I'm sorry I missed writing you last week. It wasn't my intention. It just had been a long day and it was a toss up between staying up too late or going to sleep last week. I love you, I hope you know that. Wow, Jacob! Not that much longer. I wonder if you know your last transfer information. I never stayed the complete amount of time on the mission, but one of the things my mission did is that in your second to last transfer, the Mission President would take all leaving missionaries to the Nauvoo Temple for a session and time spent there. I missed my opportunity, but I was with Elder McLaws during his second to last transfer, so I went on exchanges in Des Moines with English Elders, while he got to go see that beautiful temple. I might have been more jealous, but fortunately, 7 months into my mission, I got to see the Nauvoo temple for myself, when the Ward in Muscatine took a temple trip. It was quite the experience. And it was really cool to bring the whole family back to Illinois and also Iowa.
I've actually been thinking about some of my converts lately. We had an All-Spanish Devotional yesterday with Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Seventy, and an Area Seventy named Dale Willis. Elder Robbins taught us completely in Spanish, having served in different South American countries as missionary and mission president. He particularly told us that we, as Hispanics, and as a majority in the States (especially in the Southwest United States, but also as the leading race in all of the United States), have the responsibility of bringing our friends and neighbors to the church. It helped me remember the Rosas family from Perry, Iowa, a family who we had dinner with. Not sure if you can remember. I do have their phone number, so I'll probably give them a call really soon. As far as coworkers, Sarah and I thought of a few people who we want to reach out to, specifically people who speak Spanish.
It was fun having Elder Robbins with us. I was asked to form a choir from the two branches in our Stake, Guerrero Park Branch and Liahona III branch. We had three weeks or so to prepare. It took a little bit of motivation getting everything ready, but with Sarah's help, we did some great work. I was asked to be the Director of this choir. Until last week, Sarah was mostly playing the piano for us but, we then asked President Turley (Stake President) if he had any recommendations of someone that could perform the piano for us, not necessarily from our branch. He gave us the name of Lewis Nelson, a very nice man who use to be a Stake High Councilman, one that worked with our two branches. It was definitely a good fit, and his addition was extremely appreciated. The song that I decided for the choir to perform was the Tabernacle Choir's version of My Shepherd Will Supply My Need. As easy as that sounds, it was not as easy. One of the reasons why is because there was no Spanish translation, nor performance by them, so it was not a song that was very well known among the members of the choir. But, the culmination of the 5 or 6 practices and rehearsal, and the execution went so well. The thing that was the hardest was the harmonies in the third, and some of the second verse. I made an executive decision that the first two verses would be sung in Unison. Overall, after all the craziness, we were blessed to have performed well for one of the servants of the Lord. I was and am very pleased with the performance. It definitely wasn't easy. But I am excited to do it again, either with my own choir, or other church choirs.
It's been an interesting last two weeks, the above performance weighing heavily on my mind throughout.
One very cool thing is that five adult members of our branch, three elderly, received their endowments, in two different Spanish sessions at the Gilbert Temple. We had the pleasure of attending one that was on Tuesday (4/16), and Sarah was even asked to be the escort for La Hermana Garza. It was pretty sweet. We weren't the only one's there either. Presidente Castaneda, his wife (who was also an escort for another member), Hno. Cardenas, Presidente Diaz, Presidenta Lujan, all the ones that had received their endowments the Saturday previous (they had to split it up in two per request of the temple), Carlos Santos and his wife, Elizabeth y La Hermana Reyna. It was quite the turnout. We were able to get a picture outside of the temple with the group. It was quite extraordinary, and a great blessing and a miracle. The five hermanos were all in the temple prep class beforehand, one of which I sat in.
A couple other interesting things have happened, especially with my appearance of late. First of all, I had desires to trim my beard to make it look lit, or at least understand the way to do it myself in the future. As we were walking to our apartment, our neighbor, Keto started to talking with us, and we usually have a nice conversation with him. He's a cool guy. Football player and all (not anymore, but in High School, WR). Anyways, he noticed my beard, and he told me, after I expressed my desire to trim it, that he would help me out. Well, not for lack of trying, our set up times to see him didn't work out. So, I specifically wanted to look good for the Saturday's devotional, so I decided to just cut it off for now. So I am clean shaven now.
The other thing is that I got fitted for contact lenses on Wednesday, plus other eye-health tests (which showed me that besides the near-sightedness, my eyes are healthy). So, since Wed, I have been wearing my contacts, increasing by two hours everyday, to get use to them and see if I really like them. And so far, I do. I think I had a skewed perception about how bad contacts were and how easy it is to lose them, and also how they feel on your eyeball. But honestly, they are great. I have my follow up appointment on Wednesday.
So, I am changing. It's crazy. But aren't we all. Plus, I found out that Mom wore contacts in college. Who knew?
Sarah and I have started doing Yoga, as Sarah bought two Yoga mats for us to use, and I'm telling you, it is really pretty cool. We found a YouTuber who's specialty is Yoga and we started a 30-day program with Her.
Not yesterday, but last Saturday and Friday, Sarah and I went to Payson, Arizona with our branch on a campout. It was super great. We were able to give Hermana Oralia Castaneda a ride there and back, which wasn't as terrible as could've been anticipated. There were many families involved and it was a really fun trip.
Lastly, Sarah and I went to watch the movie of the Century, the finale to the last 11 or so years of movies, Avengers:Endgame yesterday. OMG, Jacob, words cannot describe it. So, I will leave it at that. I am looking forward to watching it again and again. It was sooooooo good. Definitely a fitting end.
Sarah and I didn't know when we would actually see it, as it just came out this weekend. But after contemplating it all, we found a not sold-out two seats in the 5th row at a Harkins here in Tempe to watch, that ended about an hour before the devotional started. It's pretty funny how many attempts we actually did to get these tickets. But it was all worth it, in the end. We will probably see it one more time next week. And guess what, we watched it in 3D, me for the first time without eye-glasses. It was pretty surreal. Oh, it was amazing. I can't wait til you see it, and we can talk about it for hours., even days. They did a spectacular job, those Russo brothers.
Well, there is probably more, especially since I'm covering two weeks, but I really enjoyed talking to you for Easter. I can't believe we are almost at that point of your return. That's so crazy too. You have done an amazing job, and I am proud of you.
I love you so much.
Love,
John
