Hey everyone Elder Monson is backkkk baby! We missed a week! But that's okay it's alright because let's be real most of ya'll weren't gonna read this anyways! Anyways let's get into it, and I actually want to cover the week before this last week as well because it was awesome!
The other week not this last week: It was awesome.
On that Tuesday we had district council and I hate a really good cutesie lunch with the boys. And then went to work and absolutely crushed it.
Wednesday: Up and down day: We had nobody come to our English class. My comp was pretty upset but I'm not going to lie I thought it was pretty hilarious. We had everything set up and nobody came and maybe I'm just losing it but it was honestly hysterical... We also got a text from a member saying that her daughter wanted to be baptized the upcoming Friday. I'm going to explain the background in the next paragraph.
Sammy Amarilla: Alright let's get into it. Sammy is 13 or 14 years old.. maybe 15 or 16, somewhere in that range I forget.. could be 12 as well. Anyways, 12-16 years old, and was baptized at the age of 8. What happened is her records of baptism were lost, so she has to be baptized again. Easy money for the missionaries right? No, wrong. Missionaries have been trying to get her in the water again for the last year and she's wanted nothing to do with it. Since I've been here she hasn't wanted too. And then all the sudden she wants to be baptized?! Oh and she wanted me to do it?! I definitely was thinking miracle because like wow..
Thursday: We had divisions so our District Leader could interview Sammy. I had divisions with my MTC comp Elder Jorgensen. It was so sick I'm not gonna lie. It was like old times but with better spanish, and I wasn't in a wheelchair.. so honestly the old times on steroids. It was so cool and spiritual day. We had fun. Oh, and Sammy passed the interview so that's sick.
Friday we prepped for the baptism. I dusted off my baptism clothes and ran through my what I was going to do, practiced the dip and lift for about 5-10 minutes and made sure I had the words memorized. We had the baptism at 7:30, and I guess I didn't practice the dip and lift good enough because it took me two times to get her all the way under. And the second time she came up coughing because I may have dipped a little extra hard and long to make sure we didn't need a Third time. All in all I'd still say my performance was good, just some minor fixes.
Saturday: We found out that if Sammy was baptized then she got money to go to a efy thing here in Paraguay so that was pretty sick and I've got to give her props because that's quite the mastermind move. Anyways, I hope a part of her really did want to be baptized and make that change, and I think she did. She's been coming to church every Sunday and I can tell She's got a testimony. But anyways yeah.
Saturday afternoon: A boy came up to use with Black eyes and bleeding. He asked us for the smallest amount of currency in Paraguay money possible. Basically the significance of a penny in the states. But he said he hoped to have enough by the end of the day to have something to eat. As missionaries we aren't supposed to give money, but, Elder Domingues and I gave him a little amount. We asked how old he was and he said "18". I shed a few manly tears after hearing that. Because here I was with 18 years old, have a very good life, raised in the gospel, a very good life. And this kid, skinnier than me believe it or not, was just trying to get himself something to eat for the day. Comparing yourself to others is never good, I know. But hearing 18 my brain subconsciously just started realizing how blessed I am to have what I have, and was very humbling. My grandma Eves sent me an email the other week (I sadly didn't respond, it was a hectic pday I'm sorry) but she had a similar experience with a lady who didn't have the change to buy medicine. I don't remember exactly how much but it was less than 50 cents, my grandma quickly helped her out but, we need to be grateful for what we have. I know everybody wants something so do I.. it's impossible to not. But maybe we can think of what we can give instead of what we can get. Spending Christmas aways from loved ones isn't ideal for me. I've realized more than ever that the best part of Christmas, Birthday, and new years wasn't the gifts I got.. but the time that I got to spend with those I'm close too. That's the best part. Give your fam hugs on Christmas. I'll give Elder Domingues one since his family can't rn. Anyways.. sorry for the Preacher Monson part right there let's get into this last week!
Monday: Zone activity this last Monday which is my excuse for not much communication.. we all bought a cheap gift and swapped for 15 minutes. I got a turtle necklace. Then we played some chair soccer. During chair soccer I realized that I was just kind of on a different level than everyone else. And it was hard to not smile as I was simply toying with everyone. I believe we won the first one and then let another team have a shot because we didn't want to just ruin the fun for everyone. But I added onto my accolades for soccer and once again am challenging the great Tyler Moon. Rumor has it I'm a bit better but I don't dive into that debate. I simply want to state my flu game against his team in 2018... anyways it was legit. Then I went and played some basketball, I accidentally embarassed Elder Waid a few times, from blocking to using the post, to a step back fadeaway three. It was my playground on Monday.
