QUESTIONS:
1. Did you get transferred? All the typical questions! Where are you? Who is your companion? Where is he from? How many are in his family?
Nope! Still here! Looks like I´ll be in another area for 6 months.. Santa Rita and here! Elder Gull and I are still together :D
2. If you were transferred how is this area?
3. Is there a Ward or a Branch?
It´s still a branch hanging on by the skin of its teeth.. I don´t think I´ve ever been so streesed in my life! Am I allowed to vent a little? Welp, I´m going to..
This is by far the most challenging area I´ve had so far. I don´t even know where to start. I try to keep positive and keep pushing but sometimes I feel like I can´t do anything. All the ex-branch and district presidents are inactive and their families are completely destroyed.. families that were sealed in the Temple. The members never show up on time to church, no matter how often we pass by their houses to kindly invite them to show up on time for the classes. We have a district president with no councelors or secretary or anything.. Just a one man show, and he still doesn´t do anything to help out. No visits to the members, no interviews to help people to progress, no training for the branch presidents.. Nothing. So everything falls on the missionaries to run the show. Do I add to this mess by baptizing more people, or do I keep helping the members out and get them solid? The zone leaders are hounding us for 4 people we can baptize this month, sí o sí.. Because sí o sí vamos a bautizar y ver milagros´íte chera´a. I have a strong hunch that we should "take the house off the sand and build it on a rock!" But of course we can´t do anything like that because Preach My Gospel says.. Teach and baptize teach and baptize.. Sometimes I feel like my companion and I (and Roberto) are the only ones that care about giving a firm foundation to the Church. "But nothing gives more excitement more than baptisms!" Then the excitement wears away in 2 weeks and its back to the same old mess, only worse. Because more people are fallen.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT CAN RELATE?
4. What was your most memorable experience this past week?
When the members tell us, "Gracias por todo." Because then I feel like my efforts aren´t a complete waste. It makes all the stress worth it, just knowing we´ve helped someone in this city. But of course, we can´t count that in our numbers... Because that´s really what matters. Right? No. Forget the numbers. I´m here to help, not be fake.
Sorry for the rant, but I feel like nobody here gets it, and I´m sure someone is bound to be offended by something that I´ve said. But it´s the reality, what do you want me to do about it? How would you handle this situation? I´m not normally a complainer, if you don´t believe me, read all my other emails..
I know the Lord is putting me through all this for something. I know that after all the time and pressure, He´s expecting me to come out like a diamond. Not saying I´m perfect or anythings, but that He´s shaping me into something more than I can see. I´m so grateful I came here on a mission, I have zero regrets. The things I´ve learned here have given me confidence to take on my life. I have learned and grown in so many ways I couldn´t have ever imagined. I know the Book of Mormon is true, it´s changed my life. I know Christ is my Savior and Redeemer and I´ve felt His love. I know our Heavenly Father lives and is very aware of all of us and our needs. I´m glad I have an awesome companion.
I got into BYUI?! Sweet! Did Elder Salinas? If so, for what track? Thanks for helping me out with all that! I´m excited to keep on learning!
Haley´s Halloween pics were awesome! In case anyone is wondering, I was Indiana Jones.. Yes, I use a satchel! And no it is not a purse.
Thanks for all your love and support and prayers. They help more than you know!
I love you all!! Have a great week!
Elder Colby Dane Heiner
I´ve got the pics in another folder comin in hot!
Oh yeah, sorry the email is so late! We just got back from Asuncion.. We had to sign our documents!
