Sunday, July 19, 2015
Hello everyone! This week was pretty good. We have been visiting this
family from Ecuador who live right around the corner from our church.
The dad works a lot so we don't see him much, but they have a lot of
potential. Also we finally taught the family of Mónica! We've been
trying to teach the mom and some of the older siblings but we haven't
been able to yet. We only taught them a little bit about the Book of
Mormon and that's it but hopefully this week we'll get to teach them a
little more.
We've been playing soccer every Saturday morning for about the last
two months. The church has a little court that we play on so we start
with a little message and then play until lunchtime. Everyone here
destroys me at soccer but it's all good.
We need to look for some more people to teach so we'll see how it goes
this week.
It's. So. Hot.
Weeks go by so fast... I can't believe I have already been out 10
months. Crazy how fast time flies.
Love you all,
Elder Stephens
family from Ecuador who live right around the corner from our church.
The dad works a lot so we don't see him much, but they have a lot of
potential. Also we finally taught the family of Mónica! We've been
trying to teach the mom and some of the older siblings but we haven't
been able to yet. We only taught them a little bit about the Book of
Mormon and that's it but hopefully this week we'll get to teach them a
little more.
We've been playing soccer every Saturday morning for about the last
two months. The church has a little court that we play on so we start
with a little message and then play until lunchtime. Everyone here
destroys me at soccer but it's all good.
We need to look for some more people to teach so we'll see how it goes
this week.
It's. So. Hot.
Weeks go by so fast... I can't believe I have already been out 10
months. Crazy how fast time flies.
Love you all,
Elder Stephens
Monday, July 13, 2015
Hello great news Teresa got baptized!! It was great feeling to have
been able to find, teach, and baptize someone. Teresa really was a
miracle and an answer to our prayers. A little over a month ago we had
absolutely no one who were teaching that was progressing. The fast
Sunday from last month I fasted and prayed really hard to find someone
that will progress and that would accept our invitations to read and
to attend church. The day after our fast 30 seconds after leaving our
apartment is when we found Teresa. I know she was prepared by the
Lord and an answer to my prayer. It's crazy to think about the day we
found Teresa what if we were a little lazy and wanted to extend our
p-day 30 minutes longer or something and didn't leave exactly at the
time we were supposed to. If we didn't leave exactly on time we would
have never met her. The Lord will always prepares the way we just
need to be on the path that he has prepared. I'm grateful for all the
blessings in my life and for the opportunity to serve.
been able to find, teach, and baptize someone. Teresa really was a
miracle and an answer to our prayers. A little over a month ago we had
absolutely no one who were teaching that was progressing. The fast
Sunday from last month I fasted and prayed really hard to find someone
that will progress and that would accept our invitations to read and
to attend church. The day after our fast 30 seconds after leaving our
apartment is when we found Teresa. I know she was prepared by the
Lord and an answer to my prayer. It's crazy to think about the day we
found Teresa what if we were a little lazy and wanted to extend our
p-day 30 minutes longer or something and didn't leave exactly at the
time we were supposed to. If we didn't leave exactly on time we would
have never met her. The Lord will always prepares the way we just
need to be on the path that he has prepared. I'm grateful for all the
blessings in my life and for the opportunity to serve.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Hello! This week was pretty interesting. Teresa didn't get baptized
this week... She had her interview on Tuesday, and when she came out
she had decided to push it back until this Saturday the 11th so she
can invite all of her family/friends. That's ok though! She came to
church yesterday and she just loves it. So hopefully this weekend she
will finally be baptized and confirmed! Lessons with her are the
worst, I feel like I'm teaching an 8 year old with a severe ADHD
problem haha. She talks about 100 million different topics every
lesson. If you ask her a yes or no question she'll go off 10 minutes
about something that isn't related to the question at all. Lessons are
a challenge but she really is super awesome and cariñosa you would say
in Spanish.
This week we got to meet our new mission president and his wife! The
Andersons are awesome and they have the cutest happiest family haha.
I'm sure they are so tired because they came here and immediately met
all the missionaries.
