Serve a Brother in Need

Fam & Friends,

What is up?! Another week is in the books over here in ‘Agualoo’! This week was definitely a grind, a lot of frustrating moments. But plenty of positives to take away from the week too. First off, this area has SO much potential. Elder Schoenfeld and I were balling out this week, finding a lot of great, new people and putting in some serious work. We were hoping and expecting just an awesome weekend but seemed like everything just fell flat. Just one of those weeks where you look back and ask yourself, “What happened?” or “What did we not do to see some results?!” All part of the mission life and I have come to (or at least try to) embrace it. Gotta love it though!

Since it’s summertime, it’s grind time! The best time of the year to get out and truly lose yourself (and just sweat buckets!) It’s been fun to have that mentality constantly with us to know that if we’re working hard, God will place someone in our paths. This has helped me grow my testimony knowing that there are no such things as coincidences. An example of this was on Saturday. A lesson we scheduled had just fallen through and we were heading back to our car a little bummed and frustrated. Insert our man, Will. Just happened to be that at the exact time we were walking out, Will was around the corner trying to push his broken down car all alone back to his place. We ended up helping him push his car next to ours so that we could try to jump his car. We tried four times and every time his car would start, then immediately die again. I’m not a big car guy but that just usually doesn’t happen...I’m certain is was because our job wasn’t done there. So the three of us pushed the car all the way back to his apartment a couple blocks away. Got everything situated, then naturally Will asked us, “What’s the deal with the uniforms?” It was a nice transition to telling Will our purpose as missionaries, why we are so willing to drop everything and serve a brother in need and telling him a little about the Retstored Gospel. You all know the rest is history ...Sadly, Will didn’t make it to church on Sunday but he said he still hasn’t found “his” church yet and is excited to have us over again to learn more.

We are still working with a mighty fine squad of refugees from Africa. They love us coming over but just never quite grasp our purpose as missionaries to invite, teach and baptize through their thick heads. At least four of our homies have the same struggle and concern of being baptized again and the priesthood authority. It has been driving us crazy but we have faith that if we are patient and loving, their concerns and prayers will be answered by the Spirit. Frustrating week because it seemed like these things were an everyday occurance, but on to the next!

Attention Ladies! Nathan Roderick is home. Enough said. That is all.

Love you all,

Elder C

p.s. s/o to McDougal and the French! “Les Bleus!”

 

My man, Elder Loeak

Our dude, Will, trying to break into his car
note from the editors: we are really hoping that this was actually Will’s car! ;-)