Entonces, usted entiende que su iglesia no es la iglesia correcta, entiende que la iglesia que Cristo mismo estableció en Su vida terrenal se perdió, y que la autoridad del sacerdocio se perdió también, y todavía no me va a aceptar este folleto aun?
One word that can be used to describe Panamanians is the word "terco", which is stubborn. We had a really good lesson with this lady, it seemed, everything was going well, she really seemed to be understanding what we were teaching her, step by step. She understood all of that what I wrote above, and yet...people and their traditions. They just aren't willing to change, for anything, or anyone. Sometimes it seems that no amount of factual, logical information, proven errors in the Bible, etc, are not enough to convince people. I use the facts like that in a loving way, really really wanting the way I simply look at people to make them realize that what we're saying is true. I've learned that agency is something that everyone has, and they will always have it, unfortunately. I love these people, you all know that. I hope the best for all of them, that's why I'm still here, fighting and fighting. I think what makes me keep going and screaming "buenas" at people's doors, and feeling the hate from their words when they reject us, is the fact that I know what these people can become, because I have become it. I want everyone that I meet to experience the change in heart that Alma experienced, what multiple people in the scriptures experienced, and what I have lived through. I know what these people can achieve if they simply soften their hearts, and they give space in there to let the seed we plant grow and flourish. I feel a lot of the time that we are gardeners trying to plant seeds in the ground when it's rock hard in frozen soil. That ground is not ready, it needs time to melt over and soften when the summer comes, and someday there will be nice rich soil there in the person to plant the seed and watch it grow. All of us missionaries are gardeners. Some use wise techniques that have been passed on from generation to generation, while others use the same unsuccessful methods like just opening up a pack of seeds and throwing them all on the ground. I've realized that the Lord of the vineyard puts his servants in each part of the vineyard at different times. Some don't ever get to see their fruits, others come at just the right time to gather in all the apples. I don't know what I'm rambling on about...The point of all of this is that people have their agency. I can love them all with every ounce of my heart, which at times I truly do, and yet they reject it. That's the moment I think you realize when you've become a true missionary, when it hurts you so bad to understand the fact that all you can do is accept the fact that now is not the time for certain people, because it's still winter in them and their soil is still frozen.
We had a good week this last week, trying to find new people. It's been pretty hard but Ortiz and I are having a lot of fun doing it. We have tried some new "dog silencing" techniques we saw from the Dog Whisperer on TV at a member's house while eating lunch. I need to stare them down right in the eyes and not let them scare me, then point 2 fingers at them and make this weird "shh" noise. Works about 30% of the time I'd say. Maybe I need to be more assertive.
We've also realized that rich people are the people who SHOULD be most receptive to the gospel. Think about it, you have tons of money, you see 2 young men walk up to your huge mansion and ring the doorbell wearing nice white shirts and ties, slacks, etc, you would assume that they are high class business men, no? Rich people are best for paying tithing, helping the church grow and expand, best food to offer us when they're members, have cars so they have no reason to not be able to make it to church, and multiple other reasons. But, as the Lord himself said "easier for a rich man to get into heaven than it is for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle". Interesting. We're trying with the rich class too, but they're giving off the impression of "Well, I have money so I don't need God, God is for poor people".
We have a few prospects, working on getting Chacho's parents married now, so that the mom can get baptized. She also smokes like a chimney but we're working on that. She said she wanted cookies to distract her from the cigarettes, so we bought her a box of vanilla wafers, see if that works :) The marriage process here is weird. I never thought that I would be marrying people in my mission. If all fails in the end and she doesn't get baptized, at least I'll keep them from breaking one commandment, haha.
President Ward's time here is coming to an end, and we're looking for miracles this last month in June, want him to go out in a blaze of glory. I think we've got the whole mission fasting every Sunday for the whole month, it's gonna be great!
My scriptures for you all are great ones, especially this one in Helaman 12:15, science of astronomy thousands of years ago, hundreds of years before Galileo or other famous historians. So much science is proven wrong by the Book of Mormon, I love it, or reaffirmed in certain cases too. Last I have D&C 100:4 which says that God has ALLOWED me to be here in Panama, and in David. He permits people to be part of His labor, not vice versa. I love the church, you all know it's true, if not, figure it out because it will bless you forever.
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