Hello,
This week, our strong point turned out to be reactivating our less actives! We pretty much have NO one that we're teaching because we've dropped pretty much everyone who's been listening, but not acting. We've had a lot of extra time for less actives! We didn't do anything really out of the ordinary for them, but we were super direct. My companion has a knack for that, haha. She's super bubbly and happy, but when the investigators/less actives aren't doing their part she tells them like it is. We've explained to them that we really want to keep visiting and teaching them, but if they don't do their part we can't continue. We really need to be searching for people who really want to follow Jesus Christ. We also explained that the commitments they're making aren't with us, but with God. If they don't go to church, or keep their commitments, it's really God they're letting down. So far it's worked really well.
The two investigator families we were hoping would come so we wouldn't have to drop, didn't show up, but LOTS of less actives came! The lady we found and invited to be baptized, but was already a member, came and brought her 5 grandchildren who live with her. They have been going to their old ward. They're thinking of transferring to Brisas, so we'll get more young single adults and YM/YW.
Hermano Seguro came (but not his wife). I was SUPER impressed with him because he's still recovering from an eye surgery, but he decided to do away with his excuses and come. His wife didn't come because they had family visiting, but I'm hoping she comes next week!
Also, Eva and her two daughters came (Cecilia and Alison)! Eva's mom is super active but the only active one of all of them and FINALLY her family is starting to turn around. Eva and her 2 daughters have all kinds of problems, but its honestly a miracle that they've decided to step up and start doing things right.
Also, Shirley is going strong, even though she's pretty alone with things. Her husband couldn't make it, but he wants to be baptized, he said. Leonardo (recent convert) came with her and received the Preisthood!!!
The 20 year old that we found 2 weeks ago is doing REALLY well. He has lots of time on his hands, so he's really enjoyed the family home evenings that we've invited him to on Monday nights. We've been teaching him almost everyday. His baptism is set for the 6th of December.
Lots of the missionaries in the zone have plans to baptize the 6th so we're going to do a "Noche Blanca" which is a "Night of White."
On Sunday I got myself into speaking, because we told the bishop we wanted to present our ward plan to the ward of how, as ward, we could find more people that are willing to listen. He gave me and Hermana Pitcher (one of the sisters in the other companionship in our ward) the job to speak in sacrament and the ward missionaries (bascially all new RMs in the ward) taught the members the 3rd hour about the importance of sharing with their friends, and did little practices. And then our ward missionary told everyone the plan we came up with.
We are basically dividing the ward into zones and have zone leaders and assignments of activities and family home evenings. I'm really hoping it all works! I feel like too often we have plans, but no one really carries it out. Hopefully this time is different!
Love, Hermana Harper
Monday, November 24, 2014
Monday, November 17, 2014
Brisas - Week 27
¡Hola!
This week turned out really great! I've been so thankful for my companion's new point of view here in Brisas. Since I got here, I've been training, so I've been desperate for someone with a new take on things. Even though my companion only has 3 months on her mission, we've been using a lot of things she learned in her other mission. We decided to drop some people who just aren't quite ready for the commitment. I've always had a hard time cutting people because you want to say you have faith they'll change one day- but sometimes what the spirit really wants you to do is have the faith to drop them and search for someone more prepared. So that's what we've done! We were blessed for it too because we found someone new who's really prepared, Jose!
We originally contacted his parents just outside their house one day. I really didn't think it would go anywhere, but we got there and he really wanted to talk to us. He told us he's been really sick and worries because he needs to take care of his parents because they're really sick too. He's 20, and says he feels like he has a lot ahead of him and worries that he might die soon. He has a LOT of faith though because he said he knew if he dies, it's because it's God's will. He had a lot of confidence with us right from the beginning and asked a lot of good questions. He told us he could tell something was different and really liked what he's has heard about our church. He's gone to the catholic church a lot, and doesn't like that they worship idols and don't really teach doctrine. He accepted a baptismal date the first visit and is going strong. He went to church this last Sunday (stake conference) with a member and really enjoyed it.
At stake conference, we also brought 2 sisters, Lupita and Samantha, and Lupita's little girl. They were references from Henry's family (investigators) and live right next door! We went by their house Sunday morning and we all took a taxi together to church. We haven't really taught them yet, but they have liked what they've heard so far. They live with their dad who's not home a lot, and say they have to ask him permission for everything, so hopefully their dad is okay with everything. Apparently he's been talking to missionaries over by where he works all day, so he's supportive. At stake conference, we got front row seats because we had investigators, so that was fun! There were a TON of people. More than they had at general conference they said. One of the seventies here in Mexico spoke and they had a choir of young men and women from one of the wards, so it was really nice.
