Estamos Heavy

What up y'all!? This week was a pretty good one for me but not a great one for the work. I'll explain why. 

First off my Spanish is in no way even close to good, but, I felt a dramatic change in it this week. I felt like I finally started to understand some grammar concepts and understand just a little bit more. I started to teach way more in the lessons and it feels so good to do something other than say a prayer and bear my testimony. One particular experience this week was we were teaching a investigator named Charlenda and it was her first lesson so we taught the Restoration. We got to the part of the Great Apostasy and The first vision and Elder Fuhriman looked at me and just said you got it. I tried my best but it was rough. I looked at him and said bro you gotta take over and he just said nah you got it. This was a great experience for me. I struggled to find the words to explain the whole thing but in the end I was super grateful to have a trainer that wants to help me grow even if everything I say doesn't make much sense to the investigator. 

Funny experience this week. This place is absolute bonkers and this week when we were finding one night we went down this pretty scary street but there were people to talk to so we went haha. The people we started to talk to were smoking and drinking but actually listened to our message and responded which was awesome. One of the guys straight up rolled a blunt in front of me which was definitely a first for me haha. Then next thing ya know a drug deal was going on right behind us. We left pretty soon after that. This place is so insane. But I love it. 

Now for Angelica! We were supposed to have her baptism this coming Saturday but she went to a different church with her friends yesterday so that was unfortunate. We had a really good lesson with her yesterday though about families and temples and why the Church of Jesus Christ isn't called something else. (3rd Nephi 27) She then went on to ask me why my family is important to me. I explained that they help me grow my testimony in the savior and when we are all together we are so happy and because of the gospel I can spend forever with them. She then said she loved what I said and it made her feel happy. She is progressing a lot and we are praying for her to attend church this next Sunday so we can get her baptized before the end of the transfer. 

This week we had our area 70 come speak to us for 3 days. His name is Elder Villanueva and he is a goat. All of the meetings were strictly in Spanish so I understood very little of them but there was one moment for 10 minutes where he shared his testimony in English, and wow it was powerful. He told us of a story when He was a Mission President in Arcadia California and he had to learn English. He felt very intimidated by this task to preside over a mission and not even speak the language. What he said next hit me "When the Lord calls you, He QUALIFY'S you" The spirit then confirmed to me that I can learn Spanish and that the lord called me to the DR because he knows I can serve here with the best of my ability. 

I wanna share a couple things I learned this week. First off don't cover a pan on the stove with a metal bowl to keep the heat in. Elder Fuhriman burned his finger pretty bad doing that lol. But, on a real note I learned that working on the mission is the key to happiness on the mission. I know it has been said before but this week I truly noticed that when we are in the street teaching and struggling it is when I am most happy here. I love this gospel and I know without a doubt it is the true restored church on the earth today. 

"On those occasions when you don't feel like praying, you should get on your knees and pray until you do feel like praying" Brigham Young. I love this quote. Prayer is a powerful powerful thing and we all have the wonderful opportunity to pray daily. I invite you to pray tonight with real intent about whatsoever thing you need help with. Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. Love you all! Have a good week and Pray and Study the Book of Mormon. It will bless you! 

-Elder Wilde