Well in sad news Kati and Maritzas
baptismal dates fell this week. Kati because she is at home with her
baby and can't come to church. Rough stuff, but it is okay. Yesterday we found 4 new investigators and put 4 new baptismal dates for
the 27th of this month and the 18th of October! All is well in Zion.
Well
in the beginning of this week we were actually in a trio with Hermana Alonso, Hermana Jameson's companion because Hermana Jameson had leader's
conference. It was hard to not work full time in just our area, but it
was fun to be in a trio for a couple days. Hermana Alonso is really
funny.
Oh funny story, last Sunday I asked to
use the bathroom at a members house. She is a member that we know
really well, but when she led me into the bathroom it was too late to say I didn't need it when I saw that it was a half waller. It was facing into the
kitchen, which is really just a campfire. So I got to talk to the hermana
while I went pee and it was just awesome. I was just trying really
hard not to picture mom in that same situation, because when I did, I just
about busted up laughing.
But really, the
rain. Someone send me an ark. Hahaha, in good news, my shoes are
shrinking back to their normal size because they are wet all the time. They were getting a little big. Hahahaha, there is always a silver lining
:) And it smells like it did when it rained in Yucca Valley, so I am
happy with that too :)
So I have a crazy Lauren
idea slash story thing. Like 6 times since I have gotten to Ayacucho,
sometimes when we are walking home at night a dog stays with us the
whole way home. Like the whole way, right with us, keeping everyone and
every other dog far away. The crazy Lauren explanation is that I really
feel like it is on those days or on those nights when Heavenly Father
answers my family's prayers, or they are praying extra hard for my
protection, or are concerned and He sends me a little (or big) guardian
angel in a form that I will recognize as coming from my beautiful family
:) So don't worry, I am totally being protected by the guardian angels
you are sending.
Oh also, this hair oil you
sent me reminds me of the boys. It smells like them. Haahaha, I think
about them and their shenanigans almost every morning because of it.
So this week on Thursday we did
service like always. We ended up going to the Bishop's counselor's (yes
he only has one.... that is the dysfunction of Ayacucho) house and
moving a whole bunch of rocks to make a house thing. Well I could lift
huge rocks and now I have gained the respect of Presidente David and the
elders. Hahaha, yay farmer girl! Shout out to West Weber and building
poodle barns!
Sometimes the world makes
me a little sad when I see a little child, or look into the eyes of a
woman we contact in the street and see traces of abuse so evident in
tears of shame or forced smiles, or a bruised cheek on the face of a
child so innocent and so close to God that is too rapidly losing the
light in their eyes that should be in the eyes of every child. Oh please
love those around you. Don't hurt those who love you, just love. I want
to just take all of them home sometimes.
Yesterday
during sacrament meeting I had a very powerful experience. I had been
praying and fasting to know how we could help our ward, how to be
better. Well we got there and not one of the recent converts from our
area was there, not one! During the sacrament I was hit with a
paralyzing sorrow for them, that the ward maybe hadn't done their part to
fellowship them, that maybe we could be doing better as missionaries,
that maybe the trials of life were too much. I know that my Heavenly Father was letting me see how He feels when his sheep are lost, when we
struggle or when we don't obey. When we are so imperfect and maybe as
members aren't disciples as we should be. It was a powerful, moving
experience. Intense sorrow powered by a love I have rarely felt. I wept
through all of sacrament meeting and shared the experience crying in
consejo while everyone was so shocked and being brought to a realization
that maybe we could care for these sheep better. Apparently it worked,
because we had a training last night and I think things are looking up. It was a beautiful experience.
Also during
sacrament meeting I sat by this mamita who has been a member for years and
always sits alone because she is not quite all the way there, she is a
little slow. She was just so concerned I was crying. She kept wiping
away my tears and telling me it was okay, that Jesus loves us, which made
me cry more. And i just love all the mamitas that don't even speak Spanish. I try to hug them every week and make sure they know I love
them. In Relief Society yesterday one of them motioned for me to come
over and she gave me a packet of cookies and kissed my forehead. I know she is really poor, and that gesture of love and of kindness just
pushed me right over the edge. I love this church. I love seeing Christ
in the faces and actions of the sweet, faithful members here. It is
beautiful.
Last story for yesterday, it looks
like all of our fasting was answered! So on Saturday I contacted this 18
year old girl in the street named Jennifer. She isn't quite all the way
there. She reminds me of Larie who I worked with in Special Needs Mutual. She wanted us to come visit her family so we went last night
after church. Her dad and her mom were there and we were able to teach
them! They are really interested and said that they have been feeling
lately they need to get their life in order and get married and so
forth. They accepted a baptismal date and we finally found the family I knew was waiting! I really hope they will move forward in the Gospel. I
have always felt that because of my experiences with Special Needs Mutual, I would find someone with special needs in my mission, and we
actually contacted 2 this week! They are such special spirits.
Well
with lots and lots of work we are moving forward in Ayacucho! Thank you
for your fasting, for your faith, for your prayers, and for your
examples to me. I love you all more than mortal words can say. I love
this Gospel. I know that it is true. I know that my Redeemer lives, and I
know that families can be together, and that mine will. I can't wait to
go to the temple all together, including with Grandma Judy :) Read Moroni 10: 4 -7, it talks about how we can't deny this spirit. I can't
deny the joy that the Gospel brings me. I can't deny of its truthfulness. Share the good news!!! Let the joy of His spirit carry you. I LOVE YOU!
Lauren
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