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| The Logan Utah Temple |
The Hyrum house is huge: two story house, four bedroom,
three bathroom. I'll send pictures next week. It has not been taken care of at
all, really. Things are just really unorganized. I was doing dishes and asked
where the plates go, and they said anywhere. You open the cupboards and plates
from about a hundred different members that haven’t been returned are
everywhere, and nothing is really organized.
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| Elder Woodward (new from MTC), Elder Isla, Elder Saldaña, & I |
Transfer day was a little stressful. I accidentally left the
car keys for Ogden in my pocket. Elder Isla had to use the extra one, and we
mailed the others down. I felt pretty dumb and called the vehicle
coordinator and apologized. It is about an hour drive up to our area.
Elder Saldaña: well he works hard, born in San Diego, grew
up in Mexico, his dad does tile, and his grandpa did classified things for the
government which is the source of all their millions of dollars, but he doesn’t
know where the money came from just that it was due to his grandpa working with
the government. He has like 14 bank accounts, and his money is always moving so
people can't see it.. Kind of sketchy, but anyways he is a cool guy. He doesn't
exactly speak like a missionary, but he learned English in Mexico so that’s
probably why. He is really big on starting study right on time, which I like, but
it turns out that was just the first two days, because he kind of stopped after
a couple days. Studying has been a struggle with him. He doesn't ask me for
feedback and just talks the whole time, and he doesn’t have a Preach My Gospel,
because he says you don't need it. He didn’t want to do the twelve-week program (a training program for new missionaries),
but I kind of made him. He just talks about it the whole time in kind of a
condescending way, so I am trying my best.
The obedience thing came up the most with accepting money. A
guy tried to hand me money, and I said, “No, that's ok,” and that was it. Afterwards,
Elder Saldaña got really mad and said that I'm a dumb greeny, and I read the
white handbook, so I think I know everything. He kind of has the very common
attitude here that you are obedient at the beginning until you decide to start
breaking rules. He is convinced that will happen to everyone including me. He
told me I took that guy’s blessings away, and it doesn't matter what the white
handbook says, because it’s not important, because we can use our brain. I am
really trying to figure out how to set an example, because at one point he said
the same thing Elder Isla said in the beginning: that I am pushing him to do
what I want, and I want to learn to do it in a more loving way. He thinks I am
prideful though, because I want to be obedient, and I need to be more humble
and follow his counsel since he is the senior companion. He talks about me
being too prideful a lot actually and tells me about how I need to be humble
like him, because he gave up music, and that's true humility. He really likes
talking about how much better he his than other missionaries and has literally
almost gotten in a fist fight with about five other missionaries. He picks
fights a lot in person and over text with others including once when I was
here. It bugs me, because he talks about how he can beat them up and go to jail, but it doesn’t matter because he has connections and can get out easily. I am
talking like he is really bad, but he isn't at all. He just thinks he is
already more obedient than anyone else in the mission and doesn't need to
improve, because he is the best. Anyways…
So my area is about 40 miles across. It is huge, and there
aren't a lot of Hispanics, and the members really don't like us. We went to
ward council for our branch (the missionaries had never been before, because
they didn't want to wake up for it), and they really just talked a lot about how
the missionaries are bad. They discussed finding us a new house to live in. The missionaries in the past got in trouble, because they were throwing knives
at the walls and just not cleaning it. When the owner of the house asked them
to clean it, one missionary said, “That's not my job. You can clean it.” So, I
can't blame the members for not liking us. But anyways, they were talking and
one guy yelled out, “Yeah, missionaries are the worst!” They all said, “Yeah,
they destroy everything,” and we were sitting right there! Then our ward
mission leader raised his hand and said, “I have several apartments, but I
won't let them stay there even if they pay me.” Well anyways we just said sorry
for the missionaries in the past, and we were going to work and try to be
better and do our best. So the housing situation doesn't look good. We are
getting kicked out soon. Oh, another thing about the house, we are in the guest
house of the people that own our house. They own the local meat company, so
animal rights people have them on a hit list and are trying to kill them. That
means that the police are constantly watching our house and theirs, too. In the
past, the elders have said weird cars will come in and watch the house. One car
even followed them around a few miles. They called the zone leaders rather than
the police though, and then the guy drove away. So that's kind of weird.
Anyways, Hyrum is very country. I have never seen so
many bolo ties. All the guys have beards and are country except
the Hispanics of course. One day, we were driving and three horses had gotten
out and were running in the road. We called the police and had them come get
them. It was just funny. I guess this isn't too uncommon here: for horses to
get out and be walking around in the bank parking lot.
The obedience thing is tough, because of all the other missionaries
that are so much worse. I guess two mission presidents ago, the missionaries
were allowed to watch Disney movies. So I am glad I am here with President Hiers.
