On September
29th Hermana VanWie wrote this email –
Querida
Familia y amigos--
This week
was wonderful!! We had interviews with the mission president this week. I
love President and Sister Clark!! I felt so loved by both them and my Heavenly
Father.
We had another wonderful lesson with A and J this week! We talked about
the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the importance of baptism. J immediately
responded that he would be baptized which stunned us and A also agreed, but was
a little more hesitant than her husband. As we asked her what her doubt was,
she began to explain to us what she had been searching for. She said that she
felt like there was a hole in her heart/spirit and has been searching for
something that would fill it. Now, she says that when she reads the Book of
Mormon and comes to church and talks with us, she feels like this hole is
filled. As she told us this she began to cry. She had not realized that this
was an answer to her prayers. As we helped her identify what she was feeling
was the Spirit, more tears came (from her and from us) and the Spirit was very
strong. She now recognizes that this is an answer to her prayers. It was a
wonderful lesson! They are so excited to learn more.
We also had the opportunity to do service them. They were repainting
their house (they told us this on Wednesday at their lesson). When we heard
this we immediately volunteered to help. A little unbelievingly, J agreed to
let us come. When we arrived at their house on Saturday in our service clothes,
he was shocked. He couldn't believe that we actually were going to help them.
It was a great experience. Throughout the time we spent with them his trust in
us grew, we got to know their children, and we got to know Arcelia more as
well. I LOVE service!! I know that as we serve members and investigators
and less actives we come closer to them and they are more able to feel of the
love we and our Heavenly Father have for them.
Hermana Jimenez and I had the great opportunity and privilege to see the
end of a process and the beginning of a new journey--S was baptized! It has
been such a wonderful journey for us and for her! We have been privileged to
see the whole process: to find her grandfather, receive her as a referral, help
her progress through teaching her, and watch her be baptized and invite her
friends to also learn more. It has coincided exactly with the 12 week program.
Everything we have been learning every week has applied exactly to what we were
doing every week. It truly has been a tender mercy of the Lord.
During all
of church on Sunday, S could hardly sit still. I was in primary playing the
piano, and every 10 minutes she would come over and ask what time it was and
when her baptism would be. Her baptism was very special--her grandfather was
just beaming!! He said a wonderful prayer at the end. A family friend baptized
her and confirmed her. The confirmation was wonderful and even though the
member that did the confirmation was a little worried about his Spanish, the
gift of tongues came into play and he gave a wonderful blessing. I am so
excited for her to begin preparing to go to the temple! I loved how the Women's
General Conference was centered on that!
I am so grateful to be a
missionary! I love this work! This is the Lord's work! Gracias por todo lo que
hacen!
Love you!
Con amor,
Hermana VanWie
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