All,
Happy day, I pray that y'all had a happy pentacost, aunque (although) the church doesn't do anything with it... But whatever. I'll take the bishop instructing the ward on how to be more converted to the gospel any day of the week, particularly as he conveyed counsel from E' Ballard, which is also cool. The gist of what he said is that the biggest preoccupation of the brethren is the conversion of the members, and that the miembrezia (members) of the church needs to seek their own personal converting experiences. The catch is that most of the members aren't doing it, as they aren't 1) Repenting, 2) reading the scriptures daily, 3) praying, 4) coming to church on time (half\ of the people show up after sacrament), 5) attending the temple, 6) repenting.
The thing is that these are all chronic problems in the ward, and Latino culture in general. They all love to feed the missionaries, and love us, but they are rather flojo, so it's really hard to get anything done. I think, though, that is probably a problem everywhere...it is hard for folks to change and build strong habits.
Sometimes though, miracles happen like what happened this past Tuesday. We have dinner weekly with the Txxxxxi family. They generally complain about how broken the ward is, and how divided it is, really rather sad, all things considered, but they were "too busy" to try and fix the ward, so nothing ever happened. Then the Hno (brother) got a call as a ward missionary and now he's done a complete 180 with how he's acting. He actively wants to work to fix the ward, and make it better. He wants to go out with us, and he wants to strengthen and reactivate the members of the ward. The difference is literally night and day. It's so cool!
We also have decided that we're going to dump the bulk of our investigators as they ain't coming to church, although they do read the Book of Mormon. we are so busy with so many investigators that we are having a hard time giving those that are progressing the time and support that they need. These people ain't committed enough to act so we can't work with them. Hopefully, that will change and they will come to church and be more ready to accept the full gospel message.
So the work'll take a bit of a setback over the next couple weeks, but it'll be refining the work so it's worth it. as the below paragraph demonstrates. (it's from another elder in PV)
"Elder Acosta, an area 70, began talking about the work we're doing as a church. He used a part in Helaman when the society is really wicked, but that the church is continuing to progress. They're baptizing by the thousands. Then to the surprise of even the priests in the church, they begin baptizing by the tens of thousands. Then he talked about our day. Usually we baptize as a church in the hundreds of thousands per year. But, with this new era that the Brethren's vision and how the work is hastening, we will soon be baptizing in the millions per year. When he said that, there was something of a rush in the room. He then went on to describe some of what the apostles have been saying in their visits around the world, from Elder Holland in India to Elder Nelson in Japan. Then he made the connection. This is going to happen as we as members and missionaries simply open our mouths more and have gospel conversations with those around us. He also said that the real success is found in simply inviting someone to learn more. Whether they say yes or not, the success is when we extend that invitation.
He then committed the entire branch to do just that this week. To go out and have gospel conversations this week and then, just as importantly, report on it to the branch president. Because when that accountability is there, "the rate of improvement accelerates" to quote President Monson."
So I invite ya'll to shape up, and get to work, the field is white, and already to harvest, who's ready to use a sickle? (silly commie, we don't use sickles, we use combies :P)
Transfers were this week, both E' Howlett and I are staying. I'm a new DL over sisters, which has me a little stressed, but I'm happy and healthy. Yay! I took over the district of an elder who leaves on Tuesday, so I'm now over sisters, 2 companionships of them, 1 in my ward and the other over the stake YSA branch. I got a call yesterday night saying that I'm staying and that I'm called as a DL, so that's how it went down. It makes me kind of stressed and nervous but I will do what the Lord calls me to do because He knows best.
I am still on a bike. With sisters, we are the only companionship in my district on bike although it also means that I don't need to go on any exchanges, yay!
Elder Howlett has been out since October last year, and he's having some major stress management problems, so pray for him por favor. And pray for me too.
Also, I now love guac, provided it has serranos, or habaneros in it, as it needs some kick. So good though....
That's the week,
C
Elder Wilson
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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