________________________________________________________________
Dear family,
Answers first:
1. How many members in your branch/ward? On the records, we apparently have enough members to build 4 chapels, but we only have around 70 attend on Sundays. I don't know how accurate that 4 chapels fact is...that's just what one member told us. But there are a LOT of inactives.
2. Where does the branch/ward meet? Is it a normal building, built by the church? Yep, it's a normal chapel. Almost all the chapels in Paraguay look alike. Have I not sent you a picture of one yet? I'm going to have to do that.
3. Tell us what a typical day is like. Was this question for Taylor? I'll answer it anyway... We get up at 6:30, exercise, get ready, and then study until 10:30 (the last half hour of that is language study, and Hna. Paipa has to study English so I'm trying to help her with that. She doesn't speak at all.) Then we go out and work until lunch, which is at 12 or 12:30. The members provide us with lunch every day. Then we work again until 9 at night. There's not much change in the schedule. But it's a great schedule.
4. What have you done on your p-days? Not much. There isn't too much to do here. Sometimes we go to the chapel and play the piano, since Hna. Paipa wants to learn. But mostly we just buy food, email our families, and study and sleep.
5. What is your apartment/place of dwelling like? I actually really like our apartment. I think I've already described it to you. I'm realizing now that except for the last question, these were probably for Taylor, haha.
6. Did your dwelling place pass inspection when Pres. and Sis. Callan came to see it? YEAH! They only said it was the cleanest apartment they've seen...no big deal. I will tell you, I have learned how to clean and how to appreciate cleanliness here on the mission. You wouldn't even believe it. Aren't you proud, Mom? No more messy rooms when I come home.
So I'm sorry I forgot to let you know that this week they changed our PDay to Tuesday because we went to the temple today. Ah, it was a lovely, lovely experience. I love the temple. I gained some sweet insights, and most of all, the Spirit I felt there is just rejuvenating. I know the temple is the House of the Lord. It's interesting riding in a clunky old bus for 45 minutes, looking out the window at the street vendors, the traffic jams, the tired faces, the smokers on the corner, people snacking on empanadas on the sidewalk, just all the busy-ness, and then walking into the House of the Father of us all and feeling such a profound peace. Today's experience really inspired me with an even greater desire to share the gospel with everyone.
This has possibly been one of the best weeks in the mission. I wrote soooo much in my journal this week, so what doesn't get recorded here, I'll share at some point with you all I'm sure. I enjoy sharing things I experience with those I love. Friday was a very spiritual day. The district leader came to give Clara her interview, which went well. Clara told us afterwards it was a very good experience, and Elder Beckett told us it was clear to him that she was very prepared. He and his companion had come the night before as well to interview Genaro, but Genaro hadn't shown up to church. So that night we went to look for him in the little one-room apartment he stays in above a mechanic shop. It's a loooong way from the church and took us a good half hour to walk there, and when we showed up, the workers at the mechanic shop told us he had left. So Friday, we passed by again with the elders, hoping to find him. We did find him, but we could smell alcohol on his clothes and figured he had been drinking the night before. Elder Beckett and he had a very long interview, and afterwards, Elder Beckett gave us the O-K, but he told us that he was pretty sure Genaro had been drinking the night before, but that he hadn't confessed anything. He told us to pass by again that day with Hno. Britez, a member who has really befriended Genaro these last few weeks, and try to get the truth out of Genaro and decide if he was really ready or not. So that evening, we passed by with Hno. Britez, and what followed was one of the most spiritual experiences I've had on my mission. The Lord just made so clear His will in that situation, for which I was so humbled. We sat down, and Hno. Britez asked Genaro how he had felt during his interview. Genaro unexpectedly told us that it had offended him greatly. He told us he was too mature, too smart, too experienced, too wise to sit down and "share with little kids." He said that for every question the Elder asked him, he asked the Elder 20 more. "I had that child dancing the tango," he said. Frankly, his pride started making me feel sick, and I knew in that moment that whether he had been drinking or not the night before, this man was not ready for baptism. We talked about humility, about priesthood authority, about becoming like a little child ourselves, but nothing changed him. Hna. Paipa and Hno. Britez took turns explaining and talking and answering and talking and explaining some more, and I felt like I was on a mental merry-go-round. I just kept silent and prayed because I didn't know what else to do. I just knew that Genaro couldn't be baptized tomorrow, but I didn't know how to justify that thought, how to explain it to him. Then, very distinctly, the thought came to me to look up the requirements for baptism in DyC 20:37. While the other three kept talking and talking, I looked the verse up, and was amazed at what I read. I've read that verse several times, but I had forgotten the first requirements listed: that a person come before God in humility, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Only then can they be baptized into His church. The Lord told me that while Genaro was making definite improvement, he hadn't yet acquired a broken heart or a contrite spirit. We needed more time to teach him the doctrine, and I felt the assurance of the Lord that as we did so, the doctrine would change his heart. I don't remember now all the words I told Genaro, but I testified to him that the Lord loved Him and that for his good, He needed to wait a little while before making the eternal covenant of baptism. Oh boy...my companion didn't like that very much. She told Genaro that I had no right to say what I had said, and that if he wanted to, he could get baptized the next day. But thankfully, the Lord testified to Genaro's heart as well that he needed to wait a little longer. So the date is now set for the 7th of april. I know that's the Lord's will.
