Hi again! Another week down! I hope everyone has been doing well. This week was a hard, but spiritually strengthening and fulfilling week. I've experienced a lot already! I'm definitely still homesick, but it's ok. I'm sure the majority of missionaries feel like this starting out. It's crazy to think I'm already halfway through my first transfer. My Spanish is coming along a little better. I've been forcing myself to teach and talk more in Spanish. It's been difficult, but it's already helping. I still have a long way to go! Me and my companions are doing pretty good. I'd be lying though if there weren't things here or there that bother me. It's ok though, I've definitely had to humble myself. As the Jr companion, you're kinda forced to be bossed around.
WEDNESDAY (11/15/23): Today was my second preparation day out in the field. We got a bunk bed and shelves for our clothes. I was able to move my clothes out of my suitcase. It was super nice to be able to clear up some space in our apartment. After we went shopping, we went to our multi-stake center to play Ultimate Frisbee and Basketball. It was pouring rain the whole day, so we had to spend most the time indoors. After our p-day ended, we tried calling Esmeralda. Her phone was on silent, so we missed her, sadly. She's doing really well though and is attending church frequently. To end the night, we had English class. Our friend, Julian, was there. One of our friends we taught, called me a "default" when I told him I was from Utah, which was pretty funny.
THURSDAY (11/16/23): We met up with Gerado to start our day. Gerado is a recent convert who is struggling. He had currently relapsed on meth and was going through withdrawals. He was extremely sick, jittery, and unstable when we saw him. He felt extremely guilty about his actions, so we taught about repentance and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. In addition to this, we gave him a Priesthood blessing which helped him calm down. After, Elder Hammet had to do a baptismal interview for Angel. Angel is one of our friends the sisters have been teaching: He passed! We said hi to Hermana Burgess and then went to a baptism for one of our friends that Elder Thompson and Elder Bailey de Jesus had previously taught him. It was my first baptismal experience in the mission field!
FRIDAY (11/17/23): Today was a very busy day. We met a man named Monet Diego to start the day. Before we met him, he told us that he had a feeling that he needed to go outside of his house. He also told us that when he saw us, he hoped that we'd come up to him. He shared with us his prison and rehab experiences and the difficult things he went through as a child. We shared with him Alma 36, which is the story about Alma the Younger. After meeting Monet, we met a Catholic teacher named Yolanda Moran. She was very respectful and was interested in learning more about the origins of the Book of Mormon. After, we met a young girl named Freya. She wanted nothing to do with us but eventually became very interested in what we were teaching. We gave her a Book of Mormon and invited her to read 3 Nephi 11. We explained to her and clarified to her a little more about what the purpose of life was. To end the night, we went to an Addiction Recovery Program with Gerado and taught Nelson the importance of reading our scriptures daily.
SATURDAY (11/18/23): After our social media training, we tried meeting up with Monet Deigo again. Sadly, he wasn't home. So, we tried meeting up with Luz Marina and she wasn't home either. However, on the way into her apartment complex, we met a man named Meno Solarez. While praying for him, I prayed for him and his family to have good health and that they'd be able to feel the Holy Ghost more prominently in their lives. Afterwards, he explained to us how his aunt had just recently died and that his mother had cancer. We taught him about the Plan of Salvation and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. After talking with a Catholic man named Moses, we had our ward's Thanksgiving party. It was such a fun party. Other than me and my companions, everyone else there was Hispanic. I was able to share what I was grateful for in Spanish. Also, everyone there said I looked like the kid from "Meet the Robinsons," which was pretty funny.
To end the night, we had to help our friend Sébastien jump his car. For some reason, he had left the light on inside of his car the whole time during the party.
SUNDAY (11/19/23): Nelson came to church again! A lot of the friends we invited didn't end up coming though, which was pretty discouraging. Diego was busy with his mother the entire day, so he wasn't able to attend church today. A cool little miracle happened today. A lady in our ward had lost her 10th anniversary ring that was given to her from her deceased husband. We looked through the dumpster, kitchen, and the entirety of the church and had no luck. Miraculously, one of the members in our ward had found her ring in a bucket used for the party. She was so happy that she began to cry. It was honestly such a wholesome moment for all of us. After church, we met up with Alfredo and Anderson again. We read through Moroni 8 with them and why baptism is so important. We went to Angel's baptism which went really well! To end the night, we attended our church's cottage meeting with Gerado. I shared what I was grateful for in Spanish.
MONDAY (11/20/23): After our studies, Freya called us in tears. She told us she was going through a difficult breakup and that she needed our help. We shared with her about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and he understands everything she is going through and more. We were able to help her calm down. After, we taught our friend Trini about the Book of Mormon. She really enjoyed it and was interested in learning more.
TUESDAY (11/21/23): We knocked on a house with the Lord's Prayer written on the door. We were expecting a priest to come out, but to our surprise a little lady with Down Syndrome opened the door. She slammed the door on us instantly, which was pretty funny. After, we ate with an investigator. She shared with us how years ago she had met with missionaries and had attended church, but stopped when she got cancer. She loves the gospel but is afraid to be baptized since she's been Catholic her whole life. We'll work with her!
Elder Copeland
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