Things I Like

 

Dinner with Hermanas and Carlos

February 27, 2022 

Dear family and friends, 

Our ESL class is growing👍  Usually the hermanas teach the advanced group and I take the beginners.  In the past, we've had only one or two beginners.  But on Monday we had six beginners and on Friday, eleven!  We were learning to express what we like or don’t like.  I told them it reminded me of the song, “Esto No Me Gusta” (I don’t like this) by Enrique Iglesias.  (Yes I listen to Spanish radio.  It’s great language practice and I encourage my students to do the same.)  Anyway, they all understood the musical reference.  

And speaking of things I like, I was able to enjoy a delicious meal with the hermanas and a new member named Carlos.  It was the best meal I’d had in a long time😋  (It was a Mexican restaurant, but Carlos said that the food the hermanas & I ordered--chile relleno, chimichanga, enchilada--was actually American! 😆) 

On Wednesday I had a very enjoyable conversation with a man while standing in line at a food facility.  I told him I was a missionary and he told me he was in a seminary studying to be a pastor. He said he had already given two sermons.  I told him if he came to my church he would get to give lots of sermons because all members get involved in teaching as we have no paid ministry.  We talked about our beliefs and wished each other well.   

Later in the afternoon I went to the library to do family history.  While I was there, I had a conversation with two ladies who were seated at the same table as me.  One of them saw my name tag and began to tell me that my church was racist.  She didn’t say it in a mean way and I listened to her.  Then I shared with her a verse out of The Book of Mormon, “…the Lord... inviteth …all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female…and all are alike unto God….” (2 Nephi 26:33 )  I told her this is what we believe.  I enjoy telling people what I believe.  I also enjoy hearing what other people believe.  What I do not enjoy is hearing people tell me what they think I believe, or what they’ve been told I believe. 

Interestingly enough, I ran into the same ladies the next day as they were leaving the library and I was entering.  The one who had the strong opinions apologized to me.  I hope we will have an opportunity to get to know each other better.  I know that God is our loving Father in Heaven and we are all His children.  The restored gospel of Jesus Christ blesses lives.  I love sharing this message with people.   

I love you all❤️

Sister Manwaring 

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