curtis' letter July 1, 2011

Well, we're in our new offices...still no house.  We have a possibility of a miracle on Monday as far as the house is concerned.  An old house we saw that couldn't give us fiscally valid receipts now might be able to.  The owner of the house is coming in for a few days from France...just at the time we need to change houses.  We'll see what happens.  We have until oxt-Monday night (for the lesser informed of you, oxt is a to-be-prefix that I promote meaning "not this one, but the next") to rent the house and get it ready.  We're in a crazy situation.  In all of it, we called another secretary, Élder Heninger.  I don't know if he's replacing me or if we'll be in trio or what's happening, but I know the Lord will take care of me.

With all this madness, I haven't made it to the area for more than an hour this week.  I'm in a new prosyliting area called Pedregal.  There's a lot of work here and I'm sad that right now we can't go, but things need to be done.

We sent home two elders this week.  One this last Tuesday, Élder Rodriguez, and one this morning, Élder Araiza.  Both just wanted to go home.  If you remember, it was the same Élder Araiza that spent a night in the hospital a few weeks ago for his knee.  He healed and then went home.  Funny how things work sometimes...

We've been arranging our new offices and saying goodbye to elders.  Élder Smith, Élder Carreon, and Élder Flake are all now in the other mission.  Our new offices are beautiful, just missing a few beds on which to sleep... :P  We're currently living with the assistants in a little house until we can rent another one.  9 days and counting...

I know all will be well, but it's been a bit of a stressful week.  Moving elders, taking elders home, preparing for changes...if I was a more stress-prone person I would probably have had a nervous break-down by now.  Being the not-stress-prone person that I am, I expect the nervous break-down sometime around Wednesday of next week ;).  That's a joke, I'm really fine.  I never stress too much because I know the Lord is in control, in the end, of all that is happening in my life.  I've more than gladly turned my life over to him.  That's a covenant I have made and renew with Him every week.  It gives me great peace.

That's about all from the battle's front.  The mission is doing well.  We are still the third smallest mission in the world, having only 5 stakes and 1 city in our whole mission.  We're third only to the North-west mission (I believe they only have three stakes) and the temple square mission (zero stakes....cheaters :P).  All is well.

The new mission address and contact information is the following:

Misión México, Ciudad de México Sur
Av. Progreso 106, 3° Piso
Barrio Santa Catarina, Coyoacán
DF, 04010
México

(55) 56-58-33-68

(55) 56-58-35-49

(55) 55-54-88-09

(please update the blog information)

This week's letter is brought to you by the hymn We Are All Enlisted:

We are all enlisted till the conflict is o’er;
Happy are we! Happy are we!
Soldiers in the army, there’s a bright crown in store;
We shall win and wear it by and by.
Haste to the battle, quick to the field;
Truth is our helmet, buckler, and shield.
Stand by our colors; proudly they wave!
We’re joyfully, joyfully marching to our home.

We are all enlisted till the conflict is o’er;
Happy are we! Happy are we!
Soldiers in the army, there’s a bright crown in store;
We shall win and wear it by and by.

Hark! the sound of battle sounding loudly and clear;
Come join the ranks! Come join the ranks!
We are waiting now for soldiers; who’ll volunteer?
Rally round the standard of the cross.
Hark! ’tis our Captain calls you today;
Lose not a moment, make no delay!
Fight for our Savior; come, come away!
We’re joyfully, joyfully marching to our home.

We are all enlisted till the conflict is o’er;
Happy are we! Happy are we!
Soldiers in the army, there’s a bright crown in store;
We shall win and wear it by and by.

Fighting for a kingdom, and the world is our foe;
Happy are we! Happy are we!
Glad to join the army, we will sing as we go;
We shall gain the vict’ry by and by.
Dangers may gather—why should we fear?
Jesus, our Leader, ever is near.
He will protect us, comfort, and cheer.
We’re joyfully, joyfully marching to our home.

We are all enlisted till the conflict is o’er;
Happy are we! Happy are we!
Soldiers in the army, there’s a bright crown in store;
We shall win and wear it by and by.

I know the cause for which I'm fighting.  As Paul said, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."  I am happy in my fight.  It is difficult.  I know I am marching to my Heavenly Home.  I make no mistake.  I know the powers of darkness will gather, and are gathering.  I know that all Hell will likely combine against the Saints of God.  We have never had an easy past, we cannot expect an easy future.  However, I know God Lives and that Jesus is the Christ.  I know that their Power is far greater and will be used on behalf of the saints when the time is right.  In the eternal War, God wins.  I will joyfully march to Their drum for my whole life and for all of eternity.  The call to all is to live for and suffer for the Cause of Christ, the salvation of all mankind.  Our foe is real, but we will defeat him.  I know it with all my heart.

All my Love,

Élder Sudbury

PS I'm glad all is well at home.  Mom and Dad, get better.  Melanie and Tim, are you planning on just using the hens for eggs?  SalleeAnn and Matt, good luck on your baby blessing.  Noella, when do you leave for Turkey?  JuleeAnn and Chris, how long will you be in Boston?  I love you all!