3.22.11 Update

We got another e-mail from Andrew today! So good to hear that he's doing well. Enjoy some excerpts!

...we had a Zone activity where we practiced teaching to individual needs out of the scriptures, on the spot. We all took turns being investigators and mixing up companionships. Whoever was an investigator would come up with a concern they had about joining the church, and whoever was teaching them had 60 seconds to find an appropriate scripture and share it to help meet that need. While I was teaching Elder Zhalkovsky (one of the native elders), he brought up the concern that he didn't want to betray his country by joining and American church. While I was desperately flipping through scriptures, my Book of Mormon literally fell open to a scripture in 2nd Nephi about how God doesn't value the people of one nation above another. It was awesome. The church is so true, and the scriptures can answer ANY question we have.

A funny thing I learned about scriptures from Brother McCleary this week was that apparently some missionaries have had trouble with mixing up 1 Ne. 3:7 and 3 Ne. 3:7 when committing an investigator to read a section and ponder and pray about it. I'll let you read those and discover how hilarious that mix-up is on your own.

My companion Elder Angerhofer was telling me a funny story today about his brother, who has been in the Ukraine Kiev mission for about a year. Apparently he ran out of deodorant and where he was, he couldn't really get more, so he had some sent up from home. Well apparently it's important to address packages and letters to missionaries in eastern Europe IN CYRILLIC. The post employees there often see English writing and open it up so they can steal from the rich Americans. Anyway, I guess when he opened his package and took the lid off his deodorant, there was a bite taken out of it... the postman who got into it wasn't sure what it was and evidently decided maybe it was edible... haha!

So I really appreicate all the letters and DearElders everyone has been sending me. They really brighten up my day. But we had a lesson this week about not getting too hung up on letters and mail and in a way, being tied to strongly to our old lives through the post. I'm not saying I want you to send me fewer letters or anything, but I made a goal personally not to get too hung up on it. So if I don't respond to you personally, please understand it's because I have so many things to do and I can't always get around to responding to everyone's letters. Just know I get them all and really appreciate anyone who takes the time to write. President Harrison (my Branch pres) told a hilarious story about a missionary who, even though he knew it was against the rules, decided he would write his girlfriend every single day because he was SO in love with her. 3 months into his mission, he got a wedding announcement... she was marrying the mailman. Poetic justice at its best.

Last night I was looking around for my companion in the residence hall. When he wasn't in our room or the bathroom, I went out in the hall and just yelled "Gdye mui naparneek?" (which means, "where's my companion?). Elder Reingard, one of the native Russian elders in our Zone (who speaks basically zero English), poked his head out his room into the hall and said, "Oh. I kill." I busted up and pretended to get all upset at him. He just shrugged and said, "Sorry," then disappeared back into his room again. I don't think I'm as worried about adjusting to the Russian sense of humor as I was before.

Well I'm down to a couple of minutes left to email. I want you all to know I love you and I'm so grateful for the support you all provide. This gospel is true. This is where I'm supposed to be. I'm absolutely sure of it. How could I ever turn down the chance to share this gospel to those who don't have it?

Love,

Elder Broekhuijsen