¡Que aborrido!

Hello My People!

Well, I love how I get an e-mail from the same people every week... so, my question is... who reads these things? I'm just assuming I have loyal and devoted readers who jump on their computers EVERY MONDAY NIGHT!!!

"Hey, what are you up to Monday night?"

"Dude, don't you know... Tommy´s (or Elder Steinkuhler´s) e-mail will be posted on his blog. I'm totally going to be there. It´s what all the cool kids are doing"

Actually, I have a request. For all of you who actually read THIS update... or any for that matter... will you please e-mail me at eldersteinkuhler@gmail.com and tell me your name. It´ll only take you like two minutes. I want to know who I'm actually writing to. That includes family by the way.

Well, this week was rather fast... but really boring to talk about. We worked and worked and worked and finally worked some more. I think it is like 105°F around here. And every member keeps on telling us how tan we are getting. I love it when they suggest we should wear hats. Can you imagine a missionary clapping outside your house in a baseball cap and sunglasses? How weird would that be? I have also lost a lot of muscle, so my farmers tan line is a lot lower because my sleeves hang pretty low. My hair is getting to be albino white (kind of). And you all don't have a photo. Sorry. I think I might just withhold photos of myself until I get home. That way you´ll all just have to pick me out of the crowd when I come off the plane... good luck. I figure if I don't smile and show off my obviously "Tommy Teeth" then no one will know who I am. Actually, all joking aside... I’ve had some requests for photos. So hopefully next week I will send out photos of myself and my shoes. Look for it... Pray for it... Expect it....

One cool thing that happened this week: About a month ago we had a missionary choir performance for Christmas. A lady in our area went and after she asked me for a priesthood blessing because I was the missionary for her area. I got Elder Sagripanti to help me and we gave her a blessing of comfort. She was counseled about upcoming events and about things in her life. She was very grateful and although we wanted to set up an appointment, she had to dash. We later found out where she lives and went past a few times... eventually this week we went by when she was there. Her house is HUGE! We went in and she sat us down looking at a wall with photos of her and the Argentina President. She then started telling us how the blessing had lead her to do what she needed in her politic life and music career. We shared our message and gave her a Book of Mormon. She in turn gave us a CD of her music. It turns out her and her two daughters (13 and 15 years of age) did the CD... playing the harp, guitar, vocals and all sorts of stuff. I was remembered of the Cardon family... for those who know them. She made us promise to listen to a bit, so we did... it is very family friendly and lovely soft melodies... but not missionary approved. We are going back soon and really expect her to get baptized. She was prepared before we got there.

Well, I figure I’ll put more things about missionary life in my area for all of you who don´t know what it is like. Or more... what missionary like is for ME in my area. I love going out and baptizing. We are actually planning TWO baptisms for this Saturday. But it really doesn't mean much to me if they don't stay active. If a baptism is not sealed with the "Holy Spirit of Promise" it is almost worthless. When people are baptized... they need to do it with all their heart as well as their body. In our ward there are about 750 to 800 people on the ward list. Last week we had 115 in church. For those that can do the math, you´ll realize that means that there are a LOT of inactive people. We are putting a big emphasis on helping members come back to church now. We are also fixing up the ward list because there are a lot of problems with it. So we ended up going out WITH members this week to a lot of members. Some are like investigators... people who have no clue what the gospel is really about. Some just need a reason to come back. Others just need a little love. Whatever they need... we are going to EVERY SINGLE ONE. We are messengers from God. And God does not forget his children. We found an area that is about 2 square blocks... with about 20 families that are members. FAMILIES! Not people... FAMILIES!!! This area is about the size of a football field with about 150 members! At least we won’t have to do a lot of walking.

Things like that are what we are working on. We are helping others progress toward baptism. We are challenging people to change their lives and we are finding people who have the faith needed to do what they need to find their Father in Heaven. In Spanish there are two words for the English word "work". One is trabajar... which is like: "I'm going to work out in the yard now". The other is Obrar... which is like: "I'm working with God right now". We´re not trabajar-ing here. We are Obrar-ing. Trust me, there is a difference. Every day we live the life of a missionary. I think most think that involves jokes and taking pictures of your companion while he is on the toilet. It involves walking or biking for hours and getting rejected a lot. But that really isn't true. We wake up and spent time getting ready. Then we spend some time studying with the help of God´s angels to guide us in what we are going to need THAT day. Then we leave and yes... we do walk. We share the gospel with a lot of people. We don´t get rejected much. Sometimes people reject God, but never us. We teach to a lot of people... whether we are on the other side of their gate or sitting in their one room house. We see miracles and change lives. And when that is all done... we return home and praise God for what he has done. If truth be told... we have rules, but we don't always follow them. We are supposed to be back home and getting ready for bed by no later than 10. If truth be told, we normally are lead to someone we had not planned on visiting right about 9:45. We don't do language study because we don't have time. I talked to our mission president about these kind of things and he told me "Elder, I'm sure God will forgive you for doing what he wants". And well, that is what we do. All we do... we do what God wants. Perhaps because the bar has been raised or perhaps because I'm just lucky... we don't goof off. We don't slack off. We don't do all those things I’ve heard other return missionaries talk about. Right now we are doing God´s work... and he cannot withhold his blessings from us. So thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your support. I´m doing wonderful and certainly obrar-ing it up.

I love you all and look forward to seeing you all soon,

Elder Tommy Steinkuhler

PS This was kind of a weird e-mail. But I felt like I needed to say what I did. So I hope someone took something from it.

PPS don’t forget to e-mail me.