Never has time passed so quickly and slowly simultaneously because I look back and think, wow it's only been two weeks, and then I realize that I already feel like I'm in the thick of it. Wait till a year in, and then I'm straight up in the thick of it! I will say that I have less time today than before to write emails and in fact I have less time in general. As a general rule, please try to send me letters or at least email me your addresses, because I have more time to write letters here than to send emails, it's just more economical with my time.
But the week was good! I am trying to speak to Elder Rivera now solely in Spanish. Which I'm sure is nails on a chalkboard for him but my speaking, which lacks most of all, is getting better. Things with the investigators are going along as they will. Yolanda got very stressed by her family in our last lesson with her, and has decided that she needs to wait to get baptized. Not ideal, but we're keeping her in our prayers, and she is still faithfully praying and going to church. These things take time, as does just about everything except making Ramen noodles, I have found throughout my life. For a few days during our unscheduled time we've been doing a lot of street contacting, but until we tried Saturday and really focused on praying with faith and knowing that we'd find people afterwards did we get like five new referrals. We won't teach all of them, and even less when we pass the English speaking families onto the other elders (we primarily cover Spanish speaking students unless we're up in the north of Provo), but regardless it was great to see some traction in the work. Lessons with Toree have been going solid. She committed to baptism, but will wait until after the holidays to smooth things over with her Catholic mother, and Filipe's and Angel's lessons are going strong as well. Scheduling conflicts have kept us from seeing Oscar for a while, but we're gonna see him tonight and both he and our other recent converts like Ximmena, whose Uruguayan accent is coming to my understanding slowly but surely, are solid.
My great experience for the week actually happened last night: teaching Carla Antezana and a bunch of her friends, including a less active member, we were asked to give Priesthood blessings to several of those present. I gave one blessing and did some anointing, but Elder Rivera with his Spanish (even though they all spoke English) was asked for most of them. Regardless, the Spirit that filled the room that night was undeniable, and another true testament to God's power and willingness to grant unto us blessings according to our faith. The priesthood gives a whole other dimension to Christ's commandment to be a servant to all, and I am so grateful for that ability. I will strive for the rest of my life to always be able and worthy and ready to give a blessing if it is needed. Elder Rivera is a stud, and an absolute perfect companion trainer. I grow more and more grateful for him every day and am glad to see us becoming fast friends. He is a textbook awesome missionary, and anyone who knows him would tell you the same.
As for the last small anecdotes from the week: I met a former EFY roommate in my zone at Zone Training Meeting. His name is Elder Peabody from Austin, Texas, who I first met at the 2011 San Antonio EFY session. Our EFY counselor actually served his mission in Utah - Salt Lake, which was the first time I actually considered Utah as an option for a mission. "Coincidence". We also had a great dinner with a member family up Provo Canyon this week, which was a lovely drive, dinner, and home. We had a service activity this week for a less active family, the Minods, who give us a free lunch every week from their Chilean restaurant (oh gosh....empanadas)! And I also enjoyed the fun of raking leaves again - you taught me how to work, thanks Dad.
I'll keep you all in my prayers!
Elder Martin
The pumpkins we carved on Halloween!
Our weekly planning board
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