Halfway through conference, the member who brought our other investigator, Jose, came all the way to where we were sitting and told us he needed us outside. Me and my companion were both like "what happened???" Apparently Jose wasn't feeling very good with his heart again, so we pulled two elders out to give him a blessing. He said that helped and afterwards talked to one of the members who's a doctor. She checked him over and prescribed him medicine. It was kinda funny because the timing couldn't be worse! When we were thinking of doctors to look at him, we first thought, "the Stake President!", but luckily this other member was there who's a doctor too, so she helped.
Something funny this week...in our search for new investigators, we found 2 sisters that live by our house that are active members, but go to another ward. They told us their grandma (that they live with) isn't a member, but listened to elders before and loved everything, just never got baptized. We made an appt with them, thinking "maybe now is the grandma's time, because obviously it wasn't before." We got there, and it was a tiny bit awkward at first because we were trying to get a feel for how much she remembered and what her attitude towards the church was. She says she loves everything and thinks it's true, but didn't remember a ton, so we reviewed. She agreed to everything about the restoration so in my head I was like "what kept her from getting baptized before??" Finally I just asked her if she'd like to be baptized in this church and she was like, "Alright, I got to tell you guys something..." So she talked to us about the elders that used to come and how much she adored the missionaries and her experiences with them and everything and how her husband didn't really like it but how she one day just decided to be baptized with the elders and just did it. All of us were just like "What??? You're already a member??" Even the granddaughter was super surprised. I guess after her baptism, her husband ripped up all the pictures and she hasn't gone to church since, so no one in her family really knew. She agreed to start coming again though. Haha, that lesson was super funny.
On another note, one thing that's kinda fun is that on the 3 of December, all the missionaries are allowed to go to the temple! But, on the condition that we memorize all 25 scripture mastery of the Book of Mormon! My companion and I are working on it, and so far we have like 8ish. I'm looking forward to that though :)
Annnnd, I guess that's all for this week.
Love, Hermana Harper
This week turned out really great! I've been so thankful for my companion's new point of view here in Brisas. Since I got here, I've been training, so I've been desperate for someone with a new take on things. Even though my companion only has 3 months on her mission, we've been using a lot of things she learned in her other mission. We decided to drop some people who just aren't quite ready for the commitment. I've always had a hard time cutting people because you want to say you have faith they'll change one day- but sometimes what the spirit really wants you to do is have the faith to drop them and search for someone more prepared. So that's what we've done! We were blessed for it too because we found someone new who's really prepared, Jose!
We originally contacted his parents just outside their house one day. I really didn't think it would go anywhere, but we got there and he really wanted to talk to us. He told us he's been really sick and worries because he needs to take care of his parents because they're really sick too. He's 20, and says he feels like he has a lot ahead of him and worries that he might die soon. He has a LOT of faith though because he said he knew if he dies, it's because it's God's will. He had a lot of confidence with us right from the beginning and asked a lot of good questions. He told us he could tell something was different and really liked what he's has heard about our church. He's gone to the catholic church a lot, and doesn't like that they worship idols and don't really teach doctrine. He accepted a baptismal date the first visit and is going strong. He went to church this last Sunday (stake conference) with a member and really enjoyed it.
At stake conference, we also brought 2 sisters, Lupita and Samantha, and Lupita's little girl. They were references from Henry's family (investigators) and live right next door! We went by their house Sunday morning and we all took a taxi together to church. We haven't really taught them yet, but they have liked what they've heard so far. They live with their dad who's not home a lot, and say they have to ask him permission for everything, so hopefully their dad is okay with everything. Apparently he's been talking to missionaries over by where he works all day, so he's supportive. At stake conference, we got front row seats because we had investigators, so that was fun! There were a TON of people. More than they had at general conference they said. One of the seventies here in Mexico spoke and they had a choir of young men and women from one of the wards, so it was really nice.
