"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." Ether 12:27

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Week of May FIRST: Emails always feel like a SUN BURST!!!

Elder Delis

Subject:  Four souls are brought to our Savior...

Hello! 

Well family I hope all is well!  This week has been like most other weeks, we are just finding people who are ready to hear the gospel.  To be honest, at times it is kinda hard   :(.  This week is not as eventful as previous weeks, so sorry this email is a bit shorter than some of my past ones.  So Katie, I am excited to hear you are in Illiniois!  You will have a lot of success if you just do the basics and I promise you will be blessed for it!

Ok, well, I have been really excited for the end of the week and this one event.  I had a baptism this week.  It was Dallas Ordway.  He is the 10 year old boy that I taught.  We were just waiting for his aunt to come to Oregon to see the baptism.  (that was actually really cool!)  I really love seeing people progress in the gospel.  It is really exciting.  Can I just say that when I go to the baptism I can feel the Spirit so strongly!  I will never forget the feeling of joy it brings into the room! 

Another cool thing that happened this week is Derrik Bryant came to church yesterday!  He is the African-American guy that has an issue with blacks and the priesthood.  I am fairly sure that since he came to church, (and loved it, I might add!), that he will be more receptive to the message.  And to the whole concept of modern-day prophets and revelation.  When Elder Brower (the companion he kills off b/c his 2 years of service is ending) and I come over he always loves to see us.  So I think he see the Lord has prepared him to this point or at least he is being prepared for the Gospel.

Well, I love you!!  Have fun this week!!

Elder Christian Delis

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Hermana Delis

Subject:  We are not in Kansas anymore!!

Hello, familia!

Como estan?  Espero que todo sepa muy bien :0 (How are you? I hope all is well!) (the translation is for her mother, "Handy Manny" on Disney does teach enough for me to understand :))  That's about all the useful Spanish I know these day. :)  Haha, It is a whole new world out here!!!  And to think I am just in Illinois. :)

OKAY. Now for the missionary moments. :)  Being a missionary is so WILD!  I can't believe it some days, ha.  I don't even know where to start this email; there is so much that happens in a week and so many totally foreign experiences--it's crazy.  But I feel like in a week I have seen SO much.  In the last email dad sent me in the MTC, he told me that in the mission you meet people from all walks of life--I have thought about that literally hourly since being here.  It is SO very true.  I wish I had good words to explain to you!  Life takes a lot of different forms for different people.  As a missionary you talk to everyone (it surprised me that that can be hard to do), and so you see a lot of different things.  Some people are very polite, some people are very NOT polite, a few interested, a lot don't really care.  But we listen to every person we talk to.  You learn a lot by listening.  You love a lot when you listen, too.  You see some things that are really hard, somethings are really happy, some things are SUPER weird, haha.  You just get everything.  At the end of the day, you have to just lay in bed and be grateful for the people you got to listen to.  These people will forever have an impact on me!

The people really are the best part of the mission.  I already LOVE some of these PEOPLE.  AH! I wish you could know them.  Hna Monge--I am going to cry just thinking about this sweet little woman, I honestly don't think I can tell you what we talked about yesterday, simply because I don't know Spanish, ha.  But the love this woman has in her home is tangible.  She has had a hard life--I had no idea what having a "hard life" meant until coming here and listening.  But she just lives and loves the gospel.  We ate (hahaaa Mexicans LOVE to feed us, ha.  They are really good with Celiac's--no worries) and we teach her the principios del evangelio.  She is just wonderful. Goodness, she is the best part of my Tuesdays!

I am grateful everyday to be a Span-Am--I do love it.  It is so hards to be a missionary, ha.  I had no idea.  I go to bed SO TIRED.  I know what it feels like to be drained at night--I work pretty hard in whatever I'm doing--missionary work, college, etc.m but missionary tired is unlike any other tired.  I go to bed exhausted, but I fall asleep overwhelmed with gratitude.  Mostly for the people I meet.  Oh family, these people are so incredible.  I want to know them.  And right now, I really want them to know their Savior.  It feels goofy sometimes to be out preaching--people see us as "Jesus People."  It seems awkward, right?  Well, for the record it does feel awkward sometimes.  But why would I spend my time sharing the message of Jesus Christ?  Why would I want someone to know who Christ is?  The answer's pretty simple: I know who He is for me.  When you feel that, it gets easier to tell people "Somos misioneras de la Iglesia de Jesucristo.  Tenemos la verdad."  We're the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ. (again, translation for her mom)

There is so much more I want to tell you, but I'll have to go for now.  Love you all lots, and I will talk to you soon (meaning MOTHER'S DAY! YEAH!!).  Love you lots!

Hna Delis

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