Aug 29, 2009

Well Shoot!

Another week gone by, and so much to say, I really don't know how to say it all.This world is incredibly small. We had lunch with a member this week, and she kept looking at Elder Thorne´s plaque. She then told us that she had a companion when she served her mission with the same last name. After talking for some time, we realized the connection between all three of us. She was companions with a relative of Elder Thorne, but her companion is the Daughter of our old Neighbor Lucy Thorne. Way CRAZY. This world is so tiny... Next, we had to go out to Punta Alta this week(it is like the distance of South Jordan to Salt Lake) to go and do some baptismal interviews-which by the way, were amazing people, so ready for baptism-WAY AWESOME. Well, as the night was ending, we made a little stop past some people that I knew then. YEAH! Eli and Toni, the first people that I was able to help get baptized. She is pregnant 7-7.5 months(hint to Amy), which was like the time that I left from there. It was so happy to get to see them again, just to chat with them, and everything that is going on. As for being blind in our area, we are already seeing some fruits of our labors. We have been working hard, and now we have a variety of different investigators that we are working with. We have been working with Haydee still, and now her son Juan has some serious interest in what it is. He said he walks by the church at least once a week, and just has serious desires to enter, and he doesn't know why. (Every missionary´s dream comment, no?) Then we are also working with a guy named Patricio. He has been to church a few times by the invite of his cousins, and he likes it a lot. Then we found out that his mother and brother are both members, but have not been to church for quite some time, he had never even really gotten to know the church. He loves the fact that we don't JUST go to church and talk about how amazing Jesus Christ is-but that we try to do things that he would do....that is to say. SERVICE during the week. He loves it. We are working with a Bolvian woman who has eight children-she believes in our message, but has openly admitted that she is afraid of change. We also met a man this week, José Louis, who has been all around the world, knows 4 different languages-incredibly intelligent, and he really wants to know why bad things happen to good people. We also are teaching now, a woman who once met the missionaries but her husband became furious when he found out she talked with the Mormons. He passed away almost a year ago, and she has been looking for comfort ever since. We also have been able to find some youth who have interest because of some of their friends who are members. Martin, Laura, and Mari are their names. And we were able to teach them a little bit in the street one evening, and now they have said that they really want to go to church and see how it is. Also, we are working with this family(which when i say family, I mean four different families). All of their last names are Martinez. They are all siblings, and they are less active. We are trying to get them all excited about going to church. But we are trying a different method than just tell them to go-we are starting to bring them with us to lessons. To make them be friends with investigators-so that they will have a responsibility with the investigators. I learned about this a little bit, when I worked with the Gutierrez family in Millamapu. When you show the members how much they are really needed, and how much their influence means-they come to understand the importance of going to church, without even needing to tell them. Although I know I will be leaving this area, I know there is a reason I was put here even for a short time. I am not sure why-but I know that if I give everything I have to this work, and I trust in the Lord-the best things really will come. Of course, I am a missionary, and I want to see people accepting baptism. But I know that sometimes, we are put in places to plant seeds. If that is what the Lord needs of me in this time, then let me plant an orchard. I pray every night, asking for my fathers help that I may be an instrument in His hands. And of course, I have weaknesses, and I fall short. But I know He knows I am trying. I want to thank you all so very much for your support, and for your emails, letters, packages, love, and prayers. They ARE recognized and appreciated. Thank you so much for all that you are doing. With Love,Elder Andy
¨Lo haré siempre, y cada vez mejor!¨