Week 30

 This week was THE best week of my mission. We worked the hardest we've ever worked and we saw a million miracles! 

First off our friend Luis was baptized and confirmed on Sunday! It was so precious to see come out of the water with a big smile on his face! And I could literally see and feel in his countenance the burden of all of his past was gone. And I loved to see the brothers of the ward circle around him, put their hands on his head, and using the authority and power of God, gave him the gift of the Holy Ghost and a blessing. The spirit was incredible. He was and is truly happy. Especially with all the hardship his mom has given him for going to “the Mormon Church” Luis stuck to what he knew and felt during his learning process and now he gets to receive all the blessings! Something else that I love is that almost every member in the ward has helped him strengthen his testimony in some way. It was beautiful to see the people that participated in the program of his baptism because every one of them played a huge part in his conversion. All of it was super emotional and amazing. 

Another huge miracle is that Luis’s family came to support his for both hours of church. And it was fast and testimony meeting. And this ward is so so spiritual and strongly founded in the doctrine of the church that this fast and testimony meeting was super powerful.

We had exchanges this week and we met Ingrid just from talking to her in the street. And it was crazy because she actually spoke to us first and asked us what we do as missionaries. And she was super excited when we explained to her our purpose and said that she wants to come to church and wants us to meet her daughter and grandkids! So a few days later we went and met the whole family and we brought Angela with us to meet them! Angela is from Colombia and got biaptized when she was 16 years old in Colombia. But now she has her own family and lives here in Chile! And Ingrid and her family are from Colombia, so right away they were best friends! But we taught about the Gospel and Jesus Christ and by the end of the lesson the grandma, Ingrid, and the grandkids, Gabi and Andres, were all super excited to go to church on Sunday! And Ingrid shared with us the experience she had when she met us missionaries. She told us that before we met, her and her husband were walking down the street and kind of fighting verbally. Not like terribly but a little stressed, chaotic, flustered talk. And when she saw us she said she couldn’t take her eyes off of us, she felt something different, to the point where when we passed her, she stopped and asked us what we do as missionaries. And after our conversation, she told us that her and her husband walked back to their house in silence, but not like an awkward silence, a peaceful silence. And also said that when she arrived at her house, her house was filled with this calmness and it stayed the rest of the evening. When she told us that story, the spirit was so strong. And in that moment it hit me, the reality of our work as missionaries. People in the world are missing this peace, this calmness. Maybe not always physically in their surroundings, but almost always spiritually. And we, as members of the church, are the only ones that have experienced this complete calmness thanks to the restored gospel. 

When Sunday came Ingrid had a migraine and couldn’t come, and her daughter had to work, but the 2 grandkids got themselves up and ready, and came by themselves to church! These kids are awesome! Gabi is 12 years old and Andres is 16 years old. And they came nice and early, were super attentive the whole time, excited to go to the second hour, and they stayed for the baptism of Luis! We are super super excited to keep teaching this family! They are awesome and super ready to start living the restored gospel in their lives! 

We had the opportunity to teach a lesson in English this week! We met Carolina and she already knows a lot about the church and speaks basically perfect English! But we taught her the plan of salvation and how God loves us so much that he has given us a perfect plan, full of chances. And in the end there isn't a hell and a heaven, all of us will be in a place way better than this earth. But the goal is to live with God and Jesus with all the blessings that are waiting for us. But there are certain things we need to do here in order to reach the Celestial Kingdom. And she told us that it all makes sense! And when we talked about how the church is restored and when we shared the first vision story, she said that she had goosebumps. The spirit was so so strong! It was also super fun to teach a lesson in English.

Another miracle happened this week. We met Nayareth and literally just asked her if she wanted to come to church with us on Sunday and right away she said yes! And then we asked her if we could come back tomorrow and share a message with her and right away she said yes! So we came back the next day and she brought her boyfriend and told us that he wants to come to church too and listen to our message! So this week we’ve been teaching them and the boyfriend, Benjamin, is super receptive and we can tell that he really loves Jesus and wants to learn more about him. And both of them came to church on Sunday! And they also stayed for both hours and the baptism of Luis! And they’re like little kids, 13 and 14 years old! But this week we’re gonna try to get to know the parents so they can continue progressing and eventually be baptized too! 

This week for me is just evidence that God is preparing his people. Everyday I realize that there is this division that is super evident. The people’s hearts are either super hard, and they are not willing to try to change, or they are just waiting to hear the Gospel and ready to change. I just love being a missionary. I love this restored gospel. We had an experience last night, we had a Family Home Evening with a family from the ward and Luis and his mom Sunday night. And Luis’ mom is really religious. She loves Jesus Christ, but has a closed heart. She had a ton of questions and I love how God have given us every single answer. I love that we believe in living, current revelation. That God did not only reveal the truth in the time of the Bible, but he revealed it in the Ancient Americas and today he is revealing the truth too. But sadly she couldn’t wrap her mind around it. But it was cool to be in a room with a super strong family in the Gospel and see all of them bare their testimony of the truthfulness of it all. It really just strengthened my testimony that God really does love us! And he doesn’t want us to live in the dark. There is light! Jesus Christ is the light, and He lives today. This week was a week that changed me. I will forever be a different person and I know that it is only through the power of the Atonement that it is possible. I love my Savior and am grateful for this life to grow my relationship with him. I am excited for when he comes again. I know he will come in all his glory and power and love. And I can’t wait to give him the biggest hug and thank him in person. But I think the best way to show him thanks is not by words, but by our actions. This life is the time to really show him that we love him and are grateful for him. This is the time to give everything to him because “when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” Mosiah 2:17 

Have a great week, God loves you!