Letter form Curtis February 4, 2011

Hello World,

This has been one of the craziest weeks ever.  I've been up pretty late most nights and have worked extra hours in the office.  My predecessor, good as he was, was not especially organized.  That simple fact has cost me a lot of time.  I've almost got everything back to where I want it, however, so I'm happy. :)

Allow me to describe a bit more about where I live and what I do.  There are two of us in this house.  It's rather large, 3 floors.  There is a sleeping capacity of some 20 missionaries but, except when the assistants come to stay the night, it's usually just Élder Villaseñor and I here.  The mission president and his family have a separate house about an hour away.  We are located largely in the middle of the federal district and it's an interesting place.  I am in charge of finances and records.  Anything that happens in the mission that has to do with money, be it reimbursements, medical expenses, monthly money, etc, it's my job do deal with it, record it, and pay for it.  Furthermore, all the referrals that pass through the mission have to be logged and assigned, and the baptismal records have to be recorded and submitted.  It's a lot of paperwork and busywork.  I'm changing a few things so that I don't have to spend quite so much time in the offices.  My companion doesn't have his licence, so I have to drive him to the various places he has to go.  Our mission vehicle is HUGE.  We'll see what happens. :)  My companion is in charge of the visas and the materials of the mission.  We're both very busy.

We haven't been able to do a lot of work in the area recently due to the demands of getting the secretary work under control, but we've been seeing miracles all around us.  At times I'll get lost driving around the labirynth that is the federal district and I get a distinct feeling to turn down a completely random road that ends up taking me exactly where I need to go.  I will be logging something and not know where to find the information I need and the Spirit tells me to look somewhere very random.  The information is always right there.  I know God is with me.

I'm grateful for all your support and love, thank you for the letters and the prayers :).

This week's letter is brought to you by, Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel.

1. The world has need of willing men
Who wear the worker’s seal.
Come, help the good work move along;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along,
Do your duty with a heart full of song,
We all have work; let no one shirk.
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

The Church has need of helping hands,
And hearts that know and feel.
The work to do is here for you;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along,
Do your duty with a heart full of song,
We all have work; let no one shirk.
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

Then don’t stand idly looking on;
The fight with sin is real.
It will be long but must go on;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along,
Do your duty with a heart full of song,
We all have work; let no one shirk.
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

Then work and watch and fight and pray
With all your might and zeal.
Push ev’ry worthy work along;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along,
Do your duty with a heart full of song,
We all have work; let no one shirk.
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

We are putting our shoulder to the wheel here.  All our heart is in this work.  I cannot stand idly looking on, but rather must work and fight and do all good things. :)  I'm exhausted, but happy.  I know that God is guiding me.  I know that, the more we put ourselves in this work, the more He puts His hand in it to help us.  I know that He loves me and is happy with my work.  I know that He is there to support me and guide me.  I know He lives, for I feel His healing, loving power.  I love Him and I know He loves me.

I hope all is well with all of you.

All my Love,
Élder Sudbury

PS Thanks for the support one and all.  Mom and Dad, I live in the mission offices, not the mission home ;).  MA and Tim, I wrote you seperately, thank you for the emails.  SA and Matt, let me know when you match.  NA, I hope you're healing well.  What's on your mind recently?  Ju and Chris, how much longer can you stay in the apartments where you are? Just curious. :)  All my love, my dear family. :)