Did You Say Spring?

Monday, May 11, 2009

Dear Family,
Wow, thanks for the conference call mom!  Love you all!
...Brendan came riding along on his bike without any help.  He said he learned himself -- and he did!...
  Atta boy, Charlie!  Did mom tell you about the bike Chris and I learned on?  It was pink!  I'm not sure it was a boy bike.

 ...Landon loves to go out with your dad and play baseball.  He was just showing me a few minutes ago that he can throw a ball just as far with his right hand as with his left.  We taught him what the word  ambidexterous meant....

Lando!  That's what we'd call "astig" here, but it means "cool" in English.  When I get home, we'll have to play some baseball, okay?  Way to go, fixin' up Charlie's bike -- you really are Mr. Fix it (Jr., of course, dad, you're still pretty good.)

    ...Lindsay and Madeline played the song, "We are Siamese" from Lady and the Tramp, as a piano duet for the Elementary Talent Show on Friday.  They drew whiskers on their faces and Lindsay wore cat ears.  They played it beautifully...

Talent Shows already?  What's next -- broadway?  Movin' right along. When does school get out, and what are the summer plans?

    ...Rachel has been -- you guessed it -- reading.  She has also practiced the piano faithfully and is getting really good.  She sounds great on the
clarinet as well.  And she and the other girls spend time singing parts and putting them together.  I'm thinking we need to get them a song to sing for
Church...

Rachel, that is sweet!  I can't say how much I miss that piano.  You'll take good care of it for me, won't you?  I'm so excited to here if you play in Sacrament!

About the other language -- kapampangan, or something like that.  Mostly the little kids and some older people speak it.  It just sounds like jibberish to me, I'm not sure where it comes from exactly.  Lots of people like to read their Bible in kapampangan, and some people that don't really want to pray for us at the end of the first lesson will pray in -- kapampangan, or whatever it is.  I know enough that when someone asks me if I know how to speak it, I can say yes.  "Wa"


Some of us sometimes have to be shaken out of what we're used to, what's comfortable, to be ready to take on a new challenge.

Wow, yeah that sounds like it.  I remember my first real morning in the field.  Dead tired, I found myself up at 6:30 A.M., looking out the window at palm trees and beginning to sweat already.  The world seemed completely upside-down.  I remember doing push ups, and just thinking about what was going to happen in the next two years.  What an incredible time!  I've thought here that there really is no limit to my progression and learning, except the restrictions I put on myself.  I always have an opportunity to stretch myself.  Focus, walk, OYM, teach -- honestly teach, study hard, do everything with all my heart.  The words of President Monson -- "The future is as bright as your faith"  runs through my mind, and I wonder if I've always held the key to accelerate my progress as much as it's accelerating now.  I think I did.  I think I will after my mission.  I feel I'm learning a valuable lesson about the nature and purpose of life, and what improvement, knowledge, and inspiration feels like.

It was so good to hear about your baptisms and investigators.  What a joy it is to watch someone change and get that light in their eyes. That's what really keeps you going.

I'm out of time, but here's an expansion of a paragraph in my letter to the president --
For a long-time investigator family, we planned this week to focus on how -- very specifically -- the gospel can bless their family, and central was the Law of Chastity, one of the remaining challenges.  I remember the first visit I had with them, and a completely different light has come into their eyes.  So we thought it was time to take the next step.  On Monday, we prepared a lesson, made some treats, and invited 2 member families to the Mendoza home for a surprise Family Home Evening.  It was a rousing success (I'll write about the games next week)Two days later, we prayed about and studied the Law of Chastity, and later taught a more solemn lesson.  To our surprise, the Mendoza parents said they'd noticed that something needed to change.  It went very well, and though we are still waiting for definite plans for the son and his fiancee to seperate, we feel that they have a testimony, and are praying for them to make the right decision.
Susan, a new investigator that I was able to give a blessing of comfort to on our 3rd visit at her request, accepted the invitation to be baptized, and she said that she's been making big changes in her life, and it was a pleasure to teach about repentance, and baptism, because she honestly wants to change.
The three Blanco children are excited for their upcoming baptism, and we're excited as well.  They have very plain and sound faith, even at their young age.


 ...beehives, our latest adventure and foray into learning more. ...

By the way, that sounds awesome!

 ...Sounds like spring!...

What is spring, again?  Seasons are a wonderful thing.  Here the season depends on the day, sometimes it's the rainy season, sometimes not.  We always carry an umbrella, if it's hot, it's for shade, if it's raining, we use it as a boat to cross the streets.
Thanks so much, I LOVED talking to you all!
With love,
Elder Peck

Chris, I loved hearing from you!  I've been thinking a lot about the first words I heard from you -- The mission's awesome!  Isn't it?
Your zeal and love for the work -- the Lord and the people, helps me be happy, it keeps me smiling thinking that you're on the other side of the world, but we're doing the same thing.  Tear it up!  I'll do my best here!
- Elder Loren Peck
I always love hearing from you!