3 week update
I apologize for my laziness in emailing everyone. Life has been good. So does everyone know that transfers has happened in the Persian program? well it has we have switched companions! that is all that has happened and really can happen with us. I am with Elder Fry now.
Sunday we had an awkward success with Marjan and Ali. so they didn't come to church. So we were going to stop by with a note because we had just reconnected with them the day before by dropping in on them and we have an appointment tonight with them as well. however we were sitting outside of there apartment writing the note and we had just finished when Marjan come walking along and sees us in the car. we were caught red-handed. she laughed at us and we talked for a little bit and then she said that they would see us tonight at the temple for us to walk around and talk to them about the church. Super sweet but super awkward being caught red-handed. They are awesome
On Saturday a man from the translation department came to our mission to get a feeling for how the Persian book of Mormon would be accepted by members and non-members. So we drummed up as many people as we could on short notice and then we went. He shared with us 2 Nephi 31-33. It was super cool and we got to hear news on a projected release date.....early next year:( sad i won't be on my mission for it but i am still super excited. Also can say we helped in the smallest way possible by sitting in a room as a man gathered info from our investigators. However the power in those translated words that the church is so careful about was incredible. You could almost see it sometimes as we were reading it and discussing it.
we also learned somethings about translations of the book of Mormon. they try to stay as close word for word to the original English text and they try to keep as much of the awkwardness of the English text as well. syntax and word order can change but everything else there are quite some stringent rules on the translations.
Hessam and Nahiid are amazing. Nacer (the husband) is still in Iran but he is safe and well and working to support his family. however we have been meeting with Hessam and NAhiid every week and this past week we started seeing them at English class as well. So we are able to help them much more readily now. especially since they are both seeking to receive that testimony of the restored gospel. This week we asked them if they wanted to be baptized and Hessam said yes! Nahiid said not yet she still hasn't received her answer yet. We are super excited for them and our prayer and hope is that Nacer will be able to baptise Hessam and Nahiid when he gets back home.
We also had temple service this week and it felt so good just to go and work in the son physically as we shoveled and raked and killed slugs. which note by the way slugs are weird and fascinating. never saw them in Arizona so still newish to me.
We have been doing our best to contact all the people possible but we only have one and a half streets in the entire mission that Persians come to for shopping and such. So we are seen there a lot and we are becoming part of the backdrop. so we are trying to find new ways to contact and find. It is super fun all the time just to talk to people and meet new people everyday.
My new companion is a super boss like all of the time because well he just is. I totally look up to him. he is super personable and open and funny as well as buff. i am really looking forward to the next few transfers with him.
So the Persian new year started and we threw a huge party for it. I'll send pictures soon. Anyway it was so cool we had more Persians there than members and white people. We totally were able to see some Persian dancing and singing. super fun and awesome to see our investigators totally kind of relax and enjoy themselves so عید شما مبارک just because it lasts 13 days the party so this is still valid.
I love you all and wish the best and God is great!
Elder Craner
No comments:
Post a Comment