Week 15 - Oildale

 So, we have some pretty good investigators. On Monday we went by the Monceras with Bishop, and Eddie and him are best friends. It's awesome. He is reading every day, from what we can tell, and he reads to his wife who can't read too well. We got Chris and Kimberly's brother Erik as an investigator, and we have to go super slow with him. He has a girlfriend who is amazing. They both agree that they don't want to do anything before marriage, and they have faith. We are kind of losing Juan Garcia, so please pray for him. Also pray for the Carrillo family. We had the family come to church, and they didn't like it, saying "Where's the statue of Christ? Why aren't they reading from the bible?" and other things like that. We'll have a lesson to explain why we do or do not do certain things. I learned a lot about listening to the Spirit. We hope to start teaching Juan's mom. 

About my investigators, to be honest, without them, I wouldn't be happy as a missionary without them. The Lord has been trying to teach me to love them, and they really keep me happy. 

Speaking of love, there is a thought that I have been trying to apply to my work. So, God has asked that we love our neighbors and our enemies. I have had a thought about loving your enemies or even people you haven't met yet. It made me think of a few years ago when Elder Bednar came down to Louisiana and had a youth discussion. He said "I love you guys. You can say 'you don't really know me, how can you love me?' But I do, and I can. I love you because I know who you are. You are sons and daughters of God." That quote then made me think of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. When He suffered in Gethsemane, He took upon Himself our pains and infirmities and sicknesses of both body and spirit. In essence, He's lived the stubbed toe and the car accident and everything else. Really, He has lived our whole lives, one after the other. With that in mind, He is really in us. When I eat dinner at a family's home, I can see Christ in each of them, and in me. I can see Him in there. When I talk to people on the streets, I can love them for two reasons that I can see; because they are children of God, my brothers and sisters, and because I can see the One I try to love all my life in their eyes. 

At church we listen to the English translation because there aren't enough headphones even for the ones who need them. 

We do go to ward council, and my mission leaders really are amazing. They really care. There are, in total, two sets of Spanish missionaries, and our zone leaders are the only English missionaries. Our district has two sets of sisters and two sets of elders, and the zone has four sets of elders and three sets of sisters. 

I did get my winter coat, and it is getting a little chilly.

Something sad that happened this week is when the Carrillo family left church early.

Something challenging that happened this week was when all of our appointments fell through, but it taught me to pray in faith, and we knocked on doors in promising places! 

Something happy that happened this week was finding out that the Monceras are reading together! Thanks for praying for me:)  I love you guy, and thanks for praying for me. I do have photos this week! 

My comp is awesome.

 

 

 I leaned back too far and while I was studying.

 What I eat.

 What I carry.

The view from my livingroom window.

Elder Homegren was AP legend.  He just went home.