April 13 Letter

Queridos amores mios,
The quote is from Li'l Abner! The musical we did when I was a sophomore in high school remember? I was singing the "past my prime" song in the shower the other night! I couldn't believe how much I could remember from that song! It was so fun!
How is everything? Thanks so much for the e-mail, Dad! I love hearing all about the family! I'm glad you all had a good Easter! Dad, what you said they do in the Philipines is just creepy! People are soooo crazy! Here in Argentina Friday is the day they do their Easter stuff. I'm not really sure what they do, but this woman got mad at me for talking to her on the "dia santo" and told me to leave her in peace. My companion was to say the least...a little peaved. All the stores are closed on this day. Which was too bad for us in the morning because we all had to go to the bathroom really bad and we had run out of toilet paper! Thankfully, a little convenient store two blocks from our apartment was open and we could buy some. Wich reminds me, did you ever find our apartment on google earth? Linsey, thank you for being my best letter writer ever! I love your letters, really, they definitely brighten my week! Keep it up okay? This week we didn't have much success. We talked to a lot of people and set a lot of appointments, but we still haven't found one of the families here in Centro that is ready! We know they're here! We've really been trying hard to plan well at night so that we can harvest the planted seeds. It's a lot easier said than done. We had to drop Marly. She wouldn't have progressed. We had an appointment with her on Thursday in the park and when I asked if she would have time this last Sunday to go to church with us, she told us she wasn't going to go to a different church that she just wants to stay with her church. However, she told us that she's always asking God to give her peace and comfort and Hermana Yañez was really bold with her and said, "we're the answer! We have the peace that you are looking for!" However, it was still a no go. A fool is someone who keeps doing the same thing, but expects different results. Ruth's friend, Sandra Silvia or Silvia Sandra or whatever is...well, we're not really sure. We saw her twice this week. The first time I asked her if she was willing to do what it takes to find the truth in her life and she said yes. I said that was good because some people aren't. Some people don't want to change, but as President Uchtdorf said in conference, "it is not enough to know the seed is good." I had to drop the cane on Ruth too and tell her that the blessings she needs right now in her life will not and cannot come if she is not attending church every Sunday and taking the sacrament. I thought I got through to her, but once again, neither she nor Sandra nor her kids were at church. I really really do not know what to do. She got baptized on December 20th and has only been to church twice since then. We wanted Sandra to come with us to the baptism our zone leaders had in their area this weekend, but she said she'd been up since 7:30, she was too tired from work and didn't want to go. I just wanted to say, try waking up at 6:30, walking in the sun for 8 hours, and returning home with dirt all over you, then tell me how your fatigue right now compares. Oh well. It's a good thing I know what I know, otherwise I wouldn't even be doing this. Last night we had an interesting experience. We had an appointment with a woman, Alicia. We started the lesson with singing "I Know That My Redeemer Lives". The one that President Hinckley wrote the lyrics to. We began teaching. When I began testifying of the savior's earthly ministry, I asked her what she knew about it. She began to recount what she knew and said that she's not part of any religion and doesn't really want to be. While I was listening I felt strongly impressed to ask her what she expected from religion. She said she didn't really expect anything. I felt impressed to asked her what she would do if she knew Christ's church was on the earth today. She said that she wasn't looking for a church. I then testified that I know that Jesus Christ's church, the same one that He organized while living on the earth, is on the earth today. With a prophet and 12 apostles. We finished the lesson by simply testifying of everything. We left a Book of Mormon with her and left. There's more to the story, but I don't have time to tell the rest. We were taught in the MTC and from Preach My Gospel to pray for our companions while they are testifying. After this appointment, Hermana Yañez and I were walking to a memeber's house for a Family Home Evening. We were discussing the lesson we had just taught and she asked, "were you praying for me?" I said yes and she said, "I was praying for you too." I know that's the reason those impressions came into my head when they did. They definitely did not come from me! I'm so grateful to be a special witness of my Redeemer. I know the Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ died for everyone on this earth. He died so that I could lean on Him when my burdens in this life get too heavy to carry by myself. He knows me personally and he loves me so much that he walked the way of suffering alone so that I could live with him in eternal happiness if I do everything I can on this earth to follow Him. Joseph Smith was His prophet and organized, through the power of God, this perfect church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have my witness. "I know what I know and my witness is true." I think President Uchtdorf said that...I can't remember. I hope everyone will have an amazing week. Remember we are children of our loving Heavenly Father. I love you all! Talk to you soon!
All my love,Hermana Shumway