One less active family asked me
to help French braid their daughter’s hair this morning for her dance recital.
The mom was panicking to find someone to do it and I was happy to help! They
asked me how I learned and it was so sweet to tell them about the nights mom
and I did each other’s hair while watching a movie. It’s funny how even nights
like that transfer love and service to people now in Chile.
We are had exchanges and Hermana
Wittworth was here with me in Rengo! It was a good test to see if I know this
area well enough to direct it since transfers are next week and it is VERY
likely that Hermana Flores will be transferred. She has been here for 6 months!
But all went well today so I think there’s hope for me! Today was so
great! Marina told us the most amazing thing. She said that her son (a 15 year
old drug addict) has a hard time sleeping because his body won’t rest and he always
has bad dreams. But he asked her if every night before bed to read to him out loud
from the Book of Mormon because that is the ONLY way they have found for him to
fall asleep in peace. The miracle in this is not that the book bores him to
sleep, but it invites the spirit and brings them peace. Their situation hurts
my heart so deeply. I am so grateful that through the Book of Mormon they have
found peace. I pray they find the desire to come experience more.
OH
YEAHà
Hermana Whittworth was at BYU the last fall and we put the pieces together that
her super good friend is Danny McBride from Arizona! She told me one day we can
all be friends so GREAT NEWS, I’m back with the McBride fam J
We had
another lesson with Carolina (Aug. 9-the lady we met because we cancelled our
lunch appointment). We asked her if she was able to read and ponder and
understand the things we talked about last time about the Restoration. She got
so excited and said “yes, yes I understand it so well! I HAVE to tell you
something!” So she began to tell us about how this week she was with some
family of all different religions. They never talk about religion because it
ends up in a fight. But this day she felt like she should mention that we had
visited her and taught her a little.
Then
her sister began to talk about how the Mormons don’t believe in God, just
Joseph Smith. Carolina said, “I told them right there that they were mistaken.
I explained that you believe in God and that Joseph Smith was just a prophet of
God just like Abraham, Noah, and Moses. I told them that Joseph Smith is
important but you don’t worship him.” Wow my heart was going to explode in that
moment. She defended the church and explained the Restoration in 2 seconds! We
were in awe and she got even more excited when we too treated her experience as
a big deal. Because it is! Wow she is so amazing. Her progress may be slow, but
I know that once she decides to get baptized, she is going to be a solid
convert for the rest of her life. It is amazing that God has a different time
for everyone and everyone has a time.
Oh my, today at lunch, Luis
(this grandpa) brought out his guitar. It was a pretty nice looking electric
acoustic guitar and he was so excited to play and sing us a song. So he pulls
out his hymnal and sets everything up. He started strumming and it was WAY out
of tune. But he stopped and started messing with the tuning keys. I was worried
that this song was going to be a disaster but when he clearly heard the out of
tune guitar and began to fix it- I sat back at peace ready to hear a beautiful
hymn. After a solid 7 ½ minutes of twisting the tuning keys, he carefully
placed his fingers in position on the top 3 strings. Then all of a sudden he
starts strumming so hard! Like it is a miracle the strings didn’t break! He
started moving his hand up and down the neck of the guitar with his hand in the
same position, on the same 3 strings just up and down super rapidly. And his
other hand was just strumming SO hard and only the top 2 strings (the
ones he wasn’t even toughing).
He
was singing but it was more of a super low mumble. I couldn’t tell if it was a
hymn or not but he did keep looking back and forth at the hymnal. It probably
was hymn 111 Rock of Ages or something because every once in a while he’d throw
in a “Hiyah!” It was just one of those moments where I just sat back and tried
not to laugh but just smile because it’s not every day that an old Chilean grandpa
serenades you at the lunch table for 15 minutes. I love these memories that I’m
creating that will stay with me forever. I’m even more grateful for Elderly Chileans.
Seriously they are Thee funniest, strangest, most loving people I’ve ever met.
The best was that as he finished his final “Hiyah!” he stopped and we applauded
and he said (COMPLETELY SERIOUS) “I hope you have felt the Spirit and are ready
to go back out to preach the word of God.”
We got transfer calls and
Hermana Flores is leaving to San Fernando. My new companion is Hermana Garcia
from Colombia! Peru, Columbia, Peru, Columbia- there’s a trend here with my
companions. J I’m
so excited to meet Hermana Garcia and start working with her here in Rengo! I
don’t know anything else about the transfers but I can’t wait to get a picture
of that paper so I can see the transfers of the whole mission and see where
everyone is going! I really love transfers and change. Even though change is
hard and adapting to new circumstances isn’t relaxing and requires effort, I
know that this is all exactly what needs to happen right now and I trust God so
I’m just so excited to learn all that I can this next transfer.
The Elders think they are funny putting toys in the poor childs hood...elders are so mature ;) but Winnie the Pooh puts me over the edge :D
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