Elder Jakob Lutze: Semana 77 (Satan's Birthday)

Buenas!

Fantastic week as always! Always some ups and downs! But the ups are always the best part :)

A member moved in to the ward, and it turns out her husband isn't a member! Well, he is kinda. He is a "Dry Member." In other words, he does everything members do, knows everything, and has a ton of time in the church! He just isn't baptized/is waiting for something, not sure what. He doesn't even know what he is waiting for. This week we have had some super, super direct, but insanely spiritual lessons with him! Some of the strongest times I have felt the spirit on my mission! So, so good! Alex and his wife, Kitza are super awesome! And their house is amazing!

This guy named Orlando was trying really hard to argue with us. It was kinda funny, because we calmly answered everything he threw at us by using the Book of Mormon and the example Jesus Christ has set for us. He eventually gave up and didn't know what to do so he just said, "It's all about interpretation!" Which didn't quite make sense cause we told him about 20 times that he just needs to ask God! But, any time we said that, he just hid behind the same response.

We met a guy who "Soul Travels." Awesome! I don't even know what that is! But, apparently when the master comes, you have to accept him as the master, and he will teach you how to do it! Sounds a bit demonic to me. But they got a bible called the Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad. Not sure what that is, but yea

Painted a school for service!

Met a dude. Next day somehow ended up at his house. His mom yelled at us for 5 minutes telling us that we don't believe in Jesus. We left kinda laughing to ourselves. Then we saw the guy in the park, so we taught him! It was pretty cool how it all played out honestly! If he wasn't at the park, there was no way we were gonna be able to teach him.

Met a guy who believes in Aliens! That was an interesting conversation...

Met an inactive member named Mohammad Ali.

'Whoppin' mi fren?' is my new favorite term! It's completely broken English to say "What's happening my friend!?"

We started and finished a puzzle.

Made muffins where the instructions just say "add water." They taste so good!

Intercambios with the APs! I went with Elder Rejon to the city! Well, first we were in the car with President Forsberg (mission president) for about 2 hours. For some reason the road was blocked off, and his phone was trying to take him in all sorts of random directions. It was fun! We went in about 10 circles. It was hilarious!

Elder Rejon and I had a great day! One of the people we taught, Rolando, made the funniest comment of my life. "It was Adan y Eva, not Adan y Esteven!" It sounds funnier in Spanish. Had some other amazing lessons as well! Also, the AP house is soooooo nice!

As far as the title goes, right now in Panama there is a thing called Carnival! People sometimes call it "Satan's Birthday or the Devil's Birthday." Why, you ask? Well, everything that occurs is of the devil! Lots of beer. Like. A lot. Just a ridiculous amount. Not even just for drinking, but literally to just spray people with it. And then there is also not a lot of clothes! So everyone and their dog packed up to head to the party! Crazy!

For Pday we also went bowling! I didn't think I could get worse than I was before, but I seemed to prove myself wrong

Spiritual Thought

A problem that Elder Clark and I addressed very recently is that of complaining. More specifically about others. It gets very old, very quickly. It is something that only causes anger, as well as contention!

I bring this up because I love what our prophet, as well as the scriptures, have to say. They don't only say that we shouldn't complain about others. But, they also say that in EVERY conversation we should uplift others! That if there be anything lovely, virtuous, or of good report, that should be our standard of talking! It can be a hard thing to do at times, but the rewards are worth it! We will feel happy. Others will feel happy. And we will be able to see others in a new light!

So my invitation to you is that you become more conscious of what you say! Words have a big impact for good or bad. Let it be good! So next time you catch yourself about to say something bad about another person, stop, and say something nice about them instead! Jesus never said anything bad about a person, ever. So, we being imperfect are never justified in doing so.

Love you all! Apologize for a bit of a long email. Keep praying for my people and my zone! Until Next Time!

- E. Lutze