Transfers are this week, and everyone in are district is staying other
than 1 sister that's leaving. So I'm going to be with Elder Chacon
for 2 1/2 transfers. He's had companions who couldn't last one with
him so 2 1/2 is pretty good! He's awesome but it's really hard to
work with him. He's starting to get really lazy and he doesn't want
to plan or anything like that so hopefully we'll be able to work hard
for another transfer together.
happy 'merica day!
this week... She had her interview on Tuesday, and when she came out
she had decided to push it back until this Saturday the 11th so she
can invite all of her family/friends. That's ok though! She came to
church yesterday and she just loves it. So hopefully this weekend she
will finally be baptized and confirmed! Lessons with her are the
worst, I feel like I'm teaching an 8 year old with a severe ADHD
problem haha. She talks about 100 million different topics every
lesson. If you ask her a yes or no question she'll go off 10 minutes
about something that isn't related to the question at all. Lessons are
a challenge but she really is super awesome and cariñosa you would say
in Spanish.
This week we got to meet our new mission president and his wife! The
Andersons are awesome and they have the cutest happiest family haha.
I'm sure they are so tired because they came here and immediately met
all the missionaries.
Transfers are this week, and everyone in are district is staying other
than 1 sister that's leaving. So I'm going to be with Elder Chacon
for 2 1/2 transfers. He's had companions who couldn't last one with
him so 2 1/2 is pretty good! He's awesome but it's really hard to
work with him. He's starting to get really lazy and he doesn't want
to plan or anything like that so hopefully we'll be able to work hard
for another transfer together.
happy 'merica day!
Hello! This week was a great one. Our investigator Teresa is going to
be baptized this Saturday! She's so awesome, a little bit crazy, but
awesome. We taught her almost everyday this last week and she's
slowly but surely progressing. Lessons with her are really
interesting haha it's almost like a game trying to get her to stay on
topic. But she came to church and absolutely loved it! She tries to
talk to EVERYONE. And I'm definitely fine with that haha.
We have this other investigator named Monica who's awesome also! She's
17 from Ecuador and my comp is in love with her haha. He really is
so its kind of weird.. This week we finally met the mother and
hopefully we'll be able to teach her as well. We also met Monica's
sister's boyfriend who is atheist and when we're talking he kept
trying to argue with us. The first thing he said was "so what came
first the hen or the egg?" We said we didn't know and he says how no
religious person he's talked to has ever answered that question and
basically for that God doesn't exist. Pretty lame. My companion got
really frustrated and looked like he was going to punch the guy haha.
This week is going to be really busy! We go to Malaga Wednesday to
meet our new mission President! I'm way excited to meet President
Anderson and his wife. I know he'll come with revelation for our
mission so we can do the work of the Lord more effectively!
I'm so grateful for this opportunity to serve! The mission is the most
amazing experience.
Teaching Monica with John Carlos a recent convert.
be baptized this Saturday! She's so awesome, a little bit crazy, but
awesome. We taught her almost everyday this last week and she's
slowly but surely progressing. Lessons with her are really
interesting haha it's almost like a game trying to get her to stay on
topic. But she came to church and absolutely loved it! She tries to
talk to EVERYONE. And I'm definitely fine with that haha.
We have this other investigator named Monica who's awesome also! She's
17 from Ecuador and my comp is in love with her haha. He really is
so its kind of weird.. This week we finally met the mother and
hopefully we'll be able to teach her as well. We also met Monica's
sister's boyfriend who is atheist and when we're talking he kept
trying to argue with us. The first thing he said was "so what came
first the hen or the egg?" We said we didn't know and he says how no
religious person he's talked to has ever answered that question and
basically for that God doesn't exist. Pretty lame. My companion got
really frustrated and looked like he was going to punch the guy haha.
This week is going to be really busy! We go to Malaga Wednesday to
meet our new mission President! I'm way excited to meet President
Anderson and his wife. I know he'll come with revelation for our
mission so we can do the work of the Lord more effectively!
I'm so grateful for this opportunity to serve! The mission is the most
amazing experience.
Teaching Monica with John Carlos a recent convert.
First things first happy Father's Day! Hope everything goes great. I'm
great for the influence of my father in my life and the roles that he
and every father has. Love and take care of their children.
This week was amazing! We talked to Isabel and we set a baptism date
for the 11th of April! But we're going to try to change it today for
this Sunday! She came to church Sunday and had a great experience and
loved it. She is so good with people she was going out of here way to
meet all the members and everything. Our teacher in gospel principles
told her to stand up and introduce herself. She ended up taking like
10 minutes giving her whole life story hahah it was pretty funny.
Last night around 6 the sisters had a baptism so we invited Teresa to
come and it went so well. The person who got baptized was a 19 year
old girl from Ecuador named Angie. At the end Angie bore her
testimony and it was so spiritual, everyone was crying. When she
ended Teresa (who has never met this girl other than right before the
baptism) runs up and hugs and kisses her right in front of everyone.
