So, This week we
taught a lesson to a couple named Jose and Maria. Joseph and Mary. They have a
few kids and I'm really disappointed that I forgot to ask if one of them is
named Jesus. But I'll try to find out and let you know.
Nothing stands
out as super exciting this week... But it was definitely a good week! We taught
several good first lessons (about the Restoration), including one to a lady
named Mercedes who the missionaries have been teaching for a while. We
re-taught her the message of the Restoration and invited her to be baptized.
She said "Of course!" and then asked, "We'll have to have some
more lessons first, right?" Right. Then we explained the importance of
coming to Church every Sunday, and she said, "I'll talk to my boss
tomorrow about changing my schedule." Like, seriously! Was that hard??
99/100 people so far have said, "I can't; I work on Sundays."
Excuses... So anyway, we're pretty excited for Mercedes!
Oh, I decided
this week that I officially speak Spanish now. Here's why. First of all, we had
our breakfast coordination meeting with our ward mission leader on Tuesday.
Later that day, Elder Ramirez said, "Ese burrito fue muy rico!" (That
[breakfast] burrito was really delicious!) And I paused and said, "¿Qué?..."
Becuase I thought he had said, "That little donkey was really
delicious." Burro = donkey, -ito = little, burrito = little donkey. That's
true Spanish right there. That's situation number one.
Number two: We
were standing outside someone's door after knocking on it and I said, gesturing
to the skis leaning against the wall "They're probably white, because I've
never seen a Hispanic ski here." Elder Ramirez replied, "True."
Then I noticed a soccer ball on the ground and said, "Oh, but they do have
a football." Fútbol = soccer ball.
Number three: I
said porcuz instead of because.
Number four: One of the members asked us at our dinner appointment
who we were going to visit that evening. I told them we were going to see a
lady named Malena. "Who's she?" the member asked. "Oh, she's
just an ancient investigator we're going to try by." Antiguo (ancient)
investigador = former investigator.
Inside it says, "Happy birthday from the DYNAMIC DUO!" When she opened it she laughed and said, "Ooooohhhh..." like Mrs. Doubtfire (she does that a lot), then continued to laugh and say ooooohhhh... for about two minutes. She said it was the cutest thing she'd ever seen. I don't know if I'd go THAT far, but it was pretty good!
Then, since
Sister Bradford is a hoarder, we helped her throw some stuff away as a birthday
present. We spent quite a bit of time in the living room going through papers
and throwing away documents and notes from the 80s and stuff like that.
Unfortunately she wanted to keep aaaalll of the filing folders. It's
unfortunate because that means she plans on filling them with more stuff. But
we got rid of about four big garbage sacks of papers and nick-naks! We loaded
them into the back of her truck to take to the dump, and she said,
"That'll do for today; let's take it over to the landfill." But I
told her they were going to charge her the same to dump her truck whether it
was full, half full, or empty, so we might as well fill it! So we went out back
and through away practically an entire bathroom she had sitting out there. I
guess some time a few years or decades ago she must have remodeled the
bathroom, and all of the old cabinets and counters and the sink were sitting on
her back porch. We had spent a couple of hours the weeks prior to her birthday
picking at and breaking up the ice that was holding the ancient bathroom
captive. then we took it to the dump and got suuuper muddy. They don't call it
mud season for nothing. She tried to give us each $20, but we told her she
could just take us out to dinner instead. I'm glad we did too, or she would
have had birthday dinner all alone. Also, we wouldn't have had dinner. So we
taught a lesson and went to a Chinese place. All in all we spent four hours
with her before dinner. I think it was good for her to have people with her on
her birthday, because she doesn't get many visitors! Also it was pretty fun.
There are a lot
of families moving out of the ward. It's pretty sparse in sacrament meeting.
Long-time active members in the ward are retiring and moving out of town, while
some young families are relocating for better jobs or better weather or what
have you. So we're reeeaaally hoping some of our people will start coming to
church! We keep inviting them! The Church is a little different out here, or at
least the wards are. I don't ever remember being back home and thinking,
"Oh man, our ward is shrinking," or, "I really hope some more
people move in soon." It was just never a problem. Our ward was like a
half square mile of populated area and filled the chapel to overflowing every
week. When they realigned the boundaries to keep our newly-relocated bishop in
the ward, we took in six new houses and like four active families! I guess
that's Mesa! But anyway, it's just interesting to see the different challenges
that face the organizations of the Church in different parts of the country.
Speaking of
different parts of the country, this is definitely a different part of the
country. It's been snowing a TON lately! Elder Ramirez always shivers and
chatters his teeth when we go outside in the snow, and every time I say,
"Dude! It's like the same temperature it's always been, it's just
snowing!" And then he says, "I'm from Perú!" Oh well.
I learned a lot
this week in our Gospel Principles class. I was teaching the class with Elder
Ramirez, but I guess when you learn something from what you say, that's how you
know you're teaching by the Spirit! We were talking about the principle of
agency. I brought up the concept of God's omniscience, or His ability to know
all things from the beginning. If He knows exactly what each of us will do, why
do we need to go through this period of testing? Why do we need to actually
exercise our agency? Because when we make our own choices, we are responsible
for our actions. God is perfectly just, and justice is the eternal law the
binds consequences to actions. If we were to receive consequences without
performing the actions (consequences can be good or bad), that would not me
just. Just as performing an action and not receiving the consequence
would be unjust. We bear responsibility for our actions! So that's one reason
we're here on earth; so we can be judged according to our works and reap the
consequences, the punishment or the rewards!
Pretty cool huh?
I thought so. I'm just so grateful for the Restoration of the Gospel that makes
the concepts of the Gospel so clear. I know this Church is led by true Prophets
and Apostles! The message of the Restoration is true! I know it with all my
heart! Stay bright and choose the right! Be excellent to each other!
Sincerely,
Elder Rogers
p.s. Ice Road
Truckers. It's been snowing a lot and the roads have been icy, we have a truck,
and I drive it. On the highway. So that makes me an ice road trucker.
p.p.s. Oh! I almost forgot to share this amazing quote from the
chopsticks wrapper at the Chinese place in Leadville:
"Welcome to Chinese Restaurant
please try your Nice Chinese Food With Chopsicks
the traditional typical of Chinese glorious history
and cultural."
"Welcome to Chinese Restaurant
please try your Nice Chinese Food With Chopsicks
the traditional typical of Chinese glorious history
and cultural."
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