This letter might be short because I just barely talked to my family on Sunday but I guess I still have a lot to share considering transfers came and went. Both Elder Huanca and I got the boot out of Pamplona and a new Elder will train in that area. I hope my investigators and recent converts still get visited (haha nervous laugh).
Now I am in Las Lomas Pachacamac and it is huge. Actually that was my second impression my first impression of the area was that my area is on the beach. I can hear the waves and I smell the salt and fish of the ocean. That also means there is so much more sand and dirt. In my old area it was desert and mountains and this area is just desert and beach, very little difference. The houses are all the same but you will see that from the pictures.
My first day here we were able to teach Dionicio who is just a very simple and broken man. He feels super alone and well he is. He has no family, he has a house but he never goes inside because he thinks someone will steal his motor taxi so that's where he sleeps and everything. He is kind of crazy but I like him. I can see his eagerness to become closer to God.
We also had a Family Home Evening where a sister shared with us this letter as if it were from Heavenly Father. I know its not what he said or anywhere close to sufficiently accurate but I think it can help our humanly understanding of our parting. And bear (bare?) with me because I am translating. And you can change it to say "daughter" if you want.
"I remember very well the day that we walked together to cross the veil to send you on this new adventure on your earthly mission. The tears that surfaced in my eyes when I dressed you with your spirit with your coat of love and I sent you off to school.
I assure you, my son, that my thoughts are with you in this moment and will be with you because I love you with all my heart. I know your life, the good and the bad, your strengths and weaknesses even your most minuscule stressors and temptations. Remember that forever everything that I have will one day be yours if you only return home. Please son, complete your goal. In you I have put a little piece of heaven and also my hopes. You have gifts and talents, and almost more important is that you don't keep them to yourself. Share with your earthly family and put them in practice to serve others. Search for me in yourself because a little part of me is deep inside of you. If you love me, help others understand their purpose of this life and show them the path that leads to me. Don't forget that service is love and love is the base of my kingdom. Come to me, repent and be humble, be patient and strive every day to be better. You have weaknesses inside of you, I know them because I am He who placed them. Don't be upset, they are there because I love you without end and in this way you will be humble. There should be joy and hope in your life. Don't let the chains of the enemy win, in your hardest times look towards me, don't leave me.
Dear son, avoid contentions and reap peace wherever you go. It pains me to think that in your heart there might be anger or wrath. If you could see what I have prepared for you with all my love you would readily do that which would bring you closer to me. You, my son, are my hope, through you I will advance my work along. You don't have much time but you have much to do, I beg you not to waste your time. Start now. Complete your mission I gave you when you were in my presence. I will help you! Know that I am never too busy or never too far away. You don't know how anxious I am to be able to converse with you.
I have so much to tell you but I can't tell you. Talk with me son. Call me your friend. If you laugh I will laugh with you, if you cry I will dry your tears and in me you will find peace and comfort. Be diligent in the work and you will be heir to my kingdom. I give you my peace, love and blessing and the surety that I will never abandon you because I love and miss you. I trust you will return.
With all my love,
Heavenly Father."
The bishop had this idea that to unite the ward he would split it up into different groups based on the neighborhood and the separate groups could have Family Home Evenings all together. The idea is to get all the less actives reactive but until now it doesn't appear to have worked out so well.
I am super ready to work hard. It feels good to be able to look back at my efforts in my old area and see what I need to work on. I will let you know on how well I implement it.
Love,
Elder Craythorne
