Bystanders

Hola! 

This was a really interesting week. We went to the temple - which was AMAZING - attended a worldwide missionary training broadcast, heard the "dying testimonies" of some of our district members, helped set up for a pokemon birthday party, painted some elderly ladies' nails, and had some incredible lessons. Also, we may or may not have a baptism later this week. We don't know yet because our incredibly prepared investigator still needs an interview... The suspense!

Overall, it's been pretty great. The investigator in question, let's call him Ryan, met with us three times this past week and practically taught himself the rest of the commandments we needed to teach. Literally, we would show up planning to teach two commandments and we would start talking about the first one when he would add his perspective and tell us what he understands about it and go on a little tangent about the next commandment without knowing it. And then ask, "okay, so what's the second one?" We are just astounded by this man. After only 9 lessons with him, he is eager and willing to obey all of the commandments, change his life, and raise his son in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I count myself truly blessed to have been able to be one of the missionaries teaching him!

One of the things we emphasize as missionaries is that we are not the teachers. We are responsible for being worthy conduits of the Spirit. As we declare repentance and invite others to make changes in their lives and testify of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost testifies of the truthfulness of our words and brings our message unto the hearts of those we teach. If we're doing it right, the Spirit is the teacher, and we missionaries are just bystanders with front-row seats to witness the awe-inspiring effects of the Atonement of Christ. That's how I feel it's been with Ryan. The Spirit guides both him and us every time we meet, and my companion and I are left in awe of the majesty of Christ's power. 

That's the bulk of the exciting news, I guess. This week is transfer calls, but my companion and I are pretty sure we won't change. Three of the missionaries we work closely with are going home this transfer, so that will be sad. I still don't know Spanish as well as I'd like to, so with any luck I'll stay in this language for a while yet. :) 

I hope you all have a great week!

Hermana Shower  

the view from our window at sunrise

more pantouffles (describes every companionship I've ever had)

we went looking for this one house that led us to this SUPER cashmoneys neighbourhood! 

Literally, every house was a castle, with towers and spires and columns and gates and triple garages and lion statues and arched double doors and high ceilings and spiral staircases. We didn't find the house we were looking for, but we did drive around for 20 minutes with our jaws hanging open. 

This is a poor picture, but yeah. That's how it was. 

And that's all the pictures I have this week.