Week #17 November 20, 2017 " I stand corrected"

Another week on the grind here in Murcia! This past week was filled with a bunch of new people and learning experiences. 

So first item of business is to address the title of this week's email. On Wednesday morning of this past week we had just gotten done with our morning routine, workout, shower, eat, plan, and study. We were now facing a 4 or so hour block with nothing planned, we called some people but couldn't set anything up so we fell back on just going contacting in the street. I started to bash, and saying how pointless it was to contact in the mornings because everyone is on their way to work, they don't have time, they are working, or are just really really really hungover. And from my previous experience this was true, But we couldn't find a better use of our time so we hit the streets. 

Within the first 3 people we contacted we met a man named Sergio, it was a good contact we got his information and they went to set up an appointment for a later day. He lives a ways outside of Murcia and so he didn't really know how his free time would go down so we asked if he was busy right then and it turns out he wasn't. We walked over to a park sat down and taught him the restoration, gave him a Book of Mormon and answered a lot of questions he had about the Mormons and what we had just taught him. He is now super interested in the church and why this "book" makes us so much different.

But what I want to get at is a little deeper than just a cool experience one morning, it's that a lot of times we fail to recognize the potential in a situation or an event just because of our attitude towards it. Now if we can change our attitude, and look at the cup that's half full, there are so many more things that we can gain physically, mentally and spiritually. 

Another day we went back out to Santomera where my boy Yohan has a supplement shop and so I bought some more protein and ended up giving him a Book of Mormon and bearing my testimony of it. He actually grew up in New Jersey and speaks decent English so that was super cool. My experience training over the past couple years has given me the opportunity to tap into places like that which has been cool. 

Miracles on miracles for the missionary work here in Murcia, Friday we had our interviews with President Anderson after mine and Elder Biegels  interview we were talking with another couple missionaries and a man came into the room and asked if we could teach him about our church and how to become a member hahaha. So of course we did.

 His name is Roman and he has been investigating churches for the past couple years, he has read practically all the volumes of scriptures except for the Book of Mormon (which he has now started and is on chapter 14 or 15, reading in English and Spanish) and miraculously couldn't find the church the night before when we werent there but found it the next day. So this guy also speaks English and is actually fluent with a hint of an accent, so we taught him in English and had a super cool lesson because he explained his beliefs and they practically fell in with those of our church. So it was just an awesome providing information and sharing spiritual insight type of lesson, but of course there can't be a perfect investigator so there is a little bit of a problem, not to bad but could hinder things.

He considers himself to be fluent in Spanish and English, so he has done a ton of comparing translations and texts which has led him to the knowledge that there seems to be some difficulty with the correct content of the bible haha. So he has been comparing the English Book of Mormon and Spanish. And has some problems with the way things had been translated, so we just asked him to really focus on the message of the book not the words necessarily. He came to church and loved it and the Book so hopefully another baptism this transfer! 

Hahaha so much good stuff this week so I'll be brief here, our investigator Rafael, it was his birthday Saturday so we had a little message and a birthday party in the house of some members (who ironically are from the U.S.) we surprised him with a cake and candles and had a ton of fun playing games and talking. Rafael said the closing prayer before we all left and thanked God for "one of the best birthdays he's ever had". The next day he came to church for the first time and told us we had a special place in his heart, this dude st first glance looks about as cold as a stone and it doesn't help that he rarely smiles but he really is a good guy. 

So crazy good week over here in España, I hope all of you have a great week, Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy watching football for me, and don't forget to look for the opportunities and good part in every situation. And thank God for your blessings! 

Much Love,

Elder Batty 

Attachments area