Well, it was a pretty good week, we had some cool experiences, and
zone conference. At zone conference we watched a video about airplanes
on an aircraft carrier, about the precision they need to land and
takeoff, and how everyone has to do their job exactly and be exactly
obedient to all procedures or something will go wrong or someone could
wind up really hurt or dead. He made this a comparison to our
missionary work, how we need to be so exactly obedient, or we really
could lose the spirit or have our work compromised in some other way.
We had a cool service opportunity last week, we helped a less
active with his computer a little. He had an electronic keyboard that
he needed to hook up to his computer to do some recording, and some
help getting the recording program working. My companion and I both
having done home recording, we were obviously the candidates for the
job. So we got it all going, including walked to McDonald's to use
their wi-fi to download a driver, and then recorded a hymn or two. He
was so grateful, and then gave us the number of one of his friends he
wants us to go visit!
Another instance where we saw the power of music was with a
less-active who we visited, we ended up singing some hymns for him
with his guitar. He hurt his hand recently so he couldn't play, but
was really happy to have us sing and play to him. We sang "how great
thou art" and he said "thats the one they sang at my baptism! And he
sang along with us on all the chorus's.
I'm in the big city of New Orleans and its a really cool place. My
grandma sent me a few questions about it, so here they is:
How much of the city has been reconstructed?
Just about all of it. Its been almost 7 years, so its really all about
back to how it was. Theres still plenty of shabby-lookin areas, I cant
tell if they were like that before or not.
Is there a lot of homelessness?
Yup. Apparently this is one of the homeless capitols of the nation.
Alot of homeless people, many of them surprisingly young, will hop
trains over here to be in the homeless community thats here. Random
side story: a couple months before my mission I was driving from
California to Washington by myself, and I picked up a hitch-hiker for
some company. He said he had been hopping trains around and that his
next goal was to hop to New Orleans. I said I was moving to LA in a
few months. He aksed what for and I explained, and turns out he was
raised Mormon. So they come from as far out as CA. Crazy!
Are there still needs for help in fixing the damage done by katrina?
Doesnt seem like it. If I didnt know about it, I wouldnt have guessed
that the whole town was underwater a few years ago. Though one cool
remnant is on many of the houses there are still black x's drawn in
spray paint, which is what the rescuers used to mark that the house
had been checked for bodies.
In the ward where you serve, are the members old time members who have
lived there a while, or are they people who have been relocated?
Well, many members remember katrina and talk about their time before
and after it, and it sounds pretty nasty. Alot of members are recent
converts, and dont have a complete understanding of the gospel, but
are still excited and happy to be in the church.
Are people looking for spiritual messages to help them?
Well, of course thats what they need, but they just dont realize it.
Its really tough sometimes to people reject the thing that will bring
them so much peace and joy! basically saying "No thanks guys, I'm
looking for happiness". Well here it is! But, theres people that do,
and its really great to see them accept it.
Well, I'd love to hear from y'all again soon!
Love,
Elder Cardon
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