ELDER MASON RALPH VAN KATWYK
WEEK #102
4/21/14
Hey everyone!!!
Well it sounds like we have a lot of plans in the future to complete, trips, vacations, baby blessings, and many more. Do I have to sing? Happy Easter to all on Sunday!!!! Well this week and last week were both memorable weeks. My companion and I were able to share with some wonderful people. As we shared with them they really felt the spirit and pretty much invited themselves to be baptized, come to church, ask for the Book of Mormon without even talking about it or bringing it up and sooo many more things. Usually as missionaries we invite people to do these things to see if they have desires and then follow up on them to make sure they completed with their commitments. Every single person we talked to asked if they can come to church with us, already had in mind that if we come back to share more with them and they like it they will get baptized. We were able to find this wonderful young couple named Andrea and Aldo. They both came to church on Sunday and liked it and then some. Andrea is catholic and Aldo is Evangelist.
During Gospel Principles class Aldo brought up the question if we can get baptized more than once. There is a member in the branch that says things without love and thinks that you can just condemn people to get them to change because he has authority to do so. So he wanted to state his opinion about the question and pretty much said that Aldo was not baptized by proper authority. It is true what he said but we should not be the ones to say that, the spirit should. Aldo got offended and was silent the whole time. Andrea was the same. To me church could not have gotten any worse than it just did. They couldn´t stay for sacrament meeting, it is the last hour here in Paraguay, I asked if we could stop by their house that night. They said yes. A young couple of members the same age as them wanted to join us in the visit. The lesson was wonderful. We talked very small about the authority but pretty much just invited them to pray about what they have heard and said and learned. The young couple both shared their testimonies and we said we can´t force these things in your brain to believe but we invited them to pray. We left, but for some reason I was not totally satisfied with the lesson. Aldo was still quiet and did not want to ask questions although he said he does have questions. Andrea said that she will get baptized, but Aldo not so much. For some reason I feel like that I am going to destroy a family. I feel like it is better if she waits until Aldo wants to baptized. There are sooooo many families where there is a member in the house but they don't come to church anymore because their spouse is not a member here in Paraguay. I just don´t want this family to be part of that group, WE DON¨T NEED ANYMORE OF THEM!!!! We shall see what happens in the future. I hope and pray that Aldo´s heart will be softened to accept the invitation.
The mission is not over yet but it is coming to a close. Love you all and can´t wait to see you in the near future. I love this gospel and can´t wait to go home to share it with friends and those I meet.
See ya´ll later. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
~~Elder Mason Van Katwyk
4/21/14
Hey everyone!!!
Well it sounds like we have a lot of plans in the future to complete, trips, vacations, baby blessings, and many more. Do I have to sing? Happy Easter to all on Sunday!!!! Well this week and last week were both memorable weeks. My companion and I were able to share with some wonderful people. As we shared with them they really felt the spirit and pretty much invited themselves to be baptized, come to church, ask for the Book of Mormon without even talking about it or bringing it up and sooo many more things. Usually as missionaries we invite people to do these things to see if they have desires and then follow up on them to make sure they completed with their commitments. Every single person we talked to asked if they can come to church with us, already had in mind that if we come back to share more with them and they like it they will get baptized. We were able to find this wonderful young couple named Andrea and Aldo. They both came to church on Sunday and liked it and then some. Andrea is catholic and Aldo is Evangelist.
During Gospel Principles class Aldo brought up the question if we can get baptized more than once. There is a member in the branch that says things without love and thinks that you can just condemn people to get them to change because he has authority to do so. So he wanted to state his opinion about the question and pretty much said that Aldo was not baptized by proper authority. It is true what he said but we should not be the ones to say that, the spirit should. Aldo got offended and was silent the whole time. Andrea was the same. To me church could not have gotten any worse than it just did. They couldn´t stay for sacrament meeting, it is the last hour here in Paraguay, I asked if we could stop by their house that night. They said yes. A young couple of members the same age as them wanted to join us in the visit. The lesson was wonderful. We talked very small about the authority but pretty much just invited them to pray about what they have heard and said and learned. The young couple both shared their testimonies and we said we can´t force these things in your brain to believe but we invited them to pray. We left, but for some reason I was not totally satisfied with the lesson. Aldo was still quiet and did not want to ask questions although he said he does have questions. Andrea said that she will get baptized, but Aldo not so much. For some reason I feel like that I am going to destroy a family. I feel like it is better if she waits until Aldo wants to baptized. There are sooooo many families where there is a member in the house but they don't come to church anymore because their spouse is not a member here in Paraguay. I just don´t want this family to be part of that group, WE DON¨T NEED ANYMORE OF THEM!!!! We shall see what happens in the future. I hope and pray that Aldo´s heart will be softened to accept the invitation.
