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40 Day Fast

 August 7, 2023

Hey, what's up, y'all? We're back again with a semi-packed  Argentine week! Ready for some stories? 

This week was kind of difficult, but in the end, it was good because I learned a lot of things.

On Tuesday, I was full of energy and ready to fill the day with work, so I planned a full day. Near the end of it, though, my companion just wasn't into it, like at all, which is weird, right? So I asked him, "Elder, you good?" And he's like,"Ya, I'm fine," but when he said that, I knew he wasn't. So I took him to the pandaria, which is basically a bakery, and we bought so many doughnuts and treats. And we went home to rest because I can't work solo, and the Spirit for teaching just wasn't right. But I mean I cheered up my companion, so it was good, and I got to eat doughnuts, soo I mean, hey, not that bad, hahaha.

Wednesday comes around and I look at our calendar and I'm like, "Let's go! Lots of lessons and opportunities to teach!" As we get going, people just don't open up, so it gets rough for my comp who hasn't been out on his mission super long, and things were different in his old area where people would open and let you in even if they didn't know you. So since it's completely different here, I decided to make a little game with him and it worked long enough for us to get to a sit-down lesson with this little girl and her mom. Let me tell you, the change I saw in my companion's face was incredible. Our success continued on into the night, so that was dope!!

On Thursday, I had a really long leader's meeting, which really didn't help our lesson situation, but let me tell you the things I learned in that meeting. For example, we learned how to be more focused on inviting people to be baptized right away because, why not? If they say no it doesn't hurt me. We also learned a lot about what makes a good leader, and one thing that Elder Dixion said that has helped me a lot is that a good leader makes the people they are leading better future leaders so that leadership can progress.

To be real, nothing happened Friday, but Saturday at lunch my comp goes to the bathroom and the member asks me. Hey, are you guys OK-- like as comps? And I told him, "Ya. It's just really difficult to be the only one with energy and excitement to do the work." So this member invited me and my comp to do a 40-day fast like he did on his mission where basically you don't talk about anything about your home or home life for 40 days and literally focus on the work and the work only. So we started it, and let me tell you, the change that has happened in our companionship is crazy! Now we both have lots of energy to work. We're both focused on helping our friends progress, and it's just gotten better.

On Sunday, we had a Zoom call with our zone, and our Zone leaders had us tell 3 attributes of Jesus Christ that we notice in our companion. In my mind, I was like, "Oh no." But as I began to think, the Spirit got stronger and stronger, and when I shared which attributes he had, it helped me see him as a son of God that has a purpose in this mission. Also, the Spirit in that meeting was crazy. I had tingles up and down my arms and there was like a campfire in my chest. It's the best feeling in the world!

So, we will see what happens next week. I expect good things. 

Spiritual thought: 

Luke 14:27: 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple

This verse helped me a lot this week. We need to have hard times because if we don't and if our life is perfect, we're never gonna learn or experience the sweet effects of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. When we do suffer and use His Atonement to help us, we come to know Him in ways that might seem impossible.

I love you all so much and miss you guys like crazy! 

ELDER MERGENTHALER OUT 





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