Helping the English Elders

Marko December 3, 2012 1 Comment

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was a little mind numbing. Not much went our way and we didn’t have too much success numbers-wise. Plus, on Friday, we blitzed the area of the English elders in South Park because they have been struggling a little bit. That means that instead of having a normal exchange where we switch companions and areas, we split up and both companionships work in that area. So we lost a working day for our area. Anyway, I’ll update y’all on some of our investigators.

Beto and Yaneth

Beto and Yaneth’s day for the 15th is about as set in stone as it’s ever been. I say that because, with the Hispanic culture, nothing is ever set in stone haha. Lots of random, crazy things happen to pop up last minute but, so far so good. They are going to the Beaumont courthouse on Wednesday to get their marriage licenses. They have their dress and suit picked out, and the relief society is busy making the plans for the wedding. They have the colors picked out and everything! It’s going to start at 2 pm on the 15th. After the wedding, which will be at the Beaumont Downtown Chapel (the bank), at 4:30 we will all have a procession over to the English ward building on Weaver Street (which is an actual church building). That’s where we will have the baptism. After the baptism, we will have the reception / Christmas party with our branch and the Port Arthur branch. It should be a sweet day! Elder Hatch has permission to drive out for it too! So it will be awesome to see him.

Beto and Yaneth went to the Weaver building to see the Christmas devotional with us. It was a really great devotional. I love Christmas music, and the Christmas spirit.

Juan

We havent’ been able to see Juan this week. He’s been pretty sick with his bronchitis and his daughter Jaquelin had to go to the hospital a couple nights ago. He and his brother in law are going to Mexico in a week or so to go to the doctor and also to pick up the rest of the family. Sometimes, Mexico can be a “black hole” that investigators can dissappear into and never return so we hope that doesn’t happen.

Javier

I’m not sure if y’all remember Javier “Pollo” from back in Denver Harbor. He is 22, the boyfriend of one of the ward members back in Denver Harbor. Elder Erickson and I got to start teaching him. A couple nights ago, he called me to tell me that he was getting baptized! I was really happy! I asked my mission President for permission to go to the baptism, but he said no. But Javier was baptized yesterday, and it sounds like he was really happy about it. It’s awesome to hear about investigators that I taught back in other areas getting baptized. I’m really happy for him.

Last week, we were going through some former investigators from our area book. We went to go try one, and we got held up by a train. After the train passed, we pulled up to the house. As we knocked, a car pulled up and the girl we were looking for came out. Had the train not been there, we wouldn’t have found her and probably wouldn’t have tried her again! Her name is Miriam, she is 18 (she has a 2 year old kid) she lives alone with brother and sister in a huge house in Old Towne Beaumont. It’s really weird. But she was really excited to see us.

We have had two lessons with her so far. She seems really interested. She said she would be baptized when we invited her to be. It was awesome! She even gave us a Christmas tree and fed us! Hopefully things keep going good for her and she takes it seriously!

Enjoying it!

Elder Cope and I are having a really good time! There are some hard things about this area, and there are some rough days, but we are trying to look at the positives, and there are lots!

The days are still muggy and hot here. We did have a cold snap a while ago, and it was in the 40’s (with the humidity, it felt way colder). When we would go on our morning runs, I felt like I was back in Utah. But that didn’t last long. Yesterday, when we were walking around the avenues, it was in the 80’s and humid and we were sweating. And it’s December! That’s something I definitely won’t miss! But I’m sure the cold will come soon. And when it’s cold here, it’s COLD.

Perros Calientes

Last Sunday, we were walking around and a guy was kind of staring at us. He was washing his car. He was locked on to us, but we passed him. After walking for a little longer, Elder Cope and I both decided we should go back. So we went back there and talked to him and he was really nice! He told us to come by in a week. So last night we went there and met him and his family. He has two teenage boys, a wife, and a brother, and they are all straight from Mexico! Elder Cope, who served in Mexico said it was the most “Mexican” moment that he has had since he came here to texas. The wife made like 50 “perros calientes” which are chopped up and fried, hot dogs in buttered and greased buns with tomato and onions (which is about as Mexican as it gets haha) and they were all really nice and respectful. We are really excited to teach them!
I’m not sure what else to say. Sometimes I really can’t believe I’m on my mission. It’s really easy to plateau, so every day I try to check myself and improve a little every day.

I miss y’all a lot!

Love
Elder Viitanen

Related Images: