Hands down this was one of the best
weeks of my mission. Wow. But you’ll have to wait I’ll tell you why it was so
good later on... So first I had intercambios (exchanges) with Hermana Torres in
Nasca and it was really good! She is awesome! So what I have learned this week
is that Satan knows our weaknesses and attacks us and makes us think that we
are the only one that has these weaknesses. Which is absolutely false.
We all have gifts and God is molding
us to be Fit for His kingdom. He will mold us how He needs us to be. We just
have to be fit for the Kingdom. Heavenly Father doesn’t expect perfection, just
progression. (from Kelsey Coy, my mom shared this with me from their sacrament
meeting)
So then this week it was super good.
We worked hard and on Thursday we went and taught Ismena and her son joined us
for the first time and we invited him to be baptized so he is getting baptized
with his mom now on the 28th! We are so excited! I really hope we don’t have
cambios (transfers) this Saturday. I want Hermana Villena to be with me for all
of these baptisms! So then yesterday we went to church and a family of
investigators was walking in with a member family. Ok so we both thought they
were with the elders. Then like 5 minutes later we found out that they were in
our area!!! YES our area! It was a mom with 5 sons! They have a dad as well but
he is in Lima working right now until the end of the month. Anyway, Lourdes is
the mom then Alejandro is 17. Huankin is 14. Jose Maria 12. Marcello 9. Ricardo
5. They came with Hermana Quintanilla and her family. Lourdes’ sons asked if
they could start going to church because they wanted God in their lives and
they wanted to go to the church where the Quintanilla family went because they
were happy and their son doesn’t play sports on Sunday so they thought that was
cool. They stayed for all of church and loved it! We visited them later on in
the afternoon and the lesson went great! They are prepared to hear the gospel!
They were asking us questions about the priesthood, and the temple. We have the
end in mind with them. A temple sealing.
Anyway, so as we sat in sacrament
meeting and sang I stand all amazed as the sacrament hymn. I sat in awe. The
grace of Christ is so real. Sometimes we feel hopeless in darkness like clouds.
But then the Grace of Christ overpowers as our faith grows or as the sun comes
out and the fear and clouds disappear. We see clearer. Nothing bad that happens
is permanent if Christ is the center.
Mosiah 16:9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is
endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless,
that there can be no more death.
He has paid the price. We just have
to apply the Atonement of Christ.
Mosiah 4:2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state,
even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with
one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of
Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified;
for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and
earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.
I stand all amazed at the love he
has given me and His amazing Grace. I read a talk by Sheri Dew called Sweet
Above all that is Sweet from women’s conference at BYU. It had some amazing
insights about unlocking the power of Grace. One line I loved was when she said
I was far to preoccupied with
myself. Which is exactly what happens when we try to lift our burdens
alone.
As I have pondered this and my life.
The times I have had a challenge or a burden I do the same thing. I’m thinking
about myself until I realize and change. I apply the Atonement. I little bit at
a time. For me I love to apply the Atonement through service. It really changes
everything. I choose to be happy when I serve.
Mosiah 2:17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye
may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings
ye are only in the service of your God.
Mosiah 24:12-16 And Alma and
his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out
their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their
hearts.
13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord
came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good
comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will
covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put
upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while
you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for
me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit
my people in their afflictions.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid
upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them
that they could bear up theirburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully
and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their
patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good
comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.
We aren’t alone. I have no idea why
we were so blessed this week. But the greater thing is that God has prepared
hearts to hear the glad message of the Gospel and to make sacred covenants with
Him. I love this gospel and I love the Atonement. A change of heart is
possible. A little at a time. Day by day. poco a poco (little by little).
Everyday by letting the Atonement work through us.
Mathew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
for I ammeek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto
your souls.
and Luke 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with
God.
Really an attitude of Gratitude and
service can make the cloudiest of days shine!
Love you all!!!
Choose to say yes to happiness!!!
Doctrine and Covenants 4
Les Quiero mucho!
Hermana Bott
“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ
“Yes, Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world.”5 Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, Teachings of Presidents, Ezra Taft Benson, Chpt 5 Principles of True Repentance
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