March 5, 2012

HOLA!!

Wow, this week was so great! (am I a broken record??) K was batized and confirmed this weekend, and it went so well! She had probably the biggest turnout I've seen for our baptisms yet! She had a ton of family fly in to witness this beautiful occasion. The great thing about it is that the majority of the people who came were less-actives... you could see the Spirit touching their hearts! :) Let's see them back at church, eh?

K is more shy of the two girls (her and B), and right before she entered the water she was shaking and so nervous! I gave her a big hug and told her how proud I was of her. "Never forget this moment!", I urged. She nodded, took a deep breath, and then the biggest smile spread across her face! This was it! The ceremony was beautiful, and her parents were truly touched. Not two months before had they come to us, telling us that they were desirous to have us come and teach them the lessons so that K could be baptized. How grateful I am of the Spirit that touches our hearts and teaches us truth! It changes lives FOREVER.

:)

So yeah! That was the most exciting part of my week! Other than a couple investigators dropping us because of no more interest in learning :( , finding new investigators and finding a crazy guy who called me an alien....yeah.... Oh and Sister M came back to the area for Sister Exchanges (It was so fun to see her again!!), and let's not leave out the usual cockroach killings in our apartment every night! The life of a missionary: PREDICTABLY UNPREDICTABLE! :D

Yup, sounds like the weather up there is typical! I've been praying for rain (when DON'T I?) for the past little while. Today is overcast, so I'm hopeful! People here don't really like the rain.... but I have faith that the Lord hears and answers our prayers ;)

Last night we had a Young Women/Relief Society Stake Fireside. The speaker was a lady from LDS Social Services, and she talked about "Standing in Holy Places". She related to us how we are all Temples of God.... she said that the Temple itself is only just a structural building without the people and the Spirit inside. WE make these places holy because of the Spirit we have in us! It was an interesting and very thought-provoking night! She talked about the Brother of Jared building the barges for his family to cross the "great waters" to get to the Promised Land. He had to rely on the Lord, and eventually come up with some of his OWN answers to his prayers! 

She said "We're all on our own barge in life; facing different winds, all fierce in their own ways. Don't compare your journey on YOUR barge to anyone else, and don't let them do the same to you! We're all on the same journey, just with different experiences and challenges. There is no status-quo!"

I needed that last night!

So to answer your question, yes! The Healthy Helpers for our friend Le is going so well! She is loving the support as she continues to quit smoking! She has only had 2 cigarettes since we started the program! It's so cool!! She is doing so well! ....Except her husband is not supportive of her meeting with us. In fact, he told her to never invite us back again. My heart aches at the thought of her not meeting with us. I read in the Ensign for February the story of a woman who fasted so diligently and faithfully for her husband to listen to the missionaries... that story is exactly what Le needs to hear! Miracles do happen when we fast. I have such a strong testimony of that! I pray that her husband's heart will be softened to let us into their home again. We don't want to cause contention in their home, but I hope Le finds the answers she is seeking, and that she will know how to handle the situation.

This work is rigorous and demanding, but oh so worth every second of it! 

I appreciate all of your love, letters, support, and prayers! It makes all the difference for us missionaries out here to know that we have huge support-groups back home!

I love you ALL! Until next week...

HURRAH! HURRAH! HURRAH FOR ISRAEL! * * * 

Love, Sister Meg