Well, Sister Abernathy got food poisoning on Thursday and so we stayed in for 2 days. Elder Dahneke and Bishop were nice enough to pick her up some Gatorade and saltine crackers. It was rough for her. She ate 2 month old eggs on exchanges by accident. We're pretty sure that's what did the trick.
So other than that, it was a good week. Aracely and Jorge, the couple Presidente got worked up over, are set with a baptism date for February 15th. They've been very prepared by the Lord. Jorge told us straight up that he knows the Catholic church doesn't have the priesthood authority.
Juliana is doing okay... lately she's been kind of like, "I need more time, I'm confused.." We tried to explain the restoration to her very clearly, but she doesn't seem to be grasping on to the idea of the RESTORED church of Jesus Christ. We've been praying and brain storming a lot over it and we think we need to help her see how that priesthood authority can personally bless her children because right now she seems to just see it as something that's great for Joseph Smith. I don't think she's understanding that the reason Heavenly Father restored the priesthood through Joseph Smith was so that all mankind can benefit from having the power of God upon the earth again. She is still very grateful for us, though and always welcoming. Her oldest son, Noe, is making things difficult. He doesn't want to ever leave the house... he loved primary the first time he went, but now he's just like, "Nope. don't wanna go." And we tried to bribe him by telling him we'll make cookies or brownies if he stays for all three hours and he's like, "no, I don't like that stuff." Anyway, we'll see. It can be frustrating when people don't see how much this gospel can truly bless their lives. We'll just focus on doing all we can to increase her vision, and the rest is her albedrio personal.
Isidro's still doing good. We actually stopped by this morning to see how he was doing and remind him of our lesson tomorrow. He was sitting outside reading his Book of Mormon! He's so legit. Jorge was there, too. We committed Jorge to read and pray about the Book of Mormon just like Isidro. He's been running away from us lately because he still has the mindset that if he's tempted to drink a beer, he has to run away from the Book of mormon and us. We testified that it doesn't work that way. The moments when he's most tempted is when he needs to pick up the book of mormon and/or pray in order to gain the strength to overcome that temptation. If he wants to change - which he assures us he does - he cannot avoid these things. He has to use prayer and the BOM as weapons to fight against Satan's temptations. Right now he sees them as things he can only turn to once he's already right with God. Work in progress, he'll get there. The most important thing is that his heart's in the right place.
My companion has great Spanish. She doesn't think so, but much better than mine was when I started. Ha. Although, when I was training I was brutally hard on myself. I'm better at being nicer to myself now, but self criticism is still one of the biggest things I struggle with. I guess I'm kind of a hypocrite, though, because our district leader, elder Dahneke, is very hard on himself even though he's an excellent district leader and missionary. He's very easily stressed and takes everything out on himself. We got lost yesterday on our way to dinner, ended up on the other side of Las Vegas BLVD where it's all desert (haha, don't worry, still in desert bloom boundaries!) And when we FINALLY got to dinner, he's all, "I feel bad. I couldn't help you out when you called." Meanwhile, we were the ones on the other end of the phone going, "we're in the middle of the desert! where do we go?" Of course he couldn't help us. So I always tell him to be nice to himself, but I'm also a lot like him in that sense. sister Abernathy chewed me out about it one day (not really). She was like, "you're a fantastic missionary and the people love you, why are you hard on yourself?" Haha. What I've noticed, though, is that the thing that really helps me feel better about myself is when I compliment and am kind to others.
Speaking of our district leader and being kind to others, Elder Dahneke and I have been serving in the same ward/branch since the end of July and I've seen him change A LOT. However, I reckon it's hard for him to see that growth in himself. As our district leader, we want to be able to lift him up as much as we can, and you can see it means a lot to him when we compliment him here and there. do you think it would be inappropriate to write him a card or something? Nothing awkward, just to say thank you for being an awesome leader?
I love you all very much and I hope you continue to ver milagros. :) yo les amo muchisimo! <3
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