There's a hymn that says that. I think it only exists in Spanish and it's really good. We sang it this week because Hermana Suarez is already on her way home! She's a great missionary and I was lucky to be her last "hija."
There's one week left before cambios, so the three of us in our ward will be in a trio. I'm feeling legitimately nervous like I haven't ever felt in the mission. Never been in a trio before, and I literally have no idea where I will be in one week. Everyone says that when you love your companion you get changed sooner. I hope there are exceptions to that rule.
So I was trying to think of things that you would all be interested in hearing about, and only a couple stories came to mind that have happened recently.
Most of the people here either pretend they're not home or just make up an excuse if they don't want anything to do with the church. I can only remember a couple times when people have actually been hostile. Before coming out here I thought those people would probably make me cry, but they actually just make me laugh because the things they say to us never make any sense. One guy we contacted started immediately saying "No I don't like your church, I don't believe in the Mormons. I don't believe in your Joseph Smith." When we addressed him as "brother," he said "WE AREN'T BROTHERS" (it makes more sense in Spanish). We asked him if he had a religion and he said "Yeah, I believe in the BIBLE. I study the BIBLE. I don't believe in prophets, I only believe in Jesus." I knew in that moment that there would be absolutely no point in explaining that the Bible is literally just writings of prophets or about prophets, and that Jesus himself was also a prophet. So I tried to offer him a pass-along card with a picture of Jesus on it, because he said he at least believed in Him. But to my surprise, he had something else to say about that - "I don't believe in that either!" he said. "In what? It's a picture of Jesus." "I don't believe in that WHITE Jesus! I'm brown, why couldn't he have been brown?!" We then tried to end the conversation but he told us to wait and listen to what he had to say. He wanted to test our knowledge of the Bible and asked us what John 3:16-17 says. My companion recited it perfectly and then basically just said "I know what we're teaching is true CIAO" and we went home. Those few spare minutes before it's time to go home are always the most interesting.
The other thing that came to mind also has to do with prophets. We've been teaching a lady that used to go to an Evangelical church. We were explaining about the Restoration of the Gospel, and what it means to be a prophet. She was really interested in that - revelation, someone called by God, all of that. She asked us if prophets suffered a lot, and we told her that yes, they normally do because the people reject them. She then said that she has suffered a lot and told us about a revelation she had. We realized then that she was so interested in hearing about prophets because she thinks that she also will be a prophet. The next lesson we decided to simply explain that a prophet has to be a man. She was like "wait, it can only be a man?" "Yes, because men can have the Priesthood and women have other responsibilities." "But, like in the scriptures it always says men but means men and women . . ." "It has to be a man" "Wait it really has to be a man, not a woman?" We went in circles like that for a few minutes. We still don't know if she understands or if she just thinks the church is discriminatory. We'll see what we can do there.
Well, just wanted to say that I love you all and thanks for you prayers, letters, emails, examples, everything. This time is going too fast and I'm still learning so much!
Con amor,
Hermana Glazier
Photos:
Going-away party in the church for Hermana Suarez!
Delicious cake.
My approving thumbs up for empolvados - something that I will attempt to cook for you when I come home. They are the best of the best that Chile has to offer.
Future missionary ward amigos.
Someone can translate what it says on the chalkboard...
Hermana Harris can communicate how we all feel.
My 2 dear companions!
My 2 dear companions!
No comments:
Post a Comment