Hi!
I like food of the breakfast variety. There are cheap convenience stores on every corner, and it's just too easy to get junk food here, so food of the breakfast type would be great. And I'm looking forward to the ketchup chips!
No, I'm fairly certain that we don't have a carbon monoxide detector. We don't even have gas in our house. We have light and water. That's it. :)
So this morning we went shopping in the tianguies! My lovely brown skirt got ruined by the iron (long story) and most of my shirts are stained... so we went to the tianguies - where I found three new skirts super cheap, a couple shirts and a new sweater! Yay! When we visit Mexico after my mission I'll have to take ya'll to the tianguies. Pretty much the best thing ever.
And Chelle and Logan! I still need your favorite scriptures! Por favor!
And Mom and Dad, Happy Anniversary! I'm so happy you're my parents :) I've been telling a bunch of people lately that my parents are going to complete 25 years this week. You're amazing.
So Elder Duque was the only one that had cambios in our district - the new elder is Elder Martinez from Columbia, and he's brand new. So that means we now have two Elders Martinez from Columbia in our ward! It's pretty funny. And our district grew... they split the ward of Hnas Ingram and Bennett, so Elder Hunsaker is in my district now and is training... an American! I can't remember his name, but he doesn't speak Spanish yet, and I'm thinking it'll be difficult with an American comp. But we have our comps for a reason!
So this week has been interesting. We found several new people to teach... and then never found them again. And all the people we had last week have also gone into hiding. So we've been working hard, but haven't been seeing as many results.
But Adolfo is amazing! He got baptized! He was super happy, and super calm (Kept saying 'I feel good' lol) And the spirit was so strong during his baptism. Afterwards he said the closing prayer and it was so humble - he just kept thanking our Heavenly Father. He sounded like he was about to cry. Then afterwards when we congratulated him by shaking his hand he had tears in his eyes and just kept saying thank you. It was amazing. He's been friends and neighbors his whole life with some members, and they always invited him to listen and to come to church, but he always said no (although he did go to some YSA dances a few times). Then his life got messed up - smoking and drinking... he was super alcoholic for a long time. Did some bad stuff and led a really sad life. Then... he found a group like AA, that helped him stop drinking and got him to believe in God. He completely turned his life around. Hasn't had a drop in 6 years, and now he runs the group, helping others. When we knocked on his door, he was so prepared. He loved everything we taught him, and is reading the Book of Mormon and loves it. He loved going to the temple, and he has paid his tithing twice. He's also giving us a ton of references. The last weekend of every month he always leaves for a camp with his AA group, and the Elder's told us that in Priesthood class, he was worried about that because 'I have to come to church so that I'll be ready to go to the temple in a year!' He is seriously golden. It has been such a blessing to know him and teach him, and right now I just hope his children (he has 4) will be willing to listen to us now! His older 3 kids are a bit rebellious, and haven't been interested yet. His youngest, Issac (6), is such a sweetie and always comes to church too and loves it. After the baptism of his dad he ran and gave us both a huge hug before we could stop him (we can't hug boys). But it was seriously amazing to see how the Lord has prepared Adolfo, and I feel so blessed to have been a part of his baptism.
 |
| Hna Mercedes, Hno Castro (Adolfo's fellow-shipper who baptized him), Adolfo, me, and Issac. |
It's amazing to see the small and tender miracles that happen all the time here. We've had some recent lessons with both investigators and less actives where we have felt the spirit really strong. And things have changed, so now we don't teach the doctrine of Christ in the first lesson, we teach the Restoration. And it's been really powerful to see the people listen so closely when we teach about Joseph Smith. That story is truly amazing! I never get tired of teaching it, and the spirit is always so strong.
This is truly the true church, and miracles happen all the time. Hna Mercedes was the first member of her family and got baptized at age 14. A year later her mom and one of her brothers were baptized too. Her other brother isn't interested (yet!) and her dad has listened a few time but hasn't been baptized either. But last week she was told that her Grandma just got baptized! And her dad is listening to the missionaries!
This is the true church. People that we contact are always telling us that ''they're all the same. All the churches teach about God, they just do it in different ways. Many paths, one destination.'' but I KNOW (and I tell them all the time) that la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias isn't just a church, but the kingdom of God established on earth, and that we truly do have prophets and apostles, the priesthood, and all the things we need in this day to return to live with our Heavenly Father.
I'm reading Jesus the Christ again, and although I learned a lot the first time, I feel like I'm getting tons more out of it this time. I KNOW without a doubt that Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, and he truly loves us and cares for us. And that if we do our part, we really can receive forgiveness, and become perfected in Christ.
I love you all, and hope you have a wonderful week. Be good. Say your prayers. And read the scriptures. I never understood how important these small things are, but I know they are essential to help us in this life and the next.
Love you all tons!
-Hermana Taylor
Also, tonight we're going to have a FHE with a member family that's having a ton of problems. It's the mom and dad, and their three kids and their families.There is going to be about 20 people. AND they have a ton of problems... as in one of them recently beat up the other, and the one who got beaten up is now contemplating murder... and everyone in the family is divided into different sides of the problem...lots of problems. And tonight they've all agreed to come together for a FHE. And we get to teach. Any suggestions? What's a scripture or talk of song or church video that has helped our family to be united?
No comments:
Post a Comment