My week was alright. A little less successful than the last two weeks, but we are working hard. We fasted again yesterday for their marriage license. I hope it comes. I really really do. I know it will, as long as that is God´s will. Victoriano is doing well. He´s still scared. Haha. We have a new date for him, the 29th of June. We have worked really hard with him. I wish you could meet him. Sometimes I feel so out of place when I take a step back and look at my life. I am just a nineteen year old kid that goes around and preaches to people that are old enough to be my grandfather. Missionaries don´t really have a choice but to grow up fast. Victoriano is basically at the edge of the water, dipping his toe in the water, knowing that he needs to jump in. And we´re just about ready to push him in. He needs a bit more pushing I think :)
Emilio and Rosario are a couple with a seven year old daughter. At first we didn´t know about them cause it seemed like they only wanted the church for food. But they really do have testimonies. Especially Emilio. And his wife is just a little slow. When we teach she doesn´t really pay attention, but we have worked with her alone recently and (after buying her a HUGE Book of Mormon that she can actually see) she is making progress. They have been investigators for a while. They both have dates for the 29th of June. I am sure that they will both be baptized that day. He works a lot, and they are living in humble circumstances, but I really believe they have a testimony of the gospel.
Maribel and Antonio are another couple we are teaching. Kind of. Antonio is the brother of Rosario. The first lesson went so well with them. Maribel had been going to church for two weeks before we even taught her. They both felt the Spirit really strongly, and agreed to be baptized on the 29th of June. But we haven´t been able to teach them. She works a ton, and couldn´t come to church yesterday. And he apparently doesn´t want to be taught alone. So it´s stressful. I really really hope that things work out with them.
Jose, Ana, and Jose Jr. are a small family that have been investigators for like a year. They are so great. These are the ones who are waiting for the marriage license. Their son is 12, and is awesome. Lately he hasn´t been coming to church. But his parents have both come the past few weeks. Jose and Ana are so nice. Jose gets mad at Ana every once in a while and when they are fighting it is awful to be there. Mostly because Ana just looks so hurt. I hate seeing people I love in pain. They argue a lot, and the other day we went over there and Jose was upstairs and Ana just looked so sad. I just hurt for her!! I can´t describe it but I felt so much love for her and I was sad because she was. Sometimes as missionaries we feel some of the love that Heavenly Father has for His children. That is one of the best parts about the work. Right now they are doing great. Jose has been in a good mood, and we are just waiting for their papers. We want to baptize them on the 29th.
We have other investigators, but this week hasn´t been really good for them. They are off and on. But we have some futures that might work out. We will see. There is this one girl named Paula. Her name sounds super cool when you say it in Spanish. Anyway. She has been to church the last two weeks with a member, and her parents are members just really inactive. She is about 17 and we really want to teach her but she never has time. She is super busy with school or something. Hopefully we can start teaching her soon. Children with inactive parents are really good investigators. Much more willing to accept the gospel.
This is the first week of the new transfer. I am staying here in Jerez with Elder Pardo for another six weeks. Which is good :) I like Jerez. I think I will leave after this transfer. That´s usually what happens after one´s training is over.
The lasagna I made was alright. It would have been better but the ovens here are different. The way the air circulates. I didn´t know how to work the oven so it didn´t cook exactly right. And the cottage cheese here is literally flavorless. So that was unfortunate. But other than that it was great :) I made a lot and then freezed it. Oh and they don´t have vanilla here. So I can´t make like half of the recipes you gave me. I think I´ll put that on my Xmas list. And all the have is oil of sunflower seeds and olive oil here. What is canola oil made of?? What can I use for oil? And also, I made beans this week. Refried beans. It was magical and I am so thankful for the recipe that Grammie gave me. I have never been so happy eating beans in my whole life. Which is saying something cause I am always really happy to eat beans. They don´t have cream of chicken or cream of anything here. So the rice thing won´t work. Elder Pardo thinks I am so weird for cooking the way I do. Hahaha. Apparently it´s not common for missionaries in this mission. I dunno why I all of the sudden feel the need to cook every day. I definitely didn´t at home. But I have the time and I enjoy it!!
