Well, about the most exciting thing
that happened this week was that I got a haircut and look incredibly sharp. The
usual this last week, various people asking us for money, talking with all of
the same people here in my little area, working hard, being super tired always.
One of the biggest problems we have had recently is families where one parent
is still married to a previous person from like 20 or more years ago, but is
living with another, and they have several kids. They would be baptized and
everything, but in order to be baptized they have to follow the commandments,
including being married to who they’re living with. Sadly, nobody in the town I
am in has the kind of resources to pay for a divorce... So as of right now we
have 3 families (with kids) with this problem, and 1 that can´t get married
because the husband is from a different country and it is quite a process to
get all the papers together. It is seriously frustrating sometimes what people
have done with their lives! L
An even bigger problem here is alcoholism. However, this problem opens up a lot
of people to listen to us. Either the person wants us to help change their
life, or the wife wants to change the situation she is in. It´s just a bummer
how difficult it is to get people out of this problem. You have to be there
with them like every day struggling with them to overcome the temptation-and
then all of a sudden his old buddy comes by and everything goes out the window
and back to 0!.... Anyways all is well here, I haven’t been robbed in like 5
months!
The "Saratov Approach" sounds like a seriously awesome movie! I'll have to watch it when I get back.
Glad you guys are helping out there with the missioanries... It is seriously hard to get people involved over here!
Mexico looks awesome too- I hope Dad, Shannon, Jared and Andrea are having a good time.
Love, Elder
Rice
Wow. That is an interesting place that you live in. When my parents served in Brazil, they told us about the issue about people living with someone and having kids with them, but being married to someone else. That's also sad about the alcoholism there. And that's interesting that you mentioned how the usual stuff that happens there is that people are asking you for money. But I'm glad to hear that you haven't been robbed in 5 months! And congrats on the haircut that makes you look "incredibly sharp"! ; ) Keep up the good work! Sincerely, Sister B. (last name kinda-sorta rhymes with perfume)
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