March 17, 2014
Being Mormon is Being Happy.
And Quirky.
Hey, the family. Elder
Peña got some transfers. [Is he being goofy with the language on
purpose?] I am now with a Guatemalan companion named Elder Ortiz.
He's the best. And pretty short.
We started teaching an
English class. Don't worry—when the 7 people that showed up tell the whole
world about the most mind-blowing hour and a half of their life, it will start
picking up.
We were also finally
able to teach the Tapia family, the family that lost their father this last
week. If you are dying to say prayers for people here, they would be the
people I'd choose for you. They are close.
But, the most
gratifying part of the week for me was with the Mendoza family, who are less
active. We visited Lucho, who, as it turned out, had just separated from
his partner (and she was actually the reason we never really gave Lucho a
chance). I told him about how grateful I am that my grandpa came back to
activity, and I just felt overwhelmed out of nowhere. I told him it won't
be easy, but that it's worth it. Both he and his brother Paul came to
church yesterday. In a way, it's even more gratifying to see a less
active come to church than an investigator, because many times the less active
comes as a way to show that he's here to stay this time.
I understand what Davi
was talking about, about loving a quirky branch. Julito, our ward mission
leader, always gives long, excited prayers at church, where he almost always
says the phrase "Ser Mormon es ser feliz" [“Being Mormon is being happy”] out of nowhere during the prayer.
And right in sacrament meeting, as someone from the district presidency
was talking and mentioned that he is 50, our pensionist’s husband (who is 75
and was walking out to go to the bathroom) said, right out loud,
"Oh, es viejo ya." [“Wow, he is old already.”] I really did my best to be reverent when
I heard it. Anyway, the branch has some spice to it still.
Hey, I'm glad you're
all doing well. Love ya!
Elder Johnson
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