Anyway, we have had a pretty good week here, on wednesday the members actually gave us a reference which isnt something that happens everyday, it was a guy named hermano Toncovich, we had never been to his house before but he called us and invited us to lunch and said he would have people there for us to teach. His house was so far away, he lives on a farm kinda out in the country and we had to walk so far to get there, we felt like the original missionaries of the restoration walking so far. We had a pretty good lesson with this guy, his name was marcelo and 3 months ago his wife passed away, she had cancer, and he is now left with 2 kids. He said he is kind of angry with God, but we shared a video with him, I think in english it might be called "Mountains to Climb". Its a mormon message but its really good, he liked it so hopefully he can let God help him find happiness in his life again.
We did an exchange on thursday, I went with my "grandson" elder Faucett, it was pretty fun, not many missionaries get to go on exchanges with their "nieto" in the mission, we had a good day, we visited that really good family I wrote about last week I think (Valeria, Julio, and 2 kids) they are the ones that sell home made bread, churros and stuff, when we visited them they were really busy making dough and stuff so we didnt get to teach a ton, but at least they gave us tons of bread and churros, they didnt want to let me give them any money for it, so I hid it in their house, I hope they find it.
Friday was just a normal day, we had a soccer activity that night for investigators and youth in the ward but it was really cold and rainy, so unfortunately only a few people showed up. My companion also messed up his knee playing a little.
Saturday his knee was hurting him a lot, he wanted to stay and rest and have me go out with someone else, but the other missionaries already had appointments. I felt like we needed to go out, because saturday is the most important day in inviting people to come to church, and I didnt want "the curse" to continue. So he agreed to go out and visit a few people, and Im really glad we did! We visited an investigator named Carina, and her 3 kids (Im sure ive written about them, but I cant remember what ive written in the past weeks). We were able to help her a lot I think, because she was really sad because her husband (who is a truck driver) wasnt going to be coming home that weekend, and maybe not for a while. Because when the temperature starts heating up, he transports ice cream, and he goes to buenos aires, cordoba, rosario, and uruguay, and he never is able to come home. Last year he wasnt able to come home for 6 months. That basically sounds like the worst job ever. But she was really sad because she was scared that it might happen again now that winter is ending and he has to transport more icecream. But I showed her how to use skype, she didnt even know that it existed, and we also helped her set up the Book of Mormon app on her phone so she can listen to the scriptures instead of reading (she has bad vision). That made her feel a lot better, and she agreed to come to church on sunday!
It was raining and super windy and cold sunday morning, but we got up early and we had made pancakes and maple syrup to eat breakfast with them (maple doesnt exist here, but one elder has an extract to make it yourself) and after breakfast we took them to church in a taxi, two actually because there was 6 of us in total. Taxis are expensive, but I dont care how much it costs if they actually go. So she went with her 3 daughters, 2 are older than 8, and I think they really liked church! The members did a really good job greeting them and being friendly, and the girls had a lot of fun in primary too so I think they liked it! We went back to visit them this morning, Carina is super happy because she has been video calling her husband a lot and they are both happy to have discovered skype. We think that family has a lot of potential!
Im just happy the curse is ended and we had investigators in church, its great that its a family, usually its just one or two people out of the family and its sad because they dont all share it together, but when its a whole family or at least the majority, you can focus a lot more on the aspect of familias eternas.
In my studies this week, I dont think it was a coincidence that I was reading in the book of helaman, and I arrived at chapter 12. I was kinda sad just thinking about all the natural disasters that have been happening lately, and wondering why, but I think its pretty obvious why. It was the perfect time to study chapter 12, here are a few of the verses.
1 And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him.
2 Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.
3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him.
North America is probably the richest continent in terms of resources, or at least one that has prospered a lot, but its crazy to see how so many people have stopped caring about religion, or even stopped believing in God, they dont care about the commandments, they just do whatever they want, following the easiest path, and we have so many things and there are lots of people that are so so prosperous. I think the only way for us to stay humble is with chastisement. But when a parent punishes their kids for misbehavior, its not because they dont love them, its to teach them not to do it again, its the only way to help them learn, and its for their own good.
23 Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved.
All God wants is for us all to repent and come back to him, he doesnt do anything thats not for our benefit. All we have to do to "prosper in the land" is keep the commandments, and I know God will bless and protect us.
Thats about it this week! Hope everyone stays safe and has a good week!
Love, Elder Christensen
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