My beautiful family. I love you all.
Hopefully I can write an okay email today hahaha here goes nothing:
This week has probably been better than all of yours combined, ha!
(especially Elder Trevor Smith when he reads this jk) Going on a
mission is sacrifice? Pa-lease. This is the most fun, the most joy,
the most satisfaction I have ever felt. I don't mean to make you
jealous or anything, but my life rocks. Simple as that.
Jeeeze I haven't a clue about how I can describe my week. Ups and
downs and all arounds. A quote from President, "A mission is a series
of disappointing events occasionally interrupted by moments of
indescribable joy" this is super accurate, but at the same time it's
all taken with perspective. The events themselves can be
disappointing, but when you are on the Lords errand I don't think
anything can get you down. As a missionary you feel invincible to
negative influences. After you have had enough angry white people cuss
you out for knocking on their door you learn to laugh pretty much
24/7. Literally I'm tempted to tell you this hilarious story of a man
with colorful vernacular, but the bottom line is that I laughed for
the next 10 mins straight. Luckily, I'm mostly knocking on Hispanic
doors. I love Hispanic culture so much.
Okay so I wrote the title this week, "bailando" or "dancing" because
me and Elder Marchant had some experiences this week.
The first experience was at a lesson we had on Wednesday with Sergio and Elena.
-Some background information is that Sergio's baptism was scheduled
for last Saturday, but Elena was still hesitant about committing.
Seriously, we were out of ideas on how to help her, we had taught all
of the lessons, answered all of her questions, but still she felt
unsure. It wasn't that she was doubting, she just was worried about
changing her life after baptism. She was under the impression that
after baptism she couldn't make any mistakes and she had to live a
perfect life. We described over and over again how the Atonement of
Jesus Christ is real and that because of Him we can repent each day
and each week. But still, she had her concerns. Finally we told her
that we could never convince her or force her to do anything, and that
the only way she could get answer that the decision was right was by
asking God for her self.
So we walked into the next lesson with that decision hanging over our
heads in anticipation. The whole time Sergio just sat smiling at us.
Finally, we asked what was going on and he whispered, "she made her
decision". She wanted to get baptized with Sergio.
We ran away from that lesson literally dancing. (or at least I did)
The next experience was when Elena had her baptismal interview. We had
almost zero time to plan and crunch things together since she wanted
to be baptized that Saturday. So we all sat in the Church building
late the very next night while our Zone Leader gave the interview.
When they were done we had the chance to talk with Elena again about
how she felt. She wouldn't stop thanking us for being patient and
persistent (crazy I know) hahah
Me and Elder Marchant danced through the church while locking up.
Honestly, it is a stupid kind of happiness. The kind of happiness that
makes you smile without knowing why you're doing it. It's ridiculous,
unexplainable, and wonderful all at the same time.
Guess what friends? You can all be involved. You can all feel the same
thing. Think of someone you love, someone you would do anything for,
someone that you want to take care of, and then realize that the most
valuable gift you can give them is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Can you
see the blessings from having the gospel in your life? If you can.
S H A R E I T W I T H O T H E R S.
I say it simply because it is simple. Don't over complicate it, share
it because you love it and you love them.
Elder Stewart-Chester
1319 Butterfield Rd Suite 522
Downers Grove, IL 60515