How are you? I am well—a bit tired, though. We had a Zone Meeting this morning in the city of Rio Cuarto (a voyage of four hours from Villa Dolores). We'll be working with the Elders here tonight, and returning to Villa Dolores this morning at 4:30!
The week has gone quickly. I'm not sure if I'm understanding better, but occasionally I'm speaking more in lessons. I'm having some trouble expressing myself, but I'm looking for opportunities to serve my companion and to help our investigators and the people of Villa Dolores generally. I've been reading the Book of Helaman in the past couple days, and finding many principles (I've been focusing some of my scripture marking on principles and promises lately—light green for the principles, light blue for the blessings).
One neat scripture study thought is that generally the promises of the gospel are simple and easily summarized: Live the gospel, and receive peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come. Of course, they're all more specific, but the general principle is that exercising faith, repenting, being baptized and keeping covenants, and maintaining the guidance of the Spirit, with perseverance, is what brings "every good thing," as Moroni puts it. I think that the challenge as a missionary is to be, first, living these principles, so as to be experiencing the fruits of the gospel (1 Nephi 11:25-ish), and then to reach out to all others, inviting them to "come to Christ," and showing them the doctrines and the principles, and helping them to have faith and learn application of the principles of the Gospel. As a missionary I am to connect the doctrines to individual needs. The oft-repeated adage here is "Teach lessons, not people," but sometimes I fear that this attitude leads to being somewhat ineffectual, like cleaning the leaves of a droopy tree that is falling in a muddy puddle. I think that the key to this principle is to teach people, by teaching the doctrine in order to satisfy their spiritual needs and bring them to Christ! This is the missionary purpose, to bring people to Christ, by helping them to receive the restored gospel. I'm working on focusing on this more!
I'm glad that you're doing well! Congratulations to Matthew on his performance, and I wish Dad continued success and revelation in his efforts to help the ward to become missionaries.
I have sent some pictures of the kitchen (admittedly, after careful cleaning last P-Day). I'm trying with some effort to keep it consistently clean, washing the dishes, taking out the trash, wiping the counters, etc—it's a bit of a hobby! So far we've only had a few ants in the apartment, as our garbage is uncovered.
We don't have water or gas vendors, though our water is boiled or filtered before consumption, and we don't receive many sales persons, being on the second floor of our building we don't have any windows through which they can peek!
Anyhow, I must away. Thank you very much for your love and prayers, and letters (I should like to hear from my brothers too!).
Love,
Elder Schlachter Photos
