Last
week was a little difficult. We had many meetings and hardly any
proselyting. On Wednesday we had Transfers and we all know that I'm
staying here in Logan and will be the last one. And on Wednesday night
we went to Ogden because they were missionaries about to go home because
their mission ended. Each transfer the mission has a departing
testimony meeting and missionaries their testimony. I went because Elder
Tamale (not Hispanic he's Tongan haha) went and told me to go. Tamale
Elder was one of the best missionaries in this mission. Had many
baptisms and very obedient. He was an assistant to the President, my
second transfer I was the first one who called to let me know I was
training. He could not pronounce my last name. It was very funny. After,
we were taking pictures and said goodbye. He said he would send me a
shirt that says Hawaii but we'll see if it's true. haha And we came home
very late because everybody stays in Ogden to say bye.
On
Thursday we also had to go to Ogden because a general authority was
going to speak to us and wanted to know every one of us. Elder Clayton
is one of the seventys. He and his wife spoke to us. Elder Clayton spoke
to us about how our investigators have to be converted to the Gospel
and not us. That happens a lot here, but I'm sure that in all missions
it happens. I make sure that my investigators are converted to the
Gospel before they're baptized because if they are not converted to the
Gospel, they will not go to church. He said we have to bury our weapons
of rebellion like the Lamanites. Our weapons of rebellion represent
disobedience. Things that make us disobedient we bury them and never
look for those weapons anymore. It was a great talk!
On Friday we had
zone study, our zone leaders speak and give us a small training. We
talked about what Elder Clayton talked to us about and how we can apply
those things to our area. We split into groups and one person in the
group had to speak or give a 2-3 minute training and well, it was my
turn ... as always. haha And then we went to eat. After going back home
Hugo's wife sent a message saying that her husband wants to change the
date for his baptism because her mother was not going to be there
because she was going to work. And his baptism is the next day! I was
very frustrated because he's changed the date 3 times. We asked if we
could come over to talk about the baptism and we said yes. We talked
with Brother Morales that Hugo wants to change the date and Brother
Morales was not happy either. He was angry. I said I'd talk to Hugo to
see if we can do the baptism earlier. We arrived with Hugo and said he
didn't want to do it early. He said that he feels he should not do it
early. I told him that he is making a covenant with God and not with
anyone else and his salvation is more important. I know I have to be
patient but it's hard. You know I'm not a patient person. Since I've
been in the MTC I have been learning patience. haha Now Brother Morales
said that if they change the date one more time he's not going to help.
haha I understand because if I was the ward mission leader I would be
angry too. haha
On
Saturday we went to Smithfield to help the missionaries find people to
teach because the sister missionaries are opening the area. I know a
family in Smithfield, the family of Sister Hortin who was in the MTC
with me. We went to ask for references and got some. Before we left we
were invited to dinner on Sunday. The family of Sister Hortin are
awesome.
On
Sunday had a branch council. The leaders of the branch are very good
and help us a lot. And then we had correlation with Brother Morales. He
also helps a lot! If it wasn't for him we wouldn't have the baptisms and
we wouldn't have any work.
Yesterday
we had a lesson with Wendy. She is from El Salvador and has cancer.
When I was with Sister Judy we went to visit her because it was a
reference from President Marshall (our branch president). The first time
it didn't go very well. She was preaching and would not let us speak. I
was upset and Sister Judy and I decided not to go back because she was
not interested. Then a ward mission leader called and said he went to
visit her and she wants to listen to the discussions. Then we went
again, and yesterday we had our second lesson. We taught the plan of
salvation. But it didn't go too went. Then we talked about the Book of
Mormon. My companion asked her if she would read it and pray and said
she would read it, would not pray because she knew it was true. Then a
few minutes later, says Joseph Smith just copied scriptures from the
Bible to wrote the Book of Mormon. I was so frustrated. It was a crazy
week!
I hope you all doing great! I miss you all!
-Hermana Marin
