Well another crazy week has rushed by us here in Yby Yau. At the end of every week we review what we have done and it seems that we are always saying "This week was CRAZY" for one reason or another, but I sure do like it like that.
My favorite of all the crazinesses of this week was our adventure to the Familia Cinturion`s house for Family Home Evening. They missed church last Sunday and when you have ONE active family, you really notice their absence.
We planned with the Elders to have a Family night on Tuesday with them. Hermana Willis and I, not having the blessings of bicycles, headed out on the 6 kilometer walk up 3 huge hills to their abode.
Sticky and sweaty and taking turns carrying a cake for Hermano Cinturion`s cumpleaños- we made it! We enjoyed a short video, played games with ties and `the fruit game` while we watched giant rolling deep purple clouds gather outside. When we had stayed the polite amount of time Hermana Willis and I tried to excuse ourselves so that we could get heading back.
Hermana Cinturion brought out sopa Paraguaya and empanadas. We tried to eat as quickly as possible without turing into the Beast when he tries to eat with Belle in Beauty and the Beast. We said our "Heterei"s (very delicious) and got up to leave and then..... CAKE. We forgot about the cake. We gobbled down the cake and tried to make small talk as we watched the sun sink and darkness fall over a brewing perfect storm.
We finally managed to get on our way and faked confidence until we were out of sight. We immediately prayed for God´s help/protection on our scary, dark, and long walk home. We were trying to walk fast to get home before the inevitable rainfall. Not but 5 minutes later the Elders came wobbling to our side on their bikes. I don’t know if they intended to ride by our side the whole way, or if they were just chatting for a bit before riding off, but before I could find out we heard a `mysterious ticking noise`. Elder Muñoz`s back bike tire quit.
Now whether they`d planned to or not, they were accompanying us on our long walk home. E.Muñoz hiked his bike up onto his shoulders and we began to walk.
But like Igore said to Young Frankenstein "Could be worse." .... "WORSE? HOW COULD IT BE ANY WORSE?".... "Could be raining."
(cue lightning and pouring rain!)
hahahaha
In their Sunday best, flashlights and cake-pan in hand, four mormon missionaries made their way down a `drug-trafficking`road near the border of Brazil on a dark stormy night, one with a bike riding HIM.
We eventually readjusted. Elder Muñoz carried his back tire up while I steered the front. Hermana Willis carried the glass cake pan and Elder Benavente walked his bike and held the light. All this for one Family who had missed church.
And that was Tuesday.
Other adventures occurred, but I can not write all the things which happen for there are many!
This week Hermana Willis asked me "What do you think a General Authority would say if he came to our ward?" I thought long about that and about all that we (The missionaries here) do to have a fully functioning ward. I smiled as I imagined President Tommy Monson describing all of our efforts to give the people here our ALL. We recognize the importance of all of the organizations of the Church and take it upon ourselves to make sure we have as many of those as we possibly can. I know you already know, but we do it all here. Primary, Releif Society, Activities directors, Ward council, We give the talks during Sacrament meeting and now we help teach Seminary and institute etc... I joked with Hermana Willis that when we get home we`re going to accept callings by saying "Okay, And what else?...". Sometimes it feels like we are "playing house" but instead we´re playing "church". This week my new "role" was to be a seminary student in Hermana Willis`s class. She taught and I answered all the questions while the other student stared out the window. We do all this on top of the contacting/finding/teaching missionary efforts we also try to get done. Sometimes I get stressed because there is so much to do and so little time, but God blesses me with comfort (Hermana Willis kindly telling me to "SNAP OUT OF IT BUZZ!"). We focus on the task at hand, one at a time. When the weeks come to the close I am always amazed at how much He helps us get done. We really are just tools in His hands and as long as we stay completely obedient and trust in Him, HE will get done the things he needs to get done.
We found a new investigator this week on Saturday night and, by some miracle, got her to agree (and follow through) to coming to Church on Sunday! I hope she keeps progressing. Her name is Judy Meza. We rode IN A CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! with her and her boyfriend to church. Church was really great this week.
Although I have seen little to no of the "Expected"/"normal" progress Missionaries hope to see (investigators progressing and discovering the fullness of the Gospel), I am trying to have hope that this will go somewhere. It´s difficult to picture the `vision` of her (or others) baptism and start of her journey because I`ve still never seen that happen, BUT I don´t have to see to believe that it can happen. I pray and hope and have faith that we are here to help her and many others and so whatever God has planned, He will get done. I only aspire to be ready, worthy and willing to take some part in His marvelous plan. That is all He asks.
I am still loving daily studies and am flabbergasted at how much there is always left to learn. I am excited to have eternity to learn more about the mysteries of God.
Thank you for your guidance and prays on my behalf. Thank you for Emails and Letters!
We also had Zone Conference this week and when we have Z.Con. we get our letters from the Office in Asuncion! YAY! I got a sweet paper crane and note from Zman and three more Grannee letters with pretty blue birds on them and pictures of flowers and lady bugs. Thanks for those and all the others I’ve received.
I am sorry I can’t get back to you all individually, but when I physically get BACK to you all I promise to pay you all back with loves and hugs! Keep um` coming!
I DO read and smile at them all!
XOXO
Hermana LIBZILLA
