Letter #21

I mean, it has to be someone right? The first person to be baptized and confirmed in the new year. It may be Marcelo do Prado, Jr. Maybe. Point is, Marcelo was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday bright and early. There are pictures, I just don't have them right now.

But, good week, we broke the dead cat streak finally. Lots of rain. Lots of traveling to the edge of our area to meet with Marcelo (and his steak chef father-in-law, who knows I like my steak redder than a Coca-Cola can).

First off, it's no secret that I have amazing forearms. Elder Orteney and I, broke down 500 chairs and stacked them in the attic. This meant Elder Orteney handed me the chairs and I carried them up the ladder. 500. We finished and the Stake Patriarch comes up to me and says, "Elder, I know why you have big forearms." -Okay? "Actually, I know why one of your forearms is way bigger than the other." -What you getting at here? "It's because you only use one of them. I just watched you stack 500 chairs, and only one of your hands ever touched the chairs. You didn't let go of the support beam the whole time. Never forget this Elder, sometimes you need to let go of the beam so your forearms are equal."

If you have any idea what he meant there, please feel free to let me know, I think it was a weird Patriach metaphor that I'll understand in about 40-60yrs.

BUT got me thinking. We all have a hand on the support beam, that legendary iron rod. But, we don´t need to let go of this beam to grow like we should (feel like I'm reaching here but we're going). The way we grow isn't to let go of the rod and move of to the side. That's how we get lost. We keep that hand firmly on the rod and keep moving forward.

Don't let go of the gospel of Jesus Christ and you can't fall. I know Marcelo has that ability and his testimony confirmed that to me. He knows the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church on the face of the Earth, the Kingdom of God, re-established so we, as His children, can continue to grow and press forward. But, we must move foreward.

I love you all, happy birthday to my dearest grandmother (girls love a guy who loves his grandmother ;)) and happy new year

Love, with affection, sincerely yours,

Elder Popeye the Sailor Man