Record numbers at church

I am very tired but very happy. The work here is crazy! For the last month or so there has been a rumor that the stake wanted to close down our ward because your attendance is so low. Like in the 40's every week. So the  members have been freaking out and are begging my companion and I to work super super hard. and this week we saw our hard work pay off. We had almost 100 people show up yesterday! The number of attendance more than doubled! It was so cool to see the chapel full of people! But not only that, we had 8 investigators show up too!

Although we got to taste a little bit of success yesterday, we still have a long road ahead of us. We have a lot of investigators with baptismal dates, but its so hard to get people to keep their commitments and go to church. 

I need to start writing down important things that happen in the week to put in my emails... because I'm always so tired I cant even remember all of the lessons we taught at the end of each day, so please forgive me if my emails don't make sense, seem scattered, or are boring:)

I'm trying to be extremely confident with my Spanish. I literally talk to everyone I can. A lot of people probably think I'm crazy, I just want to give everybody the opportunity to learn! 

Its funny, because now I can understand most of what other people say and I'm starting to realize how much stuff people say about Americans as I walk by. Its either an insult, some name, or how bad they want to go to the states. Also, pretty much everybody that I walk by uses me as a quick English lesson. A lot of people know 1 or 2 phrases in English and love practicing them on me. Like saying good night at 8:00 in the morning. 

People also love reminding me how dangerous it is here and warning me of certain places. We will be out looking for lessons at night and pretty much everybody tells us to go home or stay out of a certain area because we will die. The people tell us that a super dangerous neighborhood is Zetilall and we need to stay out of that area, because since I'm American everybody will think that I have money. We live in Zetilall. Nothing has happened, and I doubt anything will, but its nice that people care enough to warn us about possible danger.

Lastly, there have been some crazy miracles going on down here because of the exact obedience of my companion and I. We will be walking down the street and people will yell after us saying how they need to be taught! Or people will be walking out of their house just in time for us to come into contact with them. I wish I had time to explain some specific examples... Next week!

I am healthy, safe and happy. Couldn't want anything more at the moment! Thanks for all the emails! Keep them coming!

I love hearing from new people too, so if you haven't emailed me, DO IT! chase.abel@myldsmail.net

 

I got a little homesick and decided to make this. I am pretty impressed with it. I tried to get really fancy and use some glass that I found on the side of the road. I tried to break it into shape and sliced my finger pretty good. So... theres no glass.