Week 59

This week was a week of miracles. 

On Monday we got a call from President and he told us that someone had shown up to the office and told us that he wanted to get baptized. His name is Patricio. He said that Patricio had a spooky experience in his apartment and he realized that he has not been baptized, and needs to be baptized. So President gave him a Book of Mormon, told him to read 3 Nefi 11, and come back at 7 pm that same day. We ended up having a lesson with Him, with the President and the APs and it was one of the most powerful lessons I’ve ever been in. The spirit was just flaming the entire time. I felt that everything came so naturally, we naturally were able to share scriptures with him that helped him feel and understand the importance of everything. We were able to promise him big blessings. He told us that we wanted to abandon his past sins and start in God’s path. When we proposed a baptimal date, September 7th, he said, “obvio” like obviously. That was the best answer ever. And when we finished the lesson, Present Trythall asked Patricio if he wanted to offer the prayer. That night was his first time praying . And in his prayer he expressed his gratitude and excitement for a beautiful week that is going to be full of learning. I felt so grateful to be there and see how much this boy had changed in 30 minutes. You could see the difference in his face, in his excitement from when we first met him. 

Since that day, Patricio has progressed so much. He really is trusting in God so much and as he is learning about the church, he is making changes in his life. He is starting to pray every day and read in the Book of Mormon everyday. He went to institute, and to church on Sunday. He told us that after our first lesson with him, he went home and read in the Book of Mormon and prayed, and the same things happened in his apartment that scared him or were spooky, but the difference this time is that he wasn't scared. He didn’t have any fear, he was calm. This is a huge miracle. He can see that as we draw closer to God, he gives us power to overcome the adversary. And especially as we make covenants with him, his power literally showers down upon us and becomes part of who we are. When that happens, even the temptations of Satan won’t have power over us. We just have to make, and most importantly, keep sacred covenants to have that direct access to power constantly. 

In Patricio’s whole process Hermano Franco has been by his side. And one day Franco sent us a voice message saying thank you for letting him be a part of patricio’s progress. He said he felt like this week has been one of the best weeks, and he has seen a lot of miracles in other aspects of his life, thanks to helping Patricio everyday. We have lessons with Patricio basically every day and Franco is always there with us. I feel so grateful to know someone who understands so profoundly the purpose of this life, to sacrifice a lot of his time to help one of his spiritual brothers come to know the truth of the gospel.

Our friend Absalon also is fighting to get an answer to his prayers about the Restoration of the Gospel and about Joseph Smith. If you want to add him to your prayers, and Patricio too that would be amazing. They both need your prayers.

This week we watched the broadcast of the Tabernacle Choir's concert in Argentina! It was amazing! It was so fun to get to see and know more of the Latin America culture. I love serving here in South America! I especially loved the hymn “Come, Come Ye Saints”. This song touched my heart thinking about how much the pioneers worked to bring the truth to all of the world, and to think that I am participating in that work, brings chills. All of us suffer from life, but all of us can participate in the most important work of all time. All the suffering is worth it. Joseph Smith knew it and gave his life for it. We came here to the earth knowing it would be hard, but we also understood what was in store for us after. Joseph Smith understood what it meant that the true church of Jesus Christ was on the earth. And thanks to his testimony and the testimony of thousands that came after him, we can choose to live together as a family for eternity. I am so grateful for every moment that I have to stand up and represent the church and represent Jesus. Everyday, as disciples of Jesus Christ, we have the privilege to wake up and choose to represent Jesus Christ. Let us try everyday to be more like him. He suffered too, but he understood why. We will suffer here on this earth, we are guaranteed to have difficulties and trials, but we can try to better understand the why and, more importantly, live it. I am so grateful for my Savior and that he gives me trails every day to help me practice living the reason of life. 

God loves you!