Email 9/24/12 Poem style

Sorry that I don´t have any new pictures but literally I have been spending the last 4 hours trying to find a computer to write and finally we found a place that is open. Sometimes here in Paraguay people just don´t feel like working and so everything just shuts down. I don´t like it. But you all will be graced in this moment with a poem slash story that is penned by the famous Elder Beatty

I am a missionary

Six thirty the alarm sounds off. I get onto my knees to pray,

I feel like I was just doing the same thing, but after a long, hard yesterday

The prayer is finished my day is looking to be great

Because I know the Lord and I have some miracles to make.

Next we have our exercises, they won´t end up being too rough

Until I look down and notice the large roundness of my gut.

I get out a good amount of pushups and a pathetic group of crunches

And I make the same promise I made before, to hold back on the munchies.

With the exercises done and my obedience complete

Now comes my favorite part, when the shower and I get to share a nice treat.

I turn on the water and wait for the steam to show

But it doesn’t come. It looks like the hot shower is a ´No Go´.

I jump in and out shivering and yelling like a girl

I think ´´someday I will have that hot shower even if I have to kill´´

In the end all is well and I am squeaky clean

I get dressed and put on my tie; a glimpse of how clean it used to be is but a dream.

Seven Fifty hits I got ten minutes to eat

I open up the fridge; It smells of old nasty rotten meat.

I go to scan the shelves on the door

It looks like a preboiled egg is the choice, I couldn´t ask for more.

I kneel down to pray to start my studies for the day

Because it’s the Spirit that will show me the Lord´s will and way.

I scan the scriptures, open Preach my Gospel, my heart and mind ready to learn.

I feast upon the words of Christ and my heart begins to burn.

I learn of powerful missionaries and how they came to be so,

Their examples and love have helped me so much to grow.

Nine comes & me and my comp begin to pray

Knowing that how we study the next hour will make or break our day.

We finish up our plans and do a practice or 2

Man I just never get tired of the restoration, don´t you too?

Ten o’clock hits, time to study some Spanish

Sometimes the words roll of my tongue more like a dead fish.

Ten thirty hits and finally it’s time to preach the gospel.

I think how lucky I am, I don’t have to ring a doorbell.

We trudge through the bright sunny streets

Talking to every child of God that we just happen to meet.

My Book of Mormon is worn and dirty, the cover is worn off,

But the words contained within are billions of times better than what Shakespeare could have ever thought.

We teach a few lessons here and there looking for the chosen children of God.

Some people try to hide, to lie, or even to dodge.

We continue working, testifying and praying,

Because there is someone out there who, for us, is waiting.

Finally we find them, those people God has prepared.

Those who are humble and have faith beyond compare.

We teach the gospel of the lamb, with power and authority we testify.

The spirit touches them and we see a light of hope come into their eyes.

We leave the lesson flying on a spiritual high

All we can do is smile as we leave the house saying goodbye.

We open up our agendas with a miracle to write,

In that moment the sun has never shined so bright.

We look at our schedule to see what’s next on our plate

Then with a feeling of horror we realize that we are late.

We begin to run, the people all around us staring in a gaze,

Ya I know I should run in the Olympics, but those were the good ol days

Ya I’m sure it is a strange sight to see

2 dudes in ties running as if they’ve got somewhere to be.

We got to where we needed to go

Huffing and puffing as if we just participated in a P90X workout show......

We clap the house our hopes high and our faith strong

When a little kid comes out and tells us that his parents aren´t home.

We realize that not everyone is prepared or ready, but will be someday

We turn, take a deep breath and then continue on our way.

The day is over and tiredly we crawl back to the house

Hoping that returning we don´t find our ¨pet¨mouse.

Returning to our knees we thank God for the miracles of that day

And again we ask the guidance of the Spirit to come our way.

We plan for the next day and close with a prayer

I can’t think of a word that rhymes with prayer.

I fill records and have 5 minutes to write the events of the day.

And then yet again I find myself on my knees ready to pray.

I crawl into the burning sheets and curl up into a ball

Some habits just don´t seem to go away at all.

Sleep overtakes reality, I dream of preaching the word.

The alarm goes off and again I enter into the world.

For some, the mission is the same, day after day

But for me, I like it. That’s how I want it to stay.

This is the Lord´s work I am His soldier faithful and strong

I know if I am an instrument in His hands nothing can go wrong.

The gospel is true it changes and prepares us spiritually

For that one day when we hear the master say ¨blessed are ye, come unto me¨

I hope that you all enjoyed this little story that I wrote. Really we can´t describe in words all the feelings and events that happen in the normal day of a missionary, but you can all be assured that they are feelings and experiences that not only change us as people, but help us prepare to be men and women for eternity. I love the mission. I really wouldn´t change this time for anything. I know why the Lord wants 19 year old boys to preach His gospel. I love the Lord, I love my Father in Heaven, and I love you all too. I hope this story touched you. I hope you all have a super fantastic week and just keep swimming. haha

Rohayhu PARAGUAY.......

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Elder Beatty