What To Do When You Get Asked Out

Well my friends, I'm sorry if I scared you about my back. I am getting a bit better! I was able to walk for 30 minutes today!

So to explain the title of my email, we have 2 friends that we have been teaching, one is named Hector and the other one is Jeldren. Unfortunately, it might just be the personality that I have where I am just really nice to people and charity is not something that I lack in the attributes of Christ that I strive to obtain, and some people are drawn to it. We took Hector to the Tabernacle (and Jeldren, whose 19, came along) and as president Myers was explaining what sealings are in the temple. He said that sealing are a special commitment in the temple where husband and wife can live together for eternity. In that moment, Jeldren turned his head and looked straight at me! it was so uncomfortable. Jeldren is getting taught by the YSA elders so hopefully he can join their activities soon. Later that week we saw Hector again. Hector is in his 30's maybe 40's age range. Well he catches us waiting for our recent converts Karla and Ruben (who live in the same house as him) and he comes up to us and gives us compliments saying how awesome we are as missionaries. Then he looks at me and asks me out for dinner, and I froze. I was like "que?" And we said we will let him know. We'll have to go back and state our purpose again that we are teachers and representatives of Jesus Christ. If their interests lie elsewhere, then they are not willing to be truly converted and gain their own testimony of Jesus Christ.

It is finally cold! Some of the leaves are still green but it's cool to see that there is snow on the tops of the mountains here. My companion is not happy with the cold and she gets a lot of looks when she wears snow coats in 65 degree weather. I'm used to getting out of swim practice wet in 35 degree virginia weather with my swimsuit, a parka, and crocks with no socks, traveling through the snow from the parking lot to get into my apartment. I have high hopes that this dry winter is going to be a breeze. 

Agustine is on Date to be baptized! He is an Elect! Since day one he has been excited to learn about the restored gospel and what can it do for him in his life. We had a lesson with him this week because last time we talked to him we asked him to pray about Baptism and he said that he has been working a lot, going to and from everywhere and he has not felt any peace. My companion shared a scripture in Matthew 11:28-30 where it talks about as we come to Jesus Christ, we will find rest. His burden is easy. I also shared an object lesson with him and pretended that my dryer ball was a soccer ball. If you're playing soccer and of there are no goals or if you can't see the goal, we'll then you would never make a shot or make plans to get the soccer ball into the goal. The same happens for a Baptism date! If you don't set a date to make that commitment, then all of your progress for coming unto christ would be for nothing! He wants you to have the opportunity to come clean and follow his commandments so that he can give you his power, the gift of the Holy Ghost. The constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is the peace he is looking for. So he takes all of it in and in that moment I knew that the spirit was the one that touched his heart. And then he said "ok, what do I need to do to get Baptized?" And we set a date for November 12th!! I had so much joy for him and the decision he is going to make!! I truly had seen a miracle. 

The end of the week was cool too. We went to a YSA devotional with Elder Rasband at weber state university and he was there!! I could see his face! An apostle! That is a really cool thing about my mission is that you have a really high chance of seeing apostles here. He talked about the word integrity and not changing your values of the gospel. He said that when we make decisions, we should ask ourselves: is it moral? Is it ethical? Is it honest? And the thing I love most about that is I realized that there were things that I used to see that were not part of my standards and I realize that the things I watch, say and do should revolve around the things that I stand for and believe in. I don't want to stand in a room where I am dishonest with myself nor the people I surround myself are dishonest with me. I had been in those circles and It was not what I needed or what they needed from me. I am going to continue to study the things I learned in this devotional and I hope that I get to apply it throughout my mission and after too!

You guys, God loves you. I know that trials are difficult. There are days where anxiety gets the best of me and I constantly run on survival mode. The gospel of Jesus Christ and his teachings are my hope and I so desperately want to show all of you and the people that I teach that he can give you power to overcome your trials and having an eternal perspective will give you the hope you need. I would not be here on this mission if I did not believe this was true. God loves you! I hope you recieve the strength to fight your battles!

Hermana Vestel