-------- Forwarded Message --------
| Subject: | Hola Famsquad! |
|---|---|
| Date: | Mon, 29 Jan 2018 15:17:44 -0600 |
| From: | Brett Hogg |
This week was pretty neat. The Hermanas back up in my district in Oak Cliff had an investigator that wanted me to baptize him! I guess when they asked him he said "el hermano Sinaloa," Sometimes when I meet Hispanics I tell them I'm from Sinaloa (north west part of Mexico, a drug capital of the world, and birthplace of Elder Flores), and they think it's hilarious.
Anyway, they explained that I really wouldn't be able to make, being 3 hours away. There's a rule that says if a baptism or recent convert going to the Temple and you're more than 45 min away you can't go (for the sake of time, miles, and resources).
Also a little while later they asked who else is coming to his baptism from his family and he said no one, they don't like it, which made them super sad. So I guess they prayed about it and called President, and asked if I could come baptize Angel. He told them to ask if there was anyone else he would like to do it, so they did, and he said if not me than just kind of whoever. After reporting this back to President, he called me, explained it all, and said that he said that he felt impressed to call and run it by me, more or less saying that I could go if I could find a ride, and have it not be burden on the members.
Luckily we got it figured out, thanks to some amazing members, and we were able to go! It was awesome to see him and some of the old district. I didn't even mess up the prayer or anything, so he only had to be dunked once! At the baptism, the front row where he sat was empty except for him and I, so that was neat that I got to be there. Afterwords He got up and shared his testimony basically about how awesome the hermanas are. He loves baseball too, so we got him a baseball and all the missionaries signed it. Great day, you can definitely feel a little slice of heaven at baptisms.
Then Sunday.
Sunday was awesome. We had invited several people to church including 2
inactive families, and 2 less active families. Almost everyone came, and
sacrament meeting attendance nearly doubled. It was a great feeling. We
help set up sacrament, and even put extra cups in the trays (usually
they only use 2 rows, and they don't even get all used), and afterwords
they were nearly all gone. It was high council Sunday, which is always
kind of weird, because then someone has to translate during sacrament
meeting, but they were good talks. We had 2 investigators there as well,
it was awesome.
Note from Mom: Missionaries often invite people to church (which makes sense) - but not often do they all come! This is very cool news!
Our
solid investigators right now are mostly unbaptized youth, which are
cool because they come with families that want to come back to church.
Otherwise we have some others that we are slowly teaching. It's always
exciting when you find a hispanic who wants to listen, because there
aren't as many here.
By the way nearly everyone in the Branch is from
Coahuila? And mostly from Piedras Negras (the city I went to with
Grandpa and Grandma Debbie for a couple days that one year), or Eagle
Pass (the border town, state-side side of Piedra Negras).
I don't know
why, nor does anyone else, they all say that they think it was jobs, but
how did those jobs attract people from only like one city lol?? Also
all the key priesthood holders of the branch work at or own tire shops?
Anyway, I love the Branch here, they're super awesome people, who love
the Gospel, and they make the best food. Which reminds me, I don't know
if people are feeding the the missionaries back home, but there is no
reason their calendar should have any empty dinner spaces. If a very
humble branch of like 20 active members can proudly feed the
missionaries every day, then a big english ward can, no problem.
Also
there was like 3 days in a row that members made us burgers. What do
Mexican cheeseburgers have on them? Well patty, cheese and bun of
course, but also a ton of guacamole (just smashed avocado with some
salt, nothing else), ham (or bologna), mustard, mayonnaise and lettuce.
Then ketchup, pickles, onions, tomatoes, and jalapenos (strongly
encouraged) on the table if you really want 'em. Now, in Oak Cliff we
tried Hamburguesas Norteñas from a taqueria, and they were really good as
well. They're similar except that they have trompo (pork cooked on a
vertical spit, like the Mediterranean equivalent shwarma) on them as
well. Also, there's a restaurant in Oak Cliff called Burgüesa, excellent
burgers, they have a tostadas and refried beans and a chipotlé sauce.
Definitely more TexMex though. But I digress. Homemade Mexican burgers
are amazing.
Also one of
the people who came to church was a Spaniard! She's the sister of one
of the inactives, they're actually Honduran, but when they left, one
came to Texas, one in Washington and the rest Spain. So we got to hear
her weird Spainish lisp, and her use vosotros form! Spain is a weird
place. The brother told us about when they were in Honduras their branch
was like 5 or 6 people, and they met in their house. His dad was
inactive and wouldn't come to church, so he would be in the bedroom, and
be like 5 feet away from church ..lol!
Anyway, we also stacked hay again, but other than all that, that's about it from the front lines,
Love you guys!
Elder Hogg
