Dear Family and Friends,
It was a trying week. I am doing my best to maintain a positive attitude though!
New Companion
We got our new companions last tuesday. My companion is Elder Worrell. Elder Bruneel served in the MTC with him. I have heard many things about him, some not so good. But I am trying to maintain a positive attitude and we are getting along fine. He’s just kind of a goofball haha he is funny. Turns out, he went to Bear River High school and we played each other! We may have even been lined up against each other because I was a slot reciever and he was an outside linebacker. Pretty sweet. We beat him though 😉
Wheat and Tares
We’ve been going out and trying a bunch of people this week and we haven’t had loads of success. We’ve had to drop some people, including Oscar, who gave us his Book of Mormon back and said quite frankly, “I’m baptist.” So much sleep lost over nothing it seems like!
We’ve been working with Jackies brother Mauricio. He is opening up to us in a weird way. I think he likes us, he is just really shy and has a lot of questions. He said he would read and pray.
Hour of Power
We’ve been seeing some success with “Hour of Power.” What it is is, we have a lesson with a family about faith and miracles and ask them to pray for us right at 6:00 pm central time. In their prayer we ask that they include that we will be able to find a miracle in the form of someone who is ready to hear the gospel. Then, we go tracting for an hour and return and report. Every companionship in our mission does this. We have seen great miracles from it. Please, do the same. Pray for us at 6:00 pm, central time. With faith we can do anything!
Yesenia
On Saturday, we had a pretty discouraging morning/afternoon. We tried so many people and tried so many doors and no one let us in. We tried Yesenia Cortes, an investigator of ours and she let us in. She had been reading a little more anti Mormon stuff which we tried to resolve.
We were at her house for at least an hour and a half, resolving doubts, talking about the Book of Mormon and authority, and then started talking about church attendance. We battled, begged, and pleaded with her to give it a try and come just one time. She kept insisting that “church is in your heart” and that she didn’t need to go to a church, particularly ours. She said she loved having us come by, but quite frankly, she would never come to church. We kept telling her that this is the way for her to come closer to Christ, pleading with her, but she “would not.” We reached an impasse. Eventually, there was nothing more to say. We dropped her. I left feeling – spiritually and emotionally – literally and completely exhausted. Could I have taught this better or explained that better? I’m just not sure. I blamed myself.
Tears rolled freely down my cheeks as we drove away. I was heartbroken. I gave it all I had and nothing came out of it. My spirits were pretty low for the day.
Jackie is Awesome
Then we had dinner with Jackie. She asked how our day was and I had to be honest. Jackie is so sweet. With a puzzled look on her face she asked what was wrong. We explained the events of the day. Frequent rejection, etc. Jackie just kind of sat there looking down with a little smile on her face, deep in thought.
Then she said, “I wish people would just see how good you guys are and how great a job you do. They don’t know how you can change lives. I wish they could see how you’ve helped me .They don’t know what they are missing! I’m glad you knocked on my door and I listened.”
I just got a big old smile on my face! Jackie is amazing! She has been coming to church ever week, comes to ward activities, knows the members, she signed up for our dinner for crying out loud! She can see the change that has been taking place in her life and wants the same for her brother and family. She just needs to read and pray more often and she will get there! Jackie’s comment changed my day!
Well, it was certainly a trying week. But that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t a good one. We will keep on keeping on! With a steadfastness in Christ, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. I know that to be true. I wish I could shout it from the tallest mountain! “Oh, that I were an angel…”
I love you all, and I love this gospel.
Elder Viitanen
You have done your best, Carlos. Please, don,t take personally, if people won’t receive the Gospel. You give them possibility and that is your part.They have freedom of choice.The Lord knows that you work hard. Take it easy.Just go ahead! Only few of people choose the Gospel.Here in Finland, too Be happy, Carlos I love you. Love, Mummi