110117 Mission Leeter

1-17-11
Dear Family and Friends,

This is going to be a very poorly written and scattered letter so I thought I'd warn you straight off. I forgot my planner in my other jacket so I don't have my notes that I write in it to help organize my letters.
A recent development in our branch is that Pres. Nelson wants us to go separately to our dinner apps. at the members and no longer have both companionships there (I think this is how it's supposed to be, but for some reason our branch has always just had all the elders come every time). Several of the members don't like that and complained that they want all 4 of us and they'd feel bad inviting 2 and not the other 2, and we tried to explain that they could have us just alternate weeks and we wouldn't feel bad, but they wouldn't listen to logic, anyway, one sister that really likes having us over wanted all 4 us to come but we couldn't during the week because there isn't a night where neither of us didn't already have a DA(Dinner App) so she said we had to come over on Mon. since the kids wouldn't have school for MLK Day, so today it's all weird and we didn't do things like we normally do since we went to their house for breakfast. We did laundry for the first time at a Laundromat near our new house, and then breakfast at Hna. Flores'. We had these yummy scrambled eggs that were like red, and also really good pancakes. So that's what we've done today. But back to the week:
Mon. we played basketball with the whole zone, it was really fun being all together with the elders Also we got a new phone, it's a slider blackberry or something like that. Apparently the phone we've had has been here forever and it was time for an upgrade, so now I'm scared to touch the phone since I don't want to break it. It doesn't have a thick rubber covering and doesn't look as durable as the brick we used to use, but I can actually understand people over the phone now, and even when they're speaking Spanish! It's amazing what an improvement it is. After that, all the days kinda blend together (that's what happens when you have the exact same schedule every single day without a minute of variation, hard to remember-- they are just a blur). I'll try and remember the key points from the week.
When we went to teach Ermithon he wasn't home, but this crazy member that followed us out with burning incense was there again blasting vulgar music out his door and attempting to break dance or something in the hallway. When he saw us he started asking us what we were doing and why we were there (with lots of expletives), and when we tried politely saying that we were preaching about Jesus Christ's restored church, he kept interrupting and cussing us out, and going off about how he knows we're little devils because he is God and knows. He is literally insane. We tried going to visit a couple of other inactive members in that building but he just followed us cackling maniacally and yelling. It would have been comical if he hadn't been preventing us from being able to talk to the members since we couldn't hear them over the noise, and they were busy but we couldn't schedule a time to visit them since "James" was there so they're supposed to call us but they haven't and they haven't answered their phones either. Crazy New York! Another event on a happier note was our lesson with Antonio. They made us this soup, but it had whole chicken wings on the bone and whole corn on the cob, so I guess you just set down your spoon and eat the corn on the cob normally, it's just dripping in broth, rather odd. The lesson went really well, we taught about the Gospel of Christ in more detail and I love teaching about the Atonement and our wonderful blessing to be able to repent, and also the Gift of the Holy Ghost and it's guiding influence in our lives. Well I guess, just the whole lesson is awesome! It's difficult since Elder Watkins can speak Spanish better than me he just talks the whole time, and doesn't give me a chance to try. I know how to say everything he says, just I can't say it as flowingly, but I want to try, but he never gives me a chance so that's frustrating when I want to contribute and I think of something I want to say that I think would help, but I can't get a word in edgewise until he's already taught it to such an extent I would feel redundant saying my comment that is basically a reiteration with a slight few added points I feel are important, so I have to content myself with bearing my testimony, which I don't mind doing at all, but I guess I'll just have to keep reminding him to let me talk too Oh well, it was a good lesson and then on Sat. we were able to go again and Antonio had done his reading. We’d assigned him1 nefi 3, he read 3&4! He then explained everything that had happened better than I could've and without us even asking. He talked about how he could apply these scriptures to his life. When we give a comment about a scripture that has special significance for us he takes our comment and expounds even more on it! He's the smartest person I've yet to have the pleasure to teach, not just smart like Augustine who can read comprehensively fast, but he is also spiritually mature! I don't know why he hasn't found the gospel before, but he is so prepared! When we asked him if he'd prayed he said that during his prayer to know if the Book of Mormon was true he was so overcome with emotion that he started crying and that he normally never cries! I am so excited for him. I just wish they could figure out their marriage! Mariela needs to get divorced and they need to get married, but she doesn't seem as excited for that. Their kids are so cute and the baby twins are absolutely adorable all wrapped up in swaddling clothes. One has a little scrunched up face and the other always has his eyes open huge and just staring around at everything. It's been far too long since I'd seen a new born! I've missed so many of my own nieces and nephews first years it's pathetic!
Another highlight of the week was our lesson with Roxana. That woman is like a rollercoaster! One week we have an awesome lesson and she seems all ready to accept the gospel and progress, and then we can't get ahold of her etc. and she isn't reading and won't come to church! This last week we had a lesson with the whole family there that was pretty good. We were reading the introduction with the 17 yr old nephew Jeffrey who also lives there (gotta love hispanics and all 4 generations that live in one house) then she came and randomly shared a scripture that just talked about the unrighteous burning at the last day and then she started going off about how her kids are "bad creations" apparently a common Spanish phrase when kids are bad? Go figure. It was an awkward time with Roxana and her daughter yelling at each other. We tried to get some peace and eventually got back to the lesson, but it was not too good of a feeling. Later though when we stopped by we were able to help Rosalba(15 yr old daughter) with her homework I helped her study for her history final, and we taught them all, and it was a really good lesson. On Sunday we finally got Sergio(11 yr old son) to sit down and talk to us. She wants him to be better and I encouraged her to pray with him every night and to help him grow spiritually, hopefully it will benefit both of them. The best thing of the week was Leadership training on Sat! Randomly this month Pres. Nelson decided to have a separate meeting with all the greenies from the last 3 transfers and it was awesome!! Elder Patchett and I got to do an exchange for the day and had a really fun time catching up and talking about our different areas while taking the trains and busses there, and in the meeting we learned a lot about how we can more fully understand the Doctrine of Christ that He teaches in 3 nefi 11, and also about having love and serving our investigators, being humble, how to listen to the spirit and be worthy to receive it, obedience. All stuff that I'm sure I've heard a million talks on, but it was so powerful and I really hope that I can apply those things. I learned more fully in my area and to be worthy so the Lord can trust me with his children so we can bring them closer to him and also accomplish our goals. Also during the week I got to have my Mission President Interview, my first one since my first day here over 2 months ago, and it was good feeling his love and support. The best part was the ending prayer and hearing his true pleading to the Lord for help and guidance to bless me and my investigators and all of our mission.
In our district meeting on Fri. Elder Watkins and I got to give a workshop on prayer and receiving revelation, it was really good getting to study that. Teaching is the best thing ever! You learn so much more when you're the one preparing to teach it!!! I love this church, I love this gospel and I KNOW it is TRUE!! I love all of you and I am so grateful for the wonderful letters(and stamps from the sweet Pease Family) and the packages. Thank you Brenley and Spencer! I love all of you and pray for you! Keep being missionaries
Love, Elder Lewis