IN CASE YOU'VE
FORGOTTEN: I LOVE YOU!!!!! Now don't forget, because you might get tired
of being reminded. ;) (If that is the case, please forgive me, I just
really do love you!)
This week has been pretty crazy!! Here is the Weekly Report to my President:
I'm doing fantastic, and I'm excited for this upcoming week here in the newly organized Ibiza A area!! Southern Ibiza (including San Antonio, Southern Ibiza-town, and San Josep, among other pueblos, etc) is Ibiza A, and I know that we're going to continue to see miracles!! We are going to follow your instruction, of course, to focus our efforts in Ibiza, where people are most likely to be able to attend church, while at the same time, we are going to continue working with the prepared people that we've found in San Antonio. This is so exciting -- we're going to learn so much with this challenge of having a two-pronged area!!
Miracle of the week: WE HAD AN INVESTIGATOR COME TO CHURCH THIS WEEK!!!!! A Romanian family that we teach brought Romanian friends (which they have a huge history of doing -- this is one of the reasons that we continue teaching them even though they're not technically progressing) Ionel and Carmen, a young couple. Ionel said that he's been hearing about us for months and has been anxious to meet with us. He asked perfect questions, and was very receptive. Thanks to the practice that we've had in teaching the Restoration (especially from this past Zone Conference), we were able to teach it with the power and authority of the Spirit, which the tears in his eyes testified to. We invited him to come to church, and were about to explain how far away it is (this meeting was in San Antonio), when he told us that HE LIVES IN IBIZA-TOWN, IN WHAT IS NOW OUR AREA!!! We called and informed all the leaders in the morning, and got some members to "hermanar" him, and he had a fantastic experience: it was the Primary Program, and in Elder Quorum they taught of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. It was a perfect day!! We have a follow-up visit with him, and he's excited to read the Romanian Book of Mormon that we've given him!!
I KNOW that Heavenly Father puts prepared people in our paths if we are cheerfully obedient and continuously diligent!! I'm so grateful for the testimony of the Book of Mormon which gives authority to our words; for the guidance and presence of the Holy Ghost which gives power to our imperfect efforts; for the love of our Heavenly Father which motivates us to keep going when difficult moments arise. We are so blessed to be missionaries!! We have the best job EVER!!!!
I want to repent of not being the greatest companion for Élder Dean -- I want to more fully fulfill my goal of inspiring, elevating, motivating, blessing, serving, and loving him. I know that he is the most important person on this island. I want to help him really value and love himself as a missionary man. I know that as I continue fasting, praying, serving him, and being obedient, Heavenly Father will help me learn how to better help Élder Dean.
I'm also excited for this next week because Heavenly Father gave me an idea of how we, along with the local leaders, can help the members turn to the Branch Presidency for guidance instead of always to us. We're going to meet this week and discuss how we can do this. The idea that came to me was through Home and Visit Teaching. As missionaries, we visit people and represent the Savior; as people come to feel of the Lord's love for them through us, they come to seek more of the Lord's guidance (not ours, but His) in their lives. It hit me that Home Teaching is really a parallel-structured program: the Home Teachers represent the Presidency, and through prepared and loving Home Teachers, people will gain more respect for the leaders of whom their Home Teachers represent. I have brought it up to the Branch Presidency, and they think it's an interesting idea, so we're going to discuss it more later on this week.
I forgot which prophet said this, but his words were to this effect: "To achieve what has never been achieved, we must do what has never been done". I´m looking for ways to either do what hasn't been done, as guided by the Spirit, or do correctly do what we should already be doing. :) I know that Heavenly Father will guide and direct and bless us in our efforts to really bring about long-term progress in our Ibiza Branch Family.
Thank you for all that you do for us President!! Merry Christmas!!
Simply,
Élder Zubeldia
Funny
things of the week: well, the crazy hobo with the fishes found us again
yesterday (I'm pretty sure my companion and I are mania magnets X) ); a
drugged-up Czechoslovakian man stopped us on the bus (smoking an
electronic-cigarette, which are really weird) and spent the whole time
telling me that I am crazy (with less-appropriate words), and that I
need to leave missionary work and "eat life" -- when he was done (at
intervals) I got to respectfully defend our purpose and God's work,
basically teaching to the entire bus (sadly, we didn't have any
pass-along cards -- we had just handed out the last ones -- but at least we
planted a HUGE SEED in the hearts of a good 40 people -- haha, as we got
off at the stop, I made sure to remind the people that we aren't
Jehova's Witnesses, WE ARE MORMONS); and OH RIGHT, there is an amazing
experience that happened to us three nights ago that is kinda funny but
at the same time totally spiritual!!
We had an eating lesson with a family (I love teaching
about the Restoration of this fantastic Gospel!!), but it ended late. We
were a good 40-50 min missionary-speed walk (over an hour when
contacting) away from the bus station, where the last bus leaving that
night would be leaving. We had 20 minutes, with no realistic hope of
making it. I was sure that we'd have to walk back across the island
AGAIN (2.5 hours at night), but my companion had faith that we could
make it. I laughed, thinking he was joking. Wanting to show him that I
take him seriously, I agreed to try. After Olympic Missionary Walking
for 5 minutes, we quickly realized that we wouldn't make it at that
pace. So we ran. It had already been a long, hard day, and I was
exhausted, but I didn't want to admit it to myself. 5 minutes of running
later, and our heavy dinner was starting push on our intestines. I
thought I was going to explode!! Things began to look grim. So what did
we do? We ran faster. 10 minutes of running later, and I was sure I was
going to die -- why on earth were we doing this to ourselves to miss the
bus that we were surely going to miss anyway? We were a good 20 minutes
distance from the station, and there was no way in my burnt-out brain
that we were going to make it. My companion suggested a short 20 sec
walking break. He told me we could do it. Somehow, it came into my head
that if I want to be the kind of missionary that God expects me to be,
based on the small decisions of every day, I can't be the kind of person
who gives up to walk at the end. I prayed for forgiveness of my
weakness, and began sprinting. I don't know how far behind my companion
was -- I just knew that God would help us catch the bus, getting us home
on time, being obedient, if I put my all into overcoming my weak body.
Long story short, haha, we made the bus, and had (on top of it all) an
amazing lesson on the bus ride home about the Restoration, with our
Spanish and Filipino fellow bus riders. It was a miracle. I know that
it couldn't have happened without the faith, on part of my companion,
and God's power to strengthen us and answer prayers.
I know that, in the desperate and intestinally
painful moments in our lives, God will give us strength if we have
faith in Him and KEEP RUNNING.
I love you all so much. :) Have a great week!!! Merry Christmas!!!
Simply, with love,
Élder Zubeldia
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