The Girl of Gomensoro

Elder Albrethsen

Gomensoro, Uruguay

Comp:  Elder Miles

Monday, 21 Nov 2011

Our adventure of the week was down in Gomensoro!  It was a great trip that we had this week!  Pretty much the highlight of the week.  We had been having a rough week in Bella Union and hadn’t planned on going down to Gomensoro, but as we were leaving the house and headed to a visit that wasn't really planned, we saw the bus drive by that goes to Montevideo.  It happens to stop by Gomensoro, too. We looked at each other and said, “Well, should we go?” The final decision was to jump on. We rode a little chicken bus, haha, called the Carolina 4. I wonder what happened to the first 3.  This one was pretty destroyed.

We made it down there and started right away knocking doors.  It was a little after 2 o’clock.  The holy nap was in full force.  Nobody was opening their doors to let us in.  So we went into an open corner store to talk with the owner to hopefully get to talk with someone. She wasn’t too interested, but said the house next door had a family that needed some help. We went over, but nobody was home.  We went to the neighbors to ask if they would be home soon.  A lady named Rosa answered and we ended up giving her a lesson and teaching her about the plan of salvation. She was pretty receptive.   After the lesson we talked with her about the family who lived next door.   She thought they should be home about then to open up their little store they have.  She also said there were a lot of family problems.

Elder Miles, my comp

The family was home.  The mother was very worried about her daughter, who been on quite the heavy dose of medication lately.  The daughter had played in a graveyard as a child and spent a remarkable amount of time there by herself.  She used to go put roses or flowers by the graves that had none.  Now she has some nightmares about some of the people she went to go visit, I guess is the way you could put it. She is about 20-ish and has a couple kids and was married, but her husband recently ran off.  We taught her the restoration and left her with a Book of Mormón—which she and her mom were overjoyed to have!!  It ended as a very good day!

As for the rest of the week . . . it rained all day yesterday.  Maybe the rain encouraged people to stay home; we had a new record low as far as investigators coming to church and, well, members, too.  There were a total of 28 people in church—it was rough!!! haha Practically nobody in church!!! A big goose egg as far as investigators. Oh, well, just need to try harder this week. It’s still raining, but we hope to have a week full of greatness!!!!!!!!!!!

The church is true!!!

I love you. 

Elder Albrethsen

Jon’s goals for the last 3 months of his mission:

Jon’s dad:  I had a good experience teaching gospel doctrine yesterday. I had all of the returned missionaries stand and state the mission they served in and in 3 words tell what it did for them. Interesting answers and a lot of folks.  What would you say?

Jon:  Destiny changed forever

Jon’s dad:  WOW… Powerful answer.  Anything specific you want to accomplish before you return?  Let us know and we can make it a matter of prayer.

Jon:  That’s a good question, just . . .  help as many worthy people make it to the waters of baptism that I can.  You two have always told me that on my mission there are specific people that only I (at least at this time) might be able to reach.  But I just want to find all those I promised to help on my mission and not leave anyone behind.

Counsel to Youth

“Despite the opposition, trials, and temptations, you need not fail or fear.”

—President Boyd K. Packer

(lds.org)