I Must Break You

Buenos afternoon! This week has really pushed me, but it's been great at the same time. But more about that later. We have 5 people on baptismal date! Four of them are brothers: Vidal, Omar, Ivan, and Kevin. They're the sons of a really sweet woman named Vanessa, who's a recent convert. She's awesome and so happy for her sons and their decision to receive the gospel. The boys are all so cool, and you can see an eagerness in their eyes that shows they're feeling the Spirit. Our other person on baptismal date is a guy named Raul. He's had a really tough life filled with drugs, alcohol, gang activity, and loss. He truly wants to change and grow closer to Jesus Christ, and it makes me so happy to see. He truly gives thanks to God for helping him find the gospel, and when we taught him the commandments and Word of Wisdom, he replied, "Hermanitos, but that's easy, I already know that doesn't bring happiness, only God." I definitely think we could all learn a lot from that. Now for this week's email title: Raul says I look like Ivan Drago, the Russian boxer from Rocky IV, so he calls me Drago or Russian, haha. Right before Rocky and Drago fight, Drago says, "I must break you." It really feels like this week has tried to do the same. It started off rainy, wet, and muddy, and by the end of the week, it was blazing hot. We love that Tex-Mex weather. I don't mind it now, but we'll see what happens. The sun was really tough to bike in, though. My companions luckily stopped and waited for me along the way because biking 10 miles back and forth between cities in the hot sun when I'm not used to it just about killed me. Something I kind of expected was how overwhelming Spanish would seem. I know I learned a lot in the MTC and that I'm still learning, but it's definitely a lot at once. They talk pretty fast, and most of the time I can't remember words or phrases, but luckily Heavenly Father helps me get by and testify of what I need to invite the Spirit. I know that God helps us in our trials and that He gives us these times so that we can see how He's blessed us better and appreciate those blessings. Hasta luego, Elder Teeples P.S. - Last week's email title was from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Pics: Bike boys Us with Vanessa and her boys Us with Sister Buentello, who made us some amazing Mexican food The Elders and I playing Star Wars Villainous on P-day




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