Clara's baptism was beautiful. Oh, what a tender mercy of the Lord. The adversary tried to stop it a few times Saturday morning, but all obstacles were overcome, thanks to the help of the Lord. I had a very sweet experience just before the baptismal service started. I had started to worry a little because a few things hadn't turned out as planned, and there weren't many people present. I wondered if Clara would recognize the eternal significance of what she was about to do, even though the music might not be perfectly sung, only a few people would be present, and almost no one else in the whole world would ever know what was about to take place in a little brick chapel in Paraguay. But then I suddenly felt that even if the occasion appeared small and humble here on earth, even the angels in Heaven were rejoicing and celebrating the entrance of another child of God into the pathway that leads to His kingdom. I really felt the presence of the Spirit of the Lord that day, and I know Clara did too. As she left the waters of baptism, there was a smile on her face I'll never forget, and as I greeted her in the dressing room afterwards, we couldn't hold back the tears, the Spirit was so strong. That is always one of my favorite moments, the moment right after a person is baptized. The Spirit that is felt is undeniable. After her baptism, Clara bore one of the most powerful testimonies I've ever heard. She testified of Jesus Christ as her Savior, she testified of Joseph Smith as the Prophet of the Restoration, she testified of the Book of Mormon....it was incredible. Those weren't words just memorized and recited. We didn't give her those words. The Spirit did. And they were coming directly from her heart. Do you know what a miracle that is? A little over a month ago, she had no idea what the church even was. This work is REAL. I feel such a joy--one that can't be described--for having witnessed the process of true conversion in the life of Clara Franco.
There are also miracles happening in José's life. He is incredible. Not too long ago, he was still a little incredulous about everything, even though he came to church on Sundays, and wasn't very eager to say or do much. He just listened and attended church. But now he has questions. Now he participates in Sunday School. Now he comes to church of his own free will on Thursdays, when we have piano class and Ward Night. Last week when we asked him about baptism, he told us that he wouldn't get baptized unless God gave him an answer. We invited him to pray fervently to receive that answer, because up to that point, he hadn't been praying very sincerely. But last night we had a lesson with him, and I asked him, "Have you been thinking about baptism?" "Yes," he said. "Are you praying?" "Yes," came the answer again. "And what are you feeling?" "I don't know yet," he told me. "I was talking to that Clara lady who got baptized" (which is a BIG deal for José, who is super shy and never talks to anyone, so for us this was evidence that he is really searching, pondering and praying with real intent) "and she told me she only went to church 3 times before her baptism. I couldn't believe she had gotten baptized so fast, but she said she just felt like God had told her it was the right thing to do, so she went with it. Why is He taking so long to answer me?" he asked. Oh, I was so happy in that moment! Because he's really investigating the church with sincerity and humility! We had a sweet discussion last night, and he is determined to come to general conference both Saturday and Sunday. And when José says he'll do something, he does it. We're excited.
Well, that's about it for this week. I don't have much time today, due to the temple trip. But it was worth it. Next week's email will be longer. Really, this email doesn't convey very well the (awesomeness is the only word that comes to mind right now...)....the greatness of this week, but just believe me when I say that it changed my life. I love my Heavenly Father so much. I know in my heart and with all that I am that this is His church. His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior and Redeemer, and He invites us to partake of the blessings available to us through His atonement, blessings that come only as we accept and obey His commandments. But a life of obedience is not a life of slavery. It is a life of freedom. It is an abundant life, and one that leads us to reaching our eternal potential as children of God. We can live with Him again as families. I know it.
I love you all.
Kaitlin
No comments:
Post a Comment