Halfway through conference, the member who brought our other investigator, Jose, came all the way to where we were sitting and told us he needed us outside. Me and my companion were both like "what happened???" Apparently Jose wasn't feeling very good with his heart again, so we pulled two elders out to give him a blessing. He said that helped and afterwards talked to one of the members who's a doctor. She checked him over and prescribed him medicine. It was kinda funny because the timing couldn't be worse! When we were thinking of doctors to look at him, we first thought, "the Stake President!", but luckily this other member was there who's a doctor too, so she helped.
Something funny this week...in our search for new investigators, we found 2 sisters that live by our house that are active members, but go to another ward. They told us their grandma (that they live with) isn't a member, but listened to elders before and loved everything, just never got baptized. We made an appt with them, thinking "maybe now is the grandma's time, because obviously it wasn't before." We got there, and it was a tiny bit awkward at first because we were trying to get a feel for how much she remembered and what her attitude towards the church was. She says she loves everything and thinks it's true, but didn't remember a ton, so we reviewed. She agreed to everything about the restoration so in my head I was like "what kept her from getting baptized before??" Finally I just asked her if she'd like to be baptized in this church and she was like, "Alright, I got to tell you guys something..." So she talked to us about the elders that used to come and how much she adored the missionaries and her experiences with them and everything and how her husband didn't really like it but how she one day just decided to be baptized with the elders and just did it. All of us were just like "What??? You're already a member??" Even the granddaughter was super surprised. I guess after her baptism, her husband ripped up all the pictures and she hasn't gone to church since, so no one in her family really knew. She agreed to start coming again though. Haha, that lesson was super funny.
On another note, one thing that's kinda fun is that on the 3 of December, all the missionaries are allowed to go to the temple! But, on the condition that we memorize all 25 scripture mastery of the Book of Mormon! My companion and I are working on it, and so far we have like 8ish. I'm looking forward to that though :)
Annnnd, I guess that's all for this week.
Love, Hermana Harper
Monday, November 10, 2014
Brisas - Week 26
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| Me and My Favorite 90 year old!!! |
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| At the Airport with my new companion and my Mission President and his Wife |
Spanish is pretty funny with the two of us. A lot of words she uses are different here. For example, lots of the fruits have different names for her, and other common words like bus and store are different. And, lots of common words here are bad words in Argentina! So it has been interesting!
This week we taught another family that I found with my other companion, like 2 or three weeks ago. It was a really good lesson, apart from the husband being a little drunk. Its funny because everyone is so different drunk. He kept telling us stuff about how he wanted to quit drinking completely, for his family, and he got pretty emotional about it. He also cried when he told us about his brother that passed away. We had him, his wife, and 5 little kids (3 years - 8 years old) all listening to us. We explained the Trinity, following Jesus Christ, and Baptism. None of them, except for one of the daughters, has ever been baptized. They all accepted the baptismal invitation, so that was neat! On Sunday we passed by to walk with them to church, but the dad had to leave for something and the mom couldn't leave with all the kids. All the kids were begging to go, and the mom promised that next Sunday they would do everything possible to go. I'm really hoping things work out with them, because they're a really sweet family.
Our other little family has their baptismal date for the 6 of December, the last day before transfers. They didn't come this Sunday either...I still don't know what happened with them. Ugh...life of being a missionary. It seems like 80% of the time things don't go as planned or hoped for!
One good things though is that Shirley, a less active, is getting activated again. Even though she doesn't have support from hardly anyone, she still managed to get her non-member husband to church with her and her little girl. They even talked to the bishop about getting help so she could get divorced, and marry the guy she's with now. She's so great because she REALLY wants to get married in the temple, just gets discouraged a lot. With time though I know things will work out.
Until next week, Hermana Harper
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| My last comp, Hermana Huff with her new companion |
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| Psole |
Monday, November 3, 2014
Brisas - Week 25
Hola,
Halloween is pretty boring in Mexico! The most Halloweeny people get here is decorating their houses all scary. No one trick-or-treats here. The other Hermanas did come visit us though and dressed up as Jehovah's Witnesses and "trick-or-treated" at out house! That was pretty funny! One thing that's traditional here for Dia De Los Muertos is a special food called Pib. Its actually not super good, but its OK. Its like a pie made out of thick tamale dough with chicken and stuff inside. It’s a tradition that started with the Mayans, and people still do it today. So far I've eaten that 3imes!
Something very exciting that happened this week, two investigators that we've been teaching for awhile finally came to church!!! Henry and Susi! They are the family that Hermana Huff and I found and I'm super excited. Now that they are coming to church, we´ll FINALLY be able to baptize them!
