FamilyI think you should have my Ecuador address, but I don´t. I know my address for here but I don’t have it right here with me. I’ll send it later tonight. If you do send anything it has to consist of only 2 pieces of paper. Also, stamps are 6 dollars a piece here, so it would be nice if you could send me a letter with some stamps in it.
I have a ton to talk about.
On Saturday we went tracting all day. Me, my Latino companion, and the huge real world of Peru. We tracked in the poorest area I have ever seen. It looked like hoovervilles. People lived in either sheds, homes made of tarps for walls. I couldn’t believe how people could actually live like this. Kids were playing soccer in the dirt roads, wild dogs roamed the areas in search of food, and garbage filled the streets. Everyone looked at us as we walked from door to door. (if they had a door) I couldn’t talk much; A. because I couldn’t understand what anyone was saying and B. because I was shocked at the living conditions or these human beings. Sugar lives a life a royalty compared to these people. It was unreal. So I spent most the lessons not saying much. I shared my testimony and maybe a scripture in the handful of lessons we taught.
The best experience of the mission so far though came at the last home we visited. It was a single young man named Mori who used to be a member. My companion was asking him how he was and the gift of tongues started to kick in. I could understand almost everything he said. He talked about how he quit going to church because the members were mean to him and ignored him. I finally spoke up. I don´t know how I did it but I spoke with what seamed like flawless Spanish. I said, ¨look Mori, I don’t know what happened previously in church. I don´t know why they treated you poorly. But I do know this. We are representatives of Jesus Christ. And heavenly father sent us specifically to you because he misses his Son. He misses you and wants you to return to him.¨ He began to tear up. I asked him that if we went to church with him, or if a member picked him up and brought him to church would he come on Sunday. He said ¨I don’t know. Its too hard.¨ So I said ¨Mori, I am going to say a prayer. During the prayer I want you to think about what your Heavenly Father wants you to do and after the prayer I am going to ask you again¨ He said okay and I said the prayer. In the prayer I asked heavenly father to make his will known to us and to give us the strength to follow his will. After the prayer I asked him again and he began to cry and said okay yes I will go.
The excitement and joy that me and Elder Flores felt was amazing. We didn’t want to leave. We felt ready for the field. All the missionaries felt that way after Saturday. When you can truly touch someone’s life the joy you feel is unlike anything we have felt before. I am so excited to go to Ecuador. And we look forward to Saturdays so much now. We have agreed they are even better than P Day because we get to do the real work and touch real people’s lives.
I am so thankful for the opportunity to be a missionary. I am doing great and not feeling any sorrow or missing anything or anyone. We missionaries are the most prayed for people on the face of the planet. We feel the world’s prayers everyday.
Love,
Elder McRae
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