Semana 23- Baptismo de Margie

I have really loved this past week and all of the little miracles that we have found! It has been nothing short of amazing.

Monday we ended up knocking three doors and members of the branch were just there hanging out with their friends! It was quite the surprise but because of it we literally were able to help them exactly how they needed and the spirit was there so strongly!

On Tuesday we did a little service for one of the ladies we have been teaching and helped her clean out her house and rooms because she has a bunch of guests coming in. One of our other friends also said that she prayed about the bom and that she knows it's true and the words of God so we hyped her up for church but she said she'll be out of town this week... pero, next week I just know that she is going to be there and the spirit will be so strong. We also talked to our recent convert Olga about how she has felt with all of this and she just testified about how this has blessed her life and now she wants "para compartir este gozo con cada persona porque ellos necesitan el Espiritu Santo y Dios." She also talked about how she wished she had the gospel her whole life because "Toda mi vida me faltó esto hasta que llegaron los misioneros." We also planned to have a sleepover with the Beeville sisters the only missionaries in the TMM more north than us to save them from having to drive super early on wednesday. It was really fun! And we were dropped off Enchiladas by a member and the four of us feasted. 

Wednesday we ended up having the Missionary wide summer conference!! We drove the Beeville hermanas ans went to IHOP at 5:30 so we could make it in time to McAllen by 8:30. All of it was THE BEST! Mainly because of some bomb teachings, getting to see TONS of missionaries that I have never met, hearing from President Larreal and his wife, and also going outside to the park and baking alive. It was really inspiring and because of how good the TMM has been at inviting, teaching, and baptizing people. The goal has moved from 850 people to 1000 to be baptized!! Que loco!! Also a big take away that I got was how we hold the ability to bless children of God for eternity and how important it is that we give our 100% into all of it. This is not just changing lives, it could be changing their trajectory forever and we have a responsibility to help this people. The whole mission also decided to go to a park and do games outside. I ended up playing volleyball for 30 minutes but because of the 117⁰ weather, the majority of the missionaries and I went and hid underneath the picnic area and gorged ourselves on water and popsicles. I also got to see my old district and companion Sister Church!

Thursday we really tried to follow the spirit and saw a couple of little miracles and found a bunch of new people.

However, on Friday we were just trying and trying and nobody was talking to us and our people canceled on all of their lessons. So we said a quick little prayer for guidance and then decided to knock a couple of doors in the area we just picked up. We came and met the coolest people ever who definitely have a deep need of the gospel. As we talked they began to open up more and the spirit was there. They had been living in California previously and our friend he talked about seeing our big white building with a gold statue in San Diego. (Not the San Diego Texas catholic church thingie). He also is really stressed because on top of all his hard challenges and trials his diesel truck isn't working so he has basically dissected all of it and is frantically trying to fix it so he can go to work.

Saturday was the baptism of our deep friend Margie. Each time as we have gone over to help prepare her she has prayed for us missionaries and the other ones that taught her. She has gone on and off to church for 40 years and because of that she has known so much about the gospel all ready that the lessons didn't seem super necessary but it was amazing. She definitely felt the spirit and this little abuelita was so ready to be baptized that as one of the members talked to her about it she kept on trying to just dunk herself. Her family came to support her and it was special to feel like we were bring back the gospel to the family because her two daughters have been baptized they are just highly inactive. Even her granddaughter said that she wants to start going to church and learning more. Her eagerness for the gospel just amazed us and Margie was so excited for everything and talked about how she was telling everybody about it. We also got to try a fancy restaurant after the baptism because some members took us to celebrate.

On Sunday she was able to be given the Holy ghost. We had an amazing fast and testimony meeting and then after church we zoomed over to see the baptism of a lady for the Robstown elders in our district. All in all, this week has been a 10. The only thing is, we had to drop a bunch of people but it is all in preparation for this coming semana!!

Pensamiento Espiritual: Paul V Johnson, April 2011:

"At times it may seem that our trials are focused on areas of our lives and parts of our souls with which we seem least able to cope. Since personal growth is an intended outcome of these challenges, it should come as no surprise that the trials can be very personal—almost laser guided to our particular needs or weaknesses. And no one is exempt, especially not Saints striving to do what’s right. Some obedient Saints may ask, “Why me? I’m trying to be good! Why is the Lord allowing this to happen?” The furnace of affliction helps purify even the very best of Saints by burning away the dross in their lives and leaving behind pure gold. Even very rich ore needs refining to remove impurities. Being good is not enough. We want to become like the Savior, who learned as He suffered “pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind.”