This last week has been a busy one. On Wednesday I got a call from the Assistants to the President, and they asked me to pack up that night and be ready to leave in the morning for Richfield, UT. I packed up and was all ready to go, then at 10:00 that night they called and said "change of plans. You're staying in Ephraim." So I started unpacking--not all the way though. On Friday, they called again and asked me to be ready in 2 hours to leave to Salina, UT, where we do transfers. They said I will be going to Price, UT, Spanish speaking. So that's where I am now!
I am companions with Elder Padrones, from Spain. It's so cool to hear his accent--it's very different from Mexicans, Peruvians, & Guatemalans. He is a very jolly fellow, always anxious to get to work. He has been out for about a year.
We ate at a branch member's house yesterday. The food was so delicious! It was Sopes (also called Gorditas in one state in Mexico). Sopes are fried tortillas as a base, with shredded beef, fresh shredded cheese, cream, lettuce, guacamole, & broth with cooked carrot pieces on top. So good! Also, we topped it with fresh pico de gallo (a blended up salsa--mostly liquid). Super spicy but very tasty! I think it is my favorite Mexican dish so far.
Price is pretty crazy. Within the first week here, I've learned about a not-really-serious death threat against the missionaries, translated for a court case for one of our investigators, translated for a Mission-Leader training meeting, been offered a Corona by a "progressing investigator" (the bottle was full, so that's a good thing--I hope they're not drinking), helped lay down laminate flooring for one of the Group Leaders (a group is smaller than a branch, which is smaller than a ward--a group has no priesthood keys), etc. Lots of fun/crazy stuff.
I'm sure learning a lot more about Jesus Christ. Having a few hours in the morning every day really does help increase your understanding of the scriptures and how they apply to your life. This is my time to come to know Jesus Christ even better-- to be a witness of Him, His resurrection, and His Gospel.
Recently I have had the opportunity of talking to some Bible-bashers (not bashing with them, just talking). Everytime we bear testimony to them, they just brush it off and "share their opinion of what the bible says". I have come to realize why the church sends out unlearned 19-year-olds. Our job is to invite all to come unto Christ. I know Christ. I don't know the bible as well as those other ministers who have gone to a college for years and years studying the bible. Since I know Christ, that is all the tooling that I need to do my job. I may not be able to answer every question that others have. But God can. My primary personal goal is to establish the communication between my investigator and God. To teach them how to pray. To wait for an answer. To pay attention to their feelings and the promptings of the Spirit. If they are not willing to set aside all their prejudice and try what we are asking them to do (read, pray, ask, wait for a response), then it's time to move on. That is why we don't bible bash with others. Even if I knew the Bible inside and out, I still wouldn't, because they are not trying to learn, try, ask, but rather to confound, ensnare, and trap.
Which is why I am so greatful for my testimony. Nobody can give that to me but God, nobody can take it away from me but me. I testify that God is there, living, interested in our lives, ready to dump the bucket of blessings on us. I testify that after the death of the apostles, the priesthood authority, power, and keys were lost from the earth, leaving the unbelieving people to their own self-denial. I testify that God has given the people of the earth time to change their hearts, remember him, and seek him out, that he has once again opened the heavens, brought truth from the ground and righteousness from the heavens, to restore those priesthood authority, power, and keys for the benefit of his Children and his Kingdom on earth. I leave that testimony in the name of Jesus Christ.
I love you all and miss you. Grow closer to the Lord every day.
Elder Bunker
