Monday (12/30)- Went slacklining again, and this time I almost made it across the whole line. It's crazy how hard it actually is just to walk on that thing. We spent the evening contacting some investigators and potentials, but had little success in teaching.
Tuesday- We went out with the assistant ward mission leader, Bro Kongaika. He's pretty awesome. I think I've said that before. We found a couple less actives, with varying degrees of success. We did find an awesome service project to do though. And given my history in removing tree stumps, this one is removing some tree stumps for a less active member. It should be a great opportunity to soften some hearts in that home. We also got a call from the amazing Sis. Duenas. She is also awesome. She's been inactive for five years, but totally wants back in with the church. She called us up and asked us to come visit real quick before they went to her boyfriend's (an investigator) family for new years eve. His family is fairly anti, so they wanted us to go help prepare both of them to deal with any potential confrontations about his investigating. It was a really great visit.
Wednesday- New years day! Happy new years! although it is super boring in the states. Oh well. Sleeping was actually pretty good. We explored a SUPER rich part of the area in the afternoon. Like, wow. I think I've almost been on every single road in the area now though, so that's exciting. I probably know how to get places better than a lot of the ward members. We spent our afternoon saving the sisters and fixing their bike problems. We do that sometimes. The sisters are great, but their bikes are silly. Wednesday night we finally found the Bates again! They went out of town for the weekend, but don't hate us and are still open to learning. With the holidays over, things should get settled for a lot of our investigators and we'll be able to teach them more regularly.
Thursday- On Thursday we had district meeting for the first time all transfer. We got some good advice in getting people to commit to solid lesson times. It consisted of telling them our purpose, and that if they won't commit, we will have to focus our efforts on people who will. We'll see how that goes. I had a cool, guided by the spirit experience thursday night. After trying to contact a referral and failing for like, the 10th time, we were headed to our backup plan. So we took off, me leading since elder justensen is still new to the area, and got to the place. I was kind of cruise control (or spirit control if you will) on the way there. Well, come to find I had actually brought us to a different house than the one we had planned on. This was supposed to be where one of the elder's quorum focus people was but we had never had the door answered. Well tonight he was there! We had a great talk with him, he still has a testimony, and is actually working on changing his career so he can come to church on Sunday rather than having to work. He also told us it was kind of a miracle we found him there at that time too, since he is almost never home at that time of day. I know we were led to his home rather than the one we planned by the Spirit, and that it really was a small miracle.
Friday- We had interviews with President Becerra in which we discussed how to lay down my personal weapon of rebellion which is keeping me from becoming a fully-converted, preach my gospel missionary. It was a really good talk. Spent the rest of the afternoon doing weekly planning, which went well. That evening not a lot of people were answering their doors or phones. Oh well.
Saturday- We moved back to the Helbergs in the morning. The Snyders have a beautiful house, but the Helberg's house has really become my home out here in the field. I really missed hearing her say, "My boys are back!" every night. Sis Helberg is awesome. In the afternoon we taught the Duenas family and Efrain again. We discussed a lot about the Book of Mormon and they made us a delicious dinner. Carne Asada and some weird but delicious Salvadorian banana thing. Twas good. Then Efrain gave us a ride to our next appointment, which was a pass off lesson with the sisters. They gave us one of their investigators because it's just easier for us to teach him given that we are Elders and not sisters. Elders rule! Anyways, it was with a guy that has been learning on and off for a while. Two of his daughters have actually been baptized. So we'll see if we can't help seal the deal for him. He says he knows what he needs to do, but just needs to do it. That evening we taught our third lesson for the day, Alejandro. He was a member referral from his aunt who is our relief society president. He's just a junior in high school, but has some really deep questions about life, the universe, and everything. Luckily, we've got answers about life, the universe, and everything.
Sunday- Efrain and Sis. Duenas gave us a scare and didn't show up until halfway through the opening song of sacrament. But, they came! twice in a row! First time ever! Woo! Bro. Kongaika went out with us in the afternoon. We finally found Andre again! Turned out he did have a good reason for missing church a few weeks ago, and still wants to go. We are giving him a church tour on Wednesday this week. Praying that it actually happens! After a delicious baked potatoe dinner, we tried to find some referrals. Got one of them, but he wasn't actually interested. So, that's a bummer. But that's why we keep an area book. Future elders will know where he's at.
That was my new years week, hope you're all doing great! I love you all, and can't wait to hear from you guys. Also, Dad will be glad to know that Elder Justensen can't get Princess Games out of his head.
