This week was transfers so I got a new companion! Her name is Sister Endemano from Riverton, Utah. So that is super funny because she knows a ton of people! (Jake Strong, Sierra McQuivey, etc.) I am really excited that she is a hard worker and willing to put in a lot of effort.
One of our roomates got a concussion two weeks ago but the side-effects have hinted towards more than a concussion and our Mission President's wife wants her to get everything checked out. Well, her new companion is from Trinidad and can't drive....so we had to drive them to the doctor after transfers. I share all of this because on Wednesday, we did Comp study in the hospital. We got some real weird looks. It was entertaining.
The cool story from this week is Pablo. He came to church last week with Jakob and we started talking to him and teaching him. Pablo is the definition of humility. At one point while we were talking to him he started talking about the people he lives with. His oldest brother came to the states when Pablo was 2, so Pablo doesn't remember him. Pablo moved to the states a couple of months ago and he talked about how uncomfortable he is living with his brothers. He said "They come here to work in order to support their families, but then they forget about their families and spend their money drinking while their wives and children suffer in poverty." It hit me really hard to hear what I suspect happens from the mouth of someone who has and is living it. He told us that he told his brothers he has decided to be baptized and they laughed at him. I am struck over and over again by how strong these people are!
Right after we met with Pablo yesterday we went tracting and knocked into a man named Ken. He spent 18 minutes telling us about how he is beyond saving. He used to be a millionaire and now lives in a trailer park. The only people he talks to are the doctors in the hospital and his dog. He told us that we are naive girls and that if we knew everything he has been through, we wouldn't believe in God either. Then he told us how "they" have proved that Jesus was not actually Christ...just a disillusioned man. My mission scripture is Mosiah 4:9-10. It talks about believing and this mission scripture has really been on my mind a lot my entire mission. Believing in Christ and in the gospel is a choice we have to re-commit ourselves to every day, but the peace gained through faith in Jesus Christ is worth every mock we might recieve.
After knocking we went to Jennifer's apartment. And man that woman is just incredible. She showed us the work she finished by spending all day yesterday doing family history. It was so cool to see how excited she got at the names and information she found. I just continue to be impressed by her and struck by how as missionaries we really aren't here to compel people to believe in God. We are here as resources for the people that want to learn more.
I love all of you so much! I am jealous of polo and everyone being in town at my house right now and of the Tori Kelly concert, but I am glad you are all having fun. I love you and miss you!
-Sister Bren Scadden