Well... I have a lot to write about this week. Which kinda scares me, because whenever I have that, I never write everything I want to, including your questions, sooooo... I dunno, we'll see! Aaaaaaanyways, we had our cambios come in this past Viernes. I am staying here in Pozo Almonte with Elder McKinlay. Nothing is changing, pretty much, and he is still District Leader, so I am, yet again, the companion of the district leader. I kinda feel like a permanent first counselor, or something like that jaja (thought he misspelled haha, but evidently this is how to write it in espanol)! But we have a lot of solid investigators lining up for us, so I am excited for what Heavenly Father has in store for us two. I was a little sad at first, because I wanted to go back to a more city setting, but I suppose there is just more for me to do here. More people to bless with my beautiful face (and the gospel, I guess) ;).
I was really grateful to read your email this week! Mom your testimony is so awesome!!! We just need to switch places, you be the missionary, and I'll be in the YW presidency! Jajaja no, but really, thank you so much! That was an awesome dream you had, and a good example of the role of Jesucristo in our lives. It was definitely a good pick-me-up! And you are so right, in regards to our family! We are one awesome family jaja! (Not to mention dang-good-looking jaja!) But it's a bittersweet thing for me right now, because I am grateful, extremely grateful, for the love and examples of everyone in my family, but that just makes me miss being around them all the much more! But I always remind myself, I am here to give all the people in Chile the opportunity to have a family like we do! I want them to have that blessing, that strength in their lives, like I did! It is the best way to have strength through the hardest decisions in your life! Thank you mom!!!
Things in Pozo are moving forward, as always. Actually, this week seemed a bit more slow, almost like a bust. We had so many citas fall through! It was so frustrating! So many people who said to pass by (I'm assuming it is to visit), and when we did, were not there! A ratez-vous (you miss), I guess, in Christiaan's terms jaja! On the other side, the investigators that we do have are very solid! For example, we have our Colombianos. A family, or rather, two families who live together, of very awesome people. Elder McKinlay knew them before, and we finally got to teach them. The father, Anderson, loves us, and while we were talking to him in the street, he told us to pass for his son and his son's friend, Carlos Javier and Jeremi. So we did! And it was just a normal lesson, until Jeremi's dad, Anderson's cuñado (brother-in-law), walked in. We thought he was gonna kick us out, because he looked like he wanted to kill us, but he actually wanted to listen in! I suppose it was just his 'tired face'. But he listened in on the lesson, and it was super awesome! He was genuinely interested in what we were saying, and asked all the right questions, and made all the right commitments! He was so solid! When we left, he had commited to try to go to church, if his work permitted, and to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. Which is basically all our major committments at first. And when we came back the next time, he was doing it! He is reading and praying! Which is so fantastic, you have no idea! But here's something awesome. While we were talking to Carlos Javier, I happened to look down and saw he had an ankle bracelet on. As I looked at it, I found out it was one of those rubber wrist bands, black with white letters, that says 'Future Missionary'!!! Like, what?!?! Jajaja if that isn't a sign from God, I don't know what is! Apparently, when I asked him about it, he said he found it on the street and liked it, so put it on! Jaja que bakan!! Another super solid investigator is Merysol. She is progressing rapidly, to say the least. Our first time talking to her was a little over a week ago, and in that time since, she has read basically half of the Book of Mormon, all of our folletos (brochures), and prayed every night and morning. She has a testimony so strong, sometimes I wonder if it's stronger than mine jaja! But we finally introduced the Word of Wisdom to her, and found out she smokes. She was kind of hesitant to quit, but we got her to pray right then if this was something from God that she needed to follow. Needless to say, the spirit was felt. She told us she just wanted to cry the entire time while she was praying, but didn't want to embarass herself! I have to admit, some sort of liquid-like stuff was also leeking from my eyes, but I'm not sure exactly what it was. But she ended up comitting to quit smoking! And we gave her a special blessing of strength and comfort to resist temptations, so I have faith that she can get through it. :D Deborah, the wife of Miguel (well, soon to be wife), is also progressing super well! And Miguel too! We had a lesson with them yesterday and it was the most powerful lesson we've had ever! The spirit was so strong, and I saw that they felt it strong! We taught them specifically about the Expiación de Jesucristo (Atonement of Jesus Christ), and the role it has in their lives, leading in to how they can have happiness in life. They told us that they felt like they were just searching for peace, and couldn't find it. So... we offered it! That's what I love about being a missionary! We have everything that anyone needs and wants in life! It's what we give! It's why we're here! Then there's Jayson, who I think I've talked about before. So I just found out, that along with his Book of Mormon, he is reading the book Llenas de Fe (Full of Faith). I am not sure exactly what book it is in English, but it is a book that just goes deep into a ton of stuff about the church, and explains doctrine. So I was like, bakan, I'm not even reading that right now!! Great things are in store for that kid! If only his mom wouldn't hold him back and basically take away all of his blessings...
Tonight we have a Noche de Hogar (FHE) with a ton of people in the branch. We also invited our investigators, and they accepted to go to!! So basically, everyone that has a baptismal date is going to this Noche de Hogar with all the members... it's gonna be huge, lemme tell ya! I'm stoked! Yesterday in church was cool. Whenever we have investigators in church, we sit with them. And I usually chill with the kids, because they're easier to talk to jaja! But I am getting to be real good friends with all the primary kids in the branch jaja! It helps when I hand out gum and chocolate, but I like to think it's my awesome personality ;). But it's really fun when they gather around and make fun of me and my lack of spanish... which they do often jaja! But I must say, I really enjoy this ward.
OH! One more thing, I gave my first blessing in spanish!!! Yesterday! Actually, yesterday was just a day of blessings. We gave a blessing of strength and comfort to Merysol, and to Miguel and Deborah. Elder McKinlay gave one of his converts the preisthood in church. And at the end of the night, we went to a woman named Carmen to give her a blessing of health for her back. So Elder McKinlay was basically handling all of the blessings, because he actually can, but when we got to Carmen, that changed. We were talking and he asked who she wanted to give the blessing, and she said Elder McKinlay, because he can speak spanish. So I was like, whooh, bullet dodged. Elder McKinlay had other plans. He tells her, 'no, Elder Schmid understands everything you're saying (wrong), he can speak really well too (also wrong)! He can give it (wrong wrong wrong)!'. So of course, she says, 'yeah!', and I end up having to give the blessing. It was really shaky, and honestly very bad, but hey! I gave a blessing! In spanish! That's pretty cool! And I was able to help give strength to someone who needed it! I am so grateful for the priesthood, and the spirit which can give this strength! I am so grateful to be able to be a tool in the Lord's hands for Him to bless His children!
So yeah, busy week, and I didn't really write everything, but oh well. Thank you again for your email! I love you all so much! I am grateful to be in Chile, and grateful to be a messenger of this gospel, this joy, and this spirit!
Les amo a todos!
Elder Schmid
No comments:
Post a Comment