`Nobody rises so early or is so tired by 10:30 PM. Nobody else can clap houses quite so loud. Nobody else can get such a thrill at the end of a disappointing day when someone says, ¨Won´t you come in; we have been waiting for you. ¨´- anonymous
Oct. 10, 2011
Hola familia! Como están? Well, it has been another crazy week here in Asunción. We are working hard and teaching tons. My sister says that my letters are becoming too missionary-ish. But what do you expect? I am a “real missionary!” haha
Three days this week it hit 100 degrees but then cooled off again. I am thankful it’s spring and not summer yet. I think that the Lord was really looking out for me since I only have to live through one Paraguayan summer and two winters.
So, a random Paraguay fact: I am pretty sure that the collectivos/busses here are more fun than the Indian Jones ride at Disneyland! Sometimes you stand up and they stop really fast, we call this surfing when you have to hang on for your life and hopefully not fall over. Paraguayans are pros at this. It’s us gringos who have the trouble. Also, if you sit in the back, you can get some serious air when you go over a large hole in the road and there are many. Since the roads here are usually cobblestone, it’s a bumpy ride, all the time. Also, something else you won’t see in the states is the word Jesus on every collective or a scriptural reference and Jesus, Virgin Mary, and Saint stickers in the front of every bus.
We have some sweet investigators right now. Unfortunately, none of our super purete investigators came to church yesterday. Gisel is doing well as are her “Narnia” siblings. She left her Book of Mormon at a neighbor’s house so she went online to lds.org and started reading it online. She is so awesome! That just shows what kind of initiative she has as a 15-year-old, to learn.
We taught a 17 year old who was a referral from a member. She is very active in her church and reads the Bible often. We gave her the Book of Mormon and explained it to her and she invited us in to watch a video from her Church called “The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon.” I guess she didn’t realize that this was an anti-Mormon video, because she was just honestly inviting us in out of the goodness of her heart. No thanks. I would rather not be exposed to more of the Adversary’s lies. We politely declined. Lol.
Ariel, was going to come to church but his mom was sick. He said, “I want to know if this is true and that’s why I am going to pray.” Que guapo! (guapo here means, awesome, not attractive, btw). He pulled out the pamphlet from the church and said, “I want this. I want an eternal family.” His entire family is against him changing his religion, so he must have a lot of courage and really want to make this change because it will be hard.
We met a man named Julio, whose wife died a few years ago and he has experienced health problems that have made him re-evaluate his life. He said, “I want to know Jesus, how he is, even though I know it will take years to really know him.” He has a darling 10 year old grandson named Tobias and his grandson has been reading the Book of Mormon to him every night and then they pray together. Chulina. He said that he sleeps well after we leave because he has felt so good listening to us teach him (aka the Spirit)- we just need him to come to church now.
Another memorable lesson came from a contact off the street. While we were singing a person stopped and said, “You should sing more and talk less because that’s when I feel closest to God.” Haha, maybe that’s something to consider?
Hermana Lucas and Elder Lucas (an older missionary couple) came to our ward. I just love them. They are from Utah and she is the mission nurse for both missions in Paraguay and they are also in charge of the Perpetual Education Fund for the whole country of Paraguay. I’ve decided I want to be just like them when I grow up.
We visited a family in our ward. Their aunt just passed away from an operation gone wrong. Their Dad is still bitter about this and has turned away from God, instead of turning toward him. We taught about the Spirit World and it was a very cool/emotional lesson. I really don’t know what it’s like to lose someone close to me but the cool thing is that Jesus Christ does. And so when I don’t understand what the people I teach have been through, I encourage them to turn to someone who does understand, the Savior.
We worked so hard this week in the heat. Add walking for 8 or so miles everyday with it being HOT and this equals being TIRED. Missions consist of all kinds of days: long days, hot days, the dengue days, rainy days, P-days, `otro días`, baptism days, fast and testimony days, the good days, and the could’ve-been-better days. But it’s the people who are really searching to know, who make it all worth it. The people who have been searching and praying and waiting and wondering, to KNOW, to FIND the TRUE CHURCH, the real Gospel of Jesus Christ, that make it all worth it. It’s the quiet `gracias` after a Spirit-filled lesson, the look in their eyes when you know that the Spirit has taught them the truth, the knowledge that their lives will never be the same. All this because you left your air-conditioned life and stepped into the culture of Paraguay, because you opened your mouth and attempted to speak in your broken Spanish, because you made the choice to leave it all behind and give it all you have, that their lives will never be the same. But it’s not only their lives that you have changed, but also, your own. Because you have taught them about the one life that has made this all possible: the life of Jesus Christ.
Until next week,
Your favorite Hermana Missionary,
Hermana Brittner
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