This has been a really great week. So much has happened, I can't even remember it.
Also, real quick, I have a word or two to say about the heat.
So
many times I've heard people say "well at least it's a dry heat" when
talking about Arizona. And yes, humidity is not fun by any means. And it
can make the temperature feel hotter than it is, however, 90° that
feels like 97° is still not as hot as 115° that feels like the flames of
hell are burning your face off.
And the wind, don't even get
me started on the wind. Wind is supposed to be cool and refreshing but
instead it feels like we're riding our bikes against the forces of an
unusually large hair dryer that is powered by Smaug the dragon,
breathing fire and death to any unlucky soul who happens to be outside. I
have never experienced such pain from simply being outside. It's crazy.
We step outside and it's like, "Ouch, my skin hurts." And not just the
skin either, the eyes too. We ride our bikes, and despite our glasses,
the fire wind gets in there and inflicts such profound discomfort upon
our eyes it's amazing.
Anyway though, those were just some
things on my mind. I really love Arizona though. I have absolutely
nothing but good things to say about this state. Just like the hymn,
this is a "Lovely Desert." Except for the hymn says "deseret" instead,
which to my understanding is a fancy word for beehive.
Speaking
of dessert, we had a lovely dessert of chocolate cake this morning,
while waiting for our interviews with President and Sister Cox. They are
so cool. They do things differently than the Robinson's, but it's so
good. I am so excited to serve with them and get to know them more.
So to get to the point of this email, my week was great.
The
week started off kind of rough though. We were in some situations that
were more sad than drinking warm water and more uncomfortable than
wearing dress clothes in 115° temperatures. All humorous comparisons
aside though, Tuesday was pretty rough. Things are only getting better
though. It was still a great week, and this next one will be even
better.
On Wednesday we had an awesome visit
with someone named Aaliyah. It was such a good discussion about the Book
of Mormon and about how we can come closer to Jesus Christ by reading
it. She has such a strong desire to learn, it's awesome.
We also visited with a super wise old man on Wednesday. He's so nice. I love visiting him.
The rest of the week was pretty normal, pretty busy, and pretty awesome.
And
then came Saturday. We were on exchanges. I went with my good friend
Elder John into his area, and we had a great day. It was very long and
very hot. We talked to people and we had an interesting lesson with a
guy at a fishing pond. They found him fishing at that pond, and since
then they've met with him several times, while he fishes at that pond.
It was a solid day.
Also, Elder John is from Kenya, and he
was teaching me some Swahili. For example "Book of Mormon" is "Kitabu
cha Momoni" and "garbage" is "taka taka." I seriously am a foreign
language missionary. I can pretty much carry on a conversation in
Spanish, I've given a Persian Book of Mormon to someone, I sang songs in
Cantanese and Mandarin, I have a friend who knows Swahili, not to
mention that I learned British from Elder Adamson in the MTC, and now
I've learned Canadian from Elder Salter. So counting English, that's 8
languages I'm pretty much fluent in.
Anyway
though, things have been good. In other news I chugged half of a half
gallon of chocolate milk this afternoon despite sort of having a stomach
ache, and I haven't felt the same since. And not in a good way. I feel
like taka taka now.
Well, I just love being a
missionary. I was just reading this morning in Alma chapter 36 in the
Book of Mormon. I have read that chapter many times, and this morning it
hit me once again just how much I love that story. It's about someone
named Alma, and the chapter is pretty much him telling his dramatic and
inspiring conversion story. After spending all his time seeking to
destroy the Church, he was stopped by an Angel, and he came to a
realization of all his sins and his guilt, and he was "racked with
eternal torment."
As the story continues however, he remembers
what he had heard about Jesus Christ, and he cries out for mercy and he
Then can remember his pains and his sins no more. And from that moment
he had a dramatic change in his heart, and he could see the light and
the hope made possible by Jesus Christ. And while we might not have as
dramatic as an experience as Alma, each of us can still have experiences
throughout our lives that are nonetheless miraculous and powerful,
where we come to know of Jesus Christ's role in our lives, when we
realize He is our Savior, and His sacrifice is real.
I know
Jesus Christ lives. I am coming to know that for myself, and how He has a
role in my life, personally. I know His Gospel has been restored. I
love Jesus Christ and His teachings, and I love being able to share this
message of hope and joy with other people.
Til next week,
~Elder Oswald
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