SLC WEEK 34

Hola todos!

Rollercoaster.. Lots of milagros and also a downhill week. One of the worst best weeks of my mission so far. And if u don't like to read, just read the first sentence of each thingy and it'll sum it up quick. 

Alexandra, and her 2 sons, David and Sebastián are on date for May 8th!! They are some of the most elect people I have met. We met them about 2 weeks ago and invited them to English class and then from there to church. They came and we had a big struggle trying to meet with them because they were sick or we couldn't find another male to come w us. So finally we got to meet them and they accepted the baptismal invitation our first visit! 

On top of that ANOTHER milagro with Junior! We met with Jose and Junior and had a super spirit led lesson with them. We asked them why they go to church and when they meet with us and they said they felt peace and tranquilo. We helped them recognize that's the spirit testifying to them that this is the church they need to be part of. We extended the baptismal invitation to Junior and now he too is preparing himself for may 20th with Jose. They are super awesome people and I don't think I've ever had more anticipation for my birthday haha. It's a cool blessing the Lord has set that up for not only me but for especially Jose and Junior because it is Jose's wife's bday as well

We went to do endowments at the temple!! That was an awesome reset. I always the spirit I feel at the temple and I'm so glad we get to go once every 3 months as a mission. It's a huge blessing. If you haven't been in a while I encourage you to go

Anyways so all that was awesome now for the drop. I wrote all those miracles earlier in the week. Up until Friday the week was amazing. But things just didn't aline as part of God's will. 

Didn't find anyone new this week and couldn't meet with a lot of the people we are teaching. Most people that we have been teaching just kinda stopped talking with us and are never home. That was kinda rough and hopefully we can get in contact with a lot of them as well as find some new people.

We heard Fausto has cold feet and doesn't want to be baptized anymore. He has been taught for almost 3 or 4 years and was very close to making the decision once and for all, but he chose not. We are still working with him, but it seems he has made a choice. Thank you all for the prayers, but at the end of the day free agency is our most precious but frustrating gift from God. Sometimes God gives some people every chance and helps them be ready and prepared, but they just decide nope :/

In short Alexandra is moving back to Venezuela this next week. She is a single mom with 3 young kids and no support here in Utah. Basically it is best that she moves back and tries again in a few years to come back to the US. We literally spent most of Friday trying to help resolve some serious problems for her and the family to be able to just live here. They are awesome and like I said they were on date for next Sunday. Things just didn't work out for her to stay here. 

That was hard for me because I've never had an experience like that where things were 100% outside of my control and where they were so close to baptism. I'm happy for them tho and it's sad that they had to move away. Oof

It's hard to just have to accept God's will and keep pressing on. But I found this scripture that helped me out.

Alma 26:37 "Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."

God watches over everyone and he cares for us. He shows us His Mercy everyday. We need to be thankful for what God does give us and allow for us. He loves us and I have felt that more than ever here on the mission. Best decision I have made so far.

I love the Lord. God is good. He loves us and This is His church. I can't deny my testimony.

Anyway hope you all have an amazing week! 

Con amor,

Elder Randall

Sorry for the chunkiness haha yall can read the first sentence like I said and that'll give u a nice summary..

-Yo y Elder Santos

-Santos at bday party for a 2 yr old in the ward (he ate super spicy salsa there and was dying the rest of the day.  pretty funny)

-TEMPLE

-The zone (we had to sing )

-Elder Safsten (everyone always confuses us especially Latinos)

-Tank from military base that we sang at w the zone

-The other side of the mountain  (we never get to see that side)

-The sky was blue