Hello all Como estan las cosas?
All is going well here, down in Paraguay. Just a quick recap of what has happened this week. We have really been progressing with a few select investigators. One named Pablo and his girlfriend and 4 week old baby Jennifer. They have been great. They have a date to be baptized on the 9th of October. Pablo has a really strong testimony and has a great understanding of everything that is in connection to the church. The only thing that’s holding them back from being baptized is getting married and Maria doesn't want to get married without a ring so that has been a bit of a dilemma but we are hoping to resolve it. We practically see them everyday and they really like having us around. They consider us as brothers not just through the Gospel.
We went to a birthday party for a special senora named Melina. She is handicapped but she has a strong understanding of the Gospel. Elder Hewitt told me that when they introduced her to the Book of Mormon she went around to all the houses around her area telling people in her special language that the book was from God. The Party, at first, was super awkward, but I just let my little kid break out and starting playing cars with all the little kids there, and it turned out to be a pretty good time. I'm pretty sure all the older people probably didn't want to talk to us after because they saw a full grown boy playing as if he was 4 but hey I had fun. :D
We have been in contact with a lot of older people lately and it’s really hard to speak with them because their Spanish is so limited. All they really know is Guarani. So I decided I would throw out some Guarani sentences for you today.
What’s your name is----- mbae cha da rera'
What’s up is------ how'pa
I don't know is------ ndye quay
Ja'ha---- lets go
Nandejara ha'e ore ra'a ---- God is our friend
Ya this stuff pretty much blows my mind. But sometimes during sacrament meeting someone will offer the prayer in Guarani. That’s pretty cool. Even though I can't really understand what they are saying it’s all good. The spirit is all the same no matter in what spirit or language it is given.
So this last week we got to give some service to one of the members. So we showed up bright and early at her house. What we were going to be doing was to be cutting a trail through the jungle; down the mountain to the river. ohhhhhh yaaaaaa can you say jungle missionary!!! It was pretty legit. I’m not going to lie. Whacking at all that stuff with a machete. But I’m not going to lie again. The next day I felt like I wanted to die cuz I was so sore. But its ok I had a blast doing service. What more could you ask for.
So this week I was just flipping through my scriptures and I came across a small card with a painting of a lighthouse that was done by Grandma Ella with a quote across the bottom. Yes! Grandma J this is the very one. I still got it :D The quote goes something like this to go along with the painting of the lighthouse.
"Look to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost, but what its beacon light can rescue. It calls, "This way to safety; this way to home."
What a great inspirational quote given by Thomas S Monson. When I began to think of this quote I would recall the times I have spent watching a great LDS movie called The Testaments: One Fold and One Shepherd. I reflect on the part in that movie when Christ comes and then Jacob is describing to his father Jesus; because his father can't see. In the midst of his sorrow, you see a hand reach out covered by a white robe hearing the Lord's voice saying his name. Every time at this point in the movie I can't help but shed a tear. For me, that is the Lord in His fullness. He may not be there for me at that very moment to heal me of my blindness but I know His hand covered in a white cloak is forever reaching for me. Calling me out by name. As I have been working as hard as I have down here in South America, I have made mistakes. I haven't maybe followed all the rules or I have been thinking about college and how I can't wait to get back, instead of focusing on my investigators. At the end of everyday I have the blessed opportunity to get down on my knees and ask God to forgive me of what I have done wrong that day. I don't want to say it’s my favorite part of the day; because that means that I have been sinning all day, but the feeling that I get when I cry to the Lord to feel His love is indescribable. I have the chance to feel His ever reaching arms encircle around me.
I hope you all are searching for this same love. Because I know that He is ready to give it. All of it!!!!
I love you all and hope you have the very best in your life.
-Elder Beatty
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