Dear Everybody,
Yesterday, Elder Busch and I were walking down the street to try to go see this guy when we get ambushed by the "Saved Brigade" (these two baptist ladies that saw us strolling along and decided we needed to be saved). They took the time to pull over and hand us an anti-mormon tract and then told us that we could be saved right then and there, no questions asked if we would just call on the name of Jesus and ask for a forgiveness of sins. They even told us we could continue to be Mormon even after we were saved. I was like "Get outta town!? No way! Here I am trying to spread the gospel message and do what's right and come to find out, I've been doing it wrong!" And then I remembered, oh yeah, I pray to my Heavenly Father every day and strive to repent of my sins so I told them that. They still were really concerned that I wouldn't pray right then and there and be saved on the side of the road. Seriously, I was shocked at how deluded you can be. They told me that all I need is faith, not works (I saved them the trip to James 2:20 cause they probably don't even know where the book of James is in the Bible) and that being saved and being born of the Spirit are the same thing and they happen immediately after calling on the name of "Jay-zus" (as they say). Seriously, this lady was all up on me with John 3:5, but totally disregarded what He said in John 3:7,8 about being born of the Spirit. I told these ladies it was nice of them to try to help me out after having just done their grocery shopping/breaking the Sabbath and that I'd be on my way. Okay, I didn't really say that. I just wish I was that rude (I dunno why). But they just kept running they're mouths and weren't going to listen to a thing that I said so we just told them we had to go. Tons of fun.
I read the tract that they gave me and that also was HILARIOUS. They quote things like the Journal of Discourses and other obscure texts that are not authoritative doctrines of The Church. Elder Busch took the liberty of tearing it apart and trashing it.
The guy we tried to see wasn't home :(
Yeah, it's a real testimony builder for me that the Lord is mindful and cares about our wants, but sometimes he's determined to prove that we will follow Him even when we don't get what we want. I'm so glad that I have the opportunity to preach the gospel en espanol.
So last week, we really didn't teach anybody. We got a lot of work done, but didn't actually teach Lisa, Shay, Steve, etc... which was a bummer for me, but things are still going alright.
We got Lisa's phone number, but she was working all last week, but we'll see her this week.
Shay had a boy. We're going to commit her for baptism again tomorrow.
Steve's wife had major surgery last week. Hopefully he'll have time to see us this week.
I'm giving up on the Old Testament for now. I'm reading 'El Libro de Mormon'. Nobody here would understand what I'm talking about if I start referencing the Old Testament (unless it's Joshua 24:15, I swear they hand out doormats with that verse on them like candy). Doug is right though, occidental cultures tend to focus on facts and direct observations whereas oriental cultures are more concerned with intense imagery and conveying emotion. This was the Jewish culture, and that's why it's difficult to understand the Old Testament from our perspective sometimes. Or that's what my study guide says...
We had a Spanish Conference this weekend for the Spanish elders. It was a blast. They had a pinata and everything. I murderized it. My mission President is a big softy, but kinda scary when you blindfold him, hand him a stick, and spin him around ten times.
Not really any other news. I miss you.
Love,
Elder Grabinger
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