NEWS
(INVESTIGATOR'S NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO MAINTAIN ANONYMITY)
NOVEMBER 18, 2013 - Tombez, tombez, tombez...
Welp... as the title says. we've had quite an uneventful week. Let's just put it this way... The people that are the most open to listen to us on the street are Africans. I love them so much. They really are incredible. But, I could tell stories for hours to try to explain the differences between our cultures, but here's the only antecdote that I think can sum it up. For an african, If you have a RDV at 6 pm. If you show up at 3 Pm, It's ok. If you show up at 6 pm. It's ok. If you show up at 9 pm, It's ok. But if you don't show up at all, It's still ok. Needless to say. All of our current amis happen to be Africans, (or too-busy-working-Europeans), that this week was just ok. Really didn't see much progress with any amis. Frustrating.
So what did happen? well.. We got back in contact with one of our amis from last transfer that apparently accepted baptism. Nathaly is 16 years old, and of Peruvian decent, but born and raised swiss. The problem with her is that her Father isn't so cool with the idea of her being a member of this church. (pretty sure he was a member when he was young... not 100% sure about it). well.. Let's just say. we're starting week 4 and I've still never even SEEN Nathaly or her family. BUT she did answer the phone finally and tell us that she was in Germany on vacation. We invited her to our stake conference for this last weekend, and apparently she came with her member friend, but they showed up late, and left as soon as the thing ended, and we never found her in that HUGE room of people. so... she came to church with her friend and we STILL didn't see her. hmph. But hey. maybe we can see somethings happen here..
But as you can see, we've got nothing huge going on right now. SO... we're starting over. FINDING FINDING FINDING. yay! already have a bunch of more potential people, but still no RDV's taught with them. We'll see what happens.
BUT.. stake conference was an exciting one because the Genève stake got a new Stake president. He's a super young, energetic guy that's passionate about misisonary work. Needless to say, the whole conference was about "casser-ing" the members into becoming member missionaries. It really is the most frustrating thing about being a missionary.. We can get our amis to be missionaries. We can even get less actives to be missionaries. But getting fully active, busy, families to be missionaries is the challenge of the century. We'll see what we can do... Anyway. I sang in a choir for stake conference. It was fun to get to sing again. And because of being in the choir, I got to sit RIGHT behind the general authority during the conference. Afterwards he turned around and had a really cool conversation with me about missionary work. His name is Elder Kerons (or something like that) from the 70. He really was an incredible guy. He really has a way of making people feel loved and cared about in a matter of seconds. Also, our awesome mission president was at the conference, and spoke, and he BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE laughing, and crying. He really is just too awesome to be true. I'm constantly blown away at how awesome our president is.
This last week was zone conference/interviews with the president.. In which my interviews are always really weird. It normally just goes like this...
"Hey Elder Lago, how are ya?"
"Great. Really, things are going well."
"Cool. I know I can trust you, you're a great missionary. Do you have any questions for me?"
"Thanks, but.. nope."
"Ok. keep the good work up. will you finish with a prayer for us. I need to talk to people with real problems."
BUT this time, I was DETERMINED to get an awesome interview with him, and so when he gave me a chance to ask him a question, I asked him what specifically he wants me to work on, or get better at. What he said to me kind of surprised me. But, he didn't even think about it for a second, it just JUMPED out of him. he said,
"Watch the leaders around you. learn from them. sort out what you don't like. Take what you like. Add it to yourself. Make yourself the best leader you can be. Figure out how to motivate people that are less motivated than you."
That was not at ALL what I was expecting... Really, was the last thing on my mind. But I think that's why i liked it so much. I love President Roney.
In answer to some of your emails...
First off, KRISTI.... you haven't written me in forever. Plus, my last letter had a due date on it. haha. ;)
also, Papi, don't send me any music or anything. In fact I can't really listen to any of the music you put on the ipod. We have a "mission CD" in each appartment that is the only thing we can listen to. (unless otherwise approved by the president) But it has TONS of stuff on it. so I'm ok with music.,
As far as Christmas goes. AGAIN, I don't know where I'll be for christmas, so looking for members with skype right now isn't worth my time, I'll definitely do that as soon as the next transfer starts. I don't really want anything though.. I'm honestly fine. The thing is, I live in one of the richest areas in the world.. Meaning, if I need anything. It's just down the street.. But, what could I want? hm... I have NO idea. Maybe a little deck of uno or monopoly deal. (to play on p-days when it's too cold/wet to go play soccer). I still have chorizo and ham and recess, so don't worry there. I'm good at saving stuff. :) The sole to my shoe did conpletely crack in half. (all the way to my sock).. But I still have other ones to wear for now.. But eventually I will just buy some more here. (don't even think about sending me clothes from America.... haha. anything I need/want I will definitely buy here.) The only thing I'd like to buy is a nice shoulder bag. (we aren't allowed to wear backpacks. and I've been using the little black scripture bag you bought me to carry everything in, but it's a little bit too small), But I would have to buy that in France because in switzerland it's just WAY too expensive to buy a bag..But for the moment. I really am fine... Maybe some caramel would be sweet. I am kind of sad I'll be missing our carmel. Also, really the biggest thing I miss from America is Café Rio.. can you ship me that? haha jk. Dont even do it as a joke.. haha. I honestly don't know. I'll think about it again this week and let you know next monday.
Also, I'm trying to be disciplined enough to ONLY speak French from here on out, but when everyone talks to me in English or Spanish. It's pretty hard to answer back in french all the time. haha. but yeah, I LOVE FRENCH. I'm pretty sure that's the language they speak in heaven.. just sayin'..
