Dear Family and Friends,
I can’t believe how fast this transfer is going by! Two more weeks and it’s over.. can you believe it’s September? I can’t!
The Gaspars
There is a family named the Gaspars that we are really trying to get a hold of.. every time we go over there we see the kids playing soccer outside and the dad working in the backyard and the feeling we get is just … future members! We can feel it but they just haven’t been able to make time for us so we can’t keep coming by forever! We will see what will happen there.
Las Tres Amigas
On Tuesday, we saw the 3 Amigas. None of them had read from the Book of Mormon so we didn’t want to progress with them and teach them more without them reading. In those situations, we just read with them. It’s a little frustrating, but we can’t teach anyone anything until they develop a love for the Book of Mormon.
On Thursday, we taught the three amigas about the Plan of Salvation. Jamileth, who had a date for the 15th of this month was in way over her head it seemed like. She couldn’t wrap her head around anything we seemed to be talking about and you could tell she looked worried and maybe a little scared. We explained it really basically and by the end she seemed to understand. She read the pamphlet the next day and understood it a little better but we were still a little worried because we had quite a bit to teach her still and not a lot of time to do it. And, she wasn’t grasping the material too easily.
I was really stressed out during that lesson, because I was thinking about how much we have to teach Jamileth before the 15th, and then we have to get a wedding together by the 22nd for Yaneth and her boyfriend Beto and also teach them everything they need to know to be baptized on that day as well.. and then we have the stress of dealing with Dunia who has a testimony and understands everything perfectly but will not move out of her boyfriend’s trailer or marry him.
On Friday, after zone meeting we split up for exchanges. Elder Davis, from the English branch, came with Elder Campbell, and Elder Hatch and I went down with Elder Sylvester back to the Grant house. Elder Davis is awesome, he’s only been out for a transfer but he is a really cool guy, we had lots of fun and worked hard. We taught the Three Amiga’s again (we are trying to see them daily) and we tried to reteach the plan of salvation, but halfway through, Jamileth had an alergic reaction and had to leave. Yaneth liked the lesson, she likes everything though, we are starting to wonder how much she really understands.
We saw Dunia yesterday evening. Her boyfriend didn’t want anything to do with us. She said she wants to move out! Finally! She talked to one of the ladies in the branch about renting a room and she said that she was willing to do it if her ride to work said that she could pick her up from there! Then she will be baptized!
Successful Saturday
On Saturday we had a lot of success. The only part that stunk was that it was basically me teaching the whole time because Elder Davis doesn’t speak Spanish (as he is an English missionary) and Elder Campbell just doesn’t teach.
Anyway, we started Saturday off with service at one of the branch members’ house. We mowed the lawn, unloaded a truck full of dirt and trimmed a bunch of trees. Then we came back, showered and we went to work. We saw the Gaspar family. The husband was there, and he told us to come back later when his wife would be there because he wanted his whole family to listen. Well I was down with that, because that sounded legit. But when we came back later, only the kids were there. Lame.
ANYWAYS on Saturday after our showers we saw Yaneth and her husband! He’s doing really well and is really open to listening to us the only problem is that he works so much it’s hard to see him. we didn’t have much time, but we talked about the book of Mormon and he comitted himself and Yaneth to read it together which is a really good sign.
Mexican Food is Good but Deadly
We got pounded with Mexican food this week. It’s miserable. I mean, it’s delicious, but it messes you up! It hurts your stomach and makes you feel like garbage! Elder Hatch and I are working out hardcore! I don’t know if I ever mentioned this but Elder Hatch played quarterback for a high school in California and then he played college football out in cali at Mount San Antonio College (Junior college), which is the best Junior college in the nation for football. Also, he has connections with BYU so he is hoping to transfer there and get on the football team! He’s legit! Anyway, we work our every morning! We run a mile and a half and then sprint the last half mile, and then we get back inside and do some lifting or ab workouts… And we eat so healthy back at the appartment that I’m pretty sure I would be ripped right now with a six pack if it wasn’t for those danged tortillas at member’s houses! It’s killing me! Because I’ll feel so good after our workouts and then come dinner time it’s back to feeling miserable…. but at least the habits are there for when I go home.
On Sunday, we got Hatchy boy back! I love Elder Davis, but it was nice to have another spanish speaking missionary back with me. Elder Hatch is awesome. We love each other, and we teach so well together. We have a really good balance. Everyone tells us we need to teach at the MTC together when we get home!
Anyway, only Yaneth came to church on Sunday. Jamilet couldn’t come because she was still sick, and Dunia didn’t answer her door. Yaneth’s husband had to work.
Rafael
We saw Rafael out in Lumberton after church and it seemed like he still had a lot of doubts about the Book of Mormon. So we went in there and… Campbell bashed him. It was so stupid. I don’t know what he was trying to prove. Granted, Rafael was being annoying, all these little hangups about the book but no matter what he says I can’t believe he is reading it sincerely. But Elder Campbell blew an hour and a half of our tmie trying to convice him with his “knowledge” of the Bible. I was getting mad. I know alot about the Bible, so does Elder Hatch. Anyone can know about that stuff. But that isn’t what converts people. I will admit, at first on my mission I thought it was cool to bash. But it’s so stupid. The spirit isn’t there. And the Spirit is the teacher, not us. But Rafael wasn’t even trying to bash! I just stayed quiet the whole lesson, until Campbell was getting disrespectful, so I had to tell him to be quiet. It was not a good situation for Elder Hatch and I. No progress was made.
The Vegas
We tried a referral from forever ago yesterday, we have never been able to catch them but we finally did! I don’t know why we kept trying and trying but I am glad we did because this family is legit!!!
The Vegas. The mom, a 15 year old boy, and two girls 12, and 5. The five-year-old is SO CUTE! We got to know them, and told them a little about church. We invited them all to the upcoming activities and they said they’d come! Starting with Family Home Evening at President’s house today! All the three amigas are coming too! They seemed way legit. I don’t even know how to explain it. We clicked! Also, they said they would come to English class. They just barely got here from Mexico!
On Saturday, we are going to have a branch soccer game vs. the Port Arthur branch. We have a lot of investigators coming, including that 15 year old. So it will be a good time. We are ready to beat Port Arthur! Our branch president stresses it every time he announces it haha he’s so funny. And there will be a tex-mex barbaque after that so I’m all game!
Beto and Yaneth
To end the night, we watched the Restoration movie with Beto and Yaneth. They liked it, and they seemed to understand. The ball is rolling with their wedding as well. Looking good! We will see how this turns out! Jamilet won’t be able to get baptized on the 15th thought because she didn’t come to church. She looked pretty bummed by it, but we will keep working with her!
So much work to do in this area! Love y’all! We have a pretty fun P-day planned. We are going to go around and take sweet pictures with the English branch missionaries all over downtown Beaumont. SO, lot’s of pics next week! Did I tell you guys that downtown is straight up deserted?! Like a legit downtown with tall buildings and stuff, but no one is there! Creepy!
Till next week!
Carlos
Oh, and one more thing. GO COUGARS!! Risin’ and shoutin’ from all the way in B – town.