3/03/14
Hola Familia!!
Well... it's been another great week
here in Westgreen. Last week started off with a super awesome miracle. It was
around 8:40, so we had about twenty minutes before we had to be back to our
apartment, so we felt like we should go to “fiesta” (the local supermercado)
and see if there was anyone we could talk to. Well it was super full actually,
but there was one lady in specific that I made eye contact with, but then she
kept walking. Well we wandered in a bit, and then I saw her again, but then she
was gone before I could talk to her! Then we were standing in an aisle and
I saw her walk past, into the next aisle over. Well, not so casually we walked
over and we just introduced ourselves. She said she was... of another faith.
Oh. Okay. Well… But then somehow she ended up sharing that her daughter was in
the hospital. We asked her if we could say a prayer with her, and she gladly
accepted. After the prayer she asked again what church we were from and where
it was at. We gave her a map to our chapel and our phone number. She explained
that she had been sitting in the hospital all day long then all of the sudden
something got her up and to the store at that moment. She told us she felt like
she had to meet us for a reason. Wow! Unfortunately she was running to get back
so we didn't get her info, but we are praying that she will call us or come to
church next Sunday. It just shows that the Lord puts those prepared people in
our path, we just have to open our mouths to find them!
On Tuesday we had an incredible zone
conference. We talked a lot about the importance of us using family history
work in proselyting. President Pingree explained the spirit of Elijah in a way
so clear that I hadn't thought before, that it is the Holy Ghost bearing
witness of the eternal nature of families, so what better way to connect them
to the Holy Ghost and prepare them to receive the restored gospel! Also at the
end, all the missionaries preparing to return home these next two transfers had
time to bear their testimonies and there was one sister that said something
particularly interesting. She told a story, but basically the point was that
little kids don't get their "rest" from sleeping, but they get it
from being with those that they love. And how as missionaries, where do we find
our "rest"? Or what is it that "charges" us to keep going and
how we should all strive to find it in the correct things. Not through worldly
means, but the purest energy source, which is the Atonement and the love of
Christ. Food for thought.
Then on Wednesday I got to go to
Waller County for exchanges! It is actually the Waller area... but they cover three
different cities... and they are all thirty minutes or more apart. Needless to
say, it is very... well, what I imagined Texas to be. We had an awesome
opportunity to teach a new investigator though. She is
very dedicated to her church, but she said it doesn't hurt to learn...
then she of course wanted to bible bash with everything we said. But, it was
interesting because every doctrinal point that she tried to
fight, we had an answer or clarification in the Book of Mormon. It just
reaffirmed my testimony of how God knew there would be so much confusion,
and so I am so grateful He has blessed us with more records to clarify
those plain and precious things!
Thursday was full of the plan of
Salvation! One lesson in specific with one of the newer families we have been
teaching was especially powerful. The plan just fills in so many gaps, and it
is amazing to watch people as they take it in. At the end of the lesson we
invited the daughter to say the prayer, who is a little wayward, and she
agreed. Her prayer was so heartfelt with gratitude for the opportunity to learn
more about her purpose, and the mom was crying by the end. The mom shared that
she doesn't know why, but she feels so strongly that God led us to her family
at that specific time.
You know... I just feel so under qualified
for this calling... But I guess that's the point. I couldn't be more grateful
to know that it isn't my work that we are doing, it is the Lord's, and so he is
going to do his part if we do! Sorry I just keep going on and on... but we had
another amazing lesson with the ‘missionaries’ sister! She agreed to pay a full
tithe after her baptism, in her own way. Luckily we had a member with us who
has a bit more experience, because she was very honest with us that she doesn't
know the full income of her husband, and she doesn't work. She just has the
money that he gives her. But she committed to pay ten percent of what he does
give her. She had so much confidence that this would bless them in the ways
that they need. She is really progressing so much and really considering
baptism. Up until the moment that she shared that she wants her brother to
baptize her... he comes home in March!! ...2015. Well, we are going to keep
praying and I think he will probably persuade her otherwise. But either way, we
will just keep preparing her and helping her build her faith so when the moment
does come, she will be completely ready!
Okay, one last thing. On Saturday we
had lunch with a member and they invited their friends who aren't members and
we taught the first lesson, and we are going to keep teaching them! So for
all of you here is an invitation, it is as simple as a meal appointment, but
just invite other to meet the missionaries. You never know what could happen
from there!
We had stake conference this weekend
and Elder Pino of the seventy said that we don't have the role of judge to
decide will accept or who not, we just have the responsibility to invite
everyone!!
Well, that's all my time for today,
hopefully I said something that made sense, but if not, just know that the
church is true. The Atonement was made. And we can replace any fear, doubt, or
pain with faith!
I love you all! Have a wonderful
week!
les quiero,
Hermana Draper
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