Love,
Hermana Harper
Halloween is pretty boring in Mexico! The most Halloweeny people get here is decorating their houses all scary. No one trick-or-treats here. The other Hermanas did come visit us though and dressed up as Jehovah's Witnesses and "trick-or-treated" at out house! That was pretty funny! One thing that's traditional here for Dia De Los Muertos is a special food called Pib. Its actually not super good, but its OK. Its like a pie made out of thick tamale dough with chicken and stuff inside. It’s a tradition that started with the Mayans, and people still do it today. So far I've eaten that 3imes!
Something very exciting that happened this week, two investigators that we've been teaching for awhile finally came to church!!! Henry and Susi! They are the family that Hermana Huff and I found and I'm super excited. Now that they are coming to church, we´ll FINALLY be able to baptize them!
Love,
Hermana Harper
Monday, October 27, 2014
Brisas - Week 24
We had transfers! This transfer, I stayed in Brisas and I got a new companion! Her name is Hermana Rojas and she is from Peru! I can already tell that we'll get along super great! :)
Last night it was a little frustrating because Hermana Huff and I stayed up until midnight, waiting to be told about transfers, so we could hurry and pack, but we waited that long just to be told that they were going to notify us in the morning. That's probably my biggest pet peeve about the mission- notifying us always super late at night. Hopefully its not like that in all missions!
In the morning we packed and cleaned and left for the stake center around 10:30am. Its fun seeing everyone together switching companions, but sad too. I saw my old companion, Hermana Tozcano, and found out she's going home! She has the same amount of time in the mission as I do, so it’s pretty sad she has to go home so early. Right after her and I ended our transfer together, like that next night I think the part of the wall where her hammock was hanging fell and she hurt her back really bad. Ever since then she's had problems and finally now is going home because of it. Super sad!
It was also really sad to say bye to Hermana Huff, because she was really a fun companion. I felt like I could do anything with her and we always had fun. I'm excited to see how her new adventure goes because her companion is Latina. She actually got here when I did, so I know her pretty good. I think Hermana Huff is pretty excited about her new adventure too, obviously super sad also, but she is ready for it!
I feel like I'm learning a ton right now. It’s crazy because I really feel like I'm in this area for a reason. For forever, I think I've lacked a lot of faith in God's timing and if things are all really for a reason, but last night some things changed. There's been a lot of little things I've struggled with being here, that I just thought were normal. I was talking to this less active member and he told me a few things that I really needed to hear. It's almost scary, but he has a huge gift for figuring people out. He told me all this stuff about me, that I was super surprised he picked up on. I realized that I need to talk more when I'm struggling with things, because everything shows. If you're not ok, it affects everything. It’s such a weird growing experience here because of the rules and expectations... You barely have time to think about yourself it feels like, but you have to sometimes! I really feel like so many things and relationships have happened here for me, and for a reason, and I'm really lucky. Its incredible to know that we really do have a father in heaven who cares for us and puts things and people into our lives for a purpose. You have to trust him though and choose to make something of your circumstances. Not just suffer through life with a little faith that you're meant for something more. I can tell I still have a long way to go, but I guess that's why God leaves us here for so long, haha.
I love you all and appreciate your support and prayers,
Hermana Harper
Last night it was a little frustrating because Hermana Huff and I stayed up until midnight, waiting to be told about transfers, so we could hurry and pack, but we waited that long just to be told that they were going to notify us in the morning. That's probably my biggest pet peeve about the mission- notifying us always super late at night. Hopefully its not like that in all missions!
In the morning we packed and cleaned and left for the stake center around 10:30am. Its fun seeing everyone together switching companions, but sad too. I saw my old companion, Hermana Tozcano, and found out she's going home! She has the same amount of time in the mission as I do, so it’s pretty sad she has to go home so early. Right after her and I ended our transfer together, like that next night I think the part of the wall where her hammock was hanging fell and she hurt her back really bad. Ever since then she's had problems and finally now is going home because of it. Super sad!
It was also really sad to say bye to Hermana Huff, because she was really a fun companion. I felt like I could do anything with her and we always had fun. I'm excited to see how her new adventure goes because her companion is Latina. She actually got here when I did, so I know her pretty good. I think Hermana Huff is pretty excited about her new adventure too, obviously super sad also, but she is ready for it!
