Sorry for the late email mom and
dad! Today was crazy...seriously. We just woke up super early and traveled to
this place in South Delhi where there are a lot of hills and trees. It was the
highest elevation I have seen in a year, probably about a 200 foot hill. Ha-ha.
In these hills were old abandoned Hindu Temples and buildings and statues of
their Gods just out in the forest. It was so crazy and really kind of scary. People still live out there in the jungle. You cannot believe how foreign that
place was to me even after a year in Delhi. I have never seen India like I just
did. It was awesome and I cannot wait to get you pictures and videos sent
home.
Here in India, we American's are
always completely fascinated with the way things work. This is the most foreign
place in the world to America, literally nothing is the same. The saying the
American's use in the mission is "Everything is the exact opposite"
and down to every detail everything is seriously the opposite from America. And
we love it. Some of the things we do to kind of just stay normal and have fun, we
keep records. We keep track of the crazy and cool things that happen in India
so that we can always be on the lookout for something awesome and bizarre. That
includes how many bricks you see a construction worker carrying on his head (32).
And my personal favorite, how many people can fit in a Gramin Sewa (18 plus a
baby). So basically a Gramin Sewa is a miniature shelled out work van with
benches inside. It's really small and it’s probably the size of a regular minivan
from the 90's. These are a part of the public transportation in India and they
run routes throughout our areas and missionaries always use them. They cost 10
rupees a piece and these drivers want every last rupee possible so they jam you
in like a can of sardines. Trying to go to appointments in them is honestly
like trying to catch the last helicopter out of Nam. I have never been so
comfortable being sweaty and dirty, with sweaty, dirty people sitting on my
lap, and me sitting on theirs. It's a great experience and so we love to see
how crazy it can get here in Delhi. Those are just a few of the records we keep.
What a place.
This week was awesome and we made
some great progress with our investigators. Priya and Pooja are still
progressing towards baptism and things are looking up for Noida. This week we
have transfers and the rumors are that I will be leaving, but we will wait
until transfer calls until I set my mind on anything. I have loved Noida and
don't really want to leave, and Elder Mani has been the best companion, such a
big heart and such a fun guy.
This week I read Article of Faith
number 13 and I just love it. I challenge all of you to read it because to me it
sums up what being a Mormon truly is. If you can change "We" to
"I" and you truly do believe in doing those things and are doing them
then you have nothing to worry about. That is what being a good person is all
about, it's what Christ wants us to be. Being a Mormon is a wonderful thing,
because we believe in being good and there is nothing better than the cause of
good over evil.
We believe in being honest, true,
chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say
that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things,
we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of
good report or praise worthy, we seek after these things.
I love you all,
Elder Armstrong
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