Week 76

WOW! This week really did fly by! Here are some things we did:

-Monday we had a lesson with Yamileth. She is so wonderful! She is so ready to get baptized, but she isn't married, and her boyfriend doesn't want to get married... We had a lesson with them together for the first time. We talked with him very boldly, explaining that Yamileth is making changes in her life, she wants to choose the right, and that the one thing that is keeping her from progressing and being clean from all her sins is him. And even after talking to him for a while he was like, "No, I'm not ready because I don't know if it will work out..." (and they have been together for almost 3 years) Yamileth was sad after the lesson, but she said that she will keep going to church and wait until he is ready to get married. She is great. And is only 20 years old.

-Tuesday: we went with Martiza from last week (The nice and receptive "Catholic") Well the lesson went so well! We explained about how we have the Church today, and a little about the Book of Mormon. And at the end of the lesson we invited her and her son to be baptized, and they accepted!! They set a goal for April 15th. Now we just have to teach her husband and they can all get baptized together!! Then in the evening we went to the capital!

-Wednesday: We had Concilio. My last one! That was so sad. They call the missionaries that are about to finish los valientes (the brave ones) And well the "valientes" all go up to share their testimonies. It was one of the few times that I wasn't nervous when I got up there. I was able to share my testimony with such clarity of mind. That is very rare for me! :) I know it is only through the Spirit. And I really did feel like I knew the things I was saying. Because I do. I know this is the only true Church. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know we can all repent and be forgiven. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God and that he restored the Church. I know that we have a prophet today named Thomas S. Monson who continues to lead the church. I know that the temple ordinances are real. And that through them we can have eternal families as we continue faithful. I am so thankful that in this time that I have spent here in Guatemala I have come to know these things. 

BUT continuing with the week! :) 

-On Friday we had one of the most spiritual Zone Meetings in my whole mission. There have been very few times when I have been able to be in front of large groups of people and not be nervous. And well on Friday I had to get up to bare my testimony, give 2 workshops, and sing, and I wasn't nervous at all! Blessings, right?! And then speaking of more blessings, after the zone meeting we went to find a less active family. We were outside the house yelling "Buenas tardes" but nobody came out, and when we were about to leave, the son came out from around the corner with his basket to go buy tortillas. When he saw us he let us in, and they were apologizing that they didn't hear us. Well we had a wonderful lesson, and in the end we invited Eric (the 14-year old son) to be baptized, and he accepted! And after that we went with Maritza, and her husband was home, and he was reading the Bible that we had given them! And so we were talking with them and the hermano opened up a ton to us. He explained that he is a part of an AA group, and that he is having some problems with his family members. We were able to talk briefly with him, because he got a call and had to go to work. But hey, we met him, and we feel like he trusts us. 

-Saturday: Well the day went by super fast because we went with Yesenia and taught her about the authority and all, and she accepted all of it, and says that she will pray to know if she needs to get baptized. And then later we went with a less active family to help them make their tamales... that was interesting! And later in the evening we were able to go to the adult session of the stake conference and it was awesome! We had 4 investigators that attended, and an hermana that we are re-activating came!! And afterwards we asked President Crapo to talk with Rigoberto - the hermano that is basically a member but hasn't gotten baptized. And boy did President talk to him! It was awesome! And afterwards left him with 3 Nephi 11 to read and told him to come to the session in the morning, and they would talk about what he read. 

-Sunday: SOOO Rigoberto showed up to the session with his family and all and we were all excited like, "so did you read", and he was like "yes." So we took him over to talk with President after the session, and Rigo was like, well I read what you left me, and then they started talking and president basically did the whole baptismal interview and at the end told Rigo that he needs to pray and ask God if it is all true, and then he needs to talk with us to set a date for his baptism. It was awesome! And after Rigo was like wow. President Crapo is a great man. And what do you know? Rigo went home, prayed and when they were eating lunch as a family, Rigo said I am seriously considering getting baptized... when do you all want me to do it?! And when we went by their house in the evening Rigo wasn't there, but the wife and daughters told us and we were all freaking out! And in the prayer they gave thanks for President Crapo! Believe me, we are also giving thanks for him! And Eric also came to church with his mom and sister!! That was so great!!

Ponderizing: Alma 34:8

Love you all!

-Hermana Garrett