Letter from Curtis June 25, 2011

Hello world,

It's been an interesting week...where to start...

Monday we went to the hospital for the surgery with Élder García.  He is still recovering with us.  One more reason never to get fat :P.

Tuesday afternoon we got home from the hospital.  I went with our ward missionary to the area for a few hours.  We set up some appointments for Friday.  I came home and worked a bit in the offices.

Wednesday was a very stress-filled day (and this coming from somebody who almost never gets stressed).  We had to do some special changes in the morning, I kept looking and calling about houses, sorted a few things, and still had a bit to do by the time nine o'clock rolled around.  I left on exchanges with two elders in my district.

Thursday I was on exchanges all day.  It was an interesting day.  These elders seem like they're trying hard, but have a lot of things to learn.  I got home at nine again from exchanges.  Élder Flake went to migration, the church offices, and mail while I was gone.

Friday was an especially interesting day.  We had a fairly normal morning.  We studied, cashed a check and came home.  Élder Flake went to the area with the ward missionary and I took Élder García to the hospital for a check-up.  We stopped home, went to the store, got burger king, and came home.  As we were eating in the offices, we heard some police cars coming down the street.  It sounded like one stopped right in front of the offices.  It was especially weird when it sounded like another one did the same thing.  We didn't think much of it, but we started to worry a bit when there was shouting and banging on the door downstairs.  We figured the police was just dealing with some drunk guy with a knife or something and shrugged it off.  Élder García went upstairs and I started filing some missionary recommends.  Somebody rang our doorbell and I went to see who it was (we have a video intercom).  I picked up the receiver, but there wasn't anybody there.  I figured they had picked up the drunk guy and accidentally hit the doorbell as a result.  Five minutes later Élder García started coming down the stairs and we heard the strangest thing.  Somebody started shouting "¡Ábreme güey!" (Spanish equivalent of "Open the door man!"  This wouldn't have been terribly surprising, except it was coming from a door that led to the patio one the second floor on the inside of the house.  I was honestly a little surprised and closed the door that led to that patio.  I looked out the window and, to my surprise, saw four or five police officers standing outside the door.  I opened the door and the police streamed in and started searching the house.  We were informed that somebody came into our house to assault us.  Élder García and I, in total calmness, just stood still while the police searched the house.  After they searched the house for a bit, finding nobody, they slowed down enough to explain the situation.  A man had been robbing one of the houses behind us.  The police came and surprised him.  In an attempt to get away, he jumped from that house to ours, falling on the stairs that lead from the roof to the patio.  The police thought he had gone in the third story window, armed with a pistol.  Having searched the house in vain, they left.  We went to pick up Élder Flake, telling him the story on the way home.  President had already called my cell phone, but Élder Flake had it.  He had called the offices some five minutes after we had left.  We had planned on calling him to let him know upon getting home.  He already knew.  The area presidency had called him to inform him.  How they knew I'll never know.

As to the mysterious theif, it was nothing short of a miracle that he didn't go into our house.  He could have, easily, to get out.  He likely would have found us and it could have easily been some kind of hostage situation, but it didn't happen.  The police seem to not have taken anything (except perhaps the wallet of Élder García).  We were shaken, but completely unharmed.  One more reason I don't want to live in México. :P

Well, that's my story.  We still don't have a new house.  We're searching on faith that God will provide a way, for we can't find one :P.  I've come to believe that that's often the way God works.  He makes a situation mortally impossible so that we recognize His Hand in changing things for good.  All ends well with God.

This week's letter is brought to you by the hymn: Let Us All Press On.

1. Let us all press on in the work of the Lord,
That when life is o’er we may gain a reward;
In the fight for right let us wield a sword,
The mighty sword of truth.

Fear not, though the enemy deride;
Courage, for the Lord is on our side.
We will heed not what the wicked may say,
But the Lord alone we will obey.

Fear not, courage, though the enemy deride;
We must be victorious, for the Lord is on our side.
We’ll not fear the wicked nor give heed to what they say,
But the Lord, our Heav’nly Father, him alone we will obey.

2. We will not retreat, though our numbers may be few
When compared with the opposite host in view;
But an unseen pow’r will aid me and you
In the glorious cause of truth.

Fear not, though the enemy deride;
Courage, for the Lord is on our side.
We will heed not what the wicked may say,
But the Lord alone we will obey.

Fear not, courage, though the enemy deride;
We must be victorious, for the Lord is on our side.
We’ll not fear the wicked nor give heed to what they say,
But the Lord, our Heav’nly Father, him alone we will obey.

3. If we do what’s right we have no need to fear,
For the Lord, our helper, will ever be near;
In the days of trial his Saints he will cheer,
And prosper the cause of truth.

Fear not, though the enemy deride;
Courage, for the Lord is on our side.
We will heed not what the wicked may say,
But the Lord alone we will obey.

Fear not, courage, though the enemy deride;
We must be victorious, for the Lord is on our side.
We’ll not fear the wicked nor give heed to what they say,
But the Lord, our Heav’nly Father, him alone we will obey.

If we do what's right we have no need to fear neither spiritual nor mortal threats.  We must be victorious, for the Lord of Heavens and Earth is on our side.  We will never retreat or withdraw our cause.  I know that this is the Cause of Truth.  I will devote my entire life to this cause.  I am committed.  I know the Lord has protected us and is constantly blessing us.  Things will work out.  I know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, the very Son of the Living God.  I know that He is my Father.  I am trying to be a good son.  I love Them and I know They love me.

All my Love,
Élder Sudbury

PS I'm fine, I promise.  It was an exciting day ;).  Melanie and Tim, I hope you enjoyed your day at lagoon and the anaesthesiologist thing.  SA and Matt, how is Abigail doing?  Noella, what are your plans for Turkey?  Ju and Chris, I'm glad to hear your hung your last picture.  Get some food ;).  Mom, I hope you feel better.  Dad, I'm glad it was a good week.  Sorry about the short notes last week, I was out of time, but wanted to wish you a happy birthday and Father's day, respectively.  I love you :).