Ola! Well I'm back, it's been more than a minute since my last email. I've been getting way too distracted to write one but I'm back, and today I'll be getting you a little recap on what's been going on with me.
1. I've wrapped up my time on the islands. I spent a good 5ish months out there and I can say it was my favorite area. The members were so awesome. It was hard finding people, but that helped me be more wiling to talk to everyone, being more desperate. Rick Dufrees, our most progressing friend, is planning to get baptized in Utah sometime before October so that's rad. I'm so thankful I had the oppurtunity to serve out there and get to know so many awesome people and enjoy the beauty of God's earth that surrounded me in every moment.
2. I'm now in Snohomish, back into full Spanish work instead of just half, and I absolutely love this branch, and this area. There are so many willing people all around us who want to listen to the gospel it blows me away! Sure, we have gotten bashed 3 times in the last week by Hispanics...but we handled it with a little grace...I bore my testimony so hard it left em speechless. On the flip side we've been able to make 4 new friends just this week alone. Which for here in Washington, is insanely good! Pray for Yngrid and Yenifer so that they wanna get baptized. plis.
3. The membesr here are awesome; they feed us literally every night it's insane. And the youth here are cracked at missionary work. Nathan Daza literally gave one of his friends a signed copy of the Bible, with his testimony on the front page. Just cause he wanted to! Such a homie.
4. President came up to me the other day and asked if I was adjusting back to full Spanish work alright, and I told him that I felt like I never even left, that it came back pretty smoothly. This then prompted him to ask me if I'd be willing to start practicing Portuguese cause he's been thinking about putting in some Portuguese elders into the mission. So I've been brushing up on it. Boa tarde. So if anyone reading this email has any good learning tips...feel free to slide me an email. And any grammar tips.
These are all the updates I can think of at the moment...I also am not trying to have y'all read an essay. But lemme share you the testimony that caused the bashers to flee.
I know I have felt my Savior's love in all the world around me. He's given me a family, amazing friends, the sacrament, and so many other signs that prove his love to me. I've prayed about Him and how I can know He loves me. I know that He does, that He gave His life, for me. All he expects from me is to follow Him, to share of His light and help others come unto Him, to lead them back to His stable. He found me, and I won't ever lose myself again after feeling of His love for me. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, He loves me, and He loves all of you, and just as my favorite scripture says; "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth give I unto you, let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid."
Give your heart to Christ and He will bring you a peace that supercedes anything that this world can offer. I love my Savior, the last 17 months have been a testament of that to me, and I will spend the rest of my life fortifying that relationship with Him. I say these things in His name, Jesus Christ, amen.
Love you guys! Hopefully I'll write again next week. Depends on who all bugs me to write an email 😬
- Elder Blankenbiller
