Querido Familia y Amigos,
This week has been a fascinating one. It has been rewarding and
difficult at the same time. I am growing ever closer to the people of Los Andes
ward. For a little more info, our area is situated in a relatively low scale
part of the expansive city of Monterrey. There are no major metropolitan areas
near us, but there is a fairly decent population. The homes vary from tiny
dwellings with flooded bathrooms and no drywall, to very nice westernized
homes. However, they all look pretty much the same from the outside. Most homes
have a large gate before you get to the door, so you have to knock on the gate
instead of the door, and they all have sort of an old run down townhouse feel.
Elder Alexander, my trainer, and I have been getting along
really well little by little every day. I'm learning a lot from him and I think
I might be able to do the work pretty well by the time we're through. I'm also
starting to get used to the walkin' all over Hell and back part of the job, two
weeks and several nasty blisters later. I have been blessed with enough energy
each day to get through each day of work.
Now let me tell you about this past Saturday: We started
out the day with a decent study session, but during companion study, I was
taught how to contact more effectively. When Elder Alexander asked me how many
contacts I wanted to get that day I, being the typical me, blurted out
"one hundred!" and so....that became out goal. It should be noted,
that 100 contacts is the standard of excellence for a single WEEK in the
mission. And so, we started out.....and failed.
As excited as we were to try it out, we were unable to find 100
people that we could make decent contacts with because it was raining...and our
drive ran out after our only full lesson. Now let me tell you about that one...
We have an investigator named Capi who has been investigating
for 15 or more years because all the rest of his family are members, but nobody
has been able to get him to agree to baptism. Capi has a strong belief that the
church is true and that what we teach is the absolute truth, but he says that
he has trouble accepting the church because the members are not perfect.
Anyway, we went to teach him on Saturday because me and my companion felt
that he was really really close to accepting baptism. We went to his home and
taught him and challenged him to be baptized. We taught with the spirit so
greatly that it was almost palpable in the room. I taught, in Spanish, with
greater power than I ever have. But in the end, he just sat and played on his
phone and wouldn't answer us.
This is what has been described to me as the most difficult part
of the mission. The reason that we ask: "why isn't the greatest threat of
missionary work pneumonia from sitting in the font all day" as Elder
Holland would put it. It is truly very sad for me to see a man, who knows that
what has been taught to him and what he has studied is true, remain in darkness
because of his stubbornness and his silly doubts. However, I still feel that
there is hope, and that through this experience I will be able to know what I
must do to help people to receive the restored gospel.
Anywhoozle, enough with the sad talk. I know that trials will
come because it wouldn't be a successful mission without them. I am hopeful for
much success as I go along, and I am excited to be involved in my first baptism
on Feb. 19th! That's right, folks. Juan Bautista has an official baptismal
date!
Thank you all for you kind thoughts, prayers, and...other cool
stuff. I love and miss you all.
Yo se que el ayuno es un gran sacrificio y bendición en nuestras
vidas. Yo se que podemos venir a nuestro padre celestial atraves del ayuno y
oracion. En el nombre de Jesucristo, Amen.
Elder Lambert
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