This week was really good. We have an investigator really
struggling to take the decision to get baptized. She has almost all the
lessons and appears to understand the gospel on an intellectual level but
is missing something that is impeding her from getting baptized. She
says the Book of Mormon is true, lives all the commandments, and much of
her family is members of the church. I think maybe she has fears of
commitment, lots of people struggle with this here. The culture here is
very day to day living. People just wake up
one day and decide to go on three or four month vacations... no
planning, just living life. It's super hard to make scheduled
appointments. We kind of just guess when we think people will be home. We are praying and fasting of how to help her progress more. She's a great gal that the gospel will only enhance her life.
We have also made some incredible break throughs as well
with some hard hearted people. There are a lot of part member families
here whose spouses don't want anything to do with the missionaries or the
church, they literally hide from us. They wont even say hi because they
think we are just gonna start religous arguments with them. That's
where my cooking skills have really come in handy. I taught one family
how to make Mcmuffins, and another BBQ chicken. Then both the spouses
accepted a Book of Mormon and the challenge to read it. Sometimes you
just have to be a little creative with how you get it to them. Food always worked with me, right?!
We spent almost all of Pday cleaning the house because a 70 is coming to the mission this week, and its very possible his wife and Hermana Baquerizo are going to inspect our house. We are only 2 blocks from the church.
Anyways, That's rough about Katie. that is one of my worst
fears in life is getting a kidney stone. I'm really proud of Chuck. Sounds like he had a tough bracket but he pushed through! Cant wait to
watch him next year. Tell him my only advice is to stick with it. Go to
the camps in the summer and wrestle freestyle and he can really get
good.
That's also really exiting about Elder Bednar coming. I read the book you sent me that he wrote. It really changed my
perspective on missionary work, and led me to not stress so much about
numbers and goals, but most importantly the one to one difference we can make. If you get the chance, bring a tie to trade him for
me. :) It is on my bucket list to trade ties with an apostle.
Thanks for everything you do for me, always. Onto another week of serving my Savior as a missionary.
Love,
Elder Donaldson
