New Investigators

Marko March 27, 2012 1 Comment

Hey y’all!

Last p-day was good. We had family home evening at night with the Santos and Murillo family with one of our new investigators named Irma Molina. It went pretty well we will try and get a date with her next time.

With New Missionaries

On Monday, we had exchanges because my companion needed to go to a leadership training with some others. So, I was in Denver Harbor with two greenies! It was pretty fun. It was pouring. It was fun because I got to get back on a bike finally. Believe it or not but I love biking in the rain. It makes me feel like a boss!! haha Elder Bruneel got me saying that.

A Blessing

We went and visited one of Denver Harbor’s investigators. We reviewed the Restoration and the book of Mormon. A member went with us. We tried to explain the feelings of the spirit but she said sometimes she couldn’t tell the difference between peace and fear. She has been really sick lately so she asked us for a blessing. Elder Ericksen annointed and I sealed. It was THE clumsiest blessing I’ve ever been a part of. The words weren’t coming to me, I kept repeating things, and when I finished, she kind of just sat there. As I turned closer to see her, I saw she had tears in her eyes. You could feel the Spirit. The hermano who came with us just stood in front of her and asked softly, “Now, do you feel fear? Or peace?” Tears came freely flowing down her face and she started sobbing. She felt better immediately and she said she felt calm. I get goosebumps just thinking about it and what hermano said after the blessing.

Jackie

We have been teaching a 24 year old girl named Jackie. It’s a miracle we even found her. We were originally teaching her brother. Then she decided to sit in. She is hungering from the gospel. I literally see that scripture in Amos^[1] being fulfilled in her. She says she feels the gospel filling up a hunger that she had had her entire life. She has come to church the past three weeks and she is gaining a testimony. She understands the gospel so well. She asks the perfect questions and when we ask her questions for understanding she has great insight! Things are going really great with her. We have a baptismal date with her for April 28th! We extended that date to her and she said she will have that as a goal but she wants to make sure she is ready for it she wants to make sure she brings enough fruits of repentance for that date! Music to our ears!!

Biking

We have been biking a lot this week because we are basically out of miles. A couple times this week it has been up to 95 degrees. HOT!!! and humid!! Every time we bike I get a flat tire and since our area is so huge we have to walk to our next appointment. Sometimes, it’s quite miserable. But, I know that deep down I love it. One day, we were in such a situation and I will admit I was a little angry. To Elder Sorenson’s amusement, I was mumbling things at my bike as if it was my bike’s fault haha. I’m pretty sure he thought it was hilarious.

Luis

While walking the long way back, a man on a bike stopped us. “Hablan espanol?” he asked. We sure do! was our response. He said his name is Louis and he just got here from Mexico and he was being taught by missionaries there. He invited us over, fixed my bike and asked for a Book of Mormon. He praised God for helping him find us. We are excited to continue teaching him! It was a miracle we ever found him! Right place at the right time 🙂

Easter Week

Lately, I’ve been reading a lot in the Gospels found in the New Testament about the “semana santa” the Holy Week and the events that took place. We had a choir fireside last night and I got to play the violin. There were some really beautiful arrangements that were about the Savior, the atonement, and the Resurrection. I’ll try and get a recording out. I am really looking forward to Easter time. I love the Savior and the sacrifice that he made for me and all of us.

Conference this weekend!!!! Pretty stoked!!

Love y’all

Elder Viitanen

Leo

P.S. Oh, quick update about LEO… So, Elders Bruneel and Cope have been teaching him and got him ready to ask his dad about baptism. So they had a talk with his dad and he said  “heste hogar es catolico” (This house is catholic) even though he probably hasn’t gone to church in years just like every catholic here. He is nice but he said no way. Leo wants to respect him and said that the last time one of his brothers went against what his dad says, his dad didn’t talk to him for seven years.

So, they kept visiting him and I guess one day Leo let them in and he was hung over. He hasn’t been drinking the whole time we have taught him. He was getting away from the party life and now he just gave in. I guess he told the elders that since he didn’t have baptism as his goal anymore he didn’t have anything to encourage him to stay away from it. But he asked them “Is lying bad?” when they asked him why he said, “My dad is cool with me reading the book of Mormon and coming to church and having y’all over. He just doesn’t want me to get baptized. I want to get baptized because I know once I am I won’t have a desire to return to my old life. What my dad doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” CRAZY! I’ll keep you posted!

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