Hey, Everyone! I hope everyone is doing pretty well! We've been working pretty hard down here in Greenfield! Still working with our progressive friends and the recent converts! Some of our recent converts are struggling a bit (Susana, Freddy, Fransico, Simon, etc.), but it's ok, we're gonna help them out regardless! I've learned missionary work is more than just trying to teach and baptize as many people as possible! It's equally as important, if not, more important to listen and be there for people as a friend! There are so many people out there who just need someone to be there for someone! I wish our mission people could understand that more! Many just care about baptisms and numbers! They aren't really worried if they go inactive or not! As long as they're baptized that's all that matters; I hate that mentality! These people are real human beings! If they truly understand the importance of making a covenant with God, they'll be asking us to be baptized, not the other way around! I'll continue to work with inactive members and members the rest of my mission! The number one job as a missionary is to support and strengthen the ward; not baptize loads of people! I'll always focus on strengthening and supporting the ward/branch I'm in!
Clemente and Irma are so solid! They'll be baptized this upcoming Saturday! They've been coming to church for three months straight and have received all the lessons! They're more than ready to be baptized and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost!
I got to do exchanges with Elder Morris this week! He's an absolute dawg! We think and act the same way; same with Elder Isaacson as well! I seriously pray I'm able to go up to Gilroy with him next transfer! I seriously need him! I loved Greenfield and Elder Paxman but I'm seriously ready for a change! Some random things that have happened this week include talking about if Latinos or whites are better 🤣, a dude in a diaper opened the door and talked to us, had to help Hermano Villa put on his pants (I saw a lot more than I should have), we had a fiesta at the chapel to celebrate Mexican Independence day, Zone Conference, working with the same members and our progressing friends (I'll include names of them if they continue to progress; there are a lot of them) had a really good conversation with Roy [one of the nicest and most genuine men I've met] and more! Brian and Cesare are crazy as usual but I love them!
The past couple of P-Days have been good as well! We got to go to the temple and do the new endowment ceremony! It's a lot better now in my opinion (it was still good to begin with)! We also got to eat Texas Roadhouse with Elder Isaacson and Elder Daniel! The P-day after, we got to hang out with the Zone and played pickleball and soccer! I also got to do exchanges with Elder Empey (my past comp. from Watsonville), he's the best! He is probably one of the smartest men I've ever met!
All in all, I'm doing alright! I also hit a year on my mission which is pretty crazy! It's felt so slow yet so fast! I'm just taking things day by day and that's all I can do! I'd be lying if I said this has been the best year of my life because it most definitely HAS NOT!!!! It's definitely been the best year for my life though! I could go on and complain a lot but I'm not gonna to because I don't want it to sound like I'm being a baby. I've been so blessed with the gospel, my family, my friends, and all the things in my life! The least I can do is try and go out and help other people feel better! I definitely do miss the little things (and the big things) in my life but it's alright, I know I'll see them again and have them again one day! Hopefully I can continue being the best missionary I can!
