So we need help being better missionaries. What's the best way you've found to start up a conversation about the gospel?
There's no one way. Really, we're still trying to get a handle on the language so we can say anything. But I'd go with addressing people's needs and challenges through the gospel. If people know that the gospel can help them with the things they need, they will be interested and take initiative. As people talk about what their challenges are and what they're doing, you can just talk about how the church/gospel has helped you in your life. There's also a lot to be said for just talking about the church in daily conversation since the gospel is a huge part of our lives. Really, it is our lives. Also, please go with the missionaries to lessons every once in a while. Lessons are that much stronger when both missionaries and members are testifying of the same thing. It's also good so investigators actually recognize and are familiar with some people in the ward when they go to church.
Where have you learned more spanish - MTC or Texas - members or companion?
Depends. I've learned a lot grammar wise in the MTC and got a good foundation in learning how to learn a language. Here in Texas, I've progressed a lot just in listening comprehension (they talk way too fast and everyone has their own dialect since they're from everywhere) and using the vocabulary I know in a more fluid, flexible way. As for my companion, she knows about as much spanish as I do but is more comfortable talking and knowing what to say and "faking it" when she doesn't understand what they're saying. But one thing I really like about serving stateside is that most of the people we talk to know at least some english or their kids do and we can ask "what does this mean?" or "how do you say this?". And about half the members in the ward are fluent in English.
Tell us about the people you're teaching and any interesting experiences you've had teaching.
Well, I definitely wish I learned more about Catholicism before I left for the mission. It's definitely important to know who "la virgen Guadalupe" is. About 3/4 of the spanish speaking people we meet are catholic to some degree. Though that means anything from they are active and go to church all the time or it's a part of their culture but not their devotion. It's a different culture down here. You know people like you when they give you food. One family we're teaching, la familia Benites, has given us food literally every time we visit, whether it's a mango or a can of soda, all the way up to pupusas (you should find a recipe and try them out. They're amazing!) and empanadas. And when we were tracting yesterday afternoon, we were trying one more house before going to our dinner appointment. A couple people were having a sunday barbecue and they offered us a couple large pieces of chicken. It was a little awkward showing up to our dinner appointment with our own food but they understood since both parents in the family served spanish speaking missions.
Also, people are interesting. We've heard about all sorts of miracles in people's lives. Everything from mystical spirit stuff that I'd rather avoid talking about to miraculous healings from cancer to turning people's lives around. I sometimes forget how interesting people are. It's also interesting seeing what other people believe. We came across a man that was a little confrontational and had a lot of questions, like "do you think gays are going to burn in hell?" and "Why in the world are we responsible for Adam's transgression?" and "do you believe in hell?". We answered his questions and informed him that we love gay people (just not their actions), that we are only responsible for our own sins and that we don't believe in different degrees of glory instead of just heaven and hell. Hopefully a seed was planted though he kept insisting that Jesus didn't establish a church therefore we couldn't be the restored church...
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