It's been a while since I've written but I thought I'd let you all know how the last there weeks have gone. Still here finishing out my sixth month here in Progreso. I've been here long enough that I don't even have say anything to the barber, he just recognizes me and gives the same cut. The area of Progreso for me has been a challenge in many ways, I've now spent more than a quarter of my mission here and I've seen very, very little progress (ironic because the name of the area is Spanish for progress). In these last months I've been working harder than ever trying everything to somehow get a baptism, from tons of member work, organizing ward activities, and just plain old knocking doors. It's seem the more I do the less success I have. It's frustrating to see my other friends in the mission baptizing and having so much success. That being said I confronted all these frustrations these last few weeks.
We had lunch with a member Juan Pablo Castillo this last Sunday. He's one of my favorite members in the ward and he actually served in our same mission a few years back and always has inspiring stories. During lunch I expressed my doubts and feelings about my time here in the area and ask his advice. He told us about an area he had served in as a mission. He told us when he arrived his companion told him to forget any hope of baptism that transfer because that area was "dead". His comp was also going home that same transfers so it was an uphill battle to leave the house to preach the gospel. He said he worked harder than ever that transfer and he could see no fruits. He stayed 4 more months and two of his next companions were finishing their missions with equal enthusiasm as his first. At around six months the frustrations started to boil up. He thought about giving up on the area. He pleaded with the Lord for a miracle. One day while contacting they found an older women who invited the in to hear the message. She was receptive to the message but not super interested in progressing at the time. Hermano Casillo left the area the next week after that lesson. At this point in the story he pull put a photo. It was that same lady now very much old with a while row of children, grandchildren and other family members all in baptismal clothes. Hermano Castillo said he never knew she was baptisms until recently when another missionary from the time told him. Not only her, but over 40 other family members and friends.
That story was exactly what I needed to hear. I felt new inspiration and suddenly saw my whole mission in a new way. Everything we do in the Lord's work matters. We don't see the whole perspective but he does. Maybe I have seen many fruits from my time here in Progreso but I feel good with the efforts I've put into helping this area. In the Lords time Progreso will see progress I have faith of that.
Tons more has happened, from Zone conference and MLC to many prayers answered in miraculous ways.
Hope everyones week goes well!!
Elder Allen
(Too many photos and videos to attach here but I'll send a link to a photo drive)
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