Date
July 20, 2015
Area
Resistencia
Companion
Jacob Whiting
Yet Again, Here I Am
Date: Mon, Jul 20, 2015 at 11:43 AM
Subject: Yet again, here I am
Hola Mamá!
First of all, I've been dying to tell you all week that I just admire you. You, mother, are my hero. I was so extremely touched by your email last week and all that you did to help that young man, S. How's he doing? I still have to read your letter, but please let him know that I am praying for him. What an incredibly great act of kindness mom. Thank you for doing that. Thank you so much. I just love you so much.
This week has been super crazy busy. On Tuesday, Elder Whiting and I had planned divisiones (splits) with Elder Vasco and Elder Diaz, so thats just what we did. Elder Diaz went with my comp to our area, and I went with Elder Vasco (Ecuador) to his area. They have had a hard time finding and teaching people, so we worked on that.
Well, our divisiones kinda got interrupted on Tuesday night because I got a call from the office telling me that I had to travel to Corrientes the next morning to do visa paperwork. So I had to get up nice and early on Wednesday morning, go to the bus station and travel to Corrientes where I basically sat in a government waiting room for about 5 hours. The good news is that I started to learn how to solve a Rubix cube from another elder. Thats pretty neat. Afterward, we went and ate lunch. Panchos! Aka....hot dogs. Then I traveled back to Resistencia, met up with Elder Vasco and we were able to work in the afternoon. I learned a lot from Elder Vasco. He is a very cheerful, fun-loving guy, who really enjoys being happy. I really like that.
This week we also had interviews with Presidente Franco. It was a little crazy for my companion and I because the assistants asked us last minute to prepare a couple of trainings and messages for the zone. We ended up talking a lot about Humility and being able to following the spirit....and DESERVING the guidance of the spirit. I started my "capacitaction" (training) by asking, "To what point are we willing to fight to have the spirit with us? What are we willing to do in order to be guided by the Holy Ghost?". We talked a lot about obedience, desire, etc.. We talked about how we are here to preach and teach the gospel, but the one who truly teaches the gospel is the Spirit. We are just the means through which the spirit should be able to get to the people. I love what D&C 50:13-22 says. If the spirit is there, we learn and rejoice together!
I love every chance i get to just sit down and talk with Pres. Franco. I really admire this man. He is so gentle and calm, but always talks with such authority and certainty. A while back I really realized that every time he says, " I know He lives" or "Jesus is the Christ" or even "in the name of Jesus Christ, amen" it really hits me hard. His testimony is powerful and it has really impacted me. I want to be able to testify with that same power, so that my testimony can reach the hearts of the people. (Once again, I remind myself that I must have the spirit to do that 2 Nephi 33:1). In my interview with Pres. we talked about the zone and the missionaries. He asked me if I was happy. I was very happy that I could tell him "yes!". I also took the chance to ask him to explain to me a little bit more about sealings and "how the family can be together forever". He explained that the idea is that we all be "linked together to GOD!" He also explained that the most important sealing is the sealing between us and our spouses. After that interview, I have been really studying more about the plan of salvation. Abraham 3:25-26 really really really impacted me this week. Read them and then tell me what you think after.
This week we have been working a lot with one member named Enrique. Hes such a cool dude. He is 27 (even though he looks like hes 19), hes married, and has one kid. He has been a member for like 7 months now, and is super strong (even though his wife is like super catholic and doesnt really support him). Well this week we taught his brother, Ricardo. Super cool kid. Listened super well and just really got it. At the end we asked him what it would mean to him if what we had taught him was really true. He thought for a second and then said, "Well. It would mean that all the other churches have lied to me!" haha. pretty funny.
This week we have also been teaching Enrique's uncle, Roberto. Roberto is an interesting guy. He is in deep as far as some worldly things, but we have really felt something with him. In our first lesson he just talked and talked and talked. (while smoking), but for some reason we felt just to listen to him. He talked about how unfair this world is. He told us about how one of his friends was murdered, and died in his arms, he talked about how he saw so many problems and suffering, and how he was pretty messed up as well. The second lesson, we taught him about the Sabath Day and promised him that he would feel peace. He was really interested and promised he would come. He didn't come. When we went be last night we found out that he was confused, he thought it was at 9 o'clock at night (that is a common confusion here). Last night we really really saw him differently. We really could see that he is just sad. He is not happy. We talked to him a little about Alma 37:6 and testified that he could change! He is not very convinced that he can change or receive forgiveness, but he is thinking a LOT about baptism. He has a long way to go, but I know that he can do it!
Well, a lot is going on here. I love what I am doing. I know I always say that, but its because its true. Time is going by wayyyy too fast. I dont know how to make it slow down. Well, I love you mom! Thank you for being my mom, my friend, my hero and my support! Have a super week!