A Picture from the beginning of the mission. Sometime in the first 3 months in Indiana.
Elder Paxman, his trainer Elder Cozzens and the Visa waiter in their trio Elder McDaniel plus other Elders from I think the White River branch.
Dear Mom,
I am doing much better
emotionally this week; actually luckily it was kind of just a one week thing. I
am down to write emails again haha. Who knows with next week though?
Now we are nearing the
end of the mission and the end of emails.
Daddy and I are going to have you tell us something specific each week
for the last 3 emails.
Name your 3 scariest moments in the mission: Scariest moments on my mission... hahaha Mom, I don't think I
will answer this question truthfully; I might have to edit them so you won’t
freak out. One was the first day here in
Indy and getting anti’d hard core!! It was a 30 min. fiasco inside of Walmart
after I had been a missionary in the field for about an hour. This white guy
comes up with really blue eyes wearing a tan suit coat and jeans. Preacher
style. Then he comes up to me, because I was first and the first thing he says
is "Now I know they kill some of you...." I am sure I looked like a
terrified child. My trainer was even like oh crap we are about to get shot!!!
So the guy then goes on about kidnapping and all this crazy stuff, and torture.
Then he says how he knows the only way the church keeps us on missions is to
torture us and threaten us with death. So if we misbehave we get killed, tortured,
and a whole lot of other stuff. That was terrifying, and indeed a moment in the
refiner’s fire.
Second. Probably
losing my companion for about 30 min. in a sketchy part of town and being on a
bike, that was a piece of crap. Also when a group of black men said to come
here.... I don't think I have ever peddled that freaking bike so fast in my
life!! Of course these are really brief versions of the stories, because if not
they would take forever to talk about.
The third... this has
been really hard to choose. Also I do want to clarify, many times scary stuff
has happened, but you don't feel scared, and the Lord does indeed protect his
missionaries. Anyway the third that I can think of right now... Probably being
sexually advanced on by some really attractive young women... Mainly, because
the temptation is there. Now don't judge me, but they missionaries are not
blind. It was scary, because of the thought of falling and failing, which in
that moment becomes a lot more real... Luckily some quick thinking on our part
got us out of there with no issues. There are hundreds more mom, but like I
said I didn't answer it all truthfully, you would have a freak out if you knew
some of the stuff I have seen... There was a time we watched a guy get gunned
down pretty much in front of us, or seeing a lot of prostitutes, or stepping
out of the car to hear the clang of bullet shells under your feet. Getting
chased by dogs, and jumping fences. As well as a whole slew of others! hahaha
so yep.
That is cool that you
had all of those storms!! I would have liked to see that! It would be super
cool!! I can’t believe they had some tornadoes in Utah, I am sure you would be
freaking out over tornadoes. I think it would be cool to see one. Also of
course some touched down in Utah, the place where they never happen, and they
happen when I am not in the freaking state!! Of course that is how it works!!
Not to mention while I am hear, a place where tornadoes are not totally
uncommon and pretty much one hit, that's it. It wasn't even that bad... Lame.
How are your
investigators? Rodrigo we have not been able
to teach, he has been really busy. So we will keep trying. Vicenta and Lupita are doing
really well. They both came to church! So that was great! I am hoping to see
them baptized before I finish my mission. Daniel is doing good, we haven't been
able to meet with him. So we are hoping it all goes well there. He wasn't able
to come to church because of some other things. We have a lesson with him this
week. So it should go well.
Luckily the depression
thing is gone. I am back to my normal peachy self. Which is nice. Thanks for
the comments on the mission though mom. They were really good to hear. Although,
I am indeed doing better it is just hard to think of the mission ending. Although,
I feel sure I have more hormones than a freaking pregnant lady, but all will be
well.
Well as far as my
spiritual thought. This week was my last fast Sunday in the mission....
So I kept up the tradition of bearing my testimony every fast Sunday. Of course
like you mom, I cried... Freak I hated it that I cried. Although, it was
amazing to feel the spirit work through me to touch the hearts of others. I was
not the only one to shed a few tears. My mission has changed me for the better,
from now and into forever. It has prepared me for life, and all of its
adventures. I will forever cherish every moment, even the hard ones, the scary
ones, the not so good ones, and all the others that can exist. One thing I have
tried to do throughout my life, and that I testified of on Sunday was to
"Judge not". Sadly we all judge others. I have tried to not do it,
but I have many times in my life. Some have had dire consequences. Some I may
never know the consequences till after this life. I had this profound thought.
The act of judging others and the spreading of gossip is what killed The Son of
Man. Think about it, the Scribes and Pharisees spread rumor and slander about
the church, and the very Son of God, which in more ways than one led Him to the
cross. As it was then, so it will be now. Judging and the spreading of rumors
will destroy this great work, and it will be what holds us back from having
Zion again on the earth. Even minor things can turn into the gravel that causes
us to lose our footing and fall. Are we not all sons and daughters of God? We
should all be a little better at not being quick to judge. Life is too precious
and souls are indeed at stake. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as thy
Father in Heaven is perfect..." We can never get there, in this life, so
why sit there and point out the fact that someone else has no hope of getting
there, when you are in the same freaking boat! For with what we judge others we
will be judged. We know that to be true. I have been far from a perfect example
in this, but we are all trying and hopefully all improving. That is what
matters. Beams and motes people, beams and motes. I am sure there will be other
times when I judge and when we judge someone else. But let’s try and make it
less, and try and do our best to make it kind. So yep I have had lots of
thoughts about that the last few days. But I do not want to sound preachy or
anything so I will wrap up. I love you and I hope this week sees you well and
you have a great week.
Love, Elder Paxman
a Juan face [;{D
