Another sappy dad letter (sorry)

Oh hi elder Rivera!

Not a lot to report for this mid week email. I’ve just been thinking of you a lot. Wondering if you guys are still cleaning up. I wonder if your clothes came clean, I wonder things like if insurance works the same as it does here and if all of those things that those people lost can ever be replaced. I wonder if any random bodies will be found, yikes!

I've also been thinking about the difference between your letters and your cousins letters. Let’s just say that I’m really impressed by how you describe your experience. I know it’s early, but I’m already seeing you grow and mature. I’m sure it doesn’t feel like it to you yet, because it’s hard, but I sense it. 

I sent bishop Marchant a note thanking him for being so good to our family. He asked about you so I sent him your last letter. This is what he said:

Brother Rivera, thank you for sending this letter from Elder Rivera. Given our Mexico connection, it has been particularly sweet for me to feel of his growth over these last few weeks, and it has helped me to relive via proxy some of the greatest moments of my life. There are some things on a mission that you just can’t prepare for - I believe by design, to help us learn to act in faith - and the first few weeks in a foreign land with unique customs, language, food, poverty, etc can be a very challenging experience, particularly when you’re on your own. But God changes you in those moments, and he helps you to realize that you’re never actually alone. That He’s intimately involved in your life, that the prayers and faith of your loved ones truly call angels to your side. And He helps you to see and love the people you are serving in the way that He sees and loves them. George, the first three months of my mission changed my life forever. I can’t put into words exactly how it happened, but I plead regularly with our young men to prepare for that experience because of the way that it changed who I am, and the expectation that God has of us to give when we’ve received so abundantly. Everything that is good in my life today I can trace back to the decision I made to serve a mission and to try to do my best there. I see this happening in real time for Jacob, and it feels me with joy to know the ways that it is changing him for good (and he’s always been a wonderful young man).

I think he describes there better than I ever could why it’s so important for me that you boys serve missions. I think in some way every person that can say they loved their mission goes through something like that on their mission. I did, mom did, Ben did, and you are. I know people, I’m talking about people in my generation, that never gave themselves over to the Lord, and either regretted or constantly have tried to justify it. I only say this because even though I know it’s tough, you seem happy, you sound positive.

You said that maybe your letter wasn’t too spiritual. I completely disagree. You had such empathy for the loss that those people suffered, and for those that died. You recognized the awful spirit you felt in that store. Part of that is because right now, as a missionary, the Spirit is so much of you. 

I’ll stop this part of the letter now, but I do have to get into that “dad” mode once in a while.

In sports news, just when you think it’s not possible, but byu fans are getting even more obnoxious. On guy at work said that it’s a new era. I told him that at least now that they're in a pseudo power 5 (thanks Bill Reilly) that maybe now the game will be worth something. 

There are rumors that Whittingham might be retiring. Something tells me that’s maybe not such an impossibility. My votes still for Morgan Scalley. But I hope coach Whit sticks around a while longer.

USC fired their coach after getting beat by Stanford. So there may be some interesting changes coming up while you’re away.

Mom has a package ready for you, we just need to send it. 

It’s pretty late and I need to pee, so I’m going to send this.

Love-YA-I-tell-YA! 

Pops