birthday

Querida Familia,

After two birthdays in the mission already, this third one is rolling around about the same as all the other days. It's funny to think that I've passed the magic line from unofficial adult, to official adult. I can now legally do things that I'm not going to do anyway. Most importantly, I'm told that my brain is supposed to be coming back today, though I think it is hesitant to return to work after eight years of vacation. We are going rock climbing to celebrate (not real rock climbing, but to a rock climbing gym) as a combined Mesa and Tempe Zone activity. We even invited the Assistants, though they didn't sound too enthusiastic about it. It'll be their loss if they don't come. This evening we have a good night lined up, full of good lessons with people who don't know it is my birthday—perfect.

Our meeting with Richard G. Scott was great. It began with technical difficulties—four or five men from the host stake ran around crazy trying to set up a projector that we didn't ever use anyway. Elder Scott also wanted a body microphone so he could walk around, and it took a while to start working. The whole time I kept thinking, "We're losing apostle-time." In the end, Elder Scott wasn't too worried about keeping all the time for himself anyway. Nor did he worry about ending on time, so it turned out all right. One thing I have noticed about presiding authorities is that they know they can do whatever they want. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Elder Scott gave time to our mission president, and Sister Craig also had some time to speak to us. Accompanying Elder Scott was a new member of the first quorum of seventy, Elder Ringwood (or something like that). He also gave us great counsel and encouragement. We spent some time on a roleplay to better our teaching, and then Elder Scott had the last words. He talked about staying active after our missions. He talked about setting our temple sealing as the number one priority in life after the mission. He reaffirmed so many things I think about. But truly, I wish all the missionaries were prepared enough to have received a higher message.

When Elder Perry came, our leaders talked to us about coming to the meeting prepared to be taught, prepared to feel the Spirit and be inspired. We did prepare ourselves and we were filled that day. We looked as we should have, we acted as we should have, we prayed as we should have during the meeting. We were humbled and honored to be blessed. People forget so quickly. Many missionaries did what they should have to come to the meeting prepared and open to receive Elder Scott's teaching, but so many missionaries needed to be told not to go inactive after their missions. This is a tragedy to me. Of course, it is right that he direct his focus on the weakest of us. There was no wrong on the part of Elder Scott, but I lament that as a mission, we have not strengthened the weak among us enough to know that each one of us will do at least the bare minimum to obey the commandments upon returning home. It is, therefore, the duty of the stronger to strengthen the weak, that they too become strong. If only we had learned this before Saturday, we might have heard more than powerful affirmations of what we have already heard, but rather had the mysteries of God revealed to us.

Elder Snyder's eye, which has not healed from before Mother's Day, was finally diagnosed with a corneal ulcer, a very painful and expensive illness. A white ball of bacteria has been eating his eye. The treatment is about as painful as the original sickness, involving acidic eye drops (the most expensive eye drops in existence according to the doctor) that would be poisonous to a normal eye and dilate his eye intensely. Because of the pain he has had before and during the treatment, he and Elder Reynolds have been unable to work. We've spent some time on exchanges to help Elder Reynolds get out of the house and not go crazy. Elder Snyder and I were together for all of Sunday, going to an hour of church, and nothing else all day. It is good to have such a good friend here in the mission, even if his eye is eating itself.

Satan uses every attack he can to prevent people from getting baptized. One of the kids that was going to be baptized on Saturday had an allergic reaction to a new laundry soap on Friday and the emergency room doctor forbade him from getting wet for the next four or five days. When he realized he could not get baptized as scheduled, he began to cry and his Catholic mom just had to say, "Don't worry, you'll get baptized, I promise." He and his brother and sister will be baptized this Saturday instead, assuming Christian doesn't meet up with a nasty bucket of rash-inducing laundry soap. We still had some fabulous baptisms and God continues to bless us in the branch.

I should go. I love you all. I hope you are well. Enjoy the nice Utah weather. And we'll enjoy the heat wave. I always longingly gaze at the clouds that so faithfully stay away from the Phoenix valley. Someday.

-Elder Sam Bostwick