This week was a rollercoaster and I learned a lot (and laughed wayyyy too much with Elder Prior).
Jefferson got baptized! It was such a sweet baptismal service and I made waffles for everyone and it was just awesome. We found Jefferson by visiting some inactive members and it has been so special to see these people come back to church and start their progress towards the temple!
Sadly, María did not get baptized and we are not sure if she will be able to. She is pretty dependent on her kids and grandkids to have food on her table and when she invited them to her baptism, they blew up in anger toward her and the Church because they are all “Catholic”. They threatened to basically protest the church and disrupt church meetings as well as forcefully move María from her house so that we could not visit her anymore. It was so sad as she explained all of this to us in tears because she wants to be baptized so badly but also loves her family and does not want problems with them. I truly came to understand that the work of the Lord is to unite families for eternity, whether it be done in this life or the next. He has His special timing in every circumstance and I know María will make it back to her eternal home.
Other stuff:
--- We made cheeseburgers with our pensionista to teach her how the natives make them.
--- Started saying goodbye to a lot of really special families
--- We had a fun bonfire activity with the youth and it reminded me of the bonfires my friends and I would do back at the beach. But I don't recommend bonfires in 90⁰ weather. It's a little warm.
We had such a special lesson yesterday with this one young guy who we found in the street a few weeks ago. He has come to church twice and it wasn't until yesterday we were able to meet with him. He moved to the United States when he was 12 and now he is 27 and we only talk with him in English, it's quite lit. He is visiting here for 3 months to help out his grandma who lives out here alone. We asked him why he thinks he feels this desire to come to church and he simply stated “I'm just trying to find the way.” We taught the whole Restoration in English (which was super odd but so awesome) and he was just hitting us with such thoughtful questions. He is super excited to read the Book of Mormon and “find the way”. Some Elders in Virginia are gonna get an absolutely GOLDEN reference in a couple of months.
It really touches my heart to see young people who seem to be living good lives have these soul-searching questions. People really are seeking truth and the Lord prepares a divine design for everyone one of us. When one door closes, many more open if we are trying our best to follow God's will.
Alma 26:21-22 are some of my favorite verses explaining how we can come to know the Will of God and find peace… and I truly testify that it works.
This week I'll be leaving Campana to go to my last area which is absolutely wild but I'm very very excited.
With so much love,
Élder Snyder
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