Autumn has set in fullheartedly, and we are suffering the results of the drop in temperature. Waking up to 9 or 10 degress Celsius is a regular event, and we are very accustomed to seeing our breath everywhere we go. My Canadian companion is enjoying the cool weather, and happily wears a sweater, or maybe long sleeves to celebrate. Being a soft Desert boy myself, I wrap up in a rain coat, a coat, a sweater, a scarf, and my beanie all above my normal clothes and still am not feeling the blessed reunion of heat and my body again. I have made several decisions for my future, securely denying that I will ever live in somewhere even relatively cold again. Heavenly Father obviously predicted this outcome, and made sure that my calling has me serving in Chile for really only one winter. What a blessing that this is.
However, despite the pouring rain and despite the biting cold, I am enjoying myself immensely. This was a week of growth for us as missionaries and especially for me, as we face many various mountains to climb at this time. We lacked in marked success with several of our promising investigators, and a recent drop in support from the members of the branch as hurt a lot, but our spirits are soaring higher than ever!
We in turn focused our efforts in meeting with less actives and recent converts, and we are able to have many lessons with them. We definitely had a great time, and even some strange experiences with them.
A couple of less active youth named David and Estrella were one of our visits during the week. As we passed by, we saw that they were doing some work outisde with their long walkway to the house. We helped out, and they invited us to the back to enjoy some apples from their apple tree. When we walke through the house, we entered a jungle paradise, with bushes and ferns and trees and animals and it was incredible. You couldn't even see civilazation anywhere, and we enjoyed laughing and talking with these two hilarious jovenes and their mother, who is an investigator. Our visits had a lasting effect on them, and they even trudged through a rain storm to attend one of our english lessons. We see great promise for them in the church, and that they could be pillars in our budding youth program.
Our usual investigators simply weren't available this week, so we had to branch out, and we had some interesting results. An old lady that had told us that she didn't want anything with us a few weeks past told us that she had been reading the book of mormon, and that she knew it was the word of God. The testimony of the Book and of a member we brought with us caused her to shed some tears and promise that one day, she would go to the church.
In the middle of a pouring rainstorm, we talked to a lady standing underneath a canopy, and found a heart of gold. Her life is dedicated to helping others like the Savior did, and she is a joy to talk to. She enjoys the Book of Mormon as well, and has also promised to attend church the next week and to continue to read this great book.
I truly can testify that the Book of Mormon changes hearts, minds, and lives. It is the evidence that the Church of Jesus Christ is once again restored to the Earth, and I am ridiculously happy to be a part of this church and to be serving the Savior and my fellow man in Yungay. We are seeing miraculous things every single day of the week, and I am loving it. Even if its cold.
I love you all and hope that you all enjoy your week with all the blessings of heaven available to you.
Con amor,
Elder Richardson
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