Week 17
Not much to report this week. Elder Christensen has been sick and people keep canceling stuff last-minute. It's been challenging finding anyone interested in talking to us. Understandable, I know that my stunning good looks can make it pretty intimidating to talk to me. But I can't help looking this good.
We were really excited on Friday because we were able to set up a lesson with Brandon, who was baptized a few years ago but hasn't been to church in a while. He's been meeting with us along with his friend Jack, who is not a member but is interested. We got over to his house and I got to meet him, which was really cool. But about five minutes into our lesson his mom came in and said they had to go clothes shopping before he left (he plays hockey and is gone 8 months out of the year while he's traveling with his team). So we had the say our goodbyes, probably until he gets home in April. So... neither of us is ever going to see him again.
Since Elder Christensen has been sick I've had a lot of free time. Being the diligent, obedient, and consecrated missionary that I am, I've been taking the time to read through the Old Testament, since I've never really studied it before. It's definitely interesting. We understand from modern revelation that God operates by the principles of Justice and Mercy. Of course you can't have one without the other, but Jesus in the New Testament seems to be acting more in his capacity for mercy than justice, with the Atonement and the higher law etc. Jehovah, ie the LORD, in the Old Testament seems much more on the side of justice than mercy. He seems a bit free with dispensing that justice, actually- two of the sons of Aaron offer the wrong kind of incense on the altar and as punishment the LORD burns them alive. Seems a bit excessive, but hey, I just work here.
Anyway, it's been a bit of a struggle getting through the Pentateuch, aka the five books of Moses. They tend to repeat each other a lot and there is a lot of description of how the various ceremonial pieces of the tabernacle are supposed to be made. If you've ever wondered why the Ark of the Covenant looks exactly the same in every movie and TV show, I now know why. Because they explain the exact materials, dimensions, and appearance of the Ark like 7 different times. This is a multi-chapter, in-depth description each time, mind you. The Ark MUST be made of fine shittim wood, and the Ark MUST be exactly 2 and a half by one and a half by one and a half cubits, and the Ark MUST be overlaid by pure gold within and without, and the Ark MUST have a mercy seat with two cherubims crafted just so(with their exact composition and dimensions laid out). I feel like I could definitely build one of my own at this point (from memory).
I'm looking forward to finishing Deuteronomy and getting back into the action with the book of Joshua. Elder Christensen has been feeling better, so I probably won't have as much time to read every day. That might be for the best, honestly. If I have to read the exact description for what kind of gemstones need to be laid in Aaron's priestly robes, and how they need to be inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of Israel one more time, I might lose it.
It was fun though. I found this massive Bible Atlas that discusses the setting of the Old Testament in an archeological, historical, and geographical setting. So I've been sort of reading that and my Bible side by side as I've been going along. I think the atlas is a little outdated- it's from the 1980s- but the maps and descriptions are all really good and I feel like I've been learning a good bit.
Other than that, it's pretty much been a bum week. It's been kind of hard to stay motivated, but we can take comfort in at least knowing that the members in this area are pretty cool, and getting to know them more. At this point it sort of feels like we're just full-time ministering brothers with all the member visits we've done. But it's been fun, I enjoyed it. It makes me laugh because in every place we've been, people ooh and ahh when I say I'm from Oklahoma. It's never been cooler to be able to say I'm from there. I think people just love meeting an exotic foreign missionary from somewhere (anywhere) besides Utah or Idaho. Plus there are some big families that we've visited up here. It's kind of nice to not have people's eyes bug out of their heads every time I say I'm the oldest of ten kids. Here my parents are only considered ambitious, not completely insane.
Thanks for your emails this week! I really appreciated them. If you haven't sent one yet or if it's been a while, I'd love to hear from you.
Faithfully Yours,
Elder C. Calder
I kind of feel like I'm collecting all of the Infinity Stones. With each one I collect, my spiritual power grows.
Pikshurrs
We went to Top Golf this morning, which was fun. If I keep playing this much golf on the mission, I will be in serious danger of actually learning how to play.
I think the previous Elders were kind of neglecting the regular cleaning and maintenance of the apartment I'm now living in. I was cleaning the kitchen and I found more Tupperware than we will ever, ever need. Apparently the missionaries have a bad habit of borrowing it for meals from the members, and then never giving it back. There's not actually enough space in the cabinet for us to fit it all. I'm thinking I'll just burn it. A sweet savour unto the LORD.
We had dinner with the Price family and for a lesson shared the story of the Paper Cross. It was pretty fun! The kids tried to replicate my technique, but my skills were of course superior.
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