The Work Continues

This week has been challenging for a few reasons, the ongoing heat being one, and the constant quest for people searching for the true church! Everyone we come in contact with is convinced that either it doesn't matter what church you go to, or that the catholic church is the true church. 

My new machete for "mowing" grass

This week we sat in a lesson with 2 old people. They had a dirt floor in basically a metal shack. they let us sit in their dirty plastic chairs and we taught them about the restoration of the gospel as simply as we possibly could and at the end of the lesson, they told us that the catholic church is what the bible always talks about and that it is the only true church. It made Elder Permenter and I very frustrated, but in that moment all we could do was give our testimonies and bare witness of Joseph Smith and the restored gospel, and that our message is true. We left discouraged, not because we knew they were wrong, but because they didn't understand. That seems to be the pattern of our lessons because we teach a lot of people who, although they have good intentions, they are not good learners! We teach them a lesson, go back and have to teach it again because they forgot what we taught the first time. we haven't had hardly any success this week, as we invite 20 plus people to church each week and none of them show up. It is frustrating but there is really no other option than to keep trying. 

 

Our room, the mattresses are off the floor to keep them dry and let the air move

 

We also have a few areas in the mountains. the 3 different areas take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes to hike to. We set morning appointments for one of the areas, got up and went out on our hike. When we got there, one of the families had left because they forgot about our meeting (keep in mind these people rarely ever leave their houses) and the other family was hiding from us! We have found that many people are shy or just don't want to talk to us so they quickly hurry inside and close the door, even though we just saw them, that part is a little bit ridiculous to me because we are just trying to help!

 

 On the road with Elder Permenter

 

I am thankful for the support of everyone at home, and for all the advice and encouragement. I have found comfort in the little things and I have faith that Heavenly Father gives us what we need.