a while since I've written a good letter. So here we go! This will be
for this week and last week.
We met a man named Elio. We were talking to him and it was obvious
that he would rather go to the English Ward than the Spanish branch
but we ended up following the spirit and teaching him anyway. We were
able to really connect with this guy and then we were inviting him to
follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. And he said yes
with the biggest smile I've ever seen. His face just lit up. It was a
reminder to me of the joy Christ offers us, of the joy I offer people
as one of His missionaries as I invite them to come unto Christ.
We've been working with these two guys: Mario and Antonio. They got
here from Mexico this summer to work and just are very humble guys.
We've been trying to help them to pray to know if the Book of Mormon
is true. They are so sincere but also really kind of shy, and so had
put it off a few times. Then one afternoon we went over and talked
with Antonio. He opened up to us and told us about his mom in Mexico
working to support his younger brothers and how much he loves his mom.
Since he was 11 he's been working to help her. And now coming here to
the US he feels he has found something better than money- the gospel.
Before we could even invite him he said, "you know, I would really
like to say a prayer". It was a beautiful prayer! I felt very blessed
to be there with him.
We've been working hard every day. Teaching and finding a LOT which
has been the best. But some days haven't been like that. I've learned
that I am a person who can stress myself out pretty easily and that
has been hard on those slower days. But as I've recognized that in
myself I can see how even those days are miracles. They remind me that
I am doing this for God and that I have the opportunity to work hard
and spend all day everyday serving Him has been the best thing in the
world. The fast miraculous days and the slow miraculous days have
helped me have so much love for my Heavenly Father and have taught me
how to feel the love He has for me regardless of the circumstances.
There is a BEAUTIFUL family in the branch from Chile. They have two
little kids and they are just amazing. They are learning English and
so once a week we go over and read the Book of Mormon with them in
English. This past week we did less reading and more talking (in
Spanish haha) about our missions and how Chilean culture is so
different from Mexican culture. They've been teaching me Chileno
(since being here I've learned mostly Mexican Spanish) and it's so
funny! In Mexican Spanish we say Pues instead of Um and also for a
variety of different things. In Chileno they use Po and it was really
funny to them to watch me try to use it hahaha. Instead of Si (for
yes) they say, SiPo. And it's really beautiful and spontaneous but I
think I was trying too hard. We went with this Hermana to the library
one day to help her print off invitations for her sons birthday party.
The only computer available was open for only 10 minute intervals and
so we were panicking (silently of course...it's the library!!) trying
to put together these invitations. So many Pos and Puess were
whispered back and forth. In the end we got some pretty good looking
invitations printed out.
We had a wonderful 4th of July! We went on a great hike in the morning
in Perry and found some caves. I didn't think it would be so dark but
yes it was very dark and pretty creepy. We took some good pictures
though- I will try to get them this week and send them next monday!
Sister Aleman and I are the only ones in the zone who speak Spanish so
we are half heartedly trying to teach the zone but then if they knew
Spanish then they'd know what we were saying all the time! Hahaha just
kidding. We have a good zone though. In the evening we played Pickle
ball (life size ping ping) and had waffles. Sister Aleman and I bought
matching sunglasses. We watched Zootopia! That was a lot of fun. I
learned that I still love Disney :) (surprise!)
This week I was reading in the Bible (and also Jesus the Christ) and
there were a few verses that just really stood out to me.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone;
for I do always those things that please him.
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Christ did always those things that pleased His Father. Do we always
do things that please our Heavenly Father? No. And that makes us far
from Him. But miraculously, joyously and mercifully the truth is that
Jesus Christ did. And that sets us free as we take upon ourselves His
name and become clean and pure and worthy again. We become His
disciples. We are teaching a kid from Guatemala named Almador. He has
a lot of questions and is half interested in what we have to say. But
he said a prayer with us once that really made me think. He thanked
God for sending disciples of Jesus Christ to him. And it really
touched me that this kid saw me as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I want
to live up to that. The past couple weeks as I've taken the sacrament
I've had really special experiences recommitting over and over again
to following Christ and accepting Him as my Savior. I've felt all my
burdens lifted at once and that they are still there, but that Christ
is there too making them light. Forgiveness hope healing peace
selflessness righteousness-- these are Gods to give as we accept
Christ by living His gospel. Covenants are an expression of Gods love
for His children.
And that leads me to my favorite miracle of the week. We've been
trying to teach the Domingues family for quite some time now. Finally
last night it happened! They were deeply involved in another church
but after several things happened they decided they needed to find a
different church. They know a lot about the Bible, and it was very
humbling to be one of the people they looked to as a teacher. It was
comforting to know that I am not the teacher- that the Holy Ghost is.
As we taught and shared our testimonies and experiences the spirit was
so strong. The hearts of this family softened and then changed! And
they were taught by the Holy Ghost. They accepted a baptismal date and
it was one of the most beautiful moments of my whole life. I could see
them all in white getting baptized and then being sealed in the the
temple for eternity- and I started to cry! Everything got pretty
awkward at that point so I stopped crying xD just kidding. But this is
something so beautiful to me. God loves His children and for that
reason He sent His Son into the world. He gave us families and because
of Jesus Christ we can be with them forever.
I love my Heavenly Father, and I love Jesus Christ. I love la familia
Domingues and I especially love all of you!
Have a beautiful week ;)
Hermana Ogden