Boy what a great week! Obviously every week has it's good days and bad days, but overall, I feel like this week was pretty dang solid.
First of all, I need to apologize if I came across negative a few emails ago. I received a lotta concerned emails, and it wasn't my intention to sound that upset, but rather to show how our Faith in Christ can help us overcome our trials.
This week we started off by giving a Priesthood Blessing to a sick Sister in the ward, Even though it's a little difficult to say in Spanish, I always love feeling closer to Heavenly Father by helping him to bless his children, and the love he has for them.
I'm really grateful for my new companion. He's hard working and very obedient, but is also just as skinny as me and has just as cheesy a sense of humor. :) Needless to say, we work really well together, He's also been a big help to my Spanish. I feel like I'm finally, slowly but surely, starting to understand enough of the language and the mission culture to see what I need to do to become a more effective missionary.
We also had 2 service projects. Both times we were helping members move, and for one of them we literally had to "raise the roof" off. :) The whole time we basically played the game "Don't get Tetanus," because one missionary sliced his hand on a sharp metal roofing piece, and the members sprayed cologne as a make-shift 'antiseptic.' Hahaha I guess the alcohol in that works (more or less), right?
After one of the service projects, one thing I found myself kind of surprised at was how grateful I was for a dinner of bread and a cold hot dog a family gave us, and they apologized they didn't have more to give, but somehow I was perfectly alright with it.
On Saturday during the hour we took for lunch, a parade celebrating the Virgin Mary (the Catholics are all about her) spontaneously came down our street, and the members living below us excitedly had us watch it with them. Our church doesn't put quite that big of an emphasis on her as much as we do our Savior, but it sure was an interesting and entertaining cultural event to watch. There's also been fireworks all week, all times of day, even at 6am in the morning. I think this week was the big celebration week if I remember right.
This week I tried a pink banana and cactus fruit. Just thought I'd include that.
Finally, let's end on a spiritual note. I came across a comforting scripture the other day that seemed to match my current testimony.
"I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." (1 Nephi 11:17)
This seemed to hit home with me, because one of the first things I gained a strong testimony of is that our Heavenly Father loves me, and every one of his children. But like the scripture, I still don't know several gospel things, only believe. Which I think is good. It's not given to us to know all things, only build a strong belief and act on our faith. I believe that, and have come to realize, that we usually don't receive a big, glorious, one-time "that was my answer" to our prayers, like we might sometimes think or encourage, but that our faith really does grow slowly, like a seed, and the answers come in little gradual spurts, through diligently praying and reading the scriptures, and as we demonstrate faith and patience in the Lord and his timing.
Also this week one of the biggest things I noticed and strived for was exact obedience. Sometimes it's hard, and we weren't perfect-ly diligent, but the days that we strived to be obedient and put the things of God first always seemed to be the best days. We'd feel the Spirit the strongest, and always seemed to have enough time to do all the things we needed to do. I believe that as we strive to be exactly obedient and put God's will before ours, that's when he can make the most out of our lives, and we can become a useful instrument in his hands to accomplish his purposes.
Have a great week! 12 days 'till conference-woot woot! (I'm so stoked)
Love,
Elder Stolle
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