New Changes...

Well...I'M A DAD!!!!

 

Surprising twist of fate when changes day came around. We showed up bright and early to Albrook Mall before heading off to the chapel for changes. When we got there, both of my Zl's and a few other missionaries told me that I was going to be training a "mini" missionary. Changes happen and yes sir I am, a mini missionary, future missionary, as if I were comps with Dominic, my little stepbrother basically, haha :) His name is Daniel Plummer, super dark skin, from an area near my first area when I started the mission back in San Miguelito, called Samaria. I know that it's Samaria, PANAMA, but it could easily be Samaria, Africa for how dark he is, haha...racist. Anyway, that was a surprise curveball that I didn't expect to receive, and I was also made District Leader, so we'll see how that all goes.

 

A little background of Plummer (pronounced Ploomer), he's 18, turns 19 at the end of the month. President Ward received revelation at the end of last change when he was making changes a week ago that he should call a few mini missionaries. Daniel worked as like a gardener, grounds crew at the temple here in Panama and was taking his break in the visitor's center building next door when President Ward walks in and asks him right out of the blue if he wanted to be a mini missionary. Daniel was shocked and said "ok", and Pres. told him to show up THE NEXT DAY for changes, where he would get his comp and start a 6 week mini mission. So that's how it went, no pre- interview, no nothing. I want to be honest with you all, he's absolutely horrible, not even the slightest bit prepared to serve a mission. Dominic, you are way more spiritually prepared and more mature than this kid. He HAS sent off his mission papers and is waiting for a call, and I think that was all President cared to hear when he told him to serve a mini mission. He ASSUMED that he was worthy and ready. This kid wasn't even ordained a PRIEST yet, not endowed, doesn't have the Melchesidek Priesthood, nothing. It's basically just like calling some random teenage kid member to be my comp for 6 weeks.

 

He thinks that he knows everything because he used to go out on splits with the missionaries before. I explained to him that it's completely different now and he needs to step up and actually BE a missionary now. I can't train someone that isn't humble enough to admit that he needs help and training. This whole thing is absolutely crazy, and it's been the most frustrating few days of my mission. I've let President know how he REALLY is, so we'll see if he sticks around for the full 6 weeks, because it just isn't working out as of now.

 

My old comp, Elder Segura stayed in the city, to be with my old Mexican comp Elder Aguilar, my 2nd comp, remember him?? I thought that was super funny. I know that this experience can and will be a powerful learning experience for me and for Daniel, but I just honestly don't have any idea how I'm going to be able to do this. I write these emails to give you mission details, and this is what the mission is really like, complete madness and uncertainty.

 

Yesterday I gave a talk in church on the power of prayer. I felt that it went pretty well, and really got me thinking about how I pray. A lot of the time we feel like we simply repeat the same things over and over again. it shouldn't be that way. Imagine it like talking to your actual father. What would your dad say if everytime you went to speak to him, you said the exact same thing word for word. He would go CRAZY right? That is how I imagine our Heavenly Father feels to those people who confess to be true Christians, believers and lovers of Christ, and yet repeat the same generic, overused, formulaic prayers over and over, an endless number of times. God wants you to ask Him for what you really and truly need, not pray for something that isn't necessary, or say a prayer to merely say one. The prayer is our personal communication with our Father in Heaven, and He has commanded us that we do so. I've firmly decided as well that when I come home from the mission, family, yes that means you, Mom Roy Dominic, Dad, Michelle, all you family of mine, we are going to incorporate the family prayer more profoundly into our lives, and we will do it kneeling. I've thought a lot about that as well, the importance of kneeling to offer a prayer. Elder Herrero, the senior missionary, taught us a lesson and asked us a question, "How many examples can you find in the scriptures where Jesus offered a prayer to our Heavenly Father sitting down, or laying on his bed, etc?" You won't find one. Jesus Christ taught us the example for everything, including the prayer, and within the family on our knees. When He suffered the Atonement, He collapsed on the ground from the incredible pain that He was going through, suffering the sins of all mankind. He did that prayer on His knees to show respect, love, and obedience to God. I know that prayer, scripture study, and Family Home Evening are things that need to be incorporated in each family within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

 

I cannot believe the amount of confusion that exists here in Latin America, and the amount of hypocritical christians that are here. There is no separation of Church and State like we have in the US, the greatest country in the world. The Catholic influence on this country is so extreme and forced upon children from a young age. It's so frustrating going into a house and having a teenager or child offer the prayer, as he reads it from his school notebook from what he learned that day in his classes... "Oh Jesus, save us from our sins we pray, liberate us from those that oppose and offend us", blah blah blah, etc, etc, apostasy blah. It truly is incredible.

 

I've really learned a lot this week though, patience being at the top with the power of prayer. To get through this change, it will require lots of prayer and patience, but I promise you all, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that God listens, and answers our prayers, and never leaves us comfortless.

 

I hope you all enjoy the company of one another in your family for this lovely Thanksgiving this coming Thursday. EAT LOTS OF TURKEY AND STUFFING FOR ME PLEASE!! :) Scrips this week are Mosiah 4:14-15, the powerful influence that parents have on teaching their children to walk in the ways of righteousness, and D&C 6:22-23.

 

Thank you for everything, I'll pray for you and you pray for me, deal? Okey dokey :)