1/7/24: Vagabundos de Arriaga

 Bueno Bueno, another week screeches by in Arriaga for me. They're moving fast, that's for sure. They kind of all feel the same? But at the same time they're super different. I don't even know anymore, all I know is somehow I've been a missionary for 4 months, but it definitely still feels like September... 


Now that's not to say I haven't gone anywhere in learning, I've definitely grown and learned a ton. I guess my companion likes the way I plan and teach, cuz I've been leading most if not almost all the lessons we've had the past few weeks, and handling the weekly and lesson planning. I enjoy it, and he does too, so I guess we found a groove. Spanish isn't even a question anymore, which is a huge jump since when I first got here. Not perfect, not even close, but sufficient to do what I need to. El don de lenguas es reál.

This week we landed some more awesome people on date for baptism. They have awesome faith. Susana, a mother of 3 young adult children, is determined to leave behind coffee for good so she can make a covenant with God. Her daughter, Laura, is also awesome and studies the book of mormon more intently than anyone else I've met on the mission. Teaching them hss definitely been a highlight for me here.

Scripture of the week is 2 Nephi 26:11, it's about how we need the Spirit of the Lord with us always. President Nelson has talked about the importance of this and it's especially important among missionaries. I have been learning what it's like to teach with the spirit and without it, and man the lessons are not good without it. The Spirit is cool, don't do stuff that takes him away.

Speaking of doing things that aren't exactly in harmony with the Spirit, the title of the week. This week we went out to a little town about a 2 hour walk from Arriaga to find a reference. We ended up finding his uncle instead, teaching him, and going over in our time and missed the little bus that takes us back to Arriaga. We also had an appointment in Arriaga in 30 minutes... We ended up stopping a kind man in a pick up truck and asked him if we could get a lift to Arriaga. He was happy to help us and we made our appointment, but let's just say that hitch hiking isn't exactly what a missionary should be doing. We have learned our lesson about planning. The important thing is that we do everything we can not to have that happen again. Good thing repentance is real haha.

So yeah, that's the update, thanks for reading if you did, follow the spirit and plan to not potentially be in rule breaking situations (unlike me) and have a good week! ¡Adios!

-Elder Allen

Photos:
1-3: Cooking carne with the district for pday
4: Our creek is offically no longer running (it doesn't rain here...)
5: A papaya tree, my new least favorite fruit (we were asked to eat 3 whole papayas in a lesson and I almost couldn't keep it down)






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