This week was interesting. It was a bit patience-trying, to be honest, and yet it flew by insanely quickly. I think it´s because I am often at a bit of a loss of what to do, as far as planning goes -- our few firm investigators are so hard to get a hold of that they almost never answer the phone or respond to messages or receive us in their houses, and they have canceled whatever firm lessons we had scheduled. It is disappointing, but I am doing the best I can and seeking the Spirit´s guidance every day, and I know that I am still learning, so I feel okay.
We had an amazing first lesson with Melani, who we contacted in the street with her boyfriend. They were super nice people who stopped to listen and were very kind with my companion´s slow spanish. They both showed interest and accepted baptismal dates. This was about two weeks ago, but only in this last week were we finally able to have our first lesson with Melani. It went very well and the Spirit was very present. She told us that she struggles with depression and bipolar disorder and that she is also entangled in drugs right now, and that she wants to find the way out and wants to feel like God is actually helping her. We taught her the message of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and gave her the Book of Mormon. It was so wonderful to be able to teach according to her need and testify of God´s love and hand, and how we can receive His help through the Book of Mormon. We read from Alma 7 about Jesus Christ´s Atonement -- His part, and our part, or what we need to do to apply it. She committed to read and pray -- we left her with 2 Nephi 2 to read. She also said that she would love to be baptized and that she would love to receive answers from God. The frustrating part is that she canceled on us for our next lesson two days later, and we haven´t seen her since, despite calling, sending messages, and passing by her house. I pray for her every day, because I know that she has desires to change and improve her life, and I know that learning and living the restored gospel of Jesus Christ will enable her to do that. I ask that you pray for her also!
Our other firm investigator Iris and her niece Karen have also been nearly impossible to get a hold of, and although we fixed a lesson with her and a member yesterday, when we came by they were in a birthday party and told us to come back later. Ugh! Iris told us that her daughters talked her out of going to church last week, and she didn´t want contention so she didn´t go. But she still seems interested, and said that she read a few things in the Book of Mormon but didn´t remember anything, although she did like it and felt good about it. She´s such a funny old grandma -- I wish her large loud family were more open to being taught as well.
Once again, no one committed to go to church during the week. We also had a good first lesson with Louisa -- she was a contact from knocking doors. She actually keeps her commitments to have lessons! That lesson was . . . hard. My poor companion broke down into frustrated tears when I gave him room to speak because he didn´t know what to say nor how to say it. I felt so bad. Louisa was so kind and understanding. I didn´t really know what to do . . . but I finished teaching the lesson (which went poorly) and we set up a time to come back this week. I felt responsible at first for my companion´s suffering. Now, I think it´s not my fault. I wish I could be a better trainer and teach him better, but all I can do is continue to give my very best effort and constantly seek and follow the Holy Spirit. It did feel good to comfort him and teach him afterwards about how I have learned to be more patient and charitable with myself in the mission. He is a bit of a perfectionist as well. Pray for Elder Anderson!
We had a very interesting experience this week with recent convert Angela. She was baptized by Elder Oliver at the end of December. She is the most faithful person I know, I´m pretty sure. The way she 100% accepted and immediately lived the restored gospel is astounding. She is a single mom and grandma right now and has many health problems and basically no support from her family, but her faith in Jesus Christ is basically unshakable. When we were in a lesson, she sent a message canceling our appointment with her and saying that she wasn´t going to go to church anymore. This shocked me, coming from the woman who, despite her physical pains and difficulties, bikes to church by herself every sunday. It was alarming! Then she called a bit later to make sure we knew that she was still going to read her scriptures and everything, but that she wasn´t going to church and she didn´t want us to come over. I explained that we would still love to come over even if she didn´t go to church, and that our priority is to make sure that she is well, spiritually. She accepted. In her house that day, she ended up letting us know that she learned in church through a class that she, without previously realizing or understanding it, was breaking a commandment, and for that could not take the sacrament last week. She talked to the branch president and everything. She felt so horrible and remorseful for her sins -- she is really a converted person. She demands a lot of herself. We were able to read the scriptures together. I had recently studied 3 Nephi 18, and we studied the Savior´s own words about the sacrament and repentance. It was a very spiritual experience -- I felt like an instrument in God´s hands. She committed to keep going to church every week -- her repentance was strong and immediate, and will continue with time.
There´s a lot more I want to relate . . . . but I have already gone into depth on a few of the highlights of this week. Now I shall read your lovely letters! I have talked too much! That´s something I have to work on -- sometimes when people actually listen to us, I get overexcited and talk and teach too much. I just love teaching the gospel -- but then I get tangled in too many words and talking too much. This is a dispensation of preaching repentance, and not many words, as the Lord said in the Doctrine and Covenants. I am working to be more efficient with time and words, more simple, more clear, and more focused on the Spirit. I ask for your continued support in prayer.
I love you all so much and give you many thanks!!!
A large hug,
Elder Olivier
pictures: the house!
and . . . me, always ready to study! ;)
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