Spreading the Word - Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Following along in The Undaunted this morning made us feel like whimps compared to what those pioneers faced in their trek through Hole in the Rock. The first wagon started through. We had no idea what was involved in this pioneer adventure -- no idea at all! We still can't believe that they attached a road to the side of a cliff. Mind boggling to say the least! We look forward to our story hour each morning.

Today, two Kroffs and one Elder Hales stayed in the office all day. Elder Coria and Elder Peterson had to take the President's car up to the Capital to get serviced and a tire fixed. They left at 10:00 and returned about 2:30 absolutely starved. Good thing their dinner was sent in by Hermana Bolentini and was waiting for them.

I worked on baptisms and have two more to enter that just came in today. I also ordered the flights home for those leaving June 2. Elder Kroff worked on emailing all the missionaries that haven't switched over to the new missionary email account yet. That number was 116. They have until the end of March to make the switch or they won't have email availability.

Elder Peterson is working on a typing, copying, printing, and collating project the President wants done. It is a handout relating to the Book of Mormon with the main scripture for several topics. I haven't examined it too closely because, of course, it is all in Spanish. So I am grateful beyond words that he is with us right now to handle these lasts two printing projects the President has given us. He has saved my sanity. I don't know when I would have had the time to devote to these projects. Borrowing a phrase from the Larson's blog/journal entries -- this is truly a tender mercy.

When the elders left today at 4:00, we were close behind them. We had an appointment to meet the sisters at the Tigre train station to accompany them to the home of Catalina Perez. We had been asked a week ago to pay her a visit with encouragement to come back to church. We attended her baptism last fall, and she has only come to church once since then. The missionaries have kept in contact with her and she plans on coming every week, but just doesn't walk out the door. So, we were asked to visit her and see if we could help her. But, in the meantime, when the sisters called her and she found out that Sister Collinwood was leaving in a week, she told them to come with the Kroff's and we would have pizza.

We met the sisters and got on the colectivo to go to her house. We're not sure we could have found it without them. We rode and rode and turned this way and that and finally came to a stop having to walk about two blocks more to reach her home. She was waiting outside and so glad to have visitors.

After a photo before the sun went down, we sat around her table and the sisters gave a short lesson on faith. She was warm and receptive and committed again to start coming. She said that because the Kroff's came to see her she will come back to church and never miss. We'll look forward to next Sunday to see if she keeps her word.

She cooked three pre-made pizza shells with a cheese topping and we enjoyed every bite. She was a gracious host and seemed genuinely pleased that we were all at her home. It is amazing what a small gesture like a personal visit can do to brighten someone's life and make him or her feel wanted. We have offered to visit inactives and do what we can, but when we only have the evening hours free and so much travel is involved, there isn't much daylight left to go too far. Some areas and streets are dangerous to be on at night and we are not encouraged to be wandering around on foot, or be on public transportation after dark or when it is late.

After leaving sweet Catalina, the sisters had another appointment they were rushing to. We were going to just stay on the bus and continue on to San Fernando, but then they asked us if we wanted to join them for their other appointment. We said, "Sure". It was now 8:00 and dark, but the area we were headed to was closer to a busy area of town. And, we were a group of five. This lady and her son are scheduled to be baptized on Saturday, but she was having some doubts. I think they wanted Elder Kroff there to help answer her questions and alleviate her concerns. She believed everything about the church, but her main hang up was if Joseph Smith was really a prophet. That is a biggy, I'd say. Rich did a great job in re-teaching about the restoration and bearing testimony of Joseph Smith. She may not be ready for Saturday, but her son is planning on his baptism that day.

We walked part way with the sisters and as we continued on to the main business area to wait for a bus, the sisters literally took off running the six or eight blocks to their apartment building. It was a little after 9:00 and they were late making it home on time. I know of other elders who have also had to run to make it home by the 9:00 hour. They take it seriously and want to be obedient -- that's good!

We walked in the door at 9:30, tired and sleepy, but happy for a night of missionary service that wasn't office work. We have a renewed appreciation for our office elders that do this five nights a week after spending a day at their desks. Youthfulness has it's benefits.