Wednesday, June 18, 2014

June 17, 2014


Hey Family!!

This week was a pretty good week.  It was hard and long, but in the long run it was good.   We had Stake Conference this week, and it was clear over the mountain so it was a trek but good.  And I got to see Canutillo while driving there.  It was a good conference.  Hector and Denise didn't make it to church, but they are progressing.  Hopefully it happens in July, and I have faith it will.  It was hot but not as hot this week as last week.  The wind was blowing so it kept things down, but it was still hot.  We are just working away down here and trying to make it work.  Transfers are next week, so my P-day will be on Monday next week.  I think my companion might get the boot.  He has been in the area for 7 months, and he just thinks he is going to stay forever.  He really loves this area.  He gets a little mad when we go on exchanges and he is in another area.  I think it will be good for him if he leaves.  Whatever happens is what the Lord needs.  But this week was a pretty good week.

Hector and Denise are doing good.  I got kind of bummed out because Hector told us he was going out of town for a week for work so he might not make his baptism date.  I was bummed to because in P.M.G it tells you to baptize the family with the father unless the father gives permission.  We later found out that he could be coming for the weekend so we will be able to teach him then, and he would be able to come to church.  Denise and their son though will get baptized on July 5th.  She has told us she is going to do it.  They were all jazzed up this week because they wanted to come to Stake Conference.  We were looking super hard for a ride, and we finally found one for them with a less active but he flaked at the last second.  No other member was picking up their phone.  So we had to break the news to them, and they were sad but they promised to come this week.  They have to come these next 2 Sundays or the date drops.  I just hope they do it, and I know they can.  I love them to death. 

I had an epic duel with a lady on her porch this week.  We went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders this week, and Elder Jensen (who’s a stud) came to Chappy.   They are English Elders so I was manhandling the Spanish, and it was weird just to talk.  We met this guy, and his name was Ugo.   He was super interested, and we gave him a pamphlet.  He told us to come back the next day.  He pointed to the house he lives in, and I pooped my pants when he showed us.  It was the same house where we tried to contact a lady, and she yelled at us on her porch about Mormonism.  So we went the next day and knocked.  She opened it up and started just yelling and screaming about Mormonism and told us Ugo wasn't there.  She told us the church is false because the cover of the Book of Mormon says it’s another testament of Jesus Christ, and she said God has given us only one.  I was laughing inside because I didn't want to go into details about the whole bible with her.  But she wouldn't let us teach her son in law.  I kept on letting her know that we were going to come back when Ugo was there and that he could make the decision.  She would not stop yelling, so I just went at her and told her that she can't make those decisions for people.  I guess my companion told me to shut up in front of her, but I was just in the zone.  We just walked off the porch, and Ugo pulled up.  He didn't have the fire like he did the other night.  He told us that the bible doesn't talk about Joseph Smith so he can't believe it.  We asked him to pray, and he invited us back.  But when we go back we will have to face the angry beast.  It was nuts. 

Also on exchanges we met an inactive member.  Elder Jensen and I were walking along, and he said to me, "Would it be awkward to go talk to this lady behind her house?"  I thought about it and turned to him and said, "Let’s do it!"   She was watering something, and she saw us and got this big grin on her face.  We told her who we were, and she asked us to hold on a minute.  She finished watering and took us to the front of the trailer.  We started talking to her, and she told us she has been living here for 6 years and has never found a church.  She kept going and told us how she would see missionaries go by, and she would go out to talk to them but they would be gone.  She was happy to find out there was a church here, and she asked us to come back.  We went by yesterday but she wasn't there.  Hopefully we will catch her home this week.  Her husband and kids are all members.  It was a super cool experience. 

Everything else is going good out here.  We are plugging away with the less active members and trying to find Investigators.  Cesar Medina, a member, took us to his brother's house, and we have started to teach him.  Hopefully he will go somewhere.  His name is Mario.  The work is slow, but it is good.

It sounds like everything is in one piece at home, and that's good.  I miss it a lot, but I am happy where I'm at.  I hope everyone has a good week, and know that I love you tons!  You're always in my prayers out in the lone desert!  I miss you tons, and Go Giants!

Love,

-Elder Smith

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