Elder Alvarez and I are doing very well! With our lack of experience here in the mission, the spirit is our guide and I am very grateful for the work we have been able to do.
A while back we ran into a woman with one of our new investigators selling some tamales. We asked if we could talk with them and although she was a bit reluctant at first, she accepted. She really enjoyed the lesson and committed to read the Book of Mormon with her friend Ramona who was also reading and soaking up everything. This last week we went back and talked to her, Aidé, two times. One time we didn't really have something specific planned but we taught about the word of wisdom and she enjoyed it. The second time we taught her about the Plan of Salvation and she liked it a lot as well. She said, "I don't know why, but I just like listening to you guys!" (except she said it in Spanish)We explained with a smile that it was the spirit that was testifying of our words. She said she will continue reading and praying. Both Aidé and Ramona said that they felt something in saying their first personal prayer. They had never done it before. They really felt something different and they love it. Although they didn't come to church for some reason (we had a Sister in the ward pass for Aidé but she was gone at her sister's house or something), we are excited to teach them and we think they can both progress very well.
Last week we had a plethora (yes, that many) of Family Home Evenings with families last week. It was really great! One was with the Lopez Cazares family. The family is less active because the mom has to work on Sundays (she was very active before) and the dad is not a member yet. They are really good people. We tried to teach them the restoration but it was so hard. We would try to say a few words and then they would tell us a story about one time in one place where something happened. Finally we resulted to the big guns, the Restoration video. We put the disk in the mini DVD player that the mission gave us, but it didn't work. Despite our tireless tinkering it refused to tick. We put the disk in one of there computers and it was going very well until the screen went white. Ay yay yay. We told the story ourselves in the words of Joseph Smith and it was just as powerful nonetheless. We invited the dad to be baptized and with confidence he said, "Yes." ...Oh. Cool! "We are going to have a baptismal service the 28th of December, will you prepare yourself for this day?" "I don't think so..." Oh. Ok. He said he knows he won't be able to keep the covenant right now because he works on Sundays. At least he understands how important it is. We testified to him that the Lord would open this possibility to him as he prayed and really sought it.
Sunday went very well as well. One of the young men pulled us out of the adult Sunday school class and asked if we could teach the young men and young women. We had no idea what we were gonna do. We got up to the front and directed the beginning with a himn and a prayer and during the prayer I asked that we might be guided by the spirit. And guided by the spirit we were. I had a strong feeling that we should talk about the gospel and how it can be applied to a teenage life and why it is even important to them. We gave the analogy of the car and the car jack (that I heard from sister Aldous many months ago in Sacrament Meeting). If you are trying to lift a car (life) and someone comes by and hands you a jack (the gospel), would you use the jack to help you lift the car? Or would you put the jack on top and keep on pulling? We testified that the principles of the gospel were meant for our joy and help and that they can either throw it into the pile of things to do or they can use it for their benefit. They really enjoyed the lesson.
We met with our investigator Líber yesterday. We taught him boldly about the Word of Wisdom. He told us that he has been going through some rough times and that he has been drinking and smoking regularly but he has the goal to stop by January. We talked to him about the healing power of the Atonement and that the gospel could really help him stop. He really has confidence in us as representitives of Jesus Christ. He accepted to baptism and the date of the 5th of January. At first he asked if it would be better in Febuary when he knows for certain that he will be off of the destructive substances but we assured him that as he strives in faith to stop these addictions, his Heavenly Father would help him. He said that he trusts in us completely and said that the 5th would be fine. I am excited to work with him and help him change. He really seeks the joy of the Gospel in his life.
Wow. Rosario just called me and asked, "Elder Clement, hey are you guys busy tomorrow? I was just wondering if you could baptize me tomorrow" :O ...WOOHOO!!! Her mom said it was alright for her to get baptized!! Thank you so much for all of your prayers on behalf of our investigators! They have surely softened hearts! :D She finally gets to be baptized!!
I am so happy here in the mission field and I hope it goes by slow (luckily the first year goes by slow as they say). Elder Alvarez and I are doing very well and I have really felt the gift of tongues every day. I know that this church is true. I know that my Redeemer lives. I know that He loves me. I know that He loves these people. I know that Joseph Smith saw Him and the Father and I know that he restored His church. I know that I am a child of God, and nothing brings greater joy.
Elder Clement
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