Tristeza Y Gozo

Se que algunos de vosotros hablan español y van a pensar que esta línea de asunto es broma también. No es. Muchos sentimientos esta semana.


Now that you've closed Google Translate, let's talk about this week.


Biggest highlight is that Nemesio got baptized! This is the guy who attended church religiously (rim shot) for a few weeks but wasn't willing to meet with us until the right member (Mauricio) reached out to him. Goes to show how members are the absolute key to missionary work. He got baptized on Friday, and aside from being an awesome moment for Nemesio, it was a great opportunity for lots of people we're teaching to see a baptism! 


We did an exchange on Tuesday so our District Leader Elder Baird could interview Nemesio. That while day was great, plus it rained the whole time. Spanish speakers have a really hard time with Elder Baird's name, so he introduces himself as Elder Oso, which is Spanish for "bear". It's hilarious. 


Thiago's on date for baptism! He's learned and grown so quickly and is just filled with the desire to be a part of the church. He loves the members and coming to church, and when we taught him about temples and the priesthood his reaction was just that it sounded perfect. He also started asking when some of our other guys' baptismal dates were. When he found out we were still trying to encourage them, all he said was "déjame" (let me). This guy is a legend.


This makes the next piece of news pretty sad. We got transfer calls on Saturday. I'm staying here in Talavera, but Elder Sharp is getting kicked up to Gijon on the far north coast. Looks like Jesús learning to yell "Curtis stay" in English actually worked.


So of course, he spent a lot of time saying goodbyes and leveraging the fact that he's leaving. The Rios family want to get baptized, but the mom, Milena, is hesitant to set a date. That hasn't stopped her son Juan Diego (we call him Johnny D) from pushing her to just commit. For example: (translated of course)


"Mom, my baptism is in your hands"


"Elder Curtis, pick a number 1-31"
"14"
"Now 9-12"
"10"
"Okay. Mom, can we get baptized on October 14th?"


"Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that the missionaries could come over, and please bless my MOM to choose a date so we can get BAPTIZED...


...


...QUICKLY!"


They're still figuring it out, but I'm confident it will happen in the coming transfer.


I could go on, but these are the most important ones. Talavera is ELECT. I'm glad I get to stay and keep working with these people. They're my family, and Talavera is my home.


It's not going to be easy though. I've been focusing a lot this transfer on hearing the voice of the Spirit. It's hard because it's not always objective. I don't hear words in my ear telling me how to get things done the right way, but I feel peace and calm when I share the thinks I know and believe. It's important to take time to clear a space in your mind to hear the still, small voice of the Spirit that is so easily ignored or nudged out. But when we are in touch with it, we are guided to do and know and feel things we could never alone.


Until next time, 
Elder Curtis


Pictures won't all attach so I'll send them soon.








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