This week was packed!! We had Intercambios and I got to be with Elder Young finally. I've been waiting for the day when I got the chance to serve with him! He is a cool guy, and I love hanging with him! He came out 3 transfers after me, so he is a little bit behind me! We had a great time together, we got to see a bunch of people.
The westbank is doing great, and things are really starting to pick up. It seems as though it will continue to get better!
On Wednesday we had the food bank again and as soon as I walked in the same lady says "Oh John, the tall glass a' wata is here" I don't know why she calls me John, but I can't tell you the amount of times I have tried to tell her that's not my name, haha! We did that for a couple of hours or service and then need to get back to work!
So a little info about the area. Recently two areas in the Westbank have been shutdown. So we are covering what used to be three areas. We have so much work to do with less-actives, that we honestly don't know where to start. There is always so much to do!
This past week there were a few large storms which we got locked down for and so that kinda got in the way of our plans but we managed! Anyway, we ran into this family who just moved here from Honduras. They said this Mormon lady used to come over to there house and teach them the lessons and that their father new the lessons inside and out. We are planning on Going and visiting them this week! There seems to be a lot of potential.
We also came across this lady who seemed very genuinely interested in learning about the Gospel so we are going to try and teach her also.
The Other day we were trying to visit somebody and they ended up not being there. We decided to tract for the time we had planned, so we started walking down this street. Instead of tracting we decided we would just talk to everyone that we see. We talk to a few people and they weren't interested, so we kept on going. I see this guy wearing some BRED 11's. For those of you that don't know what that is, they are a model of Jordan's. I thought "Hmm, what a great conversation starter." We walked over and these two guys are speaking fluent Spanish. Elder Lyons and I were so confused. Every once in a while you will come across a very dark Hispanic and it is hard to determine what race they are. We hear the Spanish and instantly we are like "Oh they gotta be Honduran!" We went up and talked to them and things went a whole different way. We talked about the Restoration. One of the men stopped us.
In English he said "Look, so many people get caught up in this and that, but the only important thing is what Christ himself taught us, and that is to come follow him." We were so pumped! We testified of what he said and told him he was 100% right! He was a little taken back.. He was like "Wait you guys believe that." And so we kept talking. Anyway, next thing you know he has broken down in tears to us. He told us that six years ago he was tying his shoes in his car when all of a sudden he felt burning through his head shoulder, and back. He didn't know what had happened. He had been shot 6 times from behind. 3 in the back 2 in the shoulder and 1 through his head. He was rushed to the hospital and ever bullet had dodged any vital organ or really anything at all. He recovered with no side effects. We kept talking about how the Church would bless is life and he was feeling it. I felt it and Elder Lyons felt it, and I know he felt it. His dad then came over and in perfect Spanish, he begins testifying of everything we had just said. This father didn't know English, but he somehow testified of almost ever point we had had just shared.
I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be out here! There truly is no greater work than this. And it is because of these experiences. I love the Gospel and all that Christ gives us. He loves us all and he is always here for us!!
Love you guys!
Vayan con dios!
Elder Whitmarsh