Dear Family and Friends,
Holy cow this week flew by! I can’t believe it! Things are just starting to go way too fast!
Well Elder Worrell was sick last Monday so we didn’t get to go play soccer but the good news is we are having a combined zone p-day today with the Kingwood Zone and we are going to play soccer and basketball! I’m pretty pumped to get to run around again!
I am starting to slowly realize what a Houston summer is like. I know I say this every week but IT IS SO HOT!!!! It just sticks on you! You get out of the shower and dry off and get dressed and by the time I sit down at my desk to study there is sweat dripping off my face!! It’s narly haha. I hope I get put back in a bike area again for the summer so I can get super skinny!!
Visiting the Temple
Last Tuesday we got to go to the Houston Temple. I loved it. I just felt peace and learned a lot about things I have been thinking about. I was especially impressed as I read the opening verses of the Book of Moses. I stopped at verse 4, at the word “son.”[1] I just felt peace, and warm. I didn’t want to leave! I felt like I was in the presence of my father. The following verses felt as if He were speaking to me.
Jackie
We had a lesson with Jackie and talked to her about temples for some reason. She got on lds.org and looked at pictures of temples for like 30 minutes! We tried to teach and talk to her but she was too distracted by the temples. She LOVES THEM!!! haha She loves the idea of doing work for the dead too. it was crazy haha. I think, deep down she knows it’s all true, but either hasn’t realized it or is a little scared. She keeps saying: “let’s take it slow. It’s a process. Eventually, everything will fall into place.” I can’t help but think that every time she says that, she is only prophesying her own eventual conversion. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but someday.
Part-member Family
Thursday we were on a street looking for some former investigators we had found in our area book and I talked to a lady that was walking by. Turns out she was baptized in Mexico but hasn’t come since she moved here (that happens sooooo much!) She took us to her house and we met her non member husband who was interested and now we are teaching him! Crazy huh?
Hour of Power, Chasing a Dog
Hour of power was great. We did it on South San Circle, my favorite street of my mission so far. We did spend a good chunk of it chasing a dog we let out by accident. Here’s the thing. Rarely do I ever skip a house because they have a mean looking dog. There have only been a couple I’ve skipped. I don’t care if there’s a gate. If it’s unlocked, I go in. And I haven’t been bitten yet so.. it’s good! But we accidentally let out a dog because SOMEONE (Elder Worrell) forgot to close the gate behind him haha.
Slow Progress
It’s been a little frustrating because, Elder Worrell and I find people to teach like machines (seriously, we had more new investigators and contacts than the other three companionships in our district combined this last week) but we have 0 progressing and we haven’t had an investigator at church for the past 5 weeks which is NOT ACCEPTABLE!! We can’t even get a hold of our investigators anymore and we haven’t seen some of them in over a week (like Marisela). It’s frustrating because we keep stopping by and calling, but to no avail. And I don’t want to be that missionary that just bugs people and turns them off. So we are going to take a break from them for a bit. I’m not sure what we are doing wrong, but we are having a hard time helping people progress.
Helping Less-Active Members
We are seeing a lot of success, however, with the less actives in our ward. We have reactivated several of them. One less active family in our ward that is very special to me is the Aguilera family. They have lots of troubles and although they ALWAYS FEED US and ALWAYS HELP US they never come to church. But they love us coming by! They are so sweet! Well, on Saturday we were talking to Hermana Aguilera and asked her what’s going on and how we can help and she opened up! Well, as missionaries we can’t really help people out with those sorts of problems too in-depth, But we talked for a while… they all came to church on Sunday! And yesterday, we watched a church movie about being together forever as a family and they were all crying, especially hermano Aguilera! They all set goals to read and pray as a family and to go to the temple again. This morning, we got a text from them thanking us for all the help we give them. It made me feel really happy. I want this family to be together forever!
Well, it was a good week. It’s hot. If I haven’t said it yet!
Love y’all!
Elder Viitanen
- http://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/moses/1
1. The words of God, which he spake unto Moses at a time when Moses was caught up into an exceedingly high mountain,
2 And he saw God face to face, and he talked with him, and the glory of God was upon Moses; therefore Moses could endure his presence.
3 And God spake unto Moses, saying: Behold, I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is my name; for I am without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless?
4 And, behold, thou art my son; wherefore look, and I will show thee the workmanship of mine hands; but not all, for my works are without end, and also my words, for they never cease.
Well, Carlos, I just was writing a letter to you and I am going to send it tomorrow.Take care, AND DRINK WATER ,MUCH,MUCH
I have noticed that you enjoy your job.It’s great! Be happy! Love, Mummi