Monday, January 12, 2015

1/5/15 & 1/12/15 Guatemala Is GREAT!


01/05/15
hahaha that is pretty funny that Hermana mentioned me.  Well this past week went by real fast, and we were able to enjoy the time here in the area.  I think the best thing that makes the area enjoyable are the members.  The members here are super fun and very kind to the missionaries.  

On the 31st, I taught district meeting and the rest of the day was spent visiting members and investigators sharing messages of New Years and putting goals.  Most of our appointments fell through because everyone leaves to go to travel to the beach for the day and do stuff with family in other parts of the country, but it was all fun.

In the night we went and had a BBQ with the prior bishop of the ward here.  I love that family.  We both put half-half of the food, and we just spent time with them.  They are struggling a little on the financial side and a few days ago the wife, Hermana mentioned that they did not know what they were going to do for new years with the family.  So we went and shared food with them.  After we got there, more members came to the house at 9pm.

Then we went home and had a bonfire on the roof of the house with the other elders in my district who live next to us.  We had smores and just watched the fireworks and people milling about in the street on the rooftop.  Then we went to sleep.

The rest of the week was good and normal.  People are a little more receptive because they want to make a good start to the New Year. 

I’m loving it here.   This Sunday, I will have a chance to go back to La Leyenda and baptize C.  I am looking forward to that and I am really excited.

In this area, I feel like we are here to help reactivate a lot.  Recently that is where we have been having success.  Yesterday, we helped a woman that was baptized 2 months ago.

Well that is all for now, I love you.  Have a good week, and take care!

01/12/15
Hey!  This past week was super, super great.  I was able to go back to La Leyenda, my last area and baptize C. O. the father of familia O.  It was great!  


Our church services here finished at 1pm and so we were scrambling to leave and catch 2 buses to get to La Leyenda.  I got off the bus and as we walked into the chapel I was greeted by a whole bunch of people.  I was so surprised to see all the people there.   Somehow all of them including all of my converts found out that I would be there.  So this room was packed with families and people from the ward waiting for the baptism.


It was a great service and the baptism went by really well.  One thing though was that there was almost no water in the font.  Only enough water to come up to my shin, or almost to my knee.  We tried doing it standing 2 times but there was not just enough water so finally I told him "kneel down" and so we both knelled down in the water and finally I was able to submerge him completely.  I cannot explain how much joy I felt.  My joy was full!  I feel so satisfied. 


This man was one of the hardest investigator and may I throw in there the least likely candidate for baptism.  He was drinking, and smoking the whole time we were teaching him and his family, but he was always was attentive and listened to what we had to say.  We won his confidence little by little helping him with English as he knows and understands a lot of it.  And as we were changing he told me that after I left, he said that he just sat down and thought about what we told him, and then realized that he needed to get things right with God.  That he is too old to be fooling around with his health, physically and spiritually.  I am happy and I felt good. 

Another thing that really touched me was that the people that participated in the baptismal program were Jason, my convert and others that we worked with.  Hearing their testimonies and how they turned around their lives just testifies to me that the Lord knows, and prepares people in small and diverse ways.  It is our job as sons and daughters of God to help others along the way.  

One of the biggest regrets that a missionary can have is looking back and saying "I could have saved him..." and that is one of my biggest nightmares.  Not working and saving the souls that God has prepared.  I am really trying my best and working really hard here.  I am happy at how things are turning out.

Time just keeps passing and I know I will have to start life and school in about 8 months or so, but right now none of that matters.  I testify and know that I am engaged in the Lord’s work for now and I am in the Lords Errand.

I Love you guys and have a great week!

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