Sige adelante. Las palabras que trato de repetir en mi mente. This week was what encompasses a missionary's experience. The highest of highs and the lowest of lows...all in the same day.
Miracle of the week...the Bergener family. Two little boys I've been teaching since I got here this summer have been ready to get baptized for so long. This week their family became a part of it. After the father returned from Iraq we had heard he was the reason the family wasn't coming to church. We were wrong. Right when he got back from Iraq I remember asking him what his thoughts were about all of this. He said he supported the boys but he didn't want to discuss his beliefs or views because he didn't want to change what his boys believed. We left it at that and kept visiting them until it became clear it was a matter of the family supporting these boys and bringing them to church. We left it alone for a couple months. This transfer we found ourselves by their house and decided to stop by. We set up another time to come by with Bishop so the Mom's brother a recovering alcoholic could get a blessing. One of the Elders happened to be there and during the lesson thought of a quote by Winston Churchill, wrote it down and left it with the Dad.
The quote reads, " To every man there comes that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which could be his finest hour." ~Winston Churchill
Ever since then we have seen a huge change in this family but mostly the Dad. He made sure everyone came to church. He welcomed us and thanked us every time we stopped by...he started participating in the lessons and showing a huge support to his boys in learning and understanding about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At the boys baptism on Saturday he stood and bore his testimony. He shared how he didn't believe he had a testimony. He had fallen away from what he grew up being taught. Until he returned from his deployment and saw that the boys were answering questions he didn't even know himself. He began to learn with the boys. He talked about how now he has found his testimony, and his new goal is to prepare himself to enter the temple and be sealed to his family. Hna Gomez had come from her area to see the baptism and while he was talking I remember just looking over to her with my jaw practically dropped. Is he really saying this....this!! And after all that we had pull it together and seeing the infamous ukalele number "I am a Child of God." It was probably one of the coolest baptisms I have ever seen. Another family changed in the Lord's time.
That same day we stopped by a recent convert who we hadn't been able to contact in a while. She was offended and frustrated with the people, and told us that is why she isn't going to church. It broke my heart to see her going backwards after she had climbed out of so much bad stuff. She was so happy. It is the simple transition from relying on yourself to learning how to rely on the Lord and give the burden to him. She is beginning to rely on herself again...I find myself moving that direction sometimes and have to stop it. It broke my heart to hear and say that. But I cannot force anything or choose for someone. I am learning sometimes all you can do is let someone know you love them and you are there for them. Help them remember what is important. Talk about ups and downs in one day.
One day this week Maricela a recent convert from this summer came out to do some visits with us. It was incredible how each person we taught was prepared to hear the testimony of Maricela, a single mother who was living in a little room with her mother and 2 children for 3 years. Found the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Began to live it...and saw a huge flood of blessings. The first woman we taught was an older Pentecostal lady. Maricela was Pentecostal before she was baptized. She shared with her how the Restored Gospel has blessed her life, and changed her life. The lady in the beginning was somewhat negative about our message and kept redirecting everything to the Bible trying to discredit The Book of Mormon as Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Maricela bore her testimony like I had never heard before. She felt it, she knew it. It was so cool to see this woman who once was in the investigators shoes bearing testimony sincerely with us of the truthfulness of what we were teaching. It was a joy I cannot explain that comes from doing the Lord's work. I commented to Maricela how much her testimony has grown since the beginning...and she said, you know what...It is because I actually started reading. I don't like to read. But I do it. And it makes a difference.
Rosie Olivas another recent convert from just a couple of months ago received her Patriarchal Blessing last night...these people are doing incredible things. They are learning in ways they never have before. Understanding the simplicity and beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And so am I.
I know the Savior lives. I know without a doubt this is His work. I know I make many mistakes but His work still gets accomplished because I am doing my very best. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored through a Prophet. I love to teach about the Restoration. It makes sense. It answers questions. It changes lives.
Se que el Senor vive. Se que estamos haciendo su obra. Se que yo tengo muchas debilidades pero mi Padre Celestial todavia me ama lo mismo. Nunca voy a olvidar los milagros he visto aqui en Horizon...se que hay mucha gente que nos esta esperando. Por eso...yo sigo adelante. Estoy aqui para amar...no para ser amada.
Les quiero MUCHO!
Hermana Holland
No comments:
Post a Comment