Working to Bring Joy (Week #20)

This weeks been pretty good. P came and visited. It was good to see him again. 

Language study is great. All the elders in my apartment keep saying my Spanish is amazing but whatever. Still workin on it. 

I've been taking pictures and I haven't missed a day in my journal yet! 

We had this guy call us from an unknown # and I answered and he said he was a member and he hadn't been to church in 4 years because he doesn't have friends and he wants to be our friends. Little weird but he likes me a lot haha.

I did get the new bike thank you! It is just like the old one but it didn't come with a lock or a helmet...so I'll have to get those eventually.

What has been your biggest challenge this week? 

Finding time for everything. Having basically 2 areas is tough because you have 2 sets of investigators, members and less actives you have to go by and only so much time. Planning is a super big challenge but we're working on it.

What has been your biggest concern? 

M and J. They're our most promising investigators and they really want to be baptized. Trick is they gotta get married. And they're only 18. They're really into it but they don't have a lot of money. And M has to stop smoking. Like now. But so far he's done pretty good with it.

What has been your biggest success?

Me and Elder H OYMed this kid outside his house who had just got out of the hospital. We talked to him again yesterday and it turns out he was in the hospital for withdrawal pains. He basically told us everything and that he wants to change. We said a prayer with him and after the prayer, I looked up and the dude is just sobbing. Like uncontrollably. So we had him pray and he said he just wants to be normal. He's really prepared and humble. Just a great guy.

Who has been your favorite person this week? Why? 

Elder M. Me and him get along really well. We had an exchange together and had a great time. He makes missionary work a lot of fun. One of my favorite missionaries I've met so far.

What has been your most significant tender mercy?

Having M and J and V show up to church. The baptismal date we set with them is coming up quick so if they miss a Sunday they can't get baptized this month. and yesterday they almost didn't show up. Their mom works super hard in 2 jobs and was just exhausted but they dragged her to church so they could go. They were a little late but they made it.

What are you looking forward to this coming week? 

We're going to go visit G ( the crying guy) again. And hopefully we can get his whole family interested. Apparently his family has been torn apart by drugs so we can help them out. 

Do you have a goal set for this coming week? Tell me about it. 

To plan well. We have to visit a lot of people so we're working on a system to set it all up.

Which scripture has had the biggest impact on you this week?

The 3rd Nephi chapters about when Jesus visits. The joy the people had and how we try to bring the same joy.

Love you guys!

Elder Hess