More from the Field

Robby had commented to me that he wished that while on his mission he could be able to just sit and visit with me every once in a while. I mentioned this to my friend Sherri Bewsey. She said she used to feel the same way but had come to appreciate the wisdom in the missionaries not being able to do that. She said those are the times when they have to really turn to the Lord and rely on Him and thus develop a strong relationship with Him. I had passed that on to Robby and this was his response in his next letter:

mom, i really appreciated your comment from sis bewsey. That really hit home for me because those are some of the exact struggles that I was going through, and now I found the solution. That also applies to the smackdown I received when reading the scriptures the other day. As I have expressed, i was getting super frustrated with all my situations, the language, the work, my comp (He has a comp who doesn't want to work much), mosquitoes, just to name a few. And then I was getting mad that I wasn't happy and didn't know why I was always so bitter. Then I was reading in Alma 60, i don't know the verse, maybe somewhere around 23, where captain moroni says something along the lines of "don't you remember that we need to first cleanse the inner vessel, then will the outer vessel be cleansed also. So be up and doing." and it hit me so hard that I have been trying so hard to work about cleaning the outer vessel with all the situations and circumstances, when all I needed to do was focus on the innver vessel. After that I tried singing hymns, reciting articles of faith and scriptures and just trying to think positive thoughts, and I was so much happier even when people wouldn't be at the appt. So another part of cleansing the inner vessel is really coming unto the Lord, leaning on him, having him be my mom or dad to turn to while I am out here. Then I will be cleansed inside and out. So thank you mom and sis. bewsey. and capt. moroni.



More from that letter (Nov. 11, 2007)

The area is so sweet. this could probably be the best area for my entire mission. it is so beautiful. Our are is huge, and part of it runs along the ocean and part of it is in like the middle of rice and corn fields. This one family lived like literally in the middle of nowhere. We had to walk 5 minutes in the middle of fields just to get to this one house. It was pitch black at night and all they had was one tiny oil candle. it was such a unique experience. I loved it.




From Nov. 25, 2007
Earlier in the week, I did exchanges and went to another area. it was way fun. Elder janson is an American and we have a lot in common. He was on scholarship for baseball at ASU. So it was nice to be able to speak english and let my regular personality come out. and we went to this guy who lived in the middle of a rice field and the only way to his house wasthrough so much mud it was ridiculous. It had just poured before that so it was insane. On the way back, we just took off out shoes and socks, rolled up our pants, and charged. We walked in the middle of the rice patties like with water almost up to my knee, and then just walked through so much mud barefoot. I'm probably going to get some parasite and die, but it was so cool.