Tuesday: Tuesday was good, we had district council
Wednesday: We wished a lady merry Christmas and she got angry saying Jesus was born in April (yes, we all know this) and then went off saying how she remembers Christ everyday and not just one out of the year. We then said we were sorry and Good Day.. she accepted the good day even though I didn't really mean it and all was good. We had 5 people come to English class!! It was awesome I loved it.. Don't remember much more, sometimes the days blend together.
Thursday: Thursday i picked up my Christmas package, and am so excited to see what Elder Monson got this year! I asked for Jordan's, some icy chains, and a durag so I can twin with Elder Hall and be icyyyyy. so we will see what happens! .. also had some good lessons this day.
Friday: Friday was legit. We had a really good lunch, gave Sammy a Christmas Present (yes a Book of Mormon of course was part of the present) and then helped set up for the Christmas party. I was on balloon duty which was perfect. Using my skills from this last year of exec (as I was only allowed to be on balloon duty with Kevin, McKay, and at times Lindy) I was faster than the lap of Joey Loveless in the 4×4 relay.. it turned out great and everyone had a blast.
Saturday: I woke up a bit down about being away on Christmas Eves, but then got the song "Just Can't Wait to be King" stuck in my head, and realized that Simba went many years thinking it was his fault that his father died before realizing that his uncle had killed him.. I know right?! How much harder would that be! Anyways after that we went to a members house to see where a friend we have lives, and they offered us lunch! It was awesome! Tasted good. Although on this day I really wanted the lunch deal from Little Caesars with Scooter Breeze before a shift at RCL.. this lunch was still super legit. Saturday night we had dinner with inactive members who waited to eat until we left so they could have some drinks with it. Was interesting.
Sunday: Christmas! Definitely didn't feel like Christmas but it was still a good day! I found out I had to give a talk about 10 minutes before. And normally I'd be a good choice as I never seem to be able to stop talking in English. Sadly the Spanish isn't quite there yet. Don't even fret though I pulled out one of the greatest talks of all time and was as clutch as 8th grade Payton Wheeler in the rec league tourney. Then we had lunch with some friends we are teaching and it was really good. Then got to call the family and all of them were there! It was awesome! Also I didn't get Jordan's, chains, or durags, so I'm a bit disappointed but it's okay (I'm kidding, thanks mom, dad, Ash, and Landon
) but pretty stellar day for sure.
Motivational movie passage: I have been thinking a lot about the movie Cars, as it is the best movie ever. Elder Hall and I share a love for this inspirational film while Elder Wheeler is a grinch about it and says it sucks. Anyways. If we think back to this movie, and think about the dirt track, there's a few things I love. The first is when we realize Doc Hudson knows a thing or two about racing on the dirt as he doesn't even begin the race knowing McQueen isn't going to be able to handle turn 3. He then gives McQueen the advice of turning right to go left. McQueen scoffs him and says thanks old man. And then later half heartedly tries it and crashes. It isn't until he witnesses Hudson turning right to go left, and the three piston cups that he humbles himself to try and take more heed to the words of Doc. Now one thing we have to love from McQueen, is his determination. He could have decided that the stupid turn didn't matter as he was a race car, on road. But we see his love for racing as he constantly practices that turn determined to get it down. Eventually and very ironically, he ends up needing to use the famous right to go left in the end to make a terrific pass. My thought for you is, do we sometimes wait to heed the Spirit, or try things our way before humbling ourselves and heeding to the spirit. And do we make excuses cause it's hard? Or do we keep trying until we figure it out, and can potentially use to help us later in our lives? Thank you for the movie thought, may have been a bit scattered bit I hope you get the idea. I hope that we aren't like McQueen and heed to advice early. But also I hope we are like McQueen and refuse to quite until we get it right.
Monday: For pday today we went to Saltos.. a waterfall! I kept calling it paradise falls and making up quotes. But honestly it was beautiful. I loved it 10/10 recommend! Also first day of MTC for Hollister so everyone wish him good luck!!! Love you guys, can't wait till next week!
- Everyone's favorite, Elder Monson!
