Grasshoppers and Investigators

Last Friday we had a sweet experience. Our appointment fell through and we saw a little family walking towards us, so we decided to talk to them. It was a mom, dad, three year old boy (Jonathon), and a little girl in a stroller. They looked really rough and they began to tell us about how they have been homeless but finally got a motel room the day before. Anyway, the little baby girl had the worst scabs on her face that were from a sunburn apparently. Little Jonathon grabbed my hand right away, so we walked with them awhile. They were eating at another person’s house. Jonathon wanted the Book of Mormon I had in my hands, but it was in Spanish. We told them we would get them one in English out of the car. We did as well as a few other things we had in the car, sunblock, baby powder (don’t ask why), umbrella, playdough. I just wished so badly I had a few other things from the apartment. I just feel so blessed to come from the family I do and to have this amazing opportunity to share the gospel with so many people who really need it.

On Saturday, we really started seeing more potential in our investigators. Not only was Claudia a lot more interested than usual, she actually had really good questions. Also with Esperanza, she said she had read in the Book of Mormon! I probably acted a little too excited about that. Actually I take that back, you can’t ever be too excited when someone reads. That is the best thing ever! And then Hermana Ruis was able to come with us to MIGUEL! Yay!  His daughters absolutely love us.  We talked about church and he sounded like he might try and come. I am praying so hard that he will.

Dinner Friday night was with Sandra. She is a less active in one of the English wards, but is from Costa Rica and wanted to have us over for dinner.   She has got some very interesting views for sure. I hope she gets over a few things. I was feeling so stressed out listening to her go on and on. That has to be one of the HARDEST things about being a missionary, is hearing everyone’s problems. For some reason, people just dump everything on us and it can weigh down a bit on our shoulders.

I had a dream this week that was so real. In my dream I was going home from my mission, but it wasn’t like normal life. It was very odd, hard to describe. But what happened was someone came (can’t remember who) and yanked my missionary plaque off my shirt and told me I no longer had the same authority and gift of discernment that I had before. I started crying in my dream and woke up so sad, but then that sadness just turned to motivation. I know that missions are designed to be the length they are, but I have to make the best of every minute, even if I am too exhausted to move or too tired of people rejecting us. I have to make the best of every moment and make my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ proud.

This Sunday at church was amazing! We had an awesome meeting before hand, ward council, and our Branch President is really trying to do all he can to help us. It is really amazing. Then we got a text from Miguel (the single dad with the cute girls that love us) saying that he was going to come to church. At this point, Deiri and her two kids were also coming to church. I was sooooooooo excited! Deiri, Brandon, and Yumalay showed up. They were as cute as ever, and just as the meeting was about to start, Miguel told us he was here! We helped them inside and it was such a great meeting. It was testimony meeting. Sometimes I get nervous for investigators on these days, but it was such a perfect meeting.

Random fact, there are millions of grasshoppers everywhere here! SO gross haha. When we leave in the morning, they are all over our door and walkway.

Love you!