Elder Jakob Lutze: Semana 95 (Wow, This Coffee is Really Good!)

Buenas!!

Just a normal day here in Panama! By that I mean we are on the metro train and a man is preaching/shouting the word.

This week was really good! Very interesting, but I learned a lot!

Wednesday we went to see a doctor for my companion. My testimony on the Word of Wisdom definitely grew! The doctor was trying to figure out what was wrong, and the first questions he asked were if my comp drank alcohol, smoked, drank tea, drank coffee, or used drugs. The Word of Wisdom is real folks!

Ironically, right before that, we were in the elevator with two women who were drinking coffee. And I'm pretty sure they knew we don't drink coffee, because the only thing they said to each other was "Wow this is the best coffee I've ever had! It must be different today. I don't know why, but today it's just so much better!"

They then got off. Elder Rojas and I just looked at each other and burst out laughing

We had a family history activity in the ward! It didn't really work. But I learned that I really like family history!

The bishop called my arms fat. It just sounded funny is all.

The Diablo Rojos, which are the ghetto school buses, are always super full! So sometimes we get to hang outside of it. By that I mean that your feet are in the bus, but your body is hanging outside of it. It's awesome!!

There was a big Fathers day activity! All the dads liked it a lot! The spirit wasn't really there though. They did the activity in the chapel. They had really loud music and there was some dancing that probably wasn't the best. It was weird.

Church was good! Panamanians are scared of the rain, so lots didn't come. But our friend Deogracias came! She's so awesome! She's gonna be baptized next week!! We taught her and all the youth on Sunday, and it was a super fun lesson!

Some thoughts for the week...

Remember Diomar? The man from Facebook we happened to contact? Well we went by a few times. But the last time we went didn't go so well.

From the moment we walked in the house the spirit wasn't there. To sum up what happened, he started telling us the entire life of Joseph Smith by memory. Every. Single. Detail. With dates and everything. Meaning he knew it long before we had taught him anything. He started bashing us. And we just sat there smiling. Just listening.

Once he finished, we both bore a very strong testimony of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. The Spirit instantly filled the room. Then we left.

Later I was trying to think of what more we could have done. And I thought about Jesus. The Pharisees many times tried to contend with Jesus. They tried to get him to contend back. But Jesus always gave testimony of what He knew to be true.

Trying to argue never works! The spirit of contention is of the Devil! So sometimes all we can do is bear down in pure testimony of the truth, and walk away.

So the miracle may not have happened the way we wanted it to with Diomar. But I count it as a blessing in the things I learned!

So my invitation for you all is to always give testimony! In word and in deed. Your testimony is one of the most powerful things you possess! So use it!

"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord" ~ 2 Timothy 1:8

I love you all lots! I'm always praying for you! Keep praying for my people and my zone! Until Next Week!

- E. Lutze