Hey Fam!!

Hey Family and Friends,

 

How is everything going? Well things are going pretty good here in Siparia, and I am still loving it! We had an interesting week, full of hard work and LOTS of sweat, but in the end, it was all worth it. On Tuesday, we met with our investigator Mary. Lately we havent been too sure about her, so we really just wanted to figure out what was going on. She explained to us that she has been meeting with Jehovahs Witnesses in the past and lately they have started to come back. Meeting with so many different people, teaching different things has been really hard and pretty confusing for her, so she had made the decision that she was just going to stop meeting with all of us. Haha well I think I have told you this before, but Mary is really moving and progressing pretty slowely, and I have been working with her ever since I have been in Siparia, so going into the lesson we werent really sure what to do. The lesson went great though, and she felt the spirit very strong. She told us that she would be at church on sunday, and that she was going to recommit herself to find out if this is really true. Well our week went on pretty normally, doing alot of finding, and to be honest facing alot of rejection. It was really tough, but we just kept on working hard, and doing all that we could to find people that were prepared. On Thursday, we found a lady named Joanne. She invited us in, and we started to share the message of the restoration with her. It was a really powerful lesson, and the spirit was definitely there helping us. We are supposed to meet with her again tomorrow so we will have to see how it goes. Then on Friday night we went to see one of our recent converts, who just happens to be less active. I hadnt been able to meet with him at all yet, and I had only met him once. When we got there we sat down, and had a really good lesson with him. He is a really humble man, and has a very strong desire to gain a greater knowledge of the scriptures. When Elder Rodney and I left the appointment we both felt really good about it. We are going to try and continue working with him so that he can hold a calling in the church, because right now this branch needs all the help they can get! This week in my studies I have really been focusing on 3 Nephi Chapter 11. It is a really powerful chapter, and I think it might be my new favorite part of the book. The Nephites werent able to recognize christ, and it has really made me think about how hard we have to work in this life in order to be a true follower of christ. Well on sunday, our rewards finally came. After one of the hardest weeks I have had out here, the lord rewarded us and brought many people to church, including Mary! I was so excited to see her there, and I know that she really enjoyed it. Well, that was about it for the week out here in the West Indies, and it sounds like you had a pretty crazy week back at home. Oh, and I hit my 7 month mark yesterday! It amazes me how fast time flies! Anyways, It sounds like you guys are doing great and enjoying life. I am loving my mission and I really wouldnt want to be anywhere else right now! The joy that comes from spreading the gospel is unreal and I am greatful for the opportunity that I have to learn and grow!

 

Love you tons,

Elder Gines