I saw this today while we were walking home from the store and realized I have not taken many pictures this week, so this happened :)
If we don´t have a lunch appointment then we make it ourselves, but pretty
much every day we have a lunch appointment. We venture to where ever
that is, which is often out of our area since there are only 5 families
in our area. Then we go out to teach! Always always opening our mouth
along the way.
Funny story here:
Hermana Concoha got a bunch of clothes from an old comp, and when we
finished laundry she put the shirt on my bed because she thought it was
mine! No siree, we have twinner shirts! The picture isn't the best...
the member that took them is a little older but eh, it´s the best we
could do.
Ignacio:
he´s the security guard in our neighborhood, and went to church 2 weeks
ago for those who aren´t up to date :) He has a baptismial date for
this Sunday because he has work on Saturday, so we´re planning on
baptising him before church which means we have to get the entire ward
to come to church at 8. We taught him about propehts last night (thus
the picture. We teach him in the street and I realized just how
hilarious this looked to passersby) and he was super stoked on it. Well,
he loves everything we teach. Like, when we taught about tithing the
other day. I initiate every lesson, so I started by asking "do you know
what tithing is?" and he thought and then said, "Okay, I don´t know if
this is right, but I think it´s when we give a part of what we have to
the Lord because he gives us so much already. It´s like if I have 100
limpiras, then I give god 10. I think. I don´t know. Is that right?"
Hna. C and I sat there for a bit in shock and then I said, "Uh, yeah,
that´s right! But let´s talk about it more." So yeah, he loves the
church, loves everything we taught him, immediately stopped drinking
coffee, the works. But last night he was saying he was scared because it
felt like a big commitment. So we explained for the umpteenth time
that no one is perfect. I was baptized when I was EIGHT. I mean, I was
no where as strong with my testimony as I am now, and we still have to
grow and progress everyday, enduring to the end.
Well, we went back in the night with our mission leader We thought
he needed a friend, and someone else to help him realize he is in fact
ready. It was harder because he´s busier in the night because there´s
more cars, but we managed to make it through. Hermano Helaman brought up
that he has an enternal family who is sealed in the temple and Ignacio
got interested in that. So we are going to teach about the preisthood
wtih a member tonight for FHE (because you have to have the preisthood
before going to the temple to do baptisms) We are praying and praying
everything is working out. I feel like it is, and I mean, the Lord has a
plan but that doesn´t mean that I don´t want to see the future
sometimes ;)
Noraly: I have no idea if I´ve talked about Noraly
before.. Oh I did! Because we were hoping she´d go to church...
Disclaimer: she didn´t. Which is frustrating because the other night we
finished teaching about the plan of salvation and she loved it! And then
I asked her "have you had an opportunity to pray about the book of
mormon?" and she said no, but then she said "but i meditate after I read
it, and, I believe it is true. I believe it was written by propehts who
were called from God and Joseph Smith is one of them."
Oh, well alright then. When can we baptize you?
Well so
we called her Saturday night and she didn´t answer which is weird
because she always answers her phone or always tells us when she is
running late or something. So we were worried something was wrong. We
managed to finally find her sister (after going to her house for the 3rd
time that day) who explained that she was off doing something for
school with her friend. She is in one of her last years of dental
school, so a lot of her schooling is going to orphanages and other
clinics and doing dental work. So we´re hoping to contact her today or
tomorrow... hopefully this next week we can get her to a baptism and
church in one fail swoop :)
Our other investigators aren´t going to church or aren´t keeping their commitments, so that´s all for now :)
I´m
alive, well, and loving everyday that I am here. There is truly so much
power in serving a mission because literally everyday I learn something
new and grow. And I mean, that´s how it is the entire mission! As
President Nicholyasen in the CCM told us before we left: "They send you
out there and train you and teach you everything they possibly can, and
once you´ve learned it all, then you go home." So really it isn´t just
these first 3 months in the field, it´s the entire mission, I´m being
prepared for my LIFE.
Random fact: Close by our house is a strip center with little ceasars, burger king, dunkin doughnuts, and pop eyes. Pretty close by our house is pizza hut and wendy´s, and there´s also a mcdonald´s pretty close to the church. So yeah, America isn´t that far away :)
And now some questions I have been asked:
How's
everything going for you and Sis C?
It is going great! A few cultural differences but you know, I had that even with Jen Bennett and she´s from Canada. But I love it, and I love my little "mamacita"
It is going great! A few cultural differences but you know, I had that even with Jen Bennett and she´s from Canada. But I love it, and I love my little "mamacita"
Were
you able to get any investigators to church yesterday?
