This week was a good one! Monday we decided to leave the Family Home Evening at the church early because no one was there and we found ourselves contacting for a few hours and finally someone talked to us. It was a little miracle. His name was oscar and from the Dominican Republic. He was really sad that night and was thinking about things and was just really upset because his 1 year-old-daughter is in the hospital because she got scalded by something on the entire right side of her body. We found him and talked and got his mind off things, said a prayer and then after we said goodbye, I gave him a hug and said, "Don't worry, everything will be okay" and he looked at me and smiled. To put that smile on his face meant the world to me. It made me feel so good and our conversation helped him. I will be referring to this experience in my spiritual thought. Tuesday, we met with Ismael, a 20-year-old Dominican. He has not been doing to well lately but this week he showed major improvement. He is reading and praying and is starting to come along. His family are already members so he's got good support. On Wednesday's we go over to the family of a lady in the ward - Esmerelda. They are from Bolivia. Joaquin and Jose are the brothers of Esmerelda and they are less-actives and we are also teaching Joaquin's girlfriend and son, Clementina and Mateo. They are doing amazing. They are coming to church and Clementina is super super excited!!! We made Sloppy Joes with them and they LOVED THEM!! So thanks for the recipe mom:) We have also been meeting with a man named Julian from Peru. He was found in the area book and he is really excited about the church. He comes and loves the hymns and we taught him the Word of Wisdom this week and he accepted it! He is going to live it. He is just a cute old Peruvian man and is so willing to follow the Lord. This week we also put 3 people on baptismal date. Luis and Ines an older couple from Ecaudor. We taught them lesson 3 (The Gospel) and then challenged them and they accepted. They are loving the Book of Mormon and are coming to church on their own. We don't have to invite or call to remind. They just show up. They are on date for the 20th of December.
We kept running into a guy in the street named Jon who was an old investigator of theirs and he kept saying Saturday at 11 we'll meet!! We went there and he said, "Ever since i have been hearing your message. My life has changed. When is your next baptismal service?" We said, well tonight. (because Jaime was getting baptized.) and he said no no, for me. So we talked for a little bit and set the goal of the 27th of December. It was a miracle and it was amazing to see the Lord's hand in all of this. He has a lot of work to do, but he has amazing desires.
Our God is a God of miracles. I can testify of that. Every day we have the chance to be a part of and see miracles. The Lord is at the helm of this work. Amazing week. We haven't been able to meet with all of the investigators. We are still working on the whole meeting more than once a week thing. But we are getting there. I'm so glad to hear all was well at home! The work is amazing here and I am loving every second of it.
In preach my gospel it says:
As the savior talks to his disciples at one point in his ministry he states (or roughly translated through my head) Ejemplo os he dado, or I have given you an example. And that's what we need to do. We need to follow His perfect example. Lift up the broken hearted, put a smile on someone's face, serve others in the way the Savior did. Go about doing good. That's what I challenge you to do this week. Look for opportunities every day to do good and serve others. It's one of my weekly goals and I'd like to invite everyone to join me! (and hear about your experiences from the week) I promise the lord will bless us and others as we go about this.
Love you all!!!! have an amazing week!!!:)
Love,
Elder Anderson
¡El reino de dios o nada!
