Hey
Guys!
I’ll be honest, this week was a little rough. We got stopped by
drunk people way too often for my comfort. But I've never seen a Christmas like
the way they celebrate here!
On December 24, things are quiet, except for the Mercado because
everyone's out of their house buying things, and getting ready for the
festival. At this time, I was really excited, because I was about to move into
my new, beautiful house that actually has a sink! At about 2:00, we got a call
from the bishop (the only guy in the ward who owns a truck) who told us he had
time to move everything. We had packed everything up earlier that morning so we
were ready. We loaded everything up and finished moving all our things at about
5 that afternoon. After that, the day was normal until nighttime. President
Crapo sent out a letter the missionaries telling us we could stay up till midnight
to watch the fireworks, so that's what we did. I've never seen anything like
it: literally everyone in the city shooting off fireworks. The noise and the
lights are incredible. The fireworks lasted a half an hour.
It was a pretty cool Christmas. There's only one thing that's
better than getting a new house for Christmas, and that's talking with the
family for an hour. It was a very cool, very special experience to speak with
my family over Skype for an hour, and see how they've grown. I can't wait to
talk to you guys again on Mother's day!
That was really fun this week, but as many times as there are
good days, there are bad days.
An investigator who was very important and dear to us recently
told us he wanted nothing more to do with the Church. This statement describes really well how it
feels when this happens.
“There's a certain kind of pain that only a
missionary feels. Watching someone turn away from the Gospel after embracing it
so fully is worse than watching someone die. It's watching someone die
spiritually. And honestly, I've never felt so hurt or completely crushed in my
life. You visit someone, you pray with them, you pray for them, you sit next to
them in church, and you listen to them say, over and over, that they know that
this is the true Church of God; and then just like that, their faith is nothing
but a shoot in stony ground. When the trials and tribulations come, they turn
away, and deny everything they had. You do everything you possibly can for
them, as a junior companion who barely speaks the language, and then they're
gone. And there's nothing you can do about it. You see thousands
of people say no, you have doors closed in your face, you have people cuss you
out, call you liars, call you crazy, and tell you that you're lost down here in
Guatemala, but this is the first time anyone has listened so sincerely and so
dearly, and later rejected you so coldly.”
What can you do?
You keep praying for them. You keep them dear to your heart,
because they are just as important to God as they are to you. And you keep
moving forward, keep sharing the message of eternal life. Some will receive it,
and others will reject. When your heart is broken, and your investigators, some
of your dearest friends, turn you away, you know how Jesus felt. You know why
he was born: to bring eternal life. And you know how he felt when every time,
another child of God, a fellow human, a dear friend, said no to him. He met and
talked with thousands of people. Thousands listened; hundreds of thousands
turned away from him. When one turns away, you know at least a piece of what he
felt.
Remember why He was born for you. Don't you dare turn Him away.
Thank you guys for all of your support! I love you all, and I
think about you guys every day! Keep writing, Happy New Year, and I'll see you
soon!
--
Elder Jeffrey Reed
