L.A.G.

Elder C, prepping to teach seminary

Missionaries AND Seminary teachers
 

WOW!

 

There's a lot of feeling going on right now, but a lot of it is just gratitude. 

 

It was a crazy week, but it was a really sweet week too. We focused a lot on LA this week and it started with us just watching the video of the restoration. He has heard the discussions a number of times, but had never seen it before so he was SUPER into it. At the end of the lesson, he talked for a really long time about how he just wanted to one day have faith like Joseph Smith. To go through all that persecution and still remain true. He was talking about how he knew all of this was true, and we were talking about how the Gift of the Holy Ghost that he is going to receive will help him grow and learn and become that strong. 

 

He accepted the baptismal invitation. 

 

The next night, we went through and passed off the questions with him and he was able to answer each question so beautifully. It has been so cool seeing him progress and learn more. How humble this guy is, who has been studying and reading the Bible for so many years.  And when these two kids come to him and say, "Well hermano, we have more for you, let us add to these truths," he accepts them and says, "Maybe its true, maybe I was mistaken, I want to know more, I want to know this is true." And he does, and he will.  There was still some doubts in my mind as he looked like he was trying to find a reason why the baptism wouldn't go through. He kept mentioning the need to be perfect and know everything before baptism. We assured him how ready he really was, and he took a lot of confidence in that. He's nervous, but we can see how badly he wants what is next. We talked about the priesthood and I think his mind exploded when he found out that he is going to possess it one day. I'm so excited because he really has no idea how many doors are going to open up to him.

 

Then on Sunday, my heart broke. President G announced, in front of everyone else, that L had talked to him personally and said he wanted to wait until August 4th to have his baptism (it was planned for June 4) and my heart dropped (and my mouth too) President asked me..."uhhh esta bien Elder?" because I was just left blind sided, and there was nothing I could really do at the moment, but man, I felt sick that whole sacrament meeting. 

 

We were able to pull him aside and talk to him, we gave him a triple and he was SO PUMPED. He gets so bugged when we reference the Doctrine and Covenants and he doesn't have one, so hes so excited to study that. But we just had one of the most tender talks with him, and shared some of the most tender moments that I've had on my mission so far. We were able to talk to him about the plan and love God has for him and all the blessings God is ready to give him now that may be put in danger by waiting. Basically, the night ended with a lot of tears from everyone and parting with a handshake and hug from this little Paraguayan man I've come to love so much. He thanked me so much for our work and I was just really, really grateful to be a part of the story of LA.  The Lord has so much planned for him.

 

 

Parker with his amazing friend L.A.G.

I've learned a lot from him. One is that God will give us what we want. I came into a mission that was used to a lot of baptisms, and a lot of miracle baptisms. People who would just show up prepared and ready and there wasn't really much that needed to be done on the missionaries part.  When I came to the mission that really bugged me. I thought, "that's not mission work. Mission work is finding someone, dragging them through the mud, helping them to change, and getting them to want to be baptized." hahaha And I feel like I got that, but realized I was wrong to think that too. LA came SUPER prepared, but I'd be lying if I said working with him during these 2 and a half months was something easy.  From finding him to getting him to this point, it has been an incredible learning experience and one I'm really, really grateful for.

 

I know who I am, I am a child of God. I know what he has prepared and in store for me, and now, so does LA.
 

On the funny side, there's a really great story this week. We were biking up to San Antonio the day after a really big storm. So, of course there's a ton of mud, and here is Elder C, who slaves every night to keep his shirts so clean (its been rough because the new rule is we have to wear long sleeve shirts but we don't have too many--like 3 and we live in a really dirty area obviously). So, I had just made the comment of how white and clean his shirt is and he is biking soooooo slow trying to keep it clean.  Just then, I hear a loud noise behind us and it's a car coming up, and it sounds big. Without looking back I just try and hug the edge and think, "please don't kill me please don't kill me" as the road is not really that wide. Hearing it get closer and closer, I was surprised as it was just a little car, but it was so loud because it was coming so fast. Then I feel it. The wave/wake of red water/mud hit me as the car got as close as it could to us to spray us. First instinct was to scream at the jerk, and second was to flip him off, but the third was more of a missionary response. I just put my head down, stopped biking, and took some deep breaths thinking about the 'token' that must be paid for Christ.

 

I looked back to see Elder C.  If I thought I got covered, it was nothing compared to him. HE WAS COVERED IN MUD. His white shirt now red, on just his left side and on his face. I made eye contact, and with fire in his eyes, I heard a line of words in English that I have not heard for a very long time. WOW, THIS GUY KNOWS WORDS IN ENGLISH THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW. On the inside I'm DYING and cracking up, as my "son" is mud splattered and cursing like a sailor. So funny, and provided a great teaching opportunity to help him understand a little better the price that must be paid and the call to humility we had just received. 

 

It was a really fun and good week in Paso Yobai.  Just really beyond grateful to be out here.

Love you all, 

Elder Yocum