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| My desk with my one picture of home that I allow myself to look at every day. |
Dear Family,
Another long hard week full of sweat, sun, lessons falling
through, stagnant investigators, and physical challenges. Frustrating.
Monday
We found a great young man to teach – only he doesn’t live
in our area. We received a
referral for an interested part-member family –only we found out that they
don’t live in our area either.
Maybe this transfer is about opening the door for other
missionaries? We’ve already passed
along 7-8 solid potential investigator to the other elders and sisters. We were able to visit and teach P.
again. Her opening prayer was
beautiful. She thanked the Lord for sending “two angels” to help her and her
family during her difficult trial.
It was the first time we’ve taught just her, and the spirit was really
calm and comforting. She starts
chemo on Thursday.
Tuesday
Really hot and not very productive. We were accompanied by our WML, C. to
contact an inactive member that has stopped us in the supermarket and asked for
help returning to church…but…his address doesn’t exist. So we wasted 2 hours of walking and
working.
We also had a district meeting.
Elder Amorin sprung a surprise practice on us ---great for experienced
missionaries, but Sister S resembles a fainting goat/heat-stroked guinea
pig. It was rough. She is getting better during lessons
when the spirit is present, but she just freezes during practices. I know her and I can see that there IS
progress, but I received a 20 minute phone call later that day detailing all of
the things that other people have done with their trainees and how I am not
training correctly. I think that
he means well, but lecturing and bossing aren’t the right ways to go about
things.
Wednesday
We had interviews with President. He’s a good man with lots of responsibility. He seemed stressed and hot when he
arrived. Sister S. and I had the
first set of interviews. When I
walked in for my interview, we sat down and I folded my arms, thinking that we
would begin by inviting the spirit through prayer. Instead, he started laughing and asked, somewhat
condescendingly, “What happened?”
Uh, could you specify your question? Are you talking about my numbers? The rest of the interview was very very odd, and I left with
100 more questions, doubts, and feelings of inadequacy….I guess that everyone
has off days. He is a good
man.
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| Packages from home arrived just in time! |
We got letters and packages on Wednesday! Thank you Grandma for the PEANUT BUTTER!!!!! And thanks Mom
for the care package.
Thursday
We had a crazy rain and thunderstorm! The roads flooded and I’ve never
experienced lightening so close before.
We were blessed to be with a member and close to a member’s house when
the storm hit. We waited out the
worst of it and returned to our house early, only to discover that our roof was
leaking on our kitchen’s side and had a good 4-5 inches of standing water. I love Brazil. Also every time we use the washing
machine, the “septic system” backs up and seeps feces infested water
inside. Not cool!
Friday
We had a great lesson as the end of another long day. We taught an in-active family, and
arrived there with literally no idea what we were going to teach. They were our plan “C” for the last
hour of the day. Luckily we were
with M. and after saying the opening prayer, we all 3 worked in harmony and
taught well.
The night ended with noticing blood in my urine.
Saturday
I had to go to the hospital and waste a half a day being
told what I already knew. I had a
UTI. Even more frustrating than
getting stuck by a needle and wasting my time, was knowing that I was
inconveniencing or WML and his wife for a stupid bladder infection. I didn’t even get the cute doctor, AND
my district leader called and chewed me out for not getting my numbers that
night.
So yeah, I haven’t been the most patient/Christ-like person lately. The lesson we had marked for Saturday
night was the part member family that I mentioned earlier. We didn’t end up teaching them, but we
did end up having the help of L.C. and H. (and their car!) We were finally able to teach J and E.
who were married about 3 months ago.
We had a great lesson and she accepted to be baptized.
Sunday
We spent 6 hours walking and having lessons fall
through. Luckily, M was with
us. Seriously, he is a
life-saver. It is so nice to be
able to have a member there to make the routine seem a little less routine. He
hit his 5th month mark on the 18th and is preparing to go to the temple. I think that his Mom, Marcia, will also
be able to go with him.
The highlight of the day was teaching M’s family. We read 1 Nephi 3-4 with his Mom (a
recent convert) and his sister (a non member) . At first I thought that maybe his sister wouldn’t be
interested in reading with us, but she followed along and everyone got into the
story of Nephi, Laman, and Lemuel.
We ended up having a great discussion on how this story can apply to our
lives. The Book of Mormon is true
and has real power to bless our lives.
Well that brings me up to date. I am really thankful for my sweet companion. She has a myriad of spiritual gifts –
like the gift of being generally happy, smiling and laughing, or the gift of
connecting easily with children.
These are gifts that I lack, and I am grateful for the chance to serve
and learn with her. She has
patience with all of my many flaws.
I love and miss you all. P-days are hard, especially as I think of and remember all
of you. I am lonely. I miss clean
floors and being able to flush toilet paper. I miss my country and my home. What is keeping me here and keeping me going is a burning
testimony and sure knowledge that this is God’s work. When people choose to
live the gospel of Jesus Christ, their lives change. Being part of that process is priceless.
Con Amor, Sister Colvin
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