Spiritual Highlights...

How's it going, this was pretty amazing full of spiritual highlights.

To start off on the non spiritual side, we fixed our hot water. Turns out it was the switch in the wall that was broken and all we needed to do was buy a 50 cent switch and replace it. The other switch was literally melted on the inside plastic and all. So no wonder it wasn't working. It's nice to have hot water back but now that it's no longer freezing cold. I've actually come to like the cold showers even over a hot one.

I swear winter came and went already. There was one week where it was really cold and we were bundled up in our jackets and everything but this week it hit 85 again so I'm pretty sure winter only lasts for a week down here. Not super upset about it but I don't know if I'm ready for the heat I guess its pretty killer haha. Because of the change of weather there has been new pollen flying around and causing everyone down here to get their allergies acting up.

We went back to Santa Rosa this week and as we were waiting for a bus to bring us back home a really drunk guy walked up to us beer in hand and asked us for money. We told him we didn't have any but he kept asking telling us he needed more beer. A member had just given us a bunch of oranges, so I reached in this bag and tried offering this drunk dude an orange. Right as I did this, a husband and wife couple were walking by and just busted up laughing at the sight of me offering this dude an orange. It was pretty funny, but I was pretty upset he didn't accept my orange.

The other day we also went over to this house way out in the boonies, and I kid you not these kids are the happiest 4 kids I've ever met in my life. They live in probably a 15 by 15 single room brick house with literally nothing to their name. But everytime we go these kids are so happy and cheerful and playing around. I love it so much. They play a lot of marbles and last time we went over and they were super excited because they all got a new marble to play with. I have no clue how to play marbles and neither does my comp, but we asked them to teach us so they did. Turns out marbles is actually pretty fun and these 8- 13 year old kids are absolute GOATS at it. I kid you not this 13 year old dude can snipe my marble with his from like 15 feet away no sweat. I was thoroughly impressed and now know how to play marbles which is awesome.

Also last week my new president said he was going to pray about what soccer team to follow and this week him and his wife showed up in soccer jerseys to the mission prayer which was awesome. We also had the opportunity to facetime with them just us and him and it was super cool. He is a great guy super funny and lighthearted but also gave us some really good advice on how we can help a couple people out here that we're teaching. All in all I have nothing bad to say about him. He's an amazing guy for sure.

So we've been trying to meet with people all week and they always say "no, no podemos, estamos con gripe" (no we can't we are with a cold) at least that's what "gripe" translates to. Basically just having a stuffy nose and a sore throat. We planned to meet with this one family and then we got a text during the day that said we couldn't because they were "con gripe" or had a slight cold. So we said alright no worries we hope you feel better. They then told us we could stop by if we wanted to they just wanted to let us know they have a little cold. My comp and I were like "alright bet, we'll be right there". Because we aren't afraid of a little cold. So we taught a really good lesson with these people and then afterward we were talking to them and saying that we hope they feel better soon. And then they say, "well we haven't been able to smell or taste for 4 days now but thank you" and we were like, wait like actually. And they say, "yeah but it's a secret, but yeah we're pretty sure it's Covid". So that was really fun. Apparently when people say they are with a slight cold they mean covid, gotta make sure I mark that one down.

I have been noticing however that more and more I am recognizing the spirit guides what we share with people. And honestly it is one of the coolest things. We went to this inactive members house and we were going to share a video, as I was looking at which video to share out of the huge collection of videos on Gospel Library my attention was drawn to this one video and no matter what else I was looking at my attention was solely on this one video. So that's what we shared. At the end she was crying and saying thank you because all she could think of through this video was the similarities between the conversion of the girl in the video and her own conversion. All she could say was thank you and said a prayer and we left. It was such a cool experience to see how the spirit knew exactly what would touch her heart, and through me I could get that to her.

I have another example too. We went back out to that family that lives quite a ways away where we have the 2 girls on date and while we were there we could only share with the mom the kids were gone. But when we showed up we could tell that something was off, usually this mom is super excited and always has a massive smile when we show up. But this time you could tell something was weighing on her. We didn't ask what, we just shared a message about God's will for us and how at moments we feel cut down and nothing is going as planned but through it all God is preparing us for what we need to do eventually, for a new purpose that at the moment we can't see. It was an amazing lesson and at the end she said "thank you, I feel at peace now."

Now I don't know about you, but usually two 19 year olds can't say anything to put any parent at ease. We're just two dumb 19 year olds nothing more. But through the power of the spirit we can comfort these people and at the end when they say they are now at peace, I don't need any more confirmation than that. The spirit is real and through us, He can testify and touch the hearts of people and it's honestly one of the most amazing things to experience.

I also have noticed that when the spirit is super strong during lessons it's like my Spanish gets a steroid shot. I kid you not I have said words and used grammar that I have never heard of and definitely didn't think if using. But all of the sudden there it is coming out of my mouth. I've been worried about if my Spanish is impeding on the lessons and my lack of skill is distracting from the spirit. But now I know that as long as I'm saying and testifying of what is right. They will understand and they will feel the spirit.

We went to this one members house this week and read with them 3 Nephi 11 when the Savior appears to the Nephites. I honestly think I like it better in spanish. When the Savior is descending it says that the people's eyes were "fijaron" on the Savior. I love this word because it means to fix but like in a way that it never comes off. For example if I attach something to a wall with nuts and bolts I could use this word to describe that action. So I love that description about their eyes were "fijaron" on the Savior. Meaning they were fixed on Him. He was their main focus. Nothing else could draw their attention Him and Him alone. Learning a new language is super cool but one of the parts I like the most about it is understanding stories or scripture using their words.

But while at this members house, they began to share their testimonies about everything and then we read the part where the Savior introduces himself, stating who he is and his purpose on the Earth. I already know this Gospel is true without a doubt, but as we read this it was like the spirit slapped us in the face. Saying that this is true, the Savior really did come to the Americas, He really did atone for all of us. And one day we will all return to Him.

This week was pretty great. We also met the new companion of Elder Johnson, he's fresh out of the home MTC straight from Lehi Utah. His name is Elder Harris and he's super cool. We're going on splits with them this week, and we're super excited. It's going to be super fun to hangout with those guys.

Love you all

Write me if you want I'd love to hear from you

Elder Schofield