Excerpts from a letter to mom 2-9-09

Mom,
I wanted to try to send the pics in a zip file to see what happens. I don´t even know if I did it right, but if you can work with what is in this email, they´ll be of higher quality and save me LOTS of time not having to shrink them down!

--- The picture did not come through- it said it was corrupt.... :(

I know that, more than anything, as we strive to have the Spirit, Heavenly Father smooths out our rough edges, and opens the doors to the friendships, whether they be many and broad, or few and deep that both we and others need in our lives at any given moment. I love President Eyrings talk from Priesthood session about seeking help from the Angels god sends and learning to be that angel as well).

Elder Suasnaba is my companion from Argentina. Almost inevitably, missionaries feel the need to give commentary on a new companion when changes come out. I worked hard to start off with lots of communication and love, and he told me that other people in the mission had told him that I am strictly obedient (which made me feel good, and laugh at the same time, since nobody from his zone knew me--that kind of thing travels by cell phone, sadly, in the mission). Anyhow, I have been learning a lot about the importance of the spirit of the law over the letter of the law, and of how the work only moves with unity, which may have little or nothing to do with pharasaic-like obedience (although, I´m certain it would be a deeper, better founded unity if it was based on shared desires to obey, rather than on concession one end.) Sadly, the same elders that don´t want to obey, aren´t willing to concede to preserve unity. A difficult situation, but not impossible! At any rate, I´m learning a LOT!)

Elder McCarty