Well this week we got hit with a little bit of the aftermath of the storm. Nothing as far as weather concerns but more of the damage that happened. Areas in Fiorito are still without luz (light) and it leaves the people a little bit... upset. There have been lots of people fighting and making trouble with the government because they´ve been without light so long. We were blessed to not see any of this violence, but for precautions sake, President Stapley had us make some extra efforts to keep safe. This week we were in our Pinch by 6 o´clock every night... woo! You never really understand how little time you have in a day until 3 hours are taken out of it. It made things rather hard for us to contact investigators and inactive families because of the Siesta and also the hours of their work. For the most part we were fodged (the people weren´t there at there house) most of the days. We learned the value of our time in a real way! Here on my mission I am so grateful for time and if we aren´t running I feel so lazy! ... Makes me wonder what I was doing spending so much time on Facebook before the mission? haha Yes, I did just admit that! I was really grateful for the 4 hours that we had to be in our Pinch every night though. I was able to study a lot and just enjoy in the spirit of the Book of Mormon. It was such a blessing to have all those goodies during this week especially for all the time that we spent sitting around! I LOVED the notes that you guys included in the package and was able to receive an extra "boost" from those.. thanks very much.
Yesterday we were able to meet with a family of 7 for the second time and had a great lesson with them. We had left the Book of Mormon with them and invited them to read it during the week. We came back and found out that they had read it several times and had remembered EVERYTHING! The importance of what the book is and also he was telling us about the years that the Book of Mormon was translated, when Lehi left, when the brother of Jared reached the Americas. Just crazy things that aren´t normal things for an investigator to tell you about when you ask, "what did you think about the reading?" haha Elder Merritt and I were so happy with what they took from it and was a blessing to see the power of the Book of Mormon when people really study from it. I saw that it opened up his mind to help answer some of the questions that he had had. We explained the importance of the Book of Mormon and invited them to read and study more out of it in order to understand what this Gospel truly is. As I read in Mormon this week, Mormon talked about the surety that he had that as we gain an understanding of the small and simple things that are contained in the Book of Mormon, we will be trusted to understand greater things! We also invited them to be baptized!! They said they would! :) They wouldn´t commit to a date, but they were set in their desires to KNOW for sure so that they wouldn´t have reason to fall away after they were baptized... I take that as a "reasonable" answer. So we´re gonna work with them and help them for a date sometime in May! Also the family I told you all about the last week came back and told us they really don´t want to change their religion. NO! It was a set back, but we listened to their reasons and sought for the spirit to help us understand what they TRULY needed! We were able to help them understand the need of prayer and are focusing on helping them to receive an answer! We have a cita with them tonight, so I´m very excited to see how they´ve progressed.
There was a whole lot that happened this week as far as the work but I feel this week I have just been overwhelmed with blessings and growth as a missionary but more as a person. It hit me yesterday that I´ll turn 6 months this week... I´m sad to realize how fast time is flying but have confidence that I´m not the new little missionary anymore. I don´t know the ropes to everything, but I know that I can produce in the Lords viña with the growth that I have been given. We had stake conference yesterday and were visited by Elder Daniel A. Moreno of the Seventy. He very tenderly related a story of him being able to return to his mission after a long period of time. He went and visited an area that had been one of the hardest. He shared two things that were golden to me in regards to Service and Love. He said, "We learn to Love those whom we serve the most, and that the areas (or things) that will mean the most to us is those that we give ourselves to most. "Fiorito has been a "stretching program" from the Lord to help me learn these two things! I was able to reflect on the things that I´ve done and things that I want to be and found that it is so important that we involve service and love in ALL that we do, it will mean the most to us because we are doing as our Savior Jesus Christ so perfectly exemplified. We cannot fail in the Lord's testing programs when we follow in the footsteps of His perfect son!
23 O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.
(Psalms 31:23-24)
My new favorite scripture! :) This week I want to faithfully DO the Lord's work with courage and hope, and I know that He will preserve and reward us greatly!
I love you all and thank you for your shining smiles in the pictures, for you uplifting examples and your encouraging love! We getta talk soon! :) Have a great week.
Elder Jolley
PS. When is Mothers day?? (no offense Mom, I love you lots igual :) )
Por fin! Found me a new chip and am able to send some back! ... Hope you enjoy! :)
All my love,
Elder Jolley
Elder Jolley and Elder Merritt in Lomas (city center is in the background)
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