Hi FamBam,
Okayyyy pues another great week was had in the campo misional. I guess there was Thanksgiving and a whole bunch of other things that happened that I've already forgotten about.
My Thanksgiving was a good day. The weather was perfect, all was well. It was a normal proselyting day, so we had to find ways to not be annoying missionaries. After studies we went and served the Naumann's by helping them set up for their Thanksgiving dinner. The Paz and Zazuetta families came and ate at their house, so we were really grateful for that. After we helped them, we stopped by some people then headed over to the Beckstrands for Thanksgiving at 1 pm. They invited any of the VC sisters that wanted to come, so there were probably like 10 of us who came, plus them and their family. Sister Beckstrand pulls out all the stops and it was just a traditional Thanksgiving meal but all really good. After that, we went and visited Ana and Isaac at their house and helped them prep for their Thanksgiving meal, and talked with Isaac about his thoughts about baptism, etc. Then at 4 we had to be at the Visitor's Center! And we had a prep meeting and then the lights were on!
So, yes...Christmas lights are on! It's so fun. It's so interesting because it's pretty much exactly the same as last year, and it's interesting doing it with like different missionaries by my side, and also seeing how my attitude towards it has changed. Last year, I love Christmas lights and worked super hard...but I definitely saw how I got way too consumed by numbers, competitiveness, image, stuff like that. This year as a Visitor's Center we're all trying to get away from being too focused on numbers, and I'm trying to do the same, and it's interesting to find the balance. It's interesting to maintain the same sense of urgency, but to have it come from the right desires...having a sense of urgency to bless others lives, not just to receive x number of referrals.
But already I've seen a lot of blessings. I'm trying to focus on quality, and I feel like as I do that quantity will come. There were two people that I invited to accept missionaries that I felt like were really prepared. One was this 19 yr old kid who came in with his LDS girlfriend. He told me how his parents were less-active, but he never got baptized, and he always has kind of wondered "what if?" His girlfriend started talking to him about it, and you could just see the wheels turning in his head and the Spirit working on him. He was kind of nervous filling out the card, and he was like "I just feel like I'm trying something really new", talking about visiting with missionaries. But his girlfriend was so happy and I just know that something is going to come from it. So good.
Another guy was last night. I was talking to his wife and she seemed mildly interested. Then she handed the card to her husband and walked away. I started talking to him and immediately he's just like "Well why are there so many different churches, anyways? I feel like I'm pulled in a million different directions to raise my kids, and how can you know which direction is the right one?" saying all these great questions. I taught him the Restoration, and I think I maybe got a little too eager ahahah, but he accepted missionaries and I'm really excited!
So that's that...I'm sure lots of miracles will come from it. It's fun seeing great families who are eager to share the gospel with their friends. That's one reason why I love serving in Mesa is seeing all the many, many examples there are of great, converted members.
What else...well hopefully my letter will tell you more of the details of what's going on in the area. Basically, really good stuff! Ana and Isaac are doing really well...they are the fruits of years and years of good member missionary work. Then we had a breakthrough with the Zazuettas when we went to the lights with them. And Eric finally came to church! I was super nervous but he really enjoyed it, which I feel like is a big step...because basically the only thing that was holding him back from setting a date was that he hadn't gone to church.
I had a really interesting experience with Kiko. I tell you, the Paz family has been one of the most like...challenging families to teach, because I feel like it requires so much on our part to know how to help them, how to show our love for them, etc., because they have so far to come. Basically, Sister Schwartz was feeling like we needed to drop Kiko, and I was still feeling super torn...Sister Watkins and I were so close to helping him and we loved them so much. We went over on Saturday because we were going to go the VC with him. He outright rejected going there, with some excuse. We told him we wanted to talk to him, and basically he was like really just aloof and not being honest, etc., with us. His friend (who is the same one that gave Alex a hard time before getting baptized), was there and is the worst influence on them! Oh man it makes me so sad the ideas that are planted in their head. Basically, we drop Kiko and I start crying there, because I was so heartbroken and felt like it was all failing! The boys saw and Kiko saw and was like "Oh man, I can't see this." It was the first time I've ever cried about an investigator in front of them. It was so heartbreaking. BUt we're hoping that members will be able to help them out and we'll see what happens.
Anyways, ROLLLERCOASTER! But my time is up. Love you all! Sister Fors
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