The One Where I Understood Conference in Spanish

We had a lesson with an investigator who we haven’t seen in a while.  She wasn’t really super interested before, so we stopped passing by for about 2 weeks.  Then when we showed up today, she was like “Come in, come in! Where have you been?  I want to tell you that when you guys didn’t come as often, I decided to look for help myself and I found peace from reading the Book of Mormon.”

                Wow, this was amazing because we have been trying to get her to read the Book of Mormon and feel the peace it brings for 10 weeks!  And really, all it took was 1) teach her how to find peace in the scriptures. 2) testify that we’ve had our own experiences and she can have her own too.  Then instead of just feeding her fish, she took the rod and fished for her own food.  The “food” she caught herself was much more valuable to her than any of the fish we could have given her.

                Today was so great!  It was so warm and I got a sunburn!  I haven’t felt the sun like this in so long!  I think it’s because I left Utah in winter and the winter in Chile was just starting.  It’s finally warm and I LOVE it!  There are so many more people out in the streets and the parks that we can talk to!

                We had a lesson in the house of a member and this sweet lady saw that my arms were a little burnt (tomorrow I’ll unpack my sunscreen) and she ran outside for 5 seconds and came back with 2 branches of her Aloe Vera plant.  She didn’t just give them to me, but she INSISTED on serving me and applying it herself.  So it was the nicest thing – she just sat there and rubbed the plant softly on my arm, and it was so soothing.  The members take such good care of us.

             

Spring in Rengo

   Also, we got a reference from one of the members, so we passed by this lady’s house.  She let us in and we began talking and getting to know her.  We found out that this lady has been diagnosed with a sickness and the doctors say that she has 2 months to live.  She heard about the priesthood blessings and that’s why she wants to learn and hear from us.  She is not sad because of the pain, but she can’t sleep because she is constantly worried about her 3 sons – 11, 8 and 1 years old.  She just wants them to be safe and happy even though she may not be around much longer.  I told her that we would be more than happy to call the Elders over to give her a blessing.  So we called them and set up a time in a couple of days when she will be back from Santiago and the Elders can come visit her.  Then I felt so strongly to read about Jesus Christ and the atonement in the Book of Mormon instead of just giving her the plan of salvation pamphlet.  My companion nodded at me as I reached for my Book of Mormon.  Together we read Alma 7:11-12 and we talked about how Christ understands more than just our temptations and sins, but our pains and sicknesses too.  Not only does he know what it is like to be sick, but He understands perfectly how she feels – her sickness, pains and worries.  He suffered all of that so He would know perfectly how to succor us and help us through these times of suffering.  She looked at us and said, “Thank you.  Thank you for this message.  I was tired of people telling me they know how I feel. Because they don’t.  But thank you for reminding me that someone does.  And I need Him now more than ever.  So I’m done being angry with God.”

                We taught Angelica and she told us how ever since the missionaries first started teaching her, she has felt a difference. I LOVE how she explained the effects of the gospel in us when she said, “I have changed.  It’s not something on the outside like changing my hair or clothes.  I honestly feel something so deep inside of me changing – and it is beautiful!”  I love that about the gospel.  That Christ can literally change our HEARTS.  We can live a certain way – be a certain person for years, our whole life.  And still – if we let him – Christ can change us.  That, to me, is the BEST news in the world!  That I can change.

                We had the most amazing lesson. We found a new investigator and he is GOLD.  A family in the ward has a son who works with this new investigator – Juan Pablo.  At work one day they simply started talking about why we don’t drink tea or coffee.  Then he called us that night and gave us the address of Juan Pablo.  So we passed by the house almost EVERY DAY for 2 weeks and no one was home.  If someone was there, it wasn’t Juan Pablo.  He doesn’t have a phone and so it was impossible to contact him.  But finally, after 2 weeks of what seemed like a lost cause, we met Juan Pablo and set up an appointment.  Today he was there and our appointment didn’t fall through!

                We walked into his house with a sister in the ward that agreed to come with us.  We started just getting to know him and he was so excited to talk about the gospel, he stopped us, ran and got his pamphlet of the Restoration.  Then he told us he had read it 3 times and was ready to learn!  We started by telling him that if he had questions to feel free to stop and ask.  Then we started by asking him who God is to him.  NOT EVEN KIDDING, he is the first person who has explained that God is a person who loves us and wants us as His children to become like Him.  He knew all about Joseph Smith and said how he feels like he is at the same point as Joseph Smith.  Placed before a million crossroads ready for an answer, willing to walk any path as long as it is the right one leading to God.  We were able to testify that all the people in the world can tell him a million different things but the only person who can answer this is God.  We invited him to read the introduction to the Book of Mormon and follow the invitation from Moroni to ask if it is true or not.  He got so excited, he almost didn’t let us finish explaining this before he opened the Book of Mormon to read it!  Juan Pablo is a miracle.

                Today was one of my favorite days!  We ate lunch early and headed to church to listen to conference.  We could have gone to Rancagua to hear it in English, but that would have wasted so much time traveling and I felt like we needed that time to work. I decided to listen to conference in Spanish. I prayed so much to be able to understand it all and not be focused on the Spanish but to be listening to the Spirit.  It was amazing.

                The second it started, I forgot about Spanish.  It was the most amazing session ever.  Because, I have never been more prepared for a session of conference in my life.  LITERALLY every talk was about something I’ve had questions about during my studies these past few months.  Like 90% of the time, my jaw was wide open in awe because it was like the apostles have been reading my study journal.  I truly understand so much better how general conference should be a delight and learning.  The gospel is the most joyful experience in the WORLD!  Today was so amazing. 

Also we got transfer calls!  I’m so excited because for once I get to keep my companion for more than one transfer!  And I get a least 6 more weeks in this amazing area!  I’m so happy because I honestly felt like my work here in Rengo is not done yet.  So 6 more weeks in Rengo!  But I don’t know why but this transfer I got the biggest desire to step everything up.  I’m ready to work harder than ever before.  There’s always room for improvement so I’m honestly determined with all of my heart to reach a new level.  I want to be a much better missionary.  I’m ready to learn how to be a better teacher.  I’m so excited to show more love for everyone.  I want to help more people.  I want to show more faith.  I will be more diligent.  I want to be closer to Christ.  And I want more people to come with me.  I want to spread more joy.  I don’t want to be comfortable.  I want to do something harder than before.  I want to be more valiant and strong.  More humble and confident.  More bold and loving.  More like the savior.

     

Since we aren't able to have big activities, this transfer we did a lot with the 6 missionaries in Rengo. We decided to make t-shirts as a joke that say, "Rengo Zone" and then there's a waffle because of the waffle iron, and our names on the back.