Gracias a Dios


 In this email, I wanted to dedicate it to this past week and the family we have in teaching. We had a lot of crazy things happen within the week and we met some good people too. One of them, an older mother, told us of how distraught she was because of all the family members that had died. She was particularly sad about her daughter that had died in a fire. Her face was exhausted and her eyes spoke pain. After we left the lesson we had with her, the spirit and her newly found smile reminded both my companion and I the healing power of the Atonement. It was especially sweet to see her the next day lit up as she told us of the joy her sister, a member in Arizona that referenced her to us, had. We hope to continue working and progressing with her.

 One of the families we've been teaching are a blessing to be with. They have their own store that's part of their house. The step father works in construction all day and comes back at night with his friends to eat dinner. The oldest son has a girlfriend with two kids. The oldest of their kids is a 4 yr old named fanny. She always loves to sit next to my and to call me on our fake telephones in her monster voice. And Luis is a 12 yr old that has a strong determination to go to church and keep learning. Other missionaries have been teaching them for a little while. It sounds like before I got here it was difficult to help the family or be able to teach them with people entering at at random for the store they have right next to their livingroom. Little by little, they changed and let the missionaries come more and listen to us when they could. 

 

Luis is always the one to go to church. He normally comes with us and one of the youth in the ward named Helam. One sunday, when we passed by to pick up Luis, the whole family had decided to go with him for the first time. We jumped with more excitement then fanny in her little dress. We went to the church first and happily showed them to their seats. We got to take the sacrament with them quickly and then we left them traveling with a member who left their stove on in their house. When we came back, they seemed overwhelmed. Lots of members had welcomed them and introduced themselves but they didn't seem too thrilled about it all. We told them we have classes after but they seemed indecisive about leaving or staying for them. In their indecisiveness, the classes started and so they stayed. The class was about Jacob in the old testament and forgiveness. Luckily, that happened to be just what the mom needed to hear about. She shared her thoughts about it in the class. Other members thankfully responded to her comments with their ideas. To which, she responded to the whole class- you guys must be really close to the spirit of God because this is exactly what I needed.

 

We put a baptismal date with Luis who just couldn't wait to be baptized. It was the third or fourth baptismal date he's had. We continued working with them and trying to help in what we could. The stress of some of the things that happened in those weeks and with the baptism, the family became less and less thrilled to see us. The night before the baptism, the parents began to tell us some of their life and the struggles they had. They hadn't planned to tell us anything it just happened. Hearing of their difficulties made me sad and feel more love for them. I got to share the story of my own parents and the blessings their kids got to have because of it. I'm not sure if it helped but I could tell the spirit had touched them through all the things we and they talked about.

 

With lots of stress and planning, Luis was able to be baptized the next day. He was baptized by his friend Helam. Luis, in his oversized jumpsuit, came out of the font with a big smile. I felt relieved with the spirit after all this. When he hugged his mom afterward, I couldn't help but be moved. She was very happy despite the her own worries and doubts. She said afterwards to us that maybe someday Luis will be able to baptize us. Thanks to Luis and all his determination to go to church and to help the family, he brought the spirit into his home. I also got to talk to Helam afterward and asked him how he felt about his first baptism. He was preparing to out his papers in a little bit. He responded that he desired to be a better representative of Christ. To do so, he said he felt the importance of helping people through ordinances. I smiled at him and told him, "Por eso, me cae bien" (that's why I like you). I got to share my own experience and love for ordinances. He seemed to stand a little taller. I love this Gospel and the Promsies we get to make with God. It's nice. 

 

- Elder d'ev egg knee

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