Apologies
for not composing a letter last week. Had to cut the P-Day time short for an
expedition to Boston. I will start out this week’s letter like every week’s
letter - with an Elder Campos story!
Elder
Campos is leaving to go home the 16th of this month. None
of us look forward to the moment when we will have to bid farewell to our
Peruvian friend, but at the same time, we are excited for the wonderful life
that lays ahead of him. In the months before an elder leaves the mission he
usually has an interview with the Mission President about life after his
mission, such as work, education, dating and so forth. Elder Campos came home
from his interview all jazzed up about dating and marriage. He immediately asked
the apartment to role-play situations with him where he asks a female of his
choice on a date. Now, I am no love guru, but typically in my experience asking
“How many kids do you want?” in the first 30 seconds of a conversation can lead
to a female quickly losing interest in you!
After
a rough night of role-playing and learning how to communicate with females,
Elder Campos approached me and expressed his concerns.
“Elder
Tait, man, I no good at girls”
“Don’t
worry Elder Campos, it will come buddy!”
“I
know, I just so bad at McFlurrting”
“Wait,
Elder Campos, what?”
“McFlurrting.
Yeah man, I just can’t McFlurrty with the girls.”
I
soon helped Elder Campos understand that the word was “flirt” and not the
fast-food frozen treat, “McFlurry!”
These
last two weeks I have noticed a re-occurring trend that hopefully will not
continue for the rest of my mission. This week Elder Wright and I were driving
to see a member who is in the hospital, but as it turned out, we ended up
visiting an animal hospital as well. As we were driving in this rural
neighborhood, we approached a flock of birds. All the birds fled to avoid our
car, except for one who decided to
“yolo.” Unfortunately, I didn’t notice this until I was driving over the bird!
As we looked back, we noticed that one of the bird’s wings was still flapping.
I was filled with horrible memories of accidentally running over Jimmy last
month. We decided we weren’t going to allow another one of God’s creature to
die. We noticed it was a blue jay, so we first decided to name the bird
Bartholomew the Bluebird. We quickly took copies of The Book of Mormon out of a
box and laid Bartholomew in the box. We then were able to find a pet hospital
where Bartholomew received treatment. The animal hospital told us Bartholomew
was going to make it, and we were eventually able to set our bluebird friend
back into the wilderness where he belonged. Why do I have a tendency to
accidentally run over birds? No idea. I will let you know if I figure out the reason
or if I have any more deathly experiences with birds!
As
we entered this week we were blessed to witness our Heavenly Father helping those
who are seeking the gospel. This last week, we had a mini-missionary with us
named David L.! This kid is the real deal. He has helped us grow in so many
ways. Last week we ran into a homeless lady and her daughter on the T who both
wanted to hear our restored message of truth. We gave them a Plan of Salvation
pamphlet before we departed and made plans to teach a follow up lesson.
Yesterday Elder Wright went on splits with a ward member, and David and I went
to give a lesson to this wonderful lady. We typically are hesitant to teach
homeless people for multiple reasons, but this lady had a special presence
about her. Before we started the discussion, we opened with a prayer, and she
was instantly in tears. She shared the experience that earlier that day her 9
year-old daughter had come to her and out of the blue said, “Mom, God sent me
down here to help you.” She said she was hit hard by this because it suggested
that there is something before this life. She instantly had the undeniable urge
to read the Plan of Salvation pamphlet, which I know was no coincidence. She
could not stop telling us how everything now made sense. Her life made sense.
She is unfortunately homeless because her boyfriend, who she was about to marry,
died in May. She just clicked with the knowledge of our premortal life, and she
couldn’t stop crying when she understood that there is life after death.
I
know the Lord has sent me to the Boston, Massachusetts Mission to teach people
like this humble lady and her daughter about the Plan of Salvation and that families
can be together forever and that life has a purpose. I know the Plan of
Salvation to be true. I know my family can be together forever. I can’t wait for the
joy I know I’ll feel one day when I’m reunited for eternity with my grandparents
and loved ones on the other side.
Elder
Tait.
2
years. Make it count.
