Firstly, I found out recently that saying
"el ibuprofano" ("the ibuprofen") sounds almost exactly the same as "el
libro profano" ("the profane book"). Elder Mazzeo was extremely confused
for a moment. Cuidense, hermanos.
This week
was a bit complex. We had intercambios with the zone leaders, and Elder
Valencia (a Spaniard) came to Cementista with me for a day. It just so
happened that day that there was a killer cold-snap, and the temperature
plummeted, but the elders who had changed areas (Elders Valencia and
Mazzeo) hadn't prepared for that. That was a rough day, even for me, and
I had all my clothing at my disposal. But we all survived, and nobody
got sick or anything, which is great. One of the hermanas in Cementista
even gave me and Elder Valencia thermal clothing, gloves, and caps,
insisting that we take them even though we tried to refuse, saying we
had that stuff in the pensión. But after thirty offers (that really
isn't an exaggeration), it was impossible to refuse. She also gave us
lunch, which came in the form of enormous hamburgers. That lady is
demasiado bondadosa.
Then it was a bit
depressing in the middle of the week because we had no investigators
that were progressing para nada. That's a really sad feeling. It's not
guilt, because it's not my choice, but it's sad, nonetheless. But then
in the end of the week we actually got some investigators to fulfill
their commitments, and we have two people that are almost certainly
going to be baptized in the coming couple of weeks! Each time we met
with them, Elder Mazzeo wafted the air toward his face as if he were
smelling something, saying, "¿Usted huele eso? Es exito." And then we
pass by a guy randomly watering his lawn at 10:00 at night. Bienvenidos a
Barrio 12 de Julio, supongo.
Something
happened with Elder Valencia that was interesting, too. We knocked a
door, and an old Evangelist lady opened the door and we talked with her
for a moment, presenting our introduction. But then she cut us off,
asking in what name we baptize in the Church (obviously looking to
dominate us in some way). We answered her saying that it is in the name
of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, but she immediately told us
that is wrong, and that it must be only in the name of Jesus Christ,
because when God comes searching for His children He will call them by
the name of Christ. Good point, but that's a mix-up of doctrines. She
showed us the scripture Acts 2:38, which says it is in the name of
Christ that we are baptized, but then Elder Valencia showed her (in her
own Bible, because she thought ours was a false translation) Matthew
28:19, which lists all three names. She read it out loud until the part
that lists the names, at which point she cut off and accused us of
trying to confuse her. Lady, your own Bible is trying to confuse you. In
reality, those two scriptures aren't contradictory, it's just that
Peter doesn't say all the names, perhaps even just as an oratory
element. We parted with her feeling like she "won", when in reality all
that happened was that we avoided the conflict. That experience was a
good example of something that I have seen so incredibly much in the
mission: people are content with their personal religious understanding,
and they don't comprehend that there must never be an end to learning
in that field of study. It's exactly as it says in 2 Nephi 28:30:
"For
behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men
line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little;
and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto
my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I
will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them
shall be taken away even that which they have."
That
is the problem with being content, and exactly the reason I am not
content with my knowledge of the workings of God. An infinite God has no
end, neither do His works or words have any termination. Thus, any
cessation of learning of Him will result in the fulfillment of this
promise here, and to him that says, We have sufficient, from him will be
taken away even that which he seemeth to have (Luke 8:18). I realized
this week the reason for that: if you learn so much in the Gospel that
you think you know it all, it means you no longer need God, and have
elevated yourself to His station of omniscience, whether consciously or
unconsciously. That is the definition of pride, and that means that
after learning all of that, you learned absolutely nothing, and have
fallen back to the evil of shunning the help of God. Thus, my invitation
to all of you who will listen is an invitation directly from the
Savior: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meekand lowly
in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:29). Keep
learning; if there is an end, God is not infinite, and this universe
cannot exist without His Infinity. I testify that my God is limitless,
and that His power, teachings, and glory have no end; there is no lack
of things to learn. And if you do feel you have enough, repent, because
that's the devil's voice. There are blessings for us all if we just keep
bettering our understanding of His ways. For the glory of God is
intelligence (DyC 93:36).
Until next week, friends,
Elder Hill
Fotos:
- Elder Valencia
- Mi hamburguesa gigante
- En la Plaza Independencia en Mendoza Centro
- Un conejito ahogando en dulce de leche
- Ahora podemos tener paz
- Vestido del invierno
- Un anillo de casamiento que encontró Elder Mazzeo en la calle (el segundo en la semana)
- Estoy perfectamente de acuerdo con esto. Bien dicho.
- Guillermo (el hombre muy alto con la barba) antes de su bautismo en sábado; el vive en la calle, pero es muy inteligente, y ya tiene un testimonio muy fuerte que la Iglesia de Jesucristo es la única iglesia que tiene la plenitud de la verdad. Él es el investigador que todos los misioneros quieren. Pero, tristemente, su bautismo es de las Hermanas de Mendoza Centro, no de Cementista. Pero bueno, sentí el Espíritu muy fuerte cuando compartió su testimonio.
