Hola a todos!
Here we have email number two. Sorry for missing last week! But hey now you get to hear me ramble on even more.
The reason I missed last week's email is because during P-Day, we were going crazy with soccer and it was so much fun! Elder Stafford was wide open, so I passed him the ball, and he went to score. Unfortunately, the only way that the other team was going to stop hin was through heavy injury, which is exactly what happened. One of the other elders tried to get in his way to prevent him from scoring, and he put his foot right next to Elder Stafford's causing it to lock, and fold over. Later on, Staffy told me he heard 3 separate pops coming out from his ankle. He feel down, and immediately ran into the church before doubling over in pain and being unable to walk. We got his foot elevated, and the hermanas ran to their piso that qas close by and grabbed some Tylenol and frozen veggies to put on his foot. It swelled to about the size of a softball. It did not look good at all. But he managed to keep a good humor through it all, and was an absolute trooper.
Needless to say, the rest of the week was a little weird. We have been trying to rest hid anle as best as we can, which means a LOT of contacting and a LOT of phone calls, which are just my FAVORITE. But we had some really powerful video calls, including one with a woman named Génesis who we're going to continue teaching. We're hoping to meet her in person next week and help her learn more! We did get to go to the doctor and I got to push Elder Staffoed around in a wheelchair, so that was pretty fun too. We found out for sure his ankle wasn't broken, and we secured some crutches so he can actually get around! All I'll say is it's giving me a great opportunity to serve my companion with all the cooking and cleaning I'm doing.
Also, I wanted to share a brief snippet of a conversation me and Elder Stafford had the other day. We had had a very spiritual afternoon, talking about Jesus Christ, the Atonement, and how grateful we were for Him. We were driving to a branch party and I asked a pretty open-ended question, which was, "do you think when we arrive in heaven before Christ, are we going to fall down and worship Him, or run up and hug Him? Because I can imagine myself doing both." He thought about it for a second and said, "I think that as we continue through this life, and we draw closer to our Savior, that eventual meeting will be less of a presentation and more of a reunion. It won't be like meeting someone for the first time, but instead it will be, 'I can't believe it's been so long.'" That struck me deeply. This life truly is an opportunity to prepare to meet God. But not to just keep ourselves clean before Him, keep all the rules, live a good life, etc. It is to draw closer to Him, devote ourselves more to His Son Jesus Christ, follow in His footsteps, and when that happens all the behavior and holiness will follow. I've tried so much to just keep the rules, do all the right things, and I'm starting to realize that won't cut it in the long run. I'm trying to learn how to let my will be swallowed up in Christ, and that was a really great conversation to help that process. I'm so far from truly knowing Christ, but everyone's gotta start from somewhere right? We all keep on trying our best to heed to His voice, follow His example, and devote ourselves everyday to Him.
"But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers"
John 10:2-5
¡Cristo vive! ¡El Libro de Mormón es verdadero!
¡Os amo!
Elder Ritter
Fotos:
The aftermath
Hospital
Pics Staffy took on exchanges
