August 25, 2014 - Week 34

I am glad to hear that you guys had a good week, especially in Lake Powell and stuff.. But, I most definitely had a GREAT week. Seriously. It was so good. So, let´s start out with talking about what happened last week. Haha, so remember how there was a zone conference?? Well, I forgot to say, but at this zone conference, during my interview with President, he told me--and also my companion...but in her interview--that the elders that are in Aratiri have an investigator that is a girl who is 19 years old and that he wants US to teach her. He told us that he just feels like we should be the ones to teach her and that it is a lot better. Like she can have a true conversion and stuff--if you get what I am saying... Well, anyway, we accepted, of course, and we actually knew this girl cuz she had been at church the week before, as the investigator of the elders. Her name is Elsa. So, we were pretty excited to get to teach her. I will be honest, one of the elders was pretty mad/sad that we were ´´taking´´ his investigator. But, it´s fine. So, anyways, this Tuesday we went to visit her cuz the elders told us that that was the best day for her. We went to her house with the elders and they broke the news to her that we were going to be the ones teaching her instead of them. And, she was like totally fine with it. So, then we started to get to know her better and stuff and my companion asked her if she had any questions about what she read in the Book of Mormon--cuz the elders left her a chapter to read. She had some really good questions and stuff and was like telling us that she knows that there is a God and stuff, but she just has a lot of fear that she will disappoint Him. Like not being able to keep all of His commandments and stuff. And she just had these questions for us and we answered them and it was just a really, really great lesson. Super spiritual and when she started talking about how she was a bit scared--like scared to receive an answer or scared to do things wrong... My companion pulls out Isaiah 41:10. And, of course, I was thinking the exact scripture. And it was perfect. She like cried and stuff and the Holy Ghost was just SOOOOO strong and stuff. I had like tears in my eyes and yeah... Just a really good lesson. She accepted that when she receives an answer, she will get baptized and stuff, and we left her 2 Nephi 4 to read.

So, that was such a blessing for us. My companion has been working with that guy Ever for like so long, and he just like lost his desire. We can´t find him anymore and he just doesn´´t want to try anymore to change his life around. So, the fact that the Lord gave us this opportunity to teach and help Elsa... Is just great. We are just SO grateful for her. Especially cuz then, this happened... We were of course going to pass by her house to take her to church with us this week. So, we call her up on Saturday to tell her, she says sure, and then Sunday, we got up and ready and then went to pick her up. We had to take a colectivo cuz it was actually in the Stake Center, cuz we had a conference this week. It was like a conference for the area. So, it was for all of Paraguay and Uruguay. So, it was cool that she came with us cuz it was a conference. So, we went to the Stake Center all together, and then THAT was just great. One, because I got to see EVERYONE from Itaugua--exclamtions points-- ...the explanation point doesn´t work on this computer... So, I was SO happy. All the families that I love so dearly were there and I got to see and talk to everyone. The best, was that the familia Maldonado was there and when I went to go talk to them, they were so happy to see me. Then, they tell me to turn around..cuz I was just facing and talking to the three girls..and there is Saúl. And, not only was it Saúl, but it was Saúl in Sunday clothes with his hair cut and everything--more exclamation points-- I WAS ABOUT TO CRY. He looked so different. A completely different person. And he is just so happy. And his family is just soooo happy. And I just love that they have been able to find true happiness as a family together.

So, that was just like SUCH a cool experience for me. So, anyway, that was the first reason this conference was just grand. Then, secondly, it was because it was so sprititual. Like, the talks were just great. The ex-president of the area talked and then some other guy from the 70 and then a sister and then Elder Bednar. It was awesome. Seriously, he gave a cool talk about repentance and not only repentance, but how we need to TRULY repent and stuff. So, that was cool, and then THIRD... Is because we had another lesson with Elsa, after the conference in the chapel and it was life-changing.

 

So, we go into a classroom and we have 2 members with us to share with us and we first ask her how she liked the conference and she told us that she really really liked it a lot and stuff. Then, we start the lesson and my companion asks her if she had a chance to read the part in the Book of Mormon that we left her, and she tells us yes, and then my companion asks her if she knows if the Book of Mormon is the word of God. She tells us yes. Then my companion asks her if she has her answer about the Church of Jesus Christ and if it is His true church. She says, I am SURE that it is the true church. So, right away, it was a great lesson. Then, we teach about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the lesson is just great and then after an awesome lesson, my companion asks her. So, Elsa, will you be baptized on the 6th of September?? And she says yes. Then, she tells us something beautiful... She tells us,´´ I know that it is real... Because if it wasn´t, I wouldn´t be feeling the same as you guys feel in this exact moment..´´ She is so true. I am serious, the spirit was SOOO strong in this moment. I was crying, she was crying, my companion was crying.... It was just the best feeling in the world. So, she has her baptismal date and everything and I am telling you... She seriously was prepared by the Lord. And I know that we were supposed to teach her and that President knew that. There was not one problem or doubt that she had about the elders teaching her. It wasn´t that there could have been a possible problem or really she wasn´t interested in the church. It wasn´t about them at all. It was her true desire to really know if this is Christ´s church. And she has her answer now.

The Hermanas with Elsa

I love this work more than anything and moments like this makes everything worth it. Maybe I am missing out on boating a bit, or other activities with the family. Maybe I can´t listen to all the music that I want to or maybe I can´t watch movies that I want.. But, I would not trade this for the world. I have no doubt in the world that this is Christ´s church. His ONLY church and that we can return and live with Him again if we do what He asks us to do. And I just LOVE being a missionary.

 

Movie night activity with some of the Elders

Soooooo.. That happened this week. Also, we had like a movie night outside in another ward and so that was fun. It was like a projector and stuff. And, after, we all--7 OF US... Us 2, the elders, and 3 members--had to ride in this tiny moto truck with a bunch of equipment to get back to our area. That was pretty nuts, I´ll be honest. But, that is my week. I am so happy to be a missionary here in Paraguay and help people here in Aratiri. I love it more than life-muchos exclamation points-

LOVE, Hermana Whittaker