I feel like I'm learning a ton right now. It’s crazy because I really feel like I'm in this area for a reason. For forever, I think I've lacked a lot of faith in God's timing and if things are all really for a reason, but last night some things changed. There's been a lot of little things I've struggled with being here, that I just thought were normal. I was talking to this less active member and he told me a few things that I really needed to hear. It's almost scary, but he has a huge gift for figuring people out. He told me all this stuff about me, that I was super surprised he picked up on. I realized that I need to talk more when I'm struggling with things, because everything shows. If you're not ok, it affects everything. It’s such a weird growing experience here because of the rules and expectations... You barely have time to think about yourself it feels like, but you have to sometimes! I really feel like so many things and relationships have happened here for me, and for a reason, and I'm really lucky. Its incredible to know that we really do have a father in heaven who cares for us and puts things and people into our lives for a purpose. You have to trust him though and choose to make something of your circumstances. Not just suffer through life with a little faith that you're meant for something more. I can tell I still have a long way to go, but I guess that's why God leaves us here for so long, haha.
I love you all and appreciate your support and prayers,
Hermana Harper
Monday, October 20, 2014
Brisas - Week 23
Wow! This is already our last week of the transfer! And TODAY I completed 11 months! Next week I'll most likely be writing in a new area with a new companion. That's just my guess though, I very well could stay a little longer. The anticipation of leaving is already making me sad. It is good though, because after a while you start to be more friends with everyone than missionaries, and that's not good.
This week made me think of, what's become one of my favorite scriptures, Alma 27:26, because we had our first baptism here in Brisas!
"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."
It was definitely a fight, but we got Leonardo baptized! Its crazy the obstacles that come up right before a baptism. Thursday night we had a correlation meeting with Roberto (ward mission leader), and other ward members and Roberto told us that on the group message board for the ward, someone had posted that Leonardo had an accident. I guess there was a bus of people that got hit by a train because the bus driver was being dumb and trying to beat the train. Leo was on that bus, but we were able to get a hold of his dad and found out Leo was fine. He was on pain medicine, but was alright. It made me remember in my last area when Jesus was about to be baptized, and a few days before he got this super awful bug bite on his back that was HUGE and infected and he couldn't submerge it in water. In the end, God always wins though and we always have our baptisms!
Saturday we had the baptism and we went during the morning to check on them, because ALL our appointments fell through! We got there and the sister-in-law was doing the mom's nails and Hermana Paula (member that lives with them) was out buying clothes for Leo. It made me so happy that they were all excited about it because they all haven't been to church in like 10 years! When they all got to the baptism that night they were all super dressed up and it was fun. It was a little sad because we had only two other members there (who showed up as it was ending) besides the Ward Mission Leader, Bishop, Young Mens Pres, and the other Missionaries. We did have an investigator there, Conchi, who showed up all by herself though! That was pretty neat. The service was pretty short, but good. What made it good was that all of Leo's family was there. Haha my companion had to give a little talk and found out on the spot, so I think that freaked her out a little, but she did good!
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Leo's Baptism |
Ohhh...and something cool...we have 2 new potential investigators that came out of Leo's baptism. Leo´s biological dad (Freddy) and his sister-in-law (Rubi) want to take the lessons. Nothing ever happened with either of them before because Russel, Rubi's husband, told us she didn't want anything to do with it, and Freddy seemed a little special. It was funny because the night before the baptism Freddy approached us and asked if he could get baptized with his son the next day. We explained that it’s a process, so he said we could come by Tuesday to teach him. He can't read or write though, so we'll have to figure something creative out for him! With Rubi, she just told us she was really curious with everything especially because her husband and in-laws are all technically members. I'm excited for all that because I really love their family!
Also, we had one funny experience this week that I wanted to share! Its just funny because sometimes our life feels like such a joke. We were in a taxi on the way to the stake center and were talking to the driver about Mormons, like always. Right about the end of the ride, I got a phone call, so I answered and it was this guy we had gone to months ago, but we dropped him because he drank too much and kept blowing us off. His name is Roni, and first thing, he asks why we hadn't visited him in so long, and before I could really answer, I think he heard the taxi driver say something, so he started asking me if our boyfriends were ok with us talking to him. Haha! I was just like, "we're MISSIONARIES, we don't have boyfriends!" And the taxi driver started laughing so hard. Haha that's why I feel like sometimes were a joke, luckily not to everyone though!
