For our Pday activity we had a
BBQ (because winters in Chile are like fall evenings in Utah) and played
soccer. I always love playing soccer because I can’t really connect with people
through their jokes yet because of Spanish. But when we play soccer, it’s like
I’m a person again instead of just someone who doesn’t get the jokes, but
laughs anyways. It was so fun and our small zone of 11 really bonded!
We visited Luis with a member
who lives nearby. I love lessons
with members because the same thing happens every time. As we are walking to the lesson we talk about
what we are going to teach and what we are going to focus on and the role of the
member in the lesson. They almost always
talk about how they don’t want to talk a lot – just a quick, short
testimony. They are super nervous and
ask us tons of questions about this person they are about to meet. They tell us how they will just be happy to
listen and beg us not to ask a hard question out of nowhere. And then we get to the lesson and they start
out really quiet. But once they feel the
Spirit something clicks and ‘boom’ - we don’t even need to be there. The members share personal experiences, ask
amazing questions and my favorite part usually comes as we are leaving. Almost ALWAYS, as we are walking out, the
member invites the investigator to church with them. Or a family home evening. Or an activity. And then as we walk the member home they
usually ask when we will meet with the investigator next so they can join us
again. I love to see – literally right
in front of my eyes – the power of the spirit of missionary work. I’s like that process when you know you
should bear your testimony at girls camp or EFY. And you’re super nervous at first, but as you
start you begin to feel the Spirit and it’s not so hard anymore. And once you sit down you want to get back up
to something more. I love that! Sure it’s a little uncomfortable at first,
but once you feel the spirit it’s like you can’t stop. It reminds me of my favorite quote from ‘we
bought a zoo’ that I think sums up missionary opportunities so well. “All it takes is 20 seconds of insane
courage, just 20 seconds of embarrassing bravery and I promise something great
will come of it.” I have seen this every
single day for the past 4 months and it is wonderful. Just step out of your comfort zone for TWENTY
SECONDS and you’ll create a miracle. It’s
not that hard to be an answer to someone’s prayer. It’s not natural or
comfortable or convenient. But it’s not
hard. I hope every day for the rest of
my life, I step out of my comfort zone.
Can you imagine how many miracles I’ll see?
Also
we had English class and I’m the only North American missionary so I taught the
hour and a half long class alone and I absolutely LOVED it! Maybe I’ll just
stay in Chile and teach English J
We
went to visit a less active. She wasn’t home, but her daughter answered the
door and wanted us to teach her. As we sat there trying to get to know her a
little, I was trying to figure out what she needed. It would be easy to just
throw together a quick general message about faith or something, but I knew we
should teach her what she needed. And then I remembered Elder Covey’s 3
question approach. So I asked her when she is the happiest, and she told us
when she’s with her family. Then when we asked what she would ask God if she
could talk to him, she got really quiet and reverent. Like SUPER reverent. And
just softly said, “I just would love to be talking to him.” I asked her when the
last time she talked to Heavenly Father was. She said, “every once in a while,
probably last month.” Then I asked when the last time she talked with Heavenly
Father was. And she looked up and just had the most desire in her eyes and
asked, “How?” It was so amazing to teach and testify of the power of prayer and
that her Heavenly Father is always listening and He cares about every little
detail in her life.
Also
we had a miracle! We felt super strongly that we needed to contact a certain
street. We talked to a few people and handed out a few cards, but didn’t really
contact any golden waiting investigator. We thought… Then as we were walking we
saw an old lady waiting at the end of the street. She was just standing there
like 50 feet away. For some reason we start waving and she just stared at us.
Then both of us LITERALLY started running towards her as if we knew her and
hadn’t seen her in years. We greeted her and stated walking with her to the
corner store. She told us about her daughter who was just seriously injured in
an accident. She told us she had to go but agreed that another day we could
pass by and visit. We didn’t realize this was a miracle until today.
Our
appointment fell through and we found ourselves on this street again. We
decided to see if she was home. We yelled, “A-LO” and she came running to open
the gate and let us in as if she had been waiting for us. We walked inside
where she was sitting with her injured daughter Eileen and Eileen’s 2
daughters. We talked about the car accident and she told us how the doctor said
that it’s a miracle she is alive. We sang I Know That My Redeemer Lives, and testified
of God’s love for her and how Christ knows exactly her pains. He lives so he
can comfort us perfectly because He understands perfectly. The Spirit was so
strong and then Eileen told us she’s seen us before. She said, “About 2 months
ago I was outside sweeping the porch and you two (Hermana Flores and her other
companion) came up to me and started talking. After a few minutes I told you
two that I wasn’t interested. And then you asked me if I needed any help with
anything. I told you no, and as you were walking away, I remembered my
daughters are struggling with English and I should have asked your companion
for help. Ever since then I’ve been hoping for you to come back.” So we told
her we would LOVE to help with English. She told us that after the accident,
she is much more open to talking about God and learning how to be closer to
Him. This is a miracle to us because even though it will start as helping with
English, I know that God is perfect. His plan is perfect. His timing is
perfect. Wow, every day as a missionary I see the hand of God so detailed in people’s
lives. It’s absolutely glorious. I know that miracles have not ceased.
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