Arrived Mar 2 2016
Love you more than.... Breakfast burritos!
Elder Bouwhuis and I found a old and
kinda sketchy taco seasoning packet in our house that we have been using to
make amazing burritos. I thought before coming here we would eat spicy stuff
and tacos and burritos but we don’t. Not gonna lie I have grown to respect
mexican culture and food a lot. I love my DR and its endless supply of rice and
beans, but I would occasionally like hear clear Spanish and eat enchiladas.
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| At the passport place (Elder Ownsby takes pictures like a 12 ear old girl) |
Cool things this week, I found a lost sheep who let me
take a picture with her, thank goodness for repentance ;) I hit 8 months in the
mission, I continue to feel tall compared to the people here, I still dislike
the looks and hissing from women and the glares from men. I am finishing up the
last of my beef jerky. Elder Bouwhuis and I continue experimenting with cooking
and were wondering if somebody could send us a recipe for “costa vida sweet
pork”.
So last week we went on splits on Thursday and had an
amazing day also on Friday and I was pumped and feeling the spirit so strong.
IT ended a little differently but it was a good hardworking week. Elder Hola
from Logan is our district leader and came and helped a lot. We got some less
actives really animated to share the gospel, got the whole family of Heydi and
Cristian and Isabel excited to work as a family toward eternal families and
everything. There truly is opposicion (opposition)
in all things because the next few days seemed to sink back into slow
progression and hard work and then the last days in this week seemed to just
stop. Sunday I went on splits and then to the mission home to sleep over for
our trip to the capital to work on my residency. My comp and an elder with only
one transfer more than him were in charge of the area, I was stressing for my
hijo amado (beloved son) but things
went fine. Monday I woke up at 4:30 and we drove for about 4 hours to the
capital, sat around for like 4 more and then drove back for about 4 more. I
really
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| Our ride to the capital |
enjoyed the trip because most of my MTC group went as well and we talked
and enjoyed a little vacation-like break almost exactly on our 8 month mark. We
got back Tuesday late in the afternoon. Elder Bouwhuis is a quiet, but solid
worker and did a good job. We made it through another day and then had an
activity with our district today. We played a little basketball, monopoly and
ate out, so like the funnest things you can do on p-day.
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| the district |
Great experience this week was that we had a handful of
lessons fall through, even though we don’t usually have super secure lessons
just ¨whenever you can¨and ¨si Dios quiere/God willing¨, anyways the lessons
fell through so we thought we would visit a neighbor. As we walked up to the
house I heard voices and a discussion going on, we walked close and to the side
of the house where we saw Hermano Infante sharing scriptures with a friend! I
was so amazingly proud that he had out his scriptures, encouraging the man to
pray and read and then we showed up. It turned into a reference and a great
moment. The man has been through several churches and can’t seem to stay with
them for to long, he is smart and realizes the incongruities between Christ’s
church and the churches in the world today. He said we are invited to come
anytime and we shall see how things go. It is amazing how we were allowed to
have lessons continue to fall through and then get to the right place at the
right time. Its like a song “I was given”: ¨what is your blessings come through
raindrops, what if your healing comes through tears¨
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| More people wearing american shirts! Everyone does, but nobody knows what they say |
This week seemed a little more of a challenge for Elder
Bouwhuis. We were a few days into the week when Elder Hola gave me a bunch of
talks to listen to, church music and church videos which were exactly what we
needed. We watched the churches 12 steps to overcome addictions videos, which
are amazing! I haven’t ever had an addiction to anything besides waffles and
funeral potatoes but it was still great. This coupled with a few talks from
Elder Jefferey R Holland everyday seems to make every missionary into Peters,
Ammons and angels.
Something that also amazes me is how church assigned
talks and missionary assigned trainings are perfect if not made for the speaker
not the people being spoken to. I gave a talk the other week and then a
training to the district this week. I admit I am not the best at either of these
since I get caught up in cross-referencing every subject imaginable yet I
really love it all. Every time I share the Holland talk from April 2015 on the
atonement with the two rock climbing brothers, I cry. Whether it be my
farewell, lessons with members or a 5 minute talk since the older woman in
front of me went on for a half hour on self reliance, I can’t help but feel Christ’s
love and break down.
The other week we were about to start a lesson when
there was a big commotion outside next door. A husband and wife got into a huge
fight and it got physical. The couple was outside in the front yard area with
little children crying and teenage daughters trying to make some space between
the two, both the husband and wife hitting one another. It got physical with
both the man and woman hitting each other. The neighborhood proceeded to watch
the struggle without an offer of help. Elder Bouwhuis and I stood in shock not
knowing what to do. I went back inside the house and said a prayer by myself. I
think when there is nothing to do the only thing to do is to pray. I prayed for
the safety of the family and especially the children and I prayed that all
present would feel the love of the savior. Thing got broken up and cooled down
when the man went looking for a stick to hit his wife with, but then was calmed
down by the teenagers and neighbors.
We had our lesson after several minutes of silence but
only after singing one of my favorite hymns. “Abide with me tis eventide.” I
love the simple plea for the presence of our Heavenly Father and our Brother
Christ. It has been my goal to help others feel of this love. Whether we are
far from home in another country, whether our families are strong or not,
whether we have nothing or more than we should, it is of little eternal
significance if we can but feel loved by Him and share it with others. Are we
fighting for Christ or reluctantly digging in our heels and having him drag us.
Are His nail-scarred hands accepted or pierced again by our actions and hopes.
The devils lie is that this should and can be easy, the eternal promise of
Christ is that this will be worth it.
Love, Elder Sheffield
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| American culture is like the ruling class here, and there is a lot of advertisements in English for American things |
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