Wow. It looks like you guys had a nutty weekend. I got worried
for a bit because the Texan hurricane news came all the way to the local
Rafaela papers and everyone knows I’m from Texas, so people kept saying to me
"hey how´s them Texas rangers handled the storm bomb?" Well I don’t
know, I’m not always in communication with the family. Well anyway I’m glad to
hear you’re all right. Hopefully all will be well for those who weren’t so
lucky, I’m sure the church and many members can help and are helping those
struggling with the disaster.
We had a great week here, I got to know some pretty amazing
people. The other Sister missionaries had met a girl name Virginia who wanted
the missionaries to come over to her home, and so they passed on the address
over to us because she lived in our area. We actually went over to her home a
couple weeks ago and met her, but we were never able to catch her at a good time
until last Tuesday. Super great discussion on the restoration and when it came
to talk about the book of Mormon she asked us if she would be allowed to read
or maybe have a copy of the book. Well obviously we had one ready and said it
was hers. Then she began to cry and thank us for coming. we came back two days
later, she said she had read and knew it was true, so out of the book we taught
her the plan of salvation and how her life takes part in it, and the Importance for her to be baptized and upon asking her to be baptized, she began to once
again get emotional and say she would love to. I began to be reminded of how rare
of a possession the Book of Mormon truly is. In one way, for our conversion to
the restored gospel; but in another, in knowing that god still speaks to us and
reveals more scripture. For Virginia, knowing that god is not a father of
secrets, but that he wants to speak to us and wants us to know that we have a
purpose, is an amazing new understanding, and for someone who had no idea of
such things, it’s quite shocking and emotional peaceful.
We got invited over to the Rosa’s home for a birthday dinner
this week. It was the birthday of their son Tommy. This is a family that was
not active before, and are trying to work to stay strong in the church. So we´ve
grown a great bond with this family and I felt very pleased that they invited
us for this special occasion. Even though we´ve passed by their home many times
before, this night was the first time they really opened up to us in their
difficulties to stay strong as a family and in the church. The church is very
weak in this branch, weak in members and in callings and so on, so there is a
lack of unity. A lot of people think that if someone goes inactive in the
church, that it’s always because there is some kind of commandment that they
were breaking, so we have to look for what they’re not doing. But I really do
think it’s hard to stay strong in the church, when there is a lack of unity,
when we don’t have friends, and especially when our leaders don’t acknowledge
the struggles in member’s lives. So we have to ask ourselves what we are doing.
Do we love others as much as we love god. Life is lame when you don’t feel
loved. Every area I’ve had struggles with that, and it’s complete garbage when
someone comes to the true church of Jesus Christ and doesn’t feel loved by its members.
It kills me to hear that, and I can’t do much, but I can do what I can. As
a missionary I’m not always going to be here. But that also doesn’t give excuse
to those who go inactive for such reasons, because as we read in Ether 12:37... If they have not charity it mattereth not
unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments shall be made
clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even
unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my
Father. We can’t blame our actions on the actions of others. But I hope I can
show the same love others have shown me.
Later we found an old investigator from a couple of years
ago. Over the years this older women has lost many family members and is now
living alone. it was crazy though because we had tried visiting this women many
times before, and at the wrong time, and when we we're finally let in, for some
reason all of her old lady neighbors also decided it was a good time to come and slurp down some amargos as well. So now we were part of the old lady’s
club block party eating toasts talking about the latest of dramas. It was
great, but we eventually decided to leave because I had enough of the madness. We´ll
be back for some toast. Which by the way, is cooked on top of the furnace. Now you
can toast an entire loaf at the same time. Super cool.
We finally ended our week yesterday getting to know and
discussing with Melina. She also was a reference from other
missionaries. And when we showed up she was happy to hear from us and talk
with us. She´s studying at the local Rafaela University next door. So she´s
pretty smart, and asks a lot of good questions and has a lot of good responses.
So we had a sweet talk about the restoration. And she was very interested by
it. She has a kid and she´s a total snot, but whatever. And we ended the lesson
on good terms, with her very interested in reading the Book of Mormon and
finding if what we had said was true. Like always we focus largely on the importance
of asking god if what we said was true. That is was the restored church is
founded upon. Simple prayer. Some people don’t get that and never actually even
try to prayer. It’s a sad response. But what can you do.
Anyways I love you guys! Thumbs up for rock and roll!
Elder Greene
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