This is Jenny Han, a famous boxer. She's also a member! We met her last week at EPCC (El Paso Community College)
Whew! What a week, what a week! This week was a little slower than last - we didn't have anyone at church and found 5 news. We are, however, being blessed with much strength - that is, we're using the bikes more. :)
We biked 7 miles on Saturday in order to do a pass-off lesson with Hondo Pass Ward. The lesson was worth it! We'd found an investigator named Dominic Turnipseed (yes, that's his real name :) who was very prepared. We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ and they both agreed to be baptized on August 12th! We're very excited for them.
On Monday, during P-day, I was very pleasantly surprised by my zone with a zone breakfast at IHOP. I walked in and thought, "That's a large group of white button-down shirts... wait a second." Then they all burst into a hearty chorus "Happy Birthday." I was touched! It really was an awesome Mission Birthday. :)
On Tuesday, during Language Study, my companion put together one of the most detailed, organized Language study plans I'd ever seen. I was very impressed! She really has many righteous desires.
On Wednesday, Elder Evans, Spanish-speaking, called us before the zone conference call to ask us to "bless his popcorn." Evidently he makes himself a bowl of popcorn every night and asks his companion to say a prayer over it, but his companion didn't want to that night. That's dedication, folks! We also had interview with our mission president. He said to me during the interview: "There are 10% of missionaries I feel like I could ask to go anywhere and do anything and they would do it. You are approaching that." :) It made me want to work harder!
The next day, we biked about 2 miles towards our dinner when they called us saying they'd come pick us up. We waited in the parking lot of a bar in broad daylight. The member came, but forgot his wife! We were able to find a ride with ratio from our bishop - this family was less-active, so it would have been more hassle to reschedule.
While we were waiting for the bishop and his sons, two drunk racist ladies came down from the bar to "protect" us from the member. UGH - I have zero patience for drunk people. Luckily my companion had a lot more patience and grace than I did, and she was able to talk to them and explain the situation. My comp is a champ!
On Friday, our 2 evening appointments cancelled, so we decided to do some finding closer to home. We were led to find two new investigators, one of whom lives in our same complex! His name is Joshua, and he's in the army, as many are here in El Paso. His wife is an inactive member, and she's 18. Marrying Joshua was her first away-from-home experience, so their marriage is pretty strained right now. We shared the message of the Restoration with Joshua, really focusing on God is Your loving Heavenly Father. He agreed to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it! It was a miracle.
The other miracle find was Genesis. We spotted her across the street and felt prompted to run across the 4 lane road to talk to her (which was dangerous- we never do that unless so instructed by the Holy Ghost). She asked us, "Are you on your missions?" We told her we were, and she told us her friend, who was a member, recently got back from her mission in Mexico. She asked us what we wanted to talk about. In this mission, we'd been encouraged by Elder Pearson to simplify our language, so we replied simply, "Jesus." She expressed that she's always noticed the strength of Mormon families and was interested in that. We taught her out of the Restoration pamphlet, and she promised to read it before we came back!
My companion expressed that she felt she wasn't doing enough to be good enough. I told her that I felt like that too sometimes - like I wish I could re-take seminary and have years to study. But there's no use wishing we would have used our time more wisely back then - we have to move forward from where we're at.
Adios for this week,
Hermana Smurthwaite
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