The lunch in between the Sunday sessions went really well. We had about 45 people come to watch conference at the church and around 35 stayed for the lunch and activity. Elder Mora made a ginormous batch of gallo pinto which he said he grew up eating every morning in Costa Rica and it was a hit. It's pretty much just blacks beans, rice, and cilantro mixed up in some eggs. The branch members brought some sides and we spent some time role playing with the members different situations they've encountered as they've tried to invite others to church in the past. It was so hard for them to actually make an invitation, I don't know what it is, we'd set up a situation and say, "this is your friend, invite them to come to church with you," and then they would start talking about all of these theoretical things that he or she might say and what they've tried before until 3 minutes had gone by and they still hadn't extended an invitation.
After some consoling and coercing they would be able to ask the befamed question, "would you be willing to come to church with me and my family," and boom, a great conversation would start and they really enjoyed the chance to bear their testimony of what they love and hold dear to them. I hope they walked away more confident in their ability to invite. I also hope they listened to Elder Ballard and will think of ways to follow-up. It would be a dream to have members who studied preach my gospel. if my emails have any influential power on those who read them, I second the invitation from Elder Ballard for members to apply preach my gospel principles and discuss their use with their missionaries. I would love to hear the revelation you receive as I would enjoy the chance to share more of my own.
There was a pretty noticeable push for Family History work, especially in the youth. Are Morgan and Dallin going to get into that? That would be ... as is my homemade antiseptic... dope, haha.
I also liked the reminder to always use the God given name of his church: I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Yo soy un miembro de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de Los Santo de los Ultimos Dias.
I don't usually take pictures of the people I meet, but there was a special circumstance this last week as Maestro Luis Santa Claus drank himself into my life. We approached a group of men and were surprised by how kind and welcoming they were of us. They immediately asked that we sit at their table and share the carne asada they had just finished barbecuing. The bearded man was drinking, and I don't teach drunk people, because their spiritual sensitivity is nearly 0, but he seemed remarkably affluent for being 6 cans into his 12 pack. He chatted and shared a gospel message with them. They turned out to be visitors from Mexico, so we couldn't set up a time to come back, but we were favored by Santa Claus (as he's known to all the locals) with a few Spanish acapella songs. I had to remember that moment, because it took me beside myself as I thought, "I could never have imagined being in eagle pass, eating Mexican barbecue with 3 strangers while the Mexican Santa Claus serenaded me as he put down the 7th of his 24 daily beers."
We set "DC" (15) and his mom for baptism this week. He's been reading the BOM on his own for quite a while and has received answers for his own life from his reading. He is a spiritual giant. When we asked him to prepare for baptism he said, "If I could ever see God, I would thank him (raising his fist to his chest) from the bottom of my heart for everything I have, and I would hug him and tell him that I love him." "DC" is a very simple and soft spoken young man. He speaks in complete simplicity and when he bore that testimony the spirit touched every heart in the room. He went to mutual and to conference this past week.
Happy 3rd spiritual birthday to Elder Warren! He was baptized 3 years ago last Wednesday.
I love you and I miss you!
Stay Salty (Leviticus 2:13-14, 3Ne 12:13-16, D&C 101:39, D&C 103:9-10)
Elder Tyler Meidell
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