12.16.13

Tell G I said happy birthday!! Or I guess I can do that in a bit... I'm going to be able to Skype at about 3.30 pm my time... I don't know when that is there, but that’s the plan. I will have pictures for you next week, if that’s ok.  I don't have a camera and my companion ´´lost his´´ the other day when we were walking to take pictures with a family. I'm sure I can get you some pictures though, because I don't even remember the picture that she sent. Not much is going on. I really need to start writing in my journal so I remember what’s going on, but we have been working and working, so I never think about it. In the summer is when everyone has service to do. It’s ridiculous how many people want our help now with some of the lamest tasks. The other day we helped a lady get her sheep unstuck from in between a fence. Oh it was a stressful task. We painted a ceiling with paint that was pretty much water and flour. But its definitely hot here now. I feel like I’m swimming through water all day and when I get up from peoples’ couches (outside on their front porch...ermerica!!!) you can see where my companion and I were sitting. But with all of the work that we have had, I have realized how lazy people are and it disgusts me!!! People will work for like 15 minutes cutting the grass, take a break to drink mate’ or juice for 25 minutes, then get back to cutting or just say, “whelp, you'll just have to come back tomorrow to finish the rest.” It’s terrible. They think I’m insane for working for A WHOLE HOUR straight without laying down and taking a 45 min nap every 10 minutes in between. There was an article I was reading about work in an Ensign somewhere. It’s in Spanish but it’s by Elder L. Tom Perry called The Joy of Honest Labor 1986... he says something like how he gained a joy and appreciation for honest labor, thanks to his dad (for me my mother) and it prepared him for the time in his life when he'd have to provide for his family and have responsibilities. The principles his father taught him of honest work, discipline, working until the COMPLETION of a task were basic to his success. He also talks about how the many problems of the world today are because the parents never taught their children how to work. One of the most important things you can teach your children is the love of work and completion of tasks. I'm grateful that I was taught a bit how to work...I could have worked so much harder and now that I’m here, seeing how much impact it has on the people, I hope I never have to stop working! I can't imagine sitting doing nothing all day...something that will help someone prepare for a mission is WORK. ´´Pereza mata a la esperanza y a los sueños´´ Dallin H. Oaks! Laziness kills hope and dreams...if you're not working hard for something, then you are wasting the Lord's time, your time and your future wife’s time. Well that’s all I have to say for this week... I’ll send more pictures next week. I got two packages and put them under the tree, so thank you!!!

E' McRae