That's right everyone, we set ourselves with quite the challenge this past week. We decided that we would put the "missionary proselyting speed walk" to the test and give it the challenge of a lifetime. We decided that we were going to race a bus to our cocinera's house for lunch...on foot. Now obviously that sounds absurd to try and reach a destination on foot trying to beat a bus, but don't worry, we thought this out logically and rationally. Because the buses here in Chitré make so many rounds and stops to pick up and drop off people, and going on roads that are unnecessary for us, we wanted to see if you could make our own path, walking "apurados" and get to lunch quicker. We took off, speed-walking, dodging in between cars, people, ice cream carts, etc. Weaving in and out of streets, taking shortcuts and going down side streets, making our way to our destination. It takes about 30-35 minutes to get there on bus, which we thought was waaay too long, and 30 cents, too much to pay. We made it to the house in 16 minutes baby! And we didn't run at all, just walked quickly. It was so fun, it was like a science experiment and we won! We beat a bus on foot! I did end up sweating profusely during all of lunch, but that's what it takes to beat a bus!
This week, just like the last one, was a very great week that I enjoyed every minute of. I've gotten to meet lots of new people, new investigators, new members. This branch in Chitré is great, the chapel is massive, like American sized, because it's a Stake Center. We taught this lady this week that we found last week contacting and tried talking about the importance of the Book of Mormon. She immediately reponded with "Well, I only like the read the Bible, that's the only book I like to read, nothing else, no other book, none." Haha, and we asked if she even opened it up to look on the inside, which as you would assume was a "no". "Ma'am, a book is only good if you read it. How can you possibly learn what the book is about if you don't even open it to look at it and read it?" It will serve you no good whatsoever if it just sits on a bookshelf gathering dust. It will do NOTHING for you if you don't open it. So everyone, open the Book of Mormon, daily if possible, and give some meaning to your lives. Without the Gospel, we're nothing. We're just ants running around aimlessly in this world with no purpose, no hope, no love, no misery, just nothingness.
Also, I decided to analyze more in my head about how people respond to our questions and propositions, seeing what they REALLY want to say and what they really mean, rather than what they actually tell us. When people tell us they "can't come to church this Sunday" what they're really saying is "I don't want to go to church this Sunday". I'm sorry gentiles, all you extremos de la tierra, there are VERY little excuses for why you wouldn't be able to make it to church. Death in the family, yes, car crash, yes, having to cook early or washing clothes, NO. Do that on Saturday! or after church! There's a difference between "can't" and "choosing not to". People come up with some fun excuses for not being able to go to church or not reading the pamphlets we leave them, let me tell ya.
Reading in the Old Testament this week and comparing with other scripture I realized that "great situations for the saints" in different time periods is often described with the saying "and the streets will flow with milk and honey" and I always think "hmm...that's weird. What if the streets actually did run with milk and honey?". Sounds like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, haha. Milk and honey must have been very sought after foods back then, to have people fantasizing about them filling their cities.
This past Thursday we were in charge of the group night here in Chitré. More people come to group nights here than back in Penonomé, so we wanted to make it good. Jensen and I decided that we were going to build a Nativity set with the Baby Jesus and everything; shepards, kings, the whole works. We found chopped down trees on the side of the road, pulled lots of weeds, had a little girl bring her baby doll (which was a girl doll, baby Jessica I guess, haha) and we set it all up nicely with sheet backdrops and everything. We got little kids to wear towels as cloaks and act out the parts as we read in John 2 when the Savior is born. It went pretty well I thought, and everyone laughed when Jensen and I came out with out towel turbans on as kings :) We made PB&J's afterwards but with great jelly we found, pineapple jelly and guayaba jelly, so amazing. Guayaba is a weird fruit here that's like white and big with bumps all over it; tastes good as juice.
Also here in Chitre I've been singing for the choir and I realized how hard it is to sing specific parts in songs with other people while they're also singing their specific parts; it's really distracting. You hear someone singing a different part and your brain like automatically shifts over to that tune. It's a lot easier just singing the tune of the song, even though with all the parts it sounds better.
I'm excited for changes this week, getting my next kid and going back to Penonomé; lots of potential for my area and working my kid to the ground. it's going to be fun. I most likely won't be writing a long letter next week, being that it's Christmas Eve, but I'll write a bit to give you all the details.
This week I have to offer you Deuteronomy 19:3-4 which is the Lord's promise that if we are worthy and obedient He will fight our battles for us always and seek vengance on those who deserve it. Also in 1 Nephi 16:2 which is great saying that, son los culpables que hallan la verdad dura. The bad people don't want to hear the truth because they hide from it and it makes them ashamed, I like that verse.
I love you all, hope you have a wonderful Christmas. Remember what this holiday is really about, not presents, just the greatest gift of all time.
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