I don't know what my luck is, but the count of drunks we've been approached by is now at two. The first was a drunken Pentacost last sunday, and this week, a 20-something year old stumbled towards us as we were chatting with a recent convert. In his slurred and barely understandable spanish, he said something to the effect of: "Hey, are you missionaries? You... you gotta preach to these people... they wanna kill me! I... I haven't done nothing..."
Yikes. We escorted him to La Calle Principal (Main street), and the strange thing is he knew about Joseph Smith (El Borracho also thought we worship the Prophet Joseph. Yikes again...).
This week has been full of travel and hard work. We had to go to Tampico this past Thursday for more New Missionary Training. As such, we had to stay Wednesday night in Huejutla, a neighboring city about an hour away, in order to catch a 6:10 AM bus to Tampico. I slept that night on a hard tile floor. Not exactly pleasant. Returning from Tampico, we almost had to sleep in Huejutla again, but luckily for us, despite the rain, we were able to make it back to San Felipe on time to sleep in our own beds. Ahh!
We worked very hard in the days that we didn't have to travel, though. We've been putting forth effort, and while we're not exactly finding numbers upon numbers of people, we're sifting through San Felipe to see if anyone wishes to hear our message. The Lord promised that in the latter days he would send forth mighty fishers and many hunters into the world to reclaim the lost tribes of Israel. And, well, I certainly feel like a hunter! Hunting for someone who wishes to learn more about our Lord and Savior. The good thing about the San Felipe area is that we can walk to all parts of it, if we so desire. As such, when we recognize a familiar face, it's the perfect opportunity to give follow up!
Well, we don't have any investigators that are progressing towards Baptism or Christ, I'm afraid. To all of the other missionaries who are working hard out there in the world and having lots of success, I'm very happy for all of you! Your faith is what gives you the power to do the work! Don't forget that!
Speaking of finding efforts and bringing others to Christ, there was a funny experience that we had during one of our street contacts. We had encountered una hermana muy amable, viviendo en una casa morada (A very kind sister, living in a purple house). When we started talking to her about our purpose as Missionaries, to our surprise, she had attended our church in the past, as well as Los Testigos de Jehova, Los Catolicas, Los Cristianas... and she was a Pentacost, herself. We asked her what caught her attention about the church and she said that she didn't like that we used the Book of Mormon. She explained to us that the Bible was perfect, that it had everything that we needed, and that she had been reading it since she was a little one.
As such, we felt impressed to share a scripture in the Old Testament, Ezekiel 37:16-19. This scripture is about how two sticks (which, in old testament times, were scriptures or books), One of Judah (the bible) and the other of Joseph (The Book of Mormon), become one in the hand of the Lord. In short, the two books support each other, becoming one in purpose, testifying of the divinity of Jesus.
She grabbed her own Bible and read it aloud with us, and when we had finished and explained it to her, she said: "Huh well I've never read this scripture. I'm going to ask my pastor about the meaning."
I invited her to ask God about the meaning as well. After all, if we confide in the knowledge of man, we're not going to get anywhere very quickly.
Lest I anger anyone reading this who is not of my faith, I also understand that the scriptures are not to private interpretation. I know that some of us may not see eye to eye when it comes to Christianity, but I pray that you will take the time to study the scriptures I share in your heart (Including the Book of Mormon scriptures, if you so desire). I testify that God will answer all sincere prayers of faith, and as such, my word is often useless without the additional testimony of the Holy Spirit.
Other than that, there has been a lot of rain recently in San Felipe. When it rains, the people hide, and as such, we don't have much success when the weather is not 100%. Ah well. We do what we can.
Chugging along here in Mexico. Don't worry too much about me! My health is excellent, I'm drinking plenty of fluids, and I'm eating well. I'm learning to be patient and dilligent in my afflictions here. Nobody said it would be easy, but plenty of people are telling me to enjoy every bump in the ride. I'm not perfect, and I'm not exactly where I want to be just yet, but this sort of thing comes with patience, time, and faith.
As such, and as always, I close with a Spiritual Thought from my scripture study:
From 3 Nephi 11: 29-32. (And these are the words of Jesus Christ to the Nephites).
29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
30 Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.
31 Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine.
32 And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.
As missionaries, we are not sent out to fight the faith of others, nor are we sent out to bash down the respect others have for people have of different faiths. We are not sent out to destroy confidence in the bible, nor are we sent out to merely gather numbers into our Church and take from others who are merely worshipping Christ in the way they know how. We are not sent out to fight with scripture against scripture, we are not sent out to make others feel ashamed of their sin.
Such is contention. Christ did not battle the Pharisees with scripture and sharp words, but he taught all with love and respect, as we must do.
As missionaries, we are representatives of Christ. We carry his name on our hearts. We must preach as he preached, love as he loved, and declare his doctrine as he would have us declare it.
God Bless you all, no matter where you are and what you're doing right now, be it planting a garden, travelling distances, or serving a mission. Seek and ye shall recieve, Knock and it shall be opened unto you.
I'll send pictures in the next e-mail. Love you and miss you!
-Elder Bowlby.
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