Hola!
I've talked to so many people this week. We just bike up and down 23rd street sometimes and just talk to people and ask if we can share a message with them in their homes. It surprised me how many people are actually willing to just stand there and talk to us. And there is always people that have 15-20 minute conversations with us. Most people aren't willing to say no to us so they usually gave us a fake address or phone number. It’s pretty funny when we bike to the address someone has given us and we find a n old abandoned warehouse. We have no problems finding Latinos to talk to here in Richmond. My Spanish is slowly but surely improving, I was able to get a referral all yesterday for the first time without my companion's help.
I've talked to so many people this week. We just bike up and down 23rd street sometimes and just talk to people and ask if we can share a message with them in their homes. It surprised me how many people are actually willing to just stand there and talk to us. And there is always people that have 15-20 minute conversations with us. Most people aren't willing to say no to us so they usually gave us a fake address or phone number. It’s pretty funny when we bike to the address someone has given us and we find a n old abandoned warehouse. We have no problems finding Latinos to talk to here in Richmond. My Spanish is slowly but surely improving, I was able to get a referral all yesterday for the first time without my companion's help.
I experienced BART for the first time this week. It’s the train system they have here in the Bay area. It’s pretty relaxing most of the time, but when it gets to be rush hour, there is nowhere to sit and there is a great lack of elbow room. We went to a new missionary training in Oakland on the temple grounds. Then on Saturday morning we rode BART to Oakland again so my companion could be an escort for one of his recent converts that was going thru the temple. That was such a good experience. The temple is so so so so much more beautiful in the inside.
This Saturday and Sunday was the Concord Stake Conference. The Concord Stake covers our whole zone, even though the stake center is about 40 minutes away (so much different than back in Queen Creek). Elder Pettit and I got the great privilege of translating the conference into Spanish for the Spanish ward. We took turns switching off every talk. Lo and behold, I got the General Authority, Elder Gardner (sp?) from the Seventy. He spoke for a good 40 minutes. I'm hoping the Spirit filled in the gaps that I missed!
The Church members of Richmond definitely love us. A couple of times when we have been crossing the railroad tracks to get to North Richmond, people have yelled out there windows, "Be safe Elders!" Then the other day there was a sister that was closing the door on us when all of a sudden she pulled out a conference issue of the Ensign. My companion and I just started laughing. The ward members always make us such good food to eat. If I weren't on bike I think I would be gaining so much weight.
Every day is such an adventure out here. I love listening to people's crazy stories (especially from the Latinos). Just when I think I've heard it all, I talk to someone who tops it.
It truly is amazing how much one learns about themselves when everything they do is for other people. It’s amazing how much you grow to love others when you study to help them, pray for them, plan how to best help them, even when they reject you and choose to go down another path. I love living my purpose as a missionary even if it’s not always easy, "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel, through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." (PMG pg. 1)
Love and best wishes!
P.S. I am now committed to learning the Vostros form in Spanish because it just sounds so cool! And also whenever I sing in Spanish I always make sure to sing using the castelleno accent :)
I experienced BART for the first time this week. It’s the train system they have here in the Bay area. It’s pretty relaxing most of the time, but when it gets to be rush hour, there is nowhere to sit and there is a great lack of elbow room. We went to a new missionary training in Oakland on the temple grounds. Then on Saturday morning we rode BART to Oakland again so my companion could be an escort for one of his recent converts that was going thru the temple. That was such a good experience. The temple is so so so so much more beautiful in the inside.
This Saturday and Sunday was the Concord Stake Conference. The Concord Stake covers our whole zone, even though the stake center is about 40 minutes away (so much different than back in Queen Creek). Elder Pettit and I got the great privilege of translating the conference into Spanish for the Spanish ward. We took turns switching off every talk. Lo and behold, I got the General Authority, Elder Gardner (sp?) from the Seventy. He spoke for a good 40 minutes. I'm hoping the Spirit filled in the gaps that I missed!
The Church members of Richmond definitely love us. A couple of times when we have been crossing the railroad tracks to get to North Richmond, people have yelled out there windows, "Be safe Elders!" Then the other day there was a sister that was closing the door on us when all of a sudden she pulled out a conference issue of the Ensign. My companion and I just started laughing. The ward members always make us such good food to eat. If I weren't on bike I think I would be gaining so much weight.
Every day is such an adventure out here. I love listening to people's crazy stories (especially from the Latinos). Just when I think I've heard it all, I talk to someone who tops it.
It truly is amazing how much one learns about themselves when everything they do is for other people. It’s amazing how much you grow to love others when you study to help them, pray for them, plan how to best help them, even when they reject you and choose to go down another path. I love living my purpose as a missionary even if it’s not always easy, "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel, through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end." (PMG pg. 1)
Love and best wishes!
Elder Luis GonzalezP.S. I am now committed to learning the Vostros form in Spanish because it just sounds so cool! And also whenever I sing in Spanish I always make sure to sing using the castelleno accent :)
Sounds like you are doing an amazing job! That isn't surprising though. Keep it up! We love and miss you!
ReplyDeleteCoach E