On thing I want to end with is a question that an investigator (Jessica) asked us. We were answering her questions about the plan of Salvation and she was trying to make sense of everything and asked, "well, why didn't God just send us all at once to be tested!" I had never thought of that actually, so I had to think for a second, but then it hit me, its because families really are just THAT important. We always say that to everyone, but it really is true that we needed families to make God's plan work the best it could. A lot of times we forget that too, but our families really are huge blessings.
Well, that's all for this week!
Love, Hermana Harper
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| Conchi (Investigator) and a Member |
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| The Spanish Hermanas LOVE Post it Notes!!! Thanks Mom for sending them!!! |
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Party before District Meeting!
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| P-Day! |
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| Crazy Kitty!!! |
Monday, October 13, 2014
Brisas - Week 22
Buenas Tardes!
Well, this week wasn't too bad! Lots of little things happened that I wanted to mention.
The first thing is...we have a BAPTISM on Saturday! I can hardly believe it! Its been a fight for months, literally, but finally the moment has come. I think I've mentioned him before, but his name is Leonardo and his family is all less active. Hermana Pinguelo and I had started teaching him right when we first got here and his family wasn't really ever supportive (well, they say they want to be but they don't actually do anything). However, a super faithful couple in the ward moved in with them because they're selling their house. They've been a huge help. Last week when we visited him, we confirmed about the date he had agreed to and he said he was ready. So, we stuck a sticky note with his name and baptismal date on the fridge so everyone would be sure to remember. The next time we visited him, right as we were about to leave, the mom walked in and was like, "I have a question for you two. Who gave Leo that baptismal date?" She seemed annoyed, so neither Hermana Huff or I said anything back right away, but I was glad we didn't because Leonardo stepped up and said, "ME!" I was super proud because I think a lot of Leonardo's family thinks we've been pressuring him into it, but we really haven't. I'm really excited though because even though it's not the ideal baptism I was hoping for, with Leo's family all getting reactivated too, it’s a step in the right direction for his family.
Other things this week:
We have an investigator named Gabriel who thinks us and him are literally BFFs. We run into him on the street a lot, but still haven't taught him because he's in the process of moving. He's given us nicknames since we're so tight with him and in his phone I'm "Beauty Harper." The best though is Hermana Huff's. Hahaha, he calls her "Doofy." We met with him a couple of days ago in our area and he brought a friend and introduced Hermana Huff to him as his friend he likes to call Doofy. Haha. This same guy also called me Elder Harper once. Super funny guy.
Another thing this week is that I dumped out a drunk man's bottle of beer. He is a less active that we taught at the start of the week and he told us he was ready to change his life around. I was so convinced by his desire to change that I asked if he wanted to meet with the Bishop, and he told me yes, so I scheduled an appointment with him right then and there. We felt so accomplished walking out of that lesson, but unfortunately two days later we found him riding his bike with his huge bottle of beer almost completely empty. When we him, we are like "what are you doing???" I asked him if I could dump out his beer for him, and he handed it to me, so I did. Afterwards though, he was completely astonished and kept saying "You just dumped out my beer. No one has ever done that before." He said it so much, that I got a little nervous that he was actually super mad and wanted to smack me or something. I was like, remember you told me I could! And then I gave him a lecture on needing to be an example for his daughters and that he wouldn't find lasting happiness in getting drunk all the time. Haha. When I was talking to him I felt like I was getting mad at Devin or Jace for a min. The big sister came out!!!
We visited our little golden family and just the mom and daughters were there. The mom has been super shy with praying in front of us for a long time, but she agreed to pray for the closing prayer. That was a super cool thing because its taken her weeks. They still aren't coming to church because little things that keep coming up every week, but this week we're really counting on it! Plus, our normal chapel is fiiiinally ready. No more hassles trying to get all our investigators to the other side of Merida it feels like (haha it’s really not that far).
This week we also had interviews with the Mission President. They're always not a big deal though. Basically I get in there and he tells me what a good missionary I am and to eat more because I look too skinny. And that's about it. I wanted his help about what to do with some difficult investigators we have, so we role played and I acted as the investigator, but I didn't learn much that I don't already do. I think its just the people honestly. Some are ready and want it, some are just too content and don't feel the need to change anything.