The mission is not over yet but it is coming to a close. Love you all and can´t wait to see you in the near future. I love this gospel and can´t wait to go home to share it with friends and those I meet.
See ya´ll later. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
~~Elder Mason Van Katwyk
WEEK #101
4/14/14
Hello everyone!!!
Well I don´t have much to writie this week. i have a lot of things to do before I go, but I am grateful for all of your letters. Sounds like everyone is taking trips and spening time with one another, remembering what it is like again to do some routines, and woohoo nes!!! lucky!!! same office as the prophet. be sure to give him good work abou the family when you see him.
My thoughts this week as my last week was actually what you all said in your letters this week. FINISH STRONG!!!! I am definitely pushing for that, don´t you worry.
This week is semana santa again to celebrate Jesus Christ and his last week on the earth before his crucificion and resurrection. We had many spiritual experiences this week and loved every single one and learned from them. LOVE THIS GOSPEL!!!! why don´t people want to share it with others?! bishop sandifer says he has wrk for me when i get back.teehee in the ward.
Stay tuned for what happens next week love you all. canñt wait to see you!!!!!
~~Elder Mason Van Katwyk
4/14/14
Hello everyone!!!
Well I don´t have much to writie this week. i have a lot of things to do before I go, but I am grateful for all of your letters. Sounds like everyone is taking trips and spening time with one another, remembering what it is like again to do some routines, and woohoo nes!!! lucky!!! same office as the prophet. be sure to give him good work abou the family when you see him.
My thoughts this week as my last week was actually what you all said in your letters this week. FINISH STRONG!!!! I am definitely pushing for that, don´t you worry.
This week is semana santa again to celebrate Jesus Christ and his last week on the earth before his crucificion and resurrection. We had many spiritual experiences this week and loved every single one and learned from them. LOVE THIS GOSPEL!!!! why don´t people want to share it with others?! bishop sandifer says he has wrk for me when i get back.teehee in the ward.
Stay tuned for what happens next week love you all. canñt wait to see you!!!!!
~~Elder Mason Van Katwyk
WEEK #100
4/7/14
Hello everyone!!!!
Dad, it's good to know that you still have a job. Even though it is still far from us we are grateful that you are still over there. Mom, sounds like you have a trip ahead of you. Sounds like fun!!! hahaahah So I am Vanessa´s companion for this time of going down memory lane. ahaha Will be fun. Congrats Logan and Ness!!!!! I LOVED CONFERENCE SOOO MUCH!!!!!! I don´t know why but before when I was little I thought just two hours was an all day thing, I thought conference would never nd and I was bored out of my mind. But now, two hours goes by sooo quick. Its like if I blink I will miss everything. Loved all the talks and I thought the music was outstanding!!!! Enjoyed every single moment. Oh I also said hi to cousin Bonnie, teehee. The work is doing great. It's been really hot here in Paraguay but not a huge problem. This week we have interviews with President so we shall see what we talk about this week. Sorry that I don´t have much to write about this week. It´s just the same old same old and I don´t like repeating myself. Love this church, love this gospel and I want to share it with all. Love you all and thank you for your letters every week. Stayed tuned for what happens in Paraguay next week.oxoxoxxoxoxox
~~Elder Mason Van Katwyk
4/7/14
Hello everyone!!!!
Dad, it's good to know that you still have a job. Even though it is still far from us we are grateful that you are still over there. Mom, sounds like you have a trip ahead of you. Sounds like fun!!! hahaahah So I am Vanessa´s companion for this time of going down memory lane. ahaha Will be fun. Congrats Logan and Ness!!!!! I LOVED CONFERENCE SOOO MUCH!!!!!! I don´t know why but before when I was little I thought just two hours was an all day thing, I thought conference would never nd and I was bored out of my mind. But now, two hours goes by sooo quick. Its like if I blink I will miss everything. Loved all the talks and I thought the music was outstanding!!!! Enjoyed every single moment. Oh I also said hi to cousin Bonnie, teehee. The work is doing great. It's been really hot here in Paraguay but not a huge problem. This week we have interviews with President so we shall see what we talk about this week. Sorry that I don´t have much to write about this week. It´s just the same old same old and I don´t like repeating myself. Love this church, love this gospel and I want to share it with all. Love you all and thank you for your letters every week. Stayed tuned for what happens in Paraguay next week.oxoxoxxoxoxox
~~Elder Mason Van Katwyk