Dear Family and Friends,
One of the best weeks ever! By far the best thing that happened is Daisy Torres finally committed to baptism! So here is the whole story:
Play-by-Play
In the mission we have what’s called the Hour of Power. Every Thursday, ten minutes before six o clock, we meet with a member and share a brief message about faith and miracles. Then, right at six, we kneel and invite that member to pray for us. Everyone in the mission does this. Then, we go out and knock for an hour in their area. The idea is that with the combined faith of all the members praying for us and all the missionaries doing the same thing at the same time we will see miracles.
About a year ago, when this was still a new concept in T.H.E. mission, a family was found in Denver Harbor, one of my old areas, that was baptized. They were the Ortega’s, the original Hour of Power story. They were such solid converts! They experienced such hardship and so many challenges but stayed firm! They are about to go into the temple later this month!
When Elder Owens and I first got here, Daisy was one of the first people we started trying to work with. As y’all have been able to see from our emails, it has been a real up and down journey. She has all of the missionary lessons down. She knows the doctrine. She would read and pray every night, and go to church every week. She had friends at church, she like it all. But she just wasn’t feeling anything. She didn’t want to be baptized until she felt something. So, we committed her to a date (the 18th of May) and set that as a goal for her to do everything she could to receive her answer by then. We have been working really hard with her. At first, she was against baptism. But, as time went on, she started feeling more open to it, although, she was never all for it. We started to worry that the day would come and go, and she wouldn’t get baptized.
But yesterday, the branch president brought Daisy and Noelia into his office and asked Daisy if she wanted to be baptized, because if so, we need to know so we can get things ready for her. She said yes!!! Those of you who have served, I am sure you know the feeling from serving your own mission, but I literally felt like I was walking on air. It’s a feeling I have felt several times on my mission. I would say that the hard times and the struggles have definitely made themselves known as well, but that feeling just overpowers everything else. It makes it so worth it.
So Happy
Last night, we had dinner with Daisy and her family, and her grandparents – the Ortega family – who were baptized in Denver Harbor as a result of the Hour of Power. Everyone was just so happy. Daisy especially. She was so happy. It just made me think how this gospel is exactly that – it’s what we teach people at the very beginning of the first lesson – to bless families and make them happier. She said that I was like a big brother to her and that she is so grateful for all we have done to her. It felt like there was nothing else that mattered. It was awesome. So, needless to say, we are pretty excited for next saturday.
Tongue Lashing
Dang, this is already a really long email and there is still so much I want to say! On Monday we played basketball. I got to guard Elder Sams. Let me tell you a little bit about him. He is in his second transfer in the mission. He is from Washington. He is a convert of 18 months. He is a bit of a hillbilly character, and he is massive. 6’8″, and easily well over 300 pounds. Anyway, just in the course of normal basketball, he accidentally elbowed me right in the jaw and sent me right to the ground. I was in a lot of pain haha he is a big boy. I spat out blood and my first thought was “I hope I still have my tongue.” But, turns out, I just bit my tongue really hard haha. It’s still healing.
We Matter
Anyway, the next day we had a zone conference, and as usual, there was a testimony meeting afterwards. The spirit was already strong, when up walked Elder Sams. Everyone was shocked. Even though he is so big, Elder Sams is really quiet and timid. He has struggled a bit out on his mission, dealing with depression and confidence issues. But there he was. He started talking to us and telling us about his conversion and how grateful he was. To hear it from the mouth of someone who wasn’t a member when I left on my mission was just unreal. It left a huge impact. This mountain of a man broke down into tears when he told us of his feelings when the missionaries told him, in his own words, “that I actually matter. That there is a God, and that I even have a Heavenly Father?” Holy cow. The spirit whacked everyone in that room. President Crawford said over and over how it was hallowed ground. It was amazing.
What is More Fun Than Proving Stuff With the Bible
The next day we went on exchanges. I went with Elder Brown, an English missionary. We stayed in San Jacinto, so he didn’t get to do much, since he doesn’t speak Spanish. We taught a family named the Alejandro family. They are a very active seventh day Adventist family. They are all super nice. They have been having us over once a week for the past 4 weeks for lunch and a cordial, polite “discussion.” Maybe this isn’t good, but I LOVE proving Mormon doctrine from the Bible. I love it. Maybe, I’m a little prideful when I say I know my Bible pretty dang well. I think they were really surprised by it. Anyway, this led to a series of very interesting conversations. Well, it got to the point where we knew that if they weren’t going to take our invitation seriously, we couldn’t come by anymore. So, our plan this time was to teach them about the Book of Mormon and testify and leave. First, she pulled out a long list of Mormon doctrine she wanted us to prove with the Bible. Premortal life (Ecclesiastes 12:7 and Jeremiah 1:5). How can you return somewhere you have never been? Done. Next: Joseph Smith couldn’t have seen God because man can’t see God and live (Exodus 33 and Acts 7). Done. Baptism for the dead and the three degrees of Glory? (1 Corinthians 15). “But you have to read the context.” she said. OK, read the context. Paul is telling them how foolish they are for not believing in a resurrection, but yet they were baptizing for the dead. Done.
Anyway, not to bore y’all. It came time to bear testimony and leave. So we started reading the introduction of the Book of Mormon, and testifying of it’s truth. This really nice Adventist lady, who usually has something to say, got stony and quiet. We had the floor for about 15 minutes as we taught and testified simply but firmly. They had nothing to say. Then we busted out Ezekiel 37. Two sticks, two testimonies of two nations. Elder Brown, in his limited Spanish, pulls out his quad and looks at her and goes, “the prophecy is fulfilled. One in my hand.” Holy cow guys! The spirit was so strong! I need to get it past my hard head that the only thing better and funner than proving stuff with the Bible is testifying by the spirit! We bore testimony that we knew the book of Mormon to be true and Joseph Smith to be a prophet and left. usually, they always invited us back the next week. Not this time. I think they were pretty surprised. I don’t know what will ever happen to the Alejandro family. I really like them, they were really nice. But they taught me a valuable lesson.
Manuel
In other news, we have been working with Troy (Elder Sorenson) and he taught Manuel with us, who should be baptized on May 25th and also came with us to visit Daisy. It was fun teaching with him again. It was weird teaching with him as a member though, not as a companion.
Isabel and Ronaldo
Isabel and Ronaldo are going through a hard time. Our branch president visited them and they said they want to get married and baptized. Their trouble making kid is in jail right now, and they are waiting for a court this Friday to see what will happen to him and after that, they said, they will be able to progress more.
The Silva Family
On Saturday we had a mothers day party in the branch. It was pretty fun. The Silva family, a family we have been teaching came. They know a few members. They enjoyed their time. They also came to church the next day. We are also teaching two ladies on the same street (seperately) Martha Jacobo and Teresa. We have taught them the first lesson and the book of Mormon lesson. They both are really interested and have kept their commitments. They understand what we are teaching and what it would mean if it was true. They are willing to be baptized if it is. They both have their heads on straight, so I am excited to get them progressing.
Mothers’ Day
Things are really looking good here in San Jacinto. I can feel myself changing and learning even more rapidly these last few weeks. It’s insane. I seriously love being out here. I love each and everyone of y’all and hope y’all had a good mother’s day. I got to talk to my family and was so grateful for that. I love my family. Happy mother’s day mom!
Y’all have a good week.
Love,
Elder Viitanen