Oct. 28th, 2013

Alright so real quick here is what went down this week. First of all I hit my year mark and I hate it because that means I am old and that means that time is moving too quickly. My Companion Elder Newland went around telling the members that it was my birthday and they wouldn't believe me when I said that it wasn't and so when I was on exchanges for a couple days this week the members went nuts. Especially Sister Calvo, she is a great lady, and she loves to do stuff for other people so she told all the members to bring stuff to the Book of Mormon class we hold every week and man they definitely did. Most of it was tuna though so I had to force it all down. I couldn't tell them no after all the work they put into it for me. Luckily Sister Calvo baked a very very delicious chocolate chocolate cake and I loved every second of it. When she found out that it wasn't really my birthday and that it was my "Mission Birthday" she just laughed and thanked me for my service and stuff. She still has my number 20 birthday candles she was going to use. I am turning 21 this year not 20 but we don't tell her stuff we just let her do her thing.

 

Misael didn't come to church although he did read to Jacob 5 in his BoM reading which is by far the most I have ever seen an investigator read before baptism. Then we found out he felt as though he had a learning disability because he didn't understand it so he read it about 4 times. Elder Newland told him, "Misael, I don't even read Jacob 5 that often, nor do I understand it." It was hilarious but it really is good to see that he is reading and progressing. We just need to get him to understand the Sabbath Day and come to church. Then it'll all be smooth sailing.

 

Derek moved out of our area this week and into Harlingen so he is no longer our investigator but he is truly a great man and he is trying to change. When we were talking he told us the stories about how he was before he moved down to Raymondville and how he and his 2 pitbulls, Red and something else, fought a lot of people and, "Messed them up." He also told us his kill command for Red, who is ridiculously well-trained, and really I doubt it is appropriate for the email. After story time about Derek and Red and their adventures in the streets of illinois he told us that he has had to work really hard not to explode on some people here because and I quote, "Raymondville ain't ready for that, it just ain't ready for that." Derek did ask if we could still be his missionaries and it sucked to tell him no but he will do great we just gotta get him to church.

 

Matthew is 12 and progressing real well. He is just kind of shy and we can't seem to get his family on board. Luckily Matthew stays every weekend with the Quinteros and so he is always at church and stuff so he is progressing a lot. we played some 10 commandments uno with him yesterday he liked it.

 

And here it is, the news I am sure you have all been waiting for about Vanessa. Man she just wants to kill me but after the longest most stressful week I have ever had. She was baptized with her daughter Emma, Eryn decided that she didn't want to be baptized after all but the others did. There was literally a problem we faced with her every single day this week and she showed up to church about 40 minutes before her baptism but it finally happened. I can't tell you the relief it was to stand in that font and say those words and baptize that Lady. Monday we almost lost her to coffee luckily when I was praying I got just this strong impression to text Vanessa and tell her no Coffee no tea. After a few seconds I got a response and she said, "That is weird. Did someone tell you that I woke up super early this morning to go have some coffee with my Mom?" I replied, "Yes Vanessa, the Holy Ghost. Don't drink coffee or tea please." Then her son was sick, then she had more doubts about the church, then her son was sick again and then Sunday morning she texted us and said that she wasn't coming to church she would have to wait until next month. So we stopped by and had to persuade her with the Spirit to come to church. She finally did after playing just a horrible trick on us at 2 she said she was still in Raymondville and trying to leave. Turns out she was already in the Parking lot she just thought she would make us sweat bullets for a few more minutes. Not a funny joke. But it felt great to finally be through that trial. Elder Newland and I finally got some sleep last night after a week or so of next to none.

 

This week I learned about the importance of Baptism, and how much God will do to prepare the way for us if we just are willing to see it and take it. Satan on the other end is a lot less subtle and sucks a whole lot and tries to destroy everything. However, Our Heavenly Father loves us way more than we can imagine and he is also more powerful that Satan and as such always wins, if we cast the right vote. After receiving countless promptings for Vanessa this week I realized how much God loved her and how much I needed to be willing to love her and that I needed to be willing to go to any length to help her out. That is how life should be always, we need to be willing to go to any length so that we can fulfill all righteousness. As we show our faith then the miracles come we learn that in Ether 12:12. I also learned the love God has for the Elders in my District as I worked with Elder Zavala who has a pretty serious speech impediment. He is such a boss and is a much braver than I am. I would invite you all to make a list of all the times this week God shows his love for you and for those around you. I love you all and am outta time. Till next week

 

p.s we also went to the prison

 

Elder Bassett