Hola Familia! Elder Lewis here from Bucaramanga like usual.
This week has been pretty interesting. I’ve been a little
sick. Me and my companion have had what I think is Strep Throat. Sure seemed to
slow us down a little bit. But, with some antibiotics and a little bit of
prayer, we are doing well. Man, I sound terrible! (due to being sick) But we
have had a couple of good experiences this week that I want to hurry and tell
you about because I don’t have a lot of time. I wish I had more time, that’s
make it easier, but we have a Family Home Evening coming up here before too
long.
Anyway, we reestablished contact with Familia Reyes, they
have been a source of concern for us for quite some time, they have had a move,
he started out his business by doing a like a portable gym, he loads everything
in a backpack and takes it with him to people’s houses. It’s really cool.
Really efficient actually, super cool. But they moved and now they have a
physical gym in their house. So we met with them again in their new house, we
helped them move a couple of weeks ago, but we met with them in their new house
this week, and we had a really cool experience where we were going to ask them
“hey, what’s going on? Do you guys still want to listen to the missionaries?”
because they’ve been a family of gold, but its just been slow with them being
busy with their business and things. So we asked them, “hey do you want to hear
from the missionaries still?” and they said well ya! “Claro que si!” Well, in
this moment we felt the spirit kind of settle over the room and I felt
impressed to ask them what they felt when we are with them, what they feel in
our lessons. It’s really interesting, they said: “well, we feel joy. We feel
peace. We feel excited.” John said “I really miss it. What I wouldn’t give to
have that feeling again.” I asked him what he would do to have that feeling
with him all the time, and he said “anything.” And then we testified that he
can. I cant’ even explain to you my feelings at this point. They kind of were
in awe that they could have that feeling the whole time. We taught them about
the gift of the Holy Ghost. Well, Familia Reyes, they are now on the road to
being baptized again. So we are going to continue with them and hopefully the
spirit can continue to work with them, which it has so far, and hopefully they
will start to read the Book of Mormon more.
Other than that, it’s really been a week of trying to grow
our depth here. There hasn’t been a whole lot, I’ve been kind of slacking on my
journal writing so I don’t remember it quite as well. Today we played some
football and soccer, and things for P-day. Nothing too spectacular. It’s crazy
how fast I forget things…. The time is just flying. I don’t know where it’s
going. 6 months have gone in a real hurry. It’s good to hear from you all, I’m
sorry that I don’t get to message you all individually. It sure is a struggle
here to get everyone written and all of that. I am very grateful for this
opportunity to be here in the mission and have had some experiences that are
very near and dear to my heart. Every week is not without its struggles,
sometimes I wonder why these people just can’t leave their vices.
I guess here’s one thing: this week was Ash Wednesday for
the Catholics. I remember looking at some pictures of Conrad’s in Guatemala and
it showed all these parades with all these people dressed in hooded costumes, ya that
was this week. But it will be more during Semana Santa, “Holy Week”, next month
during Easter. But ya, we walked right in the middle of this parade, walking up
the street and all the sudden there are all the Catholics with crosses painted
upside down on their foreheads, walking through the street. They have the
actual procession, and then a bunch of people following them, so there are
people dressed in the hooded costumes that are black or dark blue with white
gloves, and some of them are carrying this boat kind of thing with a statue of
Jesus with the cross and Simon helping him. But ya, I have never felt so out of place in my
life. So that was interesting. So many people here are so Catholic. Its all
just tradition.
I just received a message from Dad saying that he was able
to see the J-Dubs this week. Haha. Oh man, the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Did they
come to your door? Because they saw us this week, and when they saw that we
were missionaries, they didn’t share a message. My companion was like “Aren’t
you going to share a message?” and they said “no, we are just going to leave
this pamphlet.” We said: “will you share a message?” and they said “No. its all
good.” So… ya. I actually have a lot of respect for Jehovah’s Witnesses. They
are wrong, that’s for sure, but they have a lot of things that are right. Their
members are really dedicated, they are required to study and proselyte, and part of
me thinks that if we proselyted half as well as the Jehovah’s Witnesses that we
would have double the baptisms. Ya, we have frequent run in’s
with them. Really, honestly, the best thing you can do is share your testimony
with them. Present the doctrine and preach with the spirit and then leave it up
to the good Lord. Then they are going to soften their hearts and realize
Jehovah of the Old Testament is Jesus Christ of the New. So, ya. Yay for talking to the J-Dubs. I don’t know
what they are like in Utah, but here they are pretty cool. They aren’t super
pushy. One time Elder Zuniga and I were in this house and they have a pamphlet
from the J-Dubs and Elder Zuniga took it and very slyly put it in his backpack
and when we got back to the apartment, he burned it. It was funny.
Well, I have said a whole lot of nothing, but my thoughts
are there and I sure have had a slice of humble pie here in the last couple
weeks. It’s been a little rough. But that’s to be expected here in the mish. I’m
trying to just make this tiem the best, and I hope that you guys are doing the
same. I hope that you guys are reading the Book of Mormon still, I have fallen
considerably behind you guys because I have been doing some reading assignments
from President, and some other things, so I hope that you guys are still doing
that because if we read the Book of Mormon, Satan can’t have power over us. I
know that to be true. I sure love you all. I miss you all. I have been trying
to do better at keeping my thoughts on this continent, so it is sure nice to
sit down and think about you all for a minute. Well, I love you all, and I will
talk to you next week. Chao!
-Elder Lewis
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