Como les ha ido?
Wow! It is Monday! Crazy.
Well this email should hopefully turn out to be a little more satisfying than last week's. Cross your fingers! Much has happened and I am still so incredibly grateful to be a missionary, what's new? Rockford, IL is a little slice of heaven. (probably slightly more violent and ghetto than heaven) I love it here!
I don't even know where to begin!
Thursday and Friday we were on an exchange in the English area. Our area basically covers the equivalent of 4 english areas, so we worked in our own area just with all the people that would attend the english congregation. Notice how I didn't say "all the people that speak English" becuase there is way to much diversity. The amount of people from central Africa that I spoke to was pretty incredible. Rockford is a diverse place!
Usually we greet the people saying "Jambo" which is hello in Swahili. People are incredibly surprised when two white blonde haired missionaries yell out "Jambo!" and talk about the Kitabu Cha Mormoni (the Book of Mormon). However, we went to another appointment at the end of our exchange with a family from Africa and we tried to speak Swahili and found out they are from the other side of the African Congo! I spoke some French to them and they laughed so hard! We ended up singing a hymn with them and meeting one of the most prepared men to recieve the Gospel. He said, "There is only one truth! That is what I am searching for!" Followed with things like, "I have the Holy Ghost, why can He not tell me what is the real truth?! I think He can." We were forced to agree with him(;
(we also may or may not have gotten bed bugs from their apartment...again poverty is pretty intense over here)
Overall, I really have been focusing on how much I love the people that I serve out here in Illinois. There are so many different backgrounds and experiences to learn from. I am continually impressed by the way that God works in each of our lives.
I am reminded of a scripture about the Savior Jesus Christ,
1 John 4 19 "We love him, because he first loved us."
Despite what seems to be unfair or unjust in the world, I am constantly reminded of the goodness of God. His works are innumerable. I would be nothing without Him!
The work is pushing forward! I love my life!
Pray for Eddy Pagan, he is preparing to be baptized on the 22nd!
I love you all,
Elder Stewart-Chester