Thanks guys for everything. For your emails, and especially for your prayers. They are such a strength to me.
I love you all so much!
Love - Elder Lago
Ps. Thank sister Day again for her package. It was super awesome. Tell her not to send me any more of the chapters though until I tell her otherwise. I'm going to see how I like this one, but I might really like it and ask for the next ones. She'll know what I'm talking about.
Love you!
So what did happen? well.. We got back in contact with one of our amis from last transfer that apparently accepted baptism. Nathaly is 16 years old, and of Peruvian decent, but born and raised swiss. The problem with her is that her Father isn't so cool with the idea of her being a member of this church. (pretty sure he was a member when he was young... not 100% sure about it). well.. Let's just say. we're starting week 4 and I've still never even SEEN Nathaly or her family. BUT she did answer the phone finally and tell us that she was in Germany on vacation. We invited her to our stake conference for this last weekend, and apparently she came with her member friend, but they showed up late, and left as soon as the thing ended, and we never found her in that HUGE room of people. so... she came to church with her friend and we STILL didn't see her. hmph. But hey. maybe we can see somethings happen here..
But as you can see, we've got nothing huge going on right now. SO... we're starting over. FINDING FINDING FINDING. yay! already have a bunch of more potential people, but still no RDV's taught with them. We'll see what happens.
BUT.. stake conference was an exciting one because the Genève stake got a new Stake president. He's a super young, energetic guy that's passionate about misisonary work. Needless to say, the whole conference was about "casser-ing" the members into becoming member missionaries. It really is the most frustrating thing about being a missionary.. We can get our amis to be missionaries. We can even get less actives to be missionaries. But getting fully active, busy, families to be missionaries is the challenge of the century. We'll see what we can do... Anyway. I sang in a choir for stake conference. It was fun to get to sing again. And because of being in the choir, I got to sit RIGHT behind the general authority during the conference. Afterwards he turned around and had a really cool conversation with me about missionary work. His name is Elder Kerons (or something like that) from the 70. He really was an incredible guy. He really has a way of making people feel loved and cared about in a matter of seconds. Also, our awesome mission president was at the conference, and spoke, and he BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE laughing, and crying. He really is just too awesome to be true. I'm constantly blown away at how awesome our president is.
This last week was zone conference/interviews with the president.. In which my interviews are always really weird. It normally just goes like this...
"Hey Elder Lago, how are ya?"
"Great. Really, things are going well."
"Cool. I know I can trust you, you're a great missionary. Do you have any questions for me?"
"Thanks, but.. nope."
"Ok. keep the good work up. will you finish with a prayer for us. I need to talk to people with real problems."
BUT this time, I was DETERMINED to get an awesome interview with him, and so when he gave me a chance to ask him a question, I asked him what specifically he wants me to work on, or get better at. What he said to me kind of surprised me. But, he didn't even think about it for a second, it just JUMPED out of him. he said,
"Watch the leaders around you. learn from them. sort out what you don't like. Take what you like. Add it to yourself. Make yourself the best leader you can be. Figure out how to motivate people that are less motivated than you."
That was not at ALL what I was expecting... Really, was the last thing on my mind. But I think that's why i liked it so much. I love President Roney.
In answer to some of your emails...
First off, KRISTI.... you haven't written me in forever. Plus, my last letter had a due date on it. haha. ;)
also, Papi, don't send me any music or anything. In fact I can't really listen to any of the music you put on the ipod. We have a "mission CD" in each appartment that is the only thing we can listen to. (unless otherwise approved by the president) But it has TONS of stuff on it. so I'm ok with music.,
As far as Christmas goes. AGAIN, I don't know where I'll be for christmas, so looking for members with skype right now isn't worth my time, I'll definitely do that as soon as the next transfer starts. I don't really want anything though.. I'm honestly fine. The thing is, I live in one of the richest areas in the world.. Meaning, if I need anything. It's just down the street.. But, what could I want? hm... I have NO idea. Maybe a little deck of uno or monopoly deal. (to play on p-days when it's too cold/wet to go play soccer). I still have chorizo and ham and recess, so don't worry there. I'm good at saving stuff. :) The sole to my shoe did conpletely crack in half. (all the way to my sock).. But I still have other ones to wear for now.. But eventually I will just buy some more here. (don't even think about sending me clothes from America.... haha. anything I need/want I will definitely buy here.) The only thing I'd like to buy is a nice shoulder bag. (we aren't allowed to wear backpacks. and I've been using the little black scripture bag you bought me to carry everything in, but it's a little bit too small), But I would have to buy that in France because in switzerland it's just WAY too expensive to buy a bag..But for the moment. I really am fine... Maybe some caramel would be sweet. I am kind of sad I'll be missing our carmel. Also, really the biggest thing I miss from America is Café Rio.. can you ship me that? haha jk. Dont even do it as a joke.. haha. I honestly don't know. I'll think about it again this week and let you know next monday.
Also, I'm trying to be disciplined enough to ONLY speak French from here on out, but when everyone talks to me in English or Spanish. It's pretty hard to answer back in french all the time. haha. but yeah, I LOVE FRENCH. I'm pretty sure that's the language they speak in heaven.. just sayin'..
Thanks guys for everything. For your emails, and especially for your prayers. They are such a strength to me.
I love you all so much!
Love - Elder Lago
Ps. Thank sister Day again for her package. It was super awesome. Tell her not to send me any more of the chapters though until I tell her otherwise. I'm going to see how I like this one, but I might really like it and ask for the next ones. She'll know what I'm talking about.
Love you!