Week 93: ESOOOOOOOOOO

Happy halloween everyone!

Week 93....wow...

Apparently Halloween is something that has only existed for the last
10 years here in Spain, and all of the old people refuse to
participate! They all blame America for starting this holiday, and so
everyone has been asking me if we really celebrate it and what it's
like, they act like its our version of Christmas! Haha but really the
special day is tomorrow, the day of the saints, where everyone
remembers those who have passed away in their families and goes to
visit them. It will be a great day to be a missionary as we will be
able to share the great hope that we feel through Gods plan!

The work is going really great here! We found a Colombian a week ago
and he is progressing a ton. Every time we say something that he likes
he gets all excited and yells, ESOOOOOOOOO, which is basically like
YESSSSS THATS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT...if I had to try and translate
it. His excitement really has transmitted to us as we have realized
how awesome what we get to share every day really is! I don't know if
I already talked about him in my last letter....but if I did this
should just reiterate how awesome he is! He's preparing for baptism
and every time we ask him about the day he says...you guessed
it....ESOOOOOOOOO!! He came to church and when they announced that he
was visiting for the first time he stood up, raised his hand and
said....right again!...ESOOOOOOOOOO!! He is the best.

All of our other investigators are also progressing a ton. I've never
in my mission had so many people who were desirous to hear the gospel
and who really want to progress and be baptized! What a blessing!

I had a pretty eye opening experience as well. I always thought that
at some point in my mission, talking to random people or following
spiritual impressions without question would just become instincts,
but I'm finding out that we must make the daily decision to talk with
everyone or to follow those impressions without hesitation! We were
sitting in the bus station, it was our study time so while we waited
we were reading the scriptures, and a lady passed us. We said hi, and
she looked over and smiled and said hi as well....I thought to myself
wow what a nice lady, I should talk to her, but I kept reading. Then
she passed again, and this time just stared at us smiling as she
passed.....again the impression, you should talk to her...but then I
looked and she was kind of far away and the bus was going to come any
minute....basically a multitude of flimsy excuses. Well, 5 minutes
later she appeared again and this time turned to me and said, "I'm
sorry, but as I walked by I felt that I should talk to you guys, but
didn't. Then as I was walking away, I felt that I had to turn around
and say something. I came from Hungary 13 years ago, I was going to
your church there and absolutely loved it, but when I came here I
couldn't find it. I have been looking for 13 years for the church, and
when I saw you guys and the Book of Mormon I knew I had to talk to
you. Where is the church, can we meet some day, and can I buy a copy
of the Book of Mormon?..." 😳😳😳😳😳 we told her that she could have
a Book of Mormon free of charge, and I don't think I've ever seen
someone so close to hugging us! As we got on the bus, we looked out
and she was smiling ear to ear and reading the Book of Mormon! I felt
so happy, but at the same time so ashamed! How embarrassing that the
spirit had to go to her and convince her to turn around and come
contact us because he had already tried with me and I was too
comfortable to crank up the engine and talk to her. I'm so thankful
for a merciful God who is willing to work with imperfect tools, and
that he didn't let my complacency impede one of his daughters from the
blessings of the gospel.

I guess the morale is I don't think that doing the right thing will
ever just become the instinct, at least for certain things. We will
always have to be anxiously engaged in making the right choices and in
following the impressions that come to us.

I hope that you all have a great week! Thank you for love and support!
BE AWESOME! ESSSOOOOOOOOOO.

LOVE,

Elder Jenkins