March 4, 2007

  • From a letter dated February 26, 2007

    Dear Family, Friends, and Xangans,

    I can't believe that we are already in week 6 of the transfer. Elder Arballo and I have made this time fly by. I hope it doesn't end next week.

    It is hard to believe that August 21, my homecoming date, is approaching so quickly. Next Tuesday, 3 of my favorite missionaries will go home and I will feel like I am old (Elder Larkin, Elder Dayton, and Elder Vester). Enough Trunky thoughts.

    This past week we had an investigator to church, have 2 investigators committed for baptism (March 25 and April 29), and taught 16 lessons- 9 to investigators and 7 to less actives or recent converts. I feel good about that. This area is actually a very strong area with a lot of potential and a lot of work. Taking the work ethic I developed in Walnut to here has brought me a lot of success. I am excited. I am trying to keep my vision high.

    Here's an interesting fact about my area's history: There is a particularly large church in the area that has a long track record of Mormon-hating. Our church is just down the street from it, and our church is one of the most beautiful LDS chapels I've seen for it's size and location. It features and tall marble inlay along the front that goes up to the steeple. Well when our church was first built, this other large church told it's congregations that the grain of the marble formed the image of Satan. Car accidents were caused by people driving by irradically to see the face of Satan in our Church. Kid's at school were getting made fun of for it. This was not in the 50's, this was about 10 years ago. It became such a problem that we painted ontop of our marble to cover it up. Finally a large tree grew and provided enough cover that the paint was recently stripped off, and the marble is now again revealed. I just marvel sometimes at the immaturity of people.

    I want you all to know that Jesus is the Christ. He is my Redeemer. That is a realization that I am just now coming to understand, though I have been saying it for so long. I love being a missionary because I get to watch others realize Christ. That brings me fulfilment.

    With that, I leave you all with the charge to pick up the March New Era and read "Missionary Mail" on page 47. The End.

    Love,

    Elder Embree