Last time with this district.
Sister Kafu
New Companion Hermana Martinez
Wow!
Driving and Yogurt!
Some may say, “But I have so far to go to become like those you describe.” The good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that the desires of our hearts can be transformed and our motives can be educated and refined. When we are baptized into the true fold of God, we begin the process of becoming new creatures (see 2 Corinthians 5:17; Mosiah 27:26). Each time we renew the covenant of baptism by partaking of the sacrament, we are one step closer to that ultimate goal. As we endure in that covenant, we access the strength to mourn with those who mourn and to comfort those who need comfort (see Mosiah 18:9). In that covenant, we find the grace that enables us to serve God and keep His commandments, including loving God with all our hearts and loving our neighbors as ourselves. In that covenant, God and Christ succor us so we can succor those who stand in need of our succor (see Mosiah 4:16; see also verses 11–15)." (Elder Ringwood, "Truly Good without Guile").
This makes me happy!
We met with an investigator who is on date to be baptized! She is 16, and pregnant. She lives with her boyfriend who is less active, and the only member in his family. They are going to get married and he wants his family to have the gospel SO BAD. Her baptism date is September 20. While we were over there I realized something. Hermana Martinez (my new companion) and her past companion found this investigator right before transfers. She will be baptized this transfer. (so long as we get parent permission and they get married! Which is what they want to do...)
The Lord chose Hermana Martinez and I to teach and baptize her. He chose US to be her missionaries! *wow*
At church, I spent the whole three hours with a recent convert's grandmother. This recent convert just moved into the area. She was baptized a month ago. She has three kids- a 7 yr old, a 2 yr old, and an 8 month old. She is not married- she left her boyfriend to be baptized. I just sat with her grandmother in every meeting. I would try to show her the talk they were using in Relief society. I sang the hymns with her, and would occasionally put my arm around her chair to help her feel included. After the meetings she was talking to me and her granddaughter. All I kept on hearing was "Bautismo". I thought that she was upset the missionaries (aka me, because Hna Martinez translates the whole thing into english for english speakers) had followed her everywhere and she thought that all I was trying to do was baptize her and she felt too much pressure and wanted to try out different churches in the area. Then Hna Martinez came up to us and she got really excited and gave her a hug. In the car she told me I had done such a great job! Which left me really confused because all I had done the whole meeting was sit with a recent convert's grandma. Who I thought now hated the church because the missionaries kept on following her. She then explained to me that in reality, what she was saying was that SHE DOES WANT TO GET BAPTIZED!!! She was saying that she thought that she wanted to wait until she went home to Columbia, but instead she wants to do it as soon as possible! So she will also be baptized this transfer. THE LORD CHOSE HNA MARTINEZ AND I TO BAPTIZE HER.
I realized that there is work here that the Lord needs ME and HNA MARTINEZ to complete. He has selected us. *wow*
AS for the language:
The members LOVE my accent. They are always asking me to pray and read the Book of Mormon to listen to me speak.
Hna Martinez told me that the Lord calls us in the language we are able to testify the strongest in.
*wow*. I feel so blessed to be able to testify in 2 languages! One of them does not supersede the other!
and I must remember that the spirit has no language. During sacrament meeting, a member leaned over to me and asked if I could understand everything. I just replied to her, "El espiritu no tiene idoma". She thought about it, smiled and then nodded.
I'm not sure if that was grammatically correct, but really, the spirit has no language. The spirit teaches and testifies. Any time we testify, we are inviting the spirit, and that's really what matters. Because it's the spirit that converts, not the missionaries.
As for other things:
I still have talents to share! They have me play the piano, and they let me select the Hymns!
and my love for the abuela was enough.
Sister Kafu had a really neat experience in regards to feeling inadequate. She said that when Elder Zwick came for Zone conference a few transfers back, he asked to speak with her and her companion. She was super nervous. But he just told her that she had a really pure spirit and he told her she could ask him whatever she wanted. She asked him when she will ever feel adequate as a missionary. His response was that inadequacy isn't a spiritual weakness, but in fact a spiritual strength. He then talked about how inadequate Elder Eyring actually feels to be in the first presidency of the church.
This has been the most humbling week of my life. But I am so grateful for that. I am grateful for the chance the Lord has given me to have to fully rely on Him. I am grateful for the opportunity He has given me to learn how to be strong enough to choose Him, and to choose to be happy.
Every night now, I list 20 things I am grateful for. Here are 20 from the week:
1. I was able to see Miss Donna and Harland again
2. I got to hold a snake while we were getting the car fixed!
3. We get amazing mexican food.
4. We have been able to eat with the Solis de Mexico family 2x this week! They know and love Elder Bacon. They are some of the members who love to hear my accent.
5. Our investigators love us and are always wanting to feed us. I GOT PIZZA!
6. I will never run out of tacos here.
7. I live in a Member's home!!! In the basement!!!
8. No weird feelings in my new home!!!
9 . No creepy guys in the new home!!!
10. I can jump to exercise because we are on ground level!!!
11. My STL was able to give me a copy of the 4th missionary
12 . While Having a melt down The lord placed a Race Trac (has frozen yogurt) and a Sonic in my path. He knows and loves me. (I just was able to get a large sonic water. HELLO ICE!!!)
13. My companion is going to bike next to me while I run!
14. There is a TRADER JOES HERE!!!
15. PEOPLE ARE ASKING TO GET BAPTIZED!!!
16. The Branch President is awesome and gave us a list of people to work with!!!
17. WE HAVE A CAR!!!!
18. I CAN DRIVE!!!!
19. Hermana Martinez and I love and adore each other!
20. Hermana Martinez is my companion!
The power of the atonement is clear and abundant in my life. I have a purpose!
I love you all so much. I miss you. Thank you so much for all of your prayers. This week was especially challenging. I really love my area. I love the people we work with. I am excited to have so many baptisms!
I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!
Love always,
Hermana Wallis
