4/18/22
Last Monday we got together as a district at Elder and Sister Reynolds house. I thought it was just a party for Hna. Williamson’s and Elder Forsberg’s birthday, but I was included. I didn’t tell them, but Elder Kay did. We ate pizza and then three cookie cakes (they were actually brownies), and sang. Then we all played both of Hna. Williamson’s ukeleles. Later that night, we went and visited Jose Ramos. He wasn’t home so we just left the cookies. We had dinner with the Ayalas and the elders. She fed us flautas or also known as taquitos. They were super good. After that, we went to go have a lesson with someone but they weren’t home. So we taught some other people that lived there. Then we had great lessons over the phone with Angel and Sergio.
On Tuesday we had DCM. For lunch I had Wendy’s. I have so many gift cards to use up. Afterwards, we had a lesson with Charles. He is super sweet. He just has a hard time remembering, but little by little he is. We drove over to knock on a door and the guy wasn’t there. We saw this lady walking with her kids outside so we went and talked to her. Her name is Janelle. She invited us into her house and loved what we shared with her. We were about to leave but we knocked another door and met Jose. He is awesome! He started asking us about baptism and he wants to be baptized in May. He is this cute 74 year old man. We knocked on some more doors in Ridgeland and then drove to the Island. We had an interesting lesson with Tami. Lots of things were going on and she wasn't super focused. For dinner we went to the Lynch’s house. We ate breakfast again but this time waffles!! It was super good, and I ate way to much. Then we taught english class. After that, we went over to see Belkis and her family with the elders. We did a pass off lesson. Hopefully they will start to progress and come to church next week. We drove to some lessons and they weren't there. So we stopped by these members that lived close by. They are awesome. We had never met them before, but they let us straight in. After that, we had a lesson with Roberth and Bro. Lynch. The spirit was so strong and Bro. Lynch and Roberth just hit it off great. Bro. Lynch is a DJ and is super strong in the gospel. Roberth wants to be like that too.. We talked about the spirit world, resurrection, judgement, and the three kingdoms. Roberth was super surprised about the 3 kingdoms. He wants to go to the Celestial kingdom and knows to do that he has to do the 5 things (doctrine of Christ). He has to ba baptized!! Bro. Lynch shared a really strong testimony about change and prayer. It was an amazing lesson.
On Wednesday, we had a lesson with Amy. Her mom may have Alzheimers, but she still has her personality and sass. Sje is hilarious. Amy wants us to come back and keep sharing messages with her! She is going to make a yummy lunch for us next week. We stopped by a tienda, talked to some people, and handed out English class cards. Sometime during the day whole we were doing Hna. Williamson said, "Hay gallinas pecando." I thought what the heck until I saw two white chickens or roosters on the side of the road. So I said, "Hay gallinas peleando." She goes, "Oh that's what I meant." Doesn't seem super funny, but I couldn't stop laughing. For dinner, we went and ate with the Turney's. Brother Turney actually served his mission in Utah and one of his areas was Hooper! He doesn't remember reallt anyone and some of them probably passed away. We ate Lasagna soup with them. Never had that before, but I want the recipe. It was delicious! We sang them a song with Hna. Williamson’s ukelele and showed them a video about Christ.
Thursday around lunch time we went to Nicol’s house to help her out and have a lesson. She fed us lentils and this pasta salad for lunch. We answered some of her questions about the law of chastity and talked about temples. She was really intrigued and wants to learn more. After that, we drove up to Ridgeland and had a lesson with Guadalupe. She is super sweet. We taught them about prophets and she said a beautiful closing prayer after we taught her how to pray. Then we had a lesson with Jose. We talked about purpose of the doctrine of Christ. Afterwards, we had a lesson with Janelle and all the kids there. We taught the Apostasy with cupstoration and they loved it. We had dinner in our apartment and just relaxed for a minute. The rest of our lessons canceled for the day and then we taught English class. Elder Forsberg’s birthday was the next day, so we had a little party after. Lots of cake, and candy! I have figured out that I now like Mexican candy. At first I didn't because it is spicy, but now I love it.
Friday after lunch and some weekly planning we went over to Nicol’s house again. It was funny because she told this whole story about her new nail kit that went on and on. We taught her about the Word of wisdom and she said she'll keep it!! We read 1 Nephi 8 with her and she wanted to know what it all meant. We called the court house and got a time set up for her to get her marriage license!! Woo hoo! We talked more about baptism and her needing to come to church. (She didn't end up coming, so we will have to push it back.) After that, we had an in person lesson with Charles. We taught him about the Book of Mormon and are for sure bringing a member next time. Then we called Roberth and taught him about the Word of Wisdom. He said that he is already keeping it without even knowing it. I love people that do that! Then we stopped by Maria and Kailer's house. Kailer had read to ch. 26 in the Kids Book of Mormon! We taught them about the Atonement and then baptism. Kailer is just adorable and has such great questions. He really wanted to come to church this week but couldn't. For dinner, we went out to Crackerbarrel with the Freemans and the elders. It was Elder Forsberg’s restaurant he wanted to eat at. I got the fish fry and it was really good. After that, we knocked on a door looking for this lady and 3 men answered. We asked of we could come in and they said yes. I love getting into house super quickly! They want to learn more about the gospel. To end the night we went and dropped by Tamid and Nelson's house. Nelson was there and por fin we were able to meet him. His kids have never been to church and he said we can teach them! He is super nice and we are excited to see how this plays out.
