Hola! Que pasa?
Holy smokes this last week really was unusually crazy and busy. We had all these trainings and meetings and General Conference so we definitely didn't get as much missionary work done as we wanted to. But that's how we always feel so that's expected, huh?
Conference was AWESOME though!!! I feel like I never really took advantage of it like I should have growing up. It's so much better than holidays for us as missionaries. Because we all talked about it together and decided that it's better than all the holidays put together, because all a holiday really means here is that the post office is closed and we have no chance for mail!! But yes, conference definitely was a spiritual feast and we all learned so incredibly much. What never ceases to amaze me is the nature of the talks that they all deliver. They are simple enough for investigators and new members to understand, yet way deep and profound for members and missionaries. They are all definitely inspired men called of God and are guided in every word they say. We loved how President Monson opened the conference talking about the importance of missionary work, preparing young men for missions, and the fact that we need more missionaries! We really do need more missionaries and the Lord's work is being accomplished all around the world. It really is amazing to think about what gets accomplished daily by missionaries all around the world and what is possible with even more. The field is white and we simply need more harvesters!
It definitely seemed like there were some major themes, and we wish that all of our investigators could have heard all of it! At first there was a lot about following the prophet, and the importance of having a prophet. There were a lot of bold statements about the fact that a living prophet is more important than a dead prophet and more important than the standard works. We know that we are so incredibly blessed to have a prophet to help lead us and guide us and make the Lord's will known to us. It's definitely something that sets us apart from other churches. There was also a lot about agency and using it wisely, in order to avoid or overcome addictions, and choose to do the best things with your time. I loved when President Uchtdorf talked about slowing down and taking time to prioritize your life and spend your time doing the things that are most important, instead of being all stressed out and hectic doing a bunch of things that are ultimately not important. I love the boldness of the general authorities and am consistently amazed at their knowledge of the scriptures! The more I study them, the more I can recognize how much they really use them in their talks. They study them so much and it ultimately becomes a part of how they think. It's definitely amazing.
But yeah, my companion had a big 2-day training last week and I stayed with the other 2 new Spanish elders here. It was wild because they had moved most of their stuff out of their apartment into their new one, but they found out they couldn't move in yet, so we were sleeping on pieces of furniture and things. And then the next day, we moved ALL of their things in, washers and dryers and beds and cabinets and everything. I'm pretty sure I've helped move in at least 10 different people or families the past few days, but it's way cool and I enjoy it. It was fun being with the other elders and it's always cool to just have a break and something new. We talked to a LOT of people out in the streets and things, since they didn't have many scheduled lessons and are working on finding people. We've met some pretty ridiculous crazy people, agnostic people who like to fight, and some guys that seriously love missionaries but refuse to listen to the mission. One guy the other day said that he wasn't sure how right we are. "You are SO right! I love you guys and what you're doing. I don't think you know how right you are! I don't know about the whole Joseph Smith thing, but you are SO right!"
It was pretty funny.
Speaking of that, I went on exchanges with this little Mexican elder for a little bit on Sunday, Elder Martinez (he speaks perfect English - grew up mostly in Utah), and we were out talking to people on the streets. We were walking down the side of this big road and I told him we were going to go about this differently. We were just going to walk and have people pull over and come to us. He said there was no way, and a few minutes later, this guy pulls up to us from the other side of the road and runs out of his car to talk to us. He had heard about our church through his uncle and really needed something in his life - he wanted missionaries over and to get a Book of Mormon. He was this massive bald guy covered in tattoos and honestly a little intimidating. But it was sweet, because we got his address and number and sent some English missionaries over to teach him. It was so crazy, and Elder Martinez kept asking me how i knew that was going to happen. I told him I honestly had no idea, but it was a super cool experience!! We talked to a lot of people that day, crazy drunk guys and old redneck guys, and people that keep saying to come by another day to teach them. It's always "otro dia" or next year or something. But I've definitely noticed I'm not afraid to talk to people, even sketchy people that I would never dream of talking to before.
We did have Nathalie and Rene's baptism on Friday and it was AWESOME!!!! They loved it all and had a HUGE crowd of people there. We didn't even have room to fit everyone. But yeah I got to talk and we sang this sweet a capella version of Be Still My Soul. It was kinda crazy because I've never seen anyone baptized someone as fast as Cesar baptized Nathalie! He put her in and out of that water so incredibly fast! I had to compliment him on his efficiency. He must have been a little nervous. It was also a little funny because he also had torn a hole in his baptismal suit sometime and he was walking around really funny so that people couldn't see it. I was amused. Their dad loved the whole thing and he said he definitely wants to get baptized as soon as we can get his wife to be baptized. He said this coming week! But it looks like it's going to be a week from Saturday so that should be super cool.
We are having one baptism this week that we're super excited for - Lorena Ruiz - and the other one fell through because of issues with her husband. It seriously tears me apart to see people keep postponing baptism and the help that they need in their life. But we're super excited for what we have, and I know they will all get baptized :) So yep, we're working hard at finding new people and loving the work. I had my first interview with the President yesterday and it was way cool because I have an assignment that I'm really excited for. But anyways, life is great and the weather is 100% PERFECT!!!! it's like in the low 80's and just feels like heaven. So hasta luego! Que les vayan bien!
No comments:
Post a Comment