Hello Everyone! how are you all doing?
First things first this Sunday we had E T´s
baptism, it was one of the best baptismal services I have seen. Probably
because we didn´t have to do anything to prepare it. We just filled the font,
and that was it! We didn´t have to direct the meeting, sing a hymn, or give a
talk. This ward is amazing. There were lots of support from the ward and
everything went well. E´s sister who is a member gave one of the talks, she
cried for most of it. I think it was pretty hard for her to be the only member
in her family, and I think that many prayers were answered yesterday when her
sister got baptized. I only got a few pictures on my camera, but the T family
has a Canon IES or some fancy professional camera like that so I will have to
get the pictures from them. All in all a great experience and a good reminder
of why I am in the mission. Elsa seems like the kind of person that is here to stay,
and I think she will help many other people to help live the gospel.
We also had a really good lesson, with A. we
had a bunch of problems finally getting an appointment, but she is actually
very positive. We had taught lesson 2 and invited her to be baptized. She basically
told us no, her family doesn´t support her at all, and don´t like that she
talks to us or goes to church. But we left her 2 Nephi 31 to read, and the next
time we met with her we asked her how she felt about what she read. She paused
for a long time and told us that she took a long time to read and ponder on the
chapter. She said that she realized that if Jesus Christ was baptized than she
too needed to be baptized, that it was a commitment with God, and not anyone
else, not her family, not her boyfriend, not the missionaries. She told us strait
out, "I am going to get baptized, I don´t know when, I have some changes
to make first, but I am getting baptized" I could barely believe it.
Taking the decision is over half the battle. I left that lesson not walking but
floating. The H family´s dog bit my companion but other than that they are
doing really well. They couldn´t come to church because they went to visit a
relative far away. But they will come next week. All of the people we are
teaching right now are progressing really well. My hope is that in July and
August we will have very successful months.
Today for P-day we are going to do the "Salvadorian
challenge 2014" for Elder F´s birthday which is today. It includes eating
10 pupusas and drinking 2.5 liters of Kolachampan. I am trying to prepare
myself mentally for that. it should be a good contest. (I will send pictures
next week) and then we will probably also play Phase 10 before or after
depending on how we are feeling. Overall it is going to be a great day. the
last P-day of June, craziness. My companion Elder V is getting super baggy now,
he has just a little bit over a week left, so its understandable. He leaves on
July 9th. Pretty soon he will be saying goodbye to everyone in the area. I am
super happy for him, but its hard to have a a baggy companion.
This morning while taking a shower I sang to
myself the Decemberists song "July! July!" which by law can only be
listened to during the month of July. I won´t be able to listen to it this
year, but you guys will. I forgot most of the words and could just remember the
first line "There is a road that meets the road that goes to my house, and
nothing green grows there" and some of the chorus but that was enough for
me. its hard for me to believe that is almost July, this second year has been
passing by so fast, its hard to believe.
This week our electric stove broke, and we
haven´t gotten a new one from the office. On Sunday morning we couldn´t go out
to buy something for breakfast, so I improvised and using the clothes iron I fried
an egg, I took some pictures so I will send those after. It took like 20 minutes
but it worked. I tell people that I have Salvadorian blood (because of so many
mosquitos) but now I am thinking like one. Scary. Well other than that
everything is pretty normal just working hard, trying to be inside when the
rainstorms come. Great to hear from all of you and I hope this week goes well
for all of you.
Elder
Schriever
