We all got together and played sports which was good fun.
We have been crazy blessed this week.
So SUNDAY was stake conference! And our wonderful amazing and beautiful family came! But more on them later. We were greeting people when are Bishop walks up to us and says, "Would you sisters like to help translate the meeting? *brief pause* WONDERFULLLLL!" And walks away. Woah there. So Sister Anderson and I went into a little room to pray and try not to hyperventilate. I just prayed for the ability to allow the members of the ward to understand and feel the spirit and get the direction and revelation they need for their personal problems and challenges. I was taught very distinctly that my ability to speak spanish does not in any part come from me. It is entirely a gift from God. I got up and opened the Book of Mormon to Moroni 7 and found the part that talks about Gifts of the Spirit, and sure enough it talked about how God gives us through the spirit the ability to speak in tongues AND interpret tongues. A huge amount of peace came over me and then I got very excited. Translating was not an easy thing, but I was able to do it and it was actually really fun!
Afterwards we went and found the lovely Mercado family. Cesar Bricia KARLA and Tania. They came up to us and told us that they recognized our voices when we translated and that we did really well! That we were the ones that they could understand the best. (I'm pretty sure they were being kind, but it made me feel really good). They loved the conference, and so many people came up to them and greeted them and just loved them. I don't know how anyone could not love them, theyre just the best people.
They are still on date to be baptized this Saturday but we've had a hard time helping them recognize that they are ready. Every time we consider moving their baptismal date back the spirit tells us politely but firmly that no, it is not God's will to push back the date yet, and that we need to continue to act with faith that they will indeed be baptized this saturday. The suspense as we try to follow the spirit to do God's will without really knowing how it's going to work out is intense. But it's the happiest stress I've ever felt. Actually this is literally the happiest thing I've ever had a chance to be a part of. I love this so much.
We've found several new families to teach this week! They all kind of just fall into our lives so perfectly it has to be the work of God. They are excited to listen and seem to be at just the right time in their lives to allow the Savior in.
We taught an interesting lesson this week with a lady named Cleotilde. She is older and doesn't seem super duper interested in changing, but she lets us in and listens to us so we will keep trying with her. We talked about faith with her this week. And it really just hit me that faith is ACTING and RECOGNIZING God's power as we act.
Moroni 7:5 For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.
As we work with faith our hearts are opened to the Holy Ghost who then can change us and purify us and make us better. That is why we repent. That is why we as missionaries invite people to keep commitments. As we put forth the effort to ACT more like Jesus Christ, His Grace has the ability to come in and help us BECOME more like Jesus Christ. But it all depends on that first action. On our faith. That is why, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, faith comes first and repentance comes second. We cannot truly repent with sincerity in our hearts if we do not believe Jesus Christ when He says that He has the power to heal us, to change us, and make our lives better and then ACT on that belief. In the world today there are so many voices that try to entice us to not believe in Jesus Christ, or to believe His message. So many people tell us to give up on our goals for happiness in this life, to give up on ourselves as we make mistakes and maybe keep on making those mistakes. We cannot give up on ourselves. We cannot give up on our Master and Savior. He will not give up on us. He will always always always provide the healing and change we need as we act with faith and do those good works. We will be good also, and it is 100% by the grace of God.
Grace: the divine assistance and endowment of strength by which we grow from the flawed and limited beings we are now into exalted beings of “truth and light". This is by President Uchtdorf. With all these people the Lord has blessed us with the opportunity to teach and work with I am feeling so much that flawed and limited part of my being. I don't know what I'm doing! You'd think that with so much of a mission completed I'd have an idea, but nope. Luckily the Savior is our Light, and He lights the way just enough for me to make the next step.
But I also have to remember that we are children of the Most High God. I have something of divinity somewhere in me, a potential to do my Father's work and serve Him despite the limited parts. I have to remember that the people I'm trying to help be baptized have someone who loves them infinitely more than I do, and who will not let some silly sister missionary mess up His plan for their Eternal Happiness. By the Grace of God I can help these people come to know their Savior. By the Grace of God they can continue faithful to their covenants forever. By the eternal sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ you can find the divine assistance and endowment of strength you need to take the next step of faith to allow you to find the happiness that is available to us as Children of God.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even ourfaith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he thatbelieveth that Jesus is the Son of God?
I feel like I have experienced so much happiness this week. This transfer. The past 8 months! So much I can hardly believe it. I know it is real, this gospel, the promise of eternal happiness! Jesus Christ has the power, and the love, and the mercy sufficient to perform miracles in our lives if we just dar un pasito de fe (take a little step of faith).
I love you all!
Sister mle Ogden