So this week has been a pretty good one. So last monday after i wrote we went to the Ojeda family´s house for FHE. We watched "The Testaments" and had a quick little lesson. In that family, all of the kids except the oldest brother Martin are members. Also the parents are nonmembers, so the lesson was kind of directed towards them. Tuesday afternoon we went to the familia Taboada´s house for lunch and a lesson. We worked a lot with that family this week preparing them for baptism. After wards we had District Meeting, a few lessons with investigators, and then we went to an investigator named Cecilia´s house. She was there with her niece, Soledad. We talked a little bit about the Book of Mormon and about the movie the Testaments which we had watched with them on Sunday. When we got there, Soledad was really against us and our whole message. But we taught the Restoration to her and Cecilia, and she made a 180 degree turn. The spirit was there helping us a ton, thats about all i can say for sure. After that appointment we went to the Taboada´s again to teach some more points.
So on wednesday we had to leave the apartment at 7 for a meeting with Nauel, the Ward Mission Leader. After we went back and studied and all that jazz. For lunch we went to the Carballo family´s house. They own a little bakery, which was pretty cool. We had Milanesa. I am so sick of Milanesa. It is just a piece of chicken or beef, breaded, and fried. The problem was i was full after two pieces, but sister carballo made me keep eating. I wanted to throw up everywhere. Then we handed out some Baptismal invitations, contacted, stopped by a few investigators houses, and then headed to the chapel so Elder Palmer could interview a baptismal candidate.
On thursday i woke up feeling pretty horrible. I just didn´t want to do anything. We went to a member house for lunch, Then stopped by an investigators house. She wasnt there but her daughter and the daughters baby were, so we taught them the restoration. About 5 minutes in the baby got hungry, so she did what all these women do here. Just started breastfeeding right there as we talked to her. That was probably one of the more awckward moments of my life. You just have to keep eye contact at all times. after we went to a new converts house, Oscar Soto. He is super awesome. Then to the church for the baptismal interviews for the Taboada Children with the Zone Leaders. That night was literally the first night we had been into the apartment on time.
Friday-
So friday was a really long day. We had lunch at Natalia´s. She is a member, but her husband is not. We tried to teach him but he was really tough. He doesnt really believe in god, so that made it pretty hard. After we had a few appointments, but all of them fell through, so we contacted for about three hours. Finally a nice, older lady let us in. She is pretty hard core evangelical. Her son is a lifetime missionary, and her grandson is a preacher, but the lesson went well. Then we went to contact some references. We got to the first house, and asked for Miguel. They said Miguel doesnt live here. So we asked for Alejandro, and they said next door. We went there, set up an appointment, and then asked where Miguel lives. They said back at the first house. funny right. After we went to a members house for a little bit. The kids were all rocking out to american music, but had no idea what was being said.
Saturday was a good day. We went to a few members houses in the early afternoon, and then went to the chapel to prepare for the baptism. So here is the story of the family getting baptized
The parents, Mario and Belén, have been inactive members for about twenty years. As mario tells it, he had been hitting a pretty low point in his life recently and had starting praying for help. A few days later the missionares clapped his house. That was about two weeks before i arrived. so we have been teaching the childeren, Lucio, Melani, and Valentin, and at the same time reactivating the parents.
The baptism was awesome. We all got dressed up in our white clothes, took some pictures, and then got started. IT went awesome. Elder Palmer baptized Lucio and Melani, I baptized Valentin, and another boy from the other ward was baptized by his brother. After the service we went to teach Natalia, the daughter of some converts of about 3 years. But she is just not having it. She wont read, wont pray, and we really dont know what else to do.
Sunday was a good day. The children were confirmed in sacrament meeting by the bishopric, and then we went out to visit some investigators.
As tough as the mission is, i know this is where i am supposed to be. To see all these people whose lives have been changed through the gospel is pretty heartening. I have been reading in Jesus the Christ about when the Apostle started their ministry after the ressurection. They had no fear, because they knew the power and importance of the message. I hope i can get to that point. I love you all
Elder Mellor
