HI
:( Sam died? (Ang and Jorge’s dog) I am super sad to hear that. Angela and Jorge, I love you and am so sorry.
Anyway, this week was a little more difficult. Of those 12 investigators that we found, 6 have already dropped off our list. But that's the mission and that's how it goes. Actually mom, President has what are called our "norms of excellence" pretty high. The mission has been improving and improving since President Detlefsen came. The norms of excellence are our weekly goals as missionary companionships. Our objective is to have 20 lessons (half with a member present), 15 new investigators (roughly 2 a day), 5 people in the chapel on Sunday, and with all that, we should have 1 baptism weekly. Easier said than done of course but we're promised that if we are obedient missionaries, work hard, follow the Spirit and President's council, we should be able to achieve them.
Anyway, back to the week, I did divisions with my zone leader Elder Wilkes, who is hilarious, has had more Latino companions than English speaking ones, and speaks with a perfect Paraguayan accent, and we were in Balcarce. I learned a lot and it was super interesting, like it normally is on divisions, to work with someone else and see how they teach and interact with people. We found a man named Mario, a door-contact that Elder Blackhorse and I had done, and taught him the first lesson. But he dropped us the next time Elder Blackhorse and I went back! Super nice guy, but unwilling to open up his mind!
It's a bummer he couldn't! Wouldn't even give the Book of Mormon a chance! So many people just judge it without even opening it. Which reminds me of this 81 year old man that Elder Blackhorse and I talked to this week. We were searching for this family that we found in the Area Book (all the records of investigators in our area), and talked to this man who was standing outside. He told us that he didn't believe in God and that all of that was pointless. I asked him what his definition of happiness was and, to say the very least, he was a little disillusioned and believed in what the world defines as happiness. I felt really bad for him. 81 years of life and that was all he had to say. He wouldn't even give God a chance because he had already allowed himself to take a road in the other direction and was so far down it, he was blind to the fact that what he thinks is happiness is just a fleeting moment in the whole scheme of things! That's why the gospel is so great. It gives us identity. And not only do we not have to live 81 years of life BELIEVING there is no purpose, there actually IS one.
So if we give the Lord 100% dedication, we will receive 100% what we need. Maybe not what WE think we need, but what HE knows we need.
Anyway, I will be in Mar del Plata more this week than Balcarce. In fact, I spent P-Day here again. Elder Blackhorse has 2 meetings on two separate days, we have interviews with President on Friday, and we have to travel to Mar del Plata again on Sunday because that's when Elder Blackhorse is off.
Thanks for all the letters everyone! I really appreciate it. I'll write back as soon as possible. Remember is takes like 3 weeks to receive and 3 more after I send a response. Oh and we lost 15 minutes of computer time waiting for open computers. I can't respond to everyone this week. SORRY.
Chau,
Elder Ryan Garrison
:( Sam died? (Ang and Jorge’s dog) I am super sad to hear that. Angela and Jorge, I love you and am so sorry.
Anyway, this week was a little more difficult. Of those 12 investigators that we found, 6 have already dropped off our list. But that's the mission and that's how it goes. Actually mom, President has what are called our "norms of excellence" pretty high. The mission has been improving and improving since President Detlefsen came. The norms of excellence are our weekly goals as missionary companionships. Our objective is to have 20 lessons (half with a member present), 15 new investigators (roughly 2 a day), 5 people in the chapel on Sunday, and with all that, we should have 1 baptism weekly. Easier said than done of course but we're promised that if we are obedient missionaries, work hard, follow the Spirit and President's council, we should be able to achieve them.
Anyway, back to the week, I did divisions with my zone leader Elder Wilkes, who is hilarious, has had more Latino companions than English speaking ones, and speaks with a perfect Paraguayan accent, and we were in Balcarce. I learned a lot and it was super interesting, like it normally is on divisions, to work with someone else and see how they teach and interact with people. We found a man named Mario, a door-contact that Elder Blackhorse and I had done, and taught him the first lesson. But he dropped us the next time Elder Blackhorse and I went back! Super nice guy, but unwilling to open up his mind!
It's a bummer he couldn't! Wouldn't even give the Book of Mormon a chance! So many people just judge it without even opening it. Which reminds me of this 81 year old man that Elder Blackhorse and I talked to this week. We were searching for this family that we found in the Area Book (all the records of investigators in our area), and talked to this man who was standing outside. He told us that he didn't believe in God and that all of that was pointless. I asked him what his definition of happiness was and, to say the very least, he was a little disillusioned and believed in what the world defines as happiness. I felt really bad for him. 81 years of life and that was all he had to say. He wouldn't even give God a chance because he had already allowed himself to take a road in the other direction and was so far down it, he was blind to the fact that what he thinks is happiness is just a fleeting moment in the whole scheme of things! That's why the gospel is so great. It gives us identity. And not only do we not have to live 81 years of life BELIEVING there is no purpose, there actually IS one.
So if we give the Lord 100% dedication, we will receive 100% what we need. Maybe not what WE think we need, but what HE knows we need.
Anyway, I will be in Mar del Plata more this week than Balcarce. In fact, I spent P-Day here again. Elder Blackhorse has 2 meetings on two separate days, we have interviews with President on Friday, and we have to travel to Mar del Plata again on Sunday because that's when Elder Blackhorse is off.
Thanks for all the letters everyone! I really appreciate it. I'll write back as soon as possible. Remember is takes like 3 weeks to receive and 3 more after I send a response. Oh and we lost 15 minutes of computer time waiting for open computers. I can't respond to everyone this week. SORRY.
Chau,
Elder Ryan Garrison
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