My eye has gotten worse lately. It never hurts, but it basically twitched all day yesterday. It hasn´t twitched so far today though. I will try the oils you sent me.
I got a letter from Kylie this week that was "Missent to Malaysia!!!" How weird is that?? I will keep that envelope forever. Missent to malaysia. You know... I think we have all been missent to malaysia at one point in time in our life. We feel like we don´t belong and it´s hard to find out where to go. But with the atonement, and a lot of faith, we will always find our way back home. Hahaha. That really didn´t work out. But I really want to think of some gospel application for the phrase "missent to malaysia." It´s just a gem.
I got all of your pictures!!!! Wow. Quincey already looks older. I can´t believe he´ll be almost eleven when I get home. And Spencer looked great at graduation. It´s crazy that he is already graduated. Time goes by so quickly. I almost have three months!! It was cool to see all of the pictures of Mr. Thorpe and the choir. I miss that kind of stuff. And Kayla!!! She just looks so happy and excited to begin her service!! I think she´ll be such a great missionary. I hope she got my letter. It was awesome to see all of those pictures. Really. I feel like I am missing so much stuff!! But that´s life. Remember to post Spencer´s opening on the blog. And give me the BLOG ADDRESS. I don´t remember what it is. I can´t go on there and check it every week or anything, but there is nothing wrong with watching the video of Spencer opening his call. That won´t distract me from the work.
I just got your letter from the mission office. We had zone conference last week. I got the letter that was written my first day in the field!! Also, I have not gotten the really long letter you sent me. Hopefully it finds it´s way here. And I sent you a really long letter that should be there today. I guess Dad will have to bring it to you since you are already on your way to California.
I am happy for all of you to be going on so many trips :) Although I would love to eat out every day and hang out with the people I love most, I know that this is more important right now. I LOVE that you love to travel Mom. I hope my wife loves traveling, because I definitely want to travel a lot. I love it. As long as it´s with family. I am not a huge fan of traveling alone. Haha. I was so lucky growing up to have a family that got to travel as much as we did. I hope you guys have fun!! With Duane and Misty and Grammie and Grandpa. UGH. I am trying not to be jealous but it´s hard. Drive safe!! I hope that my brothers appreciate all of that. They DO NOT realize how lucky they are.
Well I have grown a lot already. I don´t know how to explain it. I just feel a little different. I still don´t feel like a missionary yet. I don´t know what I am expecting. I guess there are moments when I do. After really great lessons. But my life will be better once I am fluent. That will make a huge difference. Emotionally I am just trying to learn to be more patient. With others and with myself. There is so much that I want to do in the next two years. I am also being humbled every day. More humility would do me lots of good. So I am grateful for the blessings that Heavenly Father gives me. Oh and guess what!! It has been a really odd week because Elder PArdo and I have been talking about gospel confusion. I know that there is so much I don´t understand. But Stronger than anything else is my faith. My faith has really grown. My faith is stronger than any doubt that I might have, and because of that I am ok with not understanding something. Joseph Smith was a prophet of
God, and the Book of Mormon is true. There is beauty in simplicity. Now i know that no matter what is thrown at me, I will not falter. The only thing that matters are the things that I DO know. And I know that this is God´s one true church.
God, and the Book of Mormon is true. There is beauty in simplicity. Now i know that no matter what is thrown at me, I will not falter. The only thing that matters are the things that I DO know. And I know that this is God´s one true church.
Anyway, I don´t have more time. I love you all so much!! HAVE FUN in California! Be safe. I hope you know how important you all are to me. My family and friends mean so much to me. I appreciate you in my life so very much!!
Con Amor,
Elder Sharp
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