Week 62: Googly Eyes On The Book Of Mormon?

We found a ton of people again this week so now we have 57 people we're teaching and we even stopped teaching a few people the other week. I think it's time to clean up our teaching pool haha. 

We had a lesson with Tanya and her boys yesterday after church and Isaiah was there so he joined us. We were going over the baptismal interview questions and we've never had a lesson with Isaiah before so that was definitely interesting hahaha. The questions were for Tanya and her boys but Isaiah answered them as well and he honestly did pretty well... maybe we'll put him on date soon?? We have a lesson with him on Thursday. 

We met a lady named Twila the other week who has no teeth and lives at this pretty sketch trailer park. We gave her a Book of Mormon and when we called her last week she said she had read almost the whole thing. When we went back to meet with her she showed us her Book of Mormon and it had googly eyes and hearts glued to it... yeah kinda weird right? She had also highlighted a ton of verses and written notes all over the pages but none of them really made sense. Then she continued to tell us how the people in the pictures in the pamphlet we gave her looked like people she knows. We tried teaching her a lesson but I don't think she was really understanding. We might go back again one more time but she's probably a little too out of it to progress. She's a sweet lady though! Bless her heart.

Other than that, this week wasn't too eventful. We've been having some huge rainstorms recently which makes me really happy and we even had a lesson with Tanya and her boys under a pavilion last Monday while it was pouring. We also did A TON of service on Saturday at the coaltion center and at a food distribution center called Loaves and Fishes. 

Mosiah 2:41 says, "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

Lately I've been thinking of the blessings that come from keeping the Lord's commandments. Sometimes the commandments can feel restricting but it actually has the complete opposite effect. When we follow the commandments we are free from the pain and anguish of bad choices and receive blessings in return. There may be temporary happiness or pleasure that come from disobedience or sin but everlasting joy only comes from following our Savior, Jesus Christ. This week, think about one way you can better follow one of the commandments and try to have an eternal perspective. It may cause some discomfort but in the long run you will find peace and rewards! 

Love y'all! Have a great week and please pray for Tanya, Jesus, and Joseph. They are getting baptized this Saturday and Satan's influence can be really strong right before someone gets baptized so I'm sure they would appreciate the support!

- Elder Christensen

Pictures

☆ Exchange with Elder Ibarra

☆ Some morning street contacting

☆ Flooding from the rainstorms