Well, the time has come again for emails, and I couldn't be any happier! We had a baptism yesterday, and one of our converts baptized her. Her name is Yoselin Sepulveda. She is 21 with a bright happy personality, and, before she had a dream of an angel telling the exact date that her baby would be born, she was athiest. Since then she has turned her life around completly. She has a real spark that will be put to great use here in the ward.
In other news, we moved back to our old gas-filled pension. Luckily the gas had all left when we got back and we lived through the night. The only thing that worries me now is my new bunk-mate: Elder Burgeous (Elder Chapman's companion). He is a great guy, but at around 270 pounds, every time he turns in his bed, I pray that the frame holds. Everyone is getting along great. Elder Burgeous is a lot like me in personality and my companion, Elder Bowen, is a lot like Elder Chapman. I dont know why it is, but I feel like I am one of those japanese fighting fish; I only get along really well with people that are totally opposite to me. I dont know, I can really get along well with just about anybody. Thats definately been a blessing of the mission. A lady told me the other day that I had the gift of expressing myself. Im not exactly sure what she meant, but I feel like the Lord is definatley helping me out here. [Editor's note: Paul is still waiting for the gift of spelling] I love just talking to the people here!
Do you guys remember one of my last emails that I said I had gotten mroe organized? Well, I guess God wasnt finished with me yet, because I recieved the shock of my life when we went to go buy things at the store the other day. My companion bought almost all cleaning supplies and just a hint of food. I informed him that Chlorox did not mean milk in spanish, but he insisted that it was necessary if we were to clean up the pig sty that was our pension. When he said that I almost did a double take to make sure it wasnt my mom that had said it. By the way mom, you know you aren't allowed to bribe the mission president to give me certain companions, right? Well, however we ended up together, I feel like he is going to bring me up to a whole new level of cleanliness. Dont worry, Im sure my personality has an emergency brake somewhere around here if I start getting too organized.
I am starting to think more and more about the end of my mission. Seeing as it is only 6 months away, I feel like I should be wrapping up what I came here to do. The only problem is that I dont feel like that at all. I feel like I procrastinated a term paper again, and now I am running around like a mad man, trying to accomplish all the goals I have set for myself. I guess in a way, I have done all of them, but I dont feel like slowing down; I just started speeding up! I dont evern want to know how I am going to be at the last month-- I will be running to peoples' houses at that point. I see my new companion and I think of saying "appreciate the time you have now, it slips away so fast. Every moment is an opportunity in this short two year window to officially represent the Savior and testify of his divinity. The time we have flies on the wings of lightening, use it as wisely as you can." But usually I just say "So, what new movies are out?"
I feel like this is my chance to be able to say all the things I have learned on the mission to my new companion so he is able to enjoy a greater satisfaction on the mission. If I could boil it all down in two words, it would be "No Regret". Just as the liklyhood of getting inot a head on collision on the freeway is infinately higher if we only look through the rear view mirror, we cant look back longingly at what was, knowing that the future is just around the corner.
I am very glad that Chistmas is just right around the corner, and I am looking forward to getting your packages. I would like to congradulate Ashlee for winning the best Christmas present so far (that I know of): two big beautiful jars of peanut butter!! Thanks AJ!
Thanks for everything guys!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
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