I don't have a lot to say this week. One cool experience: So Wednesday I got the call that Grandpa had died. I was fine, a little sad, but fine. I didn't shed a single tear or anything and it didn't distract me at all. We've been doing this new program with the members to get them excited about missionary work and help them know the doctrine better. We give them one of the pamphlets to go along with one of the lessons (restoration, plan of salvation, the gospel of Jesus Christ, etc.) and tell them to study it well. Then a few days later, we come back and do a little practice where the member, with one of us as his companion, teaches the other missionary, who takes the role of a current investigator, the lesson that they had studied. That night we went to do it with a 17 year old girl named R, and she was going to teach us the Plan of Salvation. And of course it was my turn to be investigator. It was exactly what I needed. I wasn't sad or anything, but it helped me a lot and strengthened my testimony. She had no idea what had happened that day, but the Spirit spoke through her and Elder A what I needed to hear. Mostly this whole experience has strengthened my testimony of the Plan of Salvation a lot. I surprised myself with how totally fine I was with the news. I know I'll see Grandpa again and that he is in a better place right now--doing exactly what I'm doing. It has been a real blessing to be here in the mission when this happened, not having to see all the suffering and being completely focused on the gospel and the needs of other people. I am so full of thanks.
Our Branch President going to be in Guzman and Guadalajara all this week, so I'm in charge of the branch right now. Hopefully nobody dies and we don't have to look for a new house of prayer, or nothing else crazy happens this week.
This Sunday I, the less active member that I told you about, is going to baptize his 8 year old daughter. Should be sweet!
I told you i've been teaching sunday school for the youth here. Basically I love it. This new program is super inspired and is going to make some pretty rocking missionaries. The lesson yesterday was particularly awesome. It was about relying on the grace of the Savior to become a better teacher of the gospel. I hardly had to teach anything, the youth did it all! I just told them which scriptures to look up and they taught each other. It was super spiritual, and at the end we did a practice to see if they could do it. I pretended to be one of their less-active friends and they as a class had to use the spirit to convince me to come to church next sunday. It was a great experience, they did really well and felt the Spirit super strong. And then they decided to go around and visit the less active youth for mutual this week! So I´m excited to hear how that went. They are so great.
I'm glad to hear that you all took the news well also this week. I've been praying for you a lot, especially Granny. Take good care of her, ok? I love you all! have a fantastic week and happy easter!
Elder Pew
