Que pasa, calabaza?!
This week has been a week of change and review what I and we are doing
here. This week was the first week that we have contacted at least 20
people every day of the week, including the days, like P-day where we
have lots less time! That's a pretty big accomplishment, really. We
weren't able have many lessons, though, not because of taking time to
contact people, but because people weren't home when we went by them.
But it has been a better week than last week. Elder Payne and I
realized that achieving the 20 is not impossible to achieve every day,
nor is it something that hard. And also we realized that taking the
time to contact doesn't hinder us visiting people who we need to visit
(this has been our excuse, or fear that hindered us from getting the
20 daily). For example, on Monday, as I might have mentioned last
week, Elder Johnson and Elder Bettridge (our Zone Leaders) gave us the
challenge of achieving the 20 that day. Elder Payne and I decided to
try our best to accomplish that. And we did it! Even after teaching a
lesson where we set a baptismal date! And also, after contacting 20
people we still had time to continue to visit people who we had
planned. It really was a great testimony to me that the Lord provides
a way to fulfill his commandments. And then the next day Elder Johnson
and Elder Bettridge gave the zone the challenge to each reach the 20
each day and we would receive a party as a prize. That also gave me
and the Elder Payne the motivation, the push, we needed to continue to
contact at least 20 people each day this week. Unfortunately not all
companionships could do it every day, but that doesn't really matter
whether we have the party or not. The blessings we received and will
receive from following that direction/commandment from The Lord are
more important than a party will ever be.
As I said, we didn't get to teach a lot, but this week teaching was
better than last week. We were able to teach Dulce Rodriguez, who is
reading the Book of Mormon, and Brayan Sanchez, who is also reading
the Book of Mormon. We also taught Arturo Alejandro who did not read
in the Book of Mormon, but read the pamphlet and also said he knows
that Joseph Smith is a prophet and would like to be baptized someday
later, when he has learned more (that was a little surprise to us)!;
then we set a baptismal date with himon 26 July! We also were able to
teach Roberto and Veronica about the Law of Chastity so that they can
marry in order to keep that commandment. We also talked about the
Temple with them and how that's the ultimate goal, not only baptism,
and how their marriage can be eternal. And they committed to talk
about marriage with each other. So next time we will try to set a
wedding date along with a baptismal date with them! We also taught
Aurora, a new investigator who lived in the area of the other
Elders, but recently moved to our area and came to church two Sundays
ago. We were also able to teach two of the Vargas family kids, Jesus
and Magaly. We extended the invitation to be baptized, but when we did
they had to go right away and we had to finish with a prayer before
receiving an answer from them. And we also taught Cesar Maldonado, a
16 year old less-active. It seems to be going well with him, we are
establishing a good relationship with him, and we're hoping that will
help him keep his commitments.
I love y'all and loved hearing about the ROV and the trips to
Minnesota and elsewhere. I would love some pictures if you can, but I
wouldn't blame you if you held them hostage for some pictures from
me... haha :) Hasta luego!!
-Elder Whitaker
This week has been a week of change and review what I and we are doing
here. This week was the first week that we have contacted at least 20
people every day of the week, including the days, like P-day where we
have lots less time! That's a pretty big accomplishment, really. We
weren't able have many lessons, though, not because of taking time to
contact people, but because people weren't home when we went by them.
But it has been a better week than last week. Elder Payne and I
realized that achieving the 20 is not impossible to achieve every day,
nor is it something that hard. And also we realized that taking the
time to contact doesn't hinder us visiting people who we need to visit
(this has been our excuse, or fear that hindered us from getting the
20 daily). For example, on Monday, as I might have mentioned last
week, Elder Johnson and Elder Bettridge (our Zone Leaders) gave us the
challenge of achieving the 20 that day. Elder Payne and I decided to
try our best to accomplish that. And we did it! Even after teaching a
lesson where we set a baptismal date! And also, after contacting 20
people we still had time to continue to visit people who we had
planned. It really was a great testimony to me that the Lord provides
a way to fulfill his commandments. And then the next day Elder Johnson
and Elder Bettridge gave the zone the challenge to each reach the 20
each day and we would receive a party as a prize. That also gave me
and the Elder Payne the motivation, the push, we needed to continue to
contact at least 20 people each day this week. Unfortunately not all
companionships could do it every day, but that doesn't really matter
whether we have the party or not. The blessings we received and will
receive from following that direction/commandment from The Lord are
more important than a party will ever be.
As I said, we didn't get to teach a lot, but this week teaching was
better than last week. We were able to teach Dulce Rodriguez, who is
reading the Book of Mormon, and Brayan Sanchez, who is also reading
the Book of Mormon. We also taught Arturo Alejandro who did not read
in the Book of Mormon, but read the pamphlet and also said he knows
that Joseph Smith is a prophet and would like to be baptized someday
later, when he has learned more (that was a little surprise to us)!;
then we set a baptismal date with himon 26 July! We also were able to
teach Roberto and Veronica about the Law of Chastity so that they can
marry in order to keep that commandment. We also talked about the
Temple with them and how that's the ultimate goal, not only baptism,
and how their marriage can be eternal. And they committed to talk
about marriage with each other. So next time we will try to set a
wedding date along with a baptismal date with them! We also taught
Aurora, a new investigator who lived in the area of the other
Elders, but recently moved to our area and came to church two Sundays
ago. We were also able to teach two of the Vargas family kids, Jesus
and Magaly. We extended the invitation to be baptized, but when we did
they had to go right away and we had to finish with a prayer before
receiving an answer from them. And we also taught Cesar Maldonado, a
16 year old less-active. It seems to be going well with him, we are
establishing a good relationship with him, and we're hoping that will
help him keep his commitments.
I love y'all and loved hearing about the ROV and the trips to
Minnesota and elsewhere. I would love some pictures if you can, but I
wouldn't blame you if you held them hostage for some pictures from
me... haha :) Hasta luego!!
-Elder Whitaker