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| we poured this acidic something or other down our drains in an attempt to banish the horrible odor in our house |
April 8, 2015
Today was another relaxed p-day. We practically just cleaned the house all day
long. (Working together if you can
believe that!) I am really grateful for
p-days like today. The best part of the
day was figuringout a workout routine that I can do with a bum ankle. It consists of a total of 300 pushups, 100
pullups and p-90X ab ripper-X. It’s a
pretty killer routine and actually gets out all of my pent up energy!
Miracle #197: I still got my personal study in early
this morning even though the other elders were chatty Cathies.
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| My study desk. |
I laughed so much today with Elder White. I am having a blast with him so far and we
have a lot of companion unity. I am
listening to his advice and respecting him, and he is doing the same thing to
me. I am feeling like I am finally progressing again and overcoming some of the
personal challenges I have had in the mission such as: not being able to take a
joke that is played on me, talking too much in lessons, and always wanting to
be in charge. I need to continue to
practice and get better and better every day.
I am really learning to love absolutely everyone and I feel like I am
doing a TON better in making progress towards my personal goals. This is an
illustration to me of how important the right companion is in order for us to
progress eternally.
April 9, 2015
Today was a lot of contacting with a little bit of
success. All of our appointments fell
through again, so we walked and walked today. A LOT! Seriously, by the end of the day, when I
stopped walking, my ankle felt like it was on fire. More accurately, it was like hot blood was
filling my leg to the point that it would burst. Anyways, I am still able to work so I
shouldn’t whine.
The most worthwhile part of today was going to the hospital
with our bishop to visit one of the sick less active members we contacted a
while ago.
Miracle #198:
We found someone who speaks English 100%. They learned to speak while studying in
University. We had a really fun time
talking with her.
Today we met an interesting old man who claimed to be 153
years old and an apache descendent of Geronimo.
Otherwise, it was just a slow day full of excuses and rejection. Some of the Chilean excuses for not listening
to us are a real trip. For example: 1. I
am busy (sitting in a chair) 2. I’m cooking (in the early afternoon) 3. I am
washing the baby right now. 4.We are Catholic 5. I’s stuck in the house (to
which I respond, “Oh my gosh, are you okay?
How long have you been trapped in there?”) 6. I’m working (see #1). The thing is about most of these excuses is
that we can see them watching TV right before they answer their door.
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| This was a really fun contacting activity we did on a street corner. We had poster board of a pamphlet called 3 ways to be a happier family. We were talking to everyone who passed about the family and asking if we could pass by and give them a pamphlet. |
April 12, 2015
Today was a little rough because of the fact that I was
fasting and I could not take ibuprofen for my ankle. All through church, I was in pain and grumpy
from fasting. On top of that, Elder
Chavez and Elder Johnson picked the more convenient lunch for themselves so we
had to walk farther. Ughh! I just was happy after we had something to
eat!
We worked hard, but then we had to go to choir practice
where I played the piano accompaniment.
Afterwards we went to a family home evening where we did the pushup
atonement lesson. I did around 250 total
pushups and it went well.
Miracle #210: The choir that we helped actually
sounded good! Normally Chilean choirs
sound about like a primary choir.
The really
funny/crazy story of the day was a dream that the bishop had about me. Yeah, weird that he is dreaming about me, but
here in South America people place a lot of stock in dreams and the power of
revelation through dreams. First of all
I should tell you that the Bishop was really excited to talk to me, and asked
me if my first name was Aaron? What? No, I told him. Normally we are told to not tell people our
first names so that they will call us by our title of “Elder”. I
could see that he was visibly disappointed.
Then he told me that he thought he had a special dream about me, but
that it just must have been a crazy dream.
So naturally I was curious and asked him to tell me his dream. Basically
he was wandering in a mist of darkness and was desperately calling my name
trying to find me. He kept shouting “Elder Colvin” repeatedly as he searched
for me in the mist. Someone he didn’t
know approached him and asked him who he was looking for. He said, “Elder Colvin.” The man told him that he needed to call me by
my name. The bishop told the man that is
what he called me – Elder Colvin. Then
the man counseled him to call me by my first name. “But, I don’t know it, “ replied the
Bishop. The man then told the bishop
that I was named after the name of the lesser priesthood and then he left and
the dream ended. When the Bishop told me his dream I was blown away, then I
told him what my first name was – LEVI, which is another name of the lesser
priesthood – the Aaronic or the Levitical priesthood. Then we were both blown away. Crazy cool
right?? Told you that I have a special
connection with this Bishop!
April 13, 2015
Today was just a great start to the week. We had a really tough week last week work
wise, but today just got me excited for the week ahead. We had some good lessons and found some
really good contacts. Today started with
morning contacts then we went to San Bernardo where I officially became Chilean
by getting my carnet. I also bought an
ankle brace that allowed me to stop using the orthopedic boot that was killing
me. The brace has been the BEST! I walk way better ad the pressure helps a lot
with the pain.
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| my life-saver of an ankle brace.... its a little annoying but totally worth it |
Miracle #202: In the morning I started contacting a
young man, but the bus came before I could make any followup plans with him.
Later on in the day, we were walking along and I decided to knock a door and it
was his door, and he seems interested!
A funny part of the day had to be that for some odd reason
Elder White was struggling today, but it was really a fun day in general.
April 14, 2015
Well today was another good day. We started with a great district meeting
where we talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon in missionary work. I really liked the lesson and it helped me to
re-focus myself on what I am doing here as a missionary. After that, we jumped into the day and had
another great day of work.
Miracle #203: Today was the first day in this sector
where we were fed lots of really good food.
The funniest part of today was when Elder White had crazy
hiccupping fits that lasted over 2 hours.
In the first lesson he started hiccupping during the prayer that I was
giving and admittedly I had a hard time not laughing about that. Then in the next lesson he was asked to give
the prayer and hiccupped all the way through it.
The worst part of the day was once again having to have a
correlation meeting with our ward mission leader. He ALWAYS complains about how the other ward
members don’t do anything. I just hate
judgmental gossiping so I have to shut my mouth whenever he opens his. I just want to work hard and try to NOT
complain which is ironic since I am complaining right now.
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| my mad card throwing skills (that's the second story) |
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