Familia Mia!
Como estan! Lo siento por no escribir ayer, pero tuvimos un entrenamiento como una zona! Tambien, yo tuve mi entrevista con Presidente Ellsworth.
So yeah, overall this last week went great. Having a new Elder come into the area I had a lot of doubts and fears that our success levels would take a big dip, especially seeing as he is a fairly inexperienced Elder. Well, I should have never doubted him. He is 100% the follower type, and we have established a tradition of hard work in our area. He is more than willing to work hard. I think it is especially easy for him to work hard because in his last area he told me they were teaching 7-10 lessons a week at best. Well, the evening of transfers, we taught 4 member present lessons and he was just excited as could be. He said he did not think that was possible. He thought one lesson every day was really good. That first day has motivated him to keep on working really hard. We got 19 lessons last week, which I think is pretty good considering the fact that we were a day short in our area.
His name is Elder Nerveza and he is from Hilo, Hawaii, the Big Island. He is a big boy. He can eat like an islander, and out members love that. They love when we eat them out of house and home because they know we enjoyed the food. He is a big help there, haha. He also has the true islander spirit. He is gentle, kind hearted, and loving. He knows what his responsibilities are as a missionary, and he is willing to work through challenges. His biggest challenge right now is the language. His last two companions were fairly apostate missionaries who apparently could find any reason to stay in the apartment half the day due to injury or illness. When they did teach, they never really gave him the time to speak. Therefore, he never really had the chance to improve from where he was when he left the MTC.
Well, when I prayed that first night personally, I was overwhelmed with the impression that during lessons I just need to let him teach. I need to let him struggle and I need to let him learn by trial and error. The first day or two is was really hard. Seconds would pass between single words. He really, really struggled. But, this drove him to study harder in all of his spare time. He studies the language at night until he falls asleep. Due to his diligence and faith, he has been really blessed. I think the light bulb finally turned on last night. We were teaching a lessons and It was his turn to teach, testify, ask questions, etc. I was worried because he had still be struggling. Well, once he began talking, he talked, and talked. His grammar was far from perfect, but he taught the principle with sufficient correctness to be understood. This really invited the spirit into the lesson and from then on we taught with great unity and power.
I do not think that could have come in a more crucial lesson either. It was with the parents of one of our members who come from Obregon, Mexico. they are devout catholics and I guess were highly disappointed when their daughter was baptized. Well, we taught them and really, I felt like I was not talking. It was totally all of the spirit guiding my words and Elder Nerveza's. In the end when we came to the restoration and the book of mormon (usually the hardest part for people to accept and understand, especially devout catholics...) it was accepted by them almost too easily. We both bore testimony, their daughter bore testimony. Their grandson bore testimony. The end result was grandpa saying, "You know what, I was raised in the catholic church and that is why I have always gone. Since I was a young man, I have had some doubts about the Church, but I never found anything that made me feel any better. The words you two young men have said tonight really interest me. That Book of Moroni really interests me and I will read it. I felt something when all of you said you know it was true. My daughter is a good girl and my grandson is a good boy. I will give it a chance." We then proceeded by promising him blessings and understanding from reading, praying, and coming to church. He said, "I would like that." So, I think the Spirit really did testify to him. I do not know if he recognized what it was, but I think it was like Alma 32:28. The word we shared with him illuminated his understanding and was delicious to him. I loved that lesson so much. It is written in my journal in detail.
Speaking of journals, I finished my first one! You know, the one Sis. Jensen gave me way back in like 2006! I kept it and never used it until my mission. Now, it is full of my thoughts, memories, and desires. I went back to read a few pages of it and it really is visible how much my testimony of the Gospel has grown in these 6 and a half months. I have a testimony of so many more gospel truths now. I know have a much greater knowledge and understanding of the Atonement and it's importance in everything. In Preach My Gospel, Chapter 3, Lesson 2, it is pretty much all summed up. At the bottom of the little Plan of Salvation chart, it says, "The Atonement of Jesus Christ makes all of this possible." This is true. Every single aspect of the gospel comes back to the Atonement. Everything. I never realized that before my mission. I love my mission because of the many things such as that, that I am learning.
I am also really tired, but I told that to President yesterday and he said,"I am glad to hear that, it means you are serving the Lord with all you heart, might, mind, and strength." It was good to be told why being tired is good. I understand the mission a lot more because of that. I love President Ellsworth by the way. Every time that he speaks, I can just feel love radiate in his words. I am blessed to have him as my leader.
Well, it is time to go! I love you all so much and I am glad you are all doing well. I know as I work hard, the Lord will continue to bless you all! I also know that as you all work hard to serve the Lord, he will bless me. You are in my prayers. I love you and think about you all often! Keep on working hard in all of your endeavours. Also, I hope you are are all doing FHE weekly! I love FHE on the mission. I wish we did it all the time growing up!
Love you all!
Elder Jonathan Alma Pearson
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