demás seré yo quien sufra. No cambies de opinión tan a menudo sobre lo que debo
hacer, decídete y mantén esta decisión. Déjame valerme por mí mismo, sí tu
haces todo por mí, yo nunca podré aprender.
No
digas mentiras delante de mí ni me pidas que las diga por ti, aunque sea para
sacarte de un apuro, me harás sentir mal y perder la fe en lo que me dices. Cuando
yo haga algo malo, no me exijas que te diga por qué lo hice, a veces ni yo
mismo lo sé. Cuando estés equivocado en algo, admítelo. Crecerá la opinión que
yo tengo de ti y me enseñarás a admitir mis equivocaciones también.
No
me digas que haga una cosa que tú tu no haces, yo aprenderé y haré siempre lo
que tú hagas, aunque no lo digas, pero nunca haré lo que tú digas y no hagas. Enséñame
a amar y conocer a Dios. No importa si en el colegio me quieren enseñar porque
de nada vale si yo veo que tú ni conoces ni amas a Dios. Cuando te cuente un
problema mío no me digas: no tengo tiempo para boberías o eso no tiene
importancia. Trata de comprenderme y ayudarme.
Y
quiéreme, y dímelo, a mí me gusta oírtelo decir, aunque tú no creas necesario
decírmelo.
