Hola Familia,
I'm doing well. We are continuing in the work even though sometimes it doesn't seem like we are making a difference in other people's lives. We spend our days walking through Tepatitlán visiting different members. Talking to them about their lives and sharing messages with them. We also spend half the day arriving at appointments knowing the less active members are in their houses but just not wanting to open the door. It's whatever. Something that drives me crazy here is that people just lie all the time. What's worse is they use their kids to lie for them. For example, we show up to people's houses, already having made an appointment with them before hand, and knock. They usually send their kids to the door having them tell us that they aren't home. We ask where they are and the kids run back into the house and return to tell us that they are in the store or something. Okay... obviously the children are running to ask there parents what they should say to the missionaries. Its ridiculous. But it's whatever. We are just trying to help them live in happiness. Honestly Elder Hernandez and I have been working hard. We've been walking around sharing messages with everyone that accepts us. We've been searching to help people more fully... but its hard to help people when they don't want help.
This last week we spent trying to help people grow in the gospel. Then this last Sunday we only had 34 people show up to church. Usually we have about 50. 60 on good days. But 34 people in church is super low. Sometimes it feels like our efforts are wasted.
Before the mission I didn't think I would have a problem with loving the people. But honestly it's tough
loving everyone. This branch is just full of gossip. Full of people that don't want to progress. It's depressing at times. Sometimes it feels like it really just doesn't matter what I do as a missionary
because I really can't change people. What can I do then? Well I can help them to feel the spirit, help them understand the importance of the Gospel in their lives, and help them come unto Christ. But it really just all depends on what choice they make. I can do all that I can as a missionary to help them to come unto Christ but if they don't want to accept it... there's nothing I can do. It's hard.
2 Nephi 32 pretty much sums up what I do as a missionary. Nephi was testifying to the members of the Church that as long as they have the Holy Ghost all is well. If they try and follow Christ they will have
the Holy Ghost with them always. In verse 5 it tells exactly what the Holy Ghost does: "Porque he aquí, os digo otra vez, que si entráis por la senda y recibís el Espíritu Santo, él os mostrará todas las cosas que debéis hacer." Legit, if you have the spirit with you, you will be able to do anything. The Holy Ghost will guide you to make every decision. Then in verse 7 Nefi says that he was going to say more things but the spirit stopped him telling him that he shouldn't keep teaching them because they don't want to search for the knowledge or to understand the knowledge either. After the spirit told him this he just ended telling the Nefitas that they just need to pray about the message. By praying and feeling the Spirit they will understand what they need to do in their life.
This is what we are doing. We try and teach lessons, help people come unto Christ, but in reality they just don't want to search for more knowledge, they don't want to understand. They are content with their life as it is and don't want to do anything to make them happier. So what do we do as missionaries... we
invite them to pray, to feel the holy ghost. Pray to know if our message is true. After doing this, they don't act, they choose not to search to be happier. Esta es mi vida.
I really am enjoying my time in the mission. I am growing more spiritually every day. I am learning things now that will help me for the rest of my life. It's just tough when I am trying to help people come unto Christ but they just don't seem to want to follow him.
Con Amor,
Elder Summers
I'm doing well. We are continuing in the work even though sometimes it doesn't seem like we are making a difference in other people's lives. We spend our days walking through Tepatitlán visiting different members. Talking to them about their lives and sharing messages with them. We also spend half the day arriving at appointments knowing the less active members are in their houses but just not wanting to open the door. It's whatever. Something that drives me crazy here is that people just lie all the time. What's worse is they use their kids to lie for them. For example, we show up to people's houses, already having made an appointment with them before hand, and knock. They usually send their kids to the door having them tell us that they aren't home. We ask where they are and the kids run back into the house and return to tell us that they are in the store or something. Okay... obviously the children are running to ask there parents what they should say to the missionaries. Its ridiculous. But it's whatever. We are just trying to help them live in happiness. Honestly Elder Hernandez and I have been working hard. We've been walking around sharing messages with everyone that accepts us. We've been searching to help people more fully... but its hard to help people when they don't want help.
This last week we spent trying to help people grow in the gospel. Then this last Sunday we only had 34 people show up to church. Usually we have about 50. 60 on good days. But 34 people in church is super low. Sometimes it feels like our efforts are wasted.
Before the mission I didn't think I would have a problem with loving the people. But honestly it's tough
loving everyone. This branch is just full of gossip. Full of people that don't want to progress. It's depressing at times. Sometimes it feels like it really just doesn't matter what I do as a missionary
because I really can't change people. What can I do then? Well I can help them to feel the spirit, help them understand the importance of the Gospel in their lives, and help them come unto Christ. But it really just all depends on what choice they make. I can do all that I can as a missionary to help them to come unto Christ but if they don't want to accept it... there's nothing I can do. It's hard.
2 Nephi 32 pretty much sums up what I do as a missionary. Nephi was testifying to the members of the Church that as long as they have the Holy Ghost all is well. If they try and follow Christ they will have
the Holy Ghost with them always. In verse 5 it tells exactly what the Holy Ghost does: "Porque he aquí, os digo otra vez, que si entráis por la senda y recibís el Espíritu Santo, él os mostrará todas las cosas que debéis hacer." Legit, if you have the spirit with you, you will be able to do anything. The Holy Ghost will guide you to make every decision. Then in verse 7 Nefi says that he was going to say more things but the spirit stopped him telling him that he shouldn't keep teaching them because they don't want to search for the knowledge or to understand the knowledge either. After the spirit told him this he just ended telling the Nefitas that they just need to pray about the message. By praying and feeling the Spirit they will understand what they need to do in their life.
This is what we are doing. We try and teach lessons, help people come unto Christ, but in reality they just don't want to search for more knowledge, they don't want to understand. They are content with their life as it is and don't want to do anything to make them happier. So what do we do as missionaries... we
invite them to pray, to feel the holy ghost. Pray to know if our message is true. After doing this, they don't act, they choose not to search to be happier. Esta es mi vida.
I really am enjoying my time in the mission. I am growing more spiritually every day. I am learning things now that will help me for the rest of my life. It's just tough when I am trying to help people come unto Christ but they just don't seem to want to follow him.
Con Amor,
Elder Summers