just another day here in paradise

SO this has been a very focused week. that is, focused in the sense of the people with whom we are trying to help. I dont have a ton to write today but I will tell yall about some of the people.

Really quick: Cynthia and Candela -> BOSSES  :D Cynthia came to church this week, but we're still trying to help candela find a job. Really, Its been so much fun teaching them and cool to see them continually changing. It is interesting though. The first week cynthia came to church was the sunday of fast and testimonies, and she felt kind of awkward. not around the people (she's got some flippin cool friends there), but with those bearing their testimonies. Knowing many of them personally from outside the church, having learned the church standers and the commandments, and then watching people who she knew didnt follow those standards stand up and bear testimony that the church is true and everything bothered her. She has a testimony and told us that she will live the standards, but It made her feel odd seeing people act as such. Just remember who you are and what you stand for. ALWAYS! the is ALWAYS someone watching, someone who is affected, and something that is changes from you actions (good or bad).

 

Alvaro-> we're trying to help him stop smoking still and work towards his baptism. Its been really nice to teach him too:)

 

Familia De Leon ->man. They are a family of less actives that just need to act. They know that the church is true, that it will make them happier, that things will go better in their business and home if they just do the small things, BUT THEY DONT DO THEM! we visited them almost every day this week (sometimes for 2-3 min, sometimes a bit longer), we send them a text every day at 2 to help them remember, we set alarms on their phones, we call them, we put signs up on their walls, but they still just dont read or pray as a family. haha on Saturday we passed by again, and ended up tearing out all the pictures of Christ from 3 pamphlets and covering the walls of their main living room / kitchen. It was pretty funny. I have really come to love that family, but they just have got to act. This week I have continually pondered back to how grateful I am that Mom and Dad always put this first in our lives. We never had to worry about forgetting to, or having to set goals to read the scriptures and pray as a family. Really Im just glad that they always taught me to put God first in my life. If we put him first, everything else will fall into place. Just do it. I like that scripture in malacias and 3 nefí that talks about tithing and Christ is just like "Try me that I WONT pour you out a blessing so great that you wont have room enough to receive it."  Its like he's looking at us and saying "ya really think I wont do it? Boy I dare ya. I double dog dare ya. Try me. I aint lying." 

 

Yah, just act. Life is happier.

 

Darwin-> he's a super fun Menos activo that is super smart and wants to come back, but just feels uncomfortable because he smokes and feels unworthy. YOU CAN STILL COME!!!!!:D but no. He is really progressing though. Since we started visiting him he's cut back from 50.-60 cigarettes a day to less than 15. Every time he wants to smoke, he starts a clock and waits 50 min. He knows A TON about history and is really interesting to talk to him.

 

Anyways, Im out of time. 

 

Love yall:D

Elder ELiason