February 12, 2018- 26 weeks down
Hola a todos!!!!!
Well this week was one of the best in my mission... with my new companion we worked as hard as we could, were super obedient, and prayed a lot. ... and we saw the results.
Each day we saw a miracle. Some were small, like a new investigator who hadn’t answered the phone in almost a month responded and we have been communicating now, we left a card with our number at someones house and they called a week later and said they wanted to go to church with us.... we brought a member to one of our lessons and she happened to already be friends with the daughter of the man we were teaching and so they both came to church this week... lots and lots of little miracles, that showed us that god is here and that his hand is in each detail of our day.
but the biggest miracle of all... Alejandra.
She’s 19 years old. Super shy but so sweet. Her whole family is members.. but not her because her brother and dad recently passed away and so she didn’t want to be in church and see all the families together happy. She was pretty closed off to the Church.
We met her when she started coming to my English class in the chapel that I have each Saturday. And she loves the class. So for the last few weeks we have been gaining her friendship and trust, and this last week we began to teach her about the church. She wasn’t super open, but we taught and invited her to baptism, and she said maybe she would think about it. We invited her specifically to pray that night about all the things we have taught, baptism, the Book of Mormon, and the church. She said she would, but she doesn’t pray much, but she said she would give it a try.
The next day she sent us a message, that she had an experience, and wants to tell us about it. We were freaking out a bit...
So the next day after the class of English, we started to talk.
She told us she prayed like we had told her, and that for the first time she was able to open up and talk to Heavenly Father like it was a two way conversation. She said she felt so happy, and she felt like crying although she didn’t know why. She said she received lots of comfort and some answers to some deep questions she had. She told us she wants us to keep visiting and teaching her, and she wants to come to church each week. She has come for the last two weeks now! And the best part... she told us she wants to be baptized!!!! We talked a lot, and she said she knows its a commandment and that she wants to follow the example that Christ gave us, and that she has never felt so happy and confident. She said she feels so amazing in the chapel each Sunday. oh my goodness we were so happy. She doesn’t want a date for the baptism yet, but we are praying lots and working together, and it should be in 2 or 3 Saturdays!!!!!! WHAT A MIRACLE. it is so amazing to see how she started off a few weeks ago so shut off to the church, and to see her now so open and happy and with desires to learn and be part of the church... man this is what is it all about. What a blessing. Pray lots for her, that we can have the baptism soon and that she can be happy and seguir adelante.
Also, Marcelo, who got baptized a month ago, is stronger than ever. lots of trials, but he hasn’t missed church in months, and continues growing his testimony, reading the Book of Mormon hours each week, and learning lots. its so amazing. Even if he was the only person who I saw baptized in all of my mission, it would be worth it still, because his life has changed so much.
Im so happy here. Almost have 6 months, this week. The time is moving fast, and I’m starting to see so many blessings, opportunities, and miracles of this work. I love it. The hard times come each day, and its so hard, but with God all things are possible. With the Book of Mormon, I have comfort and answers. I have hope. I know its true.
We had lots of rejections this week, including someone telling us the Book of Mormon is a lie, we should open our eyes and accept Christ, we are sinners, and all that.... but it only made me sad for them, and it gave me an opportunity to look him in the eyes, and bare sure testimony that I know that the Book of Mormon in the word of God, and that the church is true, and that I know my Savior. It was a hard experience, but a blessing in disguise.
I love you all. Be so grateful for the many blessings and opportunities you have, living in the States, with wards and stakes and all the luxuries that we have. We are so blessed.
Have a fantastic week
Hermana Holt