I guess that's a pretty decent summary of this week. I thought I broke my toe a couple days ago, but I'm pretty sure I'm fine. Haha. I pretty much fell out of my hammock...I was getting out and I hit my toe, oddly enough. It was super purple and couldn't walk that good for like a day, but now it doesn't hurt. This is only like my second time having something like that happen, so not too bad for 10 months I'd say!
¡Pues...amo a todos ustedes! Espero que estén bien! By!
Hermana Harper
Well, this week wasn't too bad! Lots of little things happened that I wanted to mention.
The first thing is...we have a BAPTISM on Saturday! I can hardly believe it! Its been a fight for months, literally, but finally the moment has come. I think I've mentioned him before, but his name is Leonardo and his family is all less active. Hermana Pinguelo and I had started teaching him right when we first got here and his family wasn't really ever supportive (well, they say they want to be but they don't actually do anything). However, a super faithful couple in the ward moved in with them because they're selling their house. They've been a huge help. Last week when we visited him, we confirmed about the date he had agreed to and he said he was ready. So, we stuck a sticky note with his name and baptismal date on the fridge so everyone would be sure to remember. The next time we visited him, right as we were about to leave, the mom walked in and was like, "I have a question for you two. Who gave Leo that baptismal date?" She seemed annoyed, so neither Hermana Huff or I said anything back right away, but I was glad we didn't because Leonardo stepped up and said, "ME!" I was super proud because I think a lot of Leonardo's family thinks we've been pressuring him into it, but we really haven't. I'm really excited though because even though it's not the ideal baptism I was hoping for, with Leo's family all getting reactivated too, it’s a step in the right direction for his family.
Other things this week:
We have an investigator named Gabriel who thinks us and him are literally BFFs. We run into him on the street a lot, but still haven't taught him because he's in the process of moving. He's given us nicknames since we're so tight with him and in his phone I'm "Beauty Harper." The best though is Hermana Huff's. Hahaha, he calls her "Doofy." We met with him a couple of days ago in our area and he brought a friend and introduced Hermana Huff to him as his friend he likes to call Doofy. Haha. This same guy also called me Elder Harper once. Super funny guy.
Another thing this week is that I dumped out a drunk man's bottle of beer. He is a less active that we taught at the start of the week and he told us he was ready to change his life around. I was so convinced by his desire to change that I asked if he wanted to meet with the Bishop, and he told me yes, so I scheduled an appointment with him right then and there. We felt so accomplished walking out of that lesson, but unfortunately two days later we found him riding his bike with his huge bottle of beer almost completely empty. When we him, we are like "what are you doing???" I asked him if I could dump out his beer for him, and he handed it to me, so I did. Afterwards though, he was completely astonished and kept saying "You just dumped out my beer. No one has ever done that before." He said it so much, that I got a little nervous that he was actually super mad and wanted to smack me or something. I was like, remember you told me I could! And then I gave him a lecture on needing to be an example for his daughters and that he wouldn't find lasting happiness in getting drunk all the time. Haha. When I was talking to him I felt like I was getting mad at Devin or Jace for a min. The big sister came out!!!
We visited our little golden family and just the mom and daughters were there. The mom has been super shy with praying in front of us for a long time, but she agreed to pray for the closing prayer. That was a super cool thing because its taken her weeks. They still aren't coming to church because little things that keep coming up every week, but this week we're really counting on it! Plus, our normal chapel is fiiiinally ready. No more hassles trying to get all our investigators to the other side of Merida it feels like (haha it’s really not that far).
This week we also had interviews with the Mission President. They're always not a big deal though. Basically I get in there and he tells me what a good missionary I am and to eat more because I look too skinny. And that's about it. I wanted his help about what to do with some difficult investigators we have, so we role played and I acted as the investigator, but I didn't learn much that I don't already do. I think its just the people honestly. Some are ready and want it, some are just too content and don't feel the need to change anything.
I guess that's a pretty decent summary of this week. I thought I broke my toe a couple days ago, but I'm pretty sure I'm fine. Haha. I pretty much fell out of my hammock...I was getting out and I hit my toe, oddly enough. It was super purple and couldn't walk that good for like a day, but now it doesn't hurt. This is only like my second time having something like that happen, so not too bad for 10 months I'd say!
¡Pues...amo a todos ustedes! Espero que estén bien! By!
Hermana Harper
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