Dear Friends and Family,
Today was a much needed pday. We played basketball, and later a little bit of RISK. Then we went to the local supermarket for lunch, and I got a ¨Tres Leches¨ which always cheers me up. Don´t worry I had rice, beans, and fried chicken too. My companion told me jokingly in our inventory this week that I need to eat more food. What can I say? I like to eat, and there are no rules against it. I made Mac n Cheese last night with a little bit of queso dip, you know for like dipping chips, and it was delicious.
Still haven´t seen German. I guess that is a good thing. When we found him last time it was cuz he had nothing better to do than sit on his porch and drink and smoke. So it´s kind of a blessing that he is always busy i guess.
I studied a lot about how the Book of Mormon and Bible support one another. I made a little cheat sheet with the help of last month´s liahona. It contains major points of doctrine and references from the Book of Mormon and Bible. Out of the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses shall the word be established right? Mormon himself says in chapter 7 verse 9 that the Book of Mormon was written to convince people of the Bible, and that those who believe the Bible will believe the Book of Mormon as well. 2nd Nephi chapter 29 is a lot of fun for anyone who says that ¨we already have a bible, and we need no more bible¨ The Lord basically says that the testimony of the book of mormon is meant to run together and join the testimony of the bible. He also says that since he is the Lord, he can talk to whoever he wants to, whether they be in asia, the americas, or the isles of the sea. The Lord remembers all of his children, and we should not complain when we recieve more of his word.
I´ve struggled a bit this week. I´m wondering what is the point of all this studying of the scriptures and testifying of the truth when the majority of the people I talk to don´t want to change and will interepret the scriptures according to whatever is convenient for them. I know I´m supposed to be out here, and the Lord needs me specifically in this place specifically. I just feel some days like i´m talking to deaf people. This lady told us how much she prays for guidance and help, believes we should have prophets, and a bunch of other stuff. My companion and I preached to her until we were blue in the face. I straight up told her that God hears her prayers and has sent us to her to help her grow and bring her family back to church, but it didn´t even phase her. She just wants to be right. Even when we explain everything clearly, even when we ask her a question she doesn´t know how to answer and she just changes the subject. It seems like everyone here is just comfortable with what they already believe because it´s safe and doesn´t require them to be accountable or grow. I don´t know... I guess it´s just one of those days. There has to be opposition in all things, yeah? I can´t appreciate my baptisms unless i get a few nutty people. I just wish that I could see that I´m actually helping someone, that someone is truly searching and willing. I know i´m serving the Lord, and I know I´ve served my companion a lot. I guess for now that is enough.
On a brighter note, I had a pretty awesome personal experience this week. My companion told me a really amazing personal story. It got me thinking, and I´ve never had anything quite to that extreme. It seems a little unfair, like in the scriptures when Laman and Lemuel see an angel and they are complete jerks. Why have I not had any powerful visions, dreams, angels or such things. Am I doing something wrong? Am I unworthy? But then, almost instantly, ¨Blessed are those who have not seen and still believe¨. I think this was said concerning thomas, I need to research it. Later I watched ¨The Testaments¨ this week with my companion, Eddileka, and her boyfriend Javier who is a member. It was pretty good, but in the moment after the movie, I just had this powerful feeling concerning the divinity and truth of the Savior´s existence. I´m running out of time, but its sufficient to say that I have a rock solid testimony that he lives, and nobody can take that from me.
Elder Nichols
