Hola mi familia!
First of all, Dean Bean are you kidding me? Ha I get a courtesy letter asking for help to write a talk. Oh dear! I miss the days of the orthodontist updates. ha just kidding slime. I hope you can get some material from this email and these stories. Other than that, most of our investigators flake on the whole sabbath day thing, so I need to learn a way to better teach it too. The sabbath day observance is so important that we don't even teach investigators if they aren't willing to live it. Some of our investigators overcame alcohol addiction, but couldn't discontinue their activities on Sunday to attend church, so we had to drop them. Sometimes we consider the Sabbath day as one of the minor commandments that we don't need to follow all of the time, but it is equally as vital to our worthiness as the rest of them.
Ha Lexi you have got to be kidding me... I could be way off but I am pretty sure it is insulin and glycogen (or something) ha but ya I have totally forgotten all of that.
But enough beating around the bush...as zac put it. This week was the best week ever because I had my first baptism!!! Saturday was the best day of my life. I got to baptize Samuel, Valdivia baptized a boy named Christopher, and we had the branch president baptize Roberto. Roberto is my hero and I love him so much. I decided to write the story of each person I participate in their conversion so I will type Robertos.
Roberto was one of my first investigators. Elder Valdivia and I contacted him on April 11 just a few days after arriving in Tulum. We later found out that the day we contacted him was his first day in that house. God definitely prepared Roberto and wasn't about to let anything mess up his conversion as you will see. From the first day we contacted him and Jose in their palapa, he was golden. he kept every commitment, accepted everything we taught, love the Book of Mormon, and committed to a baptismal date on our second visit. On April 16, 2 days after accepting a baptismal date, we went to teach him only to find his palapa locked up and abandoned. We thought that was that and went away discouraged. 4 days later, we fasted for general help in the work in teaching and finding the escogidos. At the time it wasn't so apparent, but only a few hours after breaking our fast, we crossed paths with Roberto while street contacting. He was excited to see us and explained that Jose wasn't holding up his end of the rest so they got the boot. Nevertheless, we got his new address, set another appointment, and got back on track. We arrived at his house to find he was living freaking far away in the monte (jungle), all alone, and in nothing more than a cinderblock shelter, but, more importantly, we found that he hadn't stopped reading the Book of Mormon. From then on we stayed on track. He accepted all the commandments and got rid of cigars and coffee. His faith and testimony of the Book of Mormon gave him the strength to overcome problems with work and his family to continue growing in the gospel. His family told him he is bien loco and didn't come to his baptism to support him. To make things worse, the young men of the branch are fritos and suck at fellowshipping. For this reason, we had Branch President Vargaz baptize Roberto so he had a connection in the branch.
The baptism went smooth and without repeats. We found out that Roberto had asked President Vargaz what he needs to do to serve a mission like us. Pres. Vargaz told him that baptism was the first step to which Roberto replied alright, how much does it cost? I guess we never taught him it is free. He is so solid. Pres Vargaz asked him if he wanted to go to the temple and serve a mission in a year and he said claro que si. Pres Vargaz and his wife, Monica, are going to take him under their wing and help him finish school and prepare to serve a mission in one year. I hope to be writing him on his mission while I am still on mine.
That is the story of Roberto. He is the man! He wants to do missionary work with us now. He is more active than the rest of the young men in the branch! Then yesterday, we had lunch with the branch president and his wife and they also invited Roberto. It was so sweet. The branch gave him white shirts and a tie too that they have from people that donated from the US. Also with the lunch, I am going to get some recipes from this Sister Vargaz because her food is freaking incredible. She makes everything herself from scratch. Like the salsa, drinks, dessert!! I especially love her horchata drink and lemon icecream cookies dessert thing. So I will get those two recipes soon and maybe email them home next week. You have to try them.
I also took the liberty of buying a new and bigger hammock this week. It is the best ever. I didn't go all out because I have heard that they make them bigger, prettier, and cheaper in Campeche so in the course of the next two years I plan on buying another one there, but for now this one is a dream come true.
And the pictures you sent me of the prophet and apostles have helped a ton because we were always testifying of our living prophet, but now it is so nice to have a picture to go with the name. You know what I need more than I do. But seriously don't worry about me. I am totally fine. Pres and Sis Vargaz have also taken us under their wing. They remind me of the Wings. She said that she loves serving us anyway she can because one day she wants to have kids and she wants other moms to take care of them when they are on their missions. All is freaking sweet here!
Elder Valdivia and I are getting along perfectly and I am glad that neither of us got transfered. That is right 6 more weeks in Tulum baby!!!! Keep greasing!!
I love you all!
Elder Jergensen
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