Hello everybody, still from the Community College of Aurora. I figured I should share the events of my week (Week 24, but who's counting) instead of writing a general address again.
Well the Lakers winning was a nice way to cap off an awesome week. Big contrast from the week before. I think it's safe to say that this was the best week on my mission so far, starting with last P-Day. We had dinner with Brother and Sister Oveson and their 4-year old daughter Marisa, who is one of the smartest little girls I know. Then we all went off to Juanita B's house, the 87-year old investigator who has come to church 7 times but has never had a missionary lesson. Just to refresh some memory, she runs a non-profit called People Helping People. We've done various service for her, she's come to church many times, and has made a lot of friendships within the ward, but everytime we ask her to have a sit-down with us (even for just 15 minutes!), she says, "Guys, you know I love you, but I'm just sooo busy." Well plan was to capitalize on this service opportunity and cute 4-year old to con her into a lesson, haha. There were some remains of a sign post that needed to be removed according to the city of Aurora, so Bro. Oveson brought his powerful whatever-it's-called electric saw, and after about 45 minutes of cutting down the beast, it looked like it was never there. We then asked Juanita, "Is it OK if we sit down for a few minutes?" Of course she said, "Maybe another time." Then we told her that little Marisa wanted to sing her some Primary songs, and so Juanita couldn't resist. So we all sat down on the steps of her front porch, a block away from Colfax, the ghettoist street in Denver, and sang "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam." It was awesome, haha. Then Elder Sosa and I smoothley segued (sp?) into Lesson 1. We taught it short and sweet. I think she got something out of it, but it was hard to tell when she burst out druing the focal point of the lesson with how worried she was that the back door was unlocked. She thought maybe someone would go in there. Juanita, first of all, no one WANTS to go in there, and second of all, we have a perfect view of your driveway and no one has gone there. But anyway, I think it went well. Whether she'll actually take time to read the Book of Mormon is another story, but first things first. Having Marisa there really helped, especially when she told us that the prophet was "President Monson."
Tuesday, after our previously most-progressing investigator Robynn J. dropped us, her previously uninterested husband asked us to keep in touch after he described to us his desire to pray. It was so weird how they basically switched places, but it was cool. Then that night was the first time that a member, Brother Zuniga, set up an appointment for us and took us there. The husband is an inactive member and his finacee is VERY interested in the church. We taught her the first lesson and it was awesome. It was the first time in a while that I felt the Spirit that strongly. She couldn't wait to get her hands on a Book of Mormon.
On Wednesday, we learned that Kathleen, our investigator with a baptismal date, has successfully avoided cigarettes for a week and a half now! The baptism is still set for this Saturday and it looks like it's going to happen! Then Friday was probably the best day of my mission. Usually we have 2 lessons a day, maybe 3 if we're lucky, but on Friday we had 6! In the morning, a Hispanic family that Elder Sosa baptized in Longmont came down to Aurora and we ate lunch at a nice park. I loved the opportunity to practice my Spanish, which is getting so much better. She made us chile rellenos and I had 6 of them because they were so good. Of course I regretted it a couple hours later, but I won't go into detail about that, haha. Then we biked super fast to our lesson with Cindy, a referral from some dude in a different stake. I can't remember if I talked about her last week, but anyway we had the second lesson with her and she agreed to be baptized too! This woman is golden. She has a deep desire to search for the truth. Then, speaking of Kathleen, we biked over there for an unexpected stop and lesson with them. We then went home and grabbed our jackets. I was marvelling and complaining about the weather when it was cold and snowy, but that was nothing. That's heaven to me compared to this crap. Every morning, it's perfectly sunny, not a cloud in the sky, crystal clear day. Then EVERY afternoon, rain, thunder, lightning, sometimes hail. Anyway, then we went to go teach Robert Blaylock, a brotha that came to church a few weeks ago with a member. He's now seeing the bishop for some help, but he's also really interested, asking a bunch of questions in Gospel Principles and so on. We taught him the first lesson and it went really well. Then dinner and a lesson with the Doxey family, lesson with the Montoya family, and then home. It was very satisfying. That day, we started doing our nightly planning outside. We have some nice chairs and a table (for Elder Sosa's maté, a South American drink with water, sugar, and some weird leafy stuff. It tastes gross, haha) and we look up at the stars while we're planning the next day.
So anyway, really good week. Usually, we get about 11, 12 lessons a week, but we got 17 this week. Baptism coming up this Saturday, another one for Cindy probably in a few weeks. It's going good. I'm also blessed with a knowledge that none of this is me. This all comes from God. Alma 26:12.
Espero que ustedes están disfrutando su verano. ¡Hasta luego!
-Elder Bradford
