I have a lot more to say this week than last week! I hope I can make up for that one...
Last week, on Sunday, we were driving down to Richmond to visit la Familia Fajardo. We were driving on the freeway, and I look to my right, and there were 2 motorcycle cops. All of a sudden, they just walked onto the freeway and stopped us. Okay. Right. And then they let the car next to me go. Then they let me go, and then they totally pulled over a car behind us. Drug bust? Yes. It was crazy. I think you just had to be there.
Juan Pablo, our Ward Mission Leader left this morning to move back to Chile. He only told us yesterday at the end of Ward Correlation. So we are all super sad, but at least he can go be back with his family and his girlfriend Daniela. They are planning on getting married in November, and then also both want to go to UCLA in the fall.
I wanted to share a few of the miracles we saw this week!
1. We were able to see la familia Marin*! We had visited Graciela*, the mom, in the hospital last transfer when she was recovering from surgery from appendicitis. If we had not stopped by her house that day, we would have not know she was in the hospital, and we would have not been able to ever get in. In the past when the missionaries have stopped by, she would usually yell at them through the door that they were busy and that they missionaries should just leave. But the Lord works miracles. We met another one of her sons, Diego*. He said one of the most beautiful prayers I have ever heard. He is 8:) We are planning on seeing them this week.
2. Brenda* and Mark*. Brenda is an investigator who is finally progressing. She has a little baby boy, Stevenl who is 5 months old. Gordito<3 We have had some really strong lessons with her. Bold lessons. And that brought the spirit so well. There are still some issues that are keeping the baptismal date away, but she is progressing. She is coming closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and that is so amazing in and of itself. We found out yesterday during church that some of the YSA Elders in our building had a baptism at 4:30, right after our 3rd hour, and so we quickly put a text together inviting some less actives and investigators. No one texted us back. After church, I am sure you can guess who showed up. Brenda, Mark, and Steven! They saw the baptism and Brenda said she loved our church. We think that now she will be comfortable coming on Sundays and to the Friday ward activities!
3. Celeste, one of the Young Women in the ward who always comes to lessons with us, wants to do a mini mission with us! We are just waiting to hear back form the Assistants, but the plan is to have her from Friday night until Sunday night! Can't wait!
4. Last week, as in a week and a half ago, we met a man downtown while contacting named Arturo*. He had just moved here 2 days before from Mexico for a change of life. Then we set up a time to talk with him more (have a lesson) for Saturday, the next day. We saw him and had a lesson with Catherine about the Restoration, and invited him to read 1 Nefi 1. We texted him Saturday, two days later, to see if he was able to read and how he liked it, and he said he was in Alma 26 and he liked it a lot more than he thought he would. Alma 26, everyone.
5. The sunsets have been amazingly beautiful the past few days. How lucky we are.
6. I went on exchanges in Surrey this week with Hermana Cobb and Hermana Johnson! It was so good! Such an awesome experience. Favorite part was talking with Sihks. And speaking Punjabi. Really good stories for another time.
7. Back last transfer, on exchanges with Hermana Cobb for the first time, in Vancouver, we were contacting at Lougheed Mall. I had just finished a conversation with someone when a man came up to me and was giving me a hard time. Finally it came out that he was in the YSA branch presidency, and he was just trying to give me a hard time. He invited us to lunch, but we had a lesson, so we couldn't go. We gave him a Mormon.Org card and told him he had to give it to someone. When he went to get lunch he got us gift certificates for free sandwiches at Quiznos and . He came to give them to us, but we were already gone. I saw him at Stake Conference last week, and he told us the story. He was going to just give the certificates to the Elders, but he decided he would save them for me. We get them next week, and he said to promise to get the lady to church. I told him I would follow up. Love members.
8. There are so many great families in the ward. La familia Espinosa is one of those families. They are the ones who are always there. They always give us food, the kids, Benjamin, Carlos, y Luisa always come to lessons with us, and they are just so amazing. We are so lucky to know them. For all I know, that is why I am here. To meet them!
I was reading the Book of Mormon this week and the chapter I read took so much of my study time, but it was exactly what I needed to hear. Here is my rendition of Alma 37:
"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (6). I was called as a representative of Jesus Christ to the Canada Vancouver mission because I am worthy enough to represent the Lord. I have so many weaknesses, but the Lord did not call me to be perfect. He called me because there are small things about me that other people need.
Without the Book of Mormon, I cannot convert anyone. They will help everyone remember Jesus Christ, their Redeemer (9). The scriptures are so important!!!
I may not understand why certain things are happening, but I can trust that Heavenly Father, who is perfect, and reigns with wisdom, whose paths are straight, and his course on eternal round, can see why I need these experiences now (12). Heavenly Father knows who I can become. He knows how much I can handle.
The path is simple. If I am keeping the commandments, I will prosper. If I do not keep the commandments, I will lose the presence of Heavenly Father (13). Numbers do not matter. What matters is my heart. This is the Lord's work. All things will be done in his time. If I keep the commandments, the Lord will guide me. I will have "a stone which shall shine forth in darkness" and bring me "unto light" (23).
"God has entrusted [me] with these things, which are sacred" (14). I have such a big responsibility. Helping His children to find salvation.
I need to "preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly of heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jessus Christ. Teach them to never be weary of good workds, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls" (33-34). But first, I must do that myself. I have to be meek and lowly of heart, humble, and full of love if I want anyone to do the same.
I need to learn this wisdom now. It will bless me the rest of my life.
I need to "cry unto God for all [my] support; yea, let all [my] doings be unto the Lord, and whithersover [I] [go] let it be in the Lord; yea, let all [my] thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of [my] heart be placed upon the Lord forever" (36). As I have been out here, one thing I can say for certain is that Jesus Christ is my best friend. He is always there. No matter what. He is such a comfort.
If I always counsel with the Lord, I will be guided "according to [my] faith". I need to "exercise [my] faith and diligence" (41). There are so many miracles every day, and I sometimes look over them because I want something more.
40 And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.
41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;
If I remain faithful, "the words of Christ, if [I] follow their course, [will] carry [me] beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise" (45).
"Look to God and live" (47).
Ya. That was an awesome chapter to read.
Also, yesterday I was reading Alma 57. Just like Lehi's men were fresh to help in the battle, that is one of my jobs as a missionary, and also as a member of the church in general. To be able to help those who are growing tired of the daily battles against the Adversary. So here is my challenge to you all. Be prepared and strong enough to help those around you in their battles.
Con mucho amor y todo,
Hermana Lewis
