Transfer number 8 esta a punto de aparecer entre los hijos de
McAllen. We got calls this morning and it looks as though I am going for
at least 3 here in good ol' Raymondville. I am receiving a new
companion named Elder Newland, he is a greenie that is halfway through
training which means I am going to be in charge of the Area. I am super
sad to see Elder Lloyd leave we had a great time together but I wouldn't
want to keep him here he really wants to leave so it is probably for
the best that he does. Really though other than that not a lot has been
going down, I will try to make my letter exciting but if it isn't my
best work you will have to forgive me.
So this last week we had an interesting week. With the loss of out
investigators we had to go on the hunt to find some new ones. We did
everything in a missionaries arsenal of finding and tried to keep our
efforts "Rounded" which I think helped us a lot to stay sane. Weeks of
strictly finding are hard on the mind and soul. But we had some
interesting finds this week Starting with Norma and John who are polar
opposites to what we usually find. They are educated and sophisticated
and super old and white. Man what a surprise for us to sit down with
someone who was educated that was almost hard to believe. However they
are pretty stubborn and shot down our invitation to conference because
they believe in the teachings of St. John, whatever that means. So we
are going to have to go back and teach the Restoration and hopefully get
them with the Spirit.
The other couple we met are the uncle and aunt I guess of a member
family in the area. Their names are Simon and Yolanda Vasquez. They are
Catholics and don't go to church but our church doesn't believe in the
saints and so they aren't too sure about it. "God is first of course, we
know that. So we pray to him...through the saints. So they can present
our prayers to the Father." -_-" They also can't understand why we
don't drink coffee, if they don't have their coffee their heads hurt and
they can't see, it is their "drug" in their words. They have potential
they just need to understand the importance or reasoning behind it all,
especiall the Word of Wisdom and the idea of Saints being idolatry. more
on them hopefully soon.
SO good news, Vanessa came to church, pues to conference this last
weekend just in time to hear president Monson speak which was a huge
blessing because that has been the doubt she claims is holding her back,
that of a living prophet. She said it made the idea less weird so we
will see tonight if she is going to really give it a shot, if not
unfortunately we will have to drop her for good. That makes me sad
because I love that family but we can't be wasting the Lords time with
those who are unwilling to act.
So not so good news, as missionaries we have a mileage allotment
for the month and if we go over that we get into trouble. For at least
the past 6 or 7 months the missionaries here have claimed 2000 miles a
month because our area is huge and because we make 4 to 5 trips to
Harlingen a week and Harlingen is about 52 miles round trip. So Elder
Bassett for the last few months has been doing his best to stay within
the alloted 2000 miles and last month just barely made it by with about
1972 miles used. Well, yesterday we get a call from the A.P's, which is
never, ever a good thing. They proceeded to tell us that we had gone
about 500 miles over our monthly miles and that we had really hurt the
mission and that they were going to park the car and so forth. We were
super confused when they told us that we have only 1500 miles a month
especially because no one has made any mention of us using 1800+ miles
for the time I have been here and the time before that. So I guess that
we only get 1500 miles a month and not 2000 which is really bad because
are area is about 50 miles across and we have to drive 25ish miles to
church and to district meeting and for exchanges and for P-Day zone
activities and right now, on the 7th we are already at 300+ miles. It
would appear that me and my new greenie will be biking a lot. That is
not good considering the nearest city that we work outside of
Raymondville is over 5 miles away and the farthest is 23 miles to the
east of us. Hopefully I at least lose some weight in all of it.
I loved conference and learned a ton from it. Like a lot,
especially Uchtdorfs shout out to those less-active members of the
church. Really it was wonderful and we will be using it a lot on those
members here in the area that are offended, or have lost the faith or
have just let laziness set in. "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your
faith" I want that tatooed acrossed my forehead or something so that
everyone can read it and realize how ridiculous they tend to be. To
question is normal, questions brought about the first vision and
consequently the Restoration. Joseph Smith received the Doctine and
Covenants revelations because of questions. However we should never let
questions unanswered take away from what we know. God has given us
anchors in our testimony and has sealed them all together in a nice
package. If Joseph Smith was a prophet, then the Book of mormon is true
and vice versa. If those things are true then this in Gods kingdom on
the Earth today. If those things are true then we really have the
Authority of the Holy Priesthood to carry out the ordinances of
salvation and truly the most important thing is that if these things are
true, Christ is our savior and loves us just as much as he loved those
before us and that he suffered the price of our sins so that we could be
free. I love how simple God made it all, it makes our little doubts and
fears seem like nothing in comparison. Never let the faith falter,
never doubt what you know and never turn your back on the Savior. Really
it is just a silly thing to do. I loved conference and hope all of you
found revelation just like I did. I know that we have a prophet and that
God has given us the restored church of Christ so we can live with him
again and it is our duty to share that with others. I love you, God
loves you, so share that love with everyone. If every member brought one
person to the Gospel we would be 30 million strong. That is amazing,
and all it takes is each of us doing our part. Think about that, one
person, and you get to partake in the building of Gods kingdom.
Elder Bassett
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