How can so much happen in one week, and yet it feel like it passed by so fast?
Hello everyone, and how are you? I'm doing quite well, and my only setback is that it seems the harder you work at the mission, the faster it goes by... contrary to what you'd want. Either way, it was a great week and a lot happened!
Starting on Monday, we had a rather chill p-day of roaming around Center Street and checking out different places, and went as Elders to Station 22 Cafe, one of my favorite summer hangouts. It was great to be there again, not just with new friends, but fellow Elders in the field. We then had a great "get to know you" lesson with Alejandro. We had another lesson later in the week, both of which demonstrate how spiritual he is. We feel that with proper direction and guidance, he can come to know of the truth for himself quite powerfully. Also, that night, we finally got Angel's new phone number; he had changed it without us knowing and we were finally able to hear his voice again. His work schedule is ridiculously crazy, but we'll set something up soon.
Our days and spare time in the evenings were filled with tracking down and setting up 30 minute meetings with different ward mission leaders, which has been a great help in finding the work "hidden" amongst the YSAs. We have a goal of having one of these meetings with each ward mission leader by the end of the transfer. We also found out that the apartment of Colombians we've been teaching is actually within our boundaries of a YSA ward (right on the edge actually, what luck!), and so we've been making extra effort to get to know the ward and fire them up about the work, since the Colombians want to try the YSA now to practice their English. The whole apartment is more engaged in the lessons now, so hopefully this will shake things up for the better!
Toree, Chris, and Carla weren't able to meet this week, but we'll catch them this coming one. Ximena is doing as well as ever, we'll be going to the temple with her at some point, in addition to all the recent converts we have. Sergio is a boss. We learned that he wants to serve a mission soon and we are so excited for him. The faith and willingness of these new converts to serve The Lord is a huge example to me, I strive to be like them more each day.
On the investigator sphere again, we had our second lesson with Maria from Peru, and man is she amazing! We did the lesson on the Book of Mormon, and due to great friends supporting her, and her own reading (from the introduction through the testimonies of the witnesses down through a few chapters of Nephi) she was already quite aware of what was happening. Very lively, very engaged in the lessons, it is a pleasure to teach her; and we'll see how things go on this week, as she went to church this Sunday too, though we weren't able to go with her.
Felipe, however, is probably the biggest story of this week, as we narrowed in on him, and extended the baptismal invitation to him. We had two powerful, spirit filled lessons, and answered his concerns and questions about it, but he still feels he is not ready. He is luckily still reading, praying, and going to church, so we hope and pray that the Spirit will touch him soon, please keep him in your prayers. He is a wonderful guy, and already knows so much of the truth of this church, like him testifying to Maria when were all in the ELC together after class one day as to the truth and power of the Book of Mormon and how it helped him feel the Spirit in his own life. He is amazing, and we hope and pray that things continue to work out the Lord's way with all of them.
As for things on a personal level, my hot chocolate making is becoming better each week! I've finally found a way to sneak milk into my system, Mom, albeit through double proportions of hot chocolate mix and coffee creamer. Elder Palomares and I are becoming better friends day by day and our talks get deep! But yes, we are working hard and working smarter each week, and things are all good and well. We have Zone Conference this week, and I wonder if we'll get another area change. But yes, the Lord blesses this work and his own, and I aspire for both!
Love to all,
Elder Martin
No comments:
Post a Comment