Transfer number 7 begins! (June 1, 2015)

Dear all,

So this past week was really interesting, we had a few experiences very out of the ordinary.  The first being the other American in our ward (Elder Tibbits) and I had the opportunity to go to a funeral for a kid who was shot 4 times in a fight in a discotec.  We started to help the family as best as we could, and they invited us to the funeral.  The thing is, this kid comes from the part of the sector that is the poorest with some really interesting youth.  The funeral had people yelling chants of the soccer team of which he liked, shooting guns in the air, using fireworks, waving giant flags from the same soccer team, smoking drugs, and drinking.  I couldn`t imagine how the family must feel.  During the official funeral the mother asked us not to do anything because it was hosted by the cemeteries which are all Catholic in this country, so it`d be a little weird if 2 missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints came, but she asked if we could hold our own funeral afterwards with her and the people closest to the boy.  While we had about 200 people at first before our little funeral, we had about 50 people afterwards.  It was very nice and peaceful, I had my opportunity to bear testimony of the Plan of Salvation of which God has given unto us so that we may have peace of mind and even happiness even in these instances.  We sang hymns and said prayers and even dedicated the grave for the family.  All in all it was an amazing experience.  Since then we have been trying to work closer to that part of the sector, because we know that many people knew this boy and are going to want to feel the peace that brings the gospel.

The other big news of the week is we found a little old couple who are really interested in the gospel.  We`ve been visiting them everyday for the past week, and they`re really nice.  The have a lot of problems with memory, so it`s really slow going, but it`s worth it.  We can already see the blessings it`s bringing to them through their slow, but growing, capacities to remember things.  I`m very excited to be helping them.

Well I love you guys, and really hope that you have a good week!

Con amor,

Elder Forsgren