We are at the NMSU
library to e-mail and we stick with Elder ONeill and Elder Fenner (the other
District Leader and his companion in our zone) on P-days and they do laundry at
our place, because we don't have to pay like we would in a laundry mat. Anyway,
this last week was really interesting....What I mean by that is that none of
the people we felt inspired to see were ever home. However, it did give
us a chance to do some finding through tracting and street contacting.
Throughout the week we
had dinner with Hermana Staggs and Hermano Flores, and Hermana Garcia. It was
KFC on Wednesday night and I believe it was roast on Thursday night, but it was
a good experience and at the first dinner with a member I shared the scripture,
which was pretty scary, but I was relieved and spoke what I could in Spanish
and the members truly appreciated that.
On Friday we had a lot
of success and saw so many miracles. We were just walking down the street and
this guy sort of limping comes out of nowhere ahead of us and normally we
wouldn't run up to someone and scare them, but we felt impressed to call out to
him. It turns out he was looking for some help and was walking and miserable,
but was helping his brother out. His name is Richard and we have an appointment
with him on Tuesday.
This street within
itself is a miracle: West Ethel Street. We walked up to another house after
that and knocked and a pitbull ran out and charged at us, but for some reason
it quickly dashed back into the house. A younger guy came out and soon after
that we figured his name was Manny and he wanted to meet with us, but not at
his house. I believe that we can get a member involved with him to both
fellowship him and create that support system and also have their home be a
place where we can teach the lessons.
After we left
his home we went to the house one down to him on the right hand side. This
house was full of barking dogs, and the gate was sealed shut and locked up
tightly. We felt inspired to walk one more house down and little did we know
that we had caught someone home who was never home, especially on Fridays
because of sports and other things.
His name was also
Manny and he had three sons who all played sports (baseball mainly) and one of
them played the violin. I know that already there is a specific reason I
started in this area. I played baseball and I play musical instruments. Now when
we start to teach this family, Manny, Jessica, and their three kids, I will be
able to relate the Gospel to them in such a way that they can apply to their
coaching, sports, and instrumental experiences. Three in a row on the street on
Friday....Boom Boom Boom!! It was such a miracle and now we already have eight
lessons scheduled before Wednesday!
I am really excited to
find more people to teach. We have focused pretty heavily on less actives and
even members, because we feel like they will be a blessing to the
investigators. My Spanish in lessons is finally picking up and I am able to
speak it a lot more. Before, I would share a testimony and testify of a couple
things here or there, but now I hope to be able to switch off every now and
then with my companion.
This past week it was
over 100 degrees every day. Today, it is 93 and overcast and it definitely
feels so nice. District meeting on Friday morning was a blast and the
role-plays were actually pretty fun. I know Grandma did not like them, but I am
like Grandpa when it comes to that sort of thing. The Zone Leaders, Elder Lish
and Elder Kemp, sat in on it and I role-played with Elder Kemp who has been out
here for almost 10 months and it was truly awesome. Our district is made up of
my companion Elder Keddington (District Leader) and I (Miranda North Area),
Hermana Faddis and Hermana Nunez (Miranda South Area), Sister McShane and
Sister McBride (Picacho Area), and Sister Stucki and Sister Montini (Dona Ana
and University Area). I really enjoyed eating out as a zone at Cici's after the
meeting.
Also on Friday,
Ricardo called us to bring him a quesadilla and we made him one, but we
also used that as a teaching moment and took a member, Sister Snyder from
the English ward, and we taught him about the atonement and committed him to
baptism. We don't have a set date yet, but he is definitely making a change in
his life. He is seventy years old and when he stops smoking he can get
baptized. His dog Pelluza bit my leg, but she didn't latch on, so now I can
relate to Jeff already within a week, but it is awesome!
On Saturday our ward
had a Father's Day Activity and I got my first real taste of home cooked
Mexican food at the park. I am worried about eating menudo ( the inside of a
cow's stomach), because most everyone says it is a common dish here .We played
football with the youth and played games, and I was with one of the teachers in
the ward (dad for the day) and I helped him have a good time. I met the members
of the ward and started to see if I could help them out in any way.
I met the Bishop
and we actually ate dinner with him, his wife, and their in-laws Hermano and
Hermana Hernandez. Hermano Hernandez teaches Gospel Principles and put me on
the spot, but it was good for me and apparently I pronounce words really well,
although, I don't speak as much as I would like to. Also in Sacrament Meeting
yesterday, I saw that our ward was not even half-full, but I got up and bore my
testimony in Spanish and it was a great experience!!
I am excited for this
next week. We may have a baptism or two with Julissa and Jonathan Orduno and
their dad is getting the priesthood on Sunday, which is exciting. My companion
is an awesome trainer and is teaching me to be super organized in everything
that I do. Last night, we had to take numbers for the Zone Leaders; you know
that one scene in "The Best Two Years."
Thanks for everything,
I hope that you all have an awesome week. Remember this verse this week: Alma
37:37! :D
Love,
Elder Richards
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