New Experiences

So, the other Stephanie, the one we've been teaching, should be called Carmen Sandeigo or Waldo or something.  We've met with her 5 times, and none of them have been in the same place.  1) the bus  2) the church  3) hospital/ER  4) the mentalpsychiatric hospital  5) a motel that she was staying at (that was paid for by abundant living [a different religion]).  We're not sure what to do with her, as she doesn't really have anywhere to go and she can't really charge her phone, we try to call her and set stuff up, but it doesn't really work very well.  That last lesson we had with her was not good, because of the abundant living and all that, it almost sounded like she didn't want to meet with us anymore, (which made us both want to cry right then and there)  but I guess the only thing we can do is to keep trying to call her and wait.

We've also been teaching a family that was taught by missionaries before, but they weren't keeping commitments so we started teaching them again!  The first lesson was no bueno, they were distracted, they were just cracking jokes the whole time, and they were in complete shock when we wanted to leave after 30 minutes of being there- we had shared the message already, taught, and left a commitment (they were used to other missionaries staying for an hour or more just talking and such like that).   The next lesson, we were on splits, so it was me and a member called Brother Root.  (He didn't say the words, "I am Root" but there's still hope.)  The family, the Calderone's, paid so much more attention!! They hadn't done their reading, so we did it with them-it was just Moroni 10:3-5 and we left them to read the introduction to the BOM.  The 3rd lesson, 2 days later, they had done the reading and had questions about it!  4th lesson- splits again, so I went with the ward mission leader, Brother Tecuapetla and his wife (they don't speak very good English, and their in an English ward because they want to learn English better/more [and the Calderone's speak Spanish too, so it was perfect!) and it was a very productive visit!!  So, Jimmy and Laura, the parents are married through common law- so they basically told people they were married and it was binding (and it's legal here in Texas so it is binding but not to the church so if they want to join, they'll have to actually get married) they drink coffee, and they want to be "800% sure" before committing to baptism.  The reason they were so attentive at the 2nd lesson was because Jimmy was jobless, and the next day after that 1st lesson, he had people coming to him offering him jobs!  He knows something is up with this religion (well yeah, IT'S THE TRUTH) so he wants to learn more, and he was the main hindrance from before, so now the kids and the wife are willing to listen too!

So from transfers, half of my zone is now training new missionaries- last transfer there were only two of us that were fresh outta the MTC, and now, without the two of us, there are 5.  Yeah, I'm still a greenie, but those 5 are grass greenies. 

Hey Sarah, how was talking to Sister Butler??  She told me that she called, that mom wasn't home, and that she talked to you instead! 

Zone training is this week, so I'll be getting your mail on Friday!

The posse that's living at home right now, I sent that letter/collection of letters last P-day, just so you know how long it takes to get from El Paso to Shelley!  (and yes, some of those letters were written while I was in the MTC, so.... yeah. I still don't know when I'll be sending that package, but when I do, I'll probably forget to tell ya, so it'll probably just show up.) XD

Keep the faith, be humble, and don't stop being yourself- no matter what people try to tell you! God doesn't need robots who just go through the motions- he needs children who serve Him with love! Think about that for a second-- with love. What is associated with love? The heart.  

Then why does Moroni say that we need to pray with a sincere heart??  (Moroni 10:4)

 Why does he spend so much time of his last days talking about love, about charity?

  

"You have a divine future and destiny ahead of you and you cannot avoid fulfilling it"

If it's important to you, you'll find a way, if it's not, you'll find an excuse.

Te whanaunga mo ake tonu!

(Great is my LOVE for you all!)

--

Elder Eli James Dial