Semana 10 en Kerman

On May 20, 2014, Hermana VanWie wrote this letter:
Querida familia y amigos –

Sorry this letter is a day late! We had interviews with President Gelwix yesterday and we got to go to the temple today! YAY!

This week has been hot! It has been the 100s! It was 104 degrees one of the days this week. But, it will be cooling down more this week.

The funny story of the week: We stopped by an investigator's home and knocked on her door and her 6 year old daughter answered the door. After going to look for her mom, she ran back to the door and said, "My mommy says you are annoying" just as innocently as she could. Well, at least we know that we were giving consistent, persistent follow-up.

This week was full of miracles! This week my testimony of the Lord knowing the details of our lives was very much strengthened. On Monday, last preparation day, we randomly decided to go window shopping at what is here in Kerman. We soon began to think that it was a big mistake since everything was closed except for one little Mexican tienda. However, as we walked in, we soon realized we were exactly where the Lord needed us to be. We walked in and the woman at the register said, "Ustedes son misioneras! Misioneras de la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias!" We were so surprised! It turned out that she was a less active member from a ward in Madera. She ended up talking to us for about an hour and in this hour we learned that she had prayed us there. She explained to us that she was feeling abandoned by God and was about to lose her house. But, she said she knows because we walked into her store and talked with her, that God is very aware of her and has not and never will abandon her. God is still watching over her. I know that our Heavenly Father is always watching over us. He is very aware of everything we go through and will put people in our path that can and will help us.

My testimony of the importance of and the power of prayer also increased. We had a wonderful lesson with E and C this week. It was a break through lesson! As he finished praying and we all said "Amen" he just sat there thinking. When we asked him how he felt he said with a huge smile on his face, "That felt good! I feel good!" (in Spanish). The simplicity of his prayer and his humble spirit brought the Holy Ghost so strongly into that lesson. I know that Heavenly Father listens to and will answer each and everyone of our prayers. 

We also have been teaching M this week! He is getting baptized on Sunday! This week we decided to try a new approach for his "assignments." We decided to have him draw pictures explaining to us in the picture what he learned. We saw many miracles come from teaching him in a way that he can understand--much more interactive and focusing on the basics. As he explained to us one day in a picture that he wanted to see Heavenly Father and live with him, it tied perfectly into the lesson we were going to teach that day--the Gospel of Jesus Christ or the 5 steps of how we can return to live with God again. He is so prepared to be baptized! He knows that he is a son of our Heavenly Father and he understands the importance of baptism and how essential it is. It also stunned me that he was able to identify and draw the correlation between Baptism and the Sacrament. How grateful I am that I have the opportunity to work with people like Mark who are willing and wanting to learn! Mark will be getting baptized on Sunday with 3 of his cousins, thanks to the Bishop who was able to help the 4 families work together. We are excited for Sunday!

       Today we had the great opportunity to go to the temple! I love the Spirit there!  I love to see the temple!  I'm grateful that those we are working with right now are also preparing themselves to go to the temple and having that as their goal. They too can sing the Primary song, "I love to see the temple!"

        I know that missionary work here and on the other side of the veil is the work of the Lord! It truly is the work of Salvation! I know God lives! I know He loves us and is aware of us!

Thank you for all that you do!

Los quiero mucho! Que tengan una semana maravillosa!

Con amor,

Hermana VanWie