Dear
Family,
This
week didn’t have anything too wild happen, just a lot of rain. Last
night, when we went to visit a family, we were completely soaked. Sister
Castro, whose son is serving in Peru, treats us like royalty, because she
figures that her son will be blessed if she helps us. She insisted that
we go to the bathroom and change our pants, and put on her husband’s sweat
pants. During the visit, our pants were in the dryer, along with our
coats, socks, and our shoes were drying by the fireplace. She handed us
blankets and insisted that we warm up. She gave us a couple of completos, hot
chocolate, and then we got to the good part. We shared a Mormon message
called “Because of Him”, it is a short 3 min clip from the church. Then
we talked about the video with her and her husband, about the blessings they’ve
seen as members of the gospel. They are both amazing people (he converted
at 17 years and then went on a mission). Then after the message and
reading a few verses, we did something we have never done before, but will probably
do quite often from now on. We had them post the video on their Facebook
account. She wrote a simple thing something like “the missionaries shared
this video with me and I really liked it”.
We helped them understand the importance of not just living the gospel,
but also of sharing it. We hope to be able to do this same activity with
many other members, and then visit the homes of the people who comment on
seeing the video.
We
have a lot of new ideas of how to help members share the gospel and ask
references, but I would really like it if you all could share ideas, of things
you did or are doing on your missions, or things the Minnesota missionaries
did.
About
a week and half or so ago, Elder Bence had to go to the doctor for something
about his hip because he fell down the stairs pretty bad about 4 months ago.
The doctor we went to is a member of the ward here, and had been passing
through some hard times, and had distanced himself from the church. The
last several weeks were especially trying for him, with a relative of his being
killed in a rafting accident during vacations in Peru. We went to his
office in the morning, and thought nothing of it. We had no idea of what he was going through
or why he had distanced himself from the church. We didn’t share any
gospel message with the doctor. This last Sunday, the lost sheep came to
church, stayed for all the classes, and also participated in the classes.
My question is, why did he come to church? In the Elders Quorum
meeting he shared why he came back. The simple fact that we passed into
his office, to him was an answer from God, an answer to his difficulties, and
an answer to the prayers of many. He stated in the class, which was about
gratitude, that us passing by made him remember the more important things in
life. The mission nurse sent us, and one other companionship of
missionaries to that doctor`s office, and I can now see why. God really
does know everything, he is all powerful, and works his great and mighty works,
through weak and simple men and women. By small and simple means, many
lost sheep are brought to remember their Shepherd, and come back to the fold,
one at a time.
I
love you all so very much, more than the number of crickets in all the bait
stores in all the world.
Elder
Withers
Dear
Family
It
is sooooo good to hear from you! It’s Christmas every Monday for
me to read your letters. And you have no
idea what happened today. We went to the place where we always go to
write, and it was packed with kids wasting their lives on video games.
Bueno, so we went to the chapel as our back up plan. And........the
internet was so impossibly slow we couldn’t open a page, so we bagged it and
asked for permission to use the computer of the member who lives next to us and its
8:30, half an hour before the day ended...so that is what we are doing. I
really don’t have much time to write this week, but I just want to tell you that
I love all of you and that I love my area.
This
week we were able to have a lesson with the boyfriend a member we have here in the
branch, and he is awesome. He accepted a
baptismal date, the 23rd of August. We are excited and are praying
that he makes the goal. We have been working continually with the members
and less actives as well (and thank you Chad, your Mormon message ideas are
awesome...I have started using them here and everyone loves them, and they
bring such an incredible spirit.)
Today
we had a special P-Day, which was so fun. We played ultimate Frisbee, ate
hot dogs, and watched Rio 2 and really just relaxed. Everything went well
today until we couldn’t figure out a way to write home! Argh.
I
am glad all is well… Thanks for all of your messages of support and all you do
for me! I love you lots. I really have
run out of time, I will write much more next week.
I
love you more than all the layers of clothes I have been using this week
because it is so cold!
Hermana
Withers
No comments:
Post a Comment