Hey Family.
Not a whole lot to report this week, and I was planning on writing everyone letters but then Sis Falcon had a meeting yesterday and getting my hair cut took longer than I thought it would. Haha, I finally got my hair trimmed for the first time in 4 months. Oh missions make you so lazy about the most random things. I buy fancy shampoos now but don’t take the time to actually do anything with my hair. Oh well, hopefully it will be ridiculously long by the time I get back. Anyways… I was talking about letters. Everyone will get one next week.
So, the miracle for this week was Santiago. We met Santiago in front of his house while we were looking for some other investigators. We gave him a Book of Mormon, explained a little bit about it, and set up a return appointment. He didn’t seem all that interested so we decided if the return appointment didn’t happen we wouldn’t worry about it too much. When we stopped by for the return appointment he told us he didn’t want to talk because he was babysitting his grand-kids and he wouldn’t commit to a time when we could come back. So we were planning on dropping it. THEN. The next day he called US and asked us to come back! WHAT? Awesome. Anyways, so we go back and he tells us all about his son that passed away, and how he had started to read the Book of Mormon after we left and how it made him cry. So, we teach him for a while, invite him to come to church on Sunday, and leave. Later that day we were inviting investigators to come to a baptism in Hna Falcon’s old area and we weren’t finding anyone so, Hna Falcon decided to try Santiago. Guess who came to a baptism THEN rode his bike all the way to church the next day! Awesome.
Also. There was this older gentleman I met during Christmas lights here at the visitor center while I was working on the front steps. He had come to see the lights with some family but he wasn’t sure where they were at. We chatted for a while and it turned out that his wife had recently passed away and he wasn’t a member so, I invited him to meet with the missionaries in his area. He said that sounded nice, but he was going to be moving, and he just really didn’t have time because he was dealing with all the insurance and things like that. I was bummed, but I got his phone number and told him I’d call to see how he was doing, and make sure he could get a hold of the missionaries when he resettled. Anyways, I’ve called him a couple times since then with relatively similar results as our first conversation. He tells me about how hard things are, and how he’s not sure he can do it anymore. I testify of eternal families, a loving heavenly father, and invite him to talk to the missionaries. He says thanks, but no thanks. So last night I called him again for another try. He told me about even more things that are going on, new apartment, little sister in rehab, health problems, and overall loneliness. I tell him he NEEDS to talk to the missionaries. He says he’s too angry, he doesn’t have time, and his apartment is too messy. The spirit says, ‘we are not taking no for an answer this time’. So I said, “Look, Guy. Things aren’t getting better, and there’s always going to be something. You’re ready to learn right now and I promise it will help. Things will get better if you talk to the Missionaries.” So finally after over 2 months and I don’t know how much time on the phone. I got Guy to accept missionaries. Whoohoo!
Mmm, I don’t know what else to talk about. I miss all of you, and I hope things get better soon :/ In three days I’ve been out for 6 months. I only need to play the Christus narration 4 more times and I’ll have done it 100 times. I’ve seen 36 brides taking photos here. Annnd I’ve probably eaten about a million lbs in refried beans.
Love you,
The best missionary you know
Sis Olidey