Que Tranza
familia! This had to have been one of the best endings to a transfer I've
had. First off though, I did get the package mama. The only bummer is
that someone didn't read that the box said "fragile" all over it and
the mirror was shattered into little pieces. Everything else was
okay. I finally got my license extension as well. It took forever
to get here though. Oh, and I got The Mormon Doctrine. It's in
really good condition. Thank you mama! And mom #2 (Peggy), if you are reading
this, I got your card and I will write soon!
The other
news is.....we got transfer calls and....Elder Eggen and I will be staying
in Sunset Spanish for another transfer. I have to admit I'm a bit
surprised. We have gone through cycles in the area where we see some
progress and then our future looks pretty bleak. We have been working a
lot with the members but I don't know if it has clicked that we cannot be
successful without them. Missionary work takes a whole ward, not
just the two missionaries.
Overall I
am happy to still be in Sunset. All I want for the rest of my mission is
to serve in Spanish areas. Everything else is irrelevant. I'm still in my
favorite city in the mission, which is a bonus. How could I complain?
Not a lot happened Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday we
walked to places we haven't been to yet in our area. They were mostly
nicer, upper class neighborhoods and we didn't find anyone who is
Hispanic. We easily walked 5 - 6 miles in total. We also saw the
English Elders and they took us over to Bishop Nielson's house. It was fun
to talk with the Bishop that helped me put in my mission papers and reminisce
about the student ward at BYUH.
Thursday evening
we went to a baptism of a girl named Katy that the English elders have been
teaching. We had found her tracting in an apartment complex and referred
her to them. There was such a reverent spirit in that baptism. It made me
miss having a baptism of my own.
Saturday we had a meeting
with all the Spanish missionaries in the St. George area. Spanish work is
so different compared to English work so I like when the DTM's are focused on
what will work so I can be a better missionary. President Leonard got up
and was talking about how Spanish work is slower and more difficult than
English work. He said it is slightly easier in St. George then other
parts of the mission and I smiled and nodded in agreement. He stopped and
looked over at me and said, "It looks like Elder Bennion agrees. He
hasn't stopped smiling since he came down from up north." Now I
don't think that is entirely true but I thought it is funny that 's how
President sees it. I think I've gotten the reputation of being the most
smiley missionary...that just makes me laugh though. :-)
Ya know how
they say we save the best things for last? This is a perfect example! On
Friday night we taught this 78-year-old woman we have been teaching for 3
weeks. She has been here from Mexico for a month or so, visiting her
daughter and grand children. We taught her for several weeks and she had
been coming to church before we began teaching her. She just has such a
good spirit about her. She always read the things we asked her to read, and she
knew the things we taught her are true. We invited her to be baptized but because
she goes to Mexico on the 31st of July and her closest chapel is an hour and
half away, she had a lot of reservations. After our lesson on Friday I felt at
peace knowing I taught her to the best of my ability and that the rest was up
to my Father in Heaven. On Saturday we got a call from her daughter, Sister
Ramos, and she said her mom wanted to get baptized! Long story short -
she had her baptism yesterday at seven and was able to come unto the fold of
the Good Shepherd. I regret not wanting to be the one to baptize people early
on in my mission. It is one of the indescribable feelings that confirms
to me this is the true Church of Jesus Christ with His authority.
This week and
seeing Ramona baptized has confirmed to me how little of an effect I have on
people getting baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost. We are but
instruments in the Lords hand and I'm so thankful I've been able to serve
Him. To my strength I am nothing but I am everything the Lord needs me to
be. You can't be living the dream more than being a missionary. It
doesn't get any better than this!!!!! Vaya con Dios. Dios es Amor.
Elder Bennion
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Elder Bennion's mom,
We took
your son to Zion National Park today, so they didn't have time to get to write
an email. He wrote it on paper and I told them I would send it in an
email. I hope you don't mind. I will send a picture of him later
from our trip to Zion today. I have to tell you what an amazing, humble, obedient
son you have for a missionary. I'm sure you know that. We've enjoyed
getting to know him this past 6 weeks and having him for dinner on Thursday
nights. Thanks for your sacrifices you make daily so that we can have him
here helping out our Sunset 9th branch.
Sincerely, Sister A
No comments:
Post a Comment