Dear Mom and Dad,
Since my realization last week, I´ve been having the happiest week of my life. There have been ups and downs still, but the ups are what seem to stick out, and often, despite being aware of my errors and faults, despite missed appointments and people who won´t listen, I feel glowingly, resplendently happy. I´m not sure how long this state of relative euphoria will last. I´m hoping it becomes a lifestyle change, but I realize I´ll probably nose dive several times before I really get the hang of being happy like this most of the time. And, fitting the extremely functional state I´m in, I´m completely (or mostly) content with that.
I loved getting emails from everyone today. I feel loved and happy. And I´m excited for my birthday tomorrow. I had thought briefly, a few weeks ago, when I was in a much more negative state, of not telling anyone it was my birthday and sort of wallowing in self induced suffering and solitude. What a stupid idea. I recovered and have confidently volunteered the information to almost all of my zone and several members. I realized telling them I´m having a birthday isn´t like asking them to do stuff for me, it´s like inviting them to celebrate with me, even if just by being aware and telling me "Happy Birthday!". I´m bringing cake to district meeting tomorrow, and I said yes when a cute little less active abuela invited me over for birthday facturas. And a sister in the ward is making us dinner that we can carry back to the pension at night. She didn´t know it was my birthday, but I told her "Thanks for offering to feed us, because it´s going to be my birthday!" She was extra happy to be able to serve us on my birthday, and I was happier too. So, in the end, expressing one´s own wants and needs is often more unselfish than concealing them. Interesting.
Best quotes of the week:
Me: Will you get baptized on July 2?
Evelin (9 years old): YES! (she threw her arms out wide and threw her head back as she said it, nervous but thrilled) BEST ACCEPTANCE OF A BAPTISMAL DATE I´VE EVER SEEN! I LOVE EVELIN!
Marriage proposal to me by a drunk (old) man (Fabio) we met in the street:
"Tengo una sorpresa para vos. Me voy a casar en tu iglesia." i.e. "I have a surprise for you. I´m going to get married in your church." Wink. (it didn´t immediately dawn on me he was drunk, because he hit my weak spot by starting the conversation saying "I want to get baptized in your church!") We had already set a return appointment, which we quickly changed to an appointment of no return. No thanks, che.
Me: "Don´t you think coming to church will help you?"
Less active young man: "Let´s talk another day, sister, because right now I´m flying."
Yup. High as a kite. But the sister missionaries will return to reactivate him when the hang over wears off.
Sunday morning was probably one of the happiest moments of my life. Evelin miraculously woke up on time and was ready and waiting in her cute little Sunday outfit at 7:45. She didn´t complain about walking a mile to pick up our other investigators. Lucila and Enzo were ready and waiting too! Norma (other investigator) didn´t show, and Lucila and Enzo´s mom, Monica, had to stay to visit with relatives, but I was just too thrilled to mind too much. We walked together with Evelin, Lucila, Enzo, and Celeste and Elvira (my converts from last transfer) to the bus stop and miraculously arrived at the chapel on time to take the ward sponsored bus to stake conference in Ramos Mejía. I was looking around the bus at all the members and my converts and my investigators and I was just thrilled out of my socks to be with them and going to conference to listen to an apostle. I know all this enthusiastic happiness doesn´t make that much sense, but I´d already been having one of the best, most positive weeks of my life and having three investigators on the bus to conference was like a cascade of real maple syrup running down a stack one hundred banana pancakes high. Evelin, Lucila, and Enzo all have dates to be baptized this transfer. They are fantastic! They will sure keep me busy the next couple weeks though.
One last thing. I´ve been watching how my zone leader, Elder Gutierrez, teaches, and he uses loads of questions. Then our study plan from the first presidency said that I had to teach Hna. Centurion how to ask inspired questions during a lesson. So we did a practice together of teaching just by asking questions. And that same day I started asking loads of questions to the investigators: about their lives, what they thought about God, whatever came to my mind that had to do with what we were trying to teach. And the investigators felt the love and started opening up and letting us see what their needs were. Enzo told us he had always wanted to know what happens after death and where we came from--- questions I had no idea he had, because I, well, hadn´t asked him. So we promised to answer his questions and when we got to the house the next day, he gave the opening prayer without complaining and prayed for help to go to church EVERY WEEK! We taught a super detailed Plan of Salvation lesson that we had planned just for him and his family and he liked it. He and his sister Lucila accepted the same baptismal date and made it to church! I don´t attribute all of that just to asking him questions, but I think it helped. It is my new mission obsession (asking questions.) And I´ve realized asking lots of questions not only helps the investigators feel like we are interested in them, it helps me BE more interested in them. It is fantastic.
Oh, and today Hna. Centurión and I took a day trip to San Justo with Hermanas Azcurra and Reales and went shopping. I bought a pair of boots so I would be prepared for the cold weather. They were super cheap-- about 50 US dollars, and they are very attractive! My opinion of Argentine fashion is improving daily. Then we went out to lunch-- milanesa suprema a la napolitana con fritas (see if Dad can decipher that for you) and fanta orange soda. Best P´day ever!
I love you and the whole family! I´m so happy that you all seem to be doing well and that you are writing to me. Your Hawaii vacation sounded paradisaical. Start saving those pennies so we can go when Ben gets back from the mission. I´m willing to leave behind any future spouse I may have acquired by that time to make the trip cheaper. ;)
Love,
Ellis
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