This was one of the craziest weeks of my mission. Lots of ups and lots of downs. I guess thats how it usually goes, but the highs were really high and the lows were really low. Everything turned out perfect though and I think all of your prayers are helping me out a bunch.
(oh just a side note: i didnt write about conference talks last week because someone stole my lil black notebook that i have all of my notes in..... I hope that someone finds it and gets it to me, but im in MExico....the chances of that is pretty slim.... The SUnday afternoon session i got to watch in English so I got to see Elder Holland bear his testimony about the Book of Mormon..... I think that was my favorite one that i remember There were also a bunch of awesome ones on Saturday.... I even put stars next to the talks that i was going to write home about, but now i dont have my notebook)
So anyways, we had a really good first few days last week. Tuesday and Wednesday we found 11 new investigators to teach and usually we find that in 3 or 4 days. They are pretty sweet. We are contacting EVERYONE in the street and on buses and EVERYWHERE. This week we contacted more than 200 people just in the streets and counting big families as 1 person. CRAZY.... I know that the hard work pays off and God blesses us according to our efforts.
Then Thursday we went to visit the zone leaders area to help them out in the Tianguis. (I dont know how to explain what that is, but its like an outdoor market that they sell EVERYTHING there and it feels up a whole avenue) It was fun. We set up a table and handed out pamphlets and pictures of JEsus and we got a ton of appointments for our Zone Leaders out of it. It went really well. At first it didnt really go very well, but then we started yelling to get people to come talk to us. (The people that sell fruits always yell at the people to sell them there stuff and yell out the deals of the day) We were yelling ``Bring Jesus to your home for free`` ``Have a happier home and family`` etc. etc. That worked a lil better. We brought it up another level though when we started singing hymns while all the people were passing by. That had the most success and the zone leaders now have appointments with a bunch of families. We are going to try it in my area if we have time this week.
Friday and Saturday we visited a lot of the investigators that we have and just about everyone told us that they didnt want to listen to us. It was just a complete rejection. We went to like 7 houses in a row and all of the families either hid from us, werent there for the appointments, or just flat out told us that they werent interested in listening to us any more. Some of them said that they would show up by themselves to church...(a.k.a. IM NOT GOING) Even Pablo said that he feels good that we go visit him and that we are friends and everything, but that he is to busy to go to church and we dont think he will progress.
So we had previously decided to fast and pray from Saturday after the food appointment until Sunday so we did. Right after starting the fast a lot of the previous paragraph stuff happened. We were bummed. I got home Saturday night and we planned. My zone leader Elder Allen called me and asked how many people we were going to take to church and I didnt really know what to tell him. I told him that if everything goes perfect that we would have 3 or 4 in church. I finished talking to him and then my comp and I both went to our beds and prayed. I dont know how long i prayed for, but I know that I woke up like an hour and a half later on the ground and I had fallen asleep.
Sunday morning we went to pass for Bertha and Emilio. They are pretty cool. They were hardcore catholics, but they went to the general confernce and enjoyed it. They came with us to church. We got to sacrament meeting and like we thought NO OTHER INVESTIGATORS) I sat there listening to the talks and praying trying to figure out what we are doing wrong and how we could do better. A few minutes later shows up Alberto, Dora Luz, and Carlos. One of the families that we didnt believe when they said ``we will see ya there`` We were so pumped. I looked at my comp who was sitting by Emilio and Bertha and we just smiled. Like 5 minutes later Olga (Pablos wife) walks in with her sister Carolina and her 3 kids. Brayan Daniela and Julisa. My smile went from ear to ear i was so happy. Saturday they basically said that they couldnt go and they showed up. Afterwards talking to Olga she said that she was laying in bed last night at about 10:30 and felt the need that they should go. (That was the exact time that i was on my knees praying) On top of all that another guy named Ricardo showed up to church and said that he wants to get baptized. He said that he doesnt have much money, but that he wants to be a part of the church and learn about Jesus. I told him that money isn`t a requirement to join the church and we had a quick lesson with him. Sooooo..... lots of blessings. We ended up have 6 people in church for the first time and 10 investigators in total. It was definately a huge blessing. Oh, AND we found out that there was a lady and her son that was going to the other ward that lives in our ward and they arent members and they want us to go teach them. They also want to get baptized. Basically we have about 8 baptisms lined up for the next 2 weeks and everything got turned around so quick. We went from having nothing and almost no more investigators to feeling the song of redeeming love and having a lot of people interested in learning more and coming unto Christ.
I know without a doubt that my Father in Heaven answers my prayers and wants me to be happy. The mission is a funny experience because in one moment you are crying on your knees pleading for help with a blanket over your head feeling like you cant do anything and the next moment you feel like everything clicks you just want to keep giving your comp high fives until our hands hurt because of so much happiness. It brings a whole new meaning to the phrase ``an instrument in the Lords hands`` It reminds me of the scripture in Alma 26. Ammon is full of joy and happiness, but at the same time realizes his own weaknesses. I dont remember how it goes exactly in english, but in spanish i have it memorized so just read in Alma 26: 11 and 12. Ammon says how as to his own wisdom and own efforts he is nothing and he rejoices in his God. He knows that he is nothing, but with God he can to all thins and can do many miracles in the earth adn that he will praise his name forever. Something like that.
This weekend i have also gained a great testimony of the power of fasting. I have always fasted and had a testimony of it, but i have never received a testimony as i did Sunday. Sunday after our meeting with the ward leaders Elder Carrillo and I went to the back room and got on our knees to thank Our Heavenly Father for the many blessings that we received.
There is no doubt in my mind that this is the work of the Lord that we will be victorious against the work of the devil. I know that Jesus is the Christ. He paid for my sins and loves each and every one of us. I know that because of His sacrifice I will be able to be exalted and live with my family forever according to my obedience to the principles and ordinances of His gospel. The work is true. I know it. There are no doubts.
Well thats it for this week. I tried to write a little bit more for you all. I thank you all for your thoughts and prayers. Have a great week!
Con amor,
Elder Heap
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment