Argentina - Santa Elena Letter #15

From: Amanda Gibbons
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 1:13 PM
To: Bonnie Gibbons
Subject: Santa Elena

Howdy!

Man another week in the field! What an awesome thing to experience! We have had some random lessons this week, but first we are teaching Christian, he is 21 and just an amazing kid! At one of our lessons we asked him why he was allowing us to come into his home and he said’ “I want to progress, I want to know more about God, and I don’t want to sin anymore.” He came to church this Sunday, alone and early. It’s Amazing what the spirit can do for people when they hear the truth. I love that the Lord prepares people. Me and my Comp asked eachother, what kind of 21 year-old is searching for this. We asked him to keep the law of chastity and he said he was going t oread the pamphlet with his girlfriend. Then Friday we taught him the Word of wisdom and he didn´t drink this weekend!

We also met Miguel’ he is a 60 man who acts like he’s 6. Very prideful and invited us over to teach us J Anyways, we somehow broke through his wall and the spirit touched his heart. He asked us to come again. We taught him from the Bible (b/c he says he doesn´t like our bible) and showed him the importante of baptism and that babies have no need of it b/c it is Only for the remission of sins. You Could see it touch his heart, he´d soften for a second and then fight it. He is a hoot andi s learning, He wants to g oto church but just doesn’t have the “ganas” (as they say here) to do it yet. Pray that we can continue to find a way to bring Christ io his heart.

The craziest lesson was with this family who just happend to be related to a girl we have seen on the street at least 10 times in the last two weeks (Giselda). She was really angry with us the first time we met, but we’ve softened her up a bit. Anyways the dad had a friend over and they were both drinking. Their friend was crazy, kept asking us if we wanted to be his girlfirends and then said he had a picture of Joseph Smith, he went and got it, but it turned out to be Jesus Christ. Then there was 5 kids running around screaming and the parents were laughing really loud. While all this was going on Giselda was asking the best questions ever! And she was saying that she d´t like the catholic church b/c they worship saints (against the 10 commandments), where do the "sacerdocios" get their authority...on and on. She is looking for this church because it is The Church of Jesus Christ, it´s what is taught in the bible. Anyways she reluctanly agreed to meet with us again after fighting with all the craziness around us!

I love this work and I love lerning more and more of the things i need to work on! Matthew 17:20, i love love this scripture. When i got baptized i recieved a necklace with a mustard seed. I know that by small things, a little bit of faith, we can move mountains. Trust in the Lord, I know life is hard and we have so much to do, but if we put him first, do things for others, he will give you the time to get things done and the strength to get through it. I love you all and pray for you. I'm trying to workwith all my might and love to see the spirit touch the hearts of others! Keep the faith ALWAYS!

Love,

Hermana Gibbons