Bishop Burton

Dear Mom and everyone else,
Well this week has been a rollorcoaster ride. I'm talkin, California
Screamin' at Disneyland! Well, more so it was just this weekend then
the week.
First the great news!! We got a visit from Bishop Burton of the
Presiding bishopbric and two members of the seventy and...Elder D.
Todd Christofferson!!! He came and spoke to the whole mission in one
huge meeting, and can I just say it was AWESOME!!!!!!
Friday we had a Choir practice for anyone that wanted to be in the
choir that sang during the meeting. I figured, I like to sing, this
seems like a win-win situation so I went to the choir practice Friday
morning. I walked in and the guy that was at the piano came over to
me, and told me "Neiswender I can't freakin learn this song by
tomorrow, can you play it?" Luckily it was one of the songs that I
learned to play in various sacrament meetings here in Honduras. It was
"I know that my redeamer lives". It was fun.
When Elder Chistofferson came in the room, there was an immediate
feeling of peace from all the worries and stresses of the mission. It
was very comforting. Words can't explain the peace that was in that
room. I wasn't even nervouse to play the piano! After he came in he
let each one of us walk up and shake his hand, and he asked us all our
names and where we are from. I have lived in Utah all my life and have
never shaken hands with an Apostle. The feeling that I had there was
unlike anything I have ever felt before. There was so much peace right
there.
The performance during the meeting was really powerful. I almost
started crying at while I was supposed to be play the piano. It was
awesome.

Bishop Burton spoke to us first and introduced us to "Chocolate Chip
Cookie Days". Special days that recieved special celebration. He
challenged us to make as many chocolate chip cookie days as possible
here in the mission and also in our lives. It was a great talk filled
with hope and inspiration.

When Elder Christofferson got up to talk that huge spirit spread out
over everyone in the audience. I had the feeling right then that I
should write down everything that I can. Any impressions that I get
during the meeting. It was funny, during his talk he was making an
example of how president Viers should react when he hears our name. He
looked to the part of the room I was sitting in and said "Hey you
Elder, the one that played the piano, what's your name?" Holy Crap! I
nearly forgot my own name in that moment. Finally I was able to yell
"Neiswender!!" And look on his face was one I will never forget:) Long
story short, Neiswender is a name that he will have to work on
pronouncing:) Good ole names.
At the end of the talk he gave us an apostalic blessing from the
pulpit. He told us that we would be blessed with the spirit to be able
to be able to feel the love of God and to be more persuasive teachers.
It was after that statement that I had the feeling that I should write
down a quote from...of coure..."ROCKY". The quote is "Life's not about
how hard you can hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep
moving foreward." I didn't really understand why I should write that
at the time, but about five hours after I got my answer.
We got back to our area and left to go visit our 6 "set" baptismal
people. It was supposed to be the best day ever. Two people were an
old couple who promised us that they would do it. The other was a
young couple with 2 kids over 8 years old. their only problem was to
get married and we thought that would be easy because they already
agreed to it. In those two hours of appointments, all 6 of those
investigators fell, and fell hard. They fell subject to preaching and
teaching of men and the fear of their hearts. They couldn't put all
their trust in the Lord. They say they believe in him. But as the
title of the book, they weren't "Believing Christ". The problem with
loving the people so much is when they rip your heart out of your
chest and stomp on it right in front of you. Saturday was the biggest
rollercoaster day of, I believe, my entire life. I have never felt as
sad as I did there, except when Luis from my last area turned us down.
Well, later that night we got back to the house bruised and battered
and just ready to go to church the next day. I sat down and started
looking through the pages of notes that I took during the meeting. I
read that quote at the end of my notes "Life's not about how hard you
can hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving
foreward." I realized then how much that line will help me through the
mission. There will be and has been great times, but it's how you deal
with the hard times that defines you as a person and a missionary.
Thank you Verl for the email you sent. It couldn't have come at a more
needed time. I will take your advice and make me the sweetest
lemondade in the world:)
I love you all, and hope that you can all have the greatest week
possible. I know this church is true and there is nothing that anyone
can say that can take that away. I know that I am here in Honduras to
stand as a witness of the truth and goodness of God and his gospel.
There is no greater comforting power. I hope that we can all learn to
put everything in the Lord's hands and let him do his mighty work.
I love you all.
Elder Travis Neiswender