This week was quite eventful compared to others.
Starting with Tuesday, The Hermanas were in Asuncion for Capitations, so Elder Pastul took the opportunity to Drop the Cane. We received some new rules from President Callan and Reinforced a lot more, so that`s what we talked about in District meeting. I got some dear Elders ¡Yay! So besides the letters when we finally got back to Villarrica we taught a lesson with Pdte Arriola and his wife for the first time. We taught the Flia Villalba. It went well. Turns out that Pdte Arriola knows everybody that we visit, so we are just going to ask him for references from now on. Later we passed by the church and talked to the Guys that always go there to play soccer. Lots of them are actually interested.
Wednesday we taught an old guy named Wenseslau Chamorro. He listened, but nothing registered. Here in Paraguay I always feel like Ezekiel 33:32. Look it up and know what the day and the life of a missionary is. Tell me if you don`t get it. We were passing by a cyber and we saw Hna Ramona there. Turns out that her son owns the place, so we went in and taught him. He is a really guy. Too Catholic for my taste, but maybe one day from the help of his mom he will read and pray about the Book of Mormon. We talked a lot with him and he said he would read.
While walking around we found a guy we talked to once, so we decided to stop by. His daughter invited us in. Cezar, the dad, had to go to work, so he told us another time we could pass buy. When we went outside the daughter started talking to us and I noticed a Poster. I looked at it and it showed partially naked women posing. I rapidly turned the poster over and the Daughter, Janee, noticed. She asked "Oh, you don`t want to come to my party". Of course we said no, but we found out this 17yr old girl is the very person who organizes the Sodom and Gomorrah parties that happen in Villarrica. She buys the beer and hires Underwear models to come to dance, so that more guys will pay to come. I was shocked. We asked her why she does it, and she says she likes being sexy and wearing immodest clothes that show off her body.
I felt the impression to show her my pictures you guys sent me. I also blatantly told her that what she can`t live with God if she continues in her ways. Looking at my pictures almost made her cry. I asked her if she wants this kind of happiness. She responded "I wish my family was like that". I told her we can help her, but she needs to stop doing the thing she is doing. Since we can`t talk to her alone we invited her to a Noche de Rama. She was busy but will come next week and we will probably teach her family in the future. We have seen her doing some pretty crazy things in the streets since then, but I don`t believe she is happy.
Later that night we went to visit Sergio Sosa but he wasn`t there. Turns out that somebody that works on the inside and a bunch of other people tried to rob the military base just outside of Villarrica. Now Sergio works, eats, and sleeps guarding the base until further notice... Dang. So we went to visit Miriam and ended up teaching her and her brother, Which is funny because she said that he wouldn`t like it, but he was intrigued at the very least.
Thursday we were walking by the University called UPAP when randomly some guy comes out and says "Hey I want to talk to you guys, Can you come by at 2?" Turns out that he is the Director of the University and wants us to teach English and Religion in his University (Pay us to teach). That was a no go, but we told him that we could teach English Class in the church, so now he has a bulletin posted and about 30 people signed up. We also talked a little and he says that he hates how ignorant his country and people are, and insulted further the Paraguayans. Everybody that leaved Paraguay has the same opinion, especially if they went to the US. He asked us for a Book of Mormon too. Cool guy. At lunch I ate 3 plates of Ravioli, a slice of cake, and 1/8 of a watermelon, plus other stuff. I felt like I was going to explode! My stomach wanted to kill me.
Friday we had division with the Zone leaders. ¿Why? Cuz my comp needs special attention. I stayed with Elder Alexander (For the 3rd time) and we found a Future RM investigator. His name is Fabian Gimenez and he is Gold. He reads for Comprehension and he said "Can I go on a mission?" we said "If you get baptized and prepare" then he said "When can I get baptized?" Now he has a baptismal date for the 3 of December, Dad`s B'day. I hope he keeps it because he is Gold. Basically the rest of the day was filled with contacts because all our plans fell. Pdte Lugo, President of Paraguay, came to Villarrica. We didn`t know this until we walked down the street where all his security personnel were. There were probably 40 armed military guys. We contacted a group of them. I was suprised they didn`t ask for our papers. Besides the Guards and some reporters, we were the only ones in the street. I don`t know why Lugo was there, but it was interesting.
We planned a Cita with Sonia to teach her, but she decided to go pray to the Virgin in the Catholic church instead. She isn`t well in the head anyways, so we decided to drop her. We also talked with Flia.Villalba I think they talked to their preacher or something because they are also scared of talking to us. The wife still wants to listen, but she says she has doubts and her husband doesn`t want to change his religion. After all this crap I needed a boost so after buying an Ice Cream and some Watermelon we turned in for the night.
Saturday I reunited with my companion. I realize now how bad of a robot he is when he teaches and does contacts. He is so monotone! It was rainy so we lost all our appointments. We went to the house of one of the Investigators that plays Soccer at the church all the time. He invited us in, but it turns out that his older sister is getting married at 8pm and everybody was busy. So instead of teaching we helped them out. Service is Key, just like Ammon did, so I don`t mind. Their family is awesome I hope they get baptized. They seem interested. Nothing else happened that day.
Sunday was fast and testimony meeting. I totally forgot, but I paid my fast offering anyways. I bore my testimony. Everybody else has been testifying about tithing and I felt impressed to share my testimony on tithing as well. What happened shocked me to the extreme. While I was sharing my experience of paying tithing and not having enough to completely pay for my mission, I started talking about the members of the ward donating money for my mission. At this point I started crying uncontrollably, but not in the normal way. I wasn`t sniffing and my eyes weren`t swelled up and my voice didn`t change too much, but I suddenly felt an immense amount of gratitude and the tears came out of my eyes like a water fountain. I felt the spirit super strongly and intense heat and tingling and other things I can`t describe.
I wasn`t expecting that. I think that was the first time I`ve cried since Jack Frost. You will have to thank all the members for me. If it made me cry during my testimony I owe each of them a hug. I wish I could feel what I felt right then always. I guess I`ll have to wait until I reach the Celestial Kingdom though. Huh... Outer darkness last week, Celestial Kingdom this week. I`ve experienced the two opposites. I was surprised that I didn`t feel the spirit nearly as strong in my life. Not even in the Temple, but in a simple and sincere testimony of Tithing.
Right now I`m out of time, but I hope you got at least a fraction of my week. Marisa said that I needed to tell at least one good story every letter. I think this one covers at least 3 weeks of good stories, but I`ll keep trying to tell more.
Love,
Elder Zachary James Singson
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