¡Hola mi familia!
Another week and what an emotional rollercoaster it was.
Some really great things happened though! First off before I forget, I'm not
sick anymore thank you for the prayers! We found a new, very promising
investigator so we´re excited about that! Her name is Jocelin, and she is 15
years old and has already been to church twice with us! So we had the first
lesson with her and we are doing a lot better switching off in lessons and
sharing time, we really focused on that in comp study this week, but then I gave
her the invitation to get baptized and she said yes! It was only the
"soft" commitment so there isn't a date set or anything yet but she
is solid. Then we got the ward directory and are trying to clean it out so we
walked a TON on Tuesday but it's good. We found one guy though, saddest story
ever. He is about 30 years old maybe and has three kids. But three years ago he
had an accident in work and fell fifty feet. He was seriously injured, his mind
is completely gone, he is paralyzed from the waist down and has very limited
arm movement. He cannot live on his own but his wife married him after the
accident in order to take care of him. The saddest thing was his youngest son
was 7 months old.. If I understood everything the wife was saying I'm sure I
would've been balling my eyes out. But we had a prayer and I got to offer it,
the Spirit was so strong it was incredible.
Julio was doing great this week, had gone the whole week
truly this time without drinking but on Saturday night we showed up for his
lesson and he was drunk...it was heart braking. I was so sad and felt so much
anger not necessarily to him but to Satan for not letting him progress in the
gospel. He knew it was wrong and kept asking for forgiveness the whole time we
were there and saying he was sorry. He said that we were the examples he has
never had in his life and we mean so much to him. And then he got frustrated
with himself because he feels like he is letting down his Heavenly Father. We
tried to just let him do the talking on Saturday night we went back on Sunday
and had a very powerful discussion. We told him that we would not give up on
him and neither will his Heavenly Father, we all know he can do this and so
does Julio and he wants to. We talked to him about the Priesthood and that it
is the power to act in God's name and to do His will. He asked for a blessing
and chose me to give it to him. I was so scared I was only able to do the first
half in Spanish and the rest was English but he understood it because he lived
in the US
for like 20 years. But it was amazing. I want so bad for him to be able to do
this, I can't believe the love I already have for these people especially our
investigators.
Alright our numbers this week in case you're interested ha-ha
5 investigators came to Sacrament, 30 lessons taught this week, 141 LPE's
(street contacts), 20 references received and 11 contacted, 2 new
investigators, and 101 people came to church this week, and 51 pupusas eaten.
We are very happy with those numbers but all can be improved upon like always.
And we are working hard to do it trust me. Oh a sweet story we were at a
pupusaria and a guy came up and started talking in English to us which is
always weird cause I never know if I should reply in English or struggle through
in Spanish ha-ha but anyways he was like "I lived in Salt Lake and my mom
is a member and I read the book of Mormon and I want you guys to come teach my
family especially my daughter who is 17 and we want to come to church"
well after I got up from falling off the bench in amazement we had him write
his address down and everything and just talked a bit more and then he left. He
was out of our area just barely so we gave it to the zone leaders to go talk to
him on Saturday and they went out and could not find him. The directions here
are ridiculous ha-ha. But they found the street but the house did not exist and
the people on the street did not know who they were. I know the Lord sent them
to us and he will make it possible for them to find the missionaries again
because I think they are the ones who have been prepared to receive us. So
fingers crossed again there. Oh and we have a baptism this Saturday! Raul is 13
years old and a stud! He is so ready for baptism I am excited for him!
The week before last I finished the Book of Mormon again in
English so I`m starting it in Spanish or I have started in Spanish ha it`s very
slow goin but that`s ok I seriously mark almost every verse no joke. Its
amazing how much more you understand when you read in a different language
because you have to focus so much more and really take time to do it. So I`m
only like 15 chapters into Primero Nefí and then have done a couple other
chapters but its cool. And as always it sounds like home is all good besides
the fires still going that's ridiculous! I bet Lagoon was sweet! We definitely
should do a trip when I get home and Brandi graduates ha-ha I`m excited for
that. And dad gets to watch movies at work again!! What the heck I wanna watch
a movie! We watch the testaments almost everyday at lunch so that's fun
actually sometimes its in Spanish so I try to really focus. But my comp was in
plays and stuff in high school so he says every line of every character during
the movie...pretty annoying so i decided i will never quote a movie again while
I'm watching it ha-ha.
Oh fun fact
apparently there was a 7.4 earthquake last night! We had no idea but some guys
got emails from their family and the presidents wife emailed us too ha-ha but
none of us felt it, I'm kinda bummed ha-ha but you cant even tell. All the homes
here held up pretty well against it I guess ha-ha. The Spanish is still coming,
slowly but coming I guess some members are saying I have improved a lot but I
dono if I believe em haha. But anyways its good to know you`re all doing so
great!
"Let us do whatever is required to qualify for the Holy
Ghost as our companion, and then let us go forward fearlessly so that we will
be given the powers to do whatever the Lord calls us to do. That growth in
power to serve may come slowly, it may come in small steps that are difficult
for you to see, but it will come."
—Henry B. Eyring
Brandi you`re doin great in cross country keep it up! And
I`m glad you got my letter haha. Well I think that should about do it for me down
here I love you all so much and I am so grateful you are praying for me everyday,
pray for the people down here too. I pray for you always! The church is true!
Follow its teachings and you will be truly happy and have Eternal Life!
Love,
Elder Derrick Jorgensen
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