The area book isn't used. When I try and
do it, I get rejected, and then I am told I need to listen to my senior companion
and do what he says. I get that one a lot. Ha-ha. But I am working on getting
it back up there. I did it in the last area, I can do it here, too.
I almost got bit by a pitbull. He was chained up, and I
thought he would be nice. He was sitting by the door, so I walked up while he
was barking, then I got close and he crouched down and jumped at me. I took
like three steps back, then he tried to bite me. I put my scriptures in front
of me, so he bit those instead. Then he reached the end of his chain, and I got
away. Elder Saldaña was laughing the whole time I'll be honest; it was pretty
funny. So we aren't going back to that house, I guess because the dog is always
there, and he doesn’t like us, I guess.
Oh and Dad, tell Julie I will miss her; I got the worst hair
cut of my life. I guess that’s what you get for getting a free haricut, but oh
well.
So I read Elder Holland’s talk about us being mad when others
get credit or just as much reward when we worked for longer. I realized that
applies to me and cleaning. I get mad when I am the only one cleaning, mostly
because the owners will think we all did it, and I want the credit when I am
the only one who cleans, but that is selfish. I should do it just to help and be charitable,
not for credit. So I set a goal of 20 minutes every night. It isn't much, but
it will definitely help at least until we get out.
Elder Saldaña’s eating habits are similar to Elder Isla; he
has cake and cookies for lunch, or we go to McDonald’s. He doesn’t like eating
at home, so we are going out to eat everyday. He won't let me stay home for more
than five minutes, before we leave so there is no point in sending more stuff
for cooking, Mom. I just make sandwiches since they are the fastest.
He doesn't do language study, and so he wants me to cancel
it a lot which is hard, because I really need it and want it. I have held strong so far. I think I am learning a lot about why perseverance, persistence
and courage are important qualities to develop: it will take courage to stand up to companions the next couple
years and a TON of perseverance ad persistence to keep doing it and not give up
and be disobedient like my companion tells me everyday that I will be eventually.
I want some advice with something Elder Saldaña and also
Elder Wilkey said: they said that I move too fast; that I do things just to do
them and need to enjoy life more. They both have said that, and I have always
had a the grass is greener on the other side, and I want to overcome that. How
can I learn to just be happy with my current situation and not just wish for
another companion..or just want to be done serving with him? Help would be appreciated
Mom and Dad...also Tyson. Write me a letter and tell me how you handled dealing
with companions and setting an example rather than forcing. It’s a skill I am
trying to do but need to work on. I tried telling him we will receive more
blessings and have the Spirit stronger, and he just said he is fine, since he
already has the Spirit. So, give me some advice. I can imagine that was a
talent of yours. You are a lot nicer than me and would definitely do a better
job with it. I realized I have been studying selfishly. I study for myself and
not for others a lot, and I need to change that. So rather than finding out
about how to help myself in the scriptures, I can learn how to help others and
that should really help me in the end overall.
Oh and I love planners. Having everything scheduled out fits
my personality so much. It’s so convenient to have everything written down. I
am already dreading not having a planner when I get home.
We went to English correlation as well. They don’t trust us
either, since the last Spanish missionaries mainly just flirted with their
daughters/young women. But Elder Saldaña has been here for only five weeks, so
we are both new, and he is VERY against flirting or acting inappropriately with
girls at all which is really good, because most people here treat us like we
are at home. It is normal for some missionaries to have a crush on a girl you
are serving near and to text her and flirt with her. It’s so weird the type of
attitude missionaries have here. I really don't like it. Where are all the
Elder Endemano's or Elder Mackie's?! I know there must be obedient, good
missionaries here, but the only ones I know of that fit that description are
the brand new ones...and Elder Isla. I really miss him; he is the best. I took
for granted how humble he is and how much he wants to improve and get better
and always teaches me by example.
If you are obedient here, you get a reputation
here as being a jerk. Elder Saldaña is only five months out, and people already
don't like him, because he is so much more obedient than others. When people
found out I would be his companion, two people, including my old district leader, came up and told him what a jerk I was and all I care about is the rules and
I'm no fun. I guess there could be truth to that, but it bugged me that I
already have that reputation. I think I am too serious and need to relax a little
bit...Last week, still in Ogden, we were playing a game with the youth at
cookie night. The game was where you said something weird and had to do it
without laughing or something like that. You know how competitive I am. I kept winning, and the youth said, “That’s
not fair. He never smiles or laughs or is even happy!” I was kind of surprised
by that. I thought I was just good at the game. So maybe I need to smile more
or something and be like Elder Mackie.
Anyways, we are having success. We had a very good lesson
last week. There are lots of potentials and new people since work wasn't done
here in the past. We are working hard and trying to be obedient. Any advice
helps, Mom and Dad.
Love you!
Elder Bassett
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