Elder Andrew Smart: Masica is vida (life)

First off...

I make a ton of pancakes every morning, and then get fed rice, beans, tons of tortillas, platanos, eggs and meat (in excess) for lunch and dinner. So I am getting fed well for all of those wondering.

Anyway, Honduras played U.S.A in soccer on the 14^th. They tied which blew my mind. How does that happen? I actually got to watch half an hour of it at a member’s hut, which was really cool. So that was satisfying. I wrote down 2^nd Nephi 3:13 for some reason in my journal, and now I can’t remember why. It’s good though...

13 And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.

My companion has been really sick lately, so he asked for a blessing. I gave him one (in English) and it was actually exactly what I needed. It was weird; the blessing was for him, but it I feel like it helped me more than it helped him.

On the 15^th we taught our weekly English lesson. These always go pretty poorly because not one person here can pronounce English words. It is quite a challenge trying to teach your native language, in a language you don’t really know.

Another scripture, 2^nd Nephi 7:7 really helped me, as I found it in personal study (God will help me).

7 For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

The Hermana (sister) that cooks for us had kind of a tough week. Her son was with a "friend" and he thought it would be funny to pressure him into drinking really concentrated alcohol (that he had also drugged with something), so in the middle of lunch, the father comes in, literally dragging his son in. He is completely passed out, and is throwing up in his sleeplike state. Our Hermana was sobbing for hours. It’s important that we remember that we represent our family in everything we do. Everything you do reflects your family. Please pray for our Hermana and her son, he will be okay, but his friend I hope, will realize the severity of his actions.

Waiting for some computer time

On the 17^th, not much happened other than I juggled oranges for some kids for like 30 minutes because they have never seen that before. Oh, the other thing. People ask to see some of the pictures I have from home, but I really don’t like showing them. It shames me to show pictures of me in a suit I rented (for prom), and what not, while the people here rarely have more than one shirt to wear. People here get married in whatever they are wearing that day. It breaks my heart to see pictures of people on their wedding day, and they’re not even wearing shoes. It really makes me appreciate what I had, even though in the past I thought I had so little. When in actuality, I had infinitely more than I ever realized. It really hurts me inside. But the worst part is, I can’t sympathize with them, or tell them that I love them because my Spanish is so horrible.

Anyway... Three more scriptures: 2^nd Nephi 8:25, 2^nd Nephi 9:4, and 2^nd Nephi 9:10. These scriptures help me remember why I’m out here in a jungle.

25 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, sit down, O Jerusalem; loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

4 For I know that ye have searched much, many of you, to know of things to come; wherefore I know that ye know that our flesh must waste away and die; nevertheless, in our bodies we shall see God.

10 O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit.

On the 18th, we couldn’t find anyone we had previously contacted. So we decided to find some new people. The first hut we went to, a lady was washing clothes outside, and she said we could talk to her. She was really nice, amiable, and seemed to be really interested. so we talked to her for about 15-20 minutes, and were silently thanking God for blessing us with a new potential investigator, when all of a sudden, her husband called her in to the house for a minute, and then started closing all the windows and doors. Meanwhile, my comp and I were still sitting outside, still holding the pamphlet we were about to give her. We waited for about 10, then she cracked open the door, and apologized because her husband hates the Mormons, is a devoted Catholic, and has a problem with the missionaries. Then she shut the door. Pues (then), we left feeling pretty low. It was the first time someone had been so abrupt with us. I should probably get used to that.

We had mutual that night, and played soccer. The missionary team dominated, just saying. (God’s team) can’t beat it.

I learned on Sunday, that I will be staying in the area Elder V and I opened (La Masica 3) for another change (transfer). Elder R. and Elder J. are both leaving, which really puts me down, because they are the only ones in Masica that speak any English. I will be totally alone. They have helped me with my challenges from Spanish, to simply life here. They have become really good friends to me. They will be in my prayers.

Patience is a virtue.