This week was another week here down here south of the border. To be honest though
not much has really happened--so that's a bummer. It was a really boring week, but it
went be really, really quick. The past three weeks have honestly just been so fast, and
at the end of the week I am just wondering where the week went. I have started to put
together a daily plan of contacting. So here in Sotavento its just all apartments--like more
or less all of the main area is apartments. So anyways, each street has 18-20 apartments.
Every apartment has 6 doors and 30 stairs. So we contact one street every single day, or
we contact for two-three days until we have finished the whole entire street. Then we start
on the next street. So this is really tiring but its all good. We walk up and down stairs for like
two hours in 90-114 degree weather--and I love it. Its really hard, but hey--its worth it. We will
sometimes go two whole hours just sweating like no other and not finding anybody, but hey--its
all about that next door. Just gotta keep the mindset that this next door is the reason why you're
here, and if they don't except you (or don't answer) its the next door, and the next, and the next,
and the next.
at the end of the week I am just wondering where the week went. I have started to put
together a daily plan of contacting. So here in Sotavento its just all apartments--like more
or less all of the main area is apartments. So anyways, each street has 18-20 apartments.
Every apartment has 6 doors and 30 stairs. So we contact one street every single day, or
we contact for two-three days until we have finished the whole entire street. Then we start
on the next street. So this is really tiring but its all good. We walk up and down stairs for like
two hours in 90-114 degree weather--and I love it. Its really hard, but hey--its worth it. We will
sometimes go two whole hours just sweating like no other and not finding anybody, but hey--its
all about that next door. Just gotta keep the mindset that this next door is the reason why you're
here, and if they don't except you (or don't answer) its the next door, and the next, and the next,
and the next.
I've also been trying to work on reminding the people here (missionaries) that these people aren't
numbers, but that they are people. So all this week when the DL was verificando with me, he
always would say 'How many dates did you put?' (which is always bugging me, cuz the missionary
purpose is invite others to come unto Christ. Its not 'Put numbers to come unto Christ', or that
type of stuff. So I told I didn't put any baptismal dates; I invited these people who have these
problems, this age, and a little description of the person. Then I'll say, 'And they accepted to be
baptized on this date if they feel that they are ready'. He was getting mad at me more or less every
night for this, but I would nicely remind him that 'You might be teaching numbers and baptizing numbers,
but over here in Aeropuerto we're teaching people and baptizing converts'. It was all out of love
and he slowly got the message that we clearly didn't have the same mindset about the people WE
were teaching. Also another thing I'm trying to work on is changing the mindset that these people
aren't the missionaries investigators (because in reality they aren't your investigators), they are the Lord's.
They aren't investigating the story of you, your teachings, nothing about you. And most importantly
they aren't making covenants with you. They are making covenants with the lord. So yeah, I'm trying
to change the mindset that this is their time and their stuff cuz in reality all of this is the Lord's work,
the Lord's time, and God's children--not yours.
numbers, but that they are people. So all this week when the DL was verificando with me, he
always would say 'How many dates did you put?' (which is always bugging me, cuz the missionary
purpose is invite others to come unto Christ. Its not 'Put numbers to come unto Christ', or that
type of stuff. So I told I didn't put any baptismal dates; I invited these people who have these
problems, this age, and a little description of the person. Then I'll say, 'And they accepted to be
baptized on this date if they feel that they are ready'. He was getting mad at me more or less every
night for this, but I would nicely remind him that 'You might be teaching numbers and baptizing numbers,
but over here in Aeropuerto we're teaching people and baptizing converts'. It was all out of love
and he slowly got the message that we clearly didn't have the same mindset about the people WE
were teaching. Also another thing I'm trying to work on is changing the mindset that these people
aren't the missionaries investigators (because in reality they aren't your investigators), they are the Lord's.
They aren't investigating the story of you, your teachings, nothing about you. And most importantly
they aren't making covenants with you. They are making covenants with the lord. So yeah, I'm trying
to change the mindset that this is their time and their stuff cuz in reality all of this is the Lord's work,
the Lord's time, and God's children--not yours.
Another thing that I really liked this week was a piece of a talk that George Albert Smith gave back
in 1947, in my juventud. Anyways, he said that a bunch of people have their names on the records
of the church, on the records of Christ, and they think that is all they need to enter into the kingdom of God.
He then went on to say that these people will get to the judgement seat of God expecting to enter into His
kingdom and He is going to tell them that 'Yeah your names are on the records, but you never did anything
after that, and it would have been better to never have written your name on the records'. Its because you
know the commandments of God and His covenants and you disregarded them and broke the
commandments, as if they weren't important. I loved that that part so much. Its because its true. We all
know a bunch of people who have left the church because they don't take their salvation seriously. They
think anyone can enter into heaven, but that's not completely true. The people that have those thoughts
are usually the worst off in the end. Its because they know the covenants of God, but think that they
know more than God and can cheat to get in--but you cant do that silly boy.
in 1947, in my juventud. Anyways, he said that a bunch of people have their names on the records
of the church, on the records of Christ, and they think that is all they need to enter into the kingdom of God.
He then went on to say that these people will get to the judgement seat of God expecting to enter into His
kingdom and He is going to tell them that 'Yeah your names are on the records, but you never did anything
after that, and it would have been better to never have written your name on the records'. Its because you
know the commandments of God and His covenants and you disregarded them and broke the
commandments, as if they weren't important. I loved that that part so much. Its because its true. We all
know a bunch of people who have left the church because they don't take their salvation seriously. They
think anyone can enter into heaven, but that's not completely true. The people that have those thoughts
are usually the worst off in the end. Its because they know the covenants of God, but think that they
know more than God and can cheat to get in--but you cant do that silly boy.
Other than that, this week was good. Learned a lot. Progressing a lot.
Still good ol' hilarious Tanner, so don't worry. And I'm still not mature, so don't you worry.
I'll come back the same, but a lot better, so dont' worry.
Church is true go be awesome (Anne Bagley)
Still good ol' hilarious Tanner, so don't worry. And I'm still not mature, so don't you worry.
I'll come back the same, but a lot better, so dont' worry.
Church is true go be awesome (Anne Bagley)
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