The weather was awesome this past week. Yesterday it started raining again. It seems like the pattern is that its really stormy, windy, and rainy for about a week then its amazing for a week. So, we love and take advantage of those sunny days while we have them!
My companion, Elder Davis, is a district leader so I was able to go on a few splits this week while he did interviews. There are so many strong missionaries here in Chile. One, Elder Law, is only over a year in and already training. He really taught me a lot by just the short hour I went out with him. We went in to a less active lady's house, inviting her to church, and she was so strong in not wanting to go to church because it was just a hassle. I thought it would go nowhere and her mind was already made up but Elder Law spoke with her about how the little things like attending church, reading scriptures, and praying leads up to the wonderful blessing and opportunity of living with our families forever. She had a total change of heart and when her son came in at the end of the discussion, she made him go to church the next day and put her foot down. In the one short lesson, she changed from a inactive sister to, what seemed like, a strong leader of the church. It was awesome.
We got a new mission president! His name is president Humphrey and is from California. Him and his wife are really nice and amazing. We had a short mission conference last week so I guess you could say I had two first mission conferences of my mission. One with President Chavez and one with the new President Humphrey. We have our interviews with him tomorrow so I think we are the first zone to. My zone is awesome too. Our zone leaders are from Argentina and Chile so they both really only speak Spanish. They are both real cool and the one from Argentina has 3 weeks left. (Ian, i told him you served in Resistencia and he said that's the hardest mission in Argentina for some reason that I didn't understand.)
Ive learned that you always need to start with numbers, but they definitely aren't everything. If you love the people, the numbers will follow. Im trying to do my best to realize that because I thought that was amazing advise. For example, there are soooo many inactive members here in Chile and there are barely any numbers involved in reactivating a family. But, any smart missionary knows that the numbers will follow if you get that family going again and ask for references from them. So, the number one thing to do before you meet a person is to love them. I learned this, this week because of a few complicated situations with some investigators we have. We were sure that we had two baptisms locked in for this month but after talking with the Bishop, he doesn't want these two to be baptized. Hes afraid one of them might keep living in sin after because of the situation she is in. The other is a little girl who wants to be baptized but the Bishop was afraid that her inactive parents were never going to take her to church after the 3 weeks that they have to attend. Its all a lot more detailed from what I know, and then even more detailed of what the Bishop knows so all we can do is love them and hope that it all falls into place. Ive also gained a lot stronger testimony that callings, like Bishops, are inspired.
Anyway, keep the letters coming and I love hearing from y'all! Enjoy the wonderful summer in the states for me!
Love y'all!
Elder Gregory
Me in front of our house
Right after Chile had won a soccer game and Concepcion went crazy in celebration.
The other is where I put my books and I just like to show that the little figurine of Nephi that Dad gave me is standing up top!