We went out for lunch on Saturday with Rafael!! He found my favorite taco truck that had disappeared for a little while! I got a carnitas taco, and a taco and quesadilla de asada. It was delicious!! My mom would die for these tacos. After that, we had a lesson with Donovan. We talked to him about the law of chastity. He totally agrees with it! He is really thinking about baptism right now and really wants to do it. He just has to overcome some addictions he has first. After that, a good old friend of mine came and visited. Vondel drove down from Charleston to see me!! I haven't seen him for a year! We went and got these spicy fruit slushy things and talked. He has been working a lot but wants to go back to church. He is thinking about meeting with the missionaries again! That makes me so excited!! Then we stopped by this house and shared a scripture. We are going back to visit them again later this week. For dinner, we went over to Hna. Sanchez's house. I was full already and didn't want to eat. Some how I at a giant quesadilla, rice, beans, and horchata without feeling super sick. My mission has increased my ability to eat large amounts of food. We shared a quote about the Atonement with her and testified about it's power. After that, we had a great lesson with Ana and Jose. They had actually read the pamphlet and asked us about the Book of Mormon. Ana can't read super well, so Jose reads it for her. We taught them about the Book of Mormon and they loved it. They said they are going to read it together! Then we had a lesson with Angel and Cesar. We were able to teach them about Joseph Smith and the first vision. After that, we went and visited Roberto. We got to meet his friend Rogelio. We taught them about obedience and keeping the sabbath day holy. We invited them to church and they said they can't. They are going to Columbia to go to church there. They want to visit our church over there to see what it is like.
Yesterday was a really good day! We had lots of awesome lessons. We got to church at 9am for choir practice to then sing in front of everyone. It sounded pretty good, considering last practice I was the only soprano there. Then we were standing and greeting everyone and I saw Juan sitting there. THE Juan who I taught for a bit in Charleston and visited me in Greenville East. Didn't expect that! In the Spanish sacrament meeting we gave our testimonies, and listened to a beautiful musical number. We were also super happy because Donovan came. It was about believing in Christ even though we can't see him or feel the prints in his hands right now. After that, we went and visited this house. We taught Silvia and Visa from Guatemala. We taught them about the restoration and the spirit feeled the room. At the beginning they were saying they have their own church and the end they said wow that's true. We then had an early dinner with the Campbells and the elders. It was perfect we ate ham, potatoes, and this weird apple mayonnaise salad. They are converts to the church and have a really cool story. Bro. Campbell wasn’t looking for the church, but kept running into people who were members or missionaries. Finally, he had a change of heart and they were both baptized a couple of weeks after they got married. Then we drove an hour to Ridgeland for our lesson with Jose. Rafael came with us and Jose looked up to him so much (even though Rafael is younger). Rafael will be a really good mentor for him. After that, we had a lesson with Janelle. She had just lost some cousins in a car wreck, so she was sad. I was able to share some scriptures that helped me out in the past. We taught her about the restoration and the spirit was super strong. She was connecting the dots and said she had never heard this before! Then we had a lesson with Donovan. He wants to get baptized! He is just going through some hard things. The Dantes came with us to his lesson. The got lost in the dark and pouring rain, so we went to do find them. We taught him about tithing, and they said just the right things that he needed to hear. They bore powerful testimonies to him. Presidente Dante struggled with some of the things that Donovan is right now. Hna. Williamson and I kept looking at each other just in awe and happy shock that it went perfectly.
Because Sunday was Easter, I have been thinking a lot about the Atonement this past week. The Atonement was completed through Jesus Christ's suffering for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane, dying on the cross, and being resurrected three days later. If we didn't have all three if these things the Atonement wouldn't be complete. We wouldn't be able to make it back to our Heavenly Father. I have been thinking a lot about my brother Ryan and the resurrection lately. Wifhout the Atonement I would have no hope, no reason to live. It has been what has kept me afloat through the hard things in my life. Years ago I was reading in Alma when I stumbled upon these scriptures. It says, "...the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works" (Alma 11:41). And the other says, "...even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame" (Alma 11:44). None of this is possible without the Atonement. I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves me. He is our Savior and our Redeemer. He died so I can live. I can be with my brother again because of him. I know that the power of the Atonement is real and can change lives. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
