Robert vs. People Talking Skills

Ya'aat'eeh!!!

 

It's been an interesting week for sure.  Last week we had terrible success as far as lots of lessons and things but that happens sometimes and you can't control it.  We talked to lots of people though so that was good.  As far as I know...out of all the missions my friends are on and all the missions that are neighboring this mission...NONE of them knock on doors.  They only work through members which honestly is the best way to go.  Except since we have the huge reservation there are 0 addresses and 0 knowledge of how many people live in a certain area so we get to knock on doors A LOT!!! My people talking skills have exploded.  Since we do it nearly every single day its really hard to get motivated and get rejected a lot but we have fun by trying to get a certain word in during the conversation...like "panda" or "banana" its really hard but super funny especially when you obviously see that the person doesn't want anything to do with us.  Gotta have fun somehow!  

I really enjoy going to the Spanish branch and trying to understand whats being said.  I only get about 30% of it right now but I learn a word or 2 every day and it helps.  We were in a lesson the other day and the lady started talking about the Trinity and how Joseph Smith said this blah blah blah...anyways I knew what she was saying and she just looked at me and I just stared into her soul and shook my head with the most spiritually intimidating NO I could.  She just stared at me for a sec and then let Elder Delgado explain some things instead of her just talking our ears off.  That was pretty fun.

Yep! we got to go to the Monticello Temple yesterday and that was a blast.  The temple is super small and literally is in the middle of a neighborhood.  How man people can look out their front window and see a temple just beaming there....then go to their friends house next door to the temple and watch a football game.  That's awesome! But yes I had a great experience and I have been reading a lot of the Old Testament to understand more about the temple and it makes A LOT more sense now.  Temples are the best.  If all the pastors and preachers of the world really understood the Bible and God's teachings they would obviously realize that God's real church would have LOTS of temples as its membership grew.  Not one humongous church with a mini mall inside as a church here does.  Makes me scratch my head a little....oh well we can only keep trying!  But going to the temple really opened my eyes and gave me a spiritual boost of why everything has happened the way it has and the need for a Savior of the world.  I can't wait to go back to college and on the weekends or something just go to a session whenever I feel like it.  Pretty spoiled.

We have transfers this week so we will see what happens.  We found out for sure that there are quite a few people out here that have taken 4 or 5 years of Spanish and would obviously be more qualified then I am right now.  I guess whatever happens happens eh!  I'm fine with whatever, I do really miss the reservation though.  I will have to take a tour with you guys sometime.  Its exactly like Africa down here....minus the trees...green....grass....animals....pretty scenery...flowers...nice weather all the time....and obviously black people.  But hey its exactly the same. 

I saw that about Mariano Rivera on a magazine cover.  I almost cried when I saw that.  I seriously started thinking about my baseball experience and how hard it was and still is for me to just let it go...then I look at him and all he has done and ya almost lost it right in the middle of walmart  haha. Good times.  Well that's all I got, hopefully it fills your Indian/Spanish needs for the week.  Go Broncos

 

love Elder Christensen