Dumpling Boy--Week 46
Sept 16, 2023
Hola Todos!
Another week has gone by and this time there weren't any micro hurricanes! We did have some more rain which was nice. A slow drizzle cools everything for at least a day! However the days keep going, the sun always comes back and finish the day as perfectly steamed dumplings.
I have some good news from the area! We have a baptism tomorrow! Ivan Galeano, our down syndrome friend is finally getting baptized! After 33 years of living we're making it happen! It's a special feeling when you've been entrusted with someone like Ivan. His mom loves us and is so happy we're going to baptize him. All the missionaries before thought they couldnt so they didn't. She fought and fought for his baptism, now we're here, finally doing it.
The mum has so much faith. She's 55 and has been taking care of Ivan for 33 years. She can't wait for him to get the gift of the holy ghost. Recently she's seen that as we've taught Ivan there's been a change in his demeanor. He's a big ol' bundle of smiles and laughs but now he's more excited to go to church and more agreeable than ever before. She knows the spirit's constant and guiding influence is going to help Ivan grow and change in a million positive ways. Faith like that is inspiring to see!
That's the really exciting news of the area. Other than that our areas are progressing. We're struggling a little bit to find people who are actually willing to make sacrifices and keep commitments. But that's not unique to us by any stretch of the means. At least for the first time in my mission I'll have the problem of finding too many people who aren't quite ready!
Our President made an interesting comment in our zone conference this week. He finished his biannual meetings with the mission area presidency, and while talking with one of the general authorities, had an interesting conversation about Paraguay. The general authority mentioned how Paraguay has more Lamanite blood and ancestry than any other country in the South American South area (Uruguay, Chile, Argentina). He said the people here are all so ready to hear the gospel, yet we've failed to succeed in paraguay.
The people of Paraguay are all very spiritually inclined. Ive met only 2 atheists in a year of talking to people on the street everyday. Almost everyone believes in God. When we teach, people readily accept the Book of Mormon as scripture and the Church as legitimate. The problem is interesting in that they understand the nature of God but do not understand the importance of our own personal commitment and effort. Its an interesting challenge, one of the better ones for sure, but one we're working to overcome.
I'd love to expand some more but the hours run short and the text runs long. Love you all! May the force be with you and may the grind never stop!
An elder being absolutely murdered by spoilers from Ahsoka,
- Elder James Tanner
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