Correo Semanal‏

So, we got our envelope of mail this past week. For the entire zone there were 19 letters, of those 19, 17 of them were for me, hahahaha. That must be a new record, at least for the ratio of missionaries to amount of letters. I have family who really love me I suppose. I'm currently working on reading them all, and it's so nice to have that as a cumbersome task :) Thank you everyone for your letters, love and support, it is very much appreciated.

I had an experience this week that I had always imagined having, but had yet to happen. I was on divisions with the only other gringo guy in our zone, Willis, from Arizona, walking in the street. We said hi to this guy and he said hi back, normal "buenas" response as he was there smoking his cigarette, greasy slimy fat guy. We then about an hour later walked back in that direction and he was with his mom walking towards us from their house. I said "buenas" again but this time he comes back with something else. He cranks his head back and BOOM, spits right in our faces, spraying everywhere. I ducked out of the way but Willis got hit in the face. To which he added "f-ing Mormons" and some other bad words in English that everyone in the world knows. We were shocked above every other emotion that we felt. I just couldn't believe that someone would be so low-class to spit at us. Obviously there are people that hate the church all around the world, but surprisingly here I haven't had much negative attitudes or opposition like that. Everyone's ideas are flawed about the church, but to stoop to the level of spitting at someone, that's something else. Willis and I started talking afterword, learning the word for "to spit" in Spanish, excupir if you were wondering, haha. We said "Well, when Jesus was carrying his cross, the Jews spat at Him and said he was a false prophet and a blasphemer" and other horrible things like that. It was a modern day experience like that, kind of. We were carrying our "heavy crosses", backpacks, as servants of the Savior, as our adversaries came towards us and spat at us and called us names, as they did to the Lord of lords too. Testimony building experience. People like that KILLED the Son of God, and likewise they would do the same to those that represent Him. The little things on a daily basis that show me that this church is true and we're here to help people with flawed beliefs like that creepy guy; oh I mean, creepy son of God.

But on another note, we had a baptism this past week! Woot! Girl named Vielka (pronounced bielka, because there is literally no difference in the letters v and b in Spanish, haha). She's awesome, super excited, wants to go on a mission even, she's going to a mission prep class here as well :) She has lots of support from this ward family here that introduced her to us, so I'm sure she'll stay faithful and active. We did what they call a "noche blanca" with our zone, having 5 baptisms the same night in the same building, 85 people showed up, that was awesome. Even though the rainy season has started once again, still had quite the attendance there.

I love the rain here, makes it feel soooo much cooler, and there's a nice breeze. That's the only time I feel slightly cold, when I'm wet and it's windy, haha :) This week the sister missionaries that came in my group to Panama are leaving, like a sister who's in our zone out here named Hermana Lopez, Mexican. She's a powerhouse I don't know what we'll do without her. That's my sign that I only have 6 months left if my sisters are going home already, scary.

I learned this week that being a missionary, all members of the church here assume that I know everything, or do everything better than everyone else, and they like praise us. And being a gringo knowing that I come from the country where the church is super organized, they assume that I am perfect. It's weird. I went to the choir and everyone was looking at me for advice on singing and I'm like, uhh..."I like singing" :P We sang well though surprisingly. I think I'll sing with the choir for the Stake Conference here this coming weekend.

My two scripts for y'all are Mormon 9:15-19 which tells us that God will NEVER stop doing miracles, and Alma 58:40, that we may be firm and immovable like the Stripling Warriors. They were just kids but they triumphed, and you know why? Because they were raised right by their mamas, so thank you Mom :) Love you all, have an excellent week.