Poky Week 2

Hmmm. Where do i start. I just wrote the whole thing and bumped a button and it deleted everything. So this is gonna be quick and less juicy as draft 1. Sorry. Long story short. We had 8 baptismal dates, now we have 0. We ran into about 10 people who were ready to teach, but they are english so we gave them to english elders. The spanish work is nearly impossible around here now. We tract every day for about 4 hours. We have good success. With ENGLISH PEOPLE. But we can't teach them. Also, our ward isn't helping us at all. all the spanish people are afraid to share the gospel. its hard. But its good. 

On Wednesday night, we went over to the flores house. We had 3 dates in this family. Merced (67 year old man with one leg who is in a wheelchair) and then Merceds daughter. And then Merceds granddaughter who is 18. Well, Merced is addicted to coffee and alcohal and smoking. He has been doing well. But tuesday, he had a relapse. But we didnt know this. So we showed up wednesday night and knocked on the door. We look through the window of the door and see him scrambling. He grabbed a pizza box and put it over the window of the door lol. He acted like we didnt see him haha. So after about 10 minutes of laughing and knocking. We left. He REALLY must have not wanted to see us. Because he loves us and we have good talks with him. anyway it was funny cause the pizza box would be moving so he would look out every so often in the cracks if we were still there hahahha. We would wave at him and just laugh. But I still believe we can get them to change.

The next family with 5 dates: Mom, Dad, 2 boys (16, 14) and a daughter (8) were all "golden". Then the 14 year old says he wants to be baptized in December cause he is not ready. He doesnt even want to try so thats why. Then the mom out of nowhere said she doesnt believe in Joseph Smith. WOW. We tried so hard not to bible bash and we succeeded. We are still going and teaching them but now we have to focus on Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. We asked her if she read the Book of Mormon she said no. We asked her if she prayed. She said no. But she reads the bible and twists the bible. So were letting it cool off and teaching from lessons 4 and 5 for now. One cool scripture i would encourage ya'll to look up is in revelations 14:6 I believe. It is John looking into heaven in a vision and he says "I saw another angel fly by carrying the everlasting gospel" This is the end of the Bible. Who was that angel? MORONI. He is taking the plates down. Boom. We showed them this scripture and she said "No creo" (I dont believe) It doesn't get more straight up than that. We also shared i think in ephesians, or ezekial about the stick of Judah and the stick of Ephraim or something. The stick of Judah is writings of the Jews, which is the bible. But the other stick? Where is that writings? Book of Mormon. Thats where it is. She didnt believe that one either haha. Of course. but all we can do is love them and keep inviting them to read and pray. 

Well, the mission is an adventure! It is so much fun! All the girls around here flirt with us and try to write us but that is stupid and we avoid that as much as possible. We play Risk and Catan on P-Days and it gets pretty heated. I am loving my companion, he eats a ton. Members pay for our dinners and lunches often. Its great. I am learning so much and meeting so many new people here. Although I cant wait until my VISA comes. I am hoping it comes every day. 

Mom, thanks for the shoes. We play hard over here and i dont want a broken ankle. Nothing will stop me from working and finishing this work here and in Argentina eventually. I feel the adversary often trying to tempt me and trying to scare me. But that just builds my testimony that I am doing the right thing. Satan tries hard to stop this work and its obvious that this is the true church here on earth. There is evidence physically and especially spiritually. It is sad to see those who reject this gospel. But all we can to is invite them to come unto Christ and love everyone. 

I hope everyone is doing well in Utah, Texas, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, etc. Love you all and I think about you often. Thank you for your letters and for reading this email. 

Do your best to always be a missionary and the lord will bless you! Almost all of our success is from the members! remember that! 

Take it easy everyone! 

Love, Elder Westensee