Face Volcano and St. Johns
Pretty above average week but there were a few highlights.
For P–day I lived up to my Gardner heritage and played golf but also lived up to my the heritage of my uncles and brother because I played horribly. I didn’t put on sunscreen of course and got super burnt.
Monday and Tuesday night was more of Carnival and we were walking on the main street where people were driving or walking to the event. A lot of the women were feeling spicy and so I got catcalled like 12 times on the walk home.
Tuesday night I tried popping one of those pimples that I’ve had for a few years that I probably need like a surgery to remove but every once in a while I convince myself I can pop it. BAD IDEA
Wednesday our ZLs called us saying we were doing exchanges right then because they felt like it so we visited 1 person and then went back to our apartment and I packed to go to the other area. I went with Élder Humphreys, who is from St. Johns in AZ. We talked a lot about back home and a lot about fishing up in the mountains. He’s a GOAT and has some really good exchanges. The biggest thing we did was finish teaching the principles and the pre interview of their investigator Daniel. He’s great and wants so bad to be baptized but didn’t pass his interview 😔
We got back Friday morning to our area and worked a bunch Friday and Saturday.
Saturday afternoon😬😬
Wednesday-Saturday that pimple I tried popping was mega swollen and I noticed the white end. The sign meaning that it was ready. I barely touched it and I absolutely painted the mirror in my bathroom. The next 20 minutes was me extracting everything I could from it and then putting Triple Antibiotic Cream on it. I have 2 videos of it. If my dad put them on the blog, viewer discretion be advised. Or they are on my Google Photos https://photos.app.goo.gl/g9K5EHgzbJLtD3wC8
On Sunday none of our amigos came to church but 3 people who we aren’t teaching came. One is the boyfriend of a member who we have tried to teach but is never home, one is the kid of Miguel, the guy we just baptized but who is about to move to the area he was originally in, and the son of a member who supposedly isn’t baptized.
5 kids total have no said “6-7” to me. One of them was Sunday in the middle of sacrament meeting and I bursted out laughing because it was a youth Convert helping count the attendances and randomly turned to me, looked me in the eyes and said it.
Also transfers are this next week. This transfer went by crazy fast. I’m pretty sure both Élder Vargas and I are staying but who ever knows?
Spiritual Thought:
I have been thinking a lot about one of the key points of Elder Bednar’s teachings. One thing he talks a lot about is how we are “agents to act, not objects to be acted upon”. Many times he has shared about Mosiah 24. I love his talk from April 2014 titled “Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease”:
“And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord” (Mosiah 24:15; emphasis added).
“The challenges and difficulties were not immediately removed from the people. But Alma and his followers were strengthened, and their increased capacity made the burdens lighter. These good people were empowered through the Atonement to act as agents (see D&C 58:26–29) and impact their circumstances. And “in the strength of the Lord” (Words of Mormon 1:14; Mosiah 9:17; 10:10; Alma 20:4), Alma and his people were directed to safety in the land of Zarahemla.””
The next paragraph of that talk is what I have been thinking a lot about. He talks about how the Atonement of Jesus Christ was not done only so he could pay the price of our sins, but also so he could strengthen us, comfort us, and help us in our experiences in life. He took upon himself everything so that we could not only be saved from sin, but be changed and turn away from sin, so we could overcome trials, pains, and afflictions.
I love you all. Thank you to anyone that has been sending me emails. They are greatly appreciated. I hope all is going well back home!
With love,
— Élder Curtis
