On Tuesday we decided to knock on some doors in a trailer park. The 2nd one we knocked on, a woman came to the door, smiled at us and said "Pasenle". We were really shocked. Normally people don't just invite us in! So we went in and found out her name is Gloria and that missionaries have been visiting her for a long time. In 2012 her son was baptized and in 2014 her husband was baptized. They both are in Mexico right now, so it is just her left. The whole time we were there she kept telling us how she was going to tell her son and husband that we had come back and that they would be so excited. I was just thinking about what it would be like to have seen the extreme joy that comes from the gospel, be recently baptized, have your dad be baptized as well, but then not have your mother feel of that same joy. I imagine that I would be praying a lot for something to touch her heart or for her to see the importance of it. I am sure that is what her son and husband have been doing for this time and I feel like there is a very definite reason that we knocked on her door. I love seeing how the Lord guides us!(:
We had sort of a bummer this week though; We had to change Genesis' baptismal date. She is still planning on getting baptized, but probably later in march. We just felt like she wasn't quite ready. It is a bummer to have to push it back and Hermana Flake might not be here for it, but we know that there is a reason now is not the time. We are going to keep visiting her and helping her progress though.
We have been visiting a lot with Ceci and Angie Tarazon this week (they were baptized a few months ago). Angie recently had surgery on her foot so she will not be able to come to church for a while, and Ceci has been really stressed with work and back problems so she hasn't been able to come either. We went over to have a lesson with them this week and Angie wasn't feeling good so she couldn't come out, but Ceci was there. We ended up teaching about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we talked about it, we could just see the spirit working in her and touching her heart. When we shared the first vision, and incredible peace came over the room, and after she said "Can you feel that?" It was so beautiful. We started talking about the Book of Mormon and she told us that she had downloaded the gospel library app on her phone and that every morning on her way to work, she would listen to it. She told us that since she had started reading, her work had picked up a ton. She had been able to almost double the number of her output and right as she told us that, she said "oh... it is because I have been reading huh?!" It was incredible to see how she recognized the hand of the Lord in her life. They also had another miracle. They didn't have a car so they always had to ask for rides to church and they didn't like having to do that. Well, this past week, a cousin gave her son a car to use. So they are now able to drive themselves to church! We are so excited to see how the Lord is blessing their lives for following what he says.
So for anyone that knows me, before my mission I was pretty much a vegetarian. Since I have been on my mission, that has not been possible. The Hispanic culture has a lot of meat in their meals. This week we had dinner with the Rivera family. Hermana Flake told me that they are vegetarians so I brought it up at dinner and we just had the most awesome conversation. They are incredible! We had a branch dinner on Saturday night and Hermana Rivera said to me "Hermana, they will probably have meat for dinner, so I will bring us something special for you and me to eat instead." So on Saturday night she showed up with this delicious tofu dish for her and me! It was so good! At the end of the night she gave me the leftovers and said "Just looking out for my vegetarian sister". Haha I love them! Since then I have felt a lot closer to that family and I am so excited! On Sunday we were helping in primary and while looking at some pictures of animals her 5 year old son came up to us and said "Did you know that some people eat animals!?!?" haha I love this branch.
During personal study on Saturday morning, our branch president gave us a call and asked us to speak in church! Woohoo I love last minute calls to give talks. Hermana Flake spoke on the power of the sacrament and I spoke about the Atonement. We were worried since we had such little time to prepare, but afterwards almost everyone in the branch came up to us and thanked us for our talks and complimented us on our Spanish. I feel like we have had a lot of incredible experiences this week where we were able to strengthen our relationships with members of the branch and I am finally feeling like I am settling in. I am so grateful for it.
Well, this is the last week of the transfer. Next week we will see what changes the Lord has in store. I am so grateful for the miracles we have seen this past month and a half and I am so grateful to have served with such an incredible companion like Hermana Flake.
Have a good week!
Don't forget to put on your armor!!
Love,
Hermana Lundquist