Just one. It was super random because we have inviting him for weeks. Miguel has been taught all the lessons and has been challenged for baptism like... .10 times and each time he´s like "eh, better not." So Hermana C wanted to cool off, and then I arrived! His aunt he lives with is less active, but has been going to church a lot more since I´ve been here. So every time we are over there, it´s kind of just to say hey, and teach them about faith. His aunt Emilina LOVES us and is always asking when we can come over for dinner, if she can do our laundry or anything else for us. She told us yesterday she wants to go to the temple, so we´re gonna prepare her for that because she wants to do the baptisms for her family. Anyway, Miguel just showed up out of the blue and sits by me and says "Buenos dias!" so out of habit I respond and then I was like "Miguel oh my gosh it´s you!" So yeah, he came with Emilina, but I´m frustrated because Miguel is just such a punk.
Just one. It was super random because we have inviting him for weeks. Miguel has been taught all the lessons and has been challenged for baptism like... .10 times and each time he´s like "eh, better not." So Hermana C wanted to cool off, and then I arrived! His aunt he lives with is less active, but has been going to church a lot more since I´ve been here. So every time we are over there, it´s kind of just to say hey, and teach them about faith. His aunt Emilina LOVES us and is always asking when we can come over for dinner, if she can do our laundry or anything else for us. She told us yesterday she wants to go to the temple, so we´re gonna prepare her for that because she wants to do the baptisms for her family. Anyway, Miguel just showed up out of the blue and sits by me and says "Buenos dias!" so out of habit I respond and then I was like "Miguel oh my gosh it´s you!" So yeah, he came with Emilina, but I´m frustrated because Miguel is just such a punk.
Have you
guys found a method for contacting that works well for you?
hmm... Street contacting? We aren´t allowed to knock on doors- too dangerous. The mission goal is to have every missionary "open the mouth" ten times a day, which means going up to people in the street. So that´s just what we do! Luckily, the culture here is completely different. Example: Yesterday there was a guy in the street working on his car, so I walk up and say "good afternoon, how are you!" and he responds eaqually as friendly. I always immediately jump to the chase "can we share this pamphlet with you? It´s about Jesus Christ." I have only gotten rejected twice, both times becuase they were in a hurry. They normally say "oh, yes of course!" (mas o menos, translating is tricky) "great! we´re missionaries for the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. Do you know any mormons?" yes, or no. and then "well that´s great! We would love to share our message with you in your house, where do you live?" then they point because no one uses an address here. It´s only "um the house in the 3rd street, on the left hand side, and it´s green". Mom you would do great with directions! That is why my mailing address is so long. ANYWAY. Then we get their number. Then it´s a toss up because sometimes we call and they say "oh sorry, can you call next week?" but about half of the time they say "yeah, sure!" and then normally half of those are home or show up. So yep, that´s our method. I don´t know if anyone has any better ideas?
hmm... Street contacting? We aren´t allowed to knock on doors- too dangerous. The mission goal is to have every missionary "open the mouth" ten times a day, which means going up to people in the street. So that´s just what we do! Luckily, the culture here is completely different. Example: Yesterday there was a guy in the street working on his car, so I walk up and say "good afternoon, how are you!" and he responds eaqually as friendly. I always immediately jump to the chase "can we share this pamphlet with you? It´s about Jesus Christ." I have only gotten rejected twice, both times becuase they were in a hurry. They normally say "oh, yes of course!" (mas o menos, translating is tricky) "great! we´re missionaries for the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. Do you know any mormons?" yes, or no. and then "well that´s great! We would love to share our message with you in your house, where do you live?" then they point because no one uses an address here. It´s only "um the house in the 3rd street, on the left hand side, and it´s green". Mom you would do great with directions! That is why my mailing address is so long. ANYWAY. Then we get their number. Then it´s a toss up because sometimes we call and they say "oh sorry, can you call next week?" but about half of the time they say "yeah, sure!" and then normally half of those are home or show up. So yep, that´s our method. I don´t know if anyone has any better ideas?
Do you
keep in touch with Sis Butler? If so, how's she doing?
I sent that darling a letter my first week here, but one of these days I´m gonna e mail all the adorable pictures of us because, let´s be honest, we were totally the cutest in the CCM ;) I´m assuming she´s loving the work like me, and a new country but when I get an update I´ll send it out :)
I sent that darling a letter my first week here, but one of these days I´m gonna e mail all the adorable pictures of us because, let´s be honest, we were totally the cutest in the CCM ;) I´m assuming she´s loving the work like me, and a new country but when I get an update I´ll send it out :)
How you
doing- feeling good?
I´M GREAT! I´m a missionary! I´m doing something I´ve dreamed of, and never thought I could be doing at this time in my life! Everyday is a new exciting adventure which is good because I cannot stand doing the same thing everyday! I´m learning, I´m loving, and I couldn´t ask for a better thing to do for the next 18 months :) (I guess 16.. happy 2 months!)
I´M GREAT! I´m a missionary! I´m doing something I´ve dreamed of, and never thought I could be doing at this time in my life! Everyday is a new exciting adventure which is good because I cannot stand doing the same thing everyday! I´m learning, I´m loving, and I couldn´t ask for a better thing to do for the next 18 months :) (I guess 16.. happy 2 months!)
LOVE YOU ALL! :)
Hermana Snelson
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