Investigators
We have been teaching these two guys who live in the back of a members trailer (if you think trailers are small, try living in just a tiny partitioned-off section). They are from different parts of mexico. one is older and one is in his 20s. But get this, they are both named Abram Ricardo. HAHA it's so funny. We teach them together out in the dirt. Sometimes we find things to sit on, sometimes we don't. But it doesn't matter because they are serious about the gospel. At our last lesson we showed up and they had groomed the dirt and put out chairs for us. They had prepared an out door living room! As we talked about the plan of salvation we asked them, "Have you ever wondered what happens after we die?" Abram Ricardo #1 said he tries not to think about it because his family is far away and if anyone died he thinks he would lose them forever. Abram Ricardo #2 said that he calls his mother in Mexico every day because he knows she is old and could pass on, and all he wants to do is hug her one more time before he loses her forever! We explained that we can be forever families and the spirit filled each of our hearts. They were so happy and felt so much hope. Such a great moment!
We are having fun teaching a lot of people. I won't update you on all of them...but just know that people are progressing and we are having so many spiritual experiences with the Lord's elect!
Branch Reconstruction Project
We went to dinner this week at a members home. This member has such a strong testimony, but he is always mad and bitter. He always tries to tear us down for teaching certain people and such. And each time we are with him he complains about the branch. This time we tried to show as much love as possible to him and his family and he began to open up! He told us this crazy story, and I'll try and say it in his words:
"When I came from Mexico I went straight to church. At the time there was only a huge English ward. I found two guys who spoke Spanish from their missions and told them that it was a struggle for me to go to church in a language I didn't understand. I was an active member and I wanted to serve. So they agreed to meet with me for the second two hours and we held our own classes. I got a list of less active Spanish speakers who weren't coming because of the language barrier.I promised the Lord I would be his warrior and bring them back to church. I went and visited each of them and told them about our new classes. Some took more work than others, so I began to visit people every evening of the week. I was never home. I got to know the families so well. Pretty soon our little group of 3 Spanish speakers had grown to a consistent 95. That's when we became a branch."
I asked him, "Are you talking about OUR branch?" And turns out he was! He was the beginning of it all! Within a few years there was some rough times in the branch and it began to dwindle. He was told that it wasn't his responsibility to visit the members and he should let people fall away if they wanted to. It really stung him. While he has stayed active, he has remained bitter and has refrained from serving.
SO we went to our presidents house and worked out a plan. We are going to wipe our ward missionaries and start fresh. We are going to get this brother who started the branch going again and motivating everyone to be warriors! We have a whole reach out program set up and we are praying that it will catch fire! We will send our new missionary force out and bring the branch together again!
LUIS' BAPTISM
Okay but the REAL good stuff was LUIS' BAPTISM!!!!!!!
Wow. Luis is finally baptized. He has been such an example of faith to me and the branch. This is a guy who had every tool that Satan has thrown at him. Every loved one he had was against his decision. Many were completely anti-Mormon! He has heard so many lies about the church! He has been on this journey alone and some how he learned how to trust God enough to change his whole life. After praying he knew he couldn't deny the truth, and now he is so proud to be a Mormon! He tells everyone and is becoming a great missionary!
At his baptism the spirit was SO STRONG. We had 4 investigators and the English sisters brought 3...and on top of that Luis brought some non-members! The spirit just escalated until he got baptized! At that moment Hermana Wallis and I were supposed to share the restoration story, but the spirit told me to ask the English sisters instead. They hadn't prepared at all but they did an amazing job, and I translated!
Then when Luis came back to the room he was visibly glowing. There was a real light about him. Another sister played a piano solo of Joseph Smith's first prayer. I couldn't hold back the tears. I just KNEW and I still KNOW that this is the church of Jesus Christ. That He called a prophet to allow us to access all of the blessings he has for us through His True Church. And because of all that Joseph Smith, and the others that followed him, did, Luis could get baptized with the true priesthood of God. The Holy Ghost is REAL and He came to the baptism to testify to us all that this is Jesus Christ's church, and that Luis was baptized with His baptism.
Then we sang I am a Child of God. I am amazed that such simple knowledge can unlock so much for us. It wasn't until Luis knew how much God loved him that he knelt down and talked with Him. And now his life will be changed eternally. Singing that hymn with everyone was such a powerful moment that I will never forget.
Now Luis is confirmed and has the Priesthood! He is determined to stay faithful and work toward an eternal family!!!
Breakfast with the BEST
FINALLY another highlight of my week- President and Sister Firmage took us to I-hop!!!! BEST DAY EVER!!!!!! It was so amazing to see them, and we were so grateful that they took time to arrange it with my mission president and sit down with us for breakfast. Their visit strengthened us SO MUCH. We learned so much from his stories and we entered the field with a new fire to be true servants of the Lord. Our lessons that day were power packed with the spirit because of the visit of President.
He talked to us a little about teaching Jehova's WItnesses, which can some times be hard. We came away with better advice on how to help Douglas. That night we went to see Douglas and we did not give in to his arguing or doubts. We just taught him what we knew to be true. As soon as the spirit was strong enough we were bold and told him what he needed to do to find truth. Then, we closed with a prayer. A physical feeling came over all of us. No words were exchanged as we left. The spirit was too thick. And I knew that even though Douglas doesn't believe in revelation through the spirit, he couldn't deny that it was there.
Well that's about it! Sorry for the long email!!! Love you all!
xoxoxox
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