Hello friends and family,
I think it´s been a while since I´ve actually salutated anyone...is that the word? Said hello? Greeted? I don´t know. Don´t ask me. The point is. What´s up? How´s it kicking? I´m good. You know, just keeping it real in Vicinte Lopez. This week has been really fun. Data includes one baptismal date, a lot of old investigators that we´ve re-started teaching, and stake conference with Presidente Gulbrandsen. And let me tell you, there´s not a lot of things more stressful in life then knowing you are going to Stake Conference, where your Mission President is going to be speaking, and knowing you don´t have a single investigator that´s going to show....Yeah, that one hurt just a bit. The good news is the conference was great! All about missionary work. Point being -share your testimony. Read the Book of Mormon, pray, and attend church. You´re going to receive an answer.
Okay, some fun stories. First, so we´re teaching this security guard named Raul. He gives us a reference for another security guard about two blocks away named John. So we go to talk to John and it´s a little weird because me being the very suave person that I am started out with "hey, we were talking with your friend Raul and he said you had some questions about God." the whole "tactful" thing is still a work in progress. What you should all be impresed with is that I started the contact, and that we didn´t really beat around the bush. We´re here to talk about our Heavenly Father. He exists. Bam. Okay, next step.
So we´re sitting there talking about his doubts and we´re sharing his testimony and we find out he doesn´t actually live in our area, so we note down his direction to pass on, leave him with a pamphlet and then ask. Hey, is there anything that we can do for you? (a very common question. It´s very natural now). And to my surprise he starts talking about how he´s kind of lonely, he´s in a new country (from Peru) and he doesn´t really like his job, he´s the only kid in the family without a girlfriend. And it was really interesting to see the change in him. That he was willing to open up to us, and really all we did was ask a simple question and then stop and listen. And after he had opened up a bit, I did what every good missionary should do. I responded with my testimony and told him "yo se que por medio del Evangelio usted va a tener una relacion mas fuerte con Dios and no va a sentir soltera nada mas." Now, why did I write that in spanish. Because there is an error. What I meant to say "I know that through the Gospel you will have a stronger relationship with God and you won´t feel alone any more." How it came out " I know that through the Gospel you will have a stronger relationship with God and you won´t be single anymore." ....hehe, oops. Well, we are very in to families.... luckily I just kept talking and I don´t think he noticed.....my companion did. She gave me a bit of grief over that later.
Story later: So we´re heading out to Stake Conference right? Right. Sunday morning, there´s no one in the streets. We´re at the bus stop when a group of men walk up to the parada and start talking with us. Now, these men may or may not have been highly intoxicated (it is sunday morning, the day after all the parties...) and one of them comes up to me and starts talking with me. In Dutch first of all, and I´m sorry, I just don´t know dutch. But he asks me if I know English. Which I do. and then the following conversation was a mix of English and Spanish. I don´t know why he asked me if I knew dutch.
First off, he asks me why I´m here. I tell him I´m serving a mission, preaching and testifying of God and Jesus Christ. To which he responds. No no! Why here, in Buenos Aires. So I get to explain a bit about how being a missionary means dedicating yourself to the will of God for 18 months. And I get the lucky chance to think solely of him. And it was actually really cool because in the beginning they were just trying to rag me a bit (hello, they were intoxicated) but after a bit they calmed down. Anyways, continue. So, I ask them if they believe in Christ. The dutchman responds, yes, no, I don´t know. He doesn´t (points to friend) he´s a communist. ....okay. Not sure how to respond to that, but "oh, you´re from Russia?" face palm Hermana Reed, what kind of question was that? "No, I´m not from Russia, just a communist". Anyways, we keep talking. And finally the Collectivo arrives. So we´re dashing to catch it but before we leave we shove an invitation for Stake Conference and a pamphlet about the Restoration in their hands. "Read this!" And then I got on the bus. hehe, my first real interaction with an intoxicated person on the mish. Not to shabby. I don´t want to do it all the time, but it was kind of fun. Mildly scary until they calmed down but what are you going to do? Luckily, Heavenly Father loves me and protects all Sister Missionaries.
Anyways, those are some fun stories. One thing I dowant to talk about is the priesthood. I love the priesthood. And I love watching people have it in their homes. Of all things, I´m excited to get married to have the priesthood with me constantly. I say this because last night my companion received a blessing for health. We were at the house of a member and we were chatting a bit and the ambiance was light hearted. But then after a moment, the Dad got really calm, and said okay, before I give the blessing, can we say a prayer. And it was like BOOM instant change in the air. And in him, I´m not sure if I can properly explain this. But it was the time where he was going to use his authority and he was treating it very sacradly. Like, he knew that this power comes from God, and he was going to treat it with respect, and act honorably in the process. I don´t know. I just loved it. I love it when the priesthood holders in our church recognize that the power and order that they have come from God. It is incredible to watch. And I love it. So, to all you priesthood holders, recognize what you hold. You have the amazing opportunity to bless your families. Forever. You are a direct link to the power of God. It is sacred. It is soo sacred. And miracles happen every day because you are worthy to hold that power. You help so many people just by your mere presence. Also, thank you for your examples. You do so much. Keep being worthy of what you hold. Please, don´t ever forget who you represent when you are invoking the priesthood. Don´t ever forget.
Love you all, Keep smiling and keep being you. You all have incredible personalities that help so many people keep going in their busy, hectic, harrid lives. Do good. Be good.
Hermana Reed
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