Monday, October 24, 2016

Birthday Week & Best Rejection Ever


Birthday Fun


 Birthday Baptism
Wow what a week! Where to begin. So, last Monday after our P-day activities, we went out and taught a few lessons. When we got home that night, while I was writing in my journal, my companion called me out back and asked for help. I stepped outside and he started spraying me with the hose! What the heck! I was so confused at first I just kind of stood there and took it. I´ve learned that Latinos love to have a good time and will look for any excuse to have a party of sorts.
Tuesday was good too. We had a district meeting in the morning and after, Elder Tovar and I found an awesome investigator! His name is Diego and he was way into our message! We taught him again on Friday and his mother too and we had an awesome hour long lesson with him and we were able to answer all of their questions about the plan of salvation. Then we had Diego pray and he gave an awesome prayer for his first time.
On Wednesday we had a lot of appointments set up but they all fell through. One of them was way weird. We went to a less active family and they opened the door, said they couldn´t talk, handed us a big box of Corn Pops, and proceeded to shut the door. Best Rejection Ever. Not that rejection is ever good but it hurts less when you get cereal out of it. Then Elder Carr and Elder Burbidge had us go to a lesson for them because they accidently went on the wrong bus and were an hour away from their investigator, so Elder Tovar and I took a cab over to Jessica. Elder Carr and I gave her a Book Of Mormon about a week ago and the day we gave it to her she called us and said she had started reading it and so Elder Tovar and I were able to answer all of her questions about Lehi´s vision of the Tree of Life and it was a super cool lesson and it was super cool to see that she was already reading! Then that night we had a lesson with Ximena, who has come to church two weeks in a row and we invited her to baptism and we set a date! We finally got gas back in our house that night so we can take hot showers again and what a blessing that is.
Thursday was pretty uneventful until about 8:30 at night when we had a lesson with our neighbor. We were able to invite her to baptism and she accepted! She seems way excited about it too! I just hope now that she continues to come to church so that we can baptize her. 
Friday we went on divisions and I went with our district leader, Elder Santacruz. We went to teach Osvalso, who isn´t a member, and his dad, Jose Guadalupe, who is a less active and it was a great lesson. Elder Santacruz is a great teacher and we invited Osvaldo to be baptized and he said yes! Him and his dad both came to church on Sunday too and they both enjoyed it!
Saturday. What a day. Definitely won´t ever forget this birthday. So Leon and Santacruz came over in the morning and we were going to all go for a run for exercise. I stepped outside and they threw buckets of water at me and soaked me. Then proceeded to spray me with "espooma" and they covered me with it. I couldn´t see at all and after, they said I looked like an abominal snowman. Then I came inside and they had a cake for me. I blew out the candles and they smashed my face into the cake and I had cake everywhere. The frosting like glued on ofe my eyes shut and I couldn´t open it. I had cake so far up my nose and when I blew my nose, only cake came out. It was in my hair and just everywhere. This was all before 7 in the morning. Happy birthday to me. Then I showered and we got ready for Jose´s baptism! We went and Elder Burbidge and Elder Carr brought their investigator, who is from Chicago and they are teaching him in English, and we all made our way to the baptism. I probably said the baptismal words in my mind a hundred times on the bus ride there. I was super nervous that´d I´d mess up the words. We got there and the service was awesome! The Spirit was so strong and Jose looked so happy. I got to baptize him! It went perfectly and I can not describe the joy that comes from bringing somebody into the waters of baptism and helping them recieve that remission of sins. The mission is tough and I miss everyone back home and often things don´t go our way but when I see the smile on people´s faces after they have received that forgiveness and they know they have come back to their Heavenly Father I know that it´s all worth it. To share this gospel and message of happiness is so worth it. The rest of the day was great. Elder Tovar and Elder Burbidge went with President to figure out changes and Elder Carr and I went out teaching. We taught a family of about 9 and they all said they´d come to church. that Sunday 6 of them did! Then on our way home we met some guy from Texas who speaks English and we´re going to go teach him later this week! It was an awesome day overall and a great birthday.
Sunday was good. Investigators came to church and we got a less active family to come. They all stayed for the entire 3 hours too! Then Carr and I were on our own again because Tovar and Burbidge went to finalize changes. I´m happy to say that I´m staying here for another 6 weeks! Woohoo! But ya Carr and I taught Ximena and halfway through our lesson she asaked us if she could practice her English and holy heck she knows English! We then had an awesome lesson in Spanglish and We´re going back again tonight. Then we took the Sacrament to a member in the ward. He just lost his leg and isn´t able to leave his house so e took it to him. Elder Carr and I sang him a hymn before and then after the sacrament he asked for a blessing and then his son asked for one too and we were able to give them blessings in Spanish. It was great and they were so grateful for it. I´m so glad that I´m actually able to help the people here and I feel so much more useful in the hands of the Lord. I know this Church is true and I´m so grateful for my opportunity to be serving! Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes this week and thank you for your prayers. I´m doing great and miss you all! Until next week,

Con amor, 
Elder Fillmore
 

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