This was a week of locos. Millions of things happened to complicate the work. But that didn't stop us from seeing millions of miracles as well. I've just been really full of gratitude this week. Aaaaaand it just so happens that Thanksgiving is this week! It's not celebrated here but hey, we should be grateful every day, right...?
Anyway I'm just going to describe the week in the form of a list. A list of moments, great and small.
Singing Himno #208 (español) yet again in District meeting. It is the official hymn of Zona Tomé.
A baptismal interview that ends up using 2 hours of the afternoon, in which we learn that the investigator hadn't understood that the Word of Wisdom prohibits the drinking of tea.
When that same investigator doesn't drink tea anymore after the interview because she has enormous faith.
When that same investigator, who also has hearing problems, doesn't understand the majority of the lesson on the Restoration, especially because the members present talk about a million other things that are not really related, but afterwards says "I know that everything you're telling me is true."
Being scared for our lives in the house of a less active member. We were visiting the mom and we were going to share a scripture. Suddenly we hear an angry man's voice from the background saying "How many times have I told you I don't like the Mormons!!!" We all froze and stared in silence, not knowing what to do. A minute later entered the husband, who then started to laugh, saying "Nah, I'm a member too. You're welcome here any time!" Thanks, pal. I'll come visit again once I've recovered from my heart attack.
When a super special abuelito is baptized, even though he was being taught by the other Hermanas in our sector. That abuelito is Adrian. He's a man of great faith - a quiet retired fisherman who raised 6 children on his own. One day Hermana Suárez and I found him just knocking doors. When we couldn't find someone to accompany us we had to teach him outside the house because he lives alone. Even though sometimes there were screaming Evangelical preachers across the street, he was always more than willing to accept what we taught. Tithing wasn't a problem because he used to attend a church that took half of everyone's earnings. Despite his numerous health problems and little approval from the family, he agreed to be baptized at 80 years old. Even though I wasn't teaching him anymore, I'm so grateful I got to be here to see him reach that point.
Finding a very amiable and open-hearted family at 9:40 pm on Saturday night after a less-than-productive day.
Seeing the blessings of an electric piano in the chapel. We decided to do another musical number to regain our dignity from the epic failure of last week. The problem is, we couldn't rely on someone else to play the piano. I played the piano part and recorded it, and then we all sang together. Preeeetty smart, eh?
When Sacrament meeting is basically a bunch of people saying how much they love their spouse. They had a few people recap what they learned in a conference for married couples last week. It was the first time I've seen our Bishop emotional. I won't pretend it wasn't uncomfortable for us missionaries. It was uncomfortable. I attempted to read Jacob 5 so as to not even think about people who don't have their hearts closed. It's a little hard to focus on the dispensations of time and the symbolism of a vineyard when all you hear is a tearful "Te amo" from the pulpit. I'm starting to understand why everyone's so weird about talking to people of the opposite gender after the mission. Here you just run away from anything that slightly resembles love, attraction, flirting, expressions of love, romance, anything. But you can't run away from the nice lady bearing her testimony in church. Así es la vida.
Loving the mission, every moment.
Con amor,
Herrrrrrrrmana GLAZIERRRR.
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