Hola Familia,
For
the past few months I've been, in my journal, keeping a running total of
the number of consecutive days I've written in my journal. I have found
this to be amazingly effective in providing me with the motivation to
write daily. Right now my running total is 76 days, with my previous
writing-streaks being (from first to last) 2, 2, 1, and 20 days, with
only a day at most separating those runs. This is possibly the most
well-cataloged period of my life. It's pretty amazing to think about.
On a similar note, I've realized recently that I've
been back in the mission for more time than I was set apart for Round 1.
I'll admit that I was a bit wary as the week approached, for fear of
history repeating itself, but it looks like I'll be fine. What's also
weird is that I technically hit my year anniversary just a couple weeks
ago. It's a wee bit strange just thinking about it.
We found a two new investigators this week, which
basically tripled the size of our rapidly shrinking teaching pool ("What
do you mean you're
spendingsummeringuatamala/droppingus/absurdlybusywithmedicalissues!?").
The first is a person who identifies himself as a
"Deist", which I guess translates into having some vague belief in a
Judeo-Christian higher power but nothing really specific or personable.
He says he's into meditation and studying religions, though in the
latter case it seems like he means he reads a ton of
crazy apocryphal/pseudopigriphal stuff. Whatever the case is, he
accepted the challenge to read the Book of Mormon, so there's hope.
The other investigator is a Christian guy who we
tracted into. During our short lesson with him, he said (several times)
something to the effect of "I think what you guys do is great but I
don't agree with you doctrinally." But then he said some things that he
thought were our doctrines, after which it was clear that he had us
confused with the JWs. He has a pretty decent understanding of the Bible
and actually knows quite a bit of the Old Testament, it seems, and he
readily accepted the opportunity to read from the Book of Mormon, so
provided that our next lesson with him goes well he seems promising.
Yesterday somebody we were randomly talking to
decided to stop talking with us after we told he that we don't follow
the news. I think that's a first.
Also
yesterday, I taught the Gospel Principles class because the normal
teacher was gone. The lesson was on the gift of the Holy Ghost. I think
this was the first time I competently taught a class in such a setting.
It wasn't really exciting, but the Spirit was definitely there.
My journal entry for Thursday says "Today I saw some people walking llamas."
Attached
is a picture back from transfer day. I would have been more dressed had
I known that my new companion would have been arriving later than
advertised.
Sincerely,
 |
| Elder Alex...putting the 'j' in 'p' day. |
- Elder Oeste
