This week was actually a pretty good one. We had lunch on monday with Osvaldo. Hes the crazyish old man that wants me to marry his granddaughter. He is a convert of about 4 months so we are still working with him on the whole how church works thing. this week he was ordained to the office of Teacher this week, and afterwards gave a 5 minute speech on his life and how he was going to be the best Teacher ever. We are still working on him hahaha. Then later we started teaching this kid who is 8 named Santiago (james) Cool little kid. I ended up baptizing him Saturday. His mom is a member so its for the branch,but we were really are teaching his sister who got baptized in December, but his mom tells us oh btw: Santi is gonna be 8. Oh really ok lets get him baptized. So I baptized him. Hahaha Yeah. Thats pretty much been the week. We taught Santi and just kinda worked on a few others but none of them came to church.
I did talk to a woman who said she was Roman Catholic. But hard core. She said. “I know who you are and what you teach….” “Ok so what do we teach?” (expecting "you all adore Joseph Smith" or something weird) “You teach about Jesús”. Wow I was surprised. Thats not normal. usually thats the last thing they say. “Oh wow good job. Have you spoken with missionaries before?” “I read your plaque.” “Oh ok So you believe in Jesus too right.” “Yes but the Virgin is better.” Huh? So we asked her how her church was organized” She says “ we have the virgin and the saints. They are super powerful and important.” “Yeah how so” “ Well God tells the virgin to go and see people and to show them miracles to prove to them that they come from God, and each time she appears we make statues for them to remember how they looked.” “but is it the same virgin?” “Yes, she just puts on different appearances” Ahhh” “look boys I have been to salta to see the virgin there. There is a woman there who saw the virgin and the virgin gave her power to heal, I saw her do it. These people just start shaking or fall over or yeah. I didnt fall. But she did heal me of cancer.” “wow thats so great that God still Works miracles…” “No chicos its the virgin, and she only gives away her power on Saturday afternoons after 5.” …….”Ok lady have a nice day” I love it. Its just they are slightly blinded and there is no one in their church to help them receive the answers they want or need in this life, because they dont really know themselves in most cases. Thats just another one of those fun things that happen here in Argentina and Latin America in general. Oh well.
The others elders had a baptism too on Saturday. But anyways thats not the fun story so much as what happened Saturday Morning. Saturday morning we got a knock on our door. It was the dude from the misión with his truck full of stuff for us. Mostly a mattress and two new bikes! Sweet! So we got it all unloaded and in place, and he starts inspecting the pension. Its clean, and hygienic mom you would be proud and surprised. Then he is looking at the water heater. Well its got the cold water intake with a thick elastic band wrapped around it, and he goes. Thats not good. We should fix that. Well he looks around for a water shut off and he thought he had it. Well he starts to take it off and it shoots water ALL OVER. The pension was clean and nice, then EVERYTHING got wet and it starts to flood. UH OH. Hes trying to hold the water back and he is right next to the light switch and it starts shocking him. Cut the lights its shocking me. Im at the moment the only one helping or even paying attention so I cut the lights, and the other 3 come out and go Dude what the heck….ohhh water.. Here in argentina its not the broom or the mop its a squeegee(sp) because most everything is tiled. So they start pushing and pulling water out of the pension. The repairman yelled to go find the water shut off. Its probably in the street somewhere. Well I run to look with the other 3, and nothing. So we come back quickly scratching our heads. He says I need a volunteer. I then got to hold on to the water as it comes out of the hole in the wall. He runs out, and goes up the stairs, jumps up on the roof, and the water turns off. Im thinking are you serious, on the roof? Oh well. So I am soaked, the other elders didnt really care, cuz they went and placed football with the young men, and cleaned the chapel while I stayed and helped finish what the guy had started. It was kinda of a fun twist to the day.
On a more spiritual note, this week I was reading in Alma. Ok studying in Alma, because it took me some time to get through the whole 2 chapters. Alma 5 is especially intense when it talks about the change of heart that we have as we become converted. Its an interesting order. So pay attention. In the 14th verse Alma asks if we have been born spiritually of God. And then asks if we have received his image on our faces. Then if we have experienced that grand change of heart. Many would say that the change of heart comes before the baptism. No? I would tend to agree, but I have seen so many times that the difference in people comes after they are baptized and have received the Holy Ghost. Baptism is a spiritual rebirth, and receiving the Holy Ghost would be receiving the image of God upon our faces. People always say that they can tell a difference between most LDS members and other everyday people. then Alma asks another set of questions (he is way too good at the questions thing) Can you imagine yourself before the tribune of God? How will you go. There are 3 options. The faithful will be invited, the liars and the uninformed will lie and say that they did as they should even knowing that they havent. and the last are those that will have to be dragged before the judgment bar and be judged for all the things that they know they are guilty for. Its interesting the level of conversion that comes into play even in the Judgement. I also like verse 34 Its the Lord speaking inviting us to come unto Him and partake of the fruit of Tree of Life. He invites all of us to come unto Him. We just have to accept the call and go to Him. He is there with His arms wide open and hands outstretched waiting for us. I know that He suffered for our sins and sicknesses, and that He loves us. He knows what we are going through and because of his suffering we can be healed. I am so happy because I know that this is true. I love my Savior and eternally indebted to Him for His work, I just hope that I will be among those faithful that He invites to come unto him for my faithfulness in the last days. I love you all and miss you. I had a slightly trunky moment a few days ago when I realized that I can have a max of 5 more comps... dude. Oh and dont forget to pay special attention in General Conference this week. I may not be able to see it live. So Please enjoy it extra for me. Take notes!!!!! Its hard to do in the morning or Saturday, but sit down and pay attention. Love you all. =)
Con amor
Elder Ben
