We have been focusing on trying to have daily contact with our investigator Julio. It is amazing to see the difference in him after just one week of contact. On our first lesson, he had so many doubts and questions about the Mormons, and now he is totally into it, with an incredible desire to find pure truth. He accepted baptism for Sunday the 17th of October. He attended church yesterday for the 2nd time, and said he definitely felt "something" during the testimonies that were shared during Sacrament Meeting. He said it felt like his chest basically melted and dispursed outward. Haha, obviously it was the Spirit! We are really excited for him, as well as his wife and family. They haven't acted on their faith yet and attended church with him, but they definitely like what they are learning and totally support Julio in his decision of what he feels is right.
We spent a lot of time knocking doors this week and contacting people. The Spirit directed us to a lot of people that were open to our message, and we set up some promising return appointments for this week. I sometimes can't even believe how many miracles we see daily...with our Spanish and with the people. The ward council is starting to really step up and everyone in the ward council is involved with our investigators. I think that is one of the biggest things that has made the difference with Julio. He has gotten the chance to see how the gospel has blessed so many regular people just like him. It has become a sort of hunger to be a part of it. I am so happy when I think about Julio, and I pray like crazy for him all day every day.
We are struggling with Marisol, one of our investigators. She wants to be baptized, but not without her husband, and her husband won't even give us a chance. We are setting up a carne asada night, where we can invite her and her husband in a members home.
I am so excited to see my Spanish improving. Elder Griffin and I are doing our best, and the Lord is absolutely covering the rest and making up where we lack.
On Halloween, we had to be in our apartment by 7, but we were able to go to the Santa Barbara trunk-or-treat for a little bit with Julio's kids and another investigator. The Santa Barbara trunk-or-treat is a little different than the Brigham City 14th Ward trunk-or-treat. There are Jaguars, BMW's, all fancy cars with bowls full of one dollar bills instead of candy. So needless to say, all the poor people and kids from our Spanish branch love it, and all this week the poorer kids just walk around the street trying to sell their Halloween candy. It is so crazy to see the class difference between the rich people on the hill and the families stacked in 1-room apartments.
I saw the big black guy from the "Longest Yard" on State Street! He is the guy that sells McDonald's in jail and is crazy ripped and dunks. Cheeseburger Eddy, I think is his name. I shook his hand (which was monstrous) and declared to him and he was way cool, but all he wanted to talk about was the World Series and BYU and Steve Young, and he was drinking, but it was still sweet!
Love,
Elder Parrish
