Lincoln Mission October 3-9

 Wow what a week. I dare say I've never been this tired or this happy in a while. To start off, we had the traveling APs this tuesday. They travel all of panamá strengthening the missionaries, teaching them, helping them, etc. I was with an Elder named Elder Tarbet. I already knew who he was because he is famous for his work ethic, teaching ability, obedience to the rules, the crazy cool miracles that he has seen, and more. I was so excited and let's just say sometimes meeting your heroes is more than you expected  We got 62 people contacted, taught 5 lessons, and extended 11 baptisimal invitations. He found a woman who is a member, but didn't know there was a church in her area (it's a massive area so it actually happens more than I thought) and we're going to meet with her and give her son a blessing (he's pretty sick right now) Also, he walks like he's racing in the 1985 women's speed walking olympics. My hamstrings are so sore. We covered ground faster than I thought possible. He's literally a machine. He feels no pain. I felt a lot of pain. I learned so much from these experiences. I learned how I could be more obedient, more like Christ, and a way better missionary. We also put a baptisimal date with our friend Domi (first time either of us had met him and now he is working towards baptism... miracles.) I am now a much better and more dedicated missionary. 

Be warned. I had a lot of contacts this week. I might have written a book.

On wednesday we had some pretty straight forward lessons. A lot of friends who liked giving us food but wouldn't complete commitments. We told them they needed to pray and ask God if the Book of Mormon is true and if this is Christ's restored church. We'll see what happens, but the Lord's time is precious and our goal is to help people progress in this life. Even if they do make a a really good arroz con coco (rice w coconut) 

Thursday was another fantastic day full of miracles. We had our district council so we took a Diablo Rojo, which then took the wrong road... but wait. Two people sat by me and both were interested in our message. They gave us their numbers. Another woman sat next us and the same result happened. Then a woman who was sitting in front of us, suddenly turned to me and asked me which church I was a part of. I told her The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She gave me her number and told us all that I said was true. Then a 20 year old man sat by me and I taught him the entire restoration of the gospel and doctrine of Christ. We gave him a folleto and he promised to read and pray. My Spanish was understandable and I understood enough to answer their questions. Miracle. After this experience I went back to speaking like a babbling baboon from the U.S.. That night we got sleep over at another missionaries house, so Elder Griffiths and I could wake up at 3am and become legal in Panamá  On the way we got a lot more phone numbers of interested people. We also met a cool guy with a cool jeep in the military. I wanted a cool picture so I yelled across the street in my gringo Spanish and asked if he could take a picture with us. To our suprise he said yes and now we have some really cool photos . I wanted to give him a Book of Mormon but Elder Rojas said no .  

We had a great sleep over then woke up at an hour when no sane person should wake up and Elder Griffiths and I took a taxi to the bus station. Our driver was a super cool guy and loved us. I have no idea how he had so much energy at 3 in the morning. We had a lot of amens and the usual, but he gave us his number so I won't complain. I then tried to talk with an unfriendly evangelical. Not the most fun of experiences. We got to the city and all 14 of us going to migrations took a small bus to the place (I don't know what they call it) There was 14 missionaries and a bus driver so there was only one thing to do. On the way there and on the way back I taught him the restoration, the Plan of Salvation (God's plan for us,) the Doctrine of Christ, and a little about temples. He now has a Book of Mormon and a folleto and we now have his number. In migraciones I contacted 4 people and one gave us her number and took a pamphlet and read it! And I'm legal now! On the way back to Buena Vista I decided to sit in the very back of the bus and when it was full, a woman was left standing. I gave her my seat (my parents have trained me to do so ) and sat on the cylinder pillow lookin thing in between seats. The crazy thing is the guy next to me contacted me! He asked me about where our church is from, so I taught him the entire restoration and answered all his questions and got his number. He lives in Arequipa Perú so I'm gonna find out how I can get his number over there (I don't remember if that's where JJ is... let me know) and the guy sitting next to him listened too, so now he has a Book of Mormon and folleto and I got his number! Miracle again. I was so dead but worked the rest of the day and slept very well. 

Saturday was a sad day with not much to say. Lots and lots of rain. No one wanted to listen to us. One of friends who has given us some hope said how she saw that coffee was bad, but alcohol is ok if you control yourself. That night she posted on her whatsapp story. She was utterly wasted out of her mind. Make it make sense. Our friend Yair just quit on trying to change his life... It was a really hard day. To see all his progress and change and just revert back was kinda heart breaking, but that's the mission. At least my experience. It was a long day. 

Sunday was great because we had the Sacrament and church but we had a long day to say the least. It's so sad to see people work the entire week just to spend it all on alcohol and get drunk. It's so hard to see the people that we teach choose the easy way instead of God's way. I worked so so hard this week and all the people that got anywhere fell through. God has a plan and I'm doing my best to follow it. That's what matters. I guess I just have to be patient and wait for the day that I find someone prepared for this amazing gospel. I have learned to trust God so much more than before. His knowledge is perfect and his wisdom and plan for us is incomprehensible. Just keep moving forward clinging to the iron rod, leading towards the tree of life. "I can do all things in Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philipians 4:13 according to my memory.)

Another fun thing is that I gave this 17 yr old kid my number and a Book of Mormon. He seemed interested so I had hope. He texted us last night! Then he asked me if I was single...that was a scare. Then he told me his cousin has a huge crush on me "from the time that she saw me." (Rough translation) I told him I was a missionary so I can't date. He then asked me how close I was to being done. I said 2 yrs. He then told we she was going to wait for me. We went from being so excited and yelling to just so confused and maybe even considering getting a restraining order. I don't know what's going on anymore. Another day in the mission. 

For P-day we're going to the beach again for Elder Pollock (long story short, he got left behind and wasn't too hapy about it) Another great day of spike ball, traveling, and getting cat called! President basically told Elder Rojas that he's leaving, so I'm 80% sure that I'm staying in Buena Vista and might get a new companion. My p day is on wednesday next week and I find out on Tuesday. Kinda different. We got a meeting with a General Authority this Wednesday and hopefully can find some more people to teach throughout the week.

I'm learning so much every day and can't even express the joy that I've been able to feel preaching to the people of Panamá. There are so many hard times when I experience all the rejection, being told to "go to hell," etc. That I have been forced to turn to the Lord to get through it. Learning to be humble and positive at all times is hard but slowly and surely I'm learning. I work hard every day and do my best to provide as many people as possible with the blessings of the restored gospel. That's all I can control.  I usually end the day exhausted and discouraged. I love reading the epistles of Paul when he talks about afflictions. That we become more like Christ. That we can experience a miniscule portion of what He felt. That we can prove our faith and devotion to Him. Through these times we hand our lives over to Christ and say "not my will, but thine be done." It's a hard process, but it's absolutely necassary. (Wow that looks really wrong. Good bye english ) 

Ciao y'all

Elder Nelson