Date
October 12, 2015
Sent By
My Week at a Glance
10-12-15
Hey Mommy Dearest,
How are you? I have been thinking about you a ton this week.
This week has been a really great week for me. We have been blessed with so many great experiences, and I have felt that the Spirit has been really trying to teach me various lessons. Anyway, there is just so much to tell that I decided to try to just give you a day to day update of my week.
Monday. Pday. We went to the library, where we don’t have to pay to use the computers, and we wrote. Then, in the afternoon we went back to the apartment where I made chicken. In the evening we had a lesson with Elena. Guess what. She’s Russian and speaks Russian! We tried to be a little funny. I asked if I could say the first prayer, and then I did say the first prayer...in Russian! haha. She was a little surprised. Haha. We continued to teach her the Restoration. The lesson was going really well, and then, at one point, my companion felt to share his story and testimony in Russian. Somehow, I understood what he was testifying about and was able to testify of his words. It was a very interesting experience.
Tuesday. Tuesday, after the District Meeting, we did service for the Hna. Diaz. We went to her house with Hno. Diego and Hno. Miguel and helped her paint her living room. We were really excited to help her because she is always soooo good to us. (She always gives us lunch on Tuesdays and she always gives us sooooo much food, and it’s always really good food!)
Wednesday and Thursday we did divisiones with Elder Vasco and Elder Jauregui. We basically live with them, since they live in the apartment in front of us, but it was good. Elder Karmanov went with Elder Vasco to their area and Elder Jauregui came with me to our area. We found several really great people. We found Silvina who turns out to be the niece of a member, and she truly understood what we taught her about the Restoration. When we asked her what an answer to her prayer about the Book of Mormon would mean, she said, "It would mean that Joseph Smith really was a true prophet and that your church is the true one." Her answer blew us away. It is often so hard for the people to understand the meaning of the Restoration. We also visited Roberto. Remember him? I don’t think I told you about what happed the other week, but we basically saved his life. It’s a long story, but we found him in the street. He was thinking about suicide, he was drunk, we took care of him, took him to the church, got him water, taught him a little, and then payed for a taxi to take him home. Well, anyway we went to visit him and he sat us down and said that he realized that during the time we weren’t visiting him he found himself always thinking about us, and then after that incident the other week, he realized that he has someone that really does care about him and worries about him. Us! He said that he hasn’t been drinking or smoking for over a week and wants to listen to us again. It was incredible. He still has a long, long, long way to go, but deep down inside of him he REALLY wants to change.
Friday. Rainy day. On Friday we woke up really early, at about 4, and went to the bus station to take a bus to San Martin, which is about 2 hours away. The elders there and the elders in Colorado (which is about 30 min. further) had a couple baptisms, so we went to help them with the interviews. Elder Karmanov stayed in San Martin and did the baptismal interviews there and I went with Elder Bautista (who is the district leader) to Colorado. Elder Reynolds and Elder Sanchez were excited for their investigator, Roxana, to get interviewed and baptized. We were supposed to all meet at the church at 10 o’clock for her interview. She didn’t show up. They called and called, but nothing. We were thinking that it was probably because of the rain. Well the elders went to go look for her at her house, which was about 30 minutes away. We stayed and waited for them in the church. Elder Bautista was playing with a rubix cube and I was playing hymns when I had the feeling that we needed to pray for Roxana. We stopped what we were doing and said a prayer for her to be able to make it to the church and get interviewed. About 2 minutes after the "amen" the elders called and told us that she was on her way. She came, the interview went well, and this weekend she was baptized and confirmed. God hears our prayers. We got back to Resistencia pretty late, at about7:30 p.m. As soon as we got back to our area we went to visit Silvina. We felt to share 2 Nephi 2:6-9 with her and talk about the Atonement. We talked about why Christ had to die (which had been one of her sons questions that she didn’t know how to answer). The spirit was there. She really understood and is really excited to learn more.
Sunday. Maria came to church! It was so great! But get this, not only did she come, she also got up in fast and testimony to talk to the congregation! Elder Karmanov and I were blown away! When she stood up, we thought that she was going to go to the bathroom or something, but then she started walking towards the pulpit! She said,” I am here for the first time. I feel good here. I hope that here I can find the strength to help my family. Please pray for me. Thank you." And then sat down. I almost cried. Then, Milagros Insfran got up (David’s girlfriend) and shared her testimony of David’s progress and how what the missionaries (us) have taught him has strengthened her own testimony. I almost cried more. The spirit was soooooooooo strong. (Sunday night we called hna. Trinidad who is helping us with Maria. She had taken Maria to church, and then invited her to lunch, and we found out last night that she just ended up spending the whole entire day with their family - eating lunch, taking the siesta, drinking mate, and just talking! It’s incredible! )
Oh mom. I really wish that I could write more. I am just feeling so good right now. I don’t want my mission to end. I feel such a great gratitude in my heart. I feel like its swelling. This week I feel like it’s literally filling up my heart and chest. I feel so happy doing what I am doing. It's hard, and I have been discouraged, but I need not be. I know that what I am doing is the very best thing in the world. Honestly, now that I am getting closer to the end, I often find myself thinking a lot more. Pondering about life, the mission, and about God. It all amazes me. I know God loves me. I just know it. I know that the Savior lives. I just know it. I love the people of Argentina and the faith that they have.
I am working hard. I am taking advantage of every moment. I have been so blessed. There is no other word to describe it. I want others to feel the same.
I love you. Have a great week and keep serving others.
Elder Gabriel Christiansen
Misión Argentina Resistencia