Friends Don't Let Friends Say "Si Dios Quiere"

"Si Dios quiere" means "if God wants". Kinda like saying "God willing". It's a pretty common saying here that I don't like very much because it makes God sound like a puppet master or a Greek pagan god who sits on a cloud and arbitrarily decides how your day is going to go. People use it to soft-commit to things, like planning to meet with their friends in the park if the weather is kinda bad or they don't know their work schedule yet. And for us it's a pretty common, if frustrating and theologically problematic, response to church invites.


This week we ran into Angela and Cecilia (two of our awesome Dominican friends) hanging out on a bench with Magally, a member from Venezuela. They're amazing friends of ours, and Dominicans have the amazing life outlook that anything can be funny so we're always laughing and joking around together. Before we left we asked if we'd see them at church. They've both come several times and loved it. Cecilia was in, but Angela had to visit her grandkids.


"No worries, have a great time! They're lucky to have you as their grandma! Will we see you there next week?"
"Si Dios quiere"


"We know there's a God and he loves us, and that He wants us to bless us and that's why He asks things of us! And I know He wants you to go to church. The question is, do you want to?"


I said this really dramatically and we didn't stop laughing for a while. Angela will be at church next week if nothing comes up! When you care about someone and they know it you can be straight-up about inviting them to receive the blessings of the gospel!


I also had an exchange with Elder Tufuga, a member of a nearby trio, this week, and we taught our Dominican squad about the Word of Wisdom! Elder Tufuga hasn't been out long but he's great at bearing his testimony in Spanish, and people can feel his sincerity.


That day we also met with Jordan again, and got to talk some more about the Book of Mormon, the story it tells, and the things it teaches. We read Alma 7:11-13 and talked about how Christ has carried the weight of our problems, and that He has experienced them. He knows what it's like to have a rough day, to feel alone or lost or scared, to lose someone you care about, or to have no idea how to keep going. The Spirit was undeniable, and we got to talk about how we can invite that Spirit more into our lives, and how it's the Spirit that bears testimony of Jesus Christ and His mission as our Savior.


Slice of life stuff


Neither Jordan nor the Dominican ladies had ever heard of Samoa, where Elder Tufuga's ancestry goes back to, and were even more confused to learn that he grew up in the US. They're just used to super gringo missionaries like me I guess. 


The rain keeps coming back a few nights a week and the air is getting cold. I think it's about to be something besides summer. My childhood in Arizona didn't prep me for this. Living in Provo for a bit helped. 


We've got a chain of three exchanges next week in one of Madrid's beating hearts, stay tuned because next week.is about to be wack


Hasta entonces, 
Elder Curtis 


Pics
This is what the wilderness on the outskirts of Madrid looks like
Our new English class ad
Really classic Spanish street
Elevator selfie
Jordan, Elder Tufuga, and I




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