This week was very interesting. We had ups and downs but I can truly say that Heavenly Father has been on our side the entire way. To start of, I turned 20 this week! It was very special to be able to spend my birthday here in Caborca and it was pretty rad. In the morning on my birthday, my converts from Obregon gave me a call to wish me a Happy Birthday. It made my day! It was so cool that they remembered! It was the best gift I could have recieved that day. We had a really cool District Meeting with the other missionaries and they brought me a cake! I didn't see but as soon as they finished singing, they pulled out noise makers out of their pockets and surprised me! It was super rad.
One of the funniest things that happened this week was a person named Francisco. We contacted him and started to teach him. He was saying some things that were so funny that I was crying laughing. We taught about baptism and how it is the only way to return to live with God. After teaching him we asked him the same question multiple times .... "what do we need to go to heaven?" He would say.. "behave ourselves". And we would say "Yes, we need to keep the commandments and also get baptized. Baptism is a commandment." Then we asked "what is the commandment that we are supposed to follow?" and he kept saying "behave ourselves". This happened like 3 times. Then my companion read 3 Nephi 27:20 and its says: "Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day." and then we asked, "What is the commandment?" and he sighs and yells "WELL BAPTISM" I was crying laughing. We spent like an hour trying to help this guy to understand the purpose of baptism. It was so funny. We should've just read the scripture in the first place.
Something difficult that happened this week was the baptism we were going to have. We were going to baptize a man named Manuel but seriously a half an hour before the baptism, he decided that he didnt want to be baptized. We had already had everything ready. We filled the font and made the program and he decided not too. We are still working with him but I would ask you all to pray for him so that one day (maybe this transfer) he will be baptized. That day was extremely tough for me. For a couple hours, I can honestly say that I was over it. I was super tired of the mission and all the problems that happened. But, the next day, we had a fantastic day. I know the Lord blesses us in our times of need. When we think that we don't have the strength to go on and move on, that is when the power of the Atonement gives us power beyond our own.
The next day, we as missionaries gave talks in sacrament meeting. It was a great experience. I talked about what I wrote in my last letter. I talked about Knowledge, Understanding, and Intelligence. Even though we felt good about speaking, no one had arrived to church and we were bummed out because we thought that no one was going to come. As my companion was talking, we saw the door open and.... in walked MIRIAM and her AUNT that has not been to church for awhile. We were freaking. After church, they told us that they really enjoyed everything. We weren't there but we were told that Miriam said that she loved church and wants to be baptized. What a cool experience. We are going to baptize her this transfer! I am very grateful for the week we had and I hope that you can join us in our prayer so that Miriam can get baptized and that all will turn out well. Thanks so much and I love you alll!
Giddy up,
Elder Smith
1. Con Miriam
2. Si me vieran ahora
3. Mi Pastel
4. Asco
5. Un cantante famoso de Carborca
