Ok lets just say that I never thought immensely blessed and extremely tried are so closely tied together. never.
This week has been hectic. wow so our shower broke, and now its freezing cold, and also the one good side of our little stove broke, so we don't really do the whole hot shower, three meals a day thing anymore. unless we get fed or find a nicely priced, but dangerously homemade meal on the street or in someones home restaurant.
also. SEVEN BAPTISMS.
yeah.
That is why we are so blessed. I cannot tell you guys how much charity and happiness I feel right now in my mission. It is so much that a couple times, I've had to kneel down at my bed and pray my heart out in thanks to God, halfway hoping some of the joy can leave me so I can rest a little. but no really its fantastic here.
The seven were a set of four siblings ages 8 11 18 and 21, and two other teenage boys 18 abnd 23. So awesome. the 23 old hamilton bore in his testimony that I want to tell you that I know Jesus died, .. but lives. about three months ago, he believed that there was no God.
the 18 year old is franco, who made it to his baptism and his one of the most humble, but spiritually hungry people ive ever met in my life. we are talking to him about the possibility of serving a misison in the next couple years. (also the 16 year old Teodocio from last time told us he'd like to serve in a couple years) also, the 18 year old sister to the siblings, Paula is an interesting story.
She an issue with a certain law of the gospel, and almost couldn't be baptized, but because we had zone conference, President Douglas was here for a day and interviewed her and she got baptized. She chose me to baptize her, and I felt very privileged to baptize such a powerful spirit daughter of a heavenly god. saturday morning, the devil had whispered to her that she randomly needed to leave town and not be present for her confirmation of the spirit sunday morning, so comp and I were frantically trying to convince her not to go. I bore my heart out about the atonement of Jesus Christ, and everything turned out ok. she was crying, I was crying, and the spirit touched all of our hearts and testified the truthfulness of what I said to all of us, including myself. (before she had told us when asked what it was that she wanted most in life, `mi papà se vaya´ my dad to go... the family has some problems, and that is why it was so much more amazing to see the kids baptized.)
now I want to explain what is called cultural explosion.
we were out in the middle of nowhere with the zone leaders, and I felt like we were in the desert, with these little miniscule brick and mud shacks, and we hop on a combi (privately owned bus that runs the city routes, we take them everywhere, its like 20 american cents passage) and they were playing 90s weird bizzare techno music (english), as I got on the bus and everyone gawks and gawks at me (used to it), talking english with the super tall Paraguan Elder who speaks really bad English, and we drove through the town. as I said... cultural explosion. and yet I feel so comfortable. should I be worried??
Also this week, I finally got really persecuted for the first time. I got spit on from a third story window, and I'm actually way impressed at the kids aim. and I prayed for him, because I believe it was the spirit that said to me in that instant, there is something very wrong in that child's home. I prayed really hard.
Also we got called across the street to another drunk guy, and this time I feel bad because I almost laughed when he informed us of the problem. ´me quedò la mujer que amaba´ I lost the woman I loved, as he balled and balled like a child. very sad, really, I know. I will never drink in my life. That is simple fact.
but the atonement is real. and I have never in my life both needed to trust in my savior for comfort and peace, and actually done it. and the results are literally miraculous. I cannot imagine why the lord sees in his wisdom to bless me so much, and I feel like Nephi in chapter 4 of second Nephi, awake my soul!! no longer droop in sin!! there is no stinking point!! (sorry for cussing like a misisonary, I just feel so passionate right now)
I love you all
Elder Hartvigsen
p.s. Emily Stevenson your email was actually hilarious. and thank you for the Jeff quote. hilarious as well haha i loved them.
Chase
Dude thank you so much for this letter. I love to here your testimony. when you become a missionary, youll realize how much you took your family for granted, and youll worry about them more than you can imagine. so to hear that you have a testimony of this wonderful gospel makes me more happy than you can imagine, thank you.
with spanish, do a lot of listening whenever you can, and when you listen, listen to the talking AS A WHOLE, not as individual words, and youll start to recognize entire concepts of spanish, not just theworkings of individual words.youll learn. I know you will. and simply memorize verbs. there are many haha
also, with Franco, he is doing well and got baptized this week, along with... 6 others!!! and the greatest part is that he is sort of starting to consider the possibility of a mission. how great no???!!!
love you much bro.
Ive been thinking, and i want to do a small little trip, the two of us, if you havent left yet when i get back. like drive up to that huge theme park in ohio or what4ever cant remember the name. but also, you need to do what the lord wants and turn your papers in as early as he wants. not you, not me, him. sabe? I think so. haha love you brother. well talk in a month and a half onthe phone and discuss this a little further, yeah?
Elder your big brother brady hartvigsen
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