Week Fifteen

Hey Everybody!!

I am sicker than a dog right now but so excited to be emailing all of you back home. I have a super bad fever and a sore throat that is killing me. Everyone in India is sick right now and I think I have the same thing. I have been giving more blessings to sick people in hospitals than anything, and the hospitals here are pretty sketchy. I don't think any of this entire country is clean.

I got my first package from my parents this week and that was so awesome to have beef jerky and toilet paper and Marsh Valley gear. It was a nice taste of home.

Just a few mission facts I thought you would be interested in hearing this week. My mission is the largest in the world in terms of population, and it's in the top 3 in land size. The only ones bigger in size are missions in Russia. I cover 5 countries, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and the Northern half of India. The city where Osama Bin Laden was killed is in our mission. The Church is stronger in Pakistan than in India and almost every month they have more baptisms than us. Their missionaries have to be from Pakistan and they don't wear name tags and they proselyte most of the time in secret. I'm lucky I don't have to do that. Also, there are more members of the church in China, excluding Hong Kong, than in India. And they don't have missionaries there at all. So we're up against some pretty big numbers trying to establish the Church here in India, but we are sooo close to having a stake. Like super close. And there is also about to be another stake in South India as well so if it keeps growing we will get a temple within the next 5 to 10 years and the church will really start to take off here in India. I love being a part of the work here and it is such a blessing to see all of this going on. I took my stake and ward for granted so much. The Church runs so smoothly in America and we are still trying to help the leaders learn how to run a meeting and all the different things that need to be done we are teaching them. It’s a great time here.

This week is transfers and I really have no idea what will be happening. I could still be with Elder Huskey for his last transfer or I could get a follow up trainer. I think I'll stay in Dwarka but I could also be moved I'm not sure. Everyone says that I'll be the first American to serve in Kolkutta but that wouldn't happen until we become a stake. I could also serve in Mumbai for some time but you never know. President Hodges is awesome though and he knows what he is doing, I know the Lord inspires him on where we need to be as missionaries. I can't believe I'm already done with my first two transfers...It feels like it's all gone by so fast.

The work this week has went pretty good. We picked up a few new investigators and our less active members are really improving. We have almost reactivated 5 families back to the church and that is such a great feeling seeing them come back to church every Sunday and to see their lives improve and the happiness that comes from partaking of the Sacrament and keeping the commandments. I love that I have the opportunity to bring the Spirit into their homes so that they can realize what they are needing in their lives to become happier people. The Church is all about being happy and that's my favorite thing to see is happy families here in India. Sadly one of my favorite families is going through a rough patch right now. The Mathesu family had a rough week. Brother Mathesu was really needing a job and was almost to the point of losing their little cement home and having to move, even to the point they were asking for money from us missionaries. We had to tell them no and that was really sad. It's against our rules and we can't do that, and when we told Sister Mathesu no she felt so embarrassed and was really sad about the situation they were in. If I wasn't a missionary I would give that family every penny, or rupee, that they needed. They have treated me like their son and to not be able to help them with financial problems was kind of hard, but I just told them to always pay their tithing and go to church and the blessings will come. Then the next thing I know Brother Mathesu has a job, and that was awesome. We were so happy to hear that for him and his family, but then he relapsed on his addictions and we walked in on him smoking a cigarette and the next visit he was drunk. It's really sad to see him start falling away again. He was so close to getting better and he was doing everything right. Now we are starting back at ground zero trying to build him back up again. We tried visiting again yesterday to encourage them and see why they didn't come to church and Sister Mathesu wouldn't even let us in because he was so drunk it embarrassed her. So that was sad, but he was so close and I know he can change so I'm definitely not giving up on him.

This week was really good and I just love being a missionary. I'm always having a good time here in India and that's so nice because I thought I would be homesick a lot but I'm doing really well. I'm glad everyone at home is doing well too. I just wanted to share some things with you that might help you to understand the culture here in India. I serve with and have met many Indian Elders. The Indian elders serving in Delhi are all from South India and have amazing conversion stories. They also have unreal Faith.

We learn in the scriptures that Faith is a hope for things that are not seen, that are true. Faith is trusting in Heavenly Father's plan for us and not being afraid to live what you know to be true. It was a step of Faith to come to India on my mission, and it is a step of Faith for my parents to even let me go. Sometimes a step of Faith is saying a small prayer, or reading our scriptures. Maybe it's being nice to someone you don't exactly want to be nice to. The fact is, we usually don't know the ending outcome of so many decisions in our lives. And it takes a step of Faith to see the outcome. We have to nourish that seed of Faith by taking small steps, then our Faith can grow huge. We have never seen Heavenly Father or His Son Jesus Christ, but we know they live. We trust and have Faith that they are there and that they answer our prayers and that they love us. Since being in India I have a completely new understanding of Faith. And it's because the Elders here have a lot of it. I want to tell you about Elder Potnuru who is in my district.

Elder Potnuru is 24 years old and he weighs about 100 pounds. His nickname is Mosquito in the mission and he is so humble and quiet and kind. Everyone likes him because he studies hard and he works hard, and he makes everyone laugh. But there's something that makes him extremely different, that has impressed me so much. Right now I'm emailing family and friends, and he's watching videos about the Savior on LDS.org. You know why? Because he doesn't have friends and family to email. Right now at this exact moment his parents think he is in Delhi studying and going to school. They have no idea he is a member of the church, or serving a mission for the church. He only calls them on Christmas and Mother's day to tell them how his "studies" are going. His home branch back home is helping hide this from his family, and this act is actually completely supported here in India. I thought that it would be wrong to lie to your parents about serving a mission, but he told me that he knows it's true with all of his heart, and that it's a commandment to serve a mission, so he wouldn't miss it for the world. His family doesn't know because they would literally disown him. It happens very often here in India and Elder Potnuru isn't the only one hiding his religion from his family. Many of the Elders here were converted less than five years ago and now they are serving missions in their 20's. That's Faith. They are going against every tradition and religion and family member they have ever had. Because they know it's true, and it means that much to them. It was the normal thing for me to go on a mission, in fact people in the States celebrate it like you won the super bowl or something. Here in India it's a legit step of Faith, trusting that Heavenly Father has a plan for us, and that following the commandments, no matter what the cost, is what we need to do.

Don't take for granted your blessings.

I love my Eagles still, and will never stop praying for you. Marsh Pride.

Love, a very sick Elder Armstrong who needs to go buy some medicine