Well, it is now Sunday morning, August 5th 1990, and the GUIDElines is almost done for this issue. Usually, what I write is pretty well put together, but you will find notes throughout this issue, made at different times, as I was getting it all together. I spent from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. yesterday on it. There are 25 letters in this issue, which is the largest one in numbers so far. Please, do me a favor, and just write. Don’t worry so much if you think you don’t write as well as another or if you don’t have much to say. I still haven’t heard from Robert Allen or Wayne Jensen. And all the rest of you who haven’t written, please get on the ball.
I am having PPIs with Tim Penrod, Curtis Nielson, Catherine Pitts, Trevor Barrett and Keith Bacon today. I want to drive over to Barrett’s ward in Phoenix to bear my testimony and tell them what an AWESOME guy he is. To tell you the truth, my ward has gotten so boring I can hardly stand going there!
I got BB’s okay to call Derek Madsen to replace Bryan Lane when he leaves in two weeks. Also, to call Evan Vance as my Assistant to begin teaching him all that I do.
BB wants to inject some Pizazz into the Program and has been looking for ways to do that, so I think we are on the track again.
Aaron Vanderpool – one letter is not enough.
Douggie – please write. Everyone loves you and wants to know what you’re doing.
Chach – what’s happening?
Derek – No chance for a Program at D.C. temple right now, at least from this end. After New Era article . . . maybe.
Craig – miss you, buddy.
Ryan – love your letters, keep ‘em coming.
Marlin – thanks for being so faithful.
Mike Brown – como esta, Elder?
David – I check mailbox daily for your latest.
Eric – have permission from BB to ask Mission President for Eric to visit SNTM!!!
Mike P. – Your sister loves you SO MUCH. Write soon, Michael. Watch for Katie in New Era.
David – No more Xeroxed letters, please.
Aaron – You too!
Brent P. – Doug is doing well. We keep hoping for him to turn the corner and decide Guidework is the most important. Up to him.
Ben – God bless you, Ben, for writing so regularly. I can count on your strength. Thanx!
Jeff – Hand delivered at airport. GFI!
Zane – We need more from you, bud.
Ken – Enclosed is info on Ken Katz
Richard – Same as Zane. Brasil can’t be that bad. Please write and tell us.
Shad – punch holes in yours? O.K.
John – I’m worried, John. Long letter, please.
Russell – More news from the Eastern Block.
reed – you’re the best. Keep it coming. Low density disks, please.
Geoff – I really appreciate your letters.
Paul G. – what a HOOT. I laughed and laughed.
Aaron – You made it through the MTC. Good luck.
Duffer – Vamos Baptizar!!! MUCHO!
Brent – Thanx! for your Dad. Here comes Bacon!
Troy – Troy who?
Paul F. – Go get Katz, if you can. Write!
Kyle – Aren’t you ever going to go?
Todd – Love ‘em and leave ‘em is our motto!
Meschak – I’m going to include you but only if you write me regularly. Thanx! for Mavan.
Bryan – Such a gentle spirit. Good luck in San Berdoo.
Keith – Happy Day! You have your call! May you be blessed eternally for accepting the job to run the Program for awhile. Happy growing and jump in with all your might and do the best job any redheaded guy ever did. Carpe Diem!
Dear Bro. Parker – June 31 (I think he meant July)
Sorry I haven’t written sooner. I have been so busy here at the MTC. P-Days are sometimes busier than normal days. So much of my time is spent learning my discussion in Portuguese. I can teach the 1st and 2nd now in Portuguese. I could probably even do a Garden Tour in Portuguese, who knows. Needless to say time flies when you’re stressed out. It seems like it was yesterday when I left.
I spent the majority of my day at Babylon (the Mall). I got a year’s supply of soap and a few other necessities Brazil won’t have. Before the Mall I went through the temple for the last time in 2 years. It was a wonderful session.
I have heard a lot of good news about the Program. It sounds like you’re on Cloud 9. Keep up the great work. Tell the Guides that I’m praying for them.
I am leaving for Brazil this Monday if I get my visa. I will be sending you my address when I find out where I will be for sure. I will be looking forward to the next GUIDElines. Not much else to report and I am out of time. Thank you for all your time and support.
With love, Elder Duff! Vamos Batizar! (Let’s Baptize)
Bro. Parker – July 28, 1990
Sorry it took so long for you to get this document. I wanted to send it in a big envelope so I didn’t have to fold the width also. I didn’t want to buy a bunch of big envelopes so I had to haggle with a guy on my floor for it. He now has several of my small envelopes.
I hope that all went well with the NEW ERA people. I’m anxious to see how it went and to read the article. My Mom has the film of the Guides turned missionaries in front of the big map of the world. Call on her for those and make sure she gets them developed. I hope it isn’t too late for them.
I leave (left by now) the MTC on Monday the 30th of July. This has been the hardest experience of my life and I hope that the growth is equivalent to the growing pains.
The ray of hope is shining brighter all the time as I learn more Chinese, the Lord has helped me so much.
Thank you, Elder Driggs.
P.S. I want to keep all of the GUIDElines in a notebook. Could you please 3-hole punch mine? Thanks.
Dear Bro. Parker – June 16, 1990
What a pleasure it was to be remembered here on the bottom of the world. Although South Africa may be on the bottom of this grand world, let me assure you that it ranks with the best.
I want you to know Bro. Parker, that I love my mission with all my heart. It has taught me so much and it continues to everyday. I would like to share with you an experience that has taught me such a lesson that I will never forget. I do not share this loosely and I hope that you can feel the spirit of what I am about to say.
A few weeks ago our most recent convert became sickly ill three days after her baptism and was sent to Hospital. My companion and I gave her a blessing. As well her brother and sister became sick who we are teaching. The parents, who aren’t members, had nowhere to turn except to us and the Church. We sat with them many hours helping them through it all. My heart just ached because I knew that this young girl would be the key to bringing the rest of her family into the Gospel. I knew that I had to do something, but there was nothing physical that I could do, so I did the only thing that I could. I dropped to my knees in fasting and prayer pleading to the Lord that this young girl of 16 would be spared. A girl of 16 that has about the strongest testimony I’ve ever seen in a recent convert. Mormon 9:21 meant more to me than any other scripture. Many times my mind started to doubt, but I quickly changed it. I believed that God could save her and that she would be made whole. I literally prayed for a miracle, and the Lord blessed all. I have never prayed so hard in all my life. It truly humbled me and brought me closer to my Father in Heaven. It came to pass that Melissa, the young girl, was released not needing surgery and has quickly recovered. Her brother and sister are well and are progressing. The parents are preparing themselves. All is well and even better. This experience means a lot to me and I don’t share it to tell everyone, “Hey, look what I did,” but I share it to express what I have learned. Satan is real and he will get to those who have been baptized and those who are preparing in whatever way he can. He wants to destroy their testimonies and ruin their salvation. Then on the other hand we can stop him by our faith through prayer. I didn’t do anything except to humble myself before the Lord and put myself into a position to ask for a miracle. I believe in miracles. I always have because that is what the Guide Program taught me. But I know I have put that knowledge and belief into action.
I hope and pray that this experience can help someone. To my brethren in the field, protect those you are with. Satan wants to break all. We are in the crunch time and he is giving all he can. We need to be humble, pray, and work miracles. I love this work with all my heart and pray that we all may be successful in our missions. Do what you need to for the Lord is on our side!
Love, Elder Paul Freeman
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