For
P-day we played some minute-to-win-it games with both zones! I shoved 20
saltine crackers in my mouth against my companion. But the best part was that
my team was all Elders and the whole time they were the most animated
cheerleaders and I think I would have been able to eat more if they hadn’t made
me laugh so much. J
We
taught Solange and Jaime and OH MY, they are ready to progress. Something
clicked in Jaime and he wants the gospel now. He wants to be clean and start
new. We set a goal with him to stop smoking by the 27th of March. If
he can stop smoking and consuming drugs in 2 weeks, then he and Solange are
going right away to the city register to ask for a date to get married! So we
are praying for them so so so much because we know God has the power to heal
him. Now they are showing faith.
I am
grateful that my family is so in-tune with the spirit and send me exactly what
I need, exactly when I need it. Dad shared with me the importance of building
our own personal testimonies. In the lesson with Jose today, he got kind of
nervous to tell us something. Then he finally let it out, “The truth is that I’m
really not sure if Prophet Thomas S. Monson is a prophet. I don’t know if he
actually talks to God. I know the church is true. I know Joseph Smith was a
prophet. I know the Book of Mormon is true. But I just don’t know about the
prophet today.” I just smiled because of course God was already prepared
through an email from Dad. We told Jose not to worry. That it is PERFECTLY fine
that he doesn’t know yet. I told him how we are all still learning things,
building our own testimony like a puzzle. I am, Hermana Cook is, even President
Monson. It doesn’t matter how far along we are, but rather that we are working
at it. And the only way he will be able to advance in his personal testimony is
through his personal prayers and personal studies. That as he searches and
asks, the spirit will reveal to him the truth. Then we watched the
Mormon channel with the recent talk from the Prophet and it was so powerful. My
testimony of the modern-day prophet grew today.
Also
we taught Graciela, and she told us that they have been reading the Book of
Mormon every night together this week! She literally hates reading. MIRALCES!
And we taught Joaquin, Carlos, and Natalia and it was so great because we taught
about repentance and how we need to ask forgiveness for our sins. Carlos (8 yrs
old) said, “I’m sorry for hurting you earlier. Well you forgive me?” Joaquin
and Carlos hugged and it was probably one of the sweetest moments. THEN Carlos
did the same thing for his mom and that was even SWEETER! Seriously, this is
why the gospel of Jesus Christ is happiness.
We
taught Solange and Jaime and as we started the lesson with a prayer, all of the
boys came and got all reverent and folded their arms and bowed their heads. Right
before I started saying the prayer, I opened my eyes real quick and I think I
saw one of the most beautiful sights in the world. Solange and Jaime sitting
close with their 3 rowdy boys reverently sitting listening to the prayer. It
was so INCREDIBLE.
We
had a super deep, raw, special lesson with Jose about repentance. It’s hard
with him because he doesn’t feel like God would be mad if he took just one shot
of alcohol. He doesn’t feel the distance grow between him and the Spirit when
he does something wrong. We tried to help him understand that even one drop of
alcohol will drive you out of God’s presence. But it was such a powerful,
spiritual lesson about our Savior and the miraculous gift of repentance.
We
ate lunch at Natalia’s house. I LOVE HER SO MUCH!
We
visited Maria Ignacia and taught her about the Plan of Salvation and she agreed
that she needs to repent and get baptized to be able to enter into the Kingdom
of God. She understands things so deeply and quickly. She accepted the goal to
be baptized in the middle of April!
TRANSFERS!
Didn’t see this coming. I’m leaving Rauquen. L
I mean I’m super excited and all, but what about Solange? And Natalia? And Olga
and Edgar? I can’t think about leaving them because my heart is breaking. But
the good news is that I’m about to meet some amazing new people. I’m going back
to RANCAGUA! But this time Cachopoal. It’s the city city. Downtown Rancagua. I’m
actually super excited. But goodbye bikes… Oh and my companion is Hermana
Morais! She’s from BRAZIL. We got to the field together but since I had more
time in the MTC, I go home a transfer before her. But we have been out just
about the same time.
We
taught Camila and Gabriel and watched the Joseph Smith video. So POWERFUL! They
are so close to getting married. And Camila gave me the most beautiful ring. I
LOVE HER! Now comes all of the goodbyes. This is the worst part.
Yep,
these are definitely the hardest goodbyes. In church the missionaries leaving
had time to announce their transfers and share one last thing in sacrament
meeting. I’ve done this in every ward so it’s not anything new or scary. So
when it was my turn, I got up to speak. I said how I’m going to Rancagua and
all was chill. Then I touched my scriptures and a quote from a song came to my
mind that says, “I’ll be the witness that I promised to.” I knew that I needed
to testify of Christ. So I opened my scriptures. Before I shared the scripture
I felt impressed to say that, “sometimes we may feel beaten down by life.
Sometimes we feel like Satan is NEVER going to stop working on us. But that
doesn’t mean we should give up hope. Tests, trials, and tribulation are
part of the plan. It’s okay to feel like we are drowning. That’s why we have a
Savior.” When I said that it’s okay to feel opposition, my eyes accidentally
met Olga and Edgar… and I lost it. Tears were streaming and I couldn’t speak.
My mind flashed through all of those ups and downs with them. I remembered how
hard they have been fighting for the gospel. How many years they have been
suffering just pleading for light and hope and love. And there they were.
Sitting in the protected walls of one of the meeting houses of God’s restored
church. They have found their way home. I took a few seconds to feel the power
of the Spirit. Then I collected myself and shared Alma 11:40. I know that we
will have eternal life ONLY through Jesus Christ. But we don’t have to wait
until judgement day to be saved. Christ can save us today. He can heal me right
now. That is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The
rest of the day we said goodbye. I gave my favorite dress (Lindsay’s) to
Alejandra because she loves it so MUCH and I know it will make her happy every
time she wears it. We had a surprise birthday party with Michelle and Felipe,
and all the missionaries. Then we said goodbye to Olga, Edgar, July, and
Estefany. But it’s okay because I’ll see them again. I’m 100% sure!
Felipe and Michele
Isadora
The dead dog...4 weeks and still decomposing...so gross. It's name is Maggots. Mags for short.
Olga, Edgar, July and Stefany
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