Teresa has a really strong personality haha. At the end Teresa looked
at her kid who's 11 and said "Marcos, vamos a bautizarnos". No
translation necessary. So yes right after she said that I asked her if
we could visit her the next day (today). And we're going to try to set
the baptismal date for this Sunday.
I wish I had more time to right more details! Love you all!
great for the influence of my father in my life and the roles that he
and every father has. Love and take care of their children.
This week was amazing! We talked to Isabel and we set a baptism date
for the 11th of April! But we're going to try to change it today for
this Sunday! She came to church Sunday and had a great experience and
loved it. She is so good with people she was going out of here way to
meet all the members and everything. Our teacher in gospel principles
told her to stand up and introduce herself. She ended up taking like
10 minutes giving her whole life story hahah it was pretty funny.
Last night around 6 the sisters had a baptism so we invited Teresa to
come and it went so well. The person who got baptized was a 19 year
old girl from Ecuador named Angie. At the end Angie bore her
testimony and it was so spiritual, everyone was crying. When she
ended Teresa (who has never met this girl other than right before the
baptism) runs up and hugs and kisses her right in front of everyone.
Teresa has a really strong personality haha. At the end Teresa looked
at her kid who's 11 and said "Marcos, vamos a bautizarnos". No
translation necessary. So yes right after she said that I asked her if
we could visit her the next day (today). And we're going to try to set
the baptismal date for this Sunday.
I wish I had more time to right more details! Love you all!
"¡¡¡ESO QUE ES!!!" My favorite phrase in Andalucia.
This week was a pretty great! We were contacting like locos and trying our best to find new people. On Monday right as we left the piso we contacted this lady from the Dominican Republic named Teresa and she has so much potential! She invited us over and Friday we came and taught her! She was introduced to the church back in her country when she was young and really liked how the church was united and everyone is always really nice. The lesson went really well, and when we invited her to be baptized she said she´d need to go to our church before she´d commit to anything. Sunday was stake conference in Granada so she´ll have to wait until this upcoming week. She´s been struggling lately so I really think we can help her! We also found some other good people so I´m excited for the work here!
Friday we had our last meeting with President Deere and his wife. This one was a lot more personal because it was only our zone. They talked to us about life and about how to stay in the straight and narrow path when we return from our missions. It was really good and it´ll be sad when they leave. They leave the end of this month so it´s getting close!
Like I said earlier Sunday we had stake conference. Our ward rented out a bus and went down at 8 in the morning to be able to get there on time. It was a great meeting! President and his wife talked in there as well. It was great to see a whole bunch of missionaries and sad to say good-bye to President and sister Deere.
Love you all
Hello everyone! This week was pretty solid. I realized that what we've been doing isn't going to help us reach our purpose. We´ve been spending way too much time in "gypsyville" trying to talk to all these people that aren´t going to progress. We need progressing investigators and people that are going to read the book of mormon and pray and everything. So we´re going to change things up a little bit. This month of June is month of invitation here in Spain so we´re going to work hard with the members! That´s the best way to work. So we´ll see how it goes.
Friday we had zone meeting and it was really good! They talked about the importance of weekly planning/setting goals, and also about our image as missionaries. In President Deer´s letter this week he said that the mission has had the least amount of baptisms in a 5-week period since a really long time ago. Coincidentally right since we've gotten our ipads.. So he´s trying to help us focus on our purpose and not get distracted.
Yesterday when we went over to Isabel´s she gave us our Book of Mormon back and said that she wasn't going to read it so we should just take it back. If anyone needs the gospel it´s her but whatevs it's all good.
Sunday fast and testimony meeting was so good yesterday, definitely one to remember. I´ve never seen this before but it happened a few times where a family together would go up and each of them would bear their testimony. My favorite part was when a couple went up and when the husband named Javier bore his testimony he talked about prayer. He said how his family never really did family prayer, but this week they all prayed every night together that their 20 something year old son would come to church on Sunday to watch Javier bless his new born baby. The son was there! (not a member so I was all over that ;) ) Javier testified about the power of prayer with true intention. He also said something really amazing. He said "The greatest happiness a person can have is from bringing others to Christ." That is so true. Bringing someone to Christ really is the greatest feeling. Being a missionary is the best opportunity and blessing. This sunday we fasted as a ward to see success during the month of invitation and I hope that we can see success and help other people come closer to Christ.
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