'When You're 15' Part II

Before we begin the weekly tale, I met the new President of the mission personally this week. English class was moments to begin and we got a call. the Zone Leaders said, "President is here and wants to say hello." I was nervous, because that usually means something is up, but we let him in and he talked to us about our English class and the branch. The next day he even showed up to our District Meeting and brought us the biggest watermelon I've ever seen. He is very nice and I can't wait to work with him. 

     And so as we learned from a couple of weeks past, birthday parties for 15 year olds in this culture in the which I am now engulfed are a questionable environment for missionaries. However, the less active family we teach needed help. We were summoned by them to do the things that Mormon gentlemen do best, set up chairs and tables in a rapid fashion. And so, after an arduous Saturday of service, we ended the day by driving 15 minutes north to the lovely town of Owasso. We went on a scavenger hunt for the establishment that would hold the party two hours later, which only provided us with a feeling of worry. This feeling was produced when we found the place with the member's car being absent and everything already set up. We surveyed the building and received curious stares from the people who set up everything. After a call we were told to just go in and eat something, and so we did. Much like a high school wallflower, we grabbed our plate of nachos and awaited the party. 

     The family entered in their cowboy hats and all. Dressed in the modern styles of Mexico and Texas. We sat at a table, after speaking with the Sister who invited us, and ate the Mole and beans. Suddenly another older white person appeared next to our table with the Sister. She told us the woman needed to talk with us. Presumable pressured into talking to us we broke the ice by saying, "It's kind of weird being the only white people here huh?" After that she opened up quiet a bit and explained what she believed in. We bore our testimony as the accordion and tuba played in the background. 

     Then the music changed. Just as we began talking about the good stuff, the accordion was turned up to 11 and the pleasantries of Mariachi were replaced with the basses of dubstep. Never before have I had to testify over the noises of 'Locos por Fiestas'. That adversary, he's a crafty one, but we still testified and gave her a card with the hopes of planting an seed of faith that will need harvesting in a season or two. Then moments after that she made her way through the dancing crowd to go find a drink and we decided it would be best to leave. 

     Church began and we were running around as usually doing something I can't remember, when a member told us he had to talked to us. "Remember that lady we taught a while ago? She is here, she is at church!" the woman he referred to was a less active woman who had not attended church in a very long time. We ran into the Chapel and saw her. "L" sat just a few rows from the front as if she had been there ever Sunday for the past 15 years. The feeling of having someone return to church is difficult to explain to those that haven't served missions. But it is awesome.

     We had a couple of opportunities to give priesthood blessings this week as well. It is an incredible feeling standing in the place of the Lord and talk as if He were there.

     Thanks for the support and prayers, I will be praying for you all as well!

Adios

Elder Thomas