So this week was good! Its interesting that i can say that because really this week was not as successful as any other week haha. But I dont feel discouraged at all. There were days where no one let us in or no one was home, and I wasnt affected at all. I was happy. Thats a complete miracle. I couldnt be more grateful for Heavenly Father blessing me that way.
We have been working a lot with Jorge and Ines - the couple who went to church for several months like two years ago and who arent married. So we have been trying to help Jorge see the importance of marriage so that they could get baptized, but something at the back of my mind was always telling me that something else was the problem. And this week we found out what it was. He doesnt believe in the Book of Mormon at all. He thinks that it is just a book that Joseph Smith wrote and made up. So basically we have been studying a ton to prepare to teach him and help him understand and see the truthfulness of the book. But the thing is if he never prays with a sincere heart to ask if its true, he will NEVER get the answer and he will never know. So we went with him twice this week to talk only about the book of mormon - to read it, and talk about the importance of praying with the specific question of whether or not it is true. So the last time we went we read a bunch of scriptures that we AWESOME (like 2 Nephi 29). And he kept on saying things like, ¨Yeah that makes a lot of sense...but...¨ and always put another doubt in there. I felt the spirit so strongly, but he was just so unwilling to accept it. At one point he said that hes wondered why he is here and hes asked God to send him a sign to tell him his purpose and all these things. Then i said, ¨Have you ever wondered why God has sent so many missionaries to you?¨ And he just sat there thinking, and then said, ¨Yeah that could be it...¨ and we testified that God has been trying to tell him what the truth is over and over again but he hasnt been willing to accept it. So we invited him to pray with the specific question, of whether or not all of this was true, and then we left. As we were walking outside i said to my comp, ¨I feel mad, frusterated, dissappointed....but i also feel really really happy. Know why? Because i know that these things are true. Ive never known so much in my life.¨
Seriously, studying for this man has made my testimony rock hard. I am SO extremely happy because i feel like i am becoming truly converted to the gospel. That is the only thing i wanted from my mission - to become converted. And ive never had such a surety of these things.
Just this week i have noticed how much ive changed. And i really know why im here. To invite people to come unto Christ. If they dont want to, we wont force them. We are here to invite. And if they dont accept it they are losing the best joy and peace that they could have.
Im here because I love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Im here for them. And i know that this church is the exact church that Jesus Christ established, and that he is in charge. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, without a doubt. And that is the key to everything. We were watching a video the other day of Jeffrey R Holland talking about the Book of mormon, the talk is called Safety for the Soul. He says, ¨In this I stand with my own great-grandfather, who said simply enough, “No wicked man could write such a book as this; and no good man would write it, unless it were true and he were commanded of God to do so.”¨I testify of his words.
Oh and also we have two baptisms this week! Yesenia, who was a reference from a member from another ward, she is amazing! and Cesar. Cesar talked with the missionaries a long time ago and has always been iffy about the church. But he let us come and visit him this week and he said that he has been listening to conference talks, listening to hymns, and reading the book of mormon. He said, ¨If i didnt know all of this were true, i wouldnt have let you guys come over.¨ So that was awesome!!
Well im so grateful for all of you and i hope you all seguir adelante and keep the faith. I love you all!
Que Dios les bendiga,
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| With Hermana Castro! |
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| Sunset! |
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| practicing door contacting in district meeting (it was pretty hilarious) |
