October 27,2015
This week was one of the weirdest and longest weeks of the mission. I'm not sure how to even describe it. We worked hard, but it was a week filled with ups and downs.
To start off, we did not baptize Rosalia, but man were we close. I'll give you the run down. So we were going to pass by Rosalia's house on Thursday to teach the last lesson on tithing and then fix a baptismal interview for the next day so she could be baptized this Saturday. She left town on Thursday though so we had to pass by on Friday. We were super nervous before going over to her house, because she still has had a lot of doubts and we weren’t sure if she would say yes to a baptismal interview right after the lesson. We went just praying and hoping we could have the spirit with us and that she would see the urgency in being baptized this weekend. We taught a good lesson on tithing and she accepted to pay tithing when she's a member of the church!
So, then after I asked how she felt about her baptismal date for this Saturday and she gave us the typical "I don't feel prepared or ready, can we wait? I just don't want to get baptized and then feel like I made a huge mistake after." Elder Marquina responded "entendemos, está bien, podemos emperor.”( We understand, all right, we can accept.) I wasn’t going to leave there with a “no” though, she was so ready for baptism and I wasn’t going to have any of that, “ o, I’m not ready”. I whipped open Mosíah 18 and we read when the golden question is asked “ sty dispuesta llorar con los que loran (I’m willing to mourn with those who mourn) “I testified of the truthfulness of the gospel and how she would not feel like she made a mistake in the slightest. I pointed out that if she could name one thing bad she sees in our church that she could delay her baptism. She sat there for a while and thought, but told us that everything seems so perfect in our church.
Elder Marquina (who is a convert to the church and the majority of his family aren't members) testified that baptism was the greatest decision he's ever made in his life. After lots of testifying she finally said, “sí, me quiero baptizer.” (Yes, I want to be baptized.) We were estatic! I called our DL immediately and told him to come over to our sector to perform a baptismal interview. He came and they had the interview and she passed with flying colors. Elder Nalesso told us that she is going to be a firm member of the church.
On our way back to the pension Rosalia called us and told us that she felt horrible but she had something to confess. She had lied to us and to Elder Nalesso about being married. She was divorced 25 years ago and the man she is living with is not legally married to her. BOOM! BAPTISM CANCELLED AND HEARTS BROKEN! It was definitely a huge blow for Elder Marquina and I, but we thought... she has the desire to be baptized so she'll definitely get married and this next change we can baptize her! We passed by the next day and it turns out that her boyfriend does not want to get married and definitely not for this cause. I wanted to just argue every point he tried to make with the scriptures and really let him have it, but luckily Elder Marquina took care of the situation in a different approach and it seems like we gained this guy’s trust and confidence. Rosalia will not be getting married anytime soon though, and we won't be baptizing this cambia (change) as this is the last week of this change. BUMMER? Yes. But what can ya do?
Elder Marquina is doing terribly with his feet as well. We went all the way to Los Condes, which is about 2 hours from our sector two times this week! The Doc now thinks he has a fungus and he does not have psoriasis. We were in the pension practically all Saturday and I about lost my mind! We did end up having 5 investigators in the capilla though! HUGE BLESSING! Just goes to show that God is aware of the events that have transpired this week. Sunday after church Elder Marquina needed to rest as well. I called Elder Nalesso and it turns out that his companion (his greenie) is going home this week and has no desire to work anymore. We immediately did a division on Sunday so that I could work with Elder Nalesso Sunday and all day yesterday. We took out the trash and found 6 new investigators in his sector. Just goes to show that when two missionaries are on the same page, good things happen.
Today we played some fútbol and now I'm gonna take a nap. I’m wiped! Mom wants to know how my sector is and the only way I can describe it is by saying imagine all the people that spend their days at six flags in the summer. Yes, the people eating turkey legs and churros, and it seems as if they live to just pass their time in a theme park. Then there’s the Haitianos and they have a lot more class than a lot of the people here, but don’t speak Spanish very well. Although there is a very different mind set and environment here than my last area, I love being here and I love the people and the opportunity I have to serve the Lord and share His gospel.
After a frustrating week, we'll see how this last week goes! We have Stake Conference this weekend so that’ll be good!
I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that he suffered and died for me personally. He is my best friend, and I know he is constantly aware of me personally. I know this is the only true church on the Earth. I cannot and will not ever deny these precious truths that I know. Read the Book of Mormon and get to know Jesus Christ, once you know Him, you will know that this is the church that he directs and guides. Even after a hard week, I can say that I know all of this is true and that God's plan is always much greater than our own plan.
I love all of you! VAMOS A CAMBIOS!
Elder Weaver
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