Also this week we felt a little abandoned by the Recent Converts. Both of them, Oscar and Elizabeth left to visit family or just to vacation a little bit during the long weekend.
But this week we met a ton with the other RIqueleme family (Brother of Elizabeth) and their daughter finally left from the hospital this week! We met with them Thursday, Friday and Saturday to try and catch up of almost two weeks of lost time while their daughter was in the hospital. They are doing great. They have a five year old daughter named Antonella, she reminds of a lot of Isabel and Lavinia, she is kinda both of them put together. Mainly because she is super crazy (lavinia) and in so Innocent and loving (isabel) also she is always drawing me pictures, as in hundreds of them (both isabel and lavinia). We taught the family the word of wisdom this week and in general they were willing to live it only the father of the family had a few problems. So we asked him, Brother Elis what do you have to gain by partaking of these substances? He gave of a list, coffee warms you up in the morning, beer tastes good... etc. Then we asked him and Brother Elias what do you have to gain by not partaking of these substances? He sat pondering for a moment (we have just read to him a list of all of the blessings) finally he said, Well a stronger family, the strength of the spirit, an eternal family..... hmmm you guys really do make a convincing argument I guess its worth it. Then he committed to live it. It just struck me that most sins make us momentarily happy and eternally miserable, but obedience makes us momentarily happy and eternally happy.
This week we got to do an awesome service project, you can now call me the professional chimney sweeper. But seriously we cleaned the chimney of a less active family, and I ended up a little blacker than the dark side of the moon. (I guess there was an eclipse this past week) But it was super fun and an experience I would defiantly like to repeat.
This week we met with Maria a less active member of the church who has a brain tumor, is loosing her sight, her son is a drug addict and a lot of other stuff is happening in her life. One of those is that she started smoking again and has rapidly increased the amount she smokes (now it is a carton a day) So with her we asked her if she would like to stop smoking, of course!!! she replied. She now has a meeting with the bishop to learn more about the churches addiction program.
I know that this church is true and to all of you folks who have the opportunity to serve a mission, DO IT! Don't even think twice, you will change peoples lives, it is our duty to preach the gospel to invite ALL to come unto Christ. Also it is the best decision I have ever made, and the best you can make, once again DO IT!
Love you!!!!
Elder Hutchins
