Over the last 19 months I've noticed a bit of a pattern... Every time I get on to write you all a perky little email, I start it off by talking about how fast time is flying by or how much I love being a missionary... hahaha. I'm so sorry if you're sick of hearing it, but that's literally all I can think about each time I log in. :) And this week holds true to form... My mind is officially blow by how quickly I'm running out of time, and I still can't get over how much I love being a missionary!
Elder Medrano and I are still doing great! This week we've been working hard on Spanish, and teaching techniques... Oh man... It's been fun! Let me tell ya! hahaha! But really, I am SO glad I never have to go through the training process again... That was just a tough 12 weeks. lol. It's like trudging through 12 weeks of humble pie... and in this area, it's all UP HILL! Really though. Our area is SUPER hilly. ha. But Elder Medrano is taking it like a champ! And I'm actually really enjoying being on the other side of the trainer/trainee fence. :) It's helped me understand why my trainer did the things he did. Anyway. Like I said, we've been working on Spanish, and lesson grammar, so we've been picking a list of 3-5 Spanish verbs for my companion to use in lessons each day, and I have to pay close attention and remember what word he used in which lesson. haha. It's made the Spanish side of that humble pie I mentioned just a little bit sweeter. ;)
Just to give you an idea of just how awesome my companion is, I'll tell you a little story... On Wednesday we went over to Santa (a member) and Franklin's (her non member husband) house to get to know Franklin a little bit better, and get a feel for what we can do to complete the missing link in their eternal family chain. :) Well, we found out that Frankin earns his money (with which he provides for his family) by selling lottery tickets. He's aware that it's not within the bounds the Lord has set, so he wants to wait until he can find another line of work.
With that in mind I shared some thoughts about my last 19 months here on a mission. I talked about how the mission is like a mini life, and how we leave our families for a short time to work hard and GROW though the trials we face. Although we're far away from our families for 2 years, they never stop rooting us on, just like our ancestors/descendants root us on from above. I told them how much I love my family, and how much I miss them. But the knowledge that they are all back at home waiting for me to finish my duties here gives me the strength to keep my mind focused on the work at hand, and helps me avoid the OH SO MANY worldly distractions all around me. I shared how I could, if I so desired, leave my area and go to a near by beach for a day off. Or I could pick up a cheap BlackBerry off the street and text my girlfriend back home. I have my free agency. We all do. But knowing that there is a life waiting for me back home that can be made or destroyed by my obedience here, helps me keep my head on straight. It helps me to keep an eternal perspective. And that's what the Gospel is all about.
Then, after I stepped down off my little, spiritual soap box, my companion came in and finished off the lesson with a simple, solid testimony. It was short, but powerful.
Now, for the climax of the story... Yesterday in fast and testimony meeting Hermana Santa got up to share her testimony. She started off by telling the congregation that the missionaries had stopped by during the week, and that one of the missionaries had caught her attention. She couldn't explain the way she felt when he spoke, just that the Spirit was present. She went on to explain that during their time at her house, the missionary only said a few words. They were jumbled, and she could tell it took a lot of courage for him to say them, but as he testified of the truthfulness of this Church, and the importance of his calling as a missionary, she KNEW it was true.
Oh man you guys. While she spoke so highly of my companion in front of everyone, it was all I could do to keep the tears on the INSIDE of my eye balls! ha. It was such a powerful testimony builder for me, because at that very moment we were fasting and praying for the gift of tongues, and for those we teach to be able to understand and accept our message. :) Guys. I know this church is true. God is up there. I have no doubt. He cares more for Elder Mooney and Elder Medrano in this little pueblo of Manoguayabo then I can even imagine. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!!!!
Another little blurb to strengthen your testimony on the power of fasting:
In reality we did two fasts this week... Ha. At the beginning of the week we fasted for help finding new people to teach, and guess what? We now have more people to visit than we know what to do with! I think I told you last week, but if not I'll tell you again. Last Sunday our Elders Quorum President gave us a list of 5 less active families to focus on this month. And guess what guys?! At least one member of 4 of our 5 families came to church yesterday!!! And on top of that, we had 7 investigators in church. :) The Lord hears our prayers!
Oh man. And get this! Yesterday in fast and testimony meeting, the second to last guy that got up to share his testimony was wearing jeans and a polo shirt... I didn't think much of it, because that's really not that uncommon here. ha. But then he started to speak. He said that he'd always wanted to get up and talk in a microphone at a pulpit, so seeing that it was "open mic" day at church, he couldn't pass up the opportunity. haha. He went on to say that it was his first time visiting our church, but that he knew there was something different about us. He could FEEL it. He said his initial interest in our weird little congregation was when he saw a pair of missionaries running, in the pouring rain, down the street toward the chapel with big, fat smiles on their faces. (ha. that just so happened to be Elder Medrano and I on our way to Ward Counsel Meeting). He said he thought "those two Mormons must be crazy!" And then thought some more about it, and decided he wanted to know why they were so happy. :) And he found his answer. :) It doesn't matter how humble the chapel, or how crazy the missionaries are in the area... The church is the same everywhere you go. :) And that SAME spirit that is felt in every congregation around the world is what makes us DIFFERENT. :)
Guys. I really do know that this is the True Church. I thank God every single night for the chance I have to be here experiencing the things that I'm experiencing, and learning the lessons I'm learning. It never ceases to amaze me at how patient He is with me, even when I'm prideful and dumb, and don't want to listen to Him. But because He knows me so perfectly, He knows exactly who I need to meet, and where I need to be RIGHT when I need to. And with that perfect planning, He's slowly but surely molding and shaping me into the man that He wants me to be.
I love and miss you all. I hope and pray the best for each and every one of you. Trust in the Lord, and never look back.
Love,
Elder Cade Mooney
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| Sunset - My beautiful DR 10/30/2013 |
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| Baby Bunnies -- one of our investigators breeds and sells them. :) 11/3/13 |
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| Not so No Bake Cookies. ha. Last night we had no gas, but we had planned to make No Bake Cookies for P-Day Eve... So my comp told me I should make them in the microwave! hahaha!!!!!!! My mommy would be SO proud of me! lol. I mixed the butter, milk and sugar in a microwave safe bowl and then nuked it for several minutes while taking it out to stir at random intervals. haha. I sorta felt like a mad scientist. lol. Then I mixed in the rest of the ingredients, formed the cookies, and set 'em aside to harden. And... As you can see, they turned out great! lol. Just so you know, when you run out of natural gas, you can use the microwave. :) 11/3/2013 |
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