{11.9.15} The One House in Pine Manor

This week was absolutely amazing.

Ever since I've arrived in this area, I've always told myself that I was going to find "the one house" in Pine Manor that had someone ready to receive the Gospel. Pine Manor is a predominantly Hispanic (and somewhat african-american and Haitian) community that is a pretty scary place to be.. and also one of the few places that we can actually find people who speak Spanish to teach here. MOM you may want to quit reading here. Every person you talk to is usually holding a beer or a joint in their hand, and after knocking a street one day, a cop pulled over and asked us "What are y'all doing knocking all those crack houses?"

One street in particular, 8th ave, is right in the heart of Pine Manor, and I've knocked the whole community 3x now but I've always felt prompted to knock 8th Ave. I remember I knocked it on my first day, but never have found an investigator on it. I began to think for someone reason I just liked the number 8 or it was just some weird personal bias I had developed in my mind.

Turns out, a youth in the ward named Jean Carlos brought his friend Fernando to church. Fernando came to stay at his house Sunday night because there had been shootings again in Pine Manor and he wanted to get out of there for the night. He came to church the following day, and he loved it. He felt peace, happiness, and wanted his younger brother (Esteban, who is 12) to come as well to surround him with the "good kids" at the church as well. He usually won't allow Esteban to leave the house, because he doesn't want him to get caught up with the type of kids that live in Pine Manor, so Esteban is loving the church as well.

Guess who lives on 8th Ave? Fernando and Esteban

Fernando has been to church twice, and every church activity including Wednesday night mutual, and will be enrolling in Seminary and Boyscouts shortly. We've began teaching them, and we got to share the story of the Strippling Warriors, which really rang with Fernando. His Father was very abusive of his little brother and mother, and his step-father isn't doing much better. He's very protective of his family, and really wants to change his life and be better. He saw the example of Jean Carlos, who was baptized last year, and calls him "his brother." It's been an amazing week, and Fernando's mother has given him permission to be baptized. He will be going down the 21st! Esteban will most likely be getting baptized then as well, we just need to ensure he is making this decision on his own and not just to follow his brother.

We are also working with Jean Carlos's step-dad, Luis. He's blind and missing an eye, and was never educated in Puerto Rico because of his disability. But Despite his shortcomings, he has found happiness in the Gospel, and has a crazy knack for working with Electricity. He used to be an alcoholic, but has quit and is down to 4 cigarettes a day (HUGE progress from where he was 2-3 years ago. He will be getting baptized shortly as well, there's just a few legal complexities and of course, the cigarettes.

Transfers is coming up in about 2 &1/2 weeks, and I'm honestly going to be very sad to leave this area. I've learned so much here, about life, other people, and the Gospel. Nothing has grown my Faith in God more than seeing the humility of others, and the hand of God working in their lives. Anyone can change. Every. Single. Person. has divine potential. God is always waiting to bless us, his is always extended. All we ever have to do is search for out, whether it be through our obedience or just simply getting down on our knees. And one other thing I've definitely learned, is never give up on a Spiritual Impression.

Love, 

Elder Juanes

Elder Jace Johns

3850 Central Ave 

Apt# 202

Ft Myers, FL 33901