I hope ya'll have had a great week. It sounds like it's been busy - but you've been able to have some adventures along the way.
Of course life is fabulous and it's been another great week here in Phoenix. We saw a lot of blessings! It seems that all of our investigators have all of a sudden become interested in what we've been trying to teach them. That's always a good thing...
Monday we had an awesome noche de hogar (FHE) with a family we're trying to teach. Mace and Xochitl (so-chi) and their 3 kids. The mom has been angry at God for some time now and has never been open to our message, but just recently she wants to have a better relationship with Him. We had an awesome lesson about faith and they were able to talk to the Ponce's (the family we had FHE with) about some of their doubts and concerns about joining the church. The Ponce's (our ward mission leader) have only been members for 2 years. They seemed to say the exact things Mace and his family need to hear. Blessing number 1.
Blessing number 2. On Thursday, we had an awesome lesson with a man named Gustavo. He is so solid. He knows pretty much everything about the bible and such a strong faith in God. He usually overwhelms us a little because he speaks super fast and always has so many questions, but we do what we can. We finally realized that all he really needs is the Book of Mormon. Duh! That will answer all of his questions. So, we used what we learned and taught the BofM. It was an amazing lesson! I don't know if ya'll know this, but the first chapter of the BofM is designed for missionary work. I think I mentioned it a little before, but it's pretty mind blowing so I'll mention it again. If you read the first 12 verses with Joseph Smith in mind...you'll realize how similar they are. I wish I could take 20 minutes with each of you and show you how it applies to your life, but that can be your homework. We teach our investigators about the BofM in 15 minutes - including applying it to their life. It's super hard, but so extremely powerful. This is what we did with Gustavo. He was so cute! He read verse 9 (Christ come down to Lehi) and looks up at us with this "aha" face. He got it! He got that it was like Joseph Smith. He was so excited. He said "Me voy a meter en este libro!" which basically means - I'm going to immerse myself in this book. He pretty much committed himself to read it. This new way of teaching the BofM is truly inspired. We're excited for him!
Blessing number 3 happened that same night. We went to go visit Randy and his sister Jennifer. They were supposed to be baptized a couple weeks back, but Jennifer went to California, and Randy was the one that dropped us. As we sat down with them and just talked - a lot of his concerns came out. We were able to share a message and the member we had with us (a YSA) invited them to come to a baptism. They said they would go! The best part...is that they really did go! And they loved it! This is also part of the inspired plan the Lord has to hasten His work. As we talked about it with them, Randy said he felt the spirit. We were a little hesitant, but we invited him to be baptized again. He said he wasn't sure, but we committed him to specifically pray about being baptized on the 1st of February. Lo and behold, yesterday we received the information that he wants to be baptized! I am so happy for him! So many miracles.
It's been a great week and it went by so fast! To finish the dog story. We've still been battling our zone leaders. One of them really loves Taylor Swift and hasn't heard the CD "Red" yet. So, I bought it on Monday. I carefully opened it and switched out the actual CD for a Christmas mariachi CD I had and then put sarcastic sticky notes in the pamphlet with the lyrics. We also had to get back at his companion. One of the sisters we live with told us he was Dear Johned a couple months ago so at the back, we put a sticky note that said "Bonus Track: Dear John, feat. Elder Jacobsen." Oh man, we were so excited to give it to them. I carefully wrapped it back up so it looked as if it hadn't been opened. Their faces when we gave it to them were absolutely priceless! He was so mad and so shocked! The best was when they opened it. Elder Jacobsen's draw just dropped. He was shocked. Oh revenge is sweet. We knew they couldn't get us back after this one. However, a couple days later we walk outside to exercise and see a sign that says "Wanna play fetch?" How creepy is that?? We saw that they had made a trail of milkbones so we followed it. It took us clear around our apartment complex and when we returned to our door, there was a massive breakfast waiting for us. They said they couldn't think of anything to get us back, so they killed us with kindness. It was pretty funny. I can't believe this joke is still going.
Anyways, we've had a lot of fun this week. That's what missionary work is, right? :)
I love you all and hope you have a fabulous week! Don't forget to read in 1